New #teamJesus #hamradio nets

With your friends at the Bible Fellowship Net adding a 60-meter evening net, the Christian Amateur Radio Fellowship are adding a VOIP net after the first of the year.

Thanks to the DigicommCafe and the Alabama Link, the CARF net starts on the first Saturday of 2019 at 2 p.m. Central USA time on

Echolink KD5DLJ-L  420941

Allstar 27619

Dstar DCS334J 

and a host of other resources.  Please see the Digicomm link for other resources that are being added.

All are welcome to attend, regardless of denominational leaning.

Merry #Christmas and Happy New Year #hamradio #teamJesus Friends

From our house to yours, have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

May our #hamradio friends enjoy much DX and many good QSO.  May our #teamJesus friends remember to honor Christmas every day of the year.  

May our friends and family celebrate loving one another.

What happens to WWV? #hamradio #ARRL

Pinned to the top of fb.com/skywarn, there's an article about the Federal Budget and support for WWV.

The latest news is that Congress has not given the President the budget he needs to keep the government open and include a border wall.  

The is the answer received from #nist regarding a #wwv inquiry. 

“We will not know if NIST will continue to operate its time and frequency radio stations, including WWV, until a full-year NIST FY2019 appropriation is enacted. NIST is currently funded with a continuing resolution through Dec. 21.”

#hamradio

Stay tuned to the page for additional updates.

You have the HR number and GovTrack.us to follow it's progress.

Time to sign the petition and contact Congress. The White House petition is for the President.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/.../maintain-funding...

https://resist.bot is a free tool to help you draft and send a missive to Congress.

2024561111 is the White House comment line.

If you care, comment away.

Support your LOCAL club. #ARRL #hamradio

When it comes time to enjoy amateur radio, support you local club.

These are the folks who are more likely to

1.  Help you with your antenna party

2.  Give you guidance on the next great project.

3.  Have a Christmas party in your own back yard.

Find your club at the ARRL.  Join your local club.  Have ham radio fun with your local club.

Automatic Packet Reporting System is more than Icons on a Map #ARRL #hamradio

Getting ready for the next big event?  How do you use APRS for messaging?

At the voipwx.net, folks grab screen shots of the latest hurricane landfall, before landfall.  

Screen Shot from the Florida Panhandle prior to Michael.

After landfall, the image is compared to the current location.  It helps Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency determine "how big is big and how bad is bad".  This is the ham radio version of Craig Fugate's "Waffle House Index".  KK4INZ is Craig's callsign.  He was the administrator of FEMA.

That's the little dots on the map, though, and APRS is so much more.

Messaging is important.  Imagine that you are a dot on that map and the local repeaters are down.  "Who you gonna call?"

APRS messaging gives one a way to get a message, even a small one, away using land-based and satellite digipeaters.  Bob Bruninga, WB4APRS, defines this at APRS Messaging.  That resource has so many ways to message over APRS, you are clearly expected to like one.

SMS-GTE is one that is quite useful.  Imagine being out the field with no cell service and needing to send a message, straight from your APRS mobile radio.  It's two-way also.  The person you send the message can reply to your message.   VE3OTB works hard making this real for you.  

What is the local weather where you are?  WXBOT comes to help.  Send full to WXBOT for a full forecast for your local area while current recalls the current conditions.  Thanks to KI4WJP for this handy resource.    

Find some time to drop an email to KC5FM-9 and remember APRS messages are publicly facing.

If you can find a better car, buy it ... #ARRL #hamradio

Lee Iacocca said, more than once, "If you can find a better car, buy it."



Lets apply this to amateur radio for a moment.



Lets apply this to the American Radio Relay League.



Can you find a better "National Association for Amateur Radio"?



Does this other organization offer insurance for its members, representation before the Federal Communications Commission, an office in Washington, DC, friendly staff at Newington who answer phone calls and emails?



You have found a better National organization?



Do TELL!  What organization is it?



If not, then join the League.

#Skywarn Recognition Day is coming soon #hamradio #SRD

#Skywarn Recognition Day activity announced #hamradio

EchoLink and IRLP are just a couple of modes people can utilize to contact NWS offices during SKYWARN Recognition Day. Many NWS offices will be on 2 Meters, 440 MHz, HF and other VHF/UHF bands. Additional details on SKYWARN Recognition Day can be found via the following link:

http://hamradio.noaa.gov

As in past years, the EchoLink *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system will be scheduling time for NWS offices in 1-2 hour time slots to act as a net control to make contacts with spotters that are on the system. If a NWS office runs out of contacts and there are other NWS offices on the system, the NWS office acting as net control can turn it over to a different NWS office to act as a net control on the system at their discretion.

We'd like to ask NWS offices to do their best to adhere to the schedule. Sometimes this is difficult due to the number of contacts received by NWS offices. We ask for everyone's patience and working cooperatively to respect the time slot schedule.

Below is the 2018 SRD Schedule. We have already had many NWS offices confirm their time slots for this year. We also have a couple prime time slots open up for this year. The NWS office that we are still awaiting to hear from is WX9GRB. For WX1BOX, we will confirm once other time slots are confirmed.

Also, the 0000-0100 UTC time slot has opened up as KL7FWX will not be on Echolink this year. The 1800-1900 UTC time slot is also open and available. See the list of NWS offices below:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: Open
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Confirmed time slot for this year)
0200-0300: WX4MLB (Confirmed time slot for this year)
0300-0400: WX1BOX (Time slot from last year)
0400-0500: WX9GRB (Time slot from last year)
0500-0600: WX9LOT (Confirmed time slot for this year)
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Confirmed time slot for this year)
0700-0800: Open
0800-0900: Open
0900-1000: Open
1000-1100: Open
1100-1200: Open
1200-1300: W7NWS  (Confirmed time slot for this year)
1300-1400: WX2PHI (Confirmed time slot for this year)
1400-1500: WX1AW  (Confirmed time slot for this year)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Time slot from last year)
1600-1700: WX4NC  (Confirmed time slot for this year)
1700-1800: WX2PHI (Confirmed time slot for this year)
1800-1900: Open
1900-2000: K0MPX  (Confirmed time slot for this year)
2000-2100: WX4MLB (Confirmed time slot for this year)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Confirmed time slot for this year)
2300-2400: WX6NWS (Confirmed time slot for this year)

Also, for 2018, we will have the ability to link up DSTAR/DMR systems into the network. The details on this will be posted in the next update.

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS Boston/Norton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with various NWS offices. This is a great place to move off the *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system after your scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS offices whish to make contact with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in past years and have multiple reflector channels and Echolink conferences available. There is reflector 9250/Echolink Conference *HI-GATE* node: 357564, IRLP 9251 and the *WORLD* Echolink Conference node: 479886, IRLP 9257/*DCF-ARC* Echolink Conference node: 336037 and IRLP 9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 152566 open for NWS offices. Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG3* Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system. The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our web site at http://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, New England Reflector Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their support!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

Make Simplex Great Again #ARRL #hamradio

Are you using FM Simplex?  What frequency or frequencies do you monitor and your location?

Locally, I use 147.51, 146.52, and 446.000 in the scanner.  Traveling, I use 146.52 mostly but occasionally monitor the APRS alert (144.39 with 100 PL tone).  

One might even find someone on 10-meters FM around 29.6


73

Lloyd, KC5FM

Users explain Automatic Link Establishment #hamradio

This information came from HFLINK.net.  Give ALE a try and see who else might be waiting for a QSO.

==HFLINK NEWS==

October 2018 - Hundreds of ham radio operators around the world have been active for the past several weeks, testing their radio techniques for interoperability. They're not competing in a contest or trying to win awards. They have been participating in the High Frequency Interoperability Exercise 2018 (HFIE-2018), an operating event that takes place on the airwaves every few years, sponsored by HFLINK. 

Dialing Up A Ham Friend On HF

The ham operators are initiating contact by dialing up each other's call sign using selective calling (Selcall) and Automatic Link Establishment (ALE). They are making informal calls to engage in voice or texting communications on High Frequency (HF) in the international Amateur Radio Service frequency spectrum. 

 

HFLINK.NET Selcall-ALE network all-band real-time map.

Image: courtesy of HFLINK

Calling Without A Sked or Net

Instead of dialing a telephone or using the internet, the direct calls are initiated on their HF radio transceivers, which are independent of land infrastructure or satellites. Simply dialing a call to a friend may seem like an ordinary task on a mobile phone, but it is surprisingly unusual on ham radios. Most HF ham operators are more accustomed to randomly calling "CQ" or gathering together in scheduled "skeds" and meeting group "nets" to share a frequency together. 

HF communications depend on bouncing signals off the ionosphere, which is prone to the variability of solar influence and the changing conditions of the earth's geomagnetic field. It has been particularly difficult with the solar cycle at its minimum this year. This variability has led to a wide variety of reliable operating techniques, procedures, and radio systems designed to benefit from the shortwave spectrum. 

HFLINK Coordinator, Bonnie Crystal KQ6XA, remarked, "We are seeing a lot of recent interest in selective calling. The statistics we gathered during HFIE-2018 show an increase of about 350 percent. There are now about 5000 registered ALE and Selcall callsigns globally in the net." 

 

Kurt KJ4AYT's solar-powered ALE-Selcall HF mobile 4WD.

Photo: courtesy of Kurt Stephens KJ4AYT.

Max Haselbach HB9ZEI in Switzerland, commented about the exercise, "I didn't know much about ALE at the beginning of this event. While operating and chatting on hflink.net , I met a lot of very helpful operators. I made links to Ced F4GFZ, and exchanged AMD texting and received calls from Thorsten DK1ESD. They guided me through on how to do it better."

 

Codan 2110 manpack radio with Selcall and ALE in use.

Selcall and ALE Equipment 

Selcall and ALE are slightly different formats that achieve a similar purpose: call up a specific ham operator or group of operators over the air using incidental tones. Both selcall and ALE are common in the radio equipment of HF commercial, governmental, or non-governmental organizations (NGO) ; but, amateur radio equipment manufacturers have traditionally been slow to advance their technology in the area of selective calling features. So, many of the operators working the HFIE-2018 event are utilizing commercial land mobile HF SSB radios with built-in ALE and Selcall, that have been adapted for ham radio service. Most are using computer-connected ham transceivers, running program apps such as PC-ALE, MARS-ALE, MULTIPSK, or HamRing. 

 

Tei JH1ESB's ALE-Selcall auto-tuned rooftop antenna farm above Yokohama, Japan, Icom AH-760 on left, Icom AT-140 auto-tuning a Super Antenna MP1C on right. 

ALE is a standard or optional feature in HF land mobile radios such as: Micom, Codan, Barrett, Icom IC-F8101, Harris, Rockwell-Collins, Rohde & Schwarz, and Kenwood TK90. 

 

Tei JH1ESB's ALE-Selcall station with 2 Icom IC-F8101 radios, in a synchronized system.

Antennas for ALE and Selcall

While any type of antenna system can be used for ALE and Selcall, the techniques of HF scanning and frequency agility often leads to a different approach from traditional amateur radio single-band or slowly-tuned antennas. Broadband antennas are the choice of many ALE operators, especially the T2FD broadband folded dipole or BBTD antenna, which can cover the whole HF spectrum without needing a tuner. Autotuners are very popular for mobile HF operation, as well as base stations. The objective for the system is to constantly scan receive channels at about 1 or 2 channels per second, and then be able to respond to a call on any given HF frequency within 2 or 3 seconds. 

 

The ubiquitous T2FD terminated broadband HF antenna.

 

ITU International Telecommunication Union (CCIR)

About Selcall in Ham Radio 

Hams have been using the HF Selcall standard, which is known as CCIR493-4 Selective Calling, for about 25 years. It consists of incidental tones in the audio range that can selectively call, trigger an alarm tone, or open the squelch. It was originally developed in the early 1970s by CCIR (Consultative Committee on International Radio), a forerunner group for ITU (International Telecommunication Union) advisory and technical standards. This selcall system became the basis of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (MDSS DSC) which is now widely utilized in ships and boats. The HFLINK information resource has supported it since 2003 as implemented in 4-digit (Open Selcall) and 6-digit (United Nations Selcall) format, and has published the open standards on the web.

 

Tony KA2UFO's portable ALE-Selcall radio setup, Barrett on left, QMAC on right.

CCIR493-4 Selcall is available in many different types of equipment suitable for ham radio use. Selcall is an embedded feature in HF land mobile radios such as: Codan (all models), Barrett (all models), QMAC HF-90, Vertex VX-1210, Icom IC-F series, and Micom Z. The SC2 selcall microphone by Jenal can be adapted to most ham radios to easily. 

The Naidia COOEE board by Richard VK5ZLR, is a plug-in unit that provides selcall for Icom ham radio transceivers. 

A new computer app called HamRing, has just been released for Selective Calling, in an experimental demo version, coinciding with the HFIE-2018. Devin K6DRS developed HamRing in collaboration with Bonnie KQ6XA. HamRing is available for download at http://hflink.com/hamring

HamRing developer, Devin Butterfield K6DRS in California, commented, "HamRing is focused on an intuitive user interface and easy set-up. In a pinch, it even works with good old acoustic coupling, where you hold the mic up to the speaker. Many innovative features are planned beyond the normal selcall."

 

Tony KA2UFO's  ALE base station with PCALE

Photo: courtesy of Tony Rycko KA2UFO

 

Varuliantor YD0OXH is Coordinator of a large group of active ALE stations for the HF Emcomm ALE net, which covers many islands of Indonesia. 

Photo: courtesy of Varuliantor Dear YD0OXH

About ALE in Ham Radio 

Ham operators have been utilizing ALE in the Amateur Radio Service for about 20 years, since the late 1990s. The ALE standard was developed in the early 1980s in USA as MIL-STD 188-141 / FED-1045, and is known internationally as 2G-ALE. It grew out of an effort to improve interoperability of selective calling radio equipment made by various manufacturers. It became the de facto standard for adaptive HF radio systems, which keep track of HF propagation and available frequencies to improve the dependability and speed of calling stations. An active international net of ALE ham operators was formed in 2001 and has been in continuous 24/7/365 operation since 2007. 

 

Steve N2CKH, Developer of PC-ALE, at his home station

Image: courtesy of Steve Hajducek N2CKH

PC-ALE is a very popular computer program (Windows) among ham operators that provides a world-class ALE controller when combined with an amateur HF SSB transceiver. The scanning capability and a wide array of advanced features found in PC-ALE can basically turn a ham radio into an ALE radio system. PC-ALE is available for free and was created by Charles G4GUO, with new development and improvements by Steve N2CKH. The MARS-ALE program by Steve N2CKH, is also utilized by hams who are MARS members and operate ALE on the MARS systems. 

MULTIPSK by Patrick F6CTE is an advanced ham computer program that also provides excellent ALE calling operation and other functions. 

 

Brian WB6RQN / Aeronautical Mobile with Micom 3 transceiver running ALE on HF

Photo: courtesy of Project Amelia Earhart 80th Anniversary Flight

Brian Lloyd WB6RQN, flew the historic Amelia Earhart route around the world in 2017 with ALE HF in his plane. Later that same year, he led the Dominica Airlift Angels To Eden relief operation after hurricane Maria wiped out the island. The project lifted supplies and communications, including ALE radios, to Dominica. 

This year, Brian had some sage advice for some of the other operators in the HFIE exercise: "So, just having an HF station on-the-air, or even in a go-box, doesn't make you part of an effective communications solution... You also need to know how to get another station at the other end set up and interfaced with the people on the other end that need to communicate back to where you are. Only then do you become an effective component in a disaster and relief communications process."

Brian WB6RQN with the Dominica Airlift Angels To Eden flights brought relief supplies and communication after hurricane Maria in 2017.

 

About The High Frequency Interoperability Exercise (HFIE-2018) 

The HFIE 2018 went from 12 to 22 October. For more information about upcoming events, please check the HFLINK websites and forums. 

Amateur Radio Service operators in the event activated their stations on the air using the same standards as non-governmental (NGO) and government organizations worldwide for interoperable HF communications. The focus of operation during this exercise was ALE (Automatic Link Establishment) and SELCALL (HF Selective Calling). 

 

Ham operators in the exercise were invited to participate at any time during the 10 days of the free and open informal event. Operators got real-world experience and become proficient in HF Interoperability communications using the following suggested methods: 

• Initiating and responding to ALE calls
• Initiating and observing ALE soundings
• Linking up with fellow operators for texting
• Linking up for SSB voice QSOs
• Sharing helpful information on setting up ALE
• Initiating and responding to SELCALL calls
• Sharing information on setting up SELCALL
• Exchanging local status and infrastructure reports

There are thousands of amateur radio operators worldwide with ALE-capable and SELCALL-capable stations. All are invited to discuss, learn, and ask questions using the HFN Comm Centre chat room on HFLINK.NET. The experience gained by operator participation in the exercises can also be useful for HF Emergency/ Disaster Relief communications (EMCOMM).

Who will you work on 10 meters? @TenTenNet

Ten Meters is one of my favorite bands. Even when it's not "open", it's frequently open. With the sunspots on the rise, so should the activity on the band increase.


Have you found http://ten-ten.org/daily_nets.html yet? Nets listed there will help determine if the band is open. If you look at http://www.qsl.net/steelcity/nets/whichnet.html, one will see a search box that lets you know which nets are in operation.

http://www.dxwatch.com/dxsd1.php?f=92 or http://hamspots.net/10/ will also give you DX Cluster spots, just for 10 meters.

At http://www.vhfdx.info/spots/warnings.php, one can get email alerts when six meters is open. If SIX is open, it's almost a given that TEN is open.

http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=28&ML=M&Map=W2L&DXC=N&HF=N&GL=N also offers a map of openings AND the ability to post spots all in one place.


There's a number of 10 meter software defined radios that one can use to see where's the band is open. Two are dedicated to the "Beacon Band".

http://userpages.troycable.net/~wj5o/bcn.htm is a list of beacons on Ten. Tune here to see where the band is open, even when it's not.

Ten Meters is one of my favorite bands. Thankfully, there's plenty of tools to take some of the Magic out of the Band.  What is your favorite band?

Get on board to #hamvention #ARRL with the #hamradio bus

With a tour bus company on board this year, lets go to Hamvention.  Leaving the #ArkCity Kansas area on May 15 and returning May 21, the cost is currently estimated.  

Estimated prices are based on a minimum of 30 passengers. With 40 or more passengers, prices will be reduced. We want to confirm 30 or more interested by December 31^st.  Then the tour company will release confirmed pricing and open up the reservation process.

This is a sight-seeing tour with hotels and some meals included.

#Hamradio is on board with wifi hotspots for Allstar, DMR, and Dstar included.  Bring your analog and digital walkie-talkies.

The itinerary includes:

Day 1-2

Travel to Xenia OH

(Sightseeing along way thru St. Louis MO & Indianapolis IN as budgeted)

Days 3-5

HamFest 2019 – Xenia OH

Event Schedule, May 17-19, 2019

Day 6-7

Travel Home to Arkansas City KS

(Sightseeing along way thru Louisville KY & St Louis MO as budgeted)

Included in the cost:

• Roundtrip transportation from Arkansas City KS in a deluxe, late model, air-conditioned Prevost motorcoach along with a courteous and professional driver
• Christian Tours tour director for the duration of the tour
• 6 night’s quality hotel accommodations
• Luggage handling / one piece per passenger
• Meals included: 6 Continental Breakfasts Plus 3 Additional Meals

30 Passengers – ESTIMATED Price Per Person:

Double $ 1595 - $1695

A $350 group deposit is required to book the tour.  The deposit can be applied as payment toward a reservation.  The deposit is refundable until 120 days prior to the departure date.   An individual deposit of $350 is due with each individual’s reservations.  Final payment is due 30 days prior to departure.  Cancellation penalties will begin 30 days prior to departure.  Cancellation insurance is recommended.  Information brochures about optional tour interruption/cancellation insurance are available.

An Early Booking Discount is available!! When a reservation and deposit are received at least 95 days prior to departure, a 2% discount will be applied. If full balance is paid at least 95 days prior to departure AND all payments are made using cash, check or money order (NO Credit Cards), a 5% discount will be applied.

Email to register.