Firat part is who's in here and what are your radio communication interests? I know many of us are hams, but that's really intended to be
On 08-31-22 23:01, Irish_Monk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Firat part is who's in here and what are your radio communication interests? I know many of us are hams, but that's really intended to be
Irish Monk here, working on getting my Technician License, hopefully sometime this month.
Was suppose to go Sept. 1st and that was cancelled. Now I need to find another exam thats not too far away...
Im sure this might cause a stir. But I picked up a UV-5R just to get something in my hands so I know what Im learning. (No transmitting)
Just setting up and listening for now.. To be honost, havent picked up
too much just scanning through. Right now just have stock antenna. So I might invest in another antenna or just grab a different radio..
Welcome aboard. :)
LoRa
Long range wifi
On 09-01-22 08:42, Irish_Monk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Welcome aboard. :)
Thank you very much! Hoping to learn as much as possible reading thru
the messages. Really cool to have a NET focused a lot on Ham Radio. Especially since I just started to get into it!
On 09-01-22 08:53, Irish_Monk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
LoRa
Long range wifi
Definitely want to check out LoRa a little bit more. First heard about
it about 2 weeks ago or so. The nice thing is no license needed to use. and it seemed pretty cheap. only about 30 bucks a piece , of course you would probably need at least 2 to do some testing.
Only heard very little about Long Range Wifi. How far has someone been able to get the Wifi extended out to? Any experience in this?
Wasnt brought up, and hopefully okay to mention. But Me, being a "cable guy" for the last 21 years, I even like to tinker around with OTA cable channels. They came out with a new technology called ATSC 3.0. Offers
4k channels, possibly some sort of video on demand, supposedly most channels will be on one tower, so you just have to point at that one tower, instead of finding a middle point for all the channels you want. The one bad thing is, with atsc 3.0 it gives the networks the option to encrypt their channels. Which possibly means in the future you might
have to pay for.
I have one of the cheap Baofengs. Handy to have a cheap radio for
those times when you don't want to sacrifice an expensive radio. But
once you find your feet, I'm sure you'll be looking to add to your
radio collection. :)
Bit of a double barrelled message here, partly to stimulate activity,
and also to give people new opportunities to chat on this network.
Firat part is who's in here and what are your radio communication interests? I know many of us are hams, but that's really intended to
be only one aspect of this net.
Now onto what could be considered on topic, it is actually quite
broad. Besides ham radio, other areas, I'd more than welcome
discussion on include:
CB radio
Hacking with "licence free" low power devices.
LoRa
Long range wifi
Scanning and shortwave listening
Software defined radio (RTL-SDR devices are cheap and fun to play
with) Technical aspects of low power FM broadcasting - equipment, antennas, audio processing
GMRS (USA), FRS(USA)/PMR446(EU) and similar
services. Optical/IR communications (light is electromagnetic
radiation afterall). Ultrasonic comms (it's wireless) Even some
aspects of remote controlled devices fall into this umbrella.
This list is not exhaustive, if you have such interests, post away!
The local radio club has multiple long range wifi in the 5 gHz amateur band with two links from our house here up to two mountain tops. One is
a short distance of about 10 miles (16 km), or so, to a site at about
2000 feet (610 meters) elevation. Another is nearly 38 miles (61 km) at
an altitude of 7500 feet (2286 meters). The elevation here is about 331 feet (101 meters) with 52/65 TX/RX Mbps and a -63/-60 signal. Of course, if there is a bit of fog (winter) or smog (summer), smoke (fire season), rain (I wish), the signal strength is affected. The links are quite reliable.
On 09-02-22 14:00, Daryl Stout wrote to Vk3jed <=-
There's a meme where you see this busted out car window, and several Baofeng HT's in the front seat. The meme noted "The ham had left his Baofeng on the front seat, so others decided to leave theirs there as well". Maybe it was to keep the first one from getting lonely (hi hi).
On 09-03-22 11:22, Ray Quinn wrote to Vk3jed <=-
W6RAY from Visalia, California, where today it's supposed to reach 104F (40C) today and 112F (44.4C) on Tuesday.
CB radio
As a truck driver who mostly hauls heavy construction and agricultural equipment, I do use a CB radio in the truck, especially when a pilot
car is required due to oversize dimentions. I don't usually talk on it otherwise - too much nonsense.
Hacking with "licence free" low power devices.
I don't really mess with this.
LoRa
I don't know what that is.
Long range wifi
The local radio club has multiple long range wifi in the 5 gHz amateur band with two links from our house here up to two mountain tops. One is
a short distance of about 10 miles (16 km), or so, to a site at about
2000 feet (610 meters) elevation. Another is nearly 38 miles (61 km) at
an altitude of 7500 feet (2286 meters). The elevation here is about 331 feet (101 meters) with 52/65 TX/RX Mbps and a -63/-60 signal. Of
course, if there is a bit of fog (winter) or smog (summer), smoke (fire season), rain (I wish), the signal strength is affected. The links are quite reliable.
Scanning and shortwave listening
Currently, I provide two feeds for Broadcastify. One is the Cal Fire
TUU (Tulare Unit) feed with the Fresno/Kings Unit (FKU) and the local county fire department thrown it with it. I will offer an additional
feed of local ham repeaters soon. I already have the radio, just need
the computer hardware.
Software defined radio (RTL-SDR devices are cheap and fun to play
I have one, but don't often use it.
with) Technical aspects of low power FM broadcasting - equipment, antennas, audio processing
Years ago, I assisted in an antenna raising of a local power FM
broadcast station on 101.5 FM. KVLP-LP. At the after-"party), I was
asked to play DJ. Lots of fun. As is customary with many stations who change format, one song was played over and over and over and... Inna Godda da Vida, by Iron Butterfly.
GMRS (USA), FRS(USA)/PMR446(EU) and similar
I recently renewed my GMRS license (WRKZ506) earlier this year since I
had let my old one lapse. I own two radios that will transmit on GMRS frequencies, but don't as they aren't really typed for it, you know,
FCC rules, etc.
Just last week, our radio club put a GMRS repeater up at our site, mentioned above. Apparently it doesn't have quite the coverage the ham repeaters do, so tomorrow (Sunday September 4, 2022) we plan a trip to
the site - a 100 minute drive and a rise in elevation of over 7000 feet (2134 meters).
This list is not exhaustive, if you have such interests, post away!
Well, I check into a few local FM repeater traffic nets, a net or two
on HF, usually 75 meters. I have done two successful Parks on the Air (https://pota.app), one from our repeater site, which is within Kings Canyon National Park and a summit listed on the Summits on the Air web site. The other activation was at Millerton Lake State Park, north of Fresno, CA, on our last annual visit there for my mother's birthday. My plan is to do another POTA and SOTA at Park Ridge, then walk a few feet into the Sequoia National Forest and do another POTA. I have better
luck on 20m band.
I also run the SJVBBS Packet Bulletin Board System (w6ray-4) on 145.090 and 441.500 1200 bps AFSK. As I type this, the radios and TNC's are located at Park Ridge with the software running on a virtual machine
(on my Synchronet/Linux computer (www.synchro.net) running JNOS (https://www.langelaar.net/jnos2). I am connected to the Amateur Packet Radio Network (www.ampr.org). I am currently looking for (a) forwarding partner(s) since one of my previous one moved out of California (lucky) and another retired his BBS.
I also maintain the club's microwave (wifi) netowrk. We use this for
our DSTAR systems at three sites (currently only Park Ridge is online. It's too hot to work on the exterior antennas, etc.) Park Ridge is also
a fire lookout for the US Forest Service and the National Park Service.
We provide wifi (internet) for the volunteers at the lookout.
On 09-03-22 19:39, Irish_Monk wrote to Ray Quinn <=-
Thats awesome, I didnt know you can get wifi extended that far. !! Good
to know.
On 09-03-22 11:22, Ray Quinn wrote to Vk3jed <=-
W6RAY from Visalia, California, where today it's supposed to
reach 104F (40C) today and 112F (44.4C) on Tuesday.
Welcome aboard. We're expecting rain, rain and more rain tomorrow. :)
CB radio
As a truck driver who mostly hauls heavy construction and
agricultural equipment, I do use a CB radio in the truck,
especially when a pilot car is required due to oversize
dimentions. I don't usually talk on it otherwise - too much
nonsense.
Here, 27 MHz SSB has been making a comeback among hobbyists in recent years, aided by a Facebook group. UHF CB is commonly used for public events. I maintain a small fleet of UHF HTs for this purpose. :)
LoRa
I don't know what that is.
A more modern protocol for wireless devices, especially IoT (Internet
of Things) applications. Interesting performance levels for low
powered devices in the UHF/lower microwave bands.
Long range wifi
The local radio club has multiple long range wifi in the 5 gHz
amateur band with two links from our house here up to two
mountain tops. One is a short distance of about 10 miles (16 km),
or so, to a site at about 2000 feet (610 meters) elevation.
Another is nearly 38 miles (61 km) at an altitude of 7500 feet
(2286 meters). The elevation here is about 331 feet (101 meters)
with 52/65 TX/RX Mbps and a -63/-60 signal. Of course, if there
is a bit of fog (winter) or smog (summer), smoke (fire season),
rain (I wish), the signal strength is affected. The links are
quite reliable.
Some decent links there! Best I've managed is 20km over a good path
when testing, but no permanent installations.
Scanning and shortwave listening
Currently, I provide two feeds for Broadcastify. One is the Cal
Fire TUU (Tulare Unit) feed with the Fresno/Kings Unit (FKU) and
the local county fire department thrown it with it. I will offer
an additional feed of local ham repeaters soon. I already have
the radio, just need the computer hardware.
I was feeding my repeater via Broadcastify, but the conversion to multimode had vastly complicated this effort.
Software defined radio (RTL-SDR devices are cheap and fun to play
I have one, but don't often use it.
Keep finding new uses for them. :)
GMRS (USA), FRS(USA)/PMR446(EU) and similar
I recently renewed my GMRS license (WRKZ506) earlier this year
since I had let my old one lapse. I own two radios that will
transmit on GMRS frequencies, but don't as they aren't really
typed for it, you know, FCC rules, etc.
Similar issues with UHF CB here.
Just last week, our radio club put a GMRS repeater up at our
site, mentioned above. Apparently it doesn't have quite the
coverage the ham repeaters do, so tomorrow (Sunday September 4,
2022) we plan a trip to the site - a 100 minute drive and a rise
in elevation of over 7000 feet (2134 meters).
Hope the upgrade went well. :)
You keep busy! Good to see, and there's so many aspects of radio
comms these days.
On 09-03-22 19:39, Irish_Monk wrote to Ray Quinn <=-
Thats awesome, I didnt know you can get wifi extended that far.
!! Good to know.
In a hobbyist wireless network in Melbourne, one wifi node, located
high up in the mountains to the east of the city was known to have multiple links up to 50 km.
On 09-07-22 19:20, Ray Quinn wrote to Vk3jed <=-
We actually reached 113F here in Visalia, 117 in Lemoore (next county west) 116 in Sacramento, about 200 miles north, our state capitol. It
set all-time records for high temperatures in the month of September (since 1899) and all-time record high minimums.
Welcome aboard. We're expecting rain, rain and more rain tomorrow. :)
Can you send some of that here? We need help putting out the fires and cleaning up the air.
The CB radio in my truck also does USB and LSB as well as the usual AM where the maximum output is 4 watts.
LoRa
I don't know what that is.
A more modern protocol for wireless devices, especially IoT (Internet
of Things) applications. Interesting performance levels for low
powered devices in the UHF/lower microwave bands.
That sounds interesting.
Some decent links there! Best I've managed is 20km over a good path
when testing, but no permanent installations.
Well, it helps that we have line-of-sight and an elevation difference
of over 7,200 feet.
I was feeding my repeater via Broadcastify, but the conversion to multimode had vastly complicated this effort.
Our ham repeaters have multimode capabilities; analog and P25 digital.
We also have several receivers around providing audio for a voter
system on three different bands.
Software defined radio (RTL-SDR devices are cheap and fun to play
I have one, but don't often use it.
Keep finding new uses for them. :)
It's just a time factor. We're trying to resolve the issues with the
voter system and have been making trips up to the site often. When
winter comes, the site is almost inaccessable once the snow comes.
GMRS (USA), FRS(USA)/PMR446(EU) and similar
We adjusted the antenna so as to have some downtilt. It seems to have improved the access greatly. We will be increasing the power and moving the antenna higher later this month.
You keep busy! Good to see, and there's so many aspects of radio
comms these days.
Yes, I do. I also work full time and have a house to maintain. I am way behind on the maintenance, but it's been too hot to do anything. Next week, it is supposed to be 25 degrees cooler...
On 09-07-22 19:53, Ray Quinn wrote to Vk3jed <=-
We also used to have two 5 gHz radios that would reach out across the valley, but I didn't have the equipment to access it back then. Then
the tower was struck by lightning and destroyed them. Ubiquiti replaced them no charge...
In a hobbyist wireless network in Melbourne, one wifi node, located high up in the mountains to the east of the city was known to have multiple links up to 50 km.
We actually reached 113F here in Visalia, 117 in Lemoore (next county west) 116 in Sacramento, about 200 miles north, our state capitol. It
set all-time records for high temperatures in the month of September (since 1899) and all-time record high minimums.
On 09-10-22 08:38, Irish_Monk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
This technology is just amazing!! Im having a hard time concentrating
on 1 thing at a time, theres just so much out there to learn and play
with these days!!
But thats cool to know that it can reach distances like that.
Bit of a double barrelled message here, partly to stimulate activity,
and also to give people new opportunities to chat on this network.
Firat part is who's in here and what are your radio communication
interests? I know many of us are hams, but that's really intended to
be only one aspect of this net.
On 09-19-22 13:23, Nelgin wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Firat part is who's in here and what are your radio communication
interests? I know many of us are hams, but that's really intended to
be only one aspect of this net.
I am, from time to time. Mainly for emergencies, I've only get a little
HT and can barely reach the local repeater with it. Oh well.
On 09-07-22 19:20, Ray Quinn wrote to Vk3jed <=-
We actually reached 113F here in Visalia, 117 in Lemoore (next
county west) 116 in Sacramento, about 200 miles north, our state
capitol. It set all-time records for high temperatures in the
month of September (since 1899) and all-time record high
minimums.
Wow, that's a bit toasty for so late in the season! :)
The CB radio in my truck also does USB and LSB as well as the
usual AM where the maximum output is 4 watts.
Cool, you may hear some Aussies late in your day with the improving conditions. Places to listen are 16LSB and 35LSB. We use the same channels as the US.
That's pretty much impossible here without using a balloon or other aircraft. (
I run 5 modes - FM, DMR, M17, D-STAR and Fusion, which complicates creating a Broadcastify feed dramatically!
We adjusted the antenna so as to have some downtilt. It seems to
have improved the access greatly. We will be increasing the power
and moving the antenna higher later this month.
Good luck, sounds like it will be a useful system. We do have UHF CB repeaters here. In cities, they are cesspits, but in rural areas,
they are a valuable community resource.
You keep busy! Good to see, and there's so many aspects of radio
comms these days.
Yes, I do. I also work full time and have a house to maintain. I
am way behind on the maintenance, but it's been too hot to do
anything. Next week, it is supposed to be 25 degrees cooler...
Cool, should get a SHARI and connect to the world using AllStar. :)
On 09-23-22 20:02, Ray Quinn wrote to Vk3jed <=-
About two weeks later, the high was about 77F. Next week back into the
mid 90's.
I'm not usually in the truck late in the day. We are usually off by
15:30.
We have the Sierra Nevada range just to the east. The highest point in
the continental US is in Tulare County. Mt. Whitney is at 14,502 feet above sea level and is around 50-60 miles from here. However, due to
its location, it isn't visible from the valley, but it is visible from
the Owens Valley. We have many peaks, and a lot have repeater sites.
I run 5 modes - FM, DMR, M17, D-STAR and Fusion, which complicates creating a Broadcastify feed dramatically!
We recently put up a couple of dual-mode repeaters. Analog and DMR. I don't have any DMR capable radios. I have DSTAR and C4FM.
This past weekend, we made another trip. We reprogrammed the repeater's frequency, increased the power to the maximum of the repeater (40W),
and raised the antenna to the very top of the tower. It improved the coverage greatly. Some guys took a drive through the back-country and
then down to the south and was able to use the repeater in areas that
once were shadowed.
Yes, I do. I also work full time and have a house to maintain. I
am way behind on the maintenance, but it's been too hot to do
anything. Next week, it is supposed to be 25 degrees cooler...
On 10-03-22 01:04, Nelgin wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Re: Re: Who's here? and topics for discussion.
By: Vk3jed to Nelgin on Wed Sep 21 2022 19:29:00
Cool, should get a SHARI and connect to the world using AllStar. :)
"SHARI is designed as a kit for construction and use in the amateur
radio service by licensed amateur radio operators who can assure that their assembled SHARI kit meets FCC mandated operating requirements including RF frequency, deviation and required power levels at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies."
I got lucky on my test! :) I wouldn't even have a clue where to start
on that. --- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
That might work now that the time zones are changing, both ends would
be in daylight at that time, and for a number of hours before (with
people awake this end!). In winter, there's a lot less overlap.
I run 5 modes - FM, DMR, M17, D-STAR and Fusion, which complicates creating a Broadcastify feed dramatically!
Always something to do. :)
... Do you talk to the dial tone much?
On 10-07-22 12:55, Daryl Stout wrote to Vk3jed <=-
There supposedly is a bill making its way through the US Congress
(but, they're all off campaigning for the midterm elections next
month), that would put the entire US under Daylight Savings Time permanently, as of March 12, 2023...instead of going back to Standard
Time in November, 2023. But, I wonder how places like Arizona, Hawaii,
and the US territories would handle that, as they've stayed on Standard Time year round.
With my heart condition, I operate internet radio only...but it means
my ham radio license isn't just a sheet of paper. :) I know I'm QRT if
my power or internet is down, but I've got too many health issues now
to be worrying about EmComm. I do CQ100, Winlink 2000, D-Star, D-Rats, with Echolink very rarely now.
... Do you talk to the dial tone much?
I do like the sound of it (hi hi).
US seems to do weird things. :)
Never got into CQ100, but I have DroidStar for the digital modes if I
need it. More likely to use a HT and a hotspot.
... If It's Bug Free, It's Time to Make Changes
On 10-10-22 18:13, Daryl Stout wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Tony,
US seems to do weird things. :)
Look who's in charge. :P
Never got into CQ100, but I have DroidStar for the digital modes if I
need it. More likely to use a HT and a hotspot.
I've got to get with another ham on the setup...I put it on the
phone, but it's hard to read the display in part of it. Also, D-Star is receive only, but you can transmit on DMR and Fusion.
I used to check into several nets on CQ100, but now, just do the one
on Friday morning, US Time.
... If It's Bug Free, It's Time to Make Changes
Sounds like the Windows Update coming out tomorrow (2nd Tuesday). <G>
On 10-10-22 18:13, Daryl Stout wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Tony,
US seems to do weird things. :)
Look who's in charge. :P
Better than the last one. :P
Never got into CQ100, but I have DroidStar for the digital modes
if I need it. More likely to use a HT and a hotspot.
Sorry, but I have to disagree on this one. "Brandon," er Joe Biden is merely a puppet. Just watch him.
I used CQ100 when it first came out, but I was/am responsible for the Club's IRLP/Echolink, and more. (For some reason, this reminded me to check into a nightly 75m net... I guess I forgot the weekly Amateur
Radio Emergency Services (ARES) net.)
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