Author Archives: Grant

WIA Sunday Broadcast – VK5ARG FreeDV Relay on 7177kHz

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wia-logo-image_1_hiresThe AREG (VK5ARG) is conducting an experimental re-transmissions of the National and VK5 WIA News Service in the FreeDV-1600 mode.

The aim is to encourage amateur radio operators to come and try FreeDV HF Digital voice.

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If you have FreeDV set up with your HF station why not tune in and see how you go? You can use one of the many open source software packages or perhaps using an SM1000 FreeDV modem to receive (and transmit FreeDV. You can visit the AREG HF Digital Voice project page for more information as well!

Callbacks are conducted after the broadcast tiki-download_fileproviding an ideal opportunity for you to experiment further with FreeDV!

You can also log your FreeDV WIA Broadcast reception report here:

For more information about FreeDV please visit the www.freedv.org website or log onto Internet Relay Chat (IRC) on irc.freenode.net. (http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=freedv) and connect to the #freedv channel.

Update: 17th January 2016 Activity

Following on from the broadcast reports were coming in from around the country. Some could decode it successfully, some couldnt. As this is an experiment, we are interested in all results. The following are some of the feedback received:

Michael VK5ZEA in Port Lincoln (~230km away) posted these samples:

Andrew Scott VK3BA in Melbourne (~700km away) posted this sample:

Thanks to Andrew and Michael for posting samples of what they received online!

Amateur Packet Radio Networking Returns to Adelaide

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After a number of years of no packet radio amprnet-editedactivity in Adelaide (except for APRS), Grant VK5GR, a member of the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group, has commissioned a new AX.25 Packet Radio / Internet gateway on the 2m band for everyone to access. The system, built on a Linux platform, will allow amateur radio operators across much of the Adelaide metropolitan area to connect to a range of amateur networking services.

The system is operating on 147.575MHz @ 1200bps using AX.25. It currently offers:

  • DX Cluster Access – internet linked – connect to VK5GR-2f6fbb
  • FBB BBS – with mail and bulletin forwarding – connect to VK5GR-0
  • NET/ROM Network connectivity – internationally linked – VK5GR-10
baycom

BayCOM Serial AX.25 Modem

Note: It is rather experimental still so do not be surprised if it is offline at times or doesn’t quite work properly. There are some quirks in the system that are still being ironed out 🙂

There are also plans to open a 9600 baud port possibly on 70cm. More on this once Grant unpacks more of his ’90s equipment and blows the cobwebs out of it….

How do you get involved?

So, now is the time to dust off all your old Packet TNCs or BayCOM modems, plug them back into your 2m radio and have a go!

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Typical AX.25 Packet Radio TNC

 

Software for driving TNCs and BayCOM equivalent modems is available online. TPK was one of the popular DOS based ones. There are Windows equivalents as well or you can just talk to your TNC (if thats what you are using) using any serial communications program.

 

There are also plans to get Net-44 routing amprnet-logoproperly established as well once new TCP/IP addresses can be registered. This is for the slightly more hard core among you who are interested in learning about TCP/IP networking. You can find many resources online describing how to take part in the ampr.org network.

If you would like to know more about this system, contact Grant VK5GR or come to an AREG meeting and chat to him about it. A talk is being planned at a future meeting to explian a little more about what has gone into building the node and how to access and use it’s services as well.

Project Horus News: HorusLoRA test flight success

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Mark VK5QI in conjunction with David VK5DGR undertook the Horus telemetry test flight today and were met with roaring success. Here is a short photo blog of the day’s events.

100g Totex Ceiling balloon, approx 500g of neck lift.

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Launch!

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Cutdown payload just below the balloon (cutdown capsule just above the cutdown payload, though it’s not really visible in this picture). Below that is the parachute, and far below that is the RTTY payload.

Tracking from Pt Lincoln!

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Joel Stanley (VK5FJMS) was tracking from Winters Hill in Pt Lincoln, and was able to ‘ping’ the payload using a fairly modest antenna setup.

Horus Messenger!

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Screenshot of the ‘Horus Messenger’ software in operation. This allows us to transmit text messages from the LoRa ‘ground stations’, which are then digi-peated by the balloon payload. You can see a brief chat between myself and Joel.

Cutdown time!

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Do I really really want to cutdown? Yes, yes I do!

Landing Site Map

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(With us heading back to a road that gets us closer to the landing site)

Landing Site

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Lots of gum trees. The landowners (Alex and a nice lady who’s name I can’t remember) were very nice retired couple, who assisted us in getting to the landing site through a number of sheep-filled paddocks.

Quad-Bike Assist

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One of the landowners driving down to open some gates and disable some electric fences for us.

David (VK5DGR) DFing

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David Rowe doing some direction finding on the RTTY payload. Also sheep.

Recovered!

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The payloads were found hanging from a gum-tree, about 2m above ground level.

Project Horus Launches Planned: 29th Dec & 2nd Jan

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IMG_1204Mark VK5QI is planning to launch a couple of ‘medium’ altitude balloons this week as test flights of a new LoRa based flight termination controller. The first is tomorrow Tuesday (29th), and one possibly on Saturday (2nd Jan). Both will be launched from the Mt Barker High School Oval, and will only have a maximum altitude of 15km or so.

Testing new Command Systems

The primary aims for these launches are:

  • Test the LoRa RF link.
  • Test some new uplink & message-digi-peating features of the payload.
  • Test a new cut-down mechanism (something with a little more ‘bang’ than before.

LoRa payloads have flown on the last few Horus launches, as a lead up to the retirement of the current ‘Osiris’ cutdown payload, which uses a now-obsolete FSK modem-on-a-chip. The new LoRa payloads have the potential to provide a more reliable uplink using far less power. The downside is that specialised receiver hardware is required (well, as specialised as a module you can buy on eBay for $10 is) . As such, it’ll only be used on the cutdown payload, where the only people really interested in it are those of us in the chase cars who are trying to recover all the shiny cameras hanging beneath the balloon!

Where to Listen?

Both launches will be at 10:30AM CDT, and will have the following payloads attached:

  • RTTY Telemetry: 434.450MHz, 100 baud 7N2 (Use dl-fldigi to decode this as usual)
  • LoRa Payload: 431.650MHz, 125KHz bandwidth, 4/8 Coding Rate, SF10

As always, trackers are appreciated. The flights will be able to monitored via www.habhub.org

HorusLora Track Prediction

Breaking News: WIA News FreeDV Experiment Sunday 6th Dec

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To continue promotion of the FreeDV mode, the AREG this coming Sunday is planning to attempt a relay of thethe WIA news using the FreeDV 1600 mode on 40m. The operating frequency will be around 7.177 from 9am CDST (2230UTC) with a FreeDV 1600 net Planed around 9:30am (2300UTC). A FreeDV 700B net will follow after the 1600 mode one.

Andy VK5AKH will be transmitting the WIA Broadcast and acting as net control. He will monitor the FreeDV QSO finder, IRC etc for feedback during the broadcast. If the worst case arises and we can’t get the Broadcast working there will still be an on air gathering at 2300UTC of FreeDV stations.

Andy runs a rotary dipole and would expect that 50W of freeDV should reach most of SE Australia fairly well at this time of the day, so tune in and have a go!

AREG at the AHARS Buy’N’Sell 2015

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Well the AHARS buy-n-sell has been and gone and AREG again manned some tables. This year thanks goes to Ben VK5BB, Andy VK5AKH, Chris VK5CP and Matt VK5ZM who flew the club colours!  We were placed on the Western wall, right alongside Aztronics.  The banner and one red flag were put out so you certainly did not miss that the AREG were there. General attendance by members was good too and it was great to see the AREG shirts making an appearance!
areg at ahars buy n sell

AREG Club Tables at the AHARS Buy’N’Sell – photo courtesy Michael VK5ZEA

AREG and the Spring VHF/UHF Field Day 14/15th November

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VK5ZM Portable Array ready for the field day

Recently with the HF conditions deteriorating the operating interests of a number of club members has been switching to VHF/UHF. To help get their VHF/UHF stations “tuned up” for portable operation, a number of members are taking the opportunity to participate this year in the WIA Spring VHF/UHF Contest.

AREG members haven’t actively participated in this contest for a few years now so this marks a return to these bands for quite a few of us.

About the Contest  (Extract from the WIA Website)

The VHF-UHF Field Days provide VHF-UHF operators with the opportunity to “head for the hills” and see how far they can work.

The Field Days have separate sections for single and multiple operator stations. The duration of the Field Day is 24 hours, but there are also 8 hour sections for operators who may not be able to camp overnight. Most club stations prefer to operate for the full 24 hours.

The Field Days also generate plenty of activity from home stations, so there is also a separate Home Station section.

All contacts must be simplex: contacts through repeaters or satellites are not allowed. There is plenty of FM activity, but one feature of the Field Days is a high level of SSB activity.

It is possible to do very well with only modest antennas if you pick a good hilltop. Another option, if your station is easily transportable, is to operate from more than one location during the contest period.

Aim Of The Contest

The overriding aim is to get away for the weekend and have fun! But next after that, the aims are:

  •    to encourage more activity on VHF and microwave bands;
  •    to encourage people to work greater distances than usual by operating portable, and
  •    to provide opportunities for people to activate or work into new grid squares.

AREG Involvement

VK5QI, VK5FO and VK5ZM are all preparing stations. Most club members are planning on operating in the 8hr section for the first 8 hours of the contest. Several sites around the Adelaide Hills and metropolitan area are being considered for activations. VK5FO and VK5RR will be operating from Saturday 0100hrs UTC for 8 hours from Ardrossan with:

vk5fo-antennas

VK5FO antennas on test

  • 6M – 2 elements (horizontal) and 100W on the IC706. SSB and FM
  • 2M – 6 Elements (vertical) and 50W on the IC-7100. SSB/FM AND RTTY
  • 70Cm – 17 Elements (vertical) and 50w on the TS-2000. SSB and FM

Bob and Ray should be capable of working most home and portable stations in the Adelaide Metro area and will be running SSB and FM. They will also beam towards Port Pirie, and Pt Lincoln.

VK5QI Antenna

VK5QI Antennas

VK5QI is also organising a station with Andy VK5AKH and has some “rover” antennas prepared.

The idea of the contest has also inspired Matt VK5ZM to go on an antenna building spree with new 2m and 6m LFA beams built and ready plus a borrowed 70cm 9el antenna to give Matt 70cm capabilities as well.

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VK5ZM 2m LFA Beam

VK5ZM and VK5FGRY will be headed to Anstey Hill, using a site suggested by Andy AKH.  You can find their location here; (VK5ZM Location for the VHF/UHF Field Day.)   Gary and Matt are just focusing on 6m, 2m & 70cm (FM/SSB) and Matt will take a 23cm HT (FM) if anyone wants to try, but it will be rubber duck.

They will be located within the Anstey Hill Rec Park with a good elevation (400m) and clear LOS to just about everywhere.  The site is a little shadowed to the southern suburbs and vales, but has a good outlook none the less.

Members are certainly welcome if they would like to come and visit VK5ZM and VK5FGRY. Note that parking is along the roadside so use your common sense here please.

It should be a great weekend so look out for these and many other stations participating in the WIA Spring VHF/UHF Field Day!