MRTG running

Yeah - we're back...   Many years ago we had MRTG graphs for the various Wetnet LANS.   Now, thanks to our little TCP on packet project and the addition of SNMP info in JNOS - we're once again collecting and plotting data.   This is the 9600 baud UHF APRS channel in the Puget Sound region...

I should have waited a couple days to get better charts with more data - but what the heck - it's cool to have these running again.   It's not live on the internet - internal only for now..

Now to figure out how to do this on the NW-MESH boxes.   Let's see if we can move the left column from Bytes per Second to Megabytes per Second..

Symbol Rate FCC Petition

> Symbol Rate - FCC Petition 11708 - At the January Board of Directors
> meeting, the FCC Petition 11708 dealing with elimination of symbol
> rates was discussed and a set of Frequently Asked Questions was
> established.  To view FAQs go to: http://www.arrl.org/rm-11708-faq
>
> Questions and comments on the Petition may be directed to ARRL CEO
> David Sumner, K1ZZ at: dsumner@arrl.org

"The petition proposes to substitute a bandwidth limit of 2.8 kHz for the symbol rate limits - why 2.8 kHz and not some other figure?- It accommodates the digital data modes that are now in widespread use while limiting future development to the bandwidth of an SSB transceiver."

>

Sorry but that's not progress.  Limiting our future looking activities based on 1980 hardware and 1999 software..   :(

It's like blocking iPhones today because they don't have a rotary dial...

We should simply:

  1.  Limit all 'computer' data activities like this to what's currently listed as the unattended data band segment.

  2. Double (at least) the unattended data band segments.  That's still a small portion of our spectrum.

  3. Remove any limits on the data bandwidth operations.   If it fits in the unattended data band segment use it.

Thus the data users will not be impeded by artificial restrictions. The human operators will be spared the current ongoing interference from computer modes.   Everybody wins and we can actually use existing and future technology to do cool things.

> How would you define 'computer' data activities in regulatory text?

While I'm sure a real regulation would require far more thought, how about something like this...

Sending a brag file from a key press - that's a human operation.

A PBBS login where the computer responds to the connect request - that's a computer activity.  Anything that isn't initiated by the live user (at both ends) would be computer activity.   

Path Planning Tool

Found this path profiler:

  http://www.heywhatsthat.com/profiler.html

from a referenence at:

  http://www.hotarc.org/hsmm.html

It's not as brutally honest as Radio Mobile Online and it's easier to use.

 http://www.ve2dbe.com/rmonline.html


73,
Bill - WA7NWP

Two WRT54G Mesh Routers

You now have two NW-MESH routers...   What does that mean.

References:

• NW-MESH Yahoo Group
• Broadband Hamnet  - was HSMM-MESH

What can you do with them.

• Mesh with any other NW-MESH nodes automatically.
• Setup services on the MESH lan which are advertised on the Mesh home page for others to access.
• Mesh with BBHN nodes by turning off olsrd_secure and changing the SSID
• Use BBHN nodes with these by installed olsrd_secure and changing the SSID

Some Notes.

• The web admin page is on http://localnode:8080
• SSH access is on port xx22 instead of the normal port 22
• The SSID of the nodes is currently NW-MESH-2412.   The 2412 is the frequency in Megahertz of channel 1 of the 2.4 GHz wifi band.  This was added to uniquely identiy the mesh nodes per channel.  With out that, some nodes would 'mesh' with other nodes even if they weren't on the desired channel.
• You cannot Connect or Associated with the Mesh nodes by the NW-MESH-2412 name.  This is strictly for operation of the mesh between mesh nodes.
• You can access the mesh by either a network cable link to one of the four LAN ports on a router box or by WIFI RF to an Access Point which is itself connected to a LAN port.
• Each node has 4 MB to start with and approximately 400K free after the install.  That's enough space for some small features such as the Next Generation IRC server - NGIRC.

New Four Band Ham Mobile - Wouxun KG-UV950P

This is the quad band radio I was mentioning at brunch last Saturday - the Wouxun KG-UV950p. Hopefully it'll  transmit simultaneously on both radios.

  http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/wouxun/kg-uv950p.aspx

> Still not really getting the "quad band" aspect after 3 reads.

VHF and UHF give us local simplex and repeater access.

HF gives SKip DX which is not as easily predictable but with much greater range.

In the middle we have a couple magic bands, 6 meters and 10 meters, that give us both DX and local.    Normally good for local but when the sun shines its magic rays we have propagation around the country and beyond.

I find it appealing to have a single radio that can be used for day to day communications and can also open up and play on those special times when the skip is in.   Thus the appeal to me of a quad band radio like this.

The cross-band functionality may be a bonus where the radio could scan the cool frequencies on one side and cross band it locally to UHF at very low power with the other side..


> I suspect a bit of over-specsmanship after reading this feature:
> Stun and Kill Function

I believe those are standard functions for part 90 commercial gear that allow remotely disabling a radio that's been stolen.

>

I thought the Yeasu FT 8900 was going to be the ultimate 'special purpose' four band rig.  I had planned to use one side on 6  meter packet and the other for local voice operation.   Then I discovered it only does one band-transmitter at a time so it wouldn't work. Hopefully these new radios are better and allow full  independent operation of both modules.  Simultaneous transmitting would be the ultimate..

It's Time for a Smart Talkie!

So who will be the first to bundle an Android 'pad with an Amateur Radio transceiver?   This looks like a break through application for ICOM's DStar.   Other 'digital' modes would work but it would take more development.

Maybe the open source folks will do it - http://radio.testa.co/

-- update 11/20/2013 --

The Runbo was an option but it was pricey.   This one (EARL) looks even better:

  http://www.meetearl.com/

On the other hand, maybe just adding an Argent Data T3-9670 to a tablet or smart phone will be better yet.

Amateur Radio HF Restrictions in USA

Dear ARRL Directors:

I wish I had the time to write a well crafted explanation but the information is there on the advanced Amateur Radio development mailing lists and in regulations from many other countries around the world..

This is a bad idea and could hurt us for years to come.   Reducing the symbol rate is, of course, a good thing.   Locking us into a mere 2.8 KHz on HF is an artificial limitation that will, in the near future, lead to the same frustrations as the archaic symbol rate restriction and further hinder our adoption of modern technology.   A bad change now will add years to the process until we make a better proposal.  Ideally there should be no limit by rules but rather by appropriate technologies and reasonable operation practices as is shown to work successfully elsewhere.

Please further research and reconsider this proposal.

73's
Bill, WA7NWP


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ARRL Web site
Date: Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Subject: ARLB030 ARRL Files "Symbol Rate" Petition with FCC
To: wa7nwp@gmail.com


SB QST @ ARL $ARLB030
ARLB030 ARRL Files "Symbol Rate" Petition with FCC

ZCZC AG30
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 30  ARLB030
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  November 20, 2013
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB030
ARLB030 ARRL Files "Symbol Rate" Petition with FCC

The ARRL has asked the FCC to delete the symbol rate limit in
§97.307(f) of its Amateur Service rules, replacing it with a maximum
bandwidth for data emissions of 2.8 kHz on amateur frequencies below
29.7 MHz. The ARRL Board of Directors adopted the policy underlying
the petition initiative at its July 2013 meeting. The petition was
filed November 15.