The Era of Soundcard Radio

First step - WSPR

A new step - JS8Call - 19/5/20

DXCC and WAS at last?  FT8?

One good Mesh deserves another

What good is ... in a room?


AREDN -

Village Telco

Small Enterprise Campus Network

Wildernets

Back on WSPR, looking towards FT-8 and beyond!

WSPR on 40 has gotten way busy.   I don't hear so much (noise) but
apparently the new antenna (MFJ 40-10 End Fed) is working well even at
its low'ish location.

WSJT-X (for WSPR) has improved.  It's now possible to operate on
multiple bands without the program crashing..   It's nicely organized
so it's possible to work the different bands at different times.  I.E.
10 meters during the day, 30 during greyline and 40 at night. It's not
learning-smart to figure out what bands are open when all by itself
but that will come.

Attached is the list of stations that heard me from one 2 minute
transmission with low power.  Note the BD7MQB call near the end.
That's the first time I remember hearing China - on 40 no less.
10,405 km with an extremely weak -29 signal.

I plan to invest a small ATU in FT8 today - looking towards JS8 (short
messages) and FSQchat in the near future.

Bill, WA7NWP

>>>





2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040098 -29 0 CN87wq 5 KK6PR CN94ik 367 170

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 -11 0 CN87wq 5 NN6RF CM87uw 1084 181

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040105 -24 0 CN87wq 5 KD6RF EM22 2834 117

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 -24 0 CN87wq 5 K7GXB DM34sn 1666 148

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040068 -8 0 CN87wq 5 SWL-CM98DNCM98dn 1015 178

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040096 -27 0 CN87wq 5 WA5DJJ DM62ph2147 137

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 -8 0 CN87wq 5 N6GN/K2 DN70jo1558 114

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040132 -20 0 CN87wq 5 W0AY DN26xo 623 98

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040098 -22 0 CN87wq 5 W6SFH CM88pl 1025 183

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040100 -6 0 CN87wq 5 W6EXT CM87wi 1149 180

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 -14 0 CN87wq 5 AI6VN/KH6BL10rx 4274 238

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040101 -24 0 CN87wq 5 JA5NVN PM74ec8170 303

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 +9 0 CN87wq 5 KA7OEI-1DN31uo 1029 127

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040105 +2 0 CN87wq 5 VE6EGN DO23 815 35

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040100 -19 0 CN87wq 5 NI0L DM79mo 1642 117

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 -12 0 CN87wq 5 W3SMK CM87xq 1112 180

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 -25 0 CN87wq 5 N6GN/K DN70ll1577 114

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 -8 0 CN87wq 5 N6KOG CM97gs 1104 177

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040098 -27 0 CN87wq 5 K9AN EN50wc 2826 95

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040098 -27 0 CN87wq 5 AC7IJ CN87vu 20 341

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040099 -10 0 CN87wq 5 KB6C DM04re 1531 167

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040074 -7 0 CN87wq 5 KJ6MKI CM88oi 1039 183

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040101 -19 0 CN87wq 5 W6ZTM DM04 1491 169

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040097 -29 0 CN87wq 5 BD7MQB OL72an10405 310

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040098 -11 0 CN87wq 5 NO1D DM34tn 1669 147

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040092 +6 0 CN87wq 5 KI7SYP DN13 612 138

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040100 -22 0 CN87wq 5 N5SD EM27ph 2508 107

2018-12-21 17:04 WA7NWP 7.040096 -14 0 CN87wq 5 W7REK DM42lk 1936 147

Save Your Life!!!

From a recent Facebook post of mine:

FWIW - IM!HO (In My NOT Humble Opinion) :

• - Everybody, for various reasons, should have their Internet modem and primary home WIFI running on a battery charged with a solar panel.
• Those that are Hams should have at least an HT ready to go. It should be programmed with the local simplex and repeater channels. It should be capable of being charged by the WIFI battery above or standard mobile systems.
• Those that are Hams should have a battery backed APRS (tactical communications) system running.
• Those that aren't Hams - should become Hams. The education is priceless. What you learn may save your life.

Community Announcement Server

I've been all over the place the last month - details to follow....  One common issue in any area or community is - what's happening here and where is it?

APRS would handily do that - but that means a computer is required in addition to the radio.  Maybe someday will have the Android-RF white (grey) box phones - but we don't yet.

So - what not automate community announcements on one frequency.  147.000 comes to mind.   Every repeater, club or DX'er could announce that's up.  With an organized timing scheme it could be totally ad-hock.  Also easy to add an "announcement server" with a rPI0 and Bf VOX radio.  It could have text-to-speech announcements uploaded or do a simple analog audio capture and rebroadcast.

My first announcement "It's good to be home"

73
Bill, WA7NWP

Design of homebuilt TTL PC

Peter F.  I always think about your work ! 😍Is it full in TTL logic ? How is the simulator going ? I dream with that and with relay computers. As I told you my first computer was a 4 bit ttl I made at 12-13 years. With that 74181Alu, I still have my TTL collection from that time(not LS, "real heavyweight TTL" they are terrible power hungry!) . Regrettably the minicomputer with 4x4 rows of leds...was scrapped.

Bill V. My project was similar to yours. I used three 74181's and a chip, I forget which, that tied them together. It was all TTL, mostly open collector as that was easier to wire-or together. I made it 12 bits as that was enough for addressing the 2102 memory chips and giving me lots of options for instructions. Four of the 12 bits in the instruction register went right to the 74181s so I had access to all commands.

I'm sorry now I scrapped the original slit-and-wrap circuit boards but I still have all the TTL IC's somewhere.

I hope to wire-wrap a replica of the original and eventually build a new and improved version with better TTL - like HCT or maybe CMOS.

The emulator is advancing a little every day. It's a wonderful mental exercise working with the emulator and thinking of the tradeoffs between actual hard coded in TTL instructions and other new and enhanced instructions in software. The software is so easy but it won't eventually run in the upcoming computer.

Fwd: Posting to blog from email

Second try - perhaps I didn't save the configuration fast enough earlier.


Yet another way to make all the tools work together. This is a step.
A small step. A small step in what is hopefully the right direction.

Stay tuned...

More on TTL Computer

I'm not the only one with a home built TTL computer.  Some other folks have spent years and done incredible work.  Check out projects like the Gigatron and Magic 1 from the links here

Here's a couple better pictures of the front panel of my silver box TTL computer.

One front panel light (LED) is connected to a 3909 circuit.  That's a special low power blinker that just blinks the light every second or two for over a year.  That's the first thing to get running.

Homebuilt Computer

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away (Montana) I built a computer.   Not plugging in boards but rather building the boards themselves.   No microprocessors - just basic TTL integrated circuits.   I saw the diagram for an old HP computer and thought - if that's all there is, I can do that.

So I did.

It worked - very slowly.

Then I took most of it apart to save the IC's.  (silly silly silly...)

Now that the Force has rewoken and the last Jedi returned - it's time to rebuild the old computer.

There's a lot to this and it's going to take several forms of both hardware and software.  So it's going to take a while.   That's part of the fun.

Here's my computer and I at a computer show of sorts in Bozeman back in 1978...

The SWTP CT-64 terminal and cassette deck are misleading.  The homebuilt TTL computer in the silver box with the rows of lights never did have a serial interface.  That's yet another challenge for the new versions.

Higher Low Speed Easy - 4800 baud APRS

Onward to the future.   I realized yesterday that all the pieces were at hand to start running 4800 baud APRS packet as well as good old 1200 baud.  It simply required a small tweak to an existing configuration of the DIREWOLF software modem.  Thanks to the ease of working with windows audio systems - both the new DIREWOLF modem and the existing UZ7HO (1200 baud) system can run at the same time with the signal source - the 6 pin mini-din data jack on a Kenwood D710A.  The built in TNC on the D710 is running as a 9600 baud digipeater on our UHF packet channel.

Now to advertise it and see if anybody else wants to experiment.

73
Bill, WA7NWP

We'll be back...

2017 ... So much to say..   Not sure yet where to say it.   Perhaps moving all content here to the homegrown content system.  Stay tuned and 73's (t)...

Update 3/28/18 - the homegrown CMS is coming along slowly.  I will eventually move everything there.  In the meantime I'm going to start posting here again just as a place to keep things online.

CQ 29.6

To the PNWVHF discussion group

> Ssb/fm 50, 144, 432 mhz

Not that the typical VHF bands are crowded, but do thoughts of operation ever drop to 10 meters.  The FM segment, typically 29.6 simplex, has operating characteristics similar to FM on 6 meters.  Most of the time it's dead quiet, then it opens up and the world comes rolling in.

I recently discovered, acquired (thanks HRO Portland) and yesterday installed the Diamond CP-610 vertical for 6 and 10 meters.

   http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9578

My idea is to use this for typically FM operation.  Scanning with the FT8900 when I'm in the shack and switching over to old slow packet when I'm not in.

So far, without trying to key up repeaters, I've worked the remote base in Shelton and that's it on 52.525.  Calling and calling on 29.6 returns nothing but static.  Surprising how much static there is even on FM.

So - anybody else playing on 29.6 and 52.525?

73
Bill, WA7NWP

Ham Share PIXIE project

Registering for the Auburn, WA.  One Day Build a QRP 40 Meter CW Radio Workshop.

HAMSHARE presents: "RF 40 Meter TxRx Workshop" 

Build and Operate a working RF 40 Meter Transmitter and Receiver  on 7.030MHz Using a PIXIE TxRx Do-It-Yourself Kit with Sidetone. (ver 4.1)

 

On Saturday  APRIL 30th, 2016  @  9AM ~ 5PM  and Also again on Saturday July 23rd, 2016 @9AM to 5PM

  In The Clubhouse at The River  3611 "I" St NE, Auburn, WA 98002

  37th and "I" Street NE. in North Auburn, WA. 98002 (Go East to Clubhouse)

  Lunch is ~12:30Noon to 1:30PM   ( at Various Local Venues)  

This Workshop is Open to All FCC Licensed Amateur Radio Operators

Learn to:   Build & Construct a Working  40 Meter RF Transmitter and Receiver

What you should bring to the Workshop:

Bring small hand tools:

    Small Diagonal Wire Cutter (Flush Cut style)(#90708  5inch Micro Flush Cutter by Harbor Freight Tools)    

    Needle-nose Pliers.

    60 Watt+ Solder Iron, and Solder, and Tip-Cleaning-Sponge or Wire-Ball (EBAY )

    110Volt AC Multi-Outlet Power strip.

    10 to 25 foot long AC Extension power Cord.

OK to bring Food (Lunch) and Covered Drinks OK! 

Food Available at: (Subway)  (Jack-in-the-Box)

     (Yes Jimmy Johns Delivers: 1835 Auburn Way N, Auburn, WA 98002  (253) 939-3000)

Microwave Available.

Clubhouse is a Non-Smoking-Vapeing facility. (no Alcohol) 

      

 Cost: $15.00 Workshop Fee at the Door. (Kit is included)

 To register, email the following information:

1. Your Name:_________________________________

2. Your Ham Radio Call sign:  _______________________

3. Your Contact Phone Number:_____________________

4. Your Email address:  ____________________________

5.  Class #  2016-04-30-PIXIE-TxRx      

     or     Class# 2016-07-23-PIXIE-TxRx

Send To:        email.hamshare@yahoo.com                    

 

 

In order to see all of the small parts up close, You may wish to bring a pair of Strong Reading Glasses ~ 3.25+ Diopter 

( The local Dollar stores have great selections at a great price)

73 de Bill KL7BB

206-400-1723

When you sign up ask Bill to send you the original email with the photos of the circuit board and parts list so you can print them to bring with you - I'm having trouble getting them into this message...  Curt.

Meraki Mesh

My first experience with WIFI Mesh was with some Meraki nodes.   These we an offshoot of the MIT Roofnet project.

I recently acquired a couple more nodes so thought I'd fire them up and see if they still work.  They do and signed right in to the Meraki management dashboard.  It's always a good sign when a company supports things this well.

Meraki Dashboard

Pinging the International Space Station thanks to APRS and the ISS Robot

>    I haven't had a response from the ISS robot for a couple days.Quite the contrary this morning.  Today was an example of one of the reasons why I start my day with an ISS robot ping.

Parked the car in the high point of the parking lot which seems to work a bit better and sent out  my first query.  Response was almost instantaneous.  Not only that but it took a couple seconds to register that the next pass was a whole minute away.

  2016-02-22 09:50:33 PST: WA7NWP-9>ISS: 1
  2016-02-22 09:50:34 PST: ISS>WA7NWP-9: AOS 1m2s S SE^8 E 8m

Wow.  Lucky morning.  Seems a low pass which I wouldn't ordinarily be interested in but what the heck.   Switched from the PM4 (96UHF on 440.800) over to PM5 (144.825 digi via RS0ISS) and listened.  Was surprised to hear a weak packet.   So I beaconed a few times.  Once it appeared I heard a digipeat of my packet but it was much weaker than the first packet and still nothing decoded on the mobile.

So heard two weak packets.  Probably ISS and that alone was cool and worth the effort.   Came in and checked the ariss.net page .    Yeah!

There I am the sole station representing the PNW.   Been a long time since I was on the ariss map - always a kick.

Checked my heard packets and I see there were two iGates that picked me up..

  20160222175441,WA7NWP-7>4W3TVU,RS0ISS*,qAS,KG6HSQ-2:`2&3l!=>/]"4Z}
  20160222175457,WA7NWP-7>4W3TVY,RS0ISS*,qAR,NA5SS-10:`2&/l!=>/]"4Y}

So - Thank you Lynn for the robot.   It worked well this morning.

73
Bill, WA7NWP

Update.   I was curious where the two stations were that heard my packets.

NA5SS is in Albuquerue using a Raspberry PI.

 NA5SS-10 · center · zoom · info

2016-02-12 20:36:18 - 2016-02-23 08:04:17
PyMultimonAPRS RX Only SAT-iGate
Raspberry Pi with RTL-SDR dongle on 145.825Mhz


The other receiving station, KG6HSQ, is in Southern California between LA and San Diego.

Entering ARRL Contests

> I have an easy logbook for contest; N3FPJ’s stuff works good for me.
At the PNW gathering, there was talk of what could be done to increase activity in contests.   During the discussion it came to me that the whole reason I haven't had my call in the last hundred or so contests was because I wasn't set up with a logging program.   Sure I should - and someday I will - when everything else on the list is done... Until then, I'm using the simple, quick and easy QRZ.com log for my memorable contacts - like my first DStar ping on Sunday.

It was that easy to exchange a couple reports and get my call in the contest - I'm sure I (and thousands others!!!) would be doing it.

HamLAN

Ham radio enabled (more than that - created?  what's the word?) Local Area Network.

A play off the Hamwan folks..

Focus is RF (no direct internet operation - some limited Internet Resource Gateways)

Log in with Captive portal

Messaging via 'groups' even for individuals.

Slowest and resource discovery via APRS 1200 baud.

Others supported:
  regular packet
  soundcard faster packet
  5.9 GHz wifi
  channel -2 wifi
  Ricochet

Use 'real' WIFI for Access and some inter-node content sharing

It's not a success until you're fired.

List the ranges of participation...

Ham Projects 2016

1. Mobile Data Station
1. Not new but time to take some ideas from the inbox and make it happen.
1. Two, or three, portable.  Probably in Home Depot orange boxes.   Two stations is a link, three is a network.
2. Frequencies
1. Two meters at 1200 baud
2. UHF at 9600 baud
3. Standard WiFi AP
4. (maybe) long distance Wifi
5. Portable HamWan node - 5.9 GHz radio
6. Ricochet Metricom 900 MHz FHSS
3. Computer ?   (12V, no moving parts, Openwrt?)
4. Software
1. WiFi captive portal.  Community groupware
2. Ham APRS and messages.
3. Ham TCP/IP - 
5. Goals
1. Access home from the mobile via various modes in the Puget Sound region.
2. xyz

Packet Radio 2016

Data at 1200 baud?    That's plain and simple baud - not Mega bauds or Giga Bauds..   Crazy?  Maybe not.  Much of what we do when Video isn't involved can be handled with slow and simple systems.

If we do it right...

Here's a start of a fresh look at  putting 1980's data technology to real use.

1. No more than one digipeater.   
2. Use APRS for resource discovery.
3. Separate users and data backhaul.  Shared channels cause exponential degregation of performance.
4. Use full duplex digipeaters for wide area resources.
5. Use DAMA style resource management. 
6. Move away from fixed mode hardware TNC's.  Soundcard packet options are here and offer higher speeds and better data simply by changing the software.
7. much more...