• Re: Packet Radio Update

    From N2QFD@21:1/154 to ALL on Wed Feb 7 16:34:01 2024
    So I found an old backbone ASCII map for the state of NY but better still EastNet Packet who produced the mapping I printed off in 2016 still has a web presence at least. The last update to the roster was in June of 2023 which is better than I expected. It does look like I'm still in radiolocked patch of the state and that HF might be the only answer.

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    | best 73 de N2QFD AR SK ..|
    | DMR TalkGroup 31367 |
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  • From n2qfd@21:2/150 to 0zZ-U on Mon Feb 19 07:26:28 2024
    SOooooo...

    I had my first QSO in the JS8Call mode with K4XTT this morning. It does work pretty well for a K2K and at a fraction of the power. I was using my S-Low setting on the Alinco and that's only 1W out! Not bad for 259 Miles away, although I have taken the 1:1000w award twice now with CW so...
    Thanks for suggesting the mode and I hope to keep playing around with it.

    73
    N2QFD

    ... You will have many friends when you use corkscrew.

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  • From Ricky DeLuco@21:1/136 to n2qfd on Mon Feb 19 12:36:36 2024

    I had my first QSO in the JS8Call mode with K4XTT this morning.

    Nice! Have not been on HF in about 8 years. Moved into a HOA neighborhood and cannot put a wire antenna up or any antenna of that matter. That was and it a Major mistake I made. I am desperately wanting to dump the house and move into a place without HOA. XYL will not allow. Maybe after 40 years, divorce !

    N4TDX BBS - Telnet: n4tdx.ddns.net:2323
    FSXnet: 21:1/136 * Fidonet 1:135/383 * Micronet 618:250/35
    Titusville, FL.


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  • From Khronos@21:2/153 to n2qfd on Mon Feb 19 17:40:56 2024
    Hi,
    I'd like to play around with this mode, but am not sure there are enough options in place for me to do this as a blind op.
    Does this program allow you to communicate with the interface from an api prospective where the calls heard are written to text files like ft8 is?
    There is a third party program called qlog that uses the api system with in wsjtx to be able to control it from an external source.
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  • From Khronos@21:2/153 to Ricky DeLuco on Mon Feb 19 17:45:17 2024
    Hi,
    I play on hf even though I live in an hoa.
    I do have to setup and take it down before and after each operating spirt, but I can still manage to get on the air sometimes on weekends.
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  • From Ricky DeLuco@21:1/136 to Khronos on Tue Feb 20 07:27:30 2024
    Hi,
    I play on hf even though I live in an hoa.
    I do have to setup and take it down before and after each operating
    spirt, but I can still manage to get on the air sometimes on weekends.

    I have a very expensive outback antenna, maybe I should do that. put it up when I want and remove when I am done. In a personal dig to myself, I am lazy. LOL

    N4TDX BBS - Telnet: n4tdx.ddns.net:2323
    FSXnet: 21:1/136 * Fidonet 1:135/383 * Micronet 618:250/35
    Titusville, FL.


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  • From n2qfd@21:2/150 to Ricky DeLuco on Fri Feb 23 09:11:10 2024
    Saw this at AMSAT web site today:
    Senate Bill S.3690 to eliminate the HOA issue. It seems we've been arguing about the metaphysical more than the material in DC for too long so not holding the breath, but I hear you.

    N2QFD

    ... Blame Saint Andreas - it's all his fault.

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  • From n2qfd@21:2/150 to Khronos on Fri Feb 23 09:12:30 2024
    Boy, I don't know the answer to vision challenges with this mode. I'll be sure to pass along if I come across anything.

    N2QFD

    ... CCITT: Can't Conceive Intelligent Thoughts Today

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  • From dotslash@21:2/152 to Ricky DeLuco on Sat Mar 30 03:45:51 2024
    Hello Ricky,

    Ricky DeLuco wrote to n2qfd <=-


    I had my first QSO in the JS8Call mode with K4XTT this morning.

    Nice! Have not been on HF in about 8 years. Moved into a HOA
    neighborhood and cannot put a wire antenna up or any antenna of that matter. That was and it a Major mistake I made. I am desperately
    wanting to dump the house and move into a place without HOA. XYL will
    not allow. Maybe after 40 years, divorce !

    Seems that you don't need to divorce, good things are afoot in the US regarding hams living in HOAs. Read the following ARRL link:

    https://www.arrl.org/news/legislation-to-remove-private-land-use-restrictions-on-amateur-radio-introduced-in-congress

    If the link does not show up properly, here is a shortened version:

    https://t.ly/slfiA

    You have two good Ham-related things happening in the US:

    * The legislation is being put in place to stop HOA's from restricting
    HAM radio operators to erect antennas. This has been sponsored by
    senators from both main parties, so the blues and reds agree on this one.
    I am surprised, but happily surprised in this case! :-)

    * The symbol (baud) rate restrictions on digital modes are to be
    lifted, with bandwidth for a single digital signal being limited
    to 2.8kHz.

    If you still want to remain as inconspicuous as possible, there are
    awesome HOA-friendly antenna designs out there ranging from attic dipoles
    to flagpoles to clothesline wires (do some research on slot antennas,
    it might just blow your mind), so there is no reason at all for you
    not to hop on to HF. Now is a good time for 10 meters due to us
    still being in a solar maximum, so you can easily DX all over the
    globe on 10 with a tiny little antenna. For some off-beat antenna
    ideas, watch Walt K4OGO's Youtube channel (link below). He uses
    radios with max 20w output, mostly his Xiegu G90.

    Walt's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@COASTALWAVESWIRES

    Get a nice stealthy antenna design, and hop on the air! Like I
    said 10m is wonderful at the moment, and for local NVIS on 40m
    you don't need a high antenna. Something camouflaged to look like
    a clothesline will do the trick. It won't be the best, but it will
    work for sure if you have a tuner.

    Get on the airwaves!

    73,
    Jan M7HNK

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