Monday, April 25, 2016

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.

Monday, April 18, 2016

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


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

Monday, April 11, 2016

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

Saturday, April 9, 2016

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/

Monday, April 4, 2016

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.