NE-FL D-STAR System

The Journal of the North East Florida D-Star Repeater Network

Archive for category D-Star Repeaters

KA4RES (Palm Coast) changing Frequency

Jan 17

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Radio Programming, D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users | No Comments

some time in February, the KA4RES D-Star repeater in Palm Coast, FL will be changing frequency to 145.320 -600khz, while maintaining the same call-sign (for RPT1 and RPT-2). Over the last two years, we have been operating on a frequency for which we were not officially coordinated, since the current 147.320 frequency was used before we got official coordination.

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Steve (KD4DNQ) and Rick (KC2HFL) will be retuning a replacement duplexer, after which we will swap the frequencies (the RF module is changed using a PC). The system should only be off the air for about 45 minutes as we bolt-on the new duplexer to the rack and reconnect the cables.

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We’ll give a 7-day notice before the swap, but you can already program your radios for the new frequency and store the entry into a new memory.

JAX Beach – now on VHF

Dec 3

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Radio Programming, D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users | 1 Comment

UPDATE from 4-Dec-2011 – from Scott (K2LSF)

As of 1300 Sunday12/4/11 the Jax Beach repeater is operational as VHF :

Frequency: 145.360
Call Sign: KJ4RYG
Your Call: CQCQCQ
RPT1: KJ4RYG C
RPT2: KJ4RYG G (if you want to utilize gateway services)

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This morning, a group of the JAX DSTAR repeater support group, led by Scott (K2LSF), along with Phil (K5BBC) and Rick (KC2HFL) from Palm Coast successfully deployed the 2M RF stack from Big JAX to the JAX Beach location (it’s lower and a bit further to the east, compared to Big JAX).

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All indications are that the system is doing well – coverage SHOULD be excellent, but that has not been confirmed yet (signal reports are welcome). There is one item which needs to be resolved tomorrow, which is the connection between the RF deck to the controller – a simple change which Scott will make in plugging the 2m RF deck into the proper RJ45 port to match port “C”.

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The work today took less than 90 minutes – which was the time we allocated for the work. I was not able to go (planned absence), but I knew that the guys would be able to handle the job famously without me – and I was right. Having the trained and qualified crew to maintain the system is a huge blessing – thanks guys..!!

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Contact Scott (K2LSF) if you have questions on the system in JAX Beach.

Florida D-Star Rag Chew Net – Tuesdays at 21:00

Nov 6

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Radio Programming, D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users | No Comments

from our buddy Eddie :
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Please remember to join us for The Florida D-STAR Rag Chew net on REF 034C every Tuesday evening at 2100 hrs local time. We will have a rotation of net control stations as well as guests from time to time in an informal setting to keep us current on D-STAR happenings and to answer questions for any people having operational difficulties.
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As we have numerous hams now on Facebook I have created a group on Facebook. Please feel free to join the group and we will keep you up to date. Here is the link.https://www.facebook.com/groups/240486009340972/
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I am looking for a steady rotation of net control stations to keep this going. If you are interested in volunteering please email me at kj4lrb@hotmail.com and we will work out a schedule. Looking forward to seeing everyone there. 73’s to all !!!
Eddie/KJ4LRB - Net Manager Florida D-STAR Rag Chew Net

Big JAX – RIP

Oct 23

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users | No Comments

the work party went to Big JAX today and found a number of issues – what was thought to be just a power amplifier problem was indeed that (the 160w amplifier had damaged finals), but when sweeping the antenna system with the Agilent N9330B, we found that the antenna system appears to be seriously compromised. Obviously, this is not good, since we have 900+ feet of VXL7 (1-5/8″) hardline going to the DB-224E antenna – but as they say … s^&* happens and sometimes despite all of the control measures that we have installed (including a Polyphaser panel for both the AC and RF), stuff happens.

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Contemplating the options, I made the decision to temporarily abandon the Big JAX site – we have spent over $4,000 on the hardline, antenna, mounting hardware for the hardline and the labor for the installation (over $2,500 in labor alone). The prognosis of having another $1k+ is too much – Big JAX was never a super performing site (in Doug and my mind, it should have done MUCH better than it ever did), so I’m just not willing to put good money after mediocre at this time.

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Had the problem just been the blown amplifier, we were prepared to replace it with our spare (even so, the amplifier is almost $500..!!), but the risk of causing another amplifier failure due to a poorly mismatched antenna system just made the decision easier.

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I know that many in the JAX area are disappointed – but you can help by trying to find another site – but preferably on the top of a high building were we can easily get access to the antenna and have short(er) feedline runs.

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In the meantime, Scott has a replacement UHF duplexer that he will install at the JAX Beach site in the next week – that should improve that site’s receive capability enormously (there was a bad connection INSIDE of the existing duplexer causing one of the receiver-side cavities to be out-of-line). We’ll run with the UHF configuration for a while until we decide what to do.

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Best to all..

Mike

Big JAX Diagnostic Trip – Sunday 23-Oct

Oct 21

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users | No Comments

So far, all indications are that the Transmit side of Big JAX is the culprit – but that remains to be seen. Scott (K2LSF) has been working with the TV station and we are scheduled for a field-trip to the site on Sunday of this weekend and will try to determine what’s going on with that system. Typical diagnostics like sweeping the antenna/feedline system, then checking for output power from the amplifier. We’ll take some spare components as well – in case it’s an easy fix.

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We’ll report back findings after the trip. Thanks to Scott for all the hard work in coordinating the various parties for the weekend trip. It’s a bigger challenge than most of you might realize..!!

Big JAX RF seems to be impared

Jul 25

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users | 2 Comments

I’ve heard a number of stations in the JAX area who have commented among themselves that the repeater seems to be degraded – still functioning, but coverage is no what it used to be. Gateway seems to be operating normally, so the folks connected to REF034C can hear the JAX stations, but we may need to make a trip to diagnose in the next little while.

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Since we’ll need to make a trip to JAX, it would also be opportune to replace the duplexer on the JAX Beach machine (UHF), since the receiver side has a known bad cavity. We’ll get the replacement duplexer tuned-up and ready for the trip. Don’t know when we can make the trip, but expect that it will happen over the next couple of weeks.

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As an aside, I heard a mobile station just south of Gainsville this morning – must have been coming thru the Starke machine. Starke was having internet problems late last week, resulting in “Remote System Busy” messages – but they seem to have been resolved now.

Reminder – DSTAR Academy on July-30

Jul 22

Posted by mikelee in ARES Training, D-RATS Data, D-Star Radio Programming, D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users, Dongles and DVAPs, DSTAR Projects, NET Operations | 1 Comment

In Mt. Dora – don’t miss it, as this should be the best Academy to date. We have invited a number of the Emergency Managers in the immediate region to participate in an ID-1 Network demonstration. This will be a first, since we’re planning on networking over 8 ID-1 units together to create a Wide-Area-Network (WAN) using just ID-1′s.

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Registration at the door is $45.

There are three separate areas of instruction and demonstration planned for this event:

  1. The D-Starter session is for the newer D-Star users and will focus on the basics of programming the radios, Dongles / DVAPS, and D-Rats.
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  2. The ID1 demonstration session is for county emergency management, EOC, Red Cross, hospital communications, and other non-governmental officials. There will be an extensive network of ID1 high speed data/voice Radios in place to demonstrate the effectiveness of this equipment during emergency situations.
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  3. The SysOp session is for the more advanced D-Star users to meet with other users and have a question and answer session with the presenters as well as ICOM company officials that will be at the event. This group will also have the afternoon to work with the ID1 radios and networks that will be in place.

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Some of the presenters who will be at the Academy are Ray Novak, N9JA of ICOM, Robin Cutshaw, AA4RC ( who will go over what’s new with Dongles and DVAPS ), John Davis, WB4ZDD and ED Woodrick, WA4YIH from Georgia D-Star ( www.dstarinfo.com ), Bob Jones, N6USP from North Brevard ARC, Paul Eakin, KJ4G, Donna Barker, WQ4M, Mike Lee,WB6RTH ( with his communications van ), and more.

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There will be several communications vehicles set up in the parking lot that will be part of the ID1 demonstrations you can go through. Ray Novak is bringing his “ refrigerator” with all the ICOM D-Star equipment and we are planning to have portable repeater setups as well as go-kits available for you to examine.

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A more detailed explanation of the D-Star Academy and what is planned is on line atwww.cfldsg.com . We will accept checks or cash at the door the day of the event but the price at that time will be $ 45.00 and no lunch or refreshments will be provided

Ray Novak, National Amateur Marketing Manager for ICOM America is providing an IC-80 AD and the HM-168 GPS speaker microphone for our GRAND PRIZE.

To register , go to the Academy Registration :

( www.cfldsg.org/Registration.htm )

July 30th – DStar Academy

Jul 14

Posted by mikelee in D-RATS Data, D-Star Radio Programming, D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users, Dongles and DVAPs, DSTAR Projects | No Comments

planning is been fast and furious – this is intended to be the best DSTAR event yet. If you’re even remotely interested in DSTAR, or what DIGITAL Data via radio can do for Emergency Manages, plan on attending. The flyer is below – click to enlarge.

 

Florida Rag-Chew Net results

Jul 13

Posted by mikelee in D-RATS Data, D-Star Radio Programming, D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users | No Comments

from Net Control, Eddie Cail (KJ4LRB) – if you would like to assist in being net control, please contact eddie at KJ4LRB@ARRL.NET
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The second edition of the Florida D Star Rag Chew Net was held 12-July-11 at 2100 hrs EST on reflector 34C There were 12 check ins. The net lasted 45 minutes. Check ins as follows.
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NCS:          ALT:
KJ4LRB      KJ4QAL
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Check Ins:
K4IFX, K3NON, W9CHA, K5BBC, KS4K, N0XIA, N4NKA, KIKWG, KD4UJX, KI4HHK.
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Announcements:
Paul announced the Mt.Dora D Star academy which will be held July 30th and registration is still open. Kyle announced the formation of Starnets and the procedures to check in. Eddie announced the need for net control stations for the Florida Hurricane net and The Florida D Star Rag Chew net.
.Questions And Discussions:
Questions about connecting directly to reflector verses repeater were asked an answered. Also questions were asked an answered about linking and unlinking to repeaters in regards to the different modules A-C. An informative discussion was also held on what to keep if anything in RPT2.
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Training:
No training was scheduled for tonight’s net.

REF034 back ONLINE

Jul 8

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users | No Comments

The power supply in REF034′s server was replaced and tested at 15:03 eastern and the server was back online at 15:07. The system appears to be functioning normally and the reflector is viewable now from the internet via http://ref034.dstargateway.org/

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All systems may reconnect back to REF034C, if that is your normal home. DVDongle and DVAP traffic should operate normally now.

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We’re grateful for having a service such as NetDepot – since they have full spares of all equipment in their data center – and staff 24×7 to diagnose and repair systems as might occasionally be required.