[digitalradio] MICROHAMS DIGITAL CONFERENCE IN REDMOND, WA
Lots of good Digital Radio content at the Microhams Digital Conference. It's the weekend before DCC so if you're coming out to the Pacific Northwest, come a little early and check this out. 73 Bill - WA7NWP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR THE MICROHAMS DIGITAL CONFERENCE IN REDMOND, WA, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010. Registration is now open for the 2010 MicroHAMS Digital Conference. The 2010 MDC will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 08:00 (registration opens) to 17:00 on the Microsoft campus at one of their excellent conference facilities. Because the MDC is being held on Microsoft property, advance registration is recommended - not only is space limited, but there are only a limited number of same-day registrations available. Registration is $25 in advance (includes lunch) and can be performed online at http://www.microhams.com/registration/. The MicroHAMS Digital Conference is an official ARRL Conference. Presentations at the MicroHAMS Digital Conference draw heavily from local presenters to reflect both local interests and local Amateur Radio Digital technology development. Presentations from past MDCs are linked from the MicroHAMS web page - http://www.microhams.com. 2010 MicroHAMS Digital Conference speakers currently scheduled: Jeremy McDermond NH6Z discussing High Performance Software Defined Radio (HPSDR) software being ported to run natively on latest versions (including underlying OS and graphical user interface technology) of Apple Mac OS. Stewart Kantor, CEO of Full Spectrum Networks, which makes a Mobile WiMAX system called FullMAX that adapted for use on VHF and UHF spectrum. FullMAX capabilities encompass all Amateur Radio bands 50 MHz through 928 MHz with no modification, leading to the exciting potential of plug and play TRUE broadband (mobile!) wireless capability on Amateur Radio frequencies. Stewart will explain how they adapted Mobile WiMAX technology, normally operated on frequencies such as 2.5 GHz (Clearwire), to VHF / UHF spectrum, including challenges such as narrowing the occupied channel of Mobile WiMAX to as little as 200 KHz. Andy Ruschak KK7TR will discuss the use of P25 and digital voice in general in Amateur Radio. Andy will explain about the attributes of P25 (the interoperable standard for digital two-way radio for public safety) that are of particular interest for Amateur Radio operations, including potential interoperability, when needed, with public safety P25 systems. Lyle Johnson KK7P's presentations are unfailingly fascinating, ranging from his experiences helping to found TAPR and the US Amateur Packet Radio movement, to hands-on development of hardware that has flown on a number of Amateur Satellites, to embedded Digital Signal Processor (DSP) technology, most recently for the Electraft series of HF radios. Dan Smith KK7DS, the father of the D-RATS software (which some consider a primary reason to deploy Icom's D-STAR digital radio systems) will be speaking on the latest developments in D-STAR (including the rapidly-evolving non-Icom D-STAR ecosystem) and integrating D-RATS with Winlink. Ward Silver N0AX will be our official ARRL speaker. Ward is the author of numerous books relating to Amateur Radio, most famously, Ham Radio for Dummies, one of the most accessible treatments of Amateur Radio as a whole for readers not previously exposed to Amateur Radio. In keeping with the Digital focus of the MDC, Ward will speak on Protocols, Modulations, and Modes. The cost of lunch is included with registration and is provided on site. By popular demand, the 2010 MDC has more space allocated to show and tell tables, and the 90-minute lunch period is specifically UNstructured to allow ample time for individual discussion and visiting the various show and tell tables. In addition a series of blog posts have been created to provide insight into the organization and planning process of the conference - http://www.microhams.com/digitalconference/. To answer a Frequently Asked Question about the scheduling of the MicroHAMS Digital Conference, due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts, the MicroHAMS Digital Conference, normally held in the Spring, was rescheduled to the Fall. After the MDC was scheduled and announced, the ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference was announced for both the weekend following the MDC (September 24-26), and that it would be held in nearby Vancouver WA (Portland, OR metro area). As this announcement is written, only a loose outline of the ARRL and TAPR DCC is available. The presentations and overall focus of the two conferences, though outwardly similar, have quite different focus. The Microhams Digital Conference tends to focus more on Seattle-area technology developments and developers; the ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference presentations can be slightly more academic / formal paper presentation, along with a more national and international focus. In the view of the MicroHAMS Digital Conference organizers, the
Re: [digitalradio] Re: ROS, legal in USA?
We want to be able to use the mode on HF, but it is not our decision, but our FCC's decision, for whatever reasons they currently think are valid. Fortunately, it may work well on VHF and HF, so I plan to find out. Might this give some wider data on UHF? 20KHz? 50 KHz? Would it be limited by more then the soundcard and RF platform? Bill - WA7NWP
[digitalradio] 3.580 is a busy frequency?
Isn't 3.580 MHz about the busiest digital channel on 80 meters due to the proliferation of cheap crystals? I'm about to suggest it's not a good spot for more wl2k testing, which could be totally agile across the data portion of the band, and I'd like to make sure I get my facts right. Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] cognitive radio systems;?
I first heard of cognitive radio systems when efforts were underway to make use of the 'white space' in the television broadcast bands. The whole idea is to make more efficient use the the spectrum by putting situational awareness in to the client device. One example we're discussing is how to use the repeater channels (over allocated - under used) for data when the repeaters aren't in use. Cognitive radios could learn which channels had the least use and make more use of them. There are issues to be resolved but the concept is promising at the very least. Yes - ham radio has never been so alive. We have incredible tools (toys) there but for the using. 73 Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] USA Novice-Tech operations on 10M?
James, everyone used to play there because of the old rules. It would seem logical to use the same portion of the band as one uses on other bands , .070 for basic PSK operations. PSKMAIL and other digital stuff may be a little further up so as to avoid CW operations. This is a server and we should really get all servers in the unattended sections of the band... (And we need to get much more 'unattended' room.) Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] Re: QRV RFSM-8000 tonight
Bonnie, Thanks for the info. That does open it up for some preliminary testing... Bill, WA7NWP USA you can use it on every ham band, MF, HF, VHF, UHF, etc. Just be sure you are in the correct band segment for image comms. And be sure your transmission's content is image. 73 Bonnie VR2/KQ6XA Bill WA7NWP wrote: So what would be the lowest band we could use it on? 10 meters? 6 meters? Higher?
Re: [digitalradio] Re: QRV RFSM-8000 tonight
So what would be the lowest band we could use it on? 10 meters? 6 meters? Higher? Bill, WA7NWP On Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 4:19 PM, obrienaj aobri...@stny.rr.com wrote: Thanks Patrick, I guess we will have to lobby for some changes. Andy --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Patrick Lindecker f6...@... wrote: Hello Andy, If RFSM-8000 derives from MIL-STD-188-110A (implemented in Multipsk), it is not legal in USA because the speed modulation is equal to 2400 bauds with a limit of 300 bauds in USA (you can't TX in 110A in USA). It is really a shame. Note: even if the (useful) bit speed is equal to 75 bps, the modulation remains at 2400 bauds.
Re: [digitalradio] Overnight 7080 MH list
Lots of familiar calls in there. What mode was this? FYI from FN02hk 7080 2009/09/30 08:35:30 K7EK 2009/09/30 07:32:06 AF5T 2009/09/30 06:35:00 W0RLI 2009/09/30 06:29:31 WB6YTE 2009/09/30 06:24:37 W7BO 2009/09/30 05:47:20 KG4VUB 2009/09/30 04:35:37 VE3VAI 2009/09/30 04:28:42 KD7PAJ 2009/09/30 03:59:20 W9IB 2009/09/30 03:49:55 W7DMR 2009/09/30 01:28:21 N1CPE 2009/09/30 01:24:25 N9DSJ
Re: [digitalradio] Re: An open letter: W1AW and 80m psk31 interference
Why is the code practice sessons even needed now ? In 1955 very few probably had tape recorders or an easy method to get perfect code practice. Now you can get a computer for almost nothing Ah but radio is what this is all about. There's just something special about doing it over it the air.. If there wasn't, why would we be doing any of this as it's all so quick and easy simply with computers and the net... 73 Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] Re: An open letter: W1AW and 80m psk31 interference
Allow me to throw in one more thought... I believe we'd all be better off if the machines were segregated from the humans. This is an extension of the current flawed attended/unattended scheme. Let's keep one segment of an Amateur allocation reserved for all the manual usage and put the machines in what we used to call the unattended segment. Given that concept, the code practice sessions would be moved to the machine segment of the band... 73 Bill - WA7NWP On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 7:51 AM, Bill V WA7NWP wa7...@gmail.com wrote: Why is the code practice sessons even needed now ? In 1955 very few probably had tape recorders or an easy method to get perfect code practice. Now you can get a computer for almost nothing Ah but radio is what this is all about. There's just something special about doing it over it the air.. If there wasn't, why would we be doing any of this as it's all so quick and easy simply with computers and the net... 73 Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] Re: An open letter: W1AW and 80m psk31 interference(A dissent)
Maybe I haven't been paying attention, but what is it that makes 3580 a sacred gathering place for PSK? Why isn't it 070 like it is on some other bands? Why can't we just QSY to get away from W1AW? Many home brew low power rigs, psk included, use the standard and very cheap 3.579 TV color burst crystal. 73 Bill
Re: [digitalradio] 20M RS ID mode hunt, outcome
FWIW I am progressing very well with my SDR console, so start saving for a SDR receiver because I'll add RSID reception to the console, this means you'll be able to monitor a whole band (or bands) for RSID signals in a few months. Just a receiver? I'm really excited by all the opportunities here - both with the ability to watch more of the bands as well as being able to experiment with faster data on wider bandwidths. It just keeps getting better and better.. 73 Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] 20M RS ID mode hunt, outcome
Thanks for the signal report. I'll try to make some calls on the 30 meters this weekend via MT63 on 30 meters. Will post on ur shed page. So - for basic RSID hunting with HRD, would these be the main frequencies to monitor? 3.580 7.070 10.140 14.072 I've been raving about how cool RSID is to my friends for weeks but I have yet to actually capture one on my own. Thanks, Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] QRV WINMOR
I am QRV WINMOR testing RMS beta on 7080 VFO Andy K3UK RSID?
Re: [digitalradio] Re: More on RS ID ... the pleasure of
Yes, using Commander, I set the dwell time for scanning to just 3 seconds. I am scanning four 3Khz segments over 12 seconds. I may miss a few RS IDs but it should be interesting. Does a log file get created with the time's and freqs of RS-ID's heard?
Re: [digitalradio] Software defined receivers, versus transceivers, for digital modes ?
The goal is also for DM780 to take data from the SDR console and use it to display / monitor up to 200kHz of bandwidth. Lets not forget the opportunities here to even transmit with wider bandwidths then before. There are likely both weak signal and faster data realms here we can finally begin to explore... For a starter, how about a 10 KHz version of the QPSKx25 mode... 73 Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] The ARQ Advantage?
AX25 allows several stations to operate within a bit of spectrum wide enough for one. For example, up to a dozen Q15x25 stations can operate within one 1k to 3k ( depending on how you scale the modems ) slice of spectrum. ARQ modes that do not operate under AX25 are incapable of this, and so are far less spectrally efficient, If spectral efficient means bytes per spectrum (kilohertz maybe) per time - then it's far more efficient to time multiplex where stations take turns passing traffic rather then trying to simultaneously use the spectrum. That's the same reason we all have home run 100 base T networks and switches on our personal networks instead of hubs or coax... The overhead and problems of sharing a channel are throughput killers.. 73 DE Charles, N5PVL More later... Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] The best of all features - SdR
What do you think such a mode would be used for, Bill? The latest brainstorming is a community mesh network. Put a little box in the attic with Ethernet on one side and an antenna on the other.Build a whole VPN with video, vip, whatever.. Given the bits the options are endless. If the price is reasonable many hams in any neighborhood would participate. I have increasing doubts about what hams really want with new modes or capabilities. It does not seem to be improved speeds or accuracy based on what they actually use, compared to what is actually available right now. There's some impressive activity on the SDR front. Given more RF bits we'd see a lot of the old guard come back to play.. The current 1200/9600/56000 was getting long in the tooth in the mid 90's. It's time to breakloose There has to be some purpose for having a higher speeds. Also, there seems to be no exceptions where a higher speed leads to greatly improved robustness. Even the fastest modes that can adjust for conditions, generally revert to a minimal number of tones, with a good example being Pactor 3. How far can you expect an ultra wide bandwidth mode to propagate? Ultrawide ? Ultra wide is megahertz... 100's of kilohertz is barely getting beyond 90's.. In the real world anyway. We already have relatively high speed modes that don't even require a ham license. Yup and getting better by the week.. You are not going to be able to run 192 kHz modes on 2 meters and lower without some kind of STA here in the U.S. Or permanent change to the archaic rules we operate under now. Given the readily available technology - the changes will happen. The only interest might be FSTV. Or lets throw some QAM256 on it and do real video... I turned on my Comcast digital cable yesterday and the change is way impressive. I have done some experimenting on 2.4 GHz with WiFi type image transmissions from a portable set up to a laptop computer, but it is not very compelling. Range is way too short unless heroic measures are taken.. This is, believe it or not, the best time for ham radio. Technologies and the hardware to use it have never been better. Rick, KV9U Bill Bill V WA7NWP wrote: If we could get access to 192 KHz with a special sound card and some minimal hardware - couldn't we really open up the high speed data possibilities. Something simple to get on any band from 10 through 220 MHz would be way cool! Bill - WA7NWP
Re: [digitalradio] The best of all features - SdR
For information, with the last version of Multipsk (4.14), you can decode 48 KHz (for standard sound cards) up to 192 KHz (with specific sound cards) if you have a SdR. If we could get access to 192 KHz with a special sound card and some minimal hardware - couldn't we really open up the high speed data possibilities. Something simple to get on any band from 10 through 220 MHz would be way cool! Bill - WA7NWP
