[digitalradio] Re: Yet Another Newcomer to digital
The built in TNC within the Kenwood has some limited functions. I am sure you will be able to do APRS and some basic packet, but functions sucj as Airmail are not fully supported. You might want to look around for a used http://www.rigpix.com/tentec/526.htm Andy --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel Boese" wrote: > > --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew O'Brien" > wrote: > > > For 30 mHz and above, try to find a rig that does 6M and 2M, an "all > > mode" where you can do both FM and SSB > > > > I used to run a packet BBS on 2M FM about 17 years ago. While there > > is plenty of packet activity in the St Kitts area, I am not sure of > > there is a BBS active or not. Last I checked for WNY, there were > > none. Most of packet activity is Flexnet, nodes that link areas for > > emergency communications. > > > > Getting something other than your handheld's rubber duck will be > > important. I will be happy to do some 2M FM digital experiments with > > you. Since I moved I am no longer line of site to your area but > > should be able to work you . > > > > Packet radio does fairly quick switching between transmit and receive, > > so you will need a circuit that automates this for your handheld. > > There are some commercial ones available , but they may expect a TNC > > rather than a soundcard PC interface. I'll leave it to others here to > > advise on that. > > Andrew, > > I'm already on the prowl for a 6m/2m transceiver in my price range, > though I probably don't know the best places to hunt for one yet. (And > yes, that's also a not-so-subtle way of asking if anyone has any > suggestions. :) ) > > Antenna-wise, given that I'm not permitted to make any permanent > modifications, I'm considering a Buddistick to clamp to my patio fence > (and as a potential backpacking-mobile antenna, once I get to that > stage of things). > > I've just managed to google my local area's ham club's webpage, NPARC, > and plan on asking them about the local digital infrastructure. > > > I'll also note that the manual for my current handheld (Kenwood > TH-D7AG) claims it has a built-in TNC, though I have yet to puzzle out > its intricacies. > > > Thank you for your time, > -- > Daniel Boese, VA3BOS > "Why should I believe that?" >
[digitalradio] Re: Yet Another Newcomer to digital
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew O'Brien" wrote: > For 30 mHz and above, try to find a rig that does 6M and 2M, an "all > mode" where you can do both FM and SSB > > I used to run a packet BBS on 2M FM about 17 years ago. While there > is plenty of packet activity in the St Kitts area, I am not sure of > there is a BBS active or not. Last I checked for WNY, there were > none. Most of packet activity is Flexnet, nodes that link areas for > emergency communications. > > Getting something other than your handheld's rubber duck will be > important. I will be happy to do some 2M FM digital experiments with > you. Since I moved I am no longer line of site to your area but > should be able to work you . > > Packet radio does fairly quick switching between transmit and receive, > so you will need a circuit that automates this for your handheld. > There are some commercial ones available , but they may expect a TNC > rather than a soundcard PC interface. I'll leave it to others here to > advise on that. Andrew, I'm already on the prowl for a 6m/2m transceiver in my price range, though I probably don't know the best places to hunt for one yet. (And yes, that's also a not-so-subtle way of asking if anyone has any suggestions. :) ) Antenna-wise, given that I'm not permitted to make any permanent modifications, I'm considering a Buddistick to clamp to my patio fence (and as a potential backpacking-mobile antenna, once I get to that stage of things). I've just managed to google my local area's ham club's webpage, NPARC, and plan on asking them about the local digital infrastructure. I'll also note that the manual for my current handheld (Kenwood TH-D7AG) claims it has a built-in TNC, though I have yet to puzzle out its intricacies. Thank you for your time, -- Daniel Boese, VA3BOS "Why should I believe that?"
[digitalradio] Re: Yet Another Newcomer to digital
Daniel, For 30 mHz and above, try to find a rig that does 6M and 2M, an "all mode" where you can do both FM and SSB I used to run a packet BBS on 2M FM about 17 years ago. While there is plenty of packet activity in the St Kitts area, I am not sure of there is a BBS active or not. Last I checked for WNY, there were none. Most of packet activity is Flexnet, nodes that link areas for emergency communications. Getting something other than your handheld's rubber duck will be important. I will be happy to do some 2M FM digital experiments with you. Since I moved I am no longer line of site to your area but should be able to work you . Packet radio does fairly quick switching between transmit and receive, so you will need a circuit that automates this for your handheld. There are some commercial ones available , but they may expect a TNC rather than a soundcard PC interface. I'll leave it to others here to advise on that. Andy
[digitalradio] Re: Yet Another Newcomer to digital
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew O'Brien" wrote: > --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel Boese" > wrote: > > I'm still fairly inexperienced at the whole amateur radio thing - > > so far, I have my basic license and a VHF handheld. I'd like to > > start exploring digital modes, and am hoping that you might be > > able to suggest what sort of rig would work well for that. > > > > I do have two limitations, though; I live in what's effectively a > > ground-floor apartment, and am thus limited in what sort of > > antenna I can put on my patio; and have a somewhat limited budget > > - call it US$500 at the outside, and preferably less, if possible. > > Given that, does it seem feasible to start getting involved in > > this aspect of ham, or should I focus my attention elsewhere? > If you are planning just to do the VHF band, you are kinda limited . > There is not a whole of digital mode activity on VHF other than > packet radio, mostly APRS. There are a few people that try digital > modes like PSK on 2 meters SSB but openings are few and far between. > There are also some people that use JT6M and FSK440 on 2m for meteor > scatter, but high gain 2 meter antennas are the norm for meteor > work. Your handheld is likely FM mode only, most people use SSB for > RTTY, PSK31, and more. > > APRS and packet via your handheld is quite feasible , Southern > Ontario has a lot of activity. A simple vertical for 2 meters on > your patio would work quite well. > > > If you try six meters, there is more activity mostly PSK31 but again > you are subject to days at a time where the band may not open beyond > your local region. > > If you are able to get HF privelges, you can do lot. If your patio > is small, you could build a low profile vertical that could work on > 10 meters of 15 meters. As these bands open up more in the next > year or so, you can work many digital modes and work around the > world. > > If you have a few hundred dollars in you budget, I suggest you work > towards the HF privileges and put most of the money in to a used HF > rig. You may be able to get something for US$300 and certainly for > US$400. A Kenwood TS440 or Icom 735 may be something to look around > for. You can build a basic antenna for your patio for $25.00 > > The general requirements to get on the digital modes are... > > radio with SSB, one that is stable and has digital readout. > A PC with a soundcard. > Simple cables to connect your PC to the radio > An "interface" that enables software control of your rig and reduces > ground loops. > The cables and interface can usually be purchased for $40 or so, > some people build their own for $10-15 > > > > Stick with your goals, we can help you here. Ask any questions > > 73 Andy K3UK Hello Andrew, and thank you for your quick reply. With my current license, I have privileges for 30 MHz and up (10 metres and shorter) - it'll take some further studying and testing before I'm allowed on 15 metres. But if I can, I'd still like to start with digital before then. If anyone would care to suggest transceivers that function on 30+MHz, I'm interested in your recommendations. (Or if My existing handheld is a Kenwood TH-D7AG; it has built-in APRS, though of course with its rubber-duck antenna, range is questionable. I have a Win98 laptop able to run MultiPSK, though I don't have any cables to connect it to the handheld (or anything else). (If you happen to know how I might get my hands on such a cable, it would be appreciated...) What I'm currently most interested in, are the fundamentals defining the various digital modes, and figuring out how to figure out which ones are most useful in various conditions, and from there, figuring out what features in a digital mode help or hinder. Once I have my digital-radio feet under me, I'm also interested, to an extent, in setting up some sort of packet BBS, given my fond memories of dial-up BBSes twenty-odd years ago. Thank you for your time, -- Daniel Boese VA3BOS, FN03ie "I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is better to know than be ignorant." - H. L. Mencken
Re: [digitalradio] Re: Yet Another Newcomer to digital
> > I'm still fairly inexperienced at the whole amateur radio thing - so > far, I have my basic license and a VHF handheld. I'd like to start > exploring digital modes, and am hoping that you might be able to > suggest what sort of rig would work well for that. > > I do have two limitations, though; I live in what's effectively a > ground-floor apartment, and am thus limited in what sort of antenna I > can put on my patio; and have a somewhat limited budget - call it > US$500 at the outside, and preferably less, if possible. Given that, > does it seem feasible to start getting involved in this aspect of ham, > or should I focus my attention elsewhere? > Daniel, excellent advice from Andy! You will probably get the best "bang for the buck" by purchasing a secondhand HF SSB transceiver, building a simple meter vertical with four elevated radials, and using PSK31 on 20 meters, but getting a General license would be a necessary and most beneficial priority. The Small Wonder Labs (smallwonderlabs.com) PSK20 kit is only just over $100 and you can work the world with it on PSK31. However, while you are studying for your General license, check out the "Eclectic Technology" column in this March QST for an additional idea. Maybe you can get something going in your area that will generate activity. We have had a nice little twice-weekly informal 2 meter FM ragchew net going now for two years, covering a radius of 40 miles using simple homebuilt horizontally polarized antennas without using the repeaters at all, and are now beginning to even make random contacts as more people become interested in digital FM on 2 meters. The secret to achieving long range is using horizontally-polarized antennas, but it takes another station doing the same, and I hope it will come in time. 73, Skip KH6TY
[digitalradio] Re: Yet Another Newcomer to digital
Hi Daniel, welcome neighbour... I am just about 40 miles from you, If you are planning just to do the VHF band, you are kinda limited . There is not a whole of digital mode activity on VHF other than packet radio, mostly APRS. There are a few people that try digital modes like PSK on 2 meters SSB but openings are few and far between. There are also some people that use JT6M and FSK440 on 2m for meteor scatter , but high gain 2 meter antennas are the norm for meteor work. Your handheld is likely FM mode only, most people use SSB for RTTY, PSK31, and more. APRS and packet via your handheld is quite feasible , Southern Ontario has a lot of activity. A simple vertical for 2 meters on youe patio would work quite well. If you try six meters, there is more activity mostly PSK31 but again you are subject to days at a time where the band may not open beyond your local region. If you are able to get HF privelges, you can do lot. If your patio is small, you could build a low profile vertical that could work on 10 meters of 15 meters. As these bands open up more in the next year or so, you can work many digital modes and work around the world. If you have a few hundred dollars in you budget, I suggest you work towards the HF privileges and put most of the money in to a used HF rig. You may be able to get something for US$300 and certainly for US$400. A Kenwood TS440 or Icom 735 may be something to look around for. You can build a basic antenna for your patio for $25.00 The general requirements to get on the digital modes are... radio with SSB, one that is stable and has digital readout. A PC with a soundcard. Simple cables to connect your PC to the radio An "interface" that enables software control of your rig and reduces ground loops. The cables and interface can usually be purchased for $40 or so, some people build their own for $10-15 Stick with your goals, we can help you here. Ask any questions 73 Andy K3UK --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel Boese" wrote: > > Hello, all (or CQ, if you prefer); > > I'm still fairly inexperienced at the whole amateur radio thing - so > far, I have my basic license and a VHF handheld. I'd like to start > exploring digital modes, and am hoping that you might be able to > suggest what sort of rig would work well for that. > > I do have two limitations, though; I live in what's effectively a > ground-floor apartment, and am thus limited in what sort of antenna I > can put on my patio; and have a somewhat limited budget - call it > US$500 at the outside, and preferably less, if possible. Given that, > does it seem feasible to start getting involved in this aspect of ham, > or should I focus my attention elsewhere? > > > Thank you for your time, > -- > Daniel Boese VA3BOS, FN03ie > "I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe > that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it > is better to know than be ignorant." - H. L. Mencken >
