Emergency Channel 9 for Two Meters

CB has channel 9 that is supposedly monitored by folks for emergency traffic.

We have nothing similar for our Ham frequencies.

Scanners would allow picking a channel and watching it.

Many rigs have Priority channel checking even when another discussion is being followed.

My suggestion is to use the calling frequency of 146.52 as our emergency channel - but do it with a tone of 123.0 Hz.


Three memory channels.

• 146.52 with no tones for general operation
• 146.52 with 123.0 Hz tone receive (CTCSS) for quiet monitoring of priority traffic
• 146.53 with 123.0 Hz tone transmit only but receive with no tone.

The CTCSS would be used for monitoring.   CT on transmit for making a call.  May work better to leave the CT transmit memory in a different bank so it's not taking a spot during normal scanning.

It's a Priority plan, not necessarily Emergency.  Use it for Important traffic but don't over use it.

Use it as a calling channel - not working frequency - unless it's an Emergency.  If an Emergency - it takes precedence.

The MickeyD Effect

It tastes good.  It's handy.   It's a know quantity that you know what you get where ever you're at.  It's even economically reasonable.

And in the long term - it's not a good thing.  (I'd use stronger words but McD would probably not be amused.)

How's that apply to Ham Radio?   I suggest we have McD services and, in the long run, that's bad bad bad for the community.

We Need Radios - Data Radios!

We Hams need more radios..    Not big fancy expensive shortwave radios.   Not cute little cheap walkie talkies.   We need data radios.   It's the data age yet for ham radio the good stuff was on the market twenty years ago.

Options

• UHF, VHF, 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 222 MHz or 440 MHz..   We need them all!   Various bands have different rules and characterists.   Given that, 440 MHz would be the best start.
• Variable programmable frequency operation please.  Crystals are so expensive and so slow to order.   Ideally frequency could be set by program operation but that's a Want and not a Need.
• Power - not a lot, not a little..   5 watts might be low.  Couldn't go wrong with 10 watts.
• Voice and Data.   Older radios had voice modes.  That's nice but not needed.
• Examples of the past
• Kantronics D4-10   10 watts on 440 MHz.   9600 or 19200 modulation. Add programmable frequency operation and a reasonable price - this would be a break through product.  Febo Notes
• Kantronics D2-2
• MFJ 9641  (220, 144, 440)
• Ritron embedded radio - http://www.ritron.com/pdf/dtxpl.pdf
• 1200 baud support, like voice, would be nice but it shouldn't distract from the primary goal of a good reasonable speed data radio.

Other Notes

• Can any of the existing radios with 6 pin DIN data jacks support speeds higher than 9600?   For example, will the Kenwood D700 or D710 support 19200?
• Alinco single band radios with 9600 data input/output - 
• Modems for higher speed radios:
• SCS DSP Tracker TNC - 19200 G3RUH - Farallon  (free shipping and same price at HRO)
• UZ7HO Soundcard - http://uz7.ho.ua/packetradio.htm

Wetnet Brunch 26-Sept-2015

Thanks Ken for the NC@40 and NO@45 temperature switches.  Handy gizmos that I didn't even know existed.

Pacific Northwest Things Digital

Upcoming:

• September 26 - Wetnet Brunch at Jimmy Jacks
• September 26 - Washington State Convention, Spokane Valley, Washington
• October 10,11 - Pacific Northwest VHF Conference, Issaquah, Washington

On the air:

• Monday evening at 8 PM - Puget Sound Digital Hams net - Digital Radio Fun with FLDIGI and EasyPal and FLAMP and FreeDV  On the WW7SEA machine at 444.550, tone 141.3

Groups:

• Puget Sound Digital Hams
• NWAPRS - Northwest APRS group - discussion
• NW-MESH - Yahoo group - some notes on a NW-Mesh wiki
• WETNET (SEATCP) - all things fun and digital - discussion

Resources:

• FLdigi, FLmsga, FLAMP - http://www.w1hkj.com/download.html
• FreeDV
• FSQchat
• APRS-messenger
• Winlink2K

uHams 9/15/2015

It was fun!
Art visited.
WSPR
Dickies

Discusses Close out deal on Radio Shack 10' antenna masts.  Current prices is $9.97 - the .97 is key that this is a close out.   (NWP: at $10 these masts are a good deal.  Otherwise if I was working on an antenna project I'd instead use the 10' thick wall conduit from Home Depot.  A little more money but stronger.)

Ideas for Next Time:
* Cut and tune a full wave antenna and 1/4 wave matching section.  Compare it to a dipole.  On the lawn - with an AB switch for quick testing.

MicroHams 9/15/2015 and WSPR

The online WSPR database

Who I've heard?

Who's heard me?

The WSPR map:

The old format - which uses the URL so it's easy to bake in options.

Who I've heard - old

Who's heard me - old


Rig

Tricks -

- frequency - my rig is off by 50 HZ


To do:
  Install on laptop


heard before work:
1340 -24 -1.1   7.040009  1 WB5WPA EM13 37
1340 -26 -0.7   7.040099  1 KD6RF EM22 37
1344 -27  0.3   7.040041  1 KP4MD CM98 37
1344 -13 -1.2   7.040084  1 N3XKB DM65 27
1346  -1 -2.1   7.040063  1 K7OFT CN87 37
1346   0 -0.2   7.040130  0 KK7KZ DN30 33
1348 -24 -1.0   7.040014  1 WB5WPA EM13 37
1348 -14 -1.1   7.040098  0 KR6ZY CM95 23
1352 -24 -0.6   7.040107  1 KD6RF EM22 37
1354   1 -2.1   7.040068  0 K7OFT CN87 37
1356 -22 -1.4   7.040019  0 WB5WPA EM13 37
1356  -2 -0.7   7.040137  0 KK7KZ DN30 33
1402 -23 -1.1   7.040022  1 WB5WPA EM13 37
1404   0 -2.1   7.040073  0 K7OFT CN87 37
1406 -14 -1.2   7.040058  0 NU6K CM97 37
1406  -2 -1.4   7.040141  0 KK7KZ DN30 33
1408 -20 -1.3   7.040024  1 WB5WPA EM13 37
1408 -18 -1.3   7.040108  0 KR6ZY CM95 23
1412   2 -2.1   7.040076  0 K7OFT CN87 37
1414 -20 -1.1   7.040060  0 NU6K CM97 37
1414 -23 -1.2   7.040099  0 N3XKB DM65 27
1416 -26 -1.1   7.040026  0 WB5WPA EM13 37
1416  -2 -0.3   7.040143  0 KK7KZ DN30 33
1418 -17 -1.2   7.040007  0 VK6XT OF86 37
1420   2  0.0   7.040058  0 KP4MD CM98 37
1422 -15 -1.2   7.040063  0 NU6K CM97 37
1422   2 -2.3   7.040078  0 K7OFT CN87 37
1426 -26 -1.2   7.040027  1 WB5WPA EM13 37
1426  -4 -0.8   7.040146  0 KK7KZ DN30 33
1428 -17 -1.2   7.040112  0 KR6ZY CM95 23
1430 -20 -1.2   7.040065  0 NU6K CM97 37
1430   2 -2.3   7.040080  0 K7OFT CN87 37
1432  -2  0.2   7.040061  0 KP4MD CM98 37
1434 -16 -1.6   7.040104  0 N3XKB DM65 27
1434 -25 -1.7   7.040128  0 VK2EFM QF56 27
1436 -17 -1.7   7.040013  0 VK6XT OF86 37
1436 -25 -1.7   7.040031  1 WB5WPA EM13 37
1442 -11 -1.2   7.040069  0 NU6K CM97 37
1442   2 -2.3   7.040085  0 K7OFT CN87 37
1444 -22 -1.4   7.040107  0 N3XKB DM65 27
1448 -20 -1.5   7.040119  0 KR6ZY CM95 23
1448 -10 -0.5   7.040153 -1 KK7KZ DN30 33
1450 -23 -2.0   7.040134  0 VK2EFM QF56 27
1452 -21 -1.3   7.040018  0 VK6XT OF86 37

screen: