Re: [digitalradio] Re:Streetlight RFI found with AM portable
A trick that you might try is that when you find an offending pole, give it a good whack with a sledgehammer to see if the noise changes. We tracked down a couple of poles that were throwing some serious RFI out, and that's how the power company guy verified where the problem was. Seems that the pole was put in in the 40's, and the rest of the hardware was about the same age. On 8/21/2010 1:09 PM, Tony wrote: Paul, That's a nice rig to have. I understand it's capable of AM mode as well - add a small hand held 2 meter Yagi and you'll have one FB direction finding RFI detector. Tony -K2MO I live near the Atlantic Ocean in Slower Lower Delaware. Our problem here is that during dry weather, we get salt spray on the power lines and transformers, leading to all sorts of noise. A good rain helps. I have a small Yaesu VR-500 wide band receiver. It works very well for tracking down RFI/EMI around the house as well. Good way to find offending wall warts, and the like /paul W3FIs
Re: [digitalradio] Re:Streetlight RFI found with AM portable
On 8/22/2010 2:04 AM, John Gleichweit wrote: A trick that you might try is that when you find an offending pole, give it a good whack with a sledgehammer to see if the noise changes. We tracked down a couple of poles that were throwing some serious RFI out, and that's how the power company guy verified where the problem was. Seems that the pole was put in in the 40's, and the rest of the hardware was about the same age. I've heard about this John - makes sense. Tony On 8/21/2010 1:09 PM, Tony wrote: Paul, That's a nice rig to have. I understand it's capable of AM mode as well - add a small hand held 2 meter Yagi and you'll have one FB direction finding RFI detector. Tony -K2MO I live near the Atlantic Ocean in Slower Lower Delaware. Our problem here is that during dry weather, we get salt spray on the power lines and transformers, leading to all sorts of noise. A good rain helps. I have a small Yaesu VR-500 wide band receiver. It works very well for tracking down RFI/EMI around the house as well. Good way to find offending wall warts, and the like /paul W3FIs
[digitalradio] Tokyo Ham Fair Videos
Videos of some of the new equipment at the Tokyo Ham Fair can be seen at http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2010/tokyo_ham_fair.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm
Re: [digitalradio] Re: Good USB sound card ?
I use a CHEAP usb sound card adaptor ( 8 EUROS) on one of my old Dell laptops which has no soundcard sucessfully for pskmail/puppy linux. Rein PA0R I would be interested to know if Linux even supports these cheap USB sound devices? I did run Linux in the shack for a while and unfortunately sold one of the original RigExpert devices because it wasn't usable under Linux and at the time I though I wouldn't revert back to Windows. But in the end I did as apart from Fldigi most of the ham software on Linux is second rate compared to that available for Windows and I got fed up at not being able to try some newly announced thing that came only in a Windows version. Julian, G4ILO --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Rik van Riel wrote: On 08/14/2010 02:15 PM, g4ilo wrote: Well, that isn't my experience. Regardless of the chip set used, it's the entire product including the drivers that will determine the performance. My suspicion is that these devices run at a fixed sampling rate, and that resampling to the rate requested by the software is carried out by the drivers. Not an issue for me since I run Linux and fldigi. The digital mode program fldigi simply gets the audio off the device at one of the native sampling rates of the device and does good quality sample rate conversion internally. I believe you if you have seen the Windows drivers for the device do a terrible job of sample rate conversion. However, I'm not going to experience that issue myself and am quite happy with the device in my setup :) Personally I don't think it is worth economizing in this area. That I can agree with. -- All rights reversed. http://www.obriensweb.com/digispotter.html Chat, Skeds, and Spots all in one (resize to suit) Facebook= http://www.facebook.com/pages/digitalradio/123270301037522 Yahoo! Groups Links
[digitalradio] New CMSK released
CMSK version 21.08.10 has been released (http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/CMSK/cmsk.htm) Sound cards separate from Windows default can now be selected. Anyone wanting to try this mode out please drop me an email. I'll be checking periodically today. 73 Dave KB3MOW
Re: [digitalradio] New CMSK released
What are the main frequencies ? On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 8:35 AM, n0hnj dco...@zitomedia.net wrote: CMSK version 21.08.10 has been released ( http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/CMSK/cmsk.htm) Sound cards separate from Windows default can now be selected. Anyone wanting to try this mode out please drop me an email. I'll be checking periodically today. 73 Dave KB3MOW
RE: [digitalradio] New CMSK released
Darned if I know of a set frequency for it, Andy, but given its' bandwidth, I'd guess we'd be safe just about anywhere in the digital bandplan as long as we don't park on top of another QSO! How about 7.078? 73 Dave KB3MOW -Original Message- From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:digitalra...@yahoogroups.com]on Behalf Of Andy obrien Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 8:37 AM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [digitalradio] New CMSK released What are the main frequencies ? On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 8:35 AM, n0hnj dco...@zitomedia.net wrote: CMSK version 21.08.10 has been released (http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/CMSK/cmsk.htm) Sound cards separate from Windows default can now be selected. Anyone wanting to try this mode out please drop me an email. I'll be checking periodically today. 73 Dave KB3MOW
Re: [digitalradio] Re: Good USB sound card ?
g4ilo wrote: I would be interested to know if Linux even supports these cheap USB sound devices? I did run Linux in the shack for a while and unfortunately sold one of the original RigExpert devices because it wasn't usable under Linux and at the time I though I wouldn't revert back to Windows. But in the end I did as apart from Fldigi most of the ham software on Linux is second rate compared to that available for Windows and I got fed up at not being able to try some newly announced thing that came only in a Windows version. Julian, G4ILO that above is EXACTLY my complaint and major, pet peeve.. I would love to run my digital off my MacPro but none of the software for Winmor, MixW, Telnet has been ported to OS-X that I am aware of. result is, I am either sneaker netting files from the Mac to my doze laptop or sending it to my //MARS/ telnet account then copying the data into an EEI or whatever. sucks. BUT, I feel the same way about what I consider the best email program (Agent by Forte) and my favorite photo program (ACDSee). So, as long as those are in Doze, I have resigned myself to running second rate software on my Mac IF I can even find something comparable. thanks for the thread. If anyone finds a comparable Mac OS-X set of digital programs to replace the MixW, Telnet and Winmor, please post it to this list. to the point of a sound card, I like the SL/USB so much, I bought one for each of my transceivers. so, I can unplug one from the T-41 and plug in another, depending on my needs. Since I got my Pro3, I find it hard to go back to my 480HX except for QSY checking for propagation. 73 chas -- ch...@texas.net k5dam Houston, TX http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member14013.png --
[digitalradio] Half Square Antenna
I used a half square on 17 meters in Colorado in 1995 at the bottom of the sunspot cycle. I voltage fed it with a parallel LC network and one 1/4 wave radial. The flat top phasing line was only 13 feet off of the ground with the antenna broadside Europe and the Pacific. The results: 100 countries in 30 days with 100 watts. A serious DX antenna. I also put up a half square on 160 in Colorado, with the same voltage feed. I linear loaded each 1/4 wave leg into two each 1/8 wave 64 foot sections and it worked fantastic. I had a big signal with 100 watts. 73 GUD DX, Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O Lakeland, FL, USA n...@tampabay.rr.com NZ4O Amateur SWL Autobiography: http://www.nz4o.org http://www.obriensweb.com/digispotter.html Chat, Skeds, and Spots all in one (resize to suit) Facebook= http://www.facebook.com/pages/digitalradio/123270301037522 Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: digitalradio-dig...@yahoogroups.com digitalradio-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: digitalradio-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[digitalradio] Re: New guy
I just realized that I made reference in my post to the 756 having good digital rig control capabilities, but in fact the OP said that the radio is an Icom 765, not a 756. I have no idea what digital rig control the 765 is capable of. Sorry about that. Jon KB1QBZ
[digitalradio] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow
-- Forwarded message -- From: David Lusthof davidlust...@goatse.be Date: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 3:19 PM Subject: Re: [UDXF] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow To: u...@yahoogroups.com On 22-08-10 20:53, Geir Stokkeland wrote: Air Canada 859, en route Heathrow to Toronto, is turning back and flying direct Glasgow. There is some kind of emergency on board, comms ongoing with Shanwick on 5616 kHz as I write. Instruction to direct Glasgow was given 1845 UTC. I don�t know any other details, perhaps our Scottish colleagues can check relevant VHF frequencies in the next few minutes? Geir, Norway Just switched to 8864 Khz (1917z) Redavidlust...@goatse.be?subject=re:+%5BUDXF%5D+Air+Canada+859+emergency+-+turning+back+to+Glasgow
[digitalradio] Windows7 drivers for Rigblaster?
I have a ham friend with a Rigblaster M4 and a new Windows 7 PC. He is using a serial-USb adapter. He says that Westmountain have been unhelpful via the telephone but he apparently needs a specific driver for Windows7 and his Rigblaster. Their web site is unclera as to which driver is needed for Windows 7. Anyone have a URL for the correct driver ?
[digitalradio] Rigblster and Digipan ?
This claim from West Mountain seems dubious. DIGIPAN PROBLEMS If you are having trouble with DigiPAN stop using it and try WinPSK! We have had numerous reports of DigiPAN having a blank waterfall display. In QST there is a report of this which was cured by increasing the display colors to 256 colors or higher. We have experienced this but we were running high color and we fixed it by re-booting the computer. We have also had reports, and experienced it ourselves, of, DigiPAN not working with the serial port. We do not know what causes this but they are aware of the problem. We fixed this by completely removing and re-installing the program. Anyone confirm this is a real problem?
Re: [digitalradio] Rigblster and Digipan ?
Andy, Of course, DigiPan needs to be run with a display of 256 colors or higher (unless you change the default waterfall colors)! The default palette requires at least 256 colors to work, and so do Internet graphics. I have no idea why anyone in the last 10 years would try to run with less than 256 colors, when probably 99% of video cards support at least 16-bit, 32-bit , or 24-bit color these days. In 10 years of personal support of DigiPan and having resolved over 4000 support questions (almost all of which are computer system problems, not DigiPan problems), I have NEVER received any report of DigiPan not working with the serial port, if the serial port was correctly established or selected. Sometimes the DigiPan configuration file becomes corrupted and the best way to fix most unusual problems with DigiPan is: 1. Quite DigiPan 2. Delete digipan.ini in \Windows 3. Restart DigiPan and re-enter the personal data and serial port. West Mountain's suggestion to remove and reinstall DigiPan is NOT going to fix a corrupted digipan.ini file. The re-installed DigiPan will often have the same problem it had before re-installation. I informed them of this years ago, but apparently they have short memories. :-( There is a history (which I will not go into), going back eight years or more, of West Mountain Radio being disparaging of DigiPan (for reasons I will not mention), but trust me, DigiPan is a VERY mature program and, to my intimate knowledge, has NEVER failed to work if properly configured on an adequate and correctly working Windows 98 or later system. Just don't believe what West Mountain tries to make people believe about what they claim to be the problems with DigiPan - over 100,000 DigiPan users cannot be wrong! Moe Wheatley's WinPSK is an excellent program and I even used his PSKCORE.DLL for my own QuickPSK program, which introduced PSK63, but DigiPan is every bit as reliable and easy to use. 73, Skip KH6TY Andy obrien wrote: This claim from West Mountain seems dubious. DIGIPAN PROBLEMS If you are having trouble with DigiPAN stop using it and try WinPSK! We have had numerous reports of DigiPAN having a blank waterfall display. In QST there is a report of this which was cured by increasing the display colors to 256 colors or higher. We have experienced this but we were running high color and we fixed it by re-booting the computer. We have also had reports, and experienced it ourselves, of, DigiPAN not working with the serial port. We do not know what causes this but they are aware of the problem. We fixed this by completely removing and re-installing the program. Anyone confirm this is a real problem?
Re: [digitalradio] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow
Is this bogus, can find no indication its real. ve3bdr From: Andy obrien Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 3:25 PM To: digitalradio Subject: [digitalradio] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow -- Forwarded message -- From: David Lusthof davidlust...@goatse.be Date: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 3:19 PM Subject: Re: [UDXF] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow To: u...@yahoogroups.com On 22-08-10 20:53, Geir Stokkeland wrote: Air Canada 859, en route Heathrow to Toronto, is turning back and flying direct Glasgow. There is some kind of emergency on board, comms ongoing with Shanwick on 5616 kHz as I write. Instruction to direct Glasgow was given 1845 UTC. I don�t know any other details, perhaps our Scottish colleagues can check relevant VHF frequencies in the next few minutes? Geir, Norway Just switched to 8864 Khz (1917z) Re No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3087 - Release Date: 08/22/10 02:35:00
Re: [digitalradio] Rigblster and Digipan ?
That's what I figured. Thanks Skip On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 5:46 PM, KH6TY kh...@comcast.net wrote: Andy, Of course, DigiPan needs to be run with a display of 256 colors or higher (unless you change the default waterfall colors)! The default palette requires at least 256 colors to work, and so do Internet graphics. I have no idea why anyone in the last 10 years would try to run with less than 256 colors, when probably 99% of video cards support at least 16-bit, 32-bit , or 24-bit color these days.
Re: [digitalradio] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACA859 Looks normal. ve3bdr From: Rudy Benner Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 5:49 PM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow Is this bogus, can find no indication its real. ve3bdr From: Andy obrien Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 3:25 PM To: digitalradio Subject: [digitalradio] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow -- Forwarded message -- From: David Lusthof davidlust...@goatse.be Date: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 3:19 PM Subject: Re: [UDXF] Air Canada 859 emergency - turning back to Glasgow To: u...@yahoogroups.com On 22-08-10 20:53, Geir Stokkeland wrote: Air Canada 859, en route Heathrow to Toronto, is turning back and flying direct Glasgow. There is some kind of emergency on board, comms ongoing with Shanwick on 5616 kHz as I write. Instruction to direct Glasgow was given 1845 UTC. I don�t know any other details, perhaps our Scottish colleagues can check relevant VHF frequencies in the next few minutes? Geir, Norway Just switched to 8864 Khz (1917z) Re No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3087 - Release Date: 08/22/10 02:35:00 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3087 - Release Date: 08/22/10 02:35:00
[digitalradio] Re: New guy
I have a LOT to digest!! I thank both of you for the detailed (and that is what I needed!) answers. THANKS to you both! Steve KJ4SLK --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, KB3FXI kb3...@... wrote: Jon, Excellent explanation! You should be a teacher (if you aren't already). And, Stephen... welcome to the hobby and digital modes. Here's my personal preference with some elaboration: Interface: USB Signalink USB Signalink has an on board sound card so you don't have to tie up your computer soundcard. It also only has 2 cables... one to the radio and a USB to the computer. Power is supplied by the USB cable. I've found the devices with rats nests of audio and power cables hanging off them give a much greater chance for picking up RF and locking up your computer. Software: NBEMS / FLDIGI (www.w1hkj.com) FLDIGI multimode software is built for all major platforms. So, if you go from Windows to MAC, you just download the MAC version and away you go. This is a preference thing, but I like the single window display of FLDIGI. However, if you're going to get into contesting, I think the logging and automatic rig control may be a bit more advanced and better refined on HRD. Rig control is where your radio and software share info such as frequency, filter settings, volume, etc. You can change frequencies and settings on the rig from the software. I've not had much luck with NBEMS rig control but I don't care enough about the feature to bother to trouble shoot it. With regard to the software the good thing is both HRD and NBEMS/FLDIGI are free, so you can check them out and see what you think before going down one path or another. I'd take up some of the fellows offers to help you down your way. And if you can meet up and have someone give you a demo, that's the way to go. The first time you open some of these programs, it can look much more complicated than it actually is. Good luck and let us know when you're ready to make some digital contacts. I've chatted with quite a few hams in LA on both digital and phone... maybe we'll get lucky and meet up on a good path. -Dave, KB3FXI --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, JonP jperelst@ wrote: Some of your questions are sort of which taste better -- apples or oranges? and you may get all sorts of different answers depending on personal preference. I'll give you some of what I believe are the differentiating factors. I'll also tell you my personal decisions but they are mine and others will not agree because it's a personal thing. HRD vs. Others: There are a couple of programs like HRD, FLDIGI, and MixW (plus a few others whose names escape me at the moment) that are multimode and can do pretty much any of the soundcard modes (i.e., those digital modes that can be done with soundcards and don't require special modems, special TNCs, etc.). Then there are those built for individual soundcard modes such as Digipan for PSK and MMTTY for RTTY. In my opinion (and it's only my opinion), the primary difference is that if you go with a multimode program, there is a higher learning curve up front to get started on your first mode but then almost no learning curve to go to the next mode and the next mode and ... If you go with a specific program, you have a moderate learning curve up front for your first mode and then a similar learning for the next mode and ... Essentially, if you're going to do multiple modes it comes down to pay me now or pay me later. Of course, you'll have the learning curve of best operating practices for each mode, but that has nothing to do with which software you're using. When it comes to capabilities to work in a given mode, I believe that the major multimode programs are as good as the equivalent single mode programs. For example, I believe that HRD or FLDIGI are just as good in PSK as is Digipan or any of the other PSK programs. Personally, I decided to go for a multimode program. I like the fact that I only had to learn the user interface once and could then quickly pick up additional modes. I regularly switch back and forth between PSK, RTTY, Domino, MFSK, MT-63, Olivia, etc. depending on what I'm hearing on the air, and being able to do it by clicking a button rather than shutting down software and opening up software is a major benefit in my mind (others may disagree, especially if they prefer to work one mode only). I would also say that if you have the smarts to get your general or extra ticket, the learning curve on HRD (or on FLDIGI) is not going to be a hindrance to you. As to outboard vs. inboard soundcard -- again a matter of preference. When you go inboard soundcard, you're depending on the soundcard that comes with the computer and you're depending on the computer having enough speed and memory to run the soundcard and the software
[digitalradio] Questionable DX PSK31 reception reports
A few callsigns that my software reported today TU5KC 20m PSK31 8429 kms21:32:19 Ivory Coast D2QV20m PSK31 11514 kms 20:51:54 Angola ET4ETI 20m PSK31 11525 kms 21:27:30 Ethiopia A4ETI 20m PSK31 7215 miles 21:22:41 Oman C2NIJ 20m PSK31 11975 kms 20:56:34 Nauru C2QV20m PSK31 11975 kms 20:05:17 Nauru S3FCO 20m PSK31 12519 kms 20:11:11 Bangladesh D6WH20m PSK31 13516 kms 20:43:28 Comoros Islands 4W4ME 20m PSK31 15571 kms 20:11: Timor Leste I assume they are inaccurate callsigns. It would have been fun. Andy K3UK
