WSPR and WSJT

currently playing with WSPR and WSJT,  just getting the hang of setting it up and trying to decode some signals,  joined the WSPR 2m group on Facebook, as my primary interest is weak signal activity on 2metre band. Need to make up the TX interface. Also dabbling with the Linux version of WSJT, have not compiled up a Linux version of WSPR yet, so presently running WSPR 2.0 on an old Win XP PC.

The idea is to run WSPR from home at times when I can't spend time in front of the radios, and WSJT for the times I can and when there is other WSJT activity, which would most likely be in summer E's and trop season. The idea of 6metre WSPR also interests me, but this will be low on the priority list for now.

VK2XAT maritime mobile on APRS

I been following  Alan VK2XAT's track on Winlink via APRS,

http://aprs.fi/info/a/VK2XAT

his yacht was due to leave Finike in May 2013, no new position reports yet.

Linux flavours

I have been downloading, installing, evaluating the various updates for the main Linux vendors, including Ubuntu 13.04, Fedora 18, Centos 6.4 and Debian 7.0, both in their Gnome and KDE variants on desktop PC's and notebook.

First is Ubuntu 13.04 (with Gnome desktop), built on Debian Linux, Ubuntu is very polished, geared uptowards future touch screen devices, which matches their future offerings for phone, tablet and TV, this provides a nice universal interface if you have and use all those type of devices, it's much the same device offering as to Apple's (BSD based) iOS, which is a universal OS across its itouch, iphone, ipad and laptop range.  The latest Ubuntu I feel is stripped of functional utilities for the base install, it's great if you want a straightforward desktop/touch device with basic functions, ie. music, video, browser & Office functionality. I installed Ubuntu 13.04 on an old Dell Inspiron 6000 Notebook, it works like a treat and is fast compared to the MS Windows XP that was originally on this device. The install was so easy and automated, very pleasant experience. You can download the "Live/Install" DVD so you can boot it and run it without trashing your existing O/S, you can try out the functionality and if you happy with it, then hit the Install icon to install onto your PC. If you prefer KDE desktop, then download Kubuntu 13.04)
(Ubuntu 13.04 and Kubuntu 13.04 do not work on Dell 450 Precision with Nvidia video from the standard installation, it will most likely require some manual installing of Nvidia drivers to make it work properly)

Fedora 18 (with Gnome desktop) - nice look and feel, easy access to some ham utilities, I installed this on a Dell 450 Precision desktop, works fine, I also tested it Live on the Dell Inspiron 6000 notebook, works fine. Fedora also has a Live/Install DVD so you can test without trashing your original O/S. Fedora also offers a KDE desktop version. I tested the KDE version on both Dell Precision 450desktop  and Dell Inspiron 6000 Notebook.

CentOS 6.4 - this is the first download.test.install of CentOS that I have tried, CentOS stands for Community Enterprise Operating System, it is a free distribution, of upstream version of the commercial RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), except with the logos and artwork replaced and with community support.
I knew IRLP was running on CentOS and I deal with RedHat at work, but running the Live/Install DVD, I found myself very impressed by the presentation, both in the Gnome desktop and KDE desktop variants, of course Centos (and RedHat) do not run the latest, cutting edge versions of  Gnome or KDE, but in practise, the older versions are better for a desktop/notebook environment.  I guess this is what Ubuntu and Fedora were like a few years ago. What I did like with the Gnome instalaltion, that it provided some of the best KDE utilities along with the Gnome utilities, it's the best of both worlds.


Debian 7.0  The old faithful Debian, like the Ubuntu/Kubuntu, it does not like  the Dell Precision 450 desktop with Nvidia video, you get blank panels, like on Ubuntu/Kubuntu.  I tested Debian with both Gnome desktop and KDE desktop,  the Debian provides the full featured desktop with all the utulities and tools required for true computing.

In summary,
 if you looking for basic functionality with latest cutting-edge technology, then the Ubuntu or Fedora is the way to go,  if you looking to play around with Amateur Radio programs like WSJT, PSK31, Hellscreiber, RTTY, CW and maybe do some development work on a desktop PC or Notebook, then  stick to CentOS or Debian Linux flavours. Whether you prefer a full featured desktop such as Gnome desktop or KDE desktop, then both CentOS and Debian cover both.
 
Of course if you want a set of devices that are locked down, but very stable and supported, and you have money to burn, then go buy your Apple devices, they still great devices for non-technical people. If you want to have multiple devices with some freedom, then go for Google's Android/Chrome (built from Linux) devices, although I suspect Android/Chrome will eventually become locked down like Apple iOS.  If you want choose when, what & how you do things, then stick to Linux. From a multi-device, universal O/S, I must admit I like the future offerings from Canonical with their phone,tablet,notebook,TV using Ubuntu, waiting to  see which OEM vendors pick it up (most likely Samsung). Visit the Ubuntu.com site and see the future devices on offers.

Microwave transverter kits

If you interested in Microwave bands and transverter kits, then you  already probably looked at the VK5EME mini kits,   well, there are other sources of transverter kits covering up to 10 GHz,
see VK3XDK's website.


http://www.vk3xdk.net46.net/

Mountain top portable

I went up the mountain for a few days (18th to 22nd April) to do some DXing, the intention was to do some HF, VHF, UHF and SHF, but mainly only did  VHF and UHF, being 2m & 70cm SSB for AE activity. EME was out as the moon in the wrong place/time. Made some contacts with the guys in VK1 and far south VK2, mid-north coast VK2 and VK3.  No luck with VK4 contacts this time. The first morning was difficult with high winds, trying to keep yagis still and the wind howling made listening to weak signals very difficult.

Did manage to do some more work on the mountain top shack, by adding some more desk and shelf space,  to spread out the equipment, plus a place to sit the notebook. Also shuffled a couple antennas around. Did some testing of receivers for 2 & 70 against the Dural 2m and 70cm back in Sydney, the 4 x 8el yagi stack versus a single 8 el yagi didnt seem to make much difference, as expected. At least the Kenwood TR9130 and TR-9500 are receiving well in comparison to the Icom IC-910

We reviewed the mast/tower options, Dave wishes to get a triangular section tower up with a electric  rotator fitted so we can swing  yagis around without using the Armstrong method.(hihi)

Also went to Macquarie River crossing down near the Bridle Track to catch up with Ashley VK2XSO who detoured down from the north via Hill End to pickup some TRS80 gear for his collection, before heading back towards Narrabri for a job the next day up at Mt.Kaputar.

Also caught up with John VK2EJM and Jeremy VK2FLE who came to visit the farm from Orange.  Also had Colin VK2BCC stop in on the way  to Orange the next morning to see what we been up to on the mountain top. Discussed Bob VK2ABP/VK0BP (SK October 2012) in depth and also about Bob and Colin's experiences in Antartica.

The background photo used on this blogger is in fact a pic of Bob VK2ABP/VK0BP up on the mountain top, a place he visited frequently, both in setting up and  operating from.

Solar Cycle 24

Solar Cycle 24 not looking real good ...  I think this certainly points to the fact that there is little hope for Cycle 25,

http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/images/ssn_predict_l.gif

(update graciously provided by NASA.)

I think the move to microwave terrestrial DX and EME  looks more inviting everyday.

23cm repeater

a new 23cm FM repeater went live here in Sydney recently, VK2RWC on 1273.200 o/p 1293.200 i/p a top of a high building in Chatswood. It is co-sited with aanother WICEN 2m repeater on 147.150 o/p 147.750 i/p  and requires 91.5 Hz CTCSS tone. Both giving good coverage.

It must be 10 years since we had a WICEN repeater at Chatswood. The site is still missing its 70cm counterpart, but that is on its way, expecting to be on 438.350 o/p 433.350 i/p and presumably a 91.5 Hz CTCSS requirement.

the most important fact of all this was that we now have another 23cm FM voice repeater for Sydney, to compliment the WIA 23cm FM voice repeater at Dural on 1273.500 o/p 1293.500 i/p, which unfortunately is suffering issues due to broken antenna,  one day it is good, the next day it can be near impossible to access, depending on which way the wind blows.

Other 23cm repeaters ? some more that are planned or under construction in NSW:
1273.100 / 1293.100 VK2RZL for Westlakes ARC, in the Sugarloaf area near Newcastle
1273.200 / 1293.200 VK2RPW for Walcha area.
1273.300 / 1293.300 VK2RBM  for  Blue Mountains ARC , west of Sydney
1273.300 / 1293.300 VK2RPL Mt Nardi, Lismore area
1273.450 / 1293.450 VK2RRR at Razorback in Sydney's south west (Camden/Picton area)
1273.700 / 1293.700 VK1RJB in Jervis Bay on the South Coast  

plus some D-Star rptrs exist on 23cm too.

new APRS digi

I bought and supplied a TinyTrak TT4 as a digi for VK2JDS-1, it covering the area well, plus  identified issue with VK2ABP-1 digi,  a poor Rcvr, we'll sort something out that in the future. Probably a better location for that equipment one day.

DX Farm October longweekend post mortem

Last weekend went well,  the trip up yielded good APRS track all the way to the farm via APRSDroid on my phone, as Optus has improved 3G coverage at Monkey Hill, so now have 900 Mhz 3G signal along the road and now have data feed from the farm, as opposed to only having coverage from top of the mountain previously, as in the past, we relied on Mt Canobolis for Optus coverage. Telstra signal already there, so not an issue. Did discover there is no Vodaphone coverage on the farm, except for the mountain top.

Mt Canobolis also provides 2100 MHz Optus 3G service, could run a directional yagi from the mountain top if required to access that service, otherwise, it is just the 900 MHz from Mt Aquila and Monkey Hill that provide 3G feed whilst at the farm. Anyway, this time, we had good data service so I can access the vklogger and other DX clusters and of course email. Telstra run 850 MHz 3G service from Mt Aquila and Monkey Hill too. I forgot to run Speedtest on both services to see how they compare. As for Bathurst, too many high ridges in between, so no service from Bathurst.

APRS on RF, Sydney to Lithgow fine, but limited coverage past that, next to nothing in Bathurst, as Bob VK2ABP's digi suffering interference and is deaf. Once the new APRS digi is on the mountain we should be good.

First day, did some EME chasing, worked Brett VK2CBD on 1296.070 on JT65 via the moon.

The farm now has antennas on the mountain top covering 160m through to 23cm, predominantly horizontal polarised for DXing. Made use of the 80m loop for 80m and 40m, mainly sitting on 7045 LSB to keep in contact with club members back home, such as Rob VK2MZ, Horst VK2HL/m, Ted, VK2FLB, Greg VK2VGM/p

2m SSB, missed the Sunday morning AE net on 144.200, as we slept in, but on the Monday morning did get up early enough to get on the AE net on 144.200, worked a good handful of stations, Rod VK2TWR in Nimmitabel, Ian VK1BJ and Rob VK1KW in Canberra, Col VK2KOL in Sydney, Colin VK2BCC in Blackheath, Gordon VK3EJ in Cobram and Mark VK2EMA in Tottenham. This time was running close to 150w into the 8el yagi via 10m of coax, last year only getting 40w. Also attempted a contact into VK5 without success.
It was very breezy and had a hard time keeping the yagi pointed in the correct direction, the issue there was that the TH3 HF yagi is above and gets pushed around by the wind.  Damned cold in the morning with -3 deg C, at night it was down to 4deg C, making it hard to keep warm in the tin shed.

Other times, gave some calls out on 144.100 but nil activity. Did not get around to trying 432 MHz.

Monitored 50.110 MHz, but quite dead.  Nothing on 52.525 MHz either. Although 10m was flying.

We spent a good part of the time fixing an old car and getting it running, taking the girls driving around the farm, motorbike riding, etc. Thanks to Carmel VK2CAR for providing me with a battery to go in the old car.

Looking forward to next visit. I want to build a 1296 MHz Xvtr to do some terrestrial DXing for the mountaint top.

Adding some more photos  to Flickr.

upcoming activities

Building a APRS digi to go out at the farm, a TinyTrak4 for 145.175 MHz, this should provide good coverage for Hill End area and back towards Bathurst, hopefully complete by end of October.

Visiting the farm for October long weekend, will do some terrestrial DX for VHF, UHF & SHF

Seriously thinking about installing a 70cm rptr for the farm too, to fill in those dead spots around Hill End, Turon Rriver, Macquarie River,  Bridal Track, much the same coverage as the  APRS digi will provide. Except using a binary array for the 70cm, a little more gain, it should provide coverage up to Coonabarabran, maybe Dubbo. This idea has been on and off for probably 15 yrs now, but put it back on the drawing board recently due to lack of coverage from other local rptrs.

I'd also like to get to the farm for a VHF Contest this summer. Always hard to find the time, but its almost 2013 and the last of the good sunspot cycles, so got to make the best of Six metre DX across 2013-2014.