Re: [digitalradio] Re: Yet Another Newcomer to digital
> > I'm still fairly inexperienced at the whole amateur radio thing - so > far, I have my basic license and a VHF handheld. I'd like to start > exploring digital modes, and am hoping that you might be able to > suggest what sort of rig would work well for that. > > I do have two limitations, though; I live in what's effectively a > ground-floor apartment, and am thus limited in what sort of antenna I > can put on my patio; and have a somewhat limited budget - call it > US$500 at the outside, and preferably less, if possible. Given that, > does it seem feasible to start getting involved in this aspect of ham, > or should I focus my attention elsewhere? > Daniel, excellent advice from Andy! You will probably get the best "bang for the buck" by purchasing a secondhand HF SSB transceiver, building a simple meter vertical with four elevated radials, and using PSK31 on 20 meters, but getting a General license would be a necessary and most beneficial priority. The Small Wonder Labs (smallwonderlabs.com) PSK20 kit is only just over $100 and you can work the world with it on PSK31. However, while you are studying for your General license, check out the "Eclectic Technology" column in this March QST for an additional idea. Maybe you can get something going in your area that will generate activity. We have had a nice little twice-weekly informal 2 meter FM ragchew net going now for two years, covering a radius of 40 miles using simple homebuilt horizontally polarized antennas without using the repeaters at all, and are now beginning to even make random contacts as more people become interested in digital FM on 2 meters. The secret to achieving long range is using horizontally-polarized antennas, but it takes another station doing the same, and I hope it will come in time. 73, Skip KH6TY
Re: [digitalradio] Re: A little off topic - rotator bolt - SNAP!
Andy, I'm sorry to hear about the antennas and the Van. It sounds like it was unoccupied at the time so thank God for that. I should have done more to prevent my situation, but it's an easy fix. A new mast pin doesn't cost much so I'm glad it let go instead of the rotator. I'll get something bulletproof one of these days. Antennas and tower are fine. Good to hear from you Andy... Tony - K2MO http://tim-tom1.magix.net/ - Original Message - From: "Andrew O'Brien" To: Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:50 PM Subject: [digitalradio] Re: A little off topic - rotator bolt - SNAP! > Sorry to hear your news Tony. > > I had 60 MPH winds and lost 2 antennae, both hombrewed so I can > rebuild. We have exceeded 200 inches of snow so far this winter, most > of it hard packed on my roof over December-February. The warm spell > caused a mini avalanche off my roof in to my driveway on Tuesday, > $3000 of damage to my van ! > > Tuesday the van, Wednesday the wire antennas. Life in the snow belt. > > Andy K3UK > > -- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Tony wrote: >> >> All, >> >> I know this is a little off topic (forgive me Andy) but with the > high winds we've been having, I thought it was worth mentioning. >> >> We had wind gusts over 50 MPH today and they were strong enough to > snap the mast pin on my rotator. The tower was cranked all the way > down at the time. >> >> The antennas stood pretty much within 90 degrees azimuth so the mast > didn't spin enough to twist and damage anything else. >> >> Something as simple as looping a rope around the boom of the antenna > to keep it from moving would have prevented this from happening. I did > this a few years ago when we had 70 MPH winds and all was ok. >> >> This seems to be the best solution for those with crank-up towers; > even roof mounted quad-pods with rotators. Wish I would have followed > my own advise this time; live and learn. >> >> Tony - K2MO >> > > >
[digitalradio] Re: Yet Another Newcomer to digital
Hi Daniel, welcome neighbour... I am just about 40 miles from you, If you are planning just to do the VHF band, you are kinda limited . There is not a whole of digital mode activity on VHF other than packet radio, mostly APRS. There are a few people that try digital modes like PSK on 2 meters SSB but openings are few and far between. There are also some people that use JT6M and FSK440 on 2m for meteor scatter , but high gain 2 meter antennas are the norm for meteor work. Your handheld is likely FM mode only, most people use SSB for RTTY, PSK31, and more. APRS and packet via your handheld is quite feasible , Southern Ontario has a lot of activity. A simple vertical for 2 meters on youe patio would work quite well. If you try six meters, there is more activity mostly PSK31 but again you are subject to days at a time where the band may not open beyond your local region. If you are able to get HF privelges, you can do lot. If your patio is small, you could build a low profile vertical that could work on 10 meters of 15 meters. As these bands open up more in the next year or so, you can work many digital modes and work around the world. If you have a few hundred dollars in you budget, I suggest you work towards the HF privileges and put most of the money in to a used HF rig. You may be able to get something for US$300 and certainly for US$400. A Kenwood TS440 or Icom 735 may be something to look around for. You can build a basic antenna for your patio for $25.00 The general requirements to get on the digital modes are... radio with SSB, one that is stable and has digital readout. A PC with a soundcard. Simple cables to connect your PC to the radio An "interface" that enables software control of your rig and reduces ground loops. The cables and interface can usually be purchased for $40 or so, some people build their own for $10-15 Stick with your goals, we can help you here. Ask any questions 73 Andy K3UK --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel Boese" wrote: > > Hello, all (or CQ, if you prefer); > > I'm still fairly inexperienced at the whole amateur radio thing - so > far, I have my basic license and a VHF handheld. I'd like to start > exploring digital modes, and am hoping that you might be able to > suggest what sort of rig would work well for that. > > I do have two limitations, though; I live in what's effectively a > ground-floor apartment, and am thus limited in what sort of antenna I > can put on my patio; and have a somewhat limited budget - call it > US$500 at the outside, and preferably less, if possible. Given that, > does it seem feasible to start getting involved in this aspect of ham, > or should I focus my attention elsewhere? > > > Thank you for your time, > -- > Daniel Boese VA3BOS, FN03ie > "I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe > that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it > is better to know than be ignorant." - H. L. Mencken >
[digitalradio] Re: A little off topic - rotator bolt - SNAP!
Sorry to hear your news Tony. I had 60 MPH winds and lost 2 antennae, both hombrewed so I can rebuild. We have exceeded 200 inches of snow so far this winter, most of it hard packed on my roof over December-February. The warm spell caused a mini avalanche off my roof in to my driveway on Tuesday, $3000 of damage to my van ! Tuesday the van, Wednesday the wire antennas. Life in the snow belt. Andy K3UK -- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Tony wrote: > > All, > > I know this is a little off topic (forgive me Andy) but with the high winds we've been having, I thought it was worth mentioning. > > We had wind gusts over 50 MPH today and they were strong enough to snap the mast pin on my rotator. The tower was cranked all the way down at the time. > > The antennas stood pretty much within 90 degrees azimuth so the mast didn't spin enough to twist and damage anything else. > > Something as simple as looping a rope around the boom of the antenna to keep it from moving would have prevented this from happening. I did this a few years ago when we had 70 MPH winds and all was ok. > > This seems to be the best solution for those with crank-up towers; even roof mounted quad-pods with rotators. Wish I would have followed my own advise this time; live and learn. > > Tony - K2MO >
[digitalradio] Yet Another Newcomer to digital
Hello, all (or CQ, if you prefer); I'm still fairly inexperienced at the whole amateur radio thing - so far, I have my basic license and a VHF handheld. I'd like to start exploring digital modes, and am hoping that you might be able to suggest what sort of rig would work well for that. I do have two limitations, though; I live in what's effectively a ground-floor apartment, and am thus limited in what sort of antenna I can put on my patio; and have a somewhat limited budget - call it US$500 at the outside, and preferably less, if possible. Given that, does it seem feasible to start getting involved in this aspect of ham, or should I focus my attention elsewhere? Thank you for your time, -- Daniel Boese VA3BOS, FN03ie "I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is better to know than be ignorant." - H. L. Mencken
[digitalradio] A little off topic - rotator bolt - SNAP!
All, I know this is a little off topic (forgive me Andy) but with the high winds we've been having, I thought it was worth mentioning. We had wind gusts over 50 MPH today and they were strong enough to snap the mast pin on my rotator. The tower was cranked all the way down at the time. The antennas stood pretty much within 90 degrees azimuth so the mast didn't spin enough to twist and damage anything else. Something as simple as looping a rope around the boom of the antenna to keep it from moving would have prevented this from happening. I did this a few years ago when we had 70 MPH winds and all was ok. This seems to be the best solution for those with crank-up towers; even roof mounted quad-pods with rotators. Wish I would have followed my own advise this time; live and learn. Tony - K2MO
[digitalradio] Moderator : Re: on 14.109 USB all day (Q15X25) - please read about FEC ..
OK, I read the entire thread (despite being awy from the PC most of the past week) just to make sure that each post was in keeping with our rules. It seems that everyone was respectful, thanks. I think the issue has run its course, so please avoid letting this turn in to a thread that becomes circular. Thanks. Andy K3UK Owner On 2/12/09, Traveler wrote: > > What worldwide ECOMM is going on right now, that 14.109 must be set > aside for just ALE? None that I know of. > > I understand a need for ecomm's, but please to say a certain freq is just > for ecomm is a little out there, if there is no emergencies going on but > wait maybe with the fires in VK land, then are using MT63 instead of ALE so > maybe ALE needs to be shut down. > > Kurt > > >
Re: [digitalradio] QSX 14.109 Q25 (Rich)
Rich, sorry I didnt see you had connected to me , but I can here you beacon at times, a lot of qsb on my end. NC5O / EM12px Russell = IN GOD WE TRUST ! = Russell Blair (NC5O) Skype-Russell.Blair Hell Field #300 DRCC #55 30m Dig-group #693 --- On Thu, 2/12/09, rich3x wrote: From: rich3x Subject: [digitalradio] QSX 14.109 Q25 To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 1:11 PM All: QSX 14.109 w/beacon every 5 min. FEC type (15,5)\ Rich/N2JR FM18
[digitalradio] QSX 14.109 Q25
All: QSX 14.109 w/beacon every 5 min. FEC type (15,5)\ Rich/N2JR FM18
[digitalradio] The experiment is over
Good morning to all, I should know better than to post this, but I'm going to anyways. Had I known this was going to cause such an uproar, I never would have posted the fact that I was sitting on 14.109 USB, waiting for people to connect to my fully attended station. It was just sitting there doing (more or less) nothing. No one connected anyways. I've been around long enough to know all about NET 103, NET 109, and so on. Remember when 14.109 was *reserved* just for 300 Baud packet forwarding ? That's funny come to think of it. If I need a test, I'll make a general post asking people to contact me off list, and we'll make sure to stay off *standard* frequencies. The good thing about this whole exercise is that I now know who some of the *players* are. Thanks for trying this out folks. You know where I am if you want to try something. My contact info is on my web page. Maiko Langelaar / VE4KLM * http://www.langelaar.net/projects/jnos2
Re: [digitalradio] Re: 1000 Hz Olivia under USA new rules ?
What further information did you need, Tooner? There is no conflict with using wide modes (FCC defined as up to the bandwidth of a communications quality phone transmission) as long as the baud rate of an individual tone does not exceed 300 baud. 73, Rick, KV9U Tooner wrote: > whatever came of this? > > >
[digitalradio] Re: on 14.109 USB all day (Q15X25) - please read about FEC ..
What worldwide ECOMM is going on right now, that 14.109 must be set aside for just ALE? None that I know of. I understand a need for ecomm's, but please to say a certain freq is just for ecomm is a little out there, if there is no emergencies going on but wait maybe with the fires in VK land, then are using MT63 instead of ALE so maybe ALE needs to be shut down. Kurt
Re: [digitalradio] Re: on 14.109 USB all day (Q15X25)
You are joking, right? We are having a QSO, you come on and transmit at the same time we are, and you claim we are causing QRM for you? You are also a WL2K fan, right? Howard K5HB From: expeditionradio To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 4:27:39 AM Subject: [digitalradio] Re: on 14.109 USB all day (Q15X25) > Howard K5HB > BTW, I was one of the stations experimenting > with Q25. So far it did not work very well. So, tell me, Howard... when did you stop QRM'ing the net? 73 Bonnie KQ6XA
RE: [digitalradio] Re: on 14.109 USB all day (Q15X25) - please read about FEC ..
Lately there has been a great deal of OLIVIA activity on 80M in the evenings, the other night I found 4 or 5 QSO's going on aty the same time using 500/16 Think you are right that these modes will become used a little more as the cycle changes. The great part about cycle are the number of modes which have been developed to try to offset the bad conditions John VE5MU
[digitalradio] Re: on 14.109 USB all day (Q15X25)
> Howard K5HB > BTW, I was one of the stations experimenting > with Q25. So far it did not work very well. So, tell me, Howard... when did you stop QRM'ing the net? 73 Bonnie KQ6XA
[digitalradio] Re: 1000 Hz Olivia under USA new rules ?
whatever came of this?