K1BJ-10 RMS QRV
Brian, K1BJ (with the assistance of W7RE) has just installed an RMS gateway at his QTH and is looking for testers. I changed my packet gear around and my Winlink client is down but I can connect and get a full scale signal here.
K1BJ-10 144.420 Mhz 1200 baud
D-RATS RF Link Test
I am testing the Internet/RF link built in to D-RATS. basically this is a software repeater that will connect a D-RATS user on the internet with other users on the WC7SO repeater. Because this is an RF transmission, you must be licensed (Technician or higher) to participate. You do NOT have to own a radio, however. All you need is a Linux/Apple/Windows PC with D-RATS software. Because this is a live RF link I am requiring you to use a password to access. Send me an email with your callsign and I will return a password for you to use, and the server address/port. Access is subject to change as I use this computer for other tasks as well.
The D-RATS software link (scroll down and get the latest BETA)
The “How to access a RATflector” link
Be sure and read all of the FAQ and manual info on the root page if you are new to D-RATS.
DG 10/20/09
Show and tell night at the Digital Group. I plan on showing two toys I recently acquired:
The Ruckus Metroflex AP/Gateway
The Ubiquiti Airview 2 Ghz Spectrum Analyzer
I bought them both from Pasadena Networks for about $70 ea. My Airview has the external antenna- the self-contained model is only $39.
EDIT – Meeting notes are posted here – go take a look! <ac7ky>
D-STAR Radio Sans iCOM
This looks like an interesting development. I expect someone will loan me a Dongle so I can try this out or maybe they will take the plunge themselves. Here is a snippet from the readme file from the FILES section of the Open Source D STAR Software group on Yahoo. In short: If you have a computer / soundcard interface on a VHF/UHF radio all you add is a dongle (for the CODEC) and this software to create a D-STAR radio. Not only that, but your station can act as a gateway node to the D-STAR world. No iCOM gear in sight. Neat stuff in-deed.
DESCRIPTION
===========
dstar HOT POINT software converts your radio station to a dstar RF gateway.
It uses your d-star dongle, an analog base radio and a radio interface like a rigblaster,
VA3TO, or ULI, signalLink or WB2REM or any USB interface board or RASCAL,...
The software will use RTS or DTR to key up the BASE radio.
For COS, the software will try to detect CTS or DSR or CD.
(Instead of COS, you can use VOX with the VOX threshold).
The basic setup is, you will have a analog base radio at your QTH
attached to your computer(Linux or Windows) thru the
radio interface(rigblaster,ULI board, signalLink,WB2REM,VA3TO,USB-based adapter).
Any local RF user tuned to your base radio's frequency will access
the dstar network, because the dstar_hot_point software will
open a connection to a remote dstar node.
You will be able to control the dstar_hot_point software
and command it to disconnect or connect to any remote
dstar node you want, by using DTMF tones on your HT.
Also, the dstar_hot_point software allows you to use
the computer MIC and speakers if you do not want to use a radio.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
==================
--- a dongle.
We use the dongle, because other devices, adapters are not ready for prime time
and suffer from a lot of problems.
--- An analog radio as your base radio attached to the computer
thru a radio interface(VA3TO, or ULI, signalLink or WB2REM or rigblaster or
any USB radio interface or RASCAL, or...) using the Mic input and speaker output of the radio.
--- This software(dstar_hot_point)
--- A Linux or Windows machine.
Ham Spots
“Ham Spots” is a web page for digital mode enthusiasts to set up skeds and report current on air activities and “spots”. Internet sites such as this one, and Andy (K3UK)’s site are very nice way to sort out all the modes and QSO searching.
Open Source D-STAR Gateway
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/D_STAR_Open_Source
The “D-STAR Open Source Group” has announced the release of a complete Gateway control software package for iCOM D-STAR repeaters. The application is reported to be a complete replacement for the iCOM product and is supposed to work with existing Trust servers and iCOM G2 Gateway installations. Cross-band linking and high-speed data have yet to be implemented but are planned for a future release.
WINMOR Success to KL7
Friday brought the latest update of the WINMOR enabled RMS Express client and my first success with the program. I exchanged Winlink2000 emails with Jerry in Fairbanks, Alaska on 20 Meters using the 500 Hz QPSK mode. Over a three day period of monitoring on 40 and 20 I have logged 83 stations on the “Recently Heard” list. Here is the log dump from the 2-way to AK:
2009/10/02 17:52:37 0.2.5.0 *** Connect Request to KL7EDK at 2009/10/02 17:52:37 2009/10/02 17:52:41 0.2.5.0 *** Connected to: KL7EDK @ 500 Hz at 2009/10/02 17:52:41 2009/10/02 17:52:49 0.2.5.0 [RMS Express-0.2.5.0-B2F] 2009/10/02 17:52:49 0.2.5.0 ; KN0N DE KL7EDK (BP64DV) > 2009/10/02 17:52:49 0.2.5.0 [RMS Express-0.2.5.0-B2F] 2009/10/02 17:52:49 0.2.5.0 ; KL7EDK DE KN0N (CN88TS) 2009/10/02 17:52:49 0.2.5.0 FC EM 6TCBC051JXUP 167 159 0 2009/10/02 17:52:49 0.2.5.0 F> 9C 2009/10/02 17:53:39 0.2.5.0 FS Y 2009/10/02 17:53:39 0.2.5.0 *** Sending 6TCBC051JXUP... 2009/10/02 17:54:24 0.2.5.0 FF 2009/10/02 17:54:24 0.2.5.0 FQ 2009/10/02 17:54:24 0.2.5.0 *** Session End 2009/10/02 17:54:36 0.2.5.0 *** Disconnected at 2009/10/02 17:54:36 2009/10/02 17:54:36 0.2.5.0 [Session Stats:] Duration: 1.92 min Bandwidth: 500 Mode Shifts: 0 Decode Attempts: 5 Weak R-S Decodes : 5 Weak R-S Sums: 0 Strong R-S Decodes: 0 Strong R-S Sums: 0 Bytes Sent : 269 Bytes Received: 62 Thuput(bytes/min): 172 2009/10/02 17:55:05 0.2.5.0 *** Connected to: KL7EDK @ 500 Hz at 2009/10/02 17:55:05 2009/10/02 17:55:05 0.2.5.0 [RMS Express-0.2.5.0-B2F] 2009/10/02 17:55:05 0.2.5.0 ; KL7EDK DE KN0N (CN88TS) > 2009/10/02 17:55:22 0.2.5.0 [RMS Express-0.2.5.0-B2F] 2009/10/02 17:55:22 0.2.5.0 ; KN0N DE KL7EDK (BP64DV) 2009/10/02 17:55:35 0.2.5.0 FC EM OCNSTHRU4KBF 228 200 0 2009/10/02 17:55:35 0.2.5.0 F> 5D 2009/10/02 17:55:35 0.2.5.0 FS Y 2009/10/02 17:56:21 0.2.5.0 *** OCNSTHRU4KBF - 226/200 bytes received 2009/10/02 17:56:21 0.2.5.0 FF 2009/10/02 17:56:55 0.2.5.0 FQ 2009/10/02 17:57:15 0.2.5.0 *** Disconnected at 2009/10/02 17:57:15 2009/10/02 17:57:15 0.2.5.0 [Session Stats:] Duration: 2.18 min Bandwidth: 500 Mode Shifts: 0 Decode Attempts: 19 Weak R-S Decodes : 19 Weak R-S Sums: 0 Strong R-S Decodes: 0 Strong R-S Sums: 0 Bytes Sent : 62 Bytes Received: 317 Thuput(bytes/min): 174
M$ Releases Free AV Software Today
Microsoft has finally officially launched their FREE antivirus / anti-malware product for Windows XP. Vista, and 7. You can read more and download the installation kit at the Security Essentials web page. Press reports of the beta test versions put the performance around the middle of the pack in comparison with other commercial offerings.
Decoding WINMOR
WINMOR RX Window
I installed the “RMS Express” peer-peer test application last weekend and monitored the HF activity without success for a few days. Following instruction on the WINMOR Yahoo Group I maxed out the soundcard and interface trimmers and am now decoding packets, but have not yet found a strong enough signal to attempt a 2-way with. Most of the test activity is centering on 7080 and 14112 Khz using the “500 Hz” WINMOR mode.
Events- Technician Classes 900-1600When: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9am to Sat Nov 14, 2009 4pm PST Where: Bellingham Museum of Radio Event Status: confirmed
- Digital Group Meeting 7pm-8:45pmWhen: Tue Nov 17, 2009 Event Status: confirmed
- Blaine ACS 7pm-8pmWhen: Wed Nov 18, 2009 Event Status: confirmed
- Sudden Valley ARC at SV FirehallWhen: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:30pm to 8pm PST Where: SV Firehall Event Status: confirmed
- Technician Classes 900-1600
