Ham Radio 360

A few weeks back, on our first APRS show Kenneth Finnegan (W6KWF) helped explain the APRS Protocol.  Since that time, we've asked for and received a number of listener questions.  In this episode of the Ham Radio 360 Podcast we delve into those questions to further understand this 'thing' called APRS!

(4:00)

Paths? What do they mean, and What do I use?

2. (28:00)

My APRS won't show on aprs.fi when using my 5w HT?

Why won't my APRS messaging work?

RF Gate, I-Gate or both? 3rd Party Traffic Questions. SMSGTE

Is APRS used on other bands? 30m Robust Packet

Why does APRS only use the 144.390 frequency?

3. (49:00)

How do I digipeat through the ISS?

Can I use APRS to monitor my off-grid cabin conditions?

What is the Next Generation of APRS-can it be like ADS-B?

How is APRS developed?  Is it developed?

What is the architecture of APRS-IS?

What are the uses of APRS that aren't GPS tracking?

Why do all APRS websites suck?

Where's the documentation?

Faraday RF, is it operational with APRS?

4. (1:13:00)

APRS Etiquette, am I doing it right?

Whats up with the 200+ symbols for things on the map?

What is the Local Freq Initiative? Does it work?

Object Beacons for the Local Freq Initiative?

5. (1:31:00)

K4CDN-5 Digipeater/I-Gate.

When to set-up an I-Gate/Digipeater?

Hardware recommendations?

How the K4CDN-5 digi changed APRS

Show Links:

Our First APRS Show with KWF

aprs.link

aprs.fi

ARISS.net

ASTARS

Satellite Connections

Alinco DR-135TMKIII 2M

Argent Data PNP TNC

KWF on the Wildflower Triathlon

@KWF on Twitter

ARPS on Facebook

APRS Symbol Chart

APRX aprs Software

KWF Thesis (pdf)

Event Time Data Extension

Texas Digital Radio

Thanks for listening and contributing to show #73, we hope you enjoyed this episode!

73 Y'all!

Cale/K4CDN

Recently a listener asked us to investigate the W.W.F.F. or Parks on the air.  I had some questions too, so off went an email to the UK which directed me back to Jason Johnston (W3AAX).  Jason came on the show to fill us in on the in's and out's of the Parks On The Air.

3,400+ National Parks, State Parks and more are available to activate or hunt in the US via WWFF/POTA.  Parks On The Air/WWFF is a World Wide Organization with an award system and more!  Interested in participating?  Visit the Parks On The Air site today!

Links:

Parks on the Air (KFF, WWFF in the USA):  http://parksontheair.com

Global international site: http://wwff.co

Active Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parksontheair/

How to get started

How to Register

Rules and FAQ

National KFF (USA) Awards

International Global Awards

RaDAR  Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio

ZS6BNE Blog

Zippy FlightMax 5000 Battery

Bioenno Batteries

Stick around following the interview to hear some feedback from you, our listeners!

Thank you for listening and sharing Ham Radio 360!

73 Y'all

Cale/K4CDN

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mentions:

Kenn Blanchard

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Dave Jackson

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Special Music by the Jellyrox (Hoop)

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Podfest17 #PME17

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SurvivalTechNord

 Miccoli the Sibling Band

 

KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

Austin Munger just wanted a C.B. Radio to give him an alternate means of communicating when out hunting or camping.  Little did he know that a random trip to HRO would turn into a full-bore hobby!

When I began this podcast, it was for me, the 'new guy' and while both the show and I have grown; I still feel new-ish and love learning about someones first time experience.  Adventure radio is on my list for the upcoming Spring, and this Episode may be what pushes me up the hill!

Not content with kerchunking repeaters, Austin set out to challenge himself with this new 'thing' he'd heard about called SOTA (Summits on the Air).  It didn't take to long to figure out he was a little unprepared, but a strong will goes far when determination sets in!

Now a prolific Summit activator and chaser, Austin aka. dietsota on Instagram, spends his spare (and work) time playing in the SOTA activity log.  He's also gotten his new Bride involved...to the point of activating a Summit during their Honeymoon in Hawaii!

SOTA

SOTAwatch SOTA Spotting

Elecraft KX2, KX3 and More!

Packtenna Portable/Packable Antennae

Yaesu FT-60

Yaesu FT-1XD

SOTA Spotter (Droid)

SOTA Finder (Droid)

PocketSOTA (Droiod/iOS) from Pignology/N3WG

SOTAGoat (iOS)

Chameleon Antennas

KX3Helper Antenna

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Thanks for listening!

73 Y'all!

Cale/K4CDN

Elecraft from FDIM KX2 Debut Show!

Episode 3 (manpack/portable)

Episode 6 (SOTA)

Episode 14 (WG0AT)

Episode 23 (Packtenna)

SOTA/NPOTA (KB1HQS)

Field Day with Elecraft

APRS Questions? Visit this thread or shoot me an email

KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

APRS; oh the questions you've raised!  It's been about 2+ years since I decided I wanted to give APRS a go.  I purchased a Mobilinkd TNC2 and set off.  It was only a day or so later that I determined there were No Digipeater/iGates in my county, and not too many outside those bounds.

I was encouraged by some fellow hams that were too interested in APRS and we lightly began to try to understand the in and outs of the mode.  None of us had any experience in Packet and what we could find online was a mish-mash of opinions and outdated blogging.  Needless to say, I've quit APRS more than once since, only to be pulled back in when I reconsider it's utility.

It wasn't until a fateful evening in November 2016 that I found someone that could help me to begin to understand the whats and hows of APRS.  Kenneth Fennegan, W6KWF ( @KWF ) found me lamenting my lack of APRS understanding via Twitter and offered a hand up!  That hand up turned into a phone conversation that in turn lead to another call that became this interview for the Ham Radio 360 audience!

Many, many times I've been asked to address APRS on the show, and I've finally found a connection that can help explain the mode and equipment in an easy to digest format.

Special Thanks to Kenneth for coming on and sharing his time and expertise on the subject!  Below you'll find the links we discussed!

W6KWF Blog

@KWF on Twitter

YouTube Channel

APRS.fi

Kenneth Finnegan Thesis on APRS

APRX Main Page

APRS Mailing List

APRS.org

Mobilinkd Bluetooth TNC2

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Thank you for listening to Episode 70 (wow) and telling your friends about Ham Radio 360!

73 Y'all

Cale/K4CDN

Kenneth recently created an APRS Symbol Chart that will prove Very Handy!

Stuart Thomas, KB1HQS,  joined me back in February to chat about the NPOTA (National Parks on the Air) ARRL Event.  This time he's back to share with us an entire years worth of Portable Operation from NPOTA.  Hear Stuarts Lessons Learned, Funny Stories, Favorite Parks and more in this episode of Ham Radio 360.

Additionally this event brought Stuart to the forefront of US Ham Portable Operations.  ARRL Calendar inserts, QST Reviews near viral tweets and more were just a taste of the fame the Tall One achieved this year!

To learn more about the NPOTA event head over to the ARRL website.  Congratulations to everyone involved!  What an Amazing Event!

.When you look around the net at the NPOTA activators photos, you may discover a very common theme: Elecraft KX3!

Thanks Stuart for coming back on and for helping make NPOTA a success!

73 Y'all

K4CDN

KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

The annual Winter Field Day event is held the last full weekend of January (28-29 2017).  Much like it's Summer-time cousin, Winter Field Day (WFD) is focused on ham radio operations in less than ideal emergent conditions.  Emergencies happen everyday, and usually when the weather isn't cooperating!  WFD like the ARRL Field Day gives Amateur Radio Operators a chance to hone their skills in those challenging environments while enjoying the camaraderie of the hobby.

Open to ALL Amateur Radio Operators around the Globe, WFD continues to see growth every year!  Tom Phelps, WD8MBE, and WFD Association looks forward to the event and encourages anyone with questions or comments to please visit their WFD website at www.winterfieldday.com .

It doesn't have to be snowy in your neighborhood to participate, the key is to Get On The Air for Winter Field Day!  It's a World-Wide Event open to All Amateurs who wish to join in the fun!

Winter Field Day Association (WFDA) is a dedicated group of Amateur Radio Operators who believe that emergency communications in a winter environment is just as important as the preparations and practice that is done each summer but with some additional unique operational concerns.

Winter Field Day is January 28-29 2017.  For further inspirations we've linked some past WFD videos below.  I look forward to hearing you on the air for Winter Field Day!

Erik, WX4ET, has posted some great shots from his WFD last year Here

A Special Thanks to all participants on the WFD Facebook Group who sent links and photos!  join them at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winterfieldday/

Winter Field Day Rules

More Details and Links found on the WFD page!

Thanks for listening

73 Y'all

Cale/K4CDN

 

 

KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

*6/28/18    New AREDN Website: https://www.arednmesh.org/

Ham Radio Mesh Networking has been one of those things that I've wanted to learn about.  After a quick peek around and a few questions asked, I stumbled into AREDN (Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network).

Join me as I learn about Mesh Networking over Ham Radio with Randy (WU2S) and Darryl (K5DLQ) in this latest installment of the Ham Radio 360 Podcast.

We also announce the Winners of our Annual Christmas Prize Giveaway.

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*6/28/18    New AREDN Website: https://www.arednmesh.org/

What is an AREDN Network? (video by K6AH)

RF Path Planning Using Ubiquiti AirLink (video by K5DLQ)

AREDN on Twitter @arednmesh

Equipment links listed at the bottom of the page

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas!

'73

Cale/K4CDN

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Equipment Links via amazon

Ubiquity Nano-Loco

Ubiquity NanoStations

Ubiquity Airgrid

Ubiquity Rocket

Ubiquity Bullet

Ubiquity Antennae

*make sure you check the AREDN Matrix to determine compatibility

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Congratulations to our Contest Winners!

KB2B22

KE0KTR

KO4XL

K9EMD

KK6RHY

KE0CSB

K1KY

KD8JAD

 

What is N.V.I.S? I hear it all the time; but for whatever reason, like most, I have a hard time putting it to words.  So I found us someone that could explain the theory behind the propagation, and his name is Edison (Ed) Fong-WB6IQN.

Ed helps lay out the theory of N.V.I.S in ways that even I can understand!  We discuss N.V.I.S and it's practical applications for everyday use as well as in an EMCOMM Situ.

As we continue our antenna chat with Ed we begin to learn about his wildly popular J-Pole antennas.  From Dual-Band roll-ups to Tri-Band verticals, Ed and his students have been helping hams get on the air for years!

You can find Eds' contact info here: Ed's Antennas

You can purchase his antennae here: antennas_iqn Ebay Store

Article from QST: ARRL /DBJ-1

John Miklor: Review

To Learn More about N.V.I.S check into some of the following articles:

Patricia Gibbons - WA6UBE WHAT IS NVIS?

Wikipedia - Near Vertical Incidence Skywave

DX Engineering - Practical Guide to Emer or Temp Comm (PDF)

ARRL.org - NVIS

Put up a low antenna KK7X0 - ARRL Link PDF

Thanks for listening and supporting the show

73 Y'all

Cale/K4CDN

Shop Amazon and Support the Show!

When You Click through our Amazon Affiliate Link, your pricing doesn't change-but Amazon pays me a small percentage for getting you there!  It all adds up and helps fund the program! Thank you!

Bookmark this LINK

It's that time of year again!  With Black Friday in sight and our mailboxes full of catalogs, it's time to talk Ham Radio Shopping!

George and Jeremy join us to discuss New(er) Ham Radio items you may be considering for your Shack this year.

We cover the entire spectrum, from High-End HF rigs to SDR Dongles.  If you are looking to find that new rig for the upcoming years operating, this show is for you!

Links to our previous Shopping Shows

Episode #21

Episode #39

 

As mentioned in the show:

Elecraft KX2 FDIM Interview

Stuart KB1HQS Mr. NPOTA

ELAD-Duo

WOUXUN 2m/6m HT

Wouxun Tri-Band HT Out of Stock

Wouxun Dual Band HT CrossBand Repeat

TYT MD-380

DV-Mega Single Band

DV-Mega Dual Band

Blue-Stack Micro Hotspot Board

DV4Mini

Alinco DMR HT DJ-MD40

RTL-SDR Dongle with Antennas

AirSpy Mini & Spyverter

SMA Adapter Cable Set

ARRL Ham Radio Handbook 2017

ARRL Op Manual

Anderson Crimper (Tool)

Anderson Crimper (Sets)

Packtenna

In this season of Thanks; I want to, again, say Thank You for being a part of the show.

73 Y'all

Cale/K4CDN

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) seems to be a topic that keeps coming up in listener correspondences.  I had some ideas to share, but not being an active participant in the service, I knew I needed to get someone who was involved to help us define and understand it.

Reaching all the way back to the beginning, I enlisted Cecil Higgins (AC0HA) who is now the ARES Section Manager for Missouri.  In Episode 1 we discussed the Joplin Tornado disaster and ARES response.  This time through, it's an Introduction to ARES.

ARRL.org/ARES

@ARES_ARES

Following, we bring in John Jacobs (W7DBO) of Site Sponsor, CommsToGo.com.

CommsToGo:  Builders of Portable Power, Radio and Computing Systems, John and his Ham Radio Family manufacture some fine equipment!

YourCallSignHere.com

 

Thanks for Listening!

73, Y'all

K4CDN