For the last few weeks, Jason (W4LTL) and I (at Jason’s urging) have been contemplating the use of Wireless Internet extension technologies – usable for moderate range (multi Km). Jason is a network engineer by profession and has worked for such marquis companies as Verizon and MCI, as well as other technology driving organizations. Both he and I have some experience with various types of equipment, but there are a few things are are driving the decision:

• Reliability – how good is the equipment, can it operate unattended, does it require much human interaction, etc
• How sensitive is it to interference, from RF and mechanical sources..?
• How much does it cost – both one-time and ongoing (if anything)..?

We are interested in the technology because it would potentially allow us to place both D-Star and analog repeaters where no current internet connections might exist. In the case of D-Star, this is critical for a functioning Gateway system for connection to our Reflector. In the case of Analog, it’s important in order to be able to control the system remotely via internet versus thru Touch Tones.

We’re looking at a number of systems, but I wanted to share with you just one of them, so that you have an idea of what they are, how they work and how complicated they are. Below is a system from Ubiquit System – the system includes the 28dbi grid antenna, feed point and a single-box RF-ethernet bridge which connects directly to the antenna on one side, and to an ethernet connection on the other. The system is powered over the Ethernet connection (POE), so it’s one very nice, compact package. Overall cost – about $140 PER SIDE, so a full-duplex link would cost less than $300 ONE TIME (no recurring cost). These are point-to-point links (versus point-to-multi-point), so one pair is required for EACH functioning link. We have no idea about frequency, other than they are in the 5ghz range (likely in the ISM band), so we might well purchase a pair and do some experimenting (now you understand why we have test equipment that goes to 6Ghz..!!).

Some of the D-Star guys in Arizona are using this exact system for their Gateway-Internet link over a path of about 40+km, so we know that the technology works.

Here’s the info on the Ubiquiti system:

Above: Ubiquiti system (click to enlarge)

more tk

For those of you in the Jacksonville Beach and downtown, here’s an update of our current status:

• the Big JAX tower site (500-foot) has been delayed – I have not heard from the station engineers yet, but all components are ready to be deployed (we purchased an additional DB-224E for this site).
• the JAX Beach site is nearing installation. Scott has helped us finalize the contract for the roof-top site and I have already signed it. Site is ready for installation. Steve and I will be finalizing the RF equipment this coming weekend – this will be a D-Star Full-Duplex Hotspot on UHF. We’ll release details as soon as they’re finalized.
• We will need a crew for the JAX Beach site install – there will be antenna work, feed-line runs and equipment installs (Steve Finger will be the point-man for the equipment install). If you’re interested, please contact me offline or via email

there should be a MasterCard commercial that says, “getting the right help, at the right time, for the right job – PRICELESS”.

Such is how I feel about recruiting Jason Price to be our lead D-Star Gateway manager for the existing Linux-based gateways in the NEFL D-Star network. As you all know, no single person can do everything – especially when there’s RF equipment, antennas, feedlines, test equipment AND the computer equipment and software necessary to provide Gateway services for D-Star. Jason is a career Unix/Linux software and network engineer – so he does this for a living (unlike me, who only dabbles and barely “get’s-by”).

Jason has already updated all three gateway servers with the latest CentOS updates. He has full ROOT access to all the servers as of 48 hours ago and has already been active in making sure that we are up-to-date on all systems for operating system and security patches.

Please welcome Jason to the team – this is a HUGE relief to me and allows me to focus on other parts of the project. We’ll have similar support requirements on the RF components, antennas, etc – so more “shedding” of responsibilities to competent, trained and professional-level folks will be most welcome in the coming months.

You might remember my comments from early this year – that I wanted to have the maximum number of people involved in the design, installation, maintenance and repair of our repeater systems – that it should NOT be in the hands of just one person (regardless of who “owns” the equipment). Multiple maintainers means higher availability and greater reliability, greater knowledge sharing, greater teamwork. All good thing – but people with big egos and the need to be the single-source-of-knowledge need not apply.

I finished building one of the NQSMHS (Not Quite So Mini Hot Spot) cards last Thursday night. Overall, it took about 90 minutes when you exclude the detective work that I had to do, and subtract the time I took to document the construction process.

Here are a few observations for those of you who are thinking of building these (versus purchasing the assembled and tested version for an additional $30):

• the kit is of very high quality – PC board is pristine, components are first rate. There is no skimping here from Mark.
• The PIC chip is included and has the BootStrap Loader already programmed to the chip – you will need to purchase, download and load the firmware (www.dutch-star.eu) to this chip when construction is complete (cost is 10-Euros).
• the board is all Thru-Hole construction and appears to have standard spacing for all components – placement of components is not difficult,
• EXCEPT (okay, you knew this was coming)…..
• the GMSK chip, which is an SMD (Surface Mount Device), which has VERY narrow pitch pin-spacing – so small that I had to get a new pair of reading glasses in order to insure that the pins were on the proper PC Board traces
• Suggest getting a magnifying glass, or reading glasses like I did
• Suggest tinning the PCD board traces with a VERY FINE TIP soldering iron (very low heat as well),
• Suggest placing the GMSK chip on the pre-tinned traces, then just tacking one pin (lower right or left – your preference) in order to line-up the remaining pins, then
• Suggest tacking the OPPOSITE corner and checking for pin alignment again.
• Once all pins are aligned, simply re-heat the pre-tinned PC board traces, and the solder will flow to the SMD pins.
• Do the above VERY CAREFULLY. If you don’t have the right tools (Magnifier, VERY fine soldering iron, and steady hands), ASK FOR HELP – otherwise you will destroy the chip.

There are a few errors between the documentation and the PC Board – for example, the parts list was Version 1.1.3, while the schematics and the PC Board were for Version 1.1.4. Overall, virtually all the parts were as indicated in the V1.1.3 Parts list, with the following exceptions:

• C42 on the Parts List goes to C17 on the PC board (0.1uf cap)
• C99 on the Parts List goes to C16 on the PC board (0.1uf cap)
• C43 on the Parts List goes to C18 on the PC Board (10uf electrolytic)
• C44 on the Parts List goes to C19 on the PC Board (10uf electrolytic)
• D40 on the Parts List goes to D1 on the PC Board (1N4004 in my kit)
• R41 on the Parts List goes to R10 on the PC Board (10k)
• R46 on the Parts List goes to R17 on the PC Board (27k)
• R47 on the Parts List goes to R11 on the PC Board (27k)
• Q1 provided in my kit was a 2N4124 (not listed as one of the options on the Parts List)
• All other Parts were as described on the Parts List and correspond to identified positions on the PC Board
• Reminder: all electrolytic caps should have their STRIP (negative) placed in the ROUND hole on the PC board (versus the square hole)
• Reminder: all LED’s should have their SHORT lead placed in the ROUND hole on the PC Board.

So that you can assess whether you would like to attempt the project, I have included the build-documentation from the vendor in the file below:

NQSMHS-Schematic-V1.14_ver1

Above: the pins on the SMD are small

Above:  Yes – it’s VERY small – his one is PERFECTLY aligned

Above: Partially assembled – NOW you can see how small the SMD is..!!

Above: Completed PC board WITHOUT the GMSK/smd chip

Above: Slightly MISALIGNED chip

Above: Finished Hotspot board – ready to install