NE-FL D-STAR System

Off the Air for a couple of weeks

mikelee — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:33:36 +0000

I will be off the air from 15-May until about the end of the month. Need to take care of some personal business.

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In the meantime, I suppose that many will be preparing for Field Day, scheduled for June 23-24 this year. I’m hoping to join the FPCARC group at the Flagler EOC, but if not possible, I’ll operate from my home station with twin Elecraft K3′s and a new antenna system that was installed by Eddie (KJ4LRB), Rick (KC2HFL), Jason (W4LTL) and myself. We’ve been getting the station ready, in case I’m confined to working from home for more than a few weeks.

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Picture is the station prior to installation of the 2nd Elecraft K3 – the K2 on the left will be relegated to portable duty, replaced with a twin K3. The Icom 910H satellite rig will stay.

DSTAR Demo at Philippine National Hamfest

mikelee — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:32:57 +0000

This coming weekend (May 4-5) will be the Philippine National Hamfest, where amateurs from across the country converge for technical discussions, a bit of operating and the ability to eye-ball-QSO with long-time and new friends. This will be my first time at this event, which is being held at Olongapo City, near the old Subic Bay Naval Base which was maintained by the US Navy for over 25 years. I’ll arrive a day early to escape the heat of the Metro area (the venue is about 3 hours by bus from Manila) – and be taking my Elecraft K2 along with the BuddiStick Deluxe and the AlexLoop antenna for some casual operating.

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While the Philippines is generally a less economically developed country than the US or the EU, it is not without it’s share of honorable mentions – in this country of almost 92-million (most below the poverty line), Philippine hams are one of the most active in emergency services – primarily due to significant weather events that regularly visit this country. Philippine hams are also very active in DX’ing, with a solid hand-full who are currently on the Honor Role. The more affluent hams have antenna farms that would rival any multi-multi stations in the states.

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I was blown away yesterday morning when I joined the DU-Traffic Net (at 07:00 and again at 19:00 on 7.095 LSB) – sitting and listening while Net Control (Ali – 4F1AR) called the net with a broadcaster’s voice, greeting each person by name in English and Tagalog – by my count, there were over 30 check-ins on the net. My small-signal (QRP on a EFHW) was heard, but just barely, but even so – Ali spent the time to inquire about my name, location and greeted me with very typical Filipino warmth.

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There has been talk of a DSTAR repeater here in the Philippines – probably on one of the mountain tops that overlooks the city of Manila and surrounds – typically with about 75-miles radius coverage. In light of that, I will be giving an impromptu DSTAR demo at the Hamfest, using my DVAP and IC-92AD. Assuming the internet connection holds-up, I’ll try to do it from either the meeting room, or one of the recreation venues.

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Tentative schedule for the demo will be on Friday evening and Saturday morning locally (in Manila) – which would translate to FRIDAY morning and evening Eastern - targeting for 08:00-10:00 and 20:00-22:00 EASTERN TIME on Friday, 4-May.

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If all goes as planned – and the internet connection is sufficient – I will connect to REF034C for both demo sessions. It would be greatly appreciated (and most helpful) if a number of you could be available during the above timeslots to join in the demo. It’s always more impactful when we use familiar voices to participate – giving a sense of “connecting with friends half way around the world”.

Elecraft KAT500 – Auto Antenna Tuner – UPDATE

mikelee — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:03:00 +0000

It’s ALMOST here..!! The New Elecraft KAT500 Auto Tuner is soon to be released, with the working Engineering test sample being released at Visalia this last weekend. This unit promises to be a killer, with capability to handle 500+ watts in tune mode at full power, or Full Legal while tuning at 300 watts or less. No pricing has been announced, but I remember a conversation that I had with Eric back at the Torrance Hamfest that it would be “competitively priced” with other tuners in the 500 watt range – the added bonus of-course, is that it is not just usable with ANY HF transceiver (using RF sensing), but is also TIGHTLY INTEGRATED with the Elecraft K3 line (using the ACC port).

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As you would imagine, the unit is quite heavy (big, heavy toroids) but the form factor of the unit is quite small – with a footprint the same as the K3 or KPA500, but it’s only 1.5″ high.

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On my list for post-Dayton purchase..!!

Flagler ARES and FPCARC – Mini Field Day (with a twist)

mikelee — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:12:52 +0000

======= RECAP from Bill – WS1C – Flagler ARES/EC =============

First thanks to all that came out – 14 members is excellent!
Everyone did a great job, we got 3 HF and 3 VHF stations on the air.
Second I believe we all had fun and I learned a lot and this was a great FD practice!

We need to improve our skills on traffic and digital modes, but the good news is we have program ideas for the next year.

We already have half a dozen working with D-Star D-Rats, and a couple starting RMS Express.

Attached are a couple of ICS 213 tutorials – one from Bud N0IA in Volusia and one fromICS.com.

We need better VHF antennas under the bridge – it was quite dead.

Another thing we learned is we need to program our radios with our neighbors frequencies.

I have attached a .csv file that should import into most radio programming software with what we programmed into the Florida Hospital radio. You can view it and edit and print with most any spreadsheet. It has every frequency I could find of for maybe 40 or 50 miles.

I will share the after-action report to be sent to the SEC when we collate data from Flagler, Volusia, St. Johns and Clay.

Already looking at a new district wide drill after FD. It will be large as our new district is Florida Division of Emergency Management D-3. Nassau, Baker, Duval, Union, Bradford, Clay, St. Johns, Gilchrest, Alachua, Putnam, Flagler, Levy and Marion counties. 13 counties, I have visited 3 other ARES organizations, only 9 to go!

Last but not least we are conducting a membership drive, 3 new so far, but I need your help to grow and strengthen our organization.

================== ORIGINAL Mini-Field Day ANNOUNCEMENT ===========

From: Bill Schwartz

Subject: April 28 th exercise

Hello all,

We need as many as are able to come out for this event.

Objective: To pass formal traffic between Flagler, St. Johns and Volusia counties in ICS-213 format. Proving we can communicate with or without internet and repeaters. Each EC to make some test messages for other sites.

Modes:. FM, D-Star, D-rats, RMS Express

Bands: HF- VHF

Where: Volusia- Debary EOC,

Where: Flagler – Portable at Betty Stefflick park under the 100 bridge,

When: Saturday April 28^th from 1000 to 1400 local. Flagler Setup 0900.

I have attached a basic ICS-205 Comm Plan, copied from Doug Carter’s Op. Communicate Freedom last year.
Please add what I may have missed.

Please fill out ICS-211 for each county, ICS-309 Comm. Log, ICS-217A comm.. plan and ICS-214 unit log for your group – I will prepare an after action report from these on the event for Ron, WB4GUH the SEC .

This exercise is a learning experience. Mike KJ4FEQ has agreed to help Flagler with RMS express. Hugo did a great job teaching 5 Flagler members how to do. As soon as I stop acting like an EC I plan to try out.

Flagler will also be inviting some Boy Scouts and our current Technician class.

Thanks All I am confident we can do another team project well.

Bill WS1C

Flagler ARES – FPCARC Mini Field Day.

Eddie — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:31:11 +0000

Flagler ARES and FPCARC will be hosting a mini field day at the Betty Stiflick Pavilion this Saturday April 28th from 10am to 2PM. The objective of the mini field day is to pass formal traffic using the ICS 213 form between Volusia and St. John’s counties.

We will be using various modes of communications to show that we can operate with and without repeater systems. All are welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Pavilion is located just under the SR 100 bridge as you approach Flagler Beach. For more information contact Flagler EC Bill Schwartz at ws1c@arrl.net. We will also be monitoring 147.075 PL 123 with a + 600 off set.

Philippine Amateur Radio Association – Annual Meeting

mikelee — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:28:34 +0000

This year’s meeting will be held in Olongopo City at the By the Sea resort on May 4-5, 2012. This will be my first year to attend, so I’m looking forward to meeting a number of operators with whom I’ve corresponded with over the past couple of years.

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The venue is a sea-side resort with a beautiful beach, so I’ll be taking my BuddiStick, as well as the AlexLoop along with my Elecraft K2 to make some ocean-side contacts (verticals next to the ocean are WONDERFUL performers).

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We’ll bring back pictures and commentary on return.

Flagler Club Co-Awarded ARISS Contact

mikelee — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:24:00 +0000

The Flagler Palm Coast Amateur Radio Club (FPCARC) in partnership with the Indian Trails Middle School in Palm Coast have been awarded an upcoming ARISS contact with astronauts on the International Space Station. While the exact date has not been set, the contact window will between July 2012 and January 2013.

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We’ll be using two redundant stations (a NASA requirement) – the primary with computer steered, circularly polarized antennas along with a computer controlled Icom 910H multi-band radio. The 2nd station will be an Icom 7000 with a pair of M2 Eggbeater antennas. Output power needs to be 75+ watts, with preamps on both the receivers. Nothing unusual for those used to working OSCAR satellites, so it was fun to brush-off the equipment that I already had and get it all integrated and on the test bench (dining room table) for extensive testing.. The project team has already scoped-out the school location with help from the principal and we have clear areas, regardless of the direction or elevation of the pass.

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We have already had our first coordinating meeting with officials from the school as well as the School Board last week, with a conference call scheduled with NASA officials this week. The County’s S.T.E.M. Coordinator (Jose Nunez) has been appointed the Project Manager, while Mike Lee (WB6RTH) will be assisting in the project management efforts. Bob Matson, President of FPCARC is the coordination point for NASA and a whole host of School Board staff are responsible for tasks ranging from Media/Publicity, Curriculum, logistic, IT Support and Student involvement. The event will be broadcast via live streaming to all schools in the County and we are expecting video, audio and print media from the entire region spanning from Jacksonville to Orlando. We’re expecting to have over 900 people in the school gymnasium – from students, parents, teachers, staff, visitors, dignitaries and invited ham operators.

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It is unusual for an ARISS contact to be awarded to such a small school program, but NASA is very interested int he Cadet program, as well as the other activities we’ve been doing for kids education and was excited to award the ARISS contact to Indian Trails.

More details to be published as they become available.

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In the meantime, attached is the PowerPoint presentation that we gave to the School officials last week – enjoy..

FPCARC – ARISS Coordinating Meeting 20120411

Amateur Radio And D-STAR In The Media.

Eddie — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:17:56 +0000

Amateur Radio and D-STAR has gotten a recent boost in the media recently thanks to actor and comedian Tim Allen. Tim who most of us know from the very popular and long running Home Improvement series has a new show called Last Man Standing.

His character on the show Mike Baxter ( a sporting goods store director of marketing) is a licensed ham and a D-Star user as well. Mike holds the call sign KA0XTT an experimental call issued by the FCC. As a note of trivia the XTT is in reference to ex Tim Taylor.

Also of note Mike’s “shack” consists of an ICOM 9100 and an ICOM 92 AD and several antennas are installed around the set. Numerous staff members including the producer John Amodeo are licensed hams and are able to make contacts between shooting scenes.

Get Your Amateur Radio License !!

Eddie — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:24:35 +0000

The Flagler Palm Coast Amateur Radio Club and Flagler ARES will be conducting classes for anyone interested in obtaining their Technician Class Amateur Radio License. The classes are free of charge although there is a $ 15.00 administrative fee for taking the test.

Classes will be held at the Flagler County EOC and start April 5th with an end date of May 31st. Text books are suggested but not required for the Technician license.

For more information on this program please contact Flagler ARES EC Bill Schwartz (WS1C) at ws1c@arrl.org or by phone at 386-283-4017

Get your Amateur Radio License

Please remember to RECONNECT to REF034C…!!

mikelee — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:10:58 +0000

We have always encouraged users to experiment with linking on the NE-FL DSTAR System – as such, we have never mandated the use of “security codes”, or any special privileges in order for folks to use the linking system or to connect to other reflectors. Unlike other groups in the area, we do not “encourage” club membership in order to “get the codes” – we think that what we’ve done should be a DSTAR public service, open to all hams who wish to participate.

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That said, each of the 5 (soon to be six) repeaters in the network was INTENDED to be linked via REF034C on a full-time basis, enabling the entire I-95 corridor in Northern Florida to be connected at the same time. We encourage local users to disconnect from the reflector, if they want to connect, as an example, to the Georgia crew on REF030C, or to the international reflector on REF001C – HOWEVER, we simply ask that you UNLINK when you’re finished, then LINK back to REF034C so that the system is reconnected.

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There have also been folks who have been linking to REF001C (which is quite busy), then leaving it on that reflector for hours at a time (obviously, the user is no longer listening) – in a word, DO NOT do this..!! If you are actively listening to REF001C, then no problems – but when you’ve had your fill of the chatter, please UNLINK and LINK to REF034C to restore the local repeater to the system.

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I know that all of the past incidents have been unintentional – no worries at all, but let’s all remember to restore the system, in case someone needs to communicate across the entire length of I-95 and into the Georgia area (since we routinely have repeaters in south and middle Georgia on REF034C.

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Thanks for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of your local NEFL-DSTAR coordinators (Scott K2LSF in JAX, Steve W1SGC in Daytona, Charlie WB2CIC in Palm Coast).