NE-FL D-STAR System

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

Archive for category DSTAR Projects

A Generous Gift from …???

Feb 16

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users, DSTAR Projects | 1 Comment

Phil and I were at Hamcation this last weekend and enjoying all of the flea market displays – and even selling quite a bit of unused equipment.

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While at the inside booths, a well known ham made a most generous gift to us – due to our leadership in creating the DSTAR network in north-east Florida, this individual will be donating a full UHF DStar repeater system to our group for installation in the network with the anticipation of enhancing and augmenting coverage.

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We don’t have timeframes yet, nor locations identified – but we are thrilled to have the support of this generous gift.

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More as we get further details.

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.

 

Central Florida D-Star Academy

Jun 17

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

 

Central Florida D-Star Academy

The Central Florida D-STAR Group is hosting a D-Star Academy on July 30th in the central part of Florida at Mt Dora.  The academy will give operators – new and experienced – more knowledge on the operation of and new applications used with D-Star.  It WILL be a learning experience!  Click HERE for more information on the academy. We have leased a large convention facility whose main room will be divided into three sections for this event.  Here’s some of what we have planned for you:

We will begin registration at 0730 followed by introductions at 0815.    Ray Novak, N9JA, National Amateur Marketing Manager for Icom America will be there and give us an update on what’s new at Icom (He is also bringing the “refrigerator”*).  We will then take a short break while the room dividers are put in place with the classes starting at 0900.  There are refreshments (coffee, iced tea, water) provided all day.  There is also a buffet lunch between 1200 and 1330.  For a detailed class schedule, click HERE. 

There will be lots of things for you to look at during the breaks and at lunch.  There will be representatives from vendors on hand, like AES from Orlando and RT System software.  They will not have any wares to sell at the event, but they will answer your questions and help you in deciding on equipment.  And, there will be equipment set up in the parking lot, some of which will be used during the classroom demonstrations.
Class 1: D-Starters
The “D-Starter Session” will instruct operators on the basics of the Icom radios, programming with computer software, programming without software from the keypad, D-rats, reflectors, and dongles.  

  • John, WB4QDX, and Ed, WA4YIH, from the Georgia D-Star Group have an excellent presentation for beginners and the slightly more experienced users that will take you step by step through the D-Star maze.  If you are just starting out, or if you have had a D-Star radio for a while and just can’t figure out the manual, this class is for you.  If you are just thinking about buying one, this class will answer any questions you have.  Check out their website at http://www.dstarinfo.com/ .
  • Bob, N6USP and his group from North Brevard County will take you step-by-step through D-Rats.  We have planned two hours for D-Rats that will include hands-on training to transfer text and forms.  This is not only a useful program, it is an important tool in the toolbox during emergency events.  (Get a head start on D-Rats! Go to the North Brevard Countywebsite – Click HERE.)  Paul Eakin, KJ4G, North Florida Section Manager, will also show you how to use the “Ratflector” in Tallahassee.
  • Robin Cutshaw, AA4RC, will be there and will show you how to use his Dongles, DV AP’s, and more.
  • Many “Elmers” will be there to help with some hands-on training.
 

Class 2:  SysOp
When we first decided to have a D-Star academy, we were only targeting new and somewhat knowledgeable operators to help them gain more insight and experience using the Icom equipment.  After we started accepting reservations, we quickly learned that many of the more advanced users of the system were interested in a class like the Repeater System Administrators part of the Georgia InfoCon held in Atlanta last April.
Ed, W5TWR, has taken on the responsibility for this class.  We are still in the process of inviting some very D-Star experienced operators to this academy to assist in the classroom.  Ed wants this experience to not only be in the classroom, but the QSO possibilities to advance everyone’s capabilities.
Some of the areas to be covered include:
  • Repeater basics

  • Repeater setup and programming
  • Gateway setup Trust Server registration
  • User registration
  • Repeater operation and maintenance
  • Repeater administration
  • Gateway utilities and add-ons
  • Hotspots
  • 1.2 GHz high speed data
Keep checking the All About The Academy page on this website for up-to-date information on presenters and other activities and exhibits planned.
 

Class 3:  ID-1 Demonstrations
This is called the ID-1 Demonstrations class, but it is so much more than that.  Paul Eakin, KJ4G, is inviting the emergency managers, DEC’s, EC’s, hospital administrators, NGO’s like the Red Cross, and more to attend.  The first part of this class is in the morning and will demonstrate what D-Star can do during emergencies.  There will be live connections to various agencies, the EOC in Tallahassee, and mobile units to see outside in the parking areas that will also be part of the demonstrations.
With the assistance of Donna, WQ4M, Bob, N6USP, Robin, AA4RC, Ray, N9JA, and others, the attendees for this class are going to see a wide range of services that amateur radio operators can provide using D-Star; in the EOC, shelters, or in the field.  They will also be showing how D-Star worked during the recent tornado disasters in Alabama and Georgia.
In the afternoon, the attendees will be part of the D-Starters Class and will get a look at how the types of radios most D-Star operators have work in shelters and in the field.
The support of these elected, appointed, and administrative people will go a long way to get the funding for and installation of D-Star systems in many areas.  This, as you know, is another very important tool in the toolbox during emergencies.  If you know people who work in these areas, contact them and encourage them to attend.
* The refrigerator is a very large black double-doored cabinet on wheels.  It is as big as a refrigerator, but when opened it is full of “candy” – ICOM candy. For more information, go to http://www.cfldsg.org/Academy.htm

 

Starke Installation delayed for a week or two

May 23

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users, DSTAR Projects, NET Operations | 3 Comments

The guys intended to install the Starke machine this last weekend while I was at Dayton, but we had some problems with the Trust Server team approving our Gateway. That has been resolved and we’re finalizing the testing for the system this week. Tentative schedule is either this weekend, or the following (June-4th).

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There is a regional exercise on the last week of June at Camp Blanding and we’re targeting to have DSTAR available for that exercise, since it will have regional and state-wide visibility. We’ll keep y’all appraised of the install date when we know it.

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Frequency will be : 145.380-   and the call-sign will be : KJ4RYI

Call-Sign : KF4EMV

May 12

Posted by mikelee in Analog Repeaters, D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users, DSTAR Projects, FEMV, Flagler ARES Admin, Flagler EOC, NET Operations | No Comments

We applied for and received the call-sign of KF4EMV a few months back, but are just now in process of putting it to good use. The specific call sign was requested in support of the FEMV organization – Flagler Emergency Management Volunteers – an organization of security-screened and credentialed volunteers who serve under the direct management of Flagler Emergency Management and with the authority of that governmental organization.

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Much like the DStar repeater call sign KA4RES – these call signs are public acknowledgement of our singular mission – in the case of KA4RES to be Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) focused. In the cast of KF4EMV, the repeaters that bear that call sign will be OWNED, OPERATED and MAINTAINED by FEMV volunteers and provided as a resource of Flagler Emergency Management, for the benefit of ALL AMATEURS in the county, as well as visitors to the area. The mission of KF4EMV repeaters to to provide a dedicated, non-political emergency services resource, but in times of non-emergency they help to strengthen the Amateur Community and promote an awareness to the EOC’s mission thru activities like Training, Weather Nets and Informational Nets. Some groups will be donating their repeater resources to the County – essentially turning over control of their valuable equipment in support of the Emergency Manager’s mission. More on that in future articles.

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Unlike privately owned systems, control of access and content on the repeater systems will NOT be subject to a single individual or so-called Board, but will comply with County guidelines that will be openly distributed. FEMV needs and wants to operate with 100% transparency. In a word, FEMV is not a club, but a group of qualified, security-screened, credentialed volunteers who support the Emergency Manager’s mission of preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery from all events which may occur in the county.

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All are welcome to join FEMV – simply give the Emergency Operations Center a call and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator – Frank Sanita. Although Frank is a licensed amateur, in this case, he is an official County Employee who heads the volunteer organization, reporting directly to Troy Harper – Chief of Emergency Services.

A GREAT, Online Electronics Resource

Nov 21

Posted by mikelee in Antennas, Feedlines and Duplexers, ARES Training, DSTAR Projects, Test Equipment | 1 Comment

I was searching the internet last night for information regarding coaxial cables and Vp, or Velocity of Propagation – when I ran into this resource which I found to be most useful. It answered the question that I had (or at least, CONFIRMED the answer that was in my head regarding Electrical Wavelength). But then, I started browsing that same site in more detail (left navigation bar) and found it to be a treasure-trove of great information – from beginning theory, to much more advanced topics. In fact, probably not an over-statement to say that it’s the single best source of electronics information that I’ve found to date.

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I thought that I’d share so that it might benefit any of you who might be searching for similar material.
http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/antennas/coax/coax_velocity_factor.php

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Below is an excerpt of one of the pages from the site – used with full credits given.  Enjoy…

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Training – Repeater Duplexer Tuning

Nov 7

Posted by mikelee in D-Star Repeaters, DSTAR Projects, Work Party | No Comments

We have training sessions for our repeater installation and maintenance crew on a continual basis. In most cases, however, the components of the repeater are already “ready-to-go” – in that frequencies and call-signs are already programmed and duplexers are pre-tuned on-frequency and just need to be installed at the repeater site.

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But in our continuing effort to have a bench of fully qualified and EXPERIENCED staff to install and maintain our systems (from scratch), we held another of our half-day training sessions on Saturday, focused on the following:

  • Learning to use the Rhode Schwarz FSH-313 Spectrum Analyzer with Tracking Generator,
  • Learning to properly tune a 4-cavity repeater duplexer from Tx/Rx System, using a spectrum analyzer, tracking generator and return loss bridge (note: many hams don’t know, or don’t bother to use a return loss bridge) – starting by tuning each cavity separately, then together,
  • Checking both transmit and receive sides under expected repeater power levels
  • Most importantly – learning BY DOING, not just listening. This session was focused on hands-on use of the FSH-313 as well as manipulating the duplexer cavities in order to affect tuning frequency.’

We also had the opportunity to check the performance of a Receiver PreAmp from Advanced Receiver Research – by using an IFR-500 Service Monitor and the FSH-313 Spectrum Analyzer.

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In attendance Saturday were: Steve (KB4DNQ), Phil (K5BBC), Doug (N4FPS) and Eddie (KJ4LRB). If you’d like to be included in these training sessions, please feel free to drop us a message – we do them about every 2-3 months, as time permits. Below are some pictures from the training session, courtesy of Doug (N4FPS). Click to enlarge.

Full Duplex HotSpot Progress

Oct 23

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

Well, damn..!! I never thought that soldering wires to pins on a Mini-DIN connector could be so difficult. Steve (KB4DNQ) and I struggled for about 2 hours to try and solder STRANDED #32 wire to the solder cups of a mini-DIN, male connector. Neither of us could even see the wire/connector combination without assistance, so I put on my trusty +3 diopter reading glasses and worked away. After 2 hours, STILL no progress – the individual wire strands were thinner than a human hair…. frustrating.

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So, we abandoned the effort for the day so that I could go to Radio Shack to try and get some small gauge SOLID wire. The second try was more productive and we were able to create the “Y” cable to go from the Satoshi DV adapter to the two Kenwood TM-271 radios that will be used for the full-duplex repeater. Cable is built and tested – next step is for Steve to test the configuration over the next couple of days, along with the software on the PC. If all goes well, we’ll have a working DStar repeater using the hotspot technology.

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This first test is using two Kenwood TM-271 radios which are VHF – the next test will be to create a cable configuration for the Icom IC-F121/F-221 radios, which are VHF and UHF band respectively. This will allow us to have a very small, battery portable DStar repeater for emergency deployment. We’ll keep you posted on the progress of the project as we go along.

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BTW – we got an inquiry from a ham in Sweden (SM0TSC – Johan) regarding interfacing of an Icom F-110, which is similar to the F-121 (more current version). Seems like others in the world are reading our posts – and following our progress – it’s very cool that we can share our experience, as well as learn from them – truly the spirit of ham radio..!!

Thanks to W9OV..!!

Sep 24

Posted by mikelee in DSTAR Projects, Work Party | 2 Comments

We received a very generous donation of surplus Heliax cable today from Marty Wilcox (W9OV) in Daytona. Marty came across lengths of 1-5/8″, as well as 7/8″ Heliax that wasn’t being used and offered for us to use it on the DStar network. We already have a bunch of this cable (over 950-feet of 1-5/8″ and a couple hundred feet of 7/8″), but this cable is hard to come-by at decent prices (not to speak of being FREE) – so this donation is very important for us.

We don’t have a specific use for it YET, but have more supplies in the warehouse only gives us options and flexibility when opportunities arise.

Our thanks to Marty and his company for thinking of us, as well as for the generous donation.

In the interest of transparency : the NEFL D-Star System does NOT accept cash donations of any kind. Any  materials donations are gratefully accepted, but do NOT qualify as Tax-Exempt in any way, either for the state of Florida, or the Feds. Donors should not expect a receipt of any kind – only a warm “Thank You” and a promise that the materials will be used for the benefit of the NEFL D-Star System, not toward the advancement of any specific individual(s).