WC7SO Ratflector QRV
One of the aspects of the D-RATS communications program that makes it so versatile is the ability to use it over any form of TCP/IP (computer) connection as well as DSTAR radio. Tonight I installed the D-RATS package on the WC7SO Gateway machine and will be leaving it running to allow anyone who wants to try D-RATS “off air” to do so. D-RATS DOES NOT REQUIRE A RADIO. Not a D-Star radio, or ANY radio. The software is free, and will run on about any PC, Apple, or Linux box.
Step 1: Go to http://d-rats.com/download/beta/ and install the NEWEST version of the software. The EXE file is easiest to install on Windows.
Step 2: Run the D-Rats program that will be in the /program files/d-rats directory and select FILE / PREFERENCES.
Step 3: Go ahead and fill your name, call, QTH info on the open screen, then click RADIO in the left sidebar. This is where you set up D-RATS connections to the outside world via serial port to a radio, or Internet connection
Step 4: If you have a DSTAR radio and cable you can enter the serial port info here by pressing ADD. The Internet connection is special. Click ADD and a small window will open with COM1 highlighted. TYPE RIGHT OVER THIS THE FOLLOWING-
net:wc7so.ham-radio-op.net:9000
(You can even copy and paste from here if you like) Leave the baud at 9600 and give it a name of your choice “WC7SO-Wire” or similar
Step 5: Be sure the ENABLED box is checked, and SAVE the window.
That is it. You are connected to the WC7SO “Rat-flector” (D-RATS reflector). The WC7SO computer will act exactly like a DSTAR RF repeater, but it is not going out over the air. I might in the future activate an RF connection allowing Internet users to link to radio users; kind of like a “DV-Dongle for data”.
It’s going to be kind of lonely on the Ratflector unless someone else is connected at the same time, so have some one else install D-RATS and communicate with you. Set up a sked. The address will work from anywhere in the world that there is Internet. Please limit access to licensed Amateurs in case we link this to RF in the future when a license will be required (Technician or above).
http://www.d-rats.com/wiki/is the main page for D-RATS info. Dan (the programmer) prefers writing code to writing manuals, so look at exploring the software as an adventure
Weather Report for Winter ‘08
Roy, KC7IJH and I attended the annual Winter Storm/Flood Control meeting this morning in Everson, WA on behalf of Whatcom County RACES. Some of the info relayed at the meeting included the following points:
- Puget Sound Energy will be providing a near real-time map of outage areas on their website at PSE.COM – It is in beta test now and no time was given for regular operation. PSE reps talked about their approach to dealing with outages and their command and response structure.
- Bob Jacobson, retired from the National Weather Service and now Whatcom County CERT coordinator at DEM provided some info from NOAA/NWS:
- Severe weather events will now be announced on the EAS (Emergency Alert System) and utilize the K7PP repeater system on 147.20 MHz
- New products from the NWS include FLARE, a desktop/kiosk type all-in-one display of weather data for a specific area; and NWS Mobile, a forecasting and conditions product for web-able cellphones and small display devices.
The most important information conveyed, is the long range forecast for the fall/winter months in Northwest Washington. We are now in a transitional phase between the El Nino and La Nina effects. Percipitation is expected to be “normal” and temperatures slightly warmer than normal. This combination can lead to snow-melt and flooding. Bob said that most severe flooding events historically occurred during these transitional periods that we are expecting this season. Be prepared.
-KNØN
SET 2008
The SET (Simulated Emergency Test) drill sponsored by the ARRL was held in Whatcom County and most of Western Washington on Saturday October 4 from 1000 local to about 1245. My sincere thanks go to my crew at the SAR Radio Room:
KC7UHN – VHF/UHF net control
WA7OGC – VHF/UHF Traffic/messaging
KC5DTU – HF Net and Traffic/Relay
W7CDC – Logging
KNØN – VHF Winlink system Traffic/Messaging
Also thank you KC7GX and WA7ZWG who manned the W7SJH station at the Hospital, and W7RE who organized the drill and compiled the reports.
We had record participation this year, with 68 staff and check-ins…. That is fantastic! Additional thanks to everyone who checked in, including the crew at Sudden Valley ARC who operated a simplex net in support of the county. W7RE reports that the final score for Whatcom County was 480.
-KNØN
Chuginadak Island Wrap-up
Yuri Sushkin, N3QQ of Sudden Valley has returned from his DXpedition to the Aleutian Isles. Below is a link to a well produced video about their trip. The web site for further information about the operation is http://www.na-234.com/





