New release of JT65-HF

W6CQZ has a new release out for JT65-HF for terrestrial use. JT65-HF 1.0.7 is the latest version. This mode is an adaptation of the JT64A protocol. I have not tried this mode yet, but it looks very interesting. Check it out:



http://sourceforge.net/projects/jt65-hf/files/

Amateur Radio Codec2 Video

Here is a nice video with Paul ZL3IN and Bruce Robertson VE9QRP have a nice conversation using codec2. This is what I think Amateur radio is all about. Open source and moving in the direction we need. Check it out and see what you think. I think this a better route than D-Star. I have never embraced D-Star as a true Amateur Radio mode. Should I look into it more or stand my ground on D-Star. Watch the video and then let me know.







 
Codec2 Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Codec_2/

The Codec2 Project
http://codec2.org/

BPQ32 Now With Winlink2000 CMS Telnet Capabilities

I have been playing with BPQ32 for some time and have really liked it so far. Now it even surpasses all my expectations, I am not sure how John Wiseman GM8BPQ/G8BPQ does it, but he does! This new version includes CMS telnet access via the BPQ32 program. There is no need to run separate Winlink software to run a RMS Node. I have been testing this new configuration and have had no problems yet. It is also easier to setup than it ever has been. This software does not need the NET 3.5 that the RMS program needs, thus limiting you to Windows XP or newer. BPQ32 should be able to run on Windows 2000. I have not tested it yet but am planning on testing it on a 2000 machine in the near future. There is also included reporting to the Winlink Packet Station Database. Now we only need one program to do most of the work. Check it out


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BPQ32/
http://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/TelnetServer.htm
http://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/WL2KReporting.html

HSMM-Mesh Upgrade 0.4.1 Firmware

I have been playing with HSMM-Mesh and have upgraded to their newest firmware and find it operates wonderful! A news release from their site: http://hsmm-mesh.org/news.html

"The time has come for a firmware update. This is primarily a bug fix release. It is available as both a full firmware image (as it always has been) and also as a patch. This is the first time that a patch has been released, so this upgrade will be easier than in all prior releases.


This patch will require that the node be rebooted and that will happen automatically during the installation. To install it make sure your node has internet access and go to the Administration page, click Refresh in the Download Firmware section, select patch-0.4.1.tgz and click Download. That's it, in a few moments you will have new firmware!

Here is a summary of the updates:

- fixed the average signal strength reading
- fixed an olsr bug which caused it to crash
- fixed a DMZ mode configuration bug when the WAN was disabled
- improved the firewall handling when a DMZ server is used in NAT mode
- improved the calculation of the Previous Neighbors age
- do not display local network details to remote nodes

73
ad5oo"

The HSMM-Mesh Upgrade 0.4.1 Firmware has been real fun to play with. These guys are moving right along with the HSMM-Mesh firmware. I have three WRT54G routers setup and running. I have had one outside in a weatherproof box running since November using the 0.4.0 firmware. It has been down into the teens and I have had no problems yet. I will be field testing / demo the system in the spring. Go to their site and check it out.

http://hsmm-mesh.org/

How you know when it's time to switch to Linux

I have been using Linux Ubuntu 10.10 for a while now. I am really getting to like it more and more. I would like some of the more of the ham software work on linux, of course maybe I need to learn some more about the OS. I have been reading and working with the command line and this has been a fun learning experience. I found a nice article about when is it time to switch to Linux, so I have linked it here. Take a look at the article it has some good points.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/17588/how_you_know_when_its_time_to_switch_to_linux?source=CTWNLE_nlt_linux_2011-01-04

HSMM and Wireshark Network Tool

There are many helpfull software utilities to help with HSMM. I have found a good network "sniffer" in Wireshark. Wireshark is free and will run on Windows or Linux. When you run this software, you choose which network interface on your computer to use and then it will display and log every packet that is transmitted or recieved on your network interface. This is a great program to learn about what happens on a network. It will also help to debug problems on your network. This software is a good thing to have in your HSMM toolbox. Try it out.


http://www.wireshark.org/

The invisible Ubiquiti bullet 2hp

I had some time over the New year weekend to play with my ubiquiti bullet 2hp. I have had this for a while but have not had time to play with it. I wish I had played with it sooner, it is great! This is a nicely built piece of equipment. I used a POE adapter like I use on the WRT54G and a 12db omni antenna. It preformed nice. It showed up strong on my inssider wifi software. The best thing I liked about the bullet was the slide band capabilities. I was using the stock firmware and it has the capability of changing the center frequency to one not used by traditional routers. This gave me an invisible radio, if you can't see it you would not even try to hack it! When I switched it over to an odd frequency it just diapered from my wifi software screen. Maybe with some good mesh software we could setup a mesh network that would be invisible to everyone else. My next project is to find and test some software that will give the bullet mesh capabilities.



http://ubnt.com/bullet
http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider