Happy New Year!

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

I think 2011 will be a better year. It looks like more and more Hams are looking into digital. I have already been asked to make several presentations ant various clubs in the area. The more we talk and show the better it gets! Winlink and HSMM are still moving forward and expanding. It should be a great year. Thanks to all that have read my Blog, come back next year for more!

A Ham Radio Cellphone Network

N9XLC has a very interesting post about cellphones. His thoughts are leanning towards a Ham Cellphone Network. I find this very interesting because it could tie into HSMM-Mesh and give us Hams another way to communicate. Check out his blog and the sites he recommends. This will also be an area I will have to look into more.

http://n9xlc.blogspot.com/2010/10/ham-radio-cellphone-network.html

Wi-Fi scanner software, inSSIDer

 I needed a Wi-Fi tool to help with a site survy for the HSMM-Mesh Nodes and my laptop runs Vista, so Netstumbler would not work. MetaGeek has created a replacement for Netstumbler. Open-source Wi-Fi scanner software, inSSIDer, actually works with Windows Vista, Windows 7, and 64-bit PCs. This is also free software that will work with current generations of  Windows operating systems. I really like this software and find it easy to use.

From their site:

What's Unique about inSSIDer?

•Compatible with Windows XP, Vista and 7 (32 and 64-bit)
•Uses the Native Wi-Fi API and your current Wireless network card
•Sort results by Mac Address, SSID, Channel, RSSI and "Time Last Seen"
•Compatible with most GPS devices (NMEA v2.3 and higher)

How can inSSIDer help me?

•Inspect your WLAN and surrounding networks to troubleshoot competing access points
•Track the strength of received signal in dBm over time
•Filter access points in an easy-to-use format
•Highlight access points for areas with high Wi-Fi concentration
•Export Wi-Fi and GPS data to a KML file to view in Google Earth
•Filter through hundreds of scanned access points

Check it out and download here:

http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider

New Sound Card Mode V4

V4 is a sound card digital protocol optimized for keyboard operation over HF. It uses 4FSK modulation and strong Viterbi FEC encoding for robustness even in weak signal or poor propagation conditions. V4 can be implemented on most computers using standard PC sound cards with radio interfaces. It is in Alpha testing but looks like a good start. This mode may be a good one for NVIS for digital nets. Watch this one for a good future.

The Alpha version of the software can be downloaded from the files section of the V4 Protocol Yahoo Group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/V4Protocol/
 
V4 Protocol and V4 Chat document
http://www.winlink.org/webfm_send/169

HSMM-Mesh Up and Running

I now have two WRT54g routers running HSMM-Mesh. The next step is to get them configured properly and in their boxes. I will have these within about 6 city blocks of each other when they are mounted. The testing has begun.



www.hsmm-mesh.org/

Microsoft Windows 25 Years

Microsoft Windows turned 25 on November 20th. It has been a good and bad history. It has been a good thing for computers but I have had some "issues" with some of the practises of late that I have already Blog about. Windows has also helped move Ham radio forward with digital communications. So checkout this brief history of Microsoft Windows.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/history

The Flight of BLT-26

These guys did a great job at planning and deploying a balloon "to the Edge of Space". This is a very interesting website detailing what they did. The best part of it is that they included a WRT54GL for HSMM testing. They launched the balloon August 21, 2010. Check it out!


http://www.w5acm.net/b26.html

RADIO-EMAIL PSCM MPG RELEASE NOTICE

This is looking good for Digital Traffic. I have started reading this notice and find it is going in the same direction as we are in Kentucky.

"The Area Staff Chairs of the NTS have approved updates to the ARRL PSCM Appendix B, Methods and Practices Guidelines, Chapter 6, NTSD and Radio-email. These revisions provide for a structure and guidance on how the ARRL Field Organization may use Radio-email to provide nation-wide messaging in the modern email format via Amateur Radio with near real-time delivery anywhere in the country, 24/7. It also provides for integration of the ARES®, NTS and NTSD efforts nation-wide.

The new Radio-email system uses the Winlink 2000 network, infrastructure independent local automatic email service modules, plus station-to-station, radio-all-the-way transport services provided by the NTS/D to support all Sections. The Winlink 2000 network also provides us with a firewall and white list protected interface with the public internet for handling welfare and agency messaging with internet addressees. New types of message formats are included, and guidance on handling ICS-213 and other similar message formats is included."

Please go to the site and read more.

http://wx4j.com/MPG6_NTSD_RADIOEMAIL.htm

Travis County TX ARES Uses HSMM in Their SET

Travis County TX ARES Uses HSMM Mesh in Their SET on November 6, 2010. I like to see this happening in the world of HSMM. I would like to see more of this. Great job to Travis County TX ARES. Here is a write up about it at their site click here.


http://tcares.org/

Linux Software Update

I have been looking at several distros for Linux and I am starting to like what I see. Linux Mint is a nice looking OS as is Xandros. I also looked at Freebsd. These all looked ok but I chose to install Ubuntu 10.10. It was very easy to install and setup. I like the new OS so far but am still playing and tweaking it. I know that in April when they upgrade to Ubuntu 11.04 it will have Unity as the default desktop interface. I have no problem with that as long as it still meets my needs. This has been and will continue to be an interesting project.




http://www.linuxmint.com/
http://www.xandros.com/products/desktop/
http://www.freebsd.org/
http://www.ubuntu.com/

Overo Series Computer-on-Module

This is an interesting item little computer from Gumstix. Could this be a future HSMM computer? Could it have other uses for a mobile system for APRS? Check it out.





http://www.gumstix.com/

Microsoft Windows XP-- The Down Side

I have been a Microsoft Windows fan since Windows 3.0 came out. I say this as a precursor to why I am looking at another Operating system now. I got hit with what is called the "MS gotcha", I changed my motherboard in my Compaq computer and now my software licence is voided. Why is this you ask, because the software is OEM and tied to the Bios of the original motherboard. I have never run into this problem before so it has been an interesting adventure. There seems to be something inherently wrong with this software issue. I have right now about two viable choices, buy Windows7 or go with a Linux version. I am going to look at the Linux route at this point because I do like the open source and the lower costs involved. I will review some distros and go with the one that I like. It will need to be easy to use and somewhat Windows like because the wife also uses this one. I am not to worried about running Windows software so this should not be a problem. So here I go on a great adventure!

NBEMS/FLDIGI Sound Card Calibration

Make sure your sound card is calibrated for your FLDIGI software using CheckSR.exe. Olivia and MT63 will really benefit with this calibration. CheckSR.exe comes free with MixW software. To get the software without MixW and some good instructions, go to the Western PA Amateur Radio EmComm Digi Net Website Click Here. These guys did a good job with their website with NBEMS and FLdigi.



http://mixw.net/

http://www.pa-sitrep.com/NBEMS/fldigi_calibration.htm

HSMM and the Future

I would have to agree with KB9MWR about the state of  HSMM and the Microwave bands. See here: http://kb9mwr.blogspot.com/2010/10/interesting-article-bounty.html We need to band together and promote these under used bands and modes. I think we need to build the systems and set them up and show how it works. Most Hams are very happy doing what the like, APRS, DX, Ragchew, PSK-31. If we show them new things it can light a spark for the new band or mode. We really need to get out there and promote our cause. Here is a picture of  HSMM at our Henderson Emergency Services Awareness Day that was held October 2, 2010. This display started many conversations and may lead into some other people getting involved with the project.

USBlink by G4ILO

I have been playing around with building a USB interface using a cheap USB soundcard. It looks like Julian G4ILO has beat me to it. He has built a very nice interface. It also uses Skip Teller's KH6TY Vox circuit. The only thing I would do different would be to add some isolation transformers. Check out his build here:

http://www.g4ilo.com/usblink.html

Ubiquiti Bullet2HP

I now have a Ubiquiti Bullet2HP to run some long distance point to point tests. It is always fun to play with new toys! Now all I need is someone to help test these to see if it could be used to connect some packet BPQ nodes.

http://www.fab-corp.com/product.php?productid=16366&cat=0&page=1

MRP40 CW Software

MRP40 software looks like a good CW decoder program. It states on the web site that it is good for high-speed (QRQ) and weak signals. I downloaded the trial version and have been trying it out on the bands. I have listened to slow and fast CW. It did pretty good at decoding CW, of course it also depended on the senders ability to send. I ran into several times when the sender was not sending very smooth and the software saw a bunch of "e,i" characters. So far this has been one of the better CW programs out there. The cost of this software is 49.90 Euros, so be sure you try it for the 30 day trial period. Of course the best software for CW is between your ears.


http://www.polar-electric.com/Morse/MRP40-EN/index.htm

Stuff to get young people interested in radio

Here is a nice website with some great simple projects to get some youg people interested in radio and electronics. Included as projects are:

■A quick and simple radio
■Building a radio in 10 minutes
■A radio out of household items
■A simple AM transmitter
■The Three-Penny Radio
■A Portable Crystal Radio
 
These projects are very interesting. I like the 3 penny radio, it would make a big impression on a youngster.
 
Check it out here:
 
http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/radio/radio.html

New GNU Codec2

David Rowe, VK5DGR has released Codec2 V0.1 alpha for communication quality speech. This has been released under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), which makes it open source. This is what Ham Radio is about, not the proprietary stuff that is out there. Because D-Star is proprietary it is not compatable with Codec2. Check it out for more detailed information. I think we are heading in the right direction with this. This should lead to a less expensive way for digital voice.

Rowetel.com/blog

New version of Airlink Express v.2.1.5.378

There has been a new version of Airlink Express v.2.1.5.378 released. It now includes among other enhancements PSKReporter, Automatic Propagation Reporter, and ARQ, Automatic Repeat Request, for sending and receiving of text and binary files. I will have to test this and see if it may work better for sending ARQ messages than some other software does.



http://www.airlinkexpress.org/index.html

See where your PSK signal is heard

Check this web sight out. It is a place you can see where your digital signal is heard. You must use the pattern "de callsign callsign" for the software to hear you. This is a must play with website, get your bragging rights using your 5 watts QRP station.


http://www.pskreporter.info/
http://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

BPQ32 up and running

I now have BPQ32 up and running. It was a very intersesting ordeal, but I am very pleased with the outcome. The site now has a node, BBS Mail and Chat, and Winlink RMS. I must thank Jeff WA4ZKO for his time and help in making this happen. This node is now connected to a node in Owensboro and Dry Ridge. Now it is time to build on this system and add users.

New Narrow band weak signal mode for LF/MF

There is a new narrow band weak signal mode for LF/MF by ZL2AFP. This mode is like PSK but not exactly like it. ZL2AFP CMSK  advances or retards the frequency to get a 180 degree phase shift in one bit period. The program window and waterfall remind me of The FLdigi program, only a little simpler.  I have not tried this mode yet but it looks interesting. For more information:   

http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/CMSK/cmsk.htm
http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/CMSK/cmskhelp.htm

Some History of Digital Communications

Here is an example of how digital communications used to be. You can see how much technology has advanced.  Enjoy the video.

A Homebrew 2.4Ghz VSWR Meter

Here is a very good example of a Ham building a piece of test equipment. This would be very handy for testing HSMM radios. PE2ER did a great job showing the construction of this meter. Check it out.

http://pe2er.nl/wifiswr/index.htm

BPQ32 for BBS and Winlink 2000

I have been looking into BPQ32 latley. I already have a Winlink RMS running and would like to have a BBS also runnig. BPQ32 looks like the right program for the job. This program is from John Wiseman G8BPQ/GM8BPQ. BPQ32 is an AX.25 NET/ROM compatible node software for Windows. This program will work with AGWPE software. This compatability is an asset for sound card based Winlink/BBS technology. This program does have a learning curve but there is plenty of documintation for it. I have been playing with it on my test computer and when I am comfortible with its operation I will start using it on the RMS gateway KC4BQK-10.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BPQ32/

I found the end of the Internet

To see the last website on the web, look at this site:

http://www.wwwdotcom.com/

This proves the Internet is flat!

Optimized Link State Routing for HSMM

OLSR, Optimized Link State Routing protocol, allows mesh routing for any network equipment. This protocol uses multipoint relaying for optimized message flooding. OLSR is a good routing protocal for mobile ad-hoc networks. We an use this with our HSMM routers and build a permanent or a rapid deployable system. The system would be self configuring and self healing. These are some good points in using this protocol for emergencey traffic. The two biggest points are mobility and multihop. I am setting up some WRT54G routers with OLSR and DD-WRT and will start testing these units. In early testing it looks to be a good system.


http://www.olsr.org/

http://www.olsr.org/docs/wos3-olsr.pdf

60 Ghz and the Future

This is a good video about 60 Ghz and the future of LANs. Blogger Craig Mathias from the Fairpoint Group dose a good job explaining 60 Ghz and the difference between WiGig and WiMedia. This could be something in the future that could include Ham Radio.





Check out his blog http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/3436

January 2010 Haiti earthquake and HSMM

January 2010 Haiti had a devastating earthquake. One of the response groups, Inveneo, quickly set up an emergency communications system almost idetical to HSMM. HSMM is not experimental, it works and we need to embrace this technology. Here is a video from Inveneo:





We as Hams need to move forward and start building the HSMM systems.

HSMM-MESH

HSMM-MESH™ is a high speed, self discovering, self configuring, fault tolerant, wireless computer network. This is a HSMM project from Glenn KD5MFW, David AD5OO, Bob WB5AOH and Rick NG5V. I am looking into this software as a possible next step up from point to point, which is where we are now locally. With the help of some additional stations we could have a HSMM-MESH network for Henderson. This would be a great addition for Winlink and Weather spotting in the city/county. Check out the following links for more information.

http://www.kdream.com/hsmm/HSMM_Seminar20100206.pdf

http://hsmm-mesh.org/

D-Star Illegal in France

It looks like ARCEP, the communications regulator in France, has determined that D-Star is an Illegal digital mode. They have several reasons stated. I do agree with one part of their findings. Quote "ARCEP says AMBE vocoder is using patents, licences and proprietary undisclosed specifications that are against art. 1.56 of ITU Radiocommunications Rules." I see this as a problem, but I am happy to know that there are some Hams working on an open source fix for this problem.

For more info: http://draf.asso.fr/index.php?post/2010/06/28/D-STAR-situation-in-France

USB Sound Card

I have been looking at USB sound cards. I have heard that it is better to run a separate sound card for digital modes to keep windows sounds of the air. This is a good idea and I guess that is what SignaLink interfaces' have going for them. I have always built my own or just recently started using the SCI-6 PC Sound Card Interface Kit from Unified Microsystems. This USB sound card makes a cleaner waterfall display than my laptops built in sound card. I am very impressed with the quality of this sound card. Only time will tell if it is durable enough to last. This sound card was less than $4.00 shipped. These can be found on Ebay and some other places on the Web.

Product Description:


USB 2.0/1.1/1.0 Compliant.
Plug and play USB device, Auto driver installation.
Drive two channels speakers directly.
Support 3D positional sound and virtual 5.1 Channel soundtrack.
Digital Class-B power amplifier inside.
LED Status indicator
Works with Windows Vista/XP//2000/ME/98SE

AGWPE Upgrade Avaliable

AGWPE has a new version ready for download. The new version is ver 2010.414. This version works a lot better for my RMS station. It seems to decode the packets better and seems more robust. If you have not upgraded yet, please do so. The way I upgraded was by deleting the old version and installing the new program. I then had to enter my information into AGWPE and restart the program. It work the first time out. This is a great program made even better.

http://www.sv2agw.com/ham/agwpe.htm
http://www.sv2agw.com/downloads/default.htm

New Winlink Client Software Released

RMS Express for Winlink 2000 has been released. It is a radio email client that includes support for the new sound card mode Winmor. It also has support for HF Pactor, VHF/UHF packet and direct telnet to WL2K CMS servers. I have started experimenting with this mode and it looks to be quite interesting. It has a learning curve but comes with some good documentation. Get your feet wet with this and move to the future. I will comment on this mode after I have had some time to try it out.

http://www.winlink.org/WINMOR
http://www.winlink.org/ClientSoftware

ARRL Files Comments with FCC Regarding Spread Spectrum Issues

06/14/2010

"In response to a 2006 ARRL Petition regarding spread spectrum issues, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on March 16 (WT Docket No 10-62), proposing to amend Part 97 to facilitate the use of spread spectrum communications technologies by eliminating the requirement that amateur stations use automatic power control (APC) to reduce transmitter power when the station transmits a spread spectrum (SS) emission and reducing the maximum transmitter power output when transmitting a SS emission. The ARRL filed comments on this matter on June 14, 2010."

Read more here:

http://www.arrl.org/

I am glad the ARRL and the FCC are trying to help Spread Spectrum grow. I am all for the elimination of the requirement that amateur stations use automatic power control (APC) to reduce transmitter power. I do not agree with reducing from 100 W PEP output power to 10 W. I think this will continue to hurt the advancement of SS.

Winlink 2000 RMS Upgrade

I have updated my Winlink RMS with some new equipment. I added a Yaesu FT-2800m that has 65 watts out. I also added a new Radio Shack 15-Amp Power Supply 22-508. These additions should increase the coverage area. My mobile testing showed som areas that had below average coverage. I will be doing another round of testing to see if the coverage did increase.

http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm

NBEMS Message Software - FLMSG

FLmsg is a simple forms management editor for ICS-213 (emergency management reports) and Radiogram (NTS messages). It is the latest software for FLdigi NBEMS system. The user prepares and views all data files from the single user interface dialog box. The Radiogram tab has a check button that will force all of the fields to be tested for correctness. The Message text will then be converted to upper case. Periods and commas will be converted to the stop character character, "X".  I think this check feature is the best part of the Radiogram tab. It gives you the correct check number for your Radiogram automatically. This program along with FLdigi-FLarq will help to improve traffic on the digital nets. You need to be running FLdigi 3.20.11.

Here's the help file:
http://www.w1hkj.com/flmsg-help/index.html

Download available here:
http://www.w1hkj.com/alpha/flmsg/
flmsg-0.9.03_setup.exe is the windows version

AGWmonitor

I have found a program that is very usefull in running and testing Winlink RMS nodes. The program is AGWmonitor by the same creator of AGWPE. This program works great. You can see all the traffic on the frequency. It is good for finding out if the frequency is too crowded or not. It will also list all stations that are heard. The best feature is that it works at the same time as your RMS or Paclink program does.


http://www.sv2agw.com/ham/agwmon.htm

What your PSK31 signal should look like

Here is some information and some pictures of different quality PSK31 signals as they appear in your waterfall. You will not be able to see your trace, but you can ask the person you are talking to how yours looks. This should also help you to help others in how their traces look. It is important to have as clean of signal as you can. You must also be careful not to transmit computer sounds.



Look at the traces between the two red lines.



This first one is of a very good signal:

The second one is the typical signal you will see:

This is the one you do not want:

Here are some tips for a clean signal:



1. Tune the rig for normal output on CW.
2. Change to the appropriate sideband setting (USB for PSK31 is standard)
3. Turn off the speech processor and leave it off
4. Set the audio control of the rig as you would for normal SSB operation
5. Set the PSK software to Transmit, with no data being transmitted.
6. Adjust the audio output from the soundcard so that the RF power output from the rig is no more than 25% of the cw output. (e.g. 25 watts for a 100 watt rig) There should be no ALC indication at this power level.



Pictures from and more info:
 
 http://www.rsq-info.net/Station-Setup-Checklist.html

PSKMeter

This is an interesting little kit for PSK31 or PSK63, a PSKMeter. The kit is from KF6VSG and he states on his web site:

"Our solution has been to develop a microprocessor-based RF signal sampler that periodically checks your RF output, computes its IMD locally, and automatically sets the sound card's audio level to provide the highest RF output with minimum distortion."

I may have to purchase this kit and try it out. It looks simple to build and if it preforms as stated would be a very good tool for PSK31. It runs on Windows 95 and newer.

Check it out at:

 http://www.ssiserver.com/info/pskmeter/

Remote computer access for Winlink RMS Station

I have been thinking about having the ability to access my Winlink RMS station from any computer connected to the internet. It would be nice to be able to shut down the system or to check on it from work. This has led me to do some research on software for this. In the Ham spirit, I was looking for something for free. It is not that I am a "cheap" Ham, but a frugal one. The remote control is done over the internet with a web browser. I have installed and used this program, it preforms quite well. It is easy and designed well. The interface is very usefull. I now can control my RMS from any computer connected to the internet. I can restart it or terminate the RMS program if a problem occurred. I recommend this software.




https://secure.logmein.com/US/home.aspx

AmateurLogic.TV

Here is a neat Blog. I thought I would include it here.




http://www.amateurlogic.com/blog/

Fldigi and Flarq a Digital Mode for Traffic Handling NBEMS

Fldigi is a nice program for PSK31 and various other digital modes. It is simple to use and has several advantages going for it for traffic handling. I normally use Digipan for HF digital, but I have been playing with this one for a few days now. I like this software with an eye towards traffic handling. The traffic handling comes into play with Flarq. Flarq provides handshaking on top of Fldigi to provide 100% assurance the message got through. It will also send binary files, which is where I would like to try using Qforms for Radiogram traffic. Flwrap is also another piece of Fldigi that could be very usefull. It would enable you to send a bulletin, weather report, situation updates or data to one or more stations at a time with 100% accuracy. Nets can be conducted using fldigi alone, and net control can suggest that two stations move to an adjacent frequency, have one beacon, the other connect, and then pass traffic using the error-free ARQ protocol provided by flarq. NBEMS is the combined use of Flarq, Fldigi, a Single Sideband Transceiver and the appropriate antenna system. I have included some great help sites.

http://w1hkj.com/NBEMS/

http://www.w1hkj.com/

http://w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp/index.html

http://w1hkj.com/FlarqHelpFiles/flarq.html

SCI-6 PC Sound Card Interface Kit

I recently purchased a SCI-6 PC Sound Card Interface Kit from Unified Microsystems. Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT, makes a really good kit. It was well designed and inexpensive kit. The kit sells for $24.95 plus $5.50 shipping. I have built several sound card interfaces, but price wise this kit is hard to beat. This is because finding the needed parts is getting expensive and hard to find locally. If you have any soldering skills, this kit is fun and quick to build. It takes less than an evening to build with the great instructions that come with it. If you follow the guide and use good building techniques it will work the first time you hook it up. The only thing you need with this kit is the cables for your radio. Order this kit and get started with digital communications.

http://www.unifiedmicro.com/sci6.htm

Mobile Winlink Up and Running

I now have the mobile Winlink system up and running. The final tests went very well. I can connect to my RMS or the one in Owensboro K4HY-12. The mobile consists of a Yaesu FT-1802m and a SCI-6 PC Sound Card Interface. I will post a wright up on this unit. Now I can start testing the complete system with the HSMM radios with it. With this system, I can now pull up somewhere and supply a link for Email for any of our served agency's. This is good for that "Last Mile" communications. With a small 2m beam on a 10 foot pole, I could increase the range of the mobile unit. Now it is time to display the system for the public and other Hams.

"Radio Hams" Film (Pete Smith Specialty)

Here is a good movie about Ham Radio from 1939. Just thought I would share it.

Airlink Express for PSK31

I recently ran across another PSK31 software package. I have always preferred Digipan, and Airlink Express resembles Digipan. It sets up easy and works close enough like digipan that I had a very small learning curve to use it. This software is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, and Microsoft Windows 7. It offers PSK, MFSK and RTTY digital modes with logging and macro capabilities. This software is from Alex Krist, KR1ST and he did good with this one. Download the software and make some digital contacts tonight!

These are just some of the features available in Airlink Express:

■Automatic Multi Channel Display

■Support for Multiple Soundcards

■PSK31, PSK63, PSK125, PSK250, MFSK and RTTY

■Radio Control (CAT)

■Center Bandpass Tuning

■True FSK Keying

■Macros

■Bandpass Filters

■Logging with ADIF Import and Export

■Replay Last 60, 30, or 15 Seconds
 
Here is a screen shot
 

 
http://www.airlinkexpress.org/index.html

QForms for Winlink

Qforms is a great program for Winlink Radiogram messages. QForms supports ICS, Radiogram, and Simple format messages. QForms allows entry of text into an electronic form to create a message, which is then saved in an XML format. The XML file is then sent to another station that is also running QForms where it can be opened, displayed and printed. Optionally, a text version of the message can be created, saved and sent to a remote station. The text format can not be re-opened by QForms other than as a simple text file. This is an easy way to send properly formated Radiograms. Checkout the download page at The Active Ham.

http://www.activeham.com/pmwiki.php?n=Main.HomePage

Abbreviations, Acronyms and Initialisms

When we talk to other Hams via a Digital mode we sometimes come across a word we do not understand. When this happens there are several places to find out what it means. You know we can never ask the ham we are talking to what it means, thats not the way we do things. But there is hope. Here a some web sites that can help you to be one of the "in" crowd. The first is the "List of Abbreviations found in ARRL Publications" http://www2.arrl.org/qst/aguide/Abbrev_AWE.pdf. This site has a lot of useful Ham Speak in it. Then we have the common "Q" signals https://www.arrl.org/files/bbs/general/q-sigs. This is a good place to learn some good Ham Speak QSL? We also use a many CW abbreviations and there is a great site with those from AC6V his site is located at http://www.ac6v.com/morseaids.htm#CW. Then we come to some of the more modern "text message" abbreviations, which can be found at http://www.acronymfinder.com/. As you can see as a modern Ham we have many ways to keep up with technology. And I guess if all else fails, just ask.


http://www2.arrl.org/qst/aguide/Abbrev_AWE.pdf
https://www.arrl.org/files/bbs/general/q-sigs
http://www.ac6v.com/morseaids.htm#CW
http://www.acronymfinder.com/

K4Y Special Event Station for Field Day 2010

It was real easy to aplly for a 1x1 call sign for the 2010 Field Day. I was surprised at how easy and how few hoops there were to get the call K4Y. All you have to due is go to the ARRL for all the rules and regulations. You apply and check avaliability at http://www.1x1callsigns.org/ . You have five different Coordinators to choose from. The application is done online and in a couple of days you get your approval.

ARRL
1x1callsigns.org

Field Day 2010

It is that time of year that all of us Hams start thinking not about Spring, but start planning Field Day! I am helping plan Henderson County ARES activate the EM EOC. This will be a fun undertaking, any local help is needed. For more information:

                                http://www.arrl.org/?artid=9414

2010 Field Day Packets Now Available (Feb 2, 2010) -- It’s that time of year again -- time to start gearing up for ARRL Field Day, June 26-27, 2010! ARRL’s flagship operating event -- always held the fourth full weekend in June -- brings together new and experienced hams for 24 hours of operating fun. Field Day packets are now available for download and include the complete rules (including changes for 2010), as well as other reference items such as forms, ARRL Section abbreviation list, entry submission instructions, a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines for getting bonus points, instructions for GOTA stations, a kit to publicize your event with the local press and more.

 

Asterisk Amateur Radio Network

Asterisk Amateur Radio Network, AARN, is a possible branch for the HSMM.  Asterisk is based on the ASTERISK PBX software. It has the capability to interconnect communications from and between Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Internet Telephone (VoIP – SIP, IAX2) and Radio Communications Via Analog and Digital on HF, VHF, UHF, SHF. Using HSMM and Asterisk, multiple services can be interconnected for the served agencies. I will be looking into this for the future.


http://asteriskradio.net/wp/aarn/