End of TDRC Blog

Many thanks to those of you that followed the Tulsa Digital Radio Club blog over the past few years.  This is the last post as we are concluding our blog service.

--Jeff AE5ME

TDRC FIeld Day

TDRC Field Day will be from 1 PM to 1 PM on June 25-26.

Location is 4826 East Elm Road, Claremore, OK (KC5SHE residence).

Operation will all be low power (QRP) less than 5 watts and digital.

Important announcement regarding N5CST / KD5WVV packet system.

Effective immediately, the Tulsa Digital Radio Club has severed all radio and internet ties with the Poteau, OK N5CST packet BBS system operated by Kevin Davidson KD5WVV.  He is also no longer a member of our organization.

We received information this morning that Mr. Davidson was arrested June 15th.  The press release from the arresting police department outlines a previous criminal conviction that we were unaware of until this morning.  The nature of the conviction classifies Mr. Davidson as a potential danger to the general public and falls outside of the bounds of acceptable membership behavior for the TDRC.

None of the "social media" information exchanged for the crime of June 15th was passed through the AE5ME-15 BBS system and we have extensive filtering safeguards to prevent that from occurring.  The AE5ME-15 system will continue to operate with our affiliate in Magnolia, AR. and other clients in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Western Arkansas.

The leadership of the TDRC will be meeting in the near future to determine additional steps need to be taken to prevent a membership situation such as this from happening in the future.  No further announcements will be made regarding this deeply troubling matter, but anyone is welcome to contact me at ae5me at yahoo.com if you have questions.

Jeff Scoville AE5ME, TDRC President

New opportunity for SWL Digital reception!

From Kim Elliott at VOA:

Hello friends,

The concept of digital text modes via analog shortwave broadcast is expanding!

Beginning 8 June, The Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) will add a half hour of digital text modes to its Wednesday transmission via Channel 292 in Germany, 6070 kHz.

The entire broadcast is Wednesday 2000 to 2200 UTC, with MFSK32 followed by Olivia 16-500 at 2030-2100 UTC. 

2030-2045 UTC in MFSK32 (1500 Hz): DX and media news from "Radio Passioni", Andrea Lawendel's  blog

2045-2100 UTC in Olivia 16-500 (2200 Hz): DX Italia, news from the amateur radio world

Complete schedule and updates at http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Reception reports can be sent to ibc@europe.com

FB page https://www.facebook.com/IBC-Italian-Broadcasting-Corporation-42794031466/

Outside of Europe, try reception via the University of Twente receiver in the Netherlands: http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901

DigiDX will continue this week via Channel 292, 6070 kHz, daily (maybe not Saturday) at 0530-0600 and 1830-1900 UTC. Vatican Radio on the same frequency at those times provides a special challenge for the digital text modes. (I hope this co-channel situation can eventually be resolved.) This week Stephen has been experimenting with multiple modes transmitted simultaneously:

1500Hz - Olivia 16-500
2008Hz - Oliva 8-250
2300Hz - Olivia 4-125
2900Hz - BPSK-125

Reception reports to reports@digidx.uk

Thank you for your reports to VOA Radiogram, program 166, during the past weekend.

An illustration of the wide footprint of our North Carolina shortwave transmitter are these image decodes 4 June at 1626 UTC on 17580 kHz. From top: Merkouris in Greece (in the target area), Mike in Washington state (opposite of the target area), Chris in New Zealand (well beyond the target area), and me in Virginia (the skip zone for 17580 at that hour). ...



Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram.net

Comparison of the FT-817ND to the Elecraft KX-3

I am a proud owner of an FT-817 since Green County Hamfest.  Also considering the new KX-2 that Elecraft introduced at Dayton Hamvention.  The cousin to the KX-2 is the KX-3, which has been out for a while.

M0JCQ put out an excellent comparison article between the FT-817ND and Elecraft KX-3.  Not to be a spoiler, but both have their advantages and disadvantages, depending upon what you are looking to do.

Check it out at http://www.hamblog.co.uk/yaesu-817nd-vs-elecraft-kx3-differences-for-portable-use/.

What run HF QRP portable?

With the TDRC operating digital QRP for the upcoming Field Day, one question I've been asked is "why"?

M0JCQ put together an excellent article giving the top ten reasons to take ham radio portable.  And he is not just talking HTs on the local repeaters.....He's talking HF!

Check it out at http://www.hamblog.co.uk/top-10-reasons-to-take-ham-radio-portable/.

TDRC Meeting Saturday June 11th at 1 PM

The next Tulsa Digital Radio Club meeting will be Saturday, June 11th at 1 PM.  It will be held at the Broken Arrow Central Library at 300 W. Broadway.

We will have an intro and Q&A session regarding the Raspberry Pi computing platform.  We'll also be discussing plans for operating our club station QRP/Digital for the upcoming ARRL Field Day.  To our knowledge, it will be the only all QRP/Digital station in the area.  If you're looking for a change of pace from traditional Field Day, be sure to check it out!
Also, don't forget to check in to the statewide APRS net this weekend, which coincides with the start of the meeting at 1 PM.  We will be operating the net from the library.

Hope to see you at the meeting!

 

--Jeff AE5ME

Good source for all the digital modes

WB8NUT has put together a very comprehensive summary of digital modes at http://wb8nut.com/digital/.

Check it out!

TDRC Meeting Saturday, May 14th at 1 PM

The next Tulsa Digital Radio Club meeting will be Saturday, May 14th at 1 PM.  It will be held at the Broken Arrow Central Library at 300 W. Broadway.

We'll be discussing plans for operating our club station QRP/Digital for the upcoming ARRL Field Day in June.

Also, don't forget to check in to the statewide APRS net this weekend, which coincides with the start of the meeting at 1 PM.  We will be operating the net from the library.

Hope to see you at the meeting!

--Jeff AE5ME

Digital Opportunties with Armed Forces Day on May 14th

Several different digital modes (ALE, MFSK, PSK, etc.) will be used during this exercise.  More information about frequencies and modes to follow.....

--------------------------------------------------------------------

04/21/2016

The US Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard will cosponsor the Armed Forces Day Military/Amateur Radio Cross-Band Communications Test on Saturday, May 14, 2016. The event gets under way at 1200 UTC, with activity continuing throughout the day. Some military stations may not operate for the entire period.

 

“New for Armed Forces Day this year, military stations and Amateur Radio operators are authorized to directly communicate on the 60 meter interoperability channels,” US Army MARS Program Manager Paul English, WD8DBY, pointed out.

This year marks the 66th Armed Forces Day (AFD) observance, a week later than the radio event. Armed Forces Day is observed this year on May 21, but the Military/Amateur Radio Cross-Band Communications Test is held earlier in order to avoid conflicting with Dayton Hamvention®.

The annual communications exercise is an opportunity to test two-way communication between amateur and military communicators and features traditional military-to-amateur cross-band SSB and CW communication and offers an opportunity for radio amateurs to utilize modern military communications modes such as MIL-STD serial PSK and automatic link establishment (ALE). These tests give Amateur Radio operators and shortwave listeners (SWLs) a chance and a challenge to demonstrate individual technical skills, and to receive recognition from military radio stations. QSL cards will be provided to stations that contact military stations during this event. The complete announcement of stations, times, and frequencies— subject to change — is available on the US Army MARS website.

 

Participating military stations will transmit on selected military frequencies and listen for Amateur Radio stations on selected amateur frequencies, which the military station operator will announce. Contacts should be limited to a minute or two, so all participants get a chance. Some stations will operate on Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) frequencies; others will use CW.

 

Amateur Stations with automatic link establishment (ALE) capability can contact military stations on specific half-duplex cross-band channels established for this purpose. Military stations will scan and receive certain Amateur HFLINK ALE frequencies, and transmit on the corresponding military ALE frequency. Military stations will also transmit ALE station identification (soundings) on each military frequency at 30 to 90-minute intervals.

 

The traditional Secretary of Defense message will be transmitted via Military Standard radio teletype modes, described in MIL-STD 188-110A/B. Reception of serial PSK will provide a technical challenge to amateur stations to receive the broadcasts using a high symbol rate serial PSK waveform not utilized in Amateur Radio, but found in all modern military equipment. See the complete schedule for details. Additional transmissions will use wide-shift FSK (RTTY), as this mode represents a baseline in interoperability common in all radio services. Most RTTY programs can be set to decode this mode. To accommodate amateurs some stations will transmit the Secretary of Defense message using common ham radio modes such as RTTY, PACTOR, AMTOR, PSK31, MFSK and MT63.

 

Transcripts of the received text should be submitted “as received,” without attempting to correct possible transmission errors. Provide time, frequency and call sign of the military station copied, including the submitter’s name, call sign, and address (with ZIP code). This information should appear on the paper containing the test message.

 

Stations copying the Secretary of Defense message from Army and Navy stations should send their entries to Armed Forces Day Celebration, Commander Netcom, ATTN: NETC-ITSMD, Bldg 90549 Jim Ave, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-7070.

 

Stations copying Secretary of Defense message from Air Force stations, should send entries to Armed Forces Day Celebration, 38CYRS/Chief AF MARS, 203W Losey St, Room 1200, Scott AFB, IL 62225.

Amazing reception in spite of Radio Habana interference, both MFSK32 and Olivia 64-2000

Another neat posting from the NBEMSham Yahoo Group:

Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:24 pm (PDT) . Posted by:

kd9xb

Tim, K0RUS, in Colorado produced this YouTube video of his reception and decode of VOA Radiogram at 1600-1630 UTC on 17580 kHz. VOA Radiogram and Radio Habana Cuba were mixing fairly evenly in Colorado, but as you can see, the MFSK32 and Olivia 64-2000 were successful.

https://youtu.be/TUeuCuihui4

Amazing Olivia 64-2000

From the NBEMSham Yahoo Group:

Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:54 am (PDT) . Posted by:

kd9xb

In reception conditions unsuitable for voice or for VOA Radiogram's usual MFSK32 mode, the Olivia 64-2000 segment decoded 99.8% in Sydney, NSW, Australia, 15500 km from the North Carolina transmitter. 5745 kHz ...

Olivia 64-2000 - 16 April 2016, 0930 UTC http://voaradiogram.net/post/142890107842/voa-radiogram-16-april-2016-0930-1000-utc-5745

http://voaradiogram.net/post/142890107842/voa-radiogram-16-april-2016-0930-1000-utc-5745

Olivia 64-2000 - 16 April 2016, 0930 UTC http://voaradiogram.net/post/142890107842/voa-radiogram-16-april-2016-0930-1000-utc-5745 VOA Radiogram, 16 April 2016, 0930-1000 UTC, 5745 kHz, via North Carolina transmitter, as received in Sydney, NSW, Australia, about 15500 k...



View on voaradiogram.net http://voaradiogram.net/post/142890107842/voa-radiogram-16-april-2016-0930-1000-utc-5745
Preview by Yahoo

Upcoming MARS COMEX on May 7th

From KC5MWZ:

 

(If you would like to participate, please contact ae5me at yahoo.com)

 

Below is the condensed version of the op order for the upcoming Communications Exercise suitable for distribution to the Amateur Radio community.

 

There has been a MAJOR change from what was previously reported. 

 

The exercise will take place on Saturday May 7 between 6AM CST and 6PM.  (It was previously reported for May 12.)

 

Based on previous experience,  DOD will put requests for information into the MARS network early in the exercise.   Amateur Radio stations should expect MARS operators to come up on Amateur radio frequencies sometime in the mid morning hours with requests for information.  That is all the detail we have or will probably get. 

 

Here is the condensed Operations Order

 

GENERAL OVERVIEW: 

 

EXECUTION OF THIS COMEX REQUIRES COORDINATION WITH RADIO STATIONS IN THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE (ARS).

 

TRAINING EXERCISE SIMULATES A NATIONAL CRISIS SITUATION.  

 

THROUGHOUT THE COMEX, STATIONS SHOULD OPERATE UNDER EXERCISE CONDITIONS THAT SIMULATE A COMPLETE UNAVAILABILITY OF CYBERSPACE, ELECTRICAL, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.  ALL MARS AND AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS SHOULD PLAN TO TRAIN IN THE COMEX, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO USE BACKUP POWER.

 

FRIENDLY FORCES

     (1)  AIR FORCE MARS

     (2)  ARMY MARS

     (3)  AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS

     (4)  DOD FORCES

     (5)  DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

     (6)  AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE

 

MISSION

 

AD HOC LOCAL COORDINATION WITH AVAILABLE AMATEUR RADIO RESOURCES.

 

DEMONSTRATE INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN DOD NETWORKS, GOVERNMENT, AND AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS.

 

INTENT

 

ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN DEPENDABLE, MULTI-LAYER HF RADIO-ONLY NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS TO SUPPORT DOD OBJECTIVES AND INTERFACE WITH RELEVANT AMATEUR RADIO NETWORKS AS REQUIRED TO FULFILL DOD REQUIREMENTS.

 

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

 

THIS COMEX IS DESIGNED TO EMULATE A SCENARIO THAT WOULD NORMALLY OCCUR FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS OR LONGER.  HOWEVER, THE COMEX IS CONDUCTED OVER A HIGHLY COMPRESSED TIME PERIOD TO EXERCISE REQUIRED MISSION CRITICAL TASKS WITHIN A VOLUNTEER FORCE.

 

UTILIZING MARS STATIONS AND LOCALLY AVAILABLE AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS AS SOURCES, REPORT ON ALL OBSERVATIONS AND INFORMATION AS REQUESTED.

 

REPORTABLE OBSERVATIONS

 

REQUESTED OBSERVATIONS MAY BE REPORTED FROM MARS STATIONS, AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS, OR ANOTHER VALID SOURCE SUCH AS GOV AGENCY, WEATHER SERVICE, ETC.  ONLY REAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY OBSERVED ARE REPORTED.  

 

AMATEUR RADIO ACTIVITY

 

AMATEUR RADIO ACTIVITY IN THIS COMEX IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL, NON MARS AFFILIATED AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS TO SUPPORT A DOD ACTIVITY IN A REALISTIC, AD-HOC MANNER. STATE MARS DIRECTORS, THROUGH THEIR CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICERS (A) AND EMERGENCY COORDINATORS (AF) HAVE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR COORDINATING LOCAL, AD-HOC AMATEUR RADIO SUPPORT AND SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO COORDINATE THIS ACTIVITY WITH IINTERESTED LOCAL AMATEURS, GROUPS, AND CLUBS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS COMEX NO DISTINCTION IS INTENDED BETWEEN INDEPENDENT AMATEURS, ARES OR RACES AFFILIATED AMATEURS AND ORGANIZATIONS. 

 

INTERNET AND STORE AND FORWARD TYPE SYSTEMS WILL NOT BE USED DURING THIS EXERCISE.

 

 

Bill Stewart WA9AQQ / AFD6SC

Deputy Director Region 6 Air Force MARS

wrkestew@...

WTX COMEX

The El Paso ARES group conducted a COMEX on last Saturday, April 16th.

I am pleased to report that Olivia 8-500 (using FLDIGI) was able to make the path between AE5ME and KB5HPT on 30m.  The only stations able to make contact were AE5ME and a station 40 miles away from KB5HPT.  Band conditions were extremely poor throughout the morning of the exercise.  Even PSK31 was barely readable on 14.070 Mhz, which is a rare situation!

This illustrates the need for having a variety of modes and bands to make contacts.  While we wouldn't normally use Olivia 8-500 as it only has a throughput of 29 wpm, it allowed a contact to be made when other modes were lost in the static.

--Jeff AE5ME

FLDIGI gets TCP KISS port

From the FLDIGI yahoo group, see the alpha release information below.  Big news is that (probably courtesy of KK5VD), FLDIGI now has a fully functional KISS TCP port.  If you remember from earlier posts on this blog, FLDIGI provided dual UDP ports in the past.  Worked extremely well with BPQ32, but was hard to interface with other software packages.  My solution was always to route things through BPQ32, but I can see the advantage of being able to eliminate the BPQ32 middleman and go directly to FLDIGI.

I can confirm from testing yesterday evening that the 7342 TCP port works great in SIMPLY KISS mode with APRSIS32.

I encourage others to download this alpha and try it out on your favorite APRS or KISS TERMINAL client.  I will probably even try it out on RMS Express in the next few days!

---------------------------------

at Source Forge, files/alpha_tests/

Alpha 3.23.10.07

Author: David Freese <iam_w1hkj@w1hkj.com>
Date: Fri Apr 15 13:14:49 2016 -0500

Suppress dockable macros

* suppress use of dockable macros
- creates a minimal vertical pixel height of 411
- allows use of fldigi on vertically challenged screens
- user can manually modify the fldigi_def.xml file to
disable the dockable macro set
<!-- type: bool; default: true
Allow dockable macros -->
<DOCKABLE_MACROS>1</DOCKABLE_MACROS>
set value to false, 0.
- or disable on the configuration tab for macros
- the "View/Hide 48 macros" menu item will be hidden when
DOCKABLE_MACROS set to 0, false

Author: David Freese <iam_w1hkj@w1hkj.com>
Date: Thu Apr 14 07:11:22 2016 -0500

Packet Prep

* Modify confdialog.fl for later addition of Packet Modem tab

Author: Edouard Lafargue W6ELA <edouard@lafargue.name>
Date: Wed Apr 13 15:15:35 2016 -0500

Portaudio Mono

* Observed on OS X, fldigi cannot work on audio cards with mono
output
- it requests 2 channels from PortAudio no matter what and
portaudio
will complain if the audio output is only mono.
- modified SoundPort::init_stream to make sure that if
max_channels < 2
sd[1].params.channelCount is updated to max_channels

Author: Robert Stiles <kk5vd@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue Apr 12 13:28:00 2016 -0500

KISS, 8PSK, FLARQ icon Modifications

* KISS TCP/IP
- Add TCP/IP KISS interface
- Add Start/Stop (UDP/IP) and Connect/Disconnect (TCP/IP) option.
- Add Listen/Bind Option.
* Operator selectable 4/8/16PSK preamble duration
- Add code to allow user to change the preamble duration to improve
throughput when not operating via repeater. (KL4YFD).
- Add user selectable checkbox on PSK (8PSK) modem configuration
interface panel for above addition (KK5VD).
* Update FLARQ icons

Author: David Freese <iam_w1hkj@w1hkj.com>
Date: Wed Apr 13 07:38:53 2016 -0500

FSQ message files

* Changed # directive behavior
- save named message to new file
- append unnamed (callsign) message to callsign file
* Added date time stamp to each received "call" message
- user configurable

Author: David Freese <iam_w1hkj@w1hkj.com>
Date: Tue Apr 12 13:38:23 2016 -0500

FLARQ

* auto i/o - Added socket interface to allow separate program to
access
- CONNECT
- DISCONNECT
- CONNECTION_STATE
- SEND_TEXT
- RECEIVE_TEXT
Allows similarly modified flmsg to send/recv messages using
flarq / ARQ transport protocol.
* ARQ reset - force complete reset of all ARQ processes
- drops link without any indicator to connected station
- equivalent of stopping and restarting flarq
- courtesy demands that you inform the CONNECTED station
to also kill the connection at that end of the link.
- use Control-Left_click on the "CONNECT / DISCONNECT"
button to initiate the forced reset.
* Update ARQ icons

Author: David Freese <iam_w1hkj@w1hkj.com>
Date: Thu Apr 7 20:59:50 2016 -0500

focus behavior

* remove focus grab behavior of FreqControl widget

Author: David Freese <iam_w1hkj@w1hkj.com>
Date: Sat Apr 2 08:26:15 2016 -0500

PTT delays

* Corrected reversed on/off sense
* Increased max delay to 5000 msec
* Changed increments to 10 / 100 msec

73, David, W1HKJ

Powerpoints shown at Green Country Hamfest

Please see links below for Powerpoint slides that were shown during the two presentations at Green County Hamfest.  One covered RMS Express/Winlink 2000 for Emergency Management Communications.  The other covered Yaesu Fusion Voice and Data.

If you have any questions, please email ae5me at yahoo.com.

And thanks to everyone who attended the sessions and Green County Hamfest!

--Jeff AE5ME

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r9k0l403mqmyira/Comparison%20of%20Amateur%20Radio%20DV.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ldn76lzxbobz8h/Yaesu%20Fusion%20Voice%20and%20Data.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k4boa6a62u8bkgq/wiresx_hri200.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z6398s0vw7l2gh/RMS%20ExpressWL2K%20Training.pdf?dl=0

Neat correspondence on digital project

Wanted to share with the group some correspondence between Tom McElroy W4SDR and I regarding using AndFLMSG (Android FLDIGI) for a science project.  Fun stuff!  Looking forward to seeing how it works out!

Thanks a lot Jeff - it's working better than I thought it could.

We're sending large images with ease via simplex across the county.

It's just great.

We'll make some vids at some point.

73

Tom

W4SDR

On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 12:06 PM, Jeff Scoville <ae5me@yahoo.com> wrote:

Tom,

BPSK250 or BPSK1000 usually work well on FM repeaters.

--Jeff AE5ME

 

No problem with taking time to get back to me Jeff.

Being busy at work sure beats the alternative, huh?

We'll get the girls working on AndFLMSG with their Android phones and tables for now.  That'll give them plenty to do.

What digital mode do you recommend use for FM repeater work?

73

Tom McElroy

W4SDR

678 778 3743

On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 11:20 PM, Jeff Scoville <ae5me@yahoo.com> wrote:

Tom,

There is an Android version of FLDIGI that would work for going cell phone to cell phone via audio.  It is called AndFLMSG.

If you are willing to go up to the $80 tablets that are available (Winbook 700s and HP Stream 7s), you can run FLDIGI on a windows environment.  Or you can go with the UZ7HO soundmodem, which allows multiple modes in both FSK and PSK.

If you stick with Linux, there is a version of Dire Wolf (packet and APRS soundmodem) that will run on the Raspberry Pi (version 2 or 3).  You can also run FLDIGI on the Raspberry Pi.  I personally prefer to attach the Pi to the 7" touchscreen that is currently sold for $65, as it makes it very tablet-like.

Hope that helps you out.  Sorry it has taken this long to get back to you!

--Jeff AE5ME

---

From: Tom McElroy <tommcelroy.mail@gmail.com>
To: AE5ME@yahoo.com
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2016 10:28 AM
Subject: Digital modes on HT's

Hello Jeff,

I've operated FLDIGI from a laptop hardwired to radios in years past.

I recall being able to Tx and Rx from the speaker/mic of the laptop to the speaker/mic of the HT.

But I can't recall the digital mode, or the software used.

Nowadays, I would hope that we can do that same thing with smartphones running FLDIGI (or some other the text-to-tone software) audibly coupled to an HT.

I have two new hams KM4BUN and KM4PQG anxious to demonstrate "text messaging isn't just for cell phones" as a science project. 

Of course, hardwired audio improves S/N, but for demonstrations, it's good to let the audience hear the process as well as watch the text appear.

Any suggestions you can send this way are appreciated.

73

Tom McElroy

W4SDR

Geosynchronous HAMSATS

Interesting information from packet radio world:

From: VK2BOD@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To  : SAT@WW

Geostationary ham radio satellites
**********************************

EngineerIT magazine reports on the quest by radio amateurs to get
transponders on geostationary satellites

The article quotes President of AMSAT DL, Peter Glzow DB2OS, and descri
eostationary ham radio satellites
**********************************

EngineerIT magazine reports on the quest by radio amateurs to get
transponders on geostationary satellites

The article quotes President of AMSAT DL, Peter Glzow DB2OS, and descri
eostationary ham radio satellites
**********************************

EngineerIT magazine reports on the quest by radio amateurs to get
transponders on geostationary satellites

The article quotes President of AMSAT DL, Peter Glzow DB2OS, and describes
the transponders planned for the geostationary Es'Hail-2 satellite, expected
to be operational in 2017 at 26 degrees East.

Also mentioned is a project to build a transponder for a US satellite which
could be in a geosynchronous orbit around 74 de
bes
the transponders planned for the geostationary Es'Hail-2 satellite, expected
to be operational in 2017 at 26 degrees East.

Also mentioned is a project to build a transponder for a US satellite which
could be in a geosynchronous orbit around 74 de
bes
the transponders planned for the geostationary Es'Hail-2 satellite, expected
to be operational in 2017 at 26 degrees East.

Also mentioned is a project to build a transponder for a US satellite which

could be in a geosynchronous orbit around 74 degrees West.

Read the EngineerIT article at
http://www.ee.co.za/article/radio-amateurs-quest-geostationary-satellites
html

Es'Hail-2
http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/


What is a Geosynchronous orbit ?
http://amsat-uk.org/
grees West.

Read the EngineerIT article at
http://www.ee.co.za/article/radio-amateurs-quest-geostationary-satellites
html

Es'Hail-2
http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/


What is a Geosynchronous orbit ?
http://amsat-uk.org/
grees West.

Read the EngineerIT article at
http://www.ee.co.za/article/radio-amateurs-quest-geostationary-satellites
html

Es'Hail-2
http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/


What is a Geosynchronous orbit ?
http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/na-gso-sat/


NC5R Phase 4 Update for Palomar Amateur Radio Club November 4, 2015
http://www.ntms.org/files/Feb2016/PARC_4on4.pdf
http://amsat-uk.org/2015/11/08/geosynchronous-ham-radio-project-video/

Presentations at Green County Hamfest April 9th at noon and 1PM

The TDRC will be making two presentations this year at Green County Hamfest in Claremore, OK.

Noon April 9th
RMS Express and Winlink 2000
How to send messages in an email-like environment with no internet over HF/VHF/UHF and even microwave.  Especially pertinent for emergency management personnel interested in sending information in a format other than voice.

1:00 PM April 9th
Yaesu Fusion Voice and Data
Learn what are the capabilities of Yaesu Fusion, including high-quality voice, short text messages, small photographs, and interconnection of repeaters and simplex stations via internet on Wires-X.  The TDRC has a UHF Fusion repeater in Mounds, OK on 444.575 Mhz.

WSPR Info

Contributed by AJ5W (David)

With all apologies to the ham-centric podcast 100 Watts and a Wire (which is a fun show if you’ve never tuned in), the FSK mode WSPR can provide results with far less power.  WSPR was developed by Nobel-winning physicist Joe Taylor, K1JT, to study propagation.  I occasionally set up my software-defined radio to run WSPR since it can largely be left unattended.  This past weekend, I set up the SDR to run WSPR with one watt of output on 40 meters.  My “beacon” was set up to transmit 20 percent of the time and listen for other stations during the remainder of the operation.  The total operational time for this test was a twenty-hour period from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon (some operators let WSPR run uninterrupted for days or weeks at a time).  Oh, and the antenna – a shortened, end-fed resonant dipole…in the attic.  Less than ideal is a pretty big understatement.

Unsurprisingly, my one watt signal on 40 meters was robustly received across the contiguous United States and southern Canada.  Now for the WOW factor.  There were two reception reports from stations in Australia (see screenshot).  The station in southwestern Australia, VK6XT, is nearly 11,000 miles from Tulsa – on ONE watt!  Not only did he hear me, but I heard him as well.  Even though this was a passive “contact,” it demonstrated that DX – extreme DX – is possible with low power and a modest antenna.  In theory, a bona-fide two-way QSO was possible since we each heard one another’s station.  Not bad for one watt and a wire strung through my attic.

If you are looking for a new challenge in the world of digital HF, give WSPR a try.
Resources:
http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wspr.html
http://wsprnet.org/drupal/

Tulsa Digital Radio Club Meeting Saturday, March 12th

The next Tulsa Digital Radio Club meeting will be Saturday, March 12th at 1 PM.  It will be held at the Broken Arrow Central Library at 300 W. Broadway.

We will cover "RMS Express message addressing".  The Tulsa system is now linked via HF, VHF, and internet to the N5CST system in Poteau, OK and the KC5OAS system in Magnolia, AR.  We also have a full-time internet connection to the Branson, MO N0KFQ system.  We will show you how to address messages to recipients on the other systems.

As always, we can answer general questions you may have regarding digital modes from packet all the way up to FLDIGI (PSK31, Olivia 8-500, etc.) and everything in between.

Speaking of Winmor, the AE5ME-12 system is now full time on 7100 kHz and 3595 kHz.  We also have a 'weak signal" experimental Winmor port on 144.23 Mhz USB that has allowed an operator in West Tulsa county to connect using 2 watts.

Also, don't forget to check in to the statewide APRS net this weekend, which coincides with the start of the meeting at 1 PM.  We will be operating the net from the library.

Hope to see you at the meeting!

--Jeff AE5ME

Tulsa Digital Radio Club Meeting on Saturday, February 13th at 1 PM

The next Tulsa Digital Radio Club meeting will be Saturday, February 13th at 1 PM.  It will be held at the Broken Arrow Central Library at 300 W. Broadway.

We will discuss Yaesu Fusion digital voice and data this month.  We will also have KD5WVV (Kevin) attending from LeFlore county.  We will discuss some of the joint activities that we are conducting with their group, including RMS Express/WL2K on 2m packet and HF Winmor, APRS, and operation on Yaesu Fusion.

We will also answer questions that you may have regarding how to get on the air with RMS Express to send messages on packet and HF Winmor and getting on the air with APRS, or any other "digital" questions you may have.

Speaking of Winmor, the AE5ME-12 system is now operating on 7100 kHz (daytime) and 3595 kHz (nighttime).  That should help stations to connect at night, as 40m is typically giving up the ghost around sundown.  Please update your RMS Express stations accordingly.

Also, don't forget to check in to the statewide APRS net this weekend, which coincides with the start of the meeting at 1 PM.  We will be operating the net from the library.

Hope to see you at the meeting!

--Jeff AE5ME

Interesting thoughts about BPQ32 "RF" style

Richard, Hello.

I must say, I can’t tell you how many times this subject has come up in a few
discussions of mine – usually met with a small measure of disdain <GRIN>
in times past.

I am working with a couple of stations involving Winmor P-P RF ONLY with
BPQ32 as forwarding support for stations who can’t hear each other.
Well, that’s the idea anyway.

The Winmor P-P project works fine although it’s somewhat fragile since
there are just a few stations who are “testing the waters” with Peer-Peer.

Anyway, I dropped all vestiges of AXIP and reliance upon Winlink for this
little project. The idea was to see if an RF ONLY network could be put
together. Personally, I think it should but that’s me <GRIN>. The thinking is
to rely upon the Internet and Winlink on an as needed basis, maybe a last
resort?  

It has become my own opinion that BPQ32 use has relied way too much on
the Internet – speaking to AXIP and message forwarding, etc. There should
be more focus on RF IMHO. Of course, I’m carrying lots of legacy thinking,
some 60 years worth as a Ham.

Winmor is the vehicle of choice because there is NO Packet activity here
in Wayne County, IN. Well, there’s no digital activity at all to quite honest
about it. However, I threw out the teaser about Winmor use and Bruce
ran with it several months and several hundred messages ago.

I copied Jerry N9LYA here for info because he has expressed interest in
such activity. Bruce KB5ROZ is EC down in Columbia County, AR. He’s
been working with me to gain interest in Winmor Peer-Peer activity.

My BPQ32 gateway is on 7060.000 DIAL for Winlink and runs concurrently
on 7080.000 DIAL for stations involved with Winmor Peer-Peer. Some
other stations are setting up BPQ32 for this also in MO, PA and such.

Anyway, was surprised to see your comment. Just thought I’d reply back
and throw in my devalued $ .02 worth. I thought off line might be a better
path.

In fact, just to clarify, it is THIS type of message that would have been sent
RF ONLY rather than in response to your email. More than once, I’ve put
an email onto BPQ32/Thunderbird and sent a reply to someone. Just
for grins. There’s an untold amount of message traffic on the forum that
could be sent RF only if such a network had been maintained. IT would
be a great way to eliminate pesky Bulletins with REAL message traffic.

Howard W6IDS
Richmond, IN

From: mailto:BPQ32@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, January 6, 2016 11:37 AM
To: BPQ32@yahoogroups.com 
Subject: [BPQ32] Re: re new user ? JIEBBS

not to steal from Charles' thunder.. but perhaps two networks? one Internet only and another RF only? 

of course anyone can configure their station as they please, but I would think the recent rash of unknown callsigns accessing BPQ BBS's would be a wake up call. and from the BBS one only needs to give the NODE command and have access to the RF ports of that station.

maybe another thread should be started to kick around some ideas for an RF only BPQ network?

Richard ke7xo 

Statewide APRS Net Saturday, January 9th at 1 PM!

Our first monthly Oklahoma State APRS Net of 2016  will be on Saturday, January 9th starting at 1 PM.  Even if you don't have a TNC, check out the soundcard modem UZ7HO at http://uz7.ho.ua/packetradio.htm.

You can also check in if you have an APRS ready rig like the Kenwood TH-D72 or the Yaesu FTM-100DR, as they support messaging.