G4VXE.COM

Simplex D-STAR contact from Oxfordshire to Swindon

2009-12-04T13:29:00.004Z

A few weeks ago, Rob, G4XUT who lives near Swindon mentioned to me that he'd bought an Icom E-91 handheld capable of D-STAR. Since then, we've been talking about trying to have a simplex contact from our home stations.

This Wednesday evening, we finally got around to it! As I don't have a vertical collinear for 2m, we decided to use horizontal beams. We only live about 15 miles apart, so we first of all made contact on FM where signals were strong as you'd expect over the distance.

We then switched over to Digital Voice (DV) mode. Initially, Rob's signal to me was a bit 'Donald Duck' - there was obviously some data loss, but I tweaked the beam around to him and was able to get solid voice copy from him at a low power level. It wasn't until Rob turned the power up to 5w that I got the data (callsign/name message) appearing on the display of my E92 handheld.

Setting up the radios for a simplex contact couldn't have been simpler. The 'YourCall' was set to CQCQCQ, Repeater 1 and 2 were not set and 'MyCall' was set to our own calls.

After our QSO, Rob was able to try out the connection to the MB6AM Simplex node which worked well.

Our intention is to be active again on D-STAR simplex again next Wednesday evening, probably around 2100z. If you're within 60-70 miles of Oxford or Swindon and have D-STAR and a horizontal beam and would like to try a simplex contact, e-mail me at tim at g4vxe dot com and we'll set something up. If you'd like to join Rob and I next Wednesday on 144MHz D-STAR, e-mail me and we'll try and make contact - should be fun!

Setting up your D-STAR radio - great videos from Gary, KN4AQ

2009-11-28T17:56:00.003Z

When I first talk to people about D-STAR, one the things that they often ask is how difficult it is to set up the rig? It's not difficult and if you've played with Packet Radio, you'll see some similarities. But looking through some documentation about the Icom E-92 handheld yesterday, I found reference to a couple of videos made by Gary, KN4AQ about how to set up your D-STAR rig and make some QSOs. Do have a look if you haven't seen them, they're really helpful

Part 2 is here

Thanks, Gary - I learned loads!

Lots of interest in WSPR 2.0 - and the changing nature of QSOs

2009-11-25T13:02:00.005Z

I can see from the search results on the blog that a lot of people are interested in the new version of WSPR from Joe, K1JT. Just to encourage you further, I wanted to pass along some excellent results which a couple of friends have had since installing the new version of software.

Pete, 2E0SQL set up WSPR, running 5w on 10.140 and was delighted to find that his signals were received by ZL2FT in New Zealand. And Jerry, KD0BIK has been trying WSPR out too and was getting great reports from all across the USA last night.

I was contemplating how I can get some WSPR going at home. I can use the FT1000 and main antenna, but I was wondering about setting up the FT817 and a small portable antenna (the one I use on holidays) and see just how far I can make that go. I'll have to see if I can interface the FT817 with my laptop, which doesn't have a COM port! Hopefully I can fix something up and we'll see what happens.

I was thinking last night about how activity such as WSPR, APRS, Propnet and so on do not comprise 'typical' radio contacts. If I hear you on WSPR and you hear me, did we make a contact? Probably not, although we could probably argue by at least one definition of a 'contact' that we'd exchanged some unknown information - I think we fall down on the fact that we can't verify that the information was successfully received. Not on the radio at least!

But back to the original point that WSPR, APRS, PropNet etc do not fit with our traditional type radio contacts. Do we care? I'm not sure I do! Although some people enjoy long conversations on HF, that's at least partially the preserve of those who are lucky enough to have nice large antennas! (Yes, I know that's simplistic). For the rest of us, we're probably happy to get through, exchange a quick report and move on. I know I am.

But what I like about WSPR, APRS and PropNet is that I know that 'someone or something' will be listening and if there's propagation, then I'll know that someone heard my signals.

Comes down, I suppose to the fact that for me, Amateur Radio is largely about the Medium, not the Message. YMMV.

CQWW CW this weekend

2009-11-24T13:07:00.003Z

The major CW contest of the year, CQ WW CW takes place this coming weekend. Tuning around the bands last night, it was clear that some expeditions to far-flung parts of the world are already in place and making contacts to raise interest in their contest activity.

I was listening to a fairly big pile-up on the bottom end of 7MHz - which was actually a classic illustration of why I don't play much contesting or Dxing these days! The DX station didn't send a callsign in about 10 minutes of listening - just punctuating the end of each contact by 'NA/SA'. And the idiots were in force transmitting 'LID' and various other charming phrases. Hey, whatever, but I'm not going to get involved....

More interestingly, up on 14MHz which had all but closed, I was listening to a KP4 station from Puerto Rico making a contact with an Australian station, who I couldn't hear. And on 3.5MHz I could hear European stations making contacts into Japan.

So, there's plenty going on of interest - whatever conditions are like - you should be able to find some good contacts to make over the weekend.

MB6AM D-STAR coverage in Oxfordshire

2009-11-24T12:39:00.002Z

Having read about the new MB6AM node yesterday, I tuned one of the receivers of the FT8900 in the car to 144.8625. That's FM only and doesn't receive D-STAR but I thought I'd be able to see what signals were like.

Pretty much as soon as I drove out of the car-park at Didcot, I heard the GMSK 'buzz' which was encouraging. Driving home, I also heard a couple of packet nodes on the frequency, which might be interesting - not sure where they were. Just around the corner from home I could hear the D-STAR signal.

But from home, with the E92 D-STAR handheld, I couldn't open up MB6AM. That was a little disappointing, but on reflection, I suspect I'm just a little bit shielded in that direction. Conceivably, a collinear on the top of the mast might sort that out.

To capitalise on what looks like a viable 'mobile' signal from MB6AM, I've ordered an adapter patch lead to allow me to plug the handheld into the mobile aerial, so I can give that a go when it arrives and I'm pretty sure that will be successful.

I brought the E-92 into London today and when I got out of the car at Didcot, I tried blipping up MB6AM which was successful from a couple of areas of the station car park, so it looks like there's hand-held D-STAR coverage from that part of Oxfordshire now.

MB6AM: D-STAR coverage getting closer to home

2009-11-23T12:40:00.002Z

I was excited this morning to read of a new D-STAR node, MB6AM coming on the air from Tring in Hertfordshire. As I hear various beacons and repeaters from that part of the world, it may be that this gives me some D-STAR coverage from home, or close to home.

From the 77hz site here's the press release about MB6AM:

MB6AM, 2m D-Star Simplex Node: Tring, Herts.

After several weeks in testing, MB6AM went live this afternoon, sharing
the same mast as the 70cm GB3TU repeater. MB6AM is located in Tring, North
West of London and is well appointed to provide Digital Voice (DV) coverage
across many of the Home Counties and parts of Oxfordshire.

MB6AM is the reincarnation of the old GB7AM packet node, using the same
antenna and 2m frequency. Chris, G0WTZ, kindly donated his own Yaseu
FT-7800R for the project and David, G4ULF provided custom software to link
into the global D-Star network. G4ULF's software was developed with the full
cooperation of the Trust Server team and has been fully tested for G2
compatibility, with support for G2 direct routing and dplus linking across
to other D-Star repeaters, via the Internet.

MB6AM will be routinely connected to reflector REF013B which has been
dubbed TechNet, a meeting place for repeater keepers, software developers
and D-Star hardware hackers. User control of dplus linking and unlinking is
enabled, so mobile users on the busy M1 and M40 motorways, can re-task the
simplex node as required. When the dplus connection is left unlinked, a
script will automatically re-establish contact with TechNet.

To access MB6AM, users should configure their radios in simplex mode on
144.8625 MHz, with no RPT settings required. If RPT settings are used, then
the following settings must be programmed:

YOUR: CQCQCQ

RPT1: MB6AM^^C (^ = space)

RPT2: MB6AM^^G
Duplex Offset: +/- 0 MHz

A great Moonbounce video from HB9MOON

2009-11-21T19:47:00.003Z

If you've never seen or heard a moonbounce contact, take a look at this video from the really excellent HB9MOON group. You'll see and hear HB9MOON working LX1DB.

Moonbounce, if you've not come across it before, is exactly that. Both stations point their antennas at the moon and hope there will be enough reflected signal to make a contact. When you've got superb dish antennas like the ones in use here, then there's no problem.

The signal takes around 1 1/2 seconds to travel to the moon and back, so you can hear your own signals coming back. Have a listen here, as the HB9MOON operator stops speaking, you'll hear his voice coming back - via the Moon 250,000 miles away!

CW, APRS and.... Goats

2009-11-21T18:39:00.003Z

Our friends, Steve, Peanut and Rooster have been busy again. In this excellent video, they seamlessly merge APRS, CW and the great American outdoors. Enjoy it!

Oh, and if you want to track Steve and the goats on APRS, click here

WSPR version 2 is available

2009-11-20T09:54:00.002Z

Version 2.0 of the fascinating propagation research program written by Joe Taylor, K1JT, WSPR is now available.

"WSPR implements a protocol designed for probing potential propagation paths with low-power transmissions. Normal transmissions carry a station's callsign, Maidenhead grid locator, and transmitter power in dBm. The program can decode signals with S/N as low as -28 dB in a 2500 Hz bandwidth. Stations with internet access can automatically upload their reception reports to a central database called WSPRnet, which includes a mapping facility. To see a live version of the map pictured at top right, click here.

WSPR 2.0 introduces a number of new features including a user-friendly setup screen with drop-down selection of audio devices and rig-control parameters, support for compound callsigns, fine selection of the fractional time for transmitting, and a Tune button. A new Advanced setup screen offers optional CW identification and tools for frequency calibration and automated frequency corrections for your radio. Full details are presented in the WSPR 2.0 User's Guide, which you will need to read in order to use the new features. For the first time, a binary installation package is made available for Ubuntu Linux (versions 8.10 and later), Debian 5.03, and other Debian-based 32-bit Linux distributions"

Read more and download the software here

G4VXE Weather Station Data now on APRS

2009-11-14T09:23:00.003Z

Having become a little more interested in APRS this week, having played with the iBCNU program, I remembered that the excellent Cumulus software that I use to publish my weather station data to Twitter and the Weather Underground also supports APRS. This morning, I've configured Cumulus to upload the G4VXE weather station data to APRS.

You can see it on the map here

Marconi Memorial CW Contest last weekend

2009-11-10T13:22:00.003Z

More traditional activity at G4VXE last weekend during the 144MHz Marconi Memorial Contest. This is a CW contest and though activity isn't generally frenetic, there's usually enough to be of interest.

I managed a few quick sessions on the air and though conditions were pretty poor, I was pleased to work a couple of stations from the Netherlands (PA6NL and PC5M) as well as several French stations, around JN19 area. I did hear a weak German station at one point but didn't make contact.

Enjoyable contacts!

A quick update on iBCNU - APRS application for the iPhone

2009-11-10T13:07:00.003Z

I've been enjoying the little iBCNU APRS application for the iPhone. When I originally posted about it, I said that I hadn't yet used it to exchange APRS messages. I have now - including messages with Jerry, KD0BIK in Denver and VK6ZUK in Brisbane.

Position tracking works well and the iBCNU site provides some nice tracking functionality similar to the Findu site. See where I am with the iBCNU site here.

Taking another look at APRS

2009-11-07T14:34:00.003Z

I noticed a tweet from Jerry, KD0BIK this morning saying that he'd just installed a copy of an application called iBCNU on his iPhone. I'd never heard of it, so I googled it and found the iBCNU application here iBCNU was written by David, AB3Y and looks to be a nice piece of work!

iBCNU is an APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) client for the iPhone. It allows you to transmit position reports or send short messages from your iPhone, through the APRS Internet server. Messages may be sent to other amateurs using APRS and position reports may be viewed through the Internet on sites such as APRS.FI

I quite like APRS, though I never really know what to do with it! I first became aware of APRS in the mid to late 1990s when I lived in Toronto. I remember connecting an Icom IC2E up to a TNC and hooking up a DOS APRS program to it, which showed simple (by today's standards) maps on the Ontario area. It was fun to get going but I wasn't quite sure what to do with after that!

Last time I looked at APRS was when we were running GB50 from Windsor Castle and I had the pleasure of explaining it to HRH Prince Philip!

Because I liked maps, radios and the internet; APRS does have a fascination, so I was interested to install the iBCNU application on my iPhone and it happily transmits position reports, which you can see on the Internet! And I think I can send messages to other APRS users, but I haven't tried that out yet.

So if you want to see where iBCNU thinks I am, have a look on Findu.Com and see!

Keeping a broader sense of perspective

2009-10-30T12:08:00.004Z

There are so many specialist interest groups in radio which focus on just one aspect of the hobby, be it CW, 50MHz, QRP, repeaters - you name it, you'll find one. In many ways this is marvellous and you feel that there's going to be a real depth of knowledge when you join these organisations and indeed there usually is.

Sometimes, though, I find the inward-facing nature of these organisations frustrating. Take for example, a CW club, which I won't name, that I currently belong to. With Morse changing (decreasing) in importance in the amateur radio world you'd think that the club would be focussed on how to get new amateurs using Morse and encouraging existing amateurs to keep using Morse - and to use it better. You would, wouldn't you? Instead, a lengthy discussion on their internet reflector this week has centred on 'The Meaning of 'R' (on CW)'. Next year, they're planning something exciting. No, not awards and encouragement for people who are interested in Morse, but, a new Constitution. Yes, I know.

Now, perhaps I'm being a bit unfair to this organisation by singling their issues out. I've been a member of other radio 'special interest groups' and this inward view is not uncommon.

Even National Radio Societies seem to have problems concentrating on the bigger picture of activity and maintaining interest, rather than a short-term view of getting people into the hobby.

Please - do enjoy your specialisms within the hobby, but remember that your part of the hobby is part of the wider one too. Think about how it can play it's part in making our hobby of Amateur Radio a vibrant one for the future and then act on it.

Look outward and not inward. Look the wrong way and you won't see the future looming..

Listening on 28MHz during CQWW SSB

2009-10-30T11:53:00.002Z

Last weekend saw the biggest phone contest of the year on HF; CQWW Phone. My enthusiasm for taking part in contests is probably at an all time low - particularly phone contests! But that doesn't mean, dear reader, that I am anti-contest. Not at all. Right now I just don't feel the need to get involved in them actively.

I did want to listen on 28MHz during the contest and see what propagation and activity was like. The best DX I heard was ZS9X from South Africa who was coming through well and working a huge number of Europeans. On the Sunday, many European stations were heard - some of which would have done well to check the audio from their computers - high quality is not a word I would have used! Some stations from the nearer parts of Asia were coming through too. So all in all, pretty interesting.

Those people with decent beams for 28MHz had contacts into Australia and the Far East. It just shows what a bit of activity can do!

Maybe, just maybe, I'll make a few contacts next month in CQWW CW.

More on WSPR

2009-10-30T11:46:00.003Z

It's a little while since I mentioned WSPR on this site. Chatting to Andy, G0BEQ on the way to work this morning, we were talking about WSPR.

In case you're new to WSPR, it's a very low power mode, commonly used on HF which allows some great propagation analysis to be done.

The software is free and has been created by Joe Taylor, K1JT. It's well worth a go! If you do, G4VXE's top tip is to make sure that the clock on your computer is accurate. If it's not, you won't have much luck decoding signals!

Have a look at the WSPR propagation map here

GB7OK D-STAR repeater gets its internet gateway

2009-10-30T11:43:00.002Z

Good to see, via the Southgate ARC that the GB7OK D-STAR repeater that I use when I'm in London is now connected to the D-STAR network via the internet. I'll bring in the E92 handheld next week and see what I can do - should be fun!

Four members of the C6APR team killed in plane crash

2009-10-22T13:25:00.002+01:00

The contesting community was shocked to learn of the deaths of Pete, W2GJ; Ed, K3IXD; Dallas, W3PP and Randy K4QO in a plane crash in South Carolina on 21st October. The team was en-route to Crooked Island in the Bahamas for this weekend's CQWW Phone contest where they planned to operate as C6APR.

These are all familiar calls to anyone who's spent any time around HF Contesting over the last few years.

More on the story at the ARRL's site

Thoughts of course, go to the families and friends of the team.

The return of 28MHz propagation?

2009-10-20T12:59:00.003+01:00

Chatting to Des, G0RBD last week, he told me that he'd been hearing a few stations on 28MHz in recent days - mostly North/South propagation in the early evenings - for example from South America.

I listened a little at the weekend and heard nothing, but it's almost certainly going to be worth checking 10m in the late afternoon and early evenings. Try around 28.500 on SSB and the bottom 50khz or so on CW for signals. Check the beacon band (most beacons are between 28.200 and 28.300) too, in case the band's open and no-one's operating, which is always a risk on bands like 10 metres.

You can find a comprehensive list of 28MHz beacons, as well as all HF beacons at G3USF's beacon page

Sometimes, too, it's worth tuning down below 28MHz to see if any SSB CB operators are active, as they sometimes spot the band openings before hams!

PS
I had a listen this evening and although 28MHz was quiet, on 27MHz I heard a station from Corsica, some French stations and some weak Italians. So the propagation is there. Hard to say whether the lack of stations on 28MHz was a function of the MUF, or lack of activity.

SWL-R - A shot in the arm for Short Wave Listening?

2009-10-20T12:50:00.002+01:00

My first experience of amateur radio was as as short-wave listener, both on the broadcast and amateur bands. That was reasonably typical at the time and it provided a good grounding in both knowledge of shortwave (HF) propagation and, on the amateur bands, operating procedures.

Since then, less people come into Amateur Radio through the shortwave listening route. As an attempt to provide a little stimulus to shortwave listening, Clifford, W2CRW has created a website; SWL-Registry

Anyone in the world can, based on where they live, obtain an SWL-R 'callsign' and, if they wish, obtain a certificate. This might well be fun for younger entrants to the hobby and show a little recognition.

If it helps get more people listening on shortwave, it's a good thing in my book!

Congratulations to Pete, M3PHP

2009-10-11T11:25:00.002+01:00

Pete, M3PHP who lives near me had the opportunity to take his UK Intermediate examination this weekend at the RSGB's HF Convention. Pete had been studying hard for several weeks and he announced yesterday afternoon on Twitter that he'd been successful.

Well done, Pete! Hopefully we'll be hearing Pete with a new 2E0 callsign before long...

Ontario Mobile operators must go handsfree...

2009-10-11T11:24:00.001+01:00

From the ARRL Letter:

The Ministry of Transportation in Ontario, Canada announced on September 30 that Bill 118 concerning distracted driving will take effect on October 26, 2009. According to Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) Vice President for Public Relations Peter West, VE3HG, the new law makes it illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or e-mail using handheld cell phones and other handheld communications and entertainment devices. Following a three-month period that begins October 26 where the focus will be on educating drivers, police will start issuing tickets on February 1, 2010. "All two-way radios in all vehicles -- with the exception of emergency responding vehicles -- must be hands-free in three years' time," he posted on the RAC's blog. "This news comes from the official government staffer who has been in communications with Radio Amateurs of Canada over the last year. At the end of the three-year exemption, all commercial, CB and Amateur Radio equipment used in moving vehicles by the vehicle operator must be hands-free in operation."

Adventure Radio at its best - with Steve WG0AT, Peanut and Rooster

2009-09-21T17:21:00.002+01:00

If you've been around this blog for a while, you'll know that I'm a great fan of Steve, WG0AT and his two goats; Peanut and Rooster. Between them, they put together some great videos which combine straightforward, simple amateur radio with the outdoors and, well, goats. If you've not seen one of their videos, try this one - it's superb!

Trying out the GB7GL Gloucestershire D-STAR repeater

2009-09-21T13:20:00.002+01:00

I was over in Cheltenham and Gloucester yesterday afternoon, so I took the opportunity to put the little Icom E-90 handheld in the car with a view to trying out the new Gloucestershire D-STAR repeater, located in the Forest of Dean. I used Julie's car, so didn't have an external aerial fitted up, just the handheld and the 'internal' aerial.

I didn't hear anything from the repeater as I was driving into Cheltenham, but on parking up at my parents' home in the north-western part of the town, I was quickly able to blip up the repeater from within in the car - so it will clearly have decent coverage around the town for anyone with a halfway decent antenna - and it should be great up on the Cotswold escarpment.

A bit later, heading home, up the A417/419 out of Gloucester towards Crickley Hill, I had a quick contact with Brin, G8VPR located on Cannock Chase. GB7GL is, as noted here before, connected to the Midlands D-STAR reflector, which gives a good wide coverage.

So, if you're a D-STAR user and you're around the Cotswolds, give GB7GL a go!

GB3ZY update

2009-09-19T09:35:00.002+01:00

Chatting to Des, G0RBD on 2m a couple of days ago, he mentioned that some work had been done to make GB3ZY more sensitive. Indeed it does seem to have been, and driving back into the village the other day, I seemed to be able to open the repeater where I'd not been able to before.

I'll be trying it out!