tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25790219320568549162024-03-06T06:40:58.493+00:00Radio AnticsThe thoughts, observations and adventures of a software engineer and licensed amateur radio operator call sign M0NRD (previously 2E0NRD and M6GTG) with an interest in all things radio related.Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.comBlogger655125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-46821761963168294662021-02-04T17:00:00.001+00:002021-02-04T17:02:29.646+00:00Pedestrian APRS <p>Okay! I apologise it has been far too long since I posted anything on this blog, a lot has happened over the last few years and I am still tinkering and dabbling with radio in it's many forms. </p><p>Why the resurrection? Well my interest in <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.com/search/label/aprs">APRS</a> and packet radio was piqued after Stewart M0SDM who I know through the <a href="http://www.skars.co.uk">South Kesteven ARS</a> (SKARS) setup the digipeater/igate <a href="https://ukrepeater.net/my_packet.php?id=4416">MB7UGR</a> in Grantham and as a result there has been more traffic and experimentation by local operators.</p><p>Back in 2015 <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.com/2015/05/some-pmr-fun.html">I purchased a couple of PMR sets</a> from a local rally with the intention of converting one Tait T535 into an APRS digipeater/igate, alas it ended up unused on a shelf. I have therefore dug it out and after modifying the diode matrix for the correct frequency 144.800MHz and doing some basic alignment based on the information on David Pye's <a href="http://davidmpye.co.uk/">website</a>. I have interfaced it to a Raspberry Pi which handles the decoding/encoding of the audio signals, processing and internet connection. </p><p>The software on the Pi consists of <a href="https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf">Direwolf</a> as a soundcard based modem/TNC running in AGWPE mode and I am using <a href="https://www.ka2ddo.org/ka2ddo/YAAC.html">YAAC</a> to feed the packets to and from the APRS-IS network as well as giving a visual map and access to other functionality such as sending/reading messages.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">It might not be pretty, but at least Tait has case back on! M0NRD-10 APRS iGate has been performing well - using direwolf TNC on the Raspberry Pi and YAAC <a href="https://t.co/Znr8IzQGpJ">pic.twitter.com/Znr8IzQGpJ</a></p>— Andrew Garratt M0NRD 📻 (@nerdsville) <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/1352530582530613250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<p>The audio in/out is done through a standard usb sound dongle, the audio to be transmitted is fed from the headphone output of the usb dongle into the radios microphone input (I soldered a screen lead to the pcb where the fist microphone would plug into the main board) audio out of the radio is taken from the top of the volume pot via a 10uF capacitor, that way turning the volume down on the radio doesn't affect audio into the usb dongle and the audio hasn't passed through the AF amplifier of the radio so should be better for decoding. The PTT is driven from a GPIO pin on the Pi via a simple circuit (which I had built on veroboard for a previous project) it is a simple transistor using an open collector arrangement to pull the PTT to ground. <br /></p><p></p><p>It has been performing well, receiving packets from the admittedly limited amount of operators sending out APRS using RF rather than using an app such as APRSdroid on their mobile phones and doing it via TCP/IP using the data connections.</p><p>I have APRSdroid installed on the Android phone, I was keen to try tracking myself while out driving or walking the dog and doing it via transmission on 144.800MHz. As I wanted to do it while out 'pedestrian mobile' I used one of my neglected Baofeng handheld radios.<br /></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Out for lockdown exercise walking the dog, experimenting with APRS, iGate running at home using the converted Tait PMR and RaspberryPi - Baofeng UV82L on VOX connected to phone using simple audio lead running APRSdroid and outputting AFSK <a href="https://t.co/n41k402QXc">pic.twitter.com/n41k402QXc</a></p>— Andrew Garratt M0NRD 📻 (@nerdsville) <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/1351158143150026753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<p>It was simple task to use a standard 3.5mm stereo (TRS) to stereo (TRS) audio lead, the sort often used for computer speakers. It is plugged into the microphone input of the radio and the other end plugged into the headset connector of the radio (in this case a UV5RE).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmzHBl8Ovv8ZbQhOY5TNZrgAEWcEOL1wY6lH9X3e5qVbAMJsk_YaRdifat6m0TAZEVc6-_bpLx_zQpc3G5plLlo-E38K3RYqpuD7DoKzcM2VOLPLFuY9TsTj6i8GSiHAf4z8lUtvTNfk/s1024/IMG_20210204_153510.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baofeng and audio lead" border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmzHBl8Ovv8ZbQhOY5TNZrgAEWcEOL1wY6lH9X3e5qVbAMJsk_YaRdifat6m0TAZEVc6-_bpLx_zQpc3G5plLlo-E38K3RYqpuD7DoKzcM2VOLPLFuY9TsTj6i8GSiHAf4z8lUtvTNfk/w400-h225/IMG_20210204_153510.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The headset connector of the Android phone is a 3.5mm (TRRS) socket with four connectors rather than 3 of the TRS plug, however this works because the microphone input of the phone is simply grounded by the plug, in this application I am just interest in the audio out of the phone. There may be some issues with some phones not detecting the lead being plugged in or not outputting audio, but in my case it works. If I also wanted to receive and decode I would need to make up another cable.<br /></p><p>The radio is set to 144.800MHz and VOX is enabled in the menu, I set it at level 1 sensitivity. The headphone volume of the phone was set to almost full, the Direwolf soundmodem on my iGates indicates the quality of the received audio and it seemed to be okay and not overdriven.</p><p>Using the <a href="https://aprsdroid.org/">APRSdroid</a> App (paid for version on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.aprsdroid.app">Google Play Store</a>) it is configured to use the AFSK audio interface, note you will need to give the application permission to access location information via the phones GPS.<br /></p><p>To use APRS via internet APRS-IS you will need an APRS passcode for your callsign, the simplest way to get this isn't via emailing websites or app developers but use the numerous websites, I recommend <a href="https://apps.magicbug.co.uk/passcode/">Peter's 2M0SQL webpage</a> however using AFSK audio doesn't require one. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRFpsfeXLkYhVDfVVQrr3tDv_qd5BnokZFLFxefTwZ7DhwvCCaj7tGjJCxem2C5V5E_8uUmwZKAB5s4oO-YSsXSiiqwSnuG20lZrjolxJ4taTUcn56ZNcydrGBcj9_OHzBSN-_L9KSm8/s1280/Screenshot_20210203-155426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRFpsfeXLkYhVDfVVQrr3tDv_qd5BnokZFLFxefTwZ7DhwvCCaj7tGjJCxem2C5V5E_8uUmwZKAB5s4oO-YSsXSiiqwSnuG20lZrjolxJ4taTUcn56ZNcydrGBcj9_OHzBSN-_L9KSm8/w225-h400/Screenshot_20210203-155426.jpg" width="225" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Setup is done via the Preferences, put your callsign and a SSID, in this case 7 is appropriate as we are handheld and portable. Enter something in the comment field and in Location Settings either use Smart Beaconing which is probably best if you in a vehicle as it limits the number of transmissions based on speed and distances, however I found it isn't very good when walking so changed mine to Periodic <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLU5bkcjZNUEv8hFJ58HSI8_Gb0Jf3pYqYqPOBgcW3BS4XFfTXFbdaI3wVhek8yRQfR1GbNZb7G6Ql62ucUjv6Usozi-b8bLRKYkGm29J1-S-js-xTGqhvf1V4rmuoZiMqt2GimvMyTk/s1280/Screenshot_20210203-155446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLU5bkcjZNUEv8hFJ58HSI8_Gb0Jf3pYqYqPOBgcW3BS4XFfTXFbdaI3wVhek8yRQfR1GbNZb7G6Ql62ucUjv6Usozi-b8bLRKYkGm29J1-S-js-xTGqhvf1V4rmuoZiMqt2GimvMyTk/w225-h400/Screenshot_20210203-155446.jpg" width="225" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In these experiments I set it to 1 minute and used high GPS Precision<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa6LZD0EOA3Zh_Dz1W8xcJxv8r1MHfl1WfuOvTV7yL8nQoMwn9zX4sXqCIk7HuqqKLwe2xoitu6XvmGBCoUVH_Gp0FKZT6gj-_y3rqCt3fUtAbiwSPNTUHLDZMoYxsahou07-O4JC7Lc/s1280/Screenshot_20210203-155455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa6LZD0EOA3Zh_Dz1W8xcJxv8r1MHfl1WfuOvTV7yL8nQoMwn9zX4sXqCIk7HuqqKLwe2xoitu6XvmGBCoUVH_Gp0FKZT6gj-_y3rqCt3fUtAbiwSPNTUHLDZMoYxsahou07-O4JC7Lc/w225-h400/Screenshot_20210203-155455.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p>One thing to bear in mind if using in or near your car, disable the Bluetooth Headset if your car supports hands free telephone use as you will get no sound transmitted as I discovered! <br /></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gg2KWjbivi1_f76KBZk-FFoIRPE7IOnfNr3KoLyibyMCboW62Rk9YIr4DCkXVz4k-xrMSGgGdftBHnBwsQzHZJ1WSFcMZcabb5nD9QZSpre8ib4fgiz56m-pYaFPjmyjhNoudRnkuqI/s1280/Screenshot_20210203-155602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gg2KWjbivi1_f76KBZk-FFoIRPE7IOnfNr3KoLyibyMCboW62Rk9YIr4DCkXVz4k-xrMSGgGdftBHnBwsQzHZJ1WSFcMZcabb5nD9QZSpre8ib4fgiz56m-pYaFPjmyjhNoudRnkuqI/w225-h400/Screenshot_20210203-155602.jpg" width="225" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once setup and connected, simply start tracking, if you display the log you should see each attempt to transmit and the radio should oblige.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2d5wwHsh6TJiPsVPDC3RLcmZD62c9Ab7LHXqli0P7sNUbgu_Ew95x4CogKuEPZH4hhOBMoS5QxnYzbGySVim0ax4o1YL4wdNyDxDnElkAFtlq1JOsaLqKwFcrz0TDvN1PIUAGsQJUilc/s1280/Screenshot_20210203-155311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2d5wwHsh6TJiPsVPDC3RLcmZD62c9Ab7LHXqli0P7sNUbgu_Ew95x4CogKuEPZH4hhOBMoS5QxnYzbGySVim0ax4o1YL4wdNyDxDnElkAFtlq1JOsaLqKwFcrz0TDvN1PIUAGsQJUilc/w225-h400/Screenshot_20210203-155311.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Obviously if you are in range of an iGate (either your own should you set one up or another operator) your position should show up on the APRS network, a visit to <a href="http://aprs.fi">aprs.fi</a> should confirm that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been out walking with radio in a chest pocket on my coat, phone in normal pocket and the lead looks inconspicuous and had some good results even with radio on low power (1W)<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRatv5pZeMjasamXVeOeXG69nO6FIomVZmXsq4oNbf5BLZx6bT8RDntwn5hXzPMhy1IQKxqq-C2uMR68r_aHF_Y32oBsiuQoB2g1zMZvyAoQ5296wxnLxus110zg0dkfGJNSX9JjXHpoA/s827/walkabout.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Map of tracked walk" border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="827" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRatv5pZeMjasamXVeOeXG69nO6FIomVZmXsq4oNbf5BLZx6bT8RDntwn5hXzPMhy1IQKxqq-C2uMR68r_aHF_Y32oBsiuQoB2g1zMZvyAoQ5296wxnLxus110zg0dkfGJNSX9JjXHpoA/w400-h335/walkabout.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />73</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-74583893761939330032018-08-14T10:37:00.002+01:002018-08-14T10:37:42.192+01:00MiniTiouner DATV Receiver builtAt the weekend I built my <a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/MiniTioune">MiniTiouner DATV receiver</a>. I'd purchased the PCB, tuner module, 1V regulator and programmed USB interface module from the <a href="https://www.batc.org.uk/">BATC</a> stand at the Telford ATV Academy the previous weekend. The remaining components that I didn't already have were ordered from Digikey using the handy spreadsheet on the <a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/MiniTiouner_hardware_Version_2">BATC Wiki</a> and I sourced a suitable DC-DC Converter from eBay.<br />
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The build was straightforward and there are <a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/File:Notes_on_building_the_BATC_v2_Minitiouner.pdf">some instructions</a> by Mike G0MJW but only really referenced them for the commissioning stage, checking voltages etc. I was pleasantly surprised to see a large degree of protection on the board, fuses both filament and poly-fuse, reverse protection and zener diodes in the circuit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjR7OfMa4MjKBzcyabZ6OzgGaex_vp3fQKB5SDYvbowhINOHmI-avacw6sgSBoJHoCgTwcV0VR7IuFS_dzxqCX5Nb5YT_LktrhswpWA0VRxn-m9oLfSV4f1TdsCwIeJ2yZEA9O0qWLKY/s1600/built.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjR7OfMa4MjKBzcyabZ6OzgGaex_vp3fQKB5SDYvbowhINOHmI-avacw6sgSBoJHoCgTwcV0VR7IuFS_dzxqCX5Nb5YT_LktrhswpWA0VRxn-m9oLfSV4f1TdsCwIeJ2yZEA9O0qWLKY/s400/built.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The MiniTiouner uses free to download DVB-S receive and analysis software called "<a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/MiniTioune_software">Minitioune</a>" written by F6DZP. The Software is hosted on the <a href="http://www.vivadatv.org/page.php?p=tutioune-en">VivaDATV forum</a>. So I registered and downloaded the software.<br />
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V8.0 of the software <a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/MiniTiouner_hardware_Version_2#MiniTiouner_version_8_software">requires a pull-down resistor</a> adding to the USB module to identify the type of board, so that was added (not pictured).<br />
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Power was connected and then plugged the USB lead into the PC (Windows 7 32bit) and it went off and installed drivers. The documentation said I should see two USB controllers, but I was seeing four?<br />
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There are several test programs included in the software package to test drivers and board and they were showing errors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgTvpMlp919bcYYMllHMhp1ISNow2w2utYJEU4SOjgugFitgZVq_6GvnX9FltrsvNWqlxa2Vou_Pvuv-klbnjZfEHIyCkN6-TuLNJ_GvfR7a0v4OxImRvPN8ZkWV8MZ8wIdXtbzNy7jk/s1600/CheckMinitioune.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="1067" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgTvpMlp919bcYYMllHMhp1ISNow2w2utYJEU4SOjgugFitgZVq_6GvnX9FltrsvNWqlxa2Vou_Pvuv-klbnjZfEHIyCkN6-TuLNJ_GvfR7a0v4OxImRvPN8ZkWV8MZ8wIdXtbzNy7jk/s400/CheckMinitioune.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The PC I was using has had no end of serial USB devices plugged in and out over time so suspecting another Microsoft Windows "disappearing up its own backside" driver issue I tried it on another more vanilla machine but had the same problem.<br />
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This seemed to point to the USB interface (an FTDI FT2232H Mini Module) perhaps it wasn't programmed? So I downloaded the <a href="http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities.htm">FTProg</a> utility from FTDI but instead of seeing a FT2232H was showing it as a FT4232H device.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6KuOkLxCtM0Pxp3SVpBG4MHFd6tdYKIral4BjRDT89aieU_gfgS-m08FSItJ_lPDQwJZQA7EVfdbfphqKvQGAndzGsJvhyFVPdaxX0SYud_p2tEgmZ6VnJO0HQFgq-1SKKHGHNWJtlM/s1600/FTProg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1223" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6KuOkLxCtM0Pxp3SVpBG4MHFd6tdYKIral4BjRDT89aieU_gfgS-m08FSItJ_lPDQwJZQA7EVfdbfphqKvQGAndzGsJvhyFVPdaxX0SYud_p2tEgmZ6VnJO0HQFgq-1SKKHGHNWJtlM/s400/FTProg.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Doing a Google <a href="http://developer.intra2net.com/mailarchive/html/libftdi/2013/msg00213.html">found a reference</a> to the same problem. I downloaded the data-sheet and checking with a meter I could see pins CN2-5 and CN2-11(VIO) on the module didn't have 3.3V for some
reason and as the post said if the VIO pin is missing 3.3V it defaults to a FT4232H. In the end I checked my soldering (no fault found) I removed the module from the socket to examine it and after re-seating it the board sprang to life so seems it was just a bad connection.<br />
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Eager to test I set up the <a href="http://www.analog.com/en/design-center/evaluation-hardware-and-software/evaluation-boards-kits/adalm-pluto.html">ADALM-PLUTO SDR</a> running <a href="https://www.datv-express.com/">DATVExpress</a> as <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/1026217451976110081">I'd done previously</a> with the commercial set-top satellite receiver and we had a picture! It was time for a cup of tea!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD_23ZJ6uHoiaIk5WcaGq5vipa79Pns-1jqSqrfgm65OA3UXPHbp0O8IvAAU01Tu9r_xaG4KhHtgBu93KTrJ9NrTC4CZRyLpK4t5OBUJCl34Jfk1cLCiXQ0aJ1L5sHlecF5RfJ3TynkI/s1600/miniTiouneSoftware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1089" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD_23ZJ6uHoiaIk5WcaGq5vipa79Pns-1jqSqrfgm65OA3UXPHbp0O8IvAAU01Tu9r_xaG4KhHtgBu93KTrJ9NrTC4CZRyLpK4t5OBUJCl34Jfk1cLCiXQ0aJ1L5sHlecF5RfJ3TynkI/s400/miniTiouneSoftware.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now it was working all that was left was to put it in a box. <br />
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I have only had a brief play with the software since the weekend but was interested to see if I could receive some RB-TV (Reduced bandwidth) So I set the Pluto and DATVExpress to transmit on 146.500MHz using a low symbol rate (250 Ksymbols/s) and it worked! Bertie was wriggling a bit too much for a clear picture but I had now actually used my <a href="https://rsgb.org/main/operating/licensing-novs-visitors/online-nov-application/146mhz-147mhz-nov/">146-147MHz NoV</a>. Now just got to learn and understand the various modulations and settings. <br />
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I was able to try out another piece of software, the <a href="https://www.sdrplay.com/downloads/">Spectrum Analyser</a> from Steve Andrew for the SDRPlay. It turns the SDR receiver into a handy spectrum analyser with 10MHz bandwidth from 1kHz upto 2GHz and was able to check the output of the Pluto. <br />
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This wasn't a proper test setup by any means, the SDRPlay was still connected to the dual-band collinear outside the shack so the noise is the usual hash I see, but the Pluto was putting out a decent waveform, it did help putting on a proper resonant antenna (a spare mobile magmount) rather than the tiny one supplied.<br />
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I plan to do a bit more with the 5.6GHz FPV stuff before the weekend having took delivery of some nice grid antennas and hope to get out to try a contact or some tests with members of <a href="https://skars.co.uk/">SKARS</a>
73Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-89969504251087339722018-08-06T12:54:00.000+01:002018-08-06T12:54:02.394+01:00Moving Pictures! First dabbles in Amateur TVI am always keen to try something new and I've spent the last couple of weeks experimenting with some Amateur Television ATV and Digital ATV (warning this post is bit of ramble and information overload)<br />
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They say "a picture paints a thousand words"and I've always liked the idea of sending pictures via radio having dabbled with sending and receiving SSTV and <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.com/search/label/ssdv">SSDV,</a> including pictures from High Altitude Balloons (HABs) like the <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.com/2015/09/hamfest-hab-flight-mission-debrief.html">Hamfest HAB flight</a> I did back in 2015<br />
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But I've also been intrigued by "Fast scan TV" to transmit moving images. I've seen demonstrations at conferences and in online videos and joined the British Amateur Television Club <a href="https://batc.org.uk/">BATC</a> a few years ago but apart from reading the CQ-TV magazine I had not done anything mainly due to expense and investment I mistakenly thought I would need to make.<br />
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Recently I have seen mention of using easy and low cost equipment to get on the air on 5.6GHz (the 6 cm amateur band) using cheap modules intended to transmit “First Person Video” (FPV) back from drones.<br />
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These simple units can be used without any modifications to get on air. A number of operators have used them with high gain WiFi panel and/or dish antennas with a clear line of sight path to send pictures to stations using the same equipment over paths in excess of 50km, the current record is over 160km.
Chris Leviston M0KPW has an excellent website describing his 5.6GHz system <a href="http://www.5-6ghz-atv.co.uk/">http://www.5-6ghz-atv.co.uk/</a> and there is more information at the BATC Wiki <a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/5.6_GHz">https://wiki.batc.org.uk/5.6_GHz</a><br />
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Inspired I ordered some kit from eBay a few weeks back, a receiver module and transmitter arrived quite quickly (no slow boat from China this time)<br />
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The equipment is powered by a 12V supply and input and output is a composite video signal and audio. It can be fed by a standard camera or video source but I dug out an old Raspberry Pi and soon had it generating and transmitting a test card with the required call sign overlay. The modules are channelised, the displayed 33 number is bank 3, channel 3 which is 5.665GHz selected by the BATC since it sits inside the amateur allocation, <br />
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Over the week I refined the Pi software, adding the Pi camera and various libraries in python to generate video with informational overlay, adding a GPS allowed calculation of the locator square when out portable. I have put it in a box (sorry no picture of that) and a switch to flip between live video and test card. I also had a bash at making some <a href="https://buildyourownantenna.blogspot.com/2014/07/double-biquad-antenna-calculator.html">double biquad antennas</a>. Regularly updating my twitter feed with various milestones (I recommend you follow me)<br />
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Pi sending live video via 5.6GHz with text overlay using pi camera and raspivid easy peasy.. <a href="https://t.co/Fthfpbw0r0">pic.twitter.com/Fthfpbw0r0</a></div>
— Andrew Garratt M0NRD (@nerdsville) <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/1023117205062471680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Lol, wife looking suitably impressed by the Pi based image generator which flips between live feed and test card using switch <a href="https://t.co/M6qnif5V0P">pic.twitter.com/M6qnif5V0P</a></div>
— Andrew Garratt M0NRD (@nerdsville) <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/1025383583429664768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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While browsing the BATC website for information I spotted that there was an ATV Academy workshop being organised by the <a href="http://www.tdars.org.uk/">Telford and District ARS</a>, giving people the opportunity of finding out a bit more about ATV and people could bring along their equipment and projects for advice. So at the last minute I decided to go but because of the distance could only really go on the Saturday. But it was well worth it and a great day. I was made to feel welcome by everyone there and was able to show off my modest achievements on 5.6GHz and learned about the BATC <a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/The_Portsdown_Transmitter">Portsdown Transceiver</a> and <a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/MiniTioune">MiniTioune receiver</a> projects, even buying the parts to build the receiver.<br />
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Having a great time learning all about ATV today, showing off my humble efforts <a href="https://t.co/YTwEf7Sjdl">pic.twitter.com/YTwEf7Sjdl</a></div>
— Andrew Garratt M0NRD (@nerdsville) <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/1025726287585964033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> The academy coincided with a BATC Activity weekend and they were going up to the summit of the nearby Long Mynd to operate on the Sunday. Since I wasn't there I had planned to go to a local high point to see if I could make contact with some of the other operators and stations and got the kit ready on a cheap lighting tripod. I was going to use an old portable satellite dish with one of my double biquads at the feed point.<br />
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The satellite dish is inverted because they are offset so when the dish is vertical they are actually pointing around 20 degrees upward towards the TV satellite (in the UK). So for terrestrial use with low elevation they work better inverted. (see<a href="http://www.satsig.net/22-deg-offset-dish.htm"> here</a> for better description of offset dishes) <br />
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I did venture out but I chickened out setting up due to a combination of a surprisingly busy road, <a href="http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/faqs/advice/fly-tipping-and-law">fly tipping</a> and very hot conditions. Due to the the fly tipping in the lay-by I didn't want to be seen getting stuff out of car boot! especially as a few cars had slowed down as they passed.<br />
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Nevermind I have ordered couple of cheap high-gain mesh dish antennas so when they arrive I will get out again and arrange some skeds, hopefully roping in some of the radio club.<br />
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In addition to the 5.6GHz stuff I have also taken possession of an <a href="http://www.analog.com/en/design-center/evaluation-hardware-and-software/evaluation-boards-kits/adalm-pluto.html">ADALM-PLUTO</a> SDR from Analog Devices. It is inexpensive (£90/$100) and designed to allow educational experimenting in software defined radio. It is a SDR receiver and low-power transmitter. They had been in short supply but availability has improved.<br />
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Charles Brain G4GUO has added support for the device into the <a href="https://www.datv-express.com/">DATV Express</a> software. I am hoping to use it for some experiments in RB-TV (<a href="https://wiki.batc.org.uk/146_MHz_RB-TV">Reduced bandwidth TV</a>) so I can actually use my <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville">NoVs</a><br />
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I took the PLUTO along to the ATV workshop and was able to see it transmitting and being received by other peoples receivers. So last night I got out the two satellite receivers I have and with a little bit of persuasion with settings got some DVB-S DATV transmitted and received.<br />
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Bit of "shaky cam" but shows the ADALM-PLUTO transmitting across the shack using <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DATVExpress?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DATVExpress</a> being received by an old FTA satellite box. <a href="https://t.co/souCJA9qBK">pic.twitter.com/souCJA9qBK</a></div>
— Andrew Garratt M0NRD (@nerdsville) <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/1026217451976110081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Anyway, that is enough for now.. but will try to keep the blog updated as I experiment some more, but follow my twitter account <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville">@nerdsville</a> for realtime updates
73 Andrew
Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-14479361120786234532018-05-30T11:40:00.000+01:002018-05-30T11:40:05.545+01:00In The Loop! - First Impressions of the MFJ-1788Was feeling pretty chuffed after <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.com/2018/05/in-loop-repairing-mfj-1788.html">repairing the MFJ-1788 'Super Loop'</a> and couldn't wait to try it out! So for a couple of evenings of experimenting I put the loop in the garden on a 5ft pole held up by a heavy drive-on stand with 20m (65ft) of RG58 running into the shack.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temporary test setup</td></tr>
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I chose the easy option of using FT8 to do some testing, selecting the 30m FT8 frequency initially. I tuned the loop and was met with a cacophony of signals, far louder than my usual OCFD would receive. Working with around 30 Watts had a few contacts in a brief 30 minute session, including a nice one in Greece with SV1IW. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PSKReporter showing where I was spotted</td></tr>
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What was striking was the lack of noise and just how tight the tuning was, indeed I had to tweak the tuning a couple of times during tests, a slight adjustment either way and the signals just disappeared. I checked out 40m and 20m as well with similar good results.<br />
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I had a few more sessions and a few days later I tried it out to receive the<a href="http://swradiogram.net/"> Shortwave Radiogram</a> broadcast from Bulgaria on 9400kHz, this time as it was a broadcast band had to use my ear to do the tuning, adjusting till I heard a rise in 'noise' and signal.<br />
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Trying out the loop antenna, <a href="https://twitter.com/SWRadiogram?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SWRadiogram</a> <br />
images this afternoon from Bulgaria 9400kHz <a href="https://t.co/53HRwIHUQz">pic.twitter.com/53HRwIHUQz</a></div>
— Andrew Garratt (@nerdsville) <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/997917622967701507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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I have now got the loop up on a rotator and mounted slightly higher up with a shorter length of RG213 (not on the video) it is still quite low and unfortunately is slightly shielded to the south by the neighbours metal roofed building, <br />
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I am very happy with the loop. Transmission wise it unsurprisingly doesn't seem a huge improvement over the OCFD on its resonant bands, it scores over the OCFD is on its 'non-resonant' bands such as 30m and 17m. But the massive improvement is in receiving, signals are stronger and noise is much lower, picking up some more distance signals even given the poor conditions.
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still evaluating the RX of the mag-loop and according to pskreporter heard 92 countries, 1182 stations on FT8 30m/40m in the last 17 hours.. <a href="https://t.co/ZuWZOFFiP2">pic.twitter.com/ZuWZOFFiP2</a></div>
— Andrew Garratt (@nerdsville) <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdsville/status/998932999264788482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>The antenna cannot be said to be a pretty thing to have in the garden! The tuning is very particular, in the video I show the 'auto tuning' isn't ideal. It requires the radio to be putting out a signal into a mismatched load for what could be nearly a minute. Not good for the radio and is a source of QRM during this time, the usual technique of tuning slightly off a QSO frequency is more problematic due to the sharpness of the resonance. You can still tune off frequency and then tweak with the slow tune buttons to bring it in. I've noticed that on some of the higher bands it occasionally doesn't auto-tune because the 'dip' seems very short/sharp and the controller doesn't react in time and overshoots especially using low power settings. <br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="296" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OdTOa6gRizo?rel=0" width="520"></iframe>
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I also have had issues trying to operate the radio remotely, I have tuned it up on an FT8 frequency in the morning and then later in the day logged in to try to make a few QSOs during a coffee-break to see the loop has drifted out of resonance. This can only be down to the loop getting warm in the summer sun.<br />
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I am still evaluating the antenna but am looking at making a better controller, over on <a href="http://www.amateurradio.com/in-the-loop-repairing-a-mfj-1788/">AmateurRadio.com</a> where this blog is syndicated, I have had a number of kind comments including one from <a href="http://www.amateurradio.com/in-the-loop-repairing-a-mfj-1788/#comment-187643"><cite class="fn">Elwood Downey, WB0OEW</cite></a> who pointed me to his published <a href="http://clearskyinstitute.com/ham/LoopTuner/">design of a controller</a>, using a similar method to what I was toying with. Thanks Elwood.<br />
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73 for now, more updates soon.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The antenna farm</td></tr>
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<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-64923617266560716862018-05-17T13:05:00.002+01:002018-05-17T13:05:42.236+01:00In The Loop! - Repairing a MFJ-1788Over the last few years I've seen various musings about magnetic loop antennas and their supposed efficiency and performance. I had even toyed with the idea of building one considering the eye-watering prices commercial ones are sold for! Sadly that idea had been added to the big pile of 'to-do' projects.<br />
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Earlier this year I spotted a posting on social media by a member of my club who had brought a MFJ-1788 second hand who was having issues with it not working. I had offered some advice on its repair and glibly offered to take it off his hands should he want to dispose of it. A few months later I got a message asking if I was still interested? I certainly was at the price he wanted.<br />
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I collect it at the club meeting a fortnight ago still with a 5ft pole still attached as a bonus! Thankfully it fitted in the car (just).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loop as purchased, with pvc tape covering loop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Control Box</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I downloaded the manual and schematic from the <a href="http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1788">MFJ website</a> and I saw there were conspicuous warnings about using an 'isolated' power supply both in the manual and on the back of the controller, with ominous warnings of damage if you didn't. Most shack supplies have the negative/black pin connected to the chassis/ground. <br />
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The controller had come to me supplied with a standard fused lead, you know the ones that come to connect your ATU/SWR meter lamp to the shack supply? Mmmm.. my spider sense was tingling!<br />
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I pulled out a small double-insulated 12V plug-in supply from my collection (you can spot them as they often have a plastic earth pin) and with nothing else connected powered up the controller. The meter lamp came on and some of the LEDS briefly flickered and heard a few clicks from the internal buzzer then nothing. Pressing buttons did nothing and then I caught the unmistakable scent of burning electronics!<br />
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Opening the box up on the bench quickly spotted the source, the regular had well and truly smoked, but since nothing had been connected the short must have been in the controller itself (and it was not the dodgy wires that look like they had been victims to a wayward soldering iron)<br />
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Inspecting the rest of the board it was clear that it had been repaired (badly) once before, the two main transistors/FETs (Q1/Q5) used to control the motor clearly showed signs of being replaced (misaligned and with tell-tale scorching from an hot air gun)<br />
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a SMD diode had been swapped and one of the 'fine tune' switches had been replaced, its removal had obviously been problematic taking with it some of the through hole copper and adjacent tracks which had been lifted/damaged.<br />
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Before opening up the box I had expected to see 'through hole' components and DIL logic ICs not for it to be all surface mounted. Undaunted I went through the parts list and decided to get replacements for all the semiconductor parts not knowing at this stage what I would have to replace. Getting two of each device in some cases five or ten of each due to minimum order quantity, the staggering cost was £8 ($11) including postage!<br />
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While waiting for the parts to arrive I decided to check out the actual antenna head. I removed the plastic covering and attempted to extract it from the pole..<br />
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First issue I had was the mounting. One bolt had seized, the nut inserts are held in quite soft aluminium so not surprisingly the insert came out out the mounting when trying to remove it. Using grips to hold the insert the bolt still refused to turn and in the end it sheared off with very little force! Obviously quality fittings these! <br />
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The variable capacitor was suffering a common problem due to poor quality control, the fins had gone out of alignment. Each fin is a separate assembly held on a shaft with a nut to compress them together. It is a simple fix, just realigned and tightened the bolt. The limit switches and motor connection were okay (another common problem) Applying a voltage to the coax connector the motor turned fine, reversing the voltage reversed the direction of turn, the vanes going fully in and fully out before the limit switches activated.<br />
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The components arrived prompty and so I got the hot air gun out and set about repairing the board.<br />
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I started off replacing the regulator (and the damaged power track) and Q1/Q5 and we had the flickering of life. Pressing the AUTO TUNE button the LED lit and there was 9V across the antenna connector, pressing the other AUTO TUNE button had -9V across. This is why you need an isolated power supply since it reverses the voltage to control direction. The radio doesn't see any of this voltage due to the bias-t arrangement. However if the supply shared the shack ground you would short out the supply, but the current would go via all those delicate electronics! Which is what I think had happened.<br />
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It soon became clear that most devices had suffered damage and so I ended up replacing the regulator 78L12, Q1 (SN7002 FET), Q2 (MMBT3906), Q5 (MMBT3906) all the logic ICs CMOS 4001, 4011 and 4066 and the LM324 Quad op-amp chip. I also gave the board a good clean since was covered in grime and flux residue.<br />
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Once I was happy the controller was reassembled and connected to my FT-857D on minimum power and the loop antenna propped up against the side of the shack. Success! I was able to successful tune it as per the instructions on 40m and 10m, the two extremes of operation and could here the telltale rise in receive noise as it became resonant.<br />
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I have yet to put the loop up in situ for a proper evaluation but have refurbished an old TV rotator to mount it on. I have fitted some nice new quality bolts. The black insulating tape round the loop has been removed, preferring the silver look myself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to be put on the pole</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiny once again</td></tr>
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Assuming it does performs and will find out this weekend, I have paid a total of £65 ($90) (£50 for the initial purchase the rest for replacement parts) which is an absolute bargain as to buy new it is expensive.. very expensive!<br />
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One of the main supplier in the UK, <a href="https://www.hamradio.co.uk/aerials-antenna-manufacturers-mfj-antennas/mfj/mfj-1788x-pd-2639.php">have it on sale</a> for £699 ($940) but this includes their engineers inspecting and rebuilding each one before shipping! (Can only be due to poor build quality control and warranty claims) the RRP seems to be around £570 ($770)<br />
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It does amaze me how much this units costs new. While the loop construction is generally good, the mounting fittings appear to be poor and the issues with the capacitor and quality control are widely reported. <br />
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The components in the controller are not expensive, the switches, meter, box are the usual MFJ fare and the design is quite old (the PCB has copyright 1998 on the silk screen) the auto-tune process requires the radio to be putting RF into a mismatched load for up to a minute and even with low power and SWR protection this isn't good for the radio PA.<br />
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Perhaps most surprising is given the risk of damage due to incorrect use is why firstly the loop isn't supplied with a power supply anyway as they only cost a pittance and secondary why their isn't any protection built in? I intend fitting a simple 100mA fuse to offer some protection should a problem occurs. <br />
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If the loop performs it may be another project to build a better controller, there are a few designs out there on the internet using Arduino and DDS devices to create auto-tuners. Has that pile of potential projects just grows taller? <br />
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73 for now.. and promise to post a bit more regularly <br />
Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-24472789723709108732017-08-27T21:23:00.000+01:002017-08-27T21:23:03.005+01:00868MHz LoRa HAB Tracking SuccessMost HAB (High Altitude Balloon) tracking in the UK involves the use of 434MHz ISM devices due to the ready availability of suitable antenna and receiver equipment due to it sharing the 70cm amateur radio bands.<br />
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868MHz ISM devices are available but are not as widely used. Back in December <a href="https://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/lora-lora-laughs.html">I posted</a> about trying to track a flight by HAB Enthusiast Dave Akerman who is experimenting using LoRa devices on this band. I had limited success receiving that flight and another ones so when I saw that Dave was planning <a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/ukhas/aSu_QAyZbvQ">another flight today</a> using 868MHz LoRa I had a rethink on how to approach tracking it.<br />
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The antenna I used was a collinear one built from cheap satellite coax, similar to that <a href="https://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/video-making-ads-b-collinear-antenna.html">I built for ADB-S</a> however rather than having a long coax run to the LoRa gateway I opted to put the Raspberry Pi up on the pole at the base of the antenna to limit any loss.<br />
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The antenna can be seen connected to the Raspberry Pi and LoRa add on board, the Pi has a WiFi dongle.<br />
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The antenna was inserted into a piece of conduit to keep it upright and it and the Pi were strapped to a 5m painters pole (using a plastic lid as an insulator)<br />
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A USB power pack was also strapped to the pole to keep the Pi powered, hopefully you can see it in the photo below.<br />
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The pole was put up and was about the same height as my normal dual band collinear<br />
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Well it all worked extremely well, and got a lot of decodes as can be seen by the pie-chart generated by the <a href="http://habitat.habhub.org/">habitat.habhub.org</a> system, the third best receiver only bettered by Dave himself (M0RPI) and a station nearer to the flight path.<br />
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You can see my geographical position relative to the flight below (I am the station NNE with the green line, about 160km away) and received a lot of telemetry strings even when the height of the balloon meant I was outside the 5 degree above the horizon circle (shown in green).<br />
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The Pi was connected to my network via WiFi and controlled by a Putty console on my shack PC<br />
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It was a useful experiment and I am thinking of installing a dedicated mast mounted LoRa receiver with 868 and 434MHz antennas (and possibly pre-amps and filters) following this result.Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-888639137877755562017-08-14T11:33:00.001+01:002017-08-14T11:33:02.182+01:00Shortwave RadiogramIn March 2013 <a href="https://www.voanews.com/">The Voice of America</a> (VOA) started an experiment called the VOA Radiogram which transmitted digital text and images using the powerful 50 year old analog shortwave broadcast transmitter at the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station near Greenville, North Carolina.<br />
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The idea was anyone could receive the radiogram on any shortwave radio, even an inexpensive portable one with no SSB capability. By feeding the audio from the radio to a computer, either by a audio lead or even using the a microphone the listener could decode the text and images using simple software.<br />
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I had seen mention and reports on social media of people receiving them but somehow never got around to trying it myself.<br />
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VOA ended the experiment back in June this year a week before the retirement of the program producer Dr. Kim Andrew Elliott. An offer
to continue the broadcasts on a contract basis was declined<sup>,</sup> so a follow-on show called <a href="http://swradiogram.net/">Shortwave Radiogram</a> began transmission from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRMI" title="WRMI">WRMI Radio Miami International</a> transmitting site in Okeechobee, Florida and <a href="http://www.spaceline.bg/">Space Line</a> in Bulgaria.<br />
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The <a href="http://swradiogram.net/">Shortwave Radiogram</a> transmission schedule is (at the time of writing and all times UTC)<br />
Saturday 1600-1630 9400 kHz<br />
Sunday 0600-0630 7730 kHz<br />
Sunday 2030-2100 11580 kHz<br />
Sunday 2330-2400 11580 kHz<br />
All via <a href="http://www.wrmi.net/">WRMI</a> except for 9400 kHz, which is via <a href="http://www.spaceline.bg/">Space Line</a> in Bulgaria.<br />
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I spotted a tweet a few weeks back (can't remember who from) mentioning the <a href="https://twitter.com/SWRadiogram">@SWRadiogram</a> so my interest was piqued, I wasn't around for this weekends Saturday transmission in Europe but had a go on Sunday for the one from America. I wasn't expecting great things due to the levels of noise and poor conditions of late.<br />
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I have the decoding program <a href="https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/">FLdigi </a>already installed on my computer for other datamodes and for information on how to decode the radiograms (sent using MFSK32) visit <a href="http://voaradiogram.net/post/45415629990/voa-radiogram-how-to-decode-the-modes">this page</a> <br />
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On the 0600UTC transmission I managed just one poor image<br />
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but during the Sunday 2030UTC transmission I got four decent images, the fifth was lost to QRM<br />
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I also made two short videos (on hand held mobile phone so a bit shaky) which show the incoming text and images.<br />
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<p>Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-49876248588779280402017-07-24T10:42:00.003+01:002017-07-24T11:12:22.135+01:00ARISS 20th Anniversary SSTVThis weekend has seen another SSTV event from the International Space Station, this time in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of <a href="http://www.ariss.org/">ARISS</a> (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) <br />
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The 20 year history of ARISS was displayed through a collection
of 12 images highlighting the accomplishments of the project over
the last two decades.<br />
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As the ISS has orbited the world it has been transmitting the SSTV signals using FM on the usual downlink of 145.800 MHz, here at my QTH in the UK the passes have occurred late at night into the early morning, averaging 3 - 4 reasonable passes each day.<br />
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The signal has been very strong and so some excellent low noise images have been received by many people using just modest equipment. While not the greatest technical achievement in the world it nonetheless generates much needed interest in ARISS and amateur space communication.<br />
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My own system consisted of the Yaesu FT-857D and MMSSTV running on the shack PC and was left on automatic receive (I was tucked up in bed) and managed to get decent copies of all the images.<br />
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Image 8 reminded me of the fun I had back in 2011-2012 of receiving the ARRISAT-1 and was one of the key things that convinced me to finally get off my backside and actually get licensed, even if it took me another 12 months and to this day haven't really cracked satellites myself! My previous blog posts on that can be found at <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/arissat-1">http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/arissat-1</a><br />
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Here are the best of my images, for a full description of what each one depicts visit <a href="http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/anniversary-image-descriptions.html">http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/anniversary-image-descriptions.html</a><br />
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<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-85922175339420750432017-04-24T13:10:00.000+01:002017-04-24T13:10:02.660+01:00First SOTA activation - Normanby Top G/TW-005We ventured out to the Lincolnshire Wolds again on Saturday and spent most of the morning taking in a fabulous little 5 mile circular walk from the village of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wold_Newton,_Lincolnshire">Wold Newton</a> with the wife finding over twenty <a href="https://www.geocaching.com/play">geocaches</a> along the way.<br />
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After <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/out-portable-on-lincolnshire-wolds.html">last weekends</a> disappointment I had purchased a new Baofeng UV-82L dual band for the princely sum of £27 from <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191578360313">eBay</a> to replace the suspect UV-5R. It certainly seems more sensitive when receiving and the transmit audio is loud and clear.<br />
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With the '<a href="http://vk2zoi.com/articles/dual-band-half-wave-flower-pot/">flower-pot</a>' antenna in the rucksack I spent the walk monitoring the local repeaters (and could hear the regular idents) as well as the calling channels. I was putting out the odd call (with little success) when we stopped to allow the wife to search for the geocaches.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pURL8_-26tYMz5tN3yn1PnRxgCOeoXsCKlOFxFpx2SVAbGvdrPw2VRfKRwm5dHcUUPEhFO2JNL1m6MAUeDM95SVE8MOHVxOFM2VlTZ59VeYFcYNUdNuFWl8n-KeGBdGQvplX_uk3RT4/s1600/flowerpotman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pURL8_-26tYMz5tN3yn1PnRxgCOeoXsCKlOFxFpx2SVAbGvdrPw2VRfKRwm5dHcUUPEhFO2JNL1m6MAUeDM95SVE8MOHVxOFM2VlTZ59VeYFcYNUdNuFWl8n-KeGBdGQvplX_uk3RT4/s400/flowerpotman.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One man and his dogs</td></tr>
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However I wasn't disheartened as the plan was to spend the afternoon on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolds_Top">Normanby Top</a>, the highest point on the Lincolnshire Wolds trying to activate the summit for <a href="http://sota.org.uk/">SOTA</a>.<br />
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I had been spurned on to have a go at an activation after watching a video of Michael Sansom's (G0POT) presentation on the SOTA scheme for the Chertsey Radio Club. The video is available online <a href="http://chertseyradioclub.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/online-club-talk-on-sota-activation.html">here</a> and Michael has written an excellent companion introduction to SOTA on his website <a href="http://peanutpower.co.uk/sota">http://peanutpower.co.uk/sota</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxi7o75wGdzVlGWDEbxt6lbvwa6jXveUYpwgZNjMdCKQAU69VcqqnXBpxZVE1TYJYo9-2BHy3MBZPv6OIOQDEIrgnQLZ6lWZCB-jRNWjxjlSd0ji7XQlJhvPkZIUH43EhFlswyX66uMI/s1600/viewRadar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxi7o75wGdzVlGWDEbxt6lbvwa6jXveUYpwgZNjMdCKQAU69VcqqnXBpxZVE1TYJYo9-2BHy3MBZPv6OIOQDEIrgnQLZ6lWZCB-jRNWjxjlSd0ji7XQlJhvPkZIUH43EhFlswyX66uMI/s400/viewRadar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View across to radar station on Normanby Top</td></tr>
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After finishing the walk we drove the short distance stopping to collect more geocaches along the way and as we neared Normanby Top we stumbled across Thoresway Motoparc where they were busy practising their motorbike scrambling skills and I spent a while taking some action photographs from the side of the road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx2TsnDcHOtJ4iQgd30DAH7012gjpCmQcfRFZtHE9Zc0hetNZz1Ih48gbjgTI2gLdcG-3DKvJqGXEwMvDxXJ3ZhsErdt7euEdeONLEre94RMOlWvBpVGHjbXRzJwcr90fsjDLVr3759M/s1600/motorbike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx2TsnDcHOtJ4iQgd30DAH7012gjpCmQcfRFZtHE9Zc0hetNZz1Ih48gbjgTI2gLdcG-3DKvJqGXEwMvDxXJ3ZhsErdt7euEdeONLEre94RMOlWvBpVGHjbXRzJwcr90fsjDLVr3759M/s400/motorbike2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw some spectacular jumping skills </td></tr>
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But I digress, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolds_Top">Normanby Top</a>, as I've said is the highest point on the Lincolnshire Wolds and the actual summit has an Ordnance Survey <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulation_station">triangulation pillar</a>
as indicated on the map but it on private land. The SOTA rules allow someone to activate a summit
by being within 25m vertically of the high point, this means the activation area
for Normanby Top is potentially huge as it is more of a plateau than a steeply defined hill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJAPTDndlobVjy3Hk9uw87WZEm_D-HeILtkxz99eiIAHDpv5IZn-ZsGqyJFGu4QBjX3Z8R0NLdbQbHfbwTQdMZywlIN6he-Z0G4ZdKjeZ4rAk-hGTRNqqSUSkdgFahKp-Z44VES5oVDY/s1600/normanbytopmap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJAPTDndlobVjy3Hk9uw87WZEm_D-HeILtkxz99eiIAHDpv5IZn-ZsGqyJFGu4QBjX3Z8R0NLdbQbHfbwTQdMZywlIN6he-Z0G4ZdKjeZ4rAk-hGTRNqqSUSkdgFahKp-Z44VES5oVDY/s400/normanbytopmap.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Section of the 1:25000 Ordnance Survey Map</td></tr>
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To the South of the summit is a road with an air-traffic control radar station. We parked up near this impressive structure to have some very late lunch (time had flown by)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIEdl53WLa2vyy4fRFE9vZLEKN9lWp70gtpNLL4FJxwaWW_ac8EEGwRwRFsMjfGHDU3iWPNa1G-K7gjHgYr-OMpTwNXKcTV8zzZtoRcTalzB1h8z9S-MWUkvWMPL3b-9v4ZCgCwMRCgo/s1600/radarstation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIEdl53WLa2vyy4fRFE9vZLEKN9lWp70gtpNLL4FJxwaWW_ac8EEGwRwRFsMjfGHDU3iWPNa1G-K7gjHgYr-OMpTwNXKcTV8zzZtoRcTalzB1h8z9S-MWUkvWMPL3b-9v4ZCgCwMRCgo/s400/radarstation.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radar Station on Normanby Top</td></tr>
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I could have activated from this road as others have done but I decided to use the bridleway to the North which leads off the <a href="https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countryside/visiting/walking/viking-way/120966.article">Viking Way</a> long distance footpath. The wife dropped me off at Acre House Farm and she went off to hunt for yet more geocaches and I set off down the track to find a suitable place to set up. I was a little hampered by the proximity of a power line which followed the bridleway but as luck would have it just as I had finished setting up at my chosen spot the landowner came down the farm track in his Land Rover.<br />
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I had a friendly chat with him and he was fully aware of what I was doing and had no issues having met other activators in the past. He also gave me permission to walk across his land up to the trig-point if I wanted to. As I've mentioned it isn't on a public right of way but said he is more than happy for people to go to the trig-point providing they ask at the farm <u>before hand</u> and take home all their rubbish, unfortunately he has some recent problems with inconsiderate litterers.<br />
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I decided to decamped and following his instructions to a gap in the fence and set off to the trig-point which was a little bit further away and a little steeper than I thought, but it didn't help I was carrying a half made up antenna, poles and a bag full of kit and my not inconsiderate bulk! Anyway I got there but due to us running already behind schedule and my change of location it was getting late in the day and was nearly 5pm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1a6xctJohGACO1m-91H3-AcvDYNcJc-dF0p9aQxccRC5lYOW-cBI30PcwOvUHh97e9w2pP9yoSm92iatZIbizaeQzZPpQyrDLr0w69L4Xhq8Xq6dFiTd1zW4j6elvhawSIZI3DfXodU/s1600/trigpointNormanbyTop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1a6xctJohGACO1m-91H3-AcvDYNcJc-dF0p9aQxccRC5lYOW-cBI30PcwOvUHh97e9w2pP9yoSm92iatZIbizaeQzZPpQyrDLr0w69L4Xhq8Xq6dFiTd1zW4j6elvhawSIZI3DfXodU/s400/trigpointNormanbyTop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trig-point and radar station behind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I had taken my Yaesu FT-857D, two 7Ahr SLA batteries, fibreglass pole, antennas for 20m/40m HF, 2m SSB and 2m/70cm FM. Yes I'd travelled light! Having some lovely clear views all around I decided to try some 2m 'line of sight' contacts.<br />
<br />
I put up the Sandpiper Delta Beam for SSB (horizontal) and my 'flower-pot' dual band for FM (vertical) on a fishing pole. The wind had started to pick up and I'd not got any proper bungee cords (doh!) so I lashed it up using guy ropes around the pillar.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5qLF3Mt9hIGQ6PNPZPmIuReT10sGX6_uJj-TopMaB7_ix6u6-aFu2HL0fCKtdG-ILjBTkAtIscM_nPLNtW96486s9V_AKQ3eJMrMLEHOsTN0bLnQcJqUdCvChyphenhypheneaMxFHcq5-c0RVmM0/s1600/poleNormanby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5qLF3Mt9hIGQ6PNPZPmIuReT10sGX6_uJj-TopMaB7_ix6u6-aFu2HL0fCKtdG-ILjBTkAtIscM_nPLNtW96486s9V_AKQ3eJMrMLEHOsTN0bLnQcJqUdCvChyphenhypheneaMxFHcq5-c0RVmM0/s640/poleNormanby.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was straighter than this before I went to take photo</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The radio was perched on top of the pillar and I put some calls on 2m SSB with no luck and switched to FM with more success. I was using between 5-10W and got nothing exceptional distance wise but racked up 8 very nice clear QSOs to claim an activation. The wife texted me to say she had returned from her searching and was parked up patiently at the farm awaiting my return, not hurrying me by any means. It was now nearly 6pm and the wind was getting up and the temperature was starting to drop. It had been a long day for us and the dogs so I decided to packed up and went back down the hill to the bridleway admiring the view across to the Humber and the Humber crossing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4TXimXI26eLkNE-hno7A93lx4CS9KYsSa_7JWu2VMErSwWSIoFAEt5kRpIS06OMLHT0yjE7Ebt0_1hWJxwb8qTRc0MB11-A7KvkiLQXD_H_a63pha534NvwxP22uCaj1qicP2NlDmLA/s1600/viewNorth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4TXimXI26eLkNE-hno7A93lx4CS9KYsSa_7JWu2VMErSwWSIoFAEt5kRpIS06OMLHT0yjE7Ebt0_1hWJxwb8qTRc0MB11-A7KvkiLQXD_H_a63pha534NvwxP22uCaj1qicP2NlDmLA/s400/viewNorth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View North (Humber to the top left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I really enjoyed myself but wished I'd allowed myself more time, this was in part because it was a late decision in the week to tack the 'summit' on the end of a day out walking and changing my mind to actually go to the summit given the chance but it was nice to do that for my first SOTA but I really need to get the hang of travelling light.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1ieOzA-njsR1tw0q4e2cMyPwQOOi6z05Ha-Egx7PRxHDAFoPIFcF3arSSz9XbQ766MZj28IZ9Yt4Nyq5yVfZZgUMdSVrB5vWghLiN6mKg1bUZg7Dhoagn-UfB11fgBA4SwwPKT705Ro/s1600/outshopping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1ieOzA-njsR1tw0q4e2cMyPwQOOi6z05Ha-Egx7PRxHDAFoPIFcF3arSSz9XbQ766MZj28IZ9Yt4Nyq5yVfZZgUMdSVrB5vWghLiN6mKg1bUZg7Dhoagn-UfB11fgBA4SwwPKT705Ro/s400/outshopping.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back down and met by the wife who wanted her shopping bag back </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After my last post (which is also syndicated to <a href="http://amateurradio.com/">AmateurRadio.com</a>) I had some questions about Geocaching - Dave, WD8CIV left this <a href="http://www.amateurradio.com/out-portable-on-the-lincolnshire-wolds/#comment-168512">useful comment</a> which I shall repeat as summed it succinctly - thanks Dave. <br />
<br />
"Geocaching is like a high tech Easter egg hunt. People hide caches – waterproof containers containing a logbook and maybe some little trinkets – and then post the GPS coordinates to a Web site like <a href="http://geocaching.com/">geocaching.com</a>. Others will search the site for caches in an area of interest, then use their own GPS (and intuition and woodcraft skills) to try to find them. Anyone who finds a cache signs the logbook, may take one of the trinkets and/or leave a new one, then goes back to the Web site and reports that they found that cache. There’s quite a community of geocachers, and it’s been going on for over a decade."
Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-21009690565785973662017-04-18T17:05:00.000+01:002017-04-18T17:05:17.586+01:00Out portable on the Lincolnshire WoldsThis Easter weekend we decided to go out with the dogs and combine three hobbies, walking, <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/">geocaching</a> and amateur radio whilst taking the opportunity to visit some radio related relics of World War II and the Cold War on the Lincolnshire Wolds.<br />
<br />
Following a recent presentation at the <a href="http://www.skars.co.uk/">South Kesteven ARS</a> by David Gordon <a href="https://www.facebook.com/g6enn">G6ENN</a> where he talked about his successful portable operating I was encouraged to constructed a simple dual band 'flower pot' antenna (<a href="http://vk2zoi.com/articles/dual-band-half-wave-flower-pot/">design from VK2ZOI</a>) using some RG58 coax and 25mm conduit.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnKAEue__akq_RhchTytTDt5Qjb4Y2y6V91N4h-8EaY667SwqvZfcJcH-GTSMN2WbsPOj1bSUO_RVE3rowBxLBGyGbQuYdBsVeV9MwX8D8Ej_8k6IxP8N4B_XFHR4copOXbCEkl8avoQ/s1600/flowerpot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnKAEue__akq_RhchTytTDt5Qjb4Y2y6V91N4h-8EaY667SwqvZfcJcH-GTSMN2WbsPOj1bSUO_RVE3rowBxLBGyGbQuYdBsVeV9MwX8D8Ej_8k6IxP8N4B_XFHR4copOXbCEkl8avoQ/s640/flowerpot.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completed 2m/70cm Flower Pot</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My previous attempts at <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/portable">portable operating</a> have largely involved HF and slightly heavy equipment (my Yaesu FT-857D and Sealed Lead Acid batteries) but I decided this time to try VHF/UHF as we were going to one of the highest spots in the area. This allowed me to travel light just taking along a Baofeng UV-5R and the antenna sticking out of the rucksack. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjROkBIRAF4wk-fdaxMZ88gCGvHNj0HTm7-Tceg2NH_rf9qQJZjkP2CCeAsBlhfxKmUXpFadfsU4FAWvv_5KBIDtvi8qj8Rqmh1VsmVAp4fBECBe4kaf2e24MBNqacTm7-9PK3AbV-JLc/s1600/stenigot-et3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjROkBIRAF4wk-fdaxMZ88gCGvHNj0HTm7-Tceg2NH_rf9qQJZjkP2CCeAsBlhfxKmUXpFadfsU4FAWvv_5KBIDtvi8qj8Rqmh1VsmVAp4fBECBe4kaf2e24MBNqacTm7-9PK3AbV-JLc/s640/stenigot-et3.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just setting off with Boris & Eddie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Parking up in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donington_on_Bain">Donington on Bain</a> we had a short 4 mile circular walk planned allowing the wife to collect a dozen geocaches along the way with a short detour at the top to visit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Stenigot">RAF Stenigot</a>. The walk climbs to the top of a hill, but it isn't a long ascent by any means or overly strenuous. The view back included the impressive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belmont_transmitting_station">Belmont Transmission Tower</a> (just visible over my shoulder in the picture above) which before it was shortened in 2010 was reputably the tallest structure of its type in the world.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjNTNdMI1YMYeNvPA60vhDA5T7ZFHV3_oVTVCLS7EvpUE3u5135SbnuOv8dN71nlFrqXn4YGCfGnm0H84MAf1fN2T-epQnda622PPjx3SfAUJMZTOYLm7j-yTHc02yuq77-mwJU_5DPo/s1600/belmont.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjNTNdMI1YMYeNvPA60vhDA5T7ZFHV3_oVTVCLS7EvpUE3u5135SbnuOv8dN71nlFrqXn4YGCfGnm0H84MAf1fN2T-epQnda622PPjx3SfAUJMZTOYLm7j-yTHc02yuq77-mwJU_5DPo/s400/belmont.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belmont Transmission Tower</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincolnshire_Wolds">Lincolnshire Wolds</a> is the highest area on the East of England between Yorkshire and Kent and so there are many structures that take advantage of the elevation. In addition to Belmont we could see the Radar station at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolds_Top">Wolds Top/Normanby Hill</a> and Lincoln Cathedral in the
distance, but we were interested in what was in front of us the remains of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Stenigot">RAF Stenigot</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWCuWXQSi-Kwr4uDXIpdk7TC_oA4EFf8wJHOEy0yBql6OiUZ3vcduhTR2xfeYUKJ-aRFaE5ARWE07bwlzzIMeJh_f0iFWGKwOurN2kd6JXJBYidGLeJe2ch777t3DLX9UekrfqxXKsr8/s1600/stenigot-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWCuWXQSi-Kwr4uDXIpdk7TC_oA4EFf8wJHOEy0yBql6OiUZ3vcduhTR2xfeYUKJ-aRFaE5ARWE07bwlzzIMeJh_f0iFWGKwOurN2kd6JXJBYidGLeJe2ch777t3DLX9UekrfqxXKsr8/s400/stenigot-front.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tower at RAF Steingot, clearly visible as we climbed</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO5t7D_5r1jmf-sO-6Wv-UGcYmlX9RFOiUS0U28VoMu0kZTulZEvw5SD6Db2vLkghiNM4minZDtVSLx5ug_EYO1u8oVJsZXWwxTlBcLL1eYIMfe-MtdrrxAkPBO7NWqZQkqt4wgUld54/s1600/viewback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO5t7D_5r1jmf-sO-6Wv-UGcYmlX9RFOiUS0U28VoMu0kZTulZEvw5SD6Db2vLkghiNM4minZDtVSLx5ug_EYO1u8oVJsZXWwxTlBcLL1eYIMfe-MtdrrxAkPBO7NWqZQkqt4wgUld54/s400/viewback.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View back</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Stenigot">RAF Stenigot</a> was part of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_Home">Chain Home</a> radar network during World War II, this early system used large antenna arrays suspended from large towers, one of which is now preserved as a Grade II listed structure which is still used by RAF Aerial Erector School for selection tests for possible recruits.<br />
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After the Second World War, the site was retained and in 1959 it was upgraded to a communications relay site as part of the NATO <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACE_High">ACE High</a> system, which involved adding four tropospheric scatter dishes. The site was decommissioned in the late 1980s and was mostly demolished by 1996 but the toppled dishes remain.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIua-1jR6SZIFB224QfFtoXWG4NR3bhTpCAfkyo41fSX0D8JHhHa0CudfwLqKjQoKZM9AkETdFmQ7XGSI5HMlUL5IGH6UKR_gcyDtGkzpZe8uQjYeyNAC2mThiMWrm7QE5mXJqeXkWFAg/s1600/stenigot-view.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="View of RAF Stenigot" border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIua-1jR6SZIFB224QfFtoXWG4NR3bhTpCAfkyo41fSX0D8JHhHa0CudfwLqKjQoKZM9AkETdFmQ7XGSI5HMlUL5IGH6UKR_gcyDtGkzpZe8uQjYeyNAC2mThiMWrm7QE5mXJqeXkWFAg/s400/stenigot-view.jpg" title="View of RAF Stenigot" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of RAF Stenigot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While on private land with no public right of way it is a simple matter to follow the field edge to get quite close, the actual site has been secured to prevent vandalism and is now home to a herd of bulls to deter trespassers!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJxA-3GECsCOeJAX_zvmrfGjlu0lUTknWA08I_guV3bn-a4AZRhBV7D_HMNEQsSaDG8fyz6FIr1QtKI-E4bYhyphenhyphenZJy_3PDv9v9iaJNjvB0ytYA6pE-fEvpKZjl1ZU1wgLELCUQbC_vjMg/s1600/stenigot-dishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJxA-3GECsCOeJAX_zvmrfGjlu0lUTknWA08I_guV3bn-a4AZRhBV7D_HMNEQsSaDG8fyz6FIr1QtKI-E4bYhyphenhyphenZJy_3PDv9v9iaJNjvB0ytYA6pE-fEvpKZjl1ZU1wgLELCUQbC_vjMg/s400/stenigot-dishes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dishes as seen from the footpath</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoiuoE752hp_4NcAczySN0nPMO95GNxvc_jBfT7ZdT9-cwaVz1-7tmwLG6UlGueSdYLua4Ud64L7BJ0PmlZxn1efAMQN0HhyubhhdD3lHMf_AzNaryFJGhf9tQZ-vhqFl3QEHm2Tp1TQ/s1600/stenigot-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoiuoE752hp_4NcAczySN0nPMO95GNxvc_jBfT7ZdT9-cwaVz1-7tmwLG6UlGueSdYLua4Ud64L7BJ0PmlZxn1efAMQN0HhyubhhdD3lHMf_AzNaryFJGhf9tQZ-vhqFl3QEHm2Tp1TQ/s400/stenigot-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the gate (locked) to the site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5b57vZYD9NsEokXR6UQ4-cBa04z7bUKefa88k6AbQeUG0pUgJ65Kadna_fuITeTZUV3LwtCkjRgeJbLf8GHeTCl-_89QlZoc4f710BMY6-yBpts48xZlCACBrjCDCMvvKZ-sc7y2FnTA/s1600/stenigot-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5b57vZYD9NsEokXR6UQ4-cBa04z7bUKefa88k6AbQeUG0pUgJ65Kadna_fuITeTZUV3LwtCkjRgeJbLf8GHeTCl-_89QlZoc4f710BMY6-yBpts48xZlCACBrjCDCMvvKZ-sc7y2FnTA/s400/stenigot-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View looking towards the radar tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuLq6ajHYh0_beTBUsZFNCJIxAtitKYmvjFbYEGiE8k47KNjKgPsCdCzETJWoiHcfJH8eZHR04rSj4oCmftZ-GEIgSX91MuiuXhMCw_CVjCf0JvSmruXbwd3l4QUkrQ7JXMu0SNeWUis/s1600/stenigot-et.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuLq6ajHYh0_beTBUsZFNCJIxAtitKYmvjFbYEGiE8k47KNjKgPsCdCzETJWoiHcfJH8eZHR04rSj4oCmftZ-GEIgSX91MuiuXhMCw_CVjCf0JvSmruXbwd3l4QUkrQ7JXMu0SNeWUis/s400/stenigot-et.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We stopped in the shadow of the dishes for a drink and some refreshment and I got out the radio and attempted to make some contacts, but sadly it seemed like everyone was in still in bed. I could open quite a few nearby repeaters and put out calls but again nothing heard, hopefully ET had better luck!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUKhSwy0NGR3_3SjVMBoZGo6JFPsaOhkLzLFJSTiiO2kuhoTtGQm2nMJ1BHXU-ZmT7LXX-A7YXWh87MWVVBaglqXm5qWVOV6sy9lrpzgOOoZsW866WwP5VxTvW1I07yOSG426xaa8vHg/s1600/etphonehome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUKhSwy0NGR3_3SjVMBoZGo6JFPsaOhkLzLFJSTiiO2kuhoTtGQm2nMJ1BHXU-ZmT7LXX-A7YXWh87MWVVBaglqXm5qWVOV6sy9lrpzgOOoZsW866WwP5VxTvW1I07yOSG426xaa8vHg/s400/etphonehome.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ET Phone Home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Checking the equipment when I got home it seems the Baofeng radio has developed quiet TX audio, so it is likely people couldn't hear me. I haven't used these cheap radios much and know they are prone to issues but thought mine was okay. Oh well, at least I looked the part and got a few odd glances from the few walkers and locals we saw. What I didn't realise at the time is the hill is also the site of <a href="https://www.ukrepeater.net/my_repeater.php?id=860">GB3LC</a> but I did spot some amateur radio antennas nearby.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnbpWZw2HPq4z7_jEHMpSsXTuGw71ge0U3jg9auCAHoEicJ5yZFG4EFshfF9wFbPpj8MNgg5B7AGsKQEm1XondhfDraAN0buN0ltgEdhB976DK01Ie2M35a2R0-EnK7TGsnkzWohvf8E/s1600/stenigot-et2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnbpWZw2HPq4z7_jEHMpSsXTuGw71ge0U3jg9auCAHoEicJ5yZFG4EFshfF9wFbPpj8MNgg5B7AGsKQEm1XondhfDraAN0buN0ltgEdhB976DK01Ie2M35a2R0-EnK7TGsnkzWohvf8E/s640/stenigot-et2.jpg" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CQ CQ M0NRD/P</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTK25j7ig9SsWipwGr8fO6Ztl7lBIyOupYwr1psACqXi0KGI1rSG-liYHRuoUqQP8gRHJEcZt9jn4BaNvv4HoF9___0alFwe80iV1jk-qfm_sJpOddtXE9rwX8vyCNp62uqC1Idv5Ocd8/s1600/stenigot-tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTK25j7ig9SsWipwGr8fO6Ztl7lBIyOupYwr1psACqXi0KGI1rSG-liYHRuoUqQP8gRHJEcZt9jn4BaNvv4HoF9___0alFwe80iV1jk-qfm_sJpOddtXE9rwX8vyCNp62uqC1Idv5Ocd8/s400/stenigot-tower.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chain Home Radar tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8SccaXcGgx_n3qurSv3aNxghqru-nINNLXxRpnIwLPFPGoxLxzaLv3Ks4Qqs0dFCLYNinPxlraA9O3naJV4dfOEL_Ab49xdvnwXyzwrQYV_Zxex-jUitxwqkEDcpl0sMW4vS6Sq-PYA/s1600/bullybeef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8SccaXcGgx_n3qurSv3aNxghqru-nINNLXxRpnIwLPFPGoxLxzaLv3Ks4Qqs0dFCLYNinPxlraA9O3naJV4dfOEL_Ab49xdvnwXyzwrQYV_Zxex-jUitxwqkEDcpl0sMW4vS6Sq-PYA/s400/bullybeef.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Heavy Mob" Security Patrol</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It really was a great morning walk in a part of the country which is on our doorstep but haven't really visited before. Getting up close to the dishes and the Radar mast was fascinating. <br />
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What's more you aren't far from the Lincolnshire Coast, so after our walk we went to Mablethorpe for the afternoon and fish and chips which were well received.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba4jxPWbnfY9ZqLTTKZ1S_JZVvh2V1H7ucMKm70BPncb_LyEIF_34Or96NYn1t2vzWo0wo9tQnFHMe98E5rQV9OAoGZLcQo7RgHWwAN1mXPo6G4d-Iqupeq9J3RjzxJV6A9kmTYwTZ2I/s1600/eddiechips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba4jxPWbnfY9ZqLTTKZ1S_JZVvh2V1H7ucMKm70BPncb_LyEIF_34Or96NYn1t2vzWo0wo9tQnFHMe98E5rQV9OAoGZLcQo7RgHWwAN1mXPo6G4d-Iqupeq9J3RjzxJV6A9kmTYwTZ2I/s400/eddiechips.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie enjoying his fish and chips</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Might look at activating Wolds Top in the near future as it is also a <a href="http://www.sota.org.uk/Summit/G/TW-005">SOTA summit</a>! Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-32077643520612638352016-12-08T11:49:00.000+00:002016-12-08T11:49:09.169+00:00LoRa LoRa Laughs!Due to the restrictions on airborne amateur radio operation in the UK High Altitude Balloon (HAB) enthusiasts have been forced to utilise licence exempt low power devices in novel ways to make radio trackers for their payloads. I have written plenty on <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/?q=label:hab|label:ukhas:|label:habhub:label:eggsplorer1|label:pigs%20in%20space">this blog</a> about my HAB tracking, the UKHAS distributed listener network and my own flights.<br />
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Until recently the preferred method was to use RTTY transmissions, however the advent of the IoT (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things">Internet Of Things</a>) has seen manufacturers of radio modules develop devices to increase both the range and reliability of communication between 'connected' embedded devices.<br />
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One such development are LoRa devices, primarily for devices to connect to a global wide-area network LoRaWAN, more information can be found at the <a href="https://www.lora-alliance.org/">LoRa Alliance</a> in addition there are some open hobbyist networks such as <a href="https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/">The Things Network</a> using these devices.<br />
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Using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirp_spread_spectrum">chirp spread-spectrum modulation</a> these LoRa devices are marketed as being capable of robust, interference and fade resistant communication over longer distances and higher data rates. <br />
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The UK HAB community has begun experimenting with these devices and one of their keen proponents is <a href="http://www.daveakerman.com/">Dave Akerman</a> (M0RPI). Dave has developed both payload software for the "<a href="http://www.pi-in-the-sky.com/">Pi In The Sky</a>" PITS tracker along with Anthony Stirk (M0UPU) and gateway software in collaboration with <span class="st">Robert Harrison M0RJX</span>. The 'gateway' is the necessary receiver element to upload the data to the tracking system. (all software is on the <a href="https://github.com/PiInTheSky">PITS Github page</a>)<br />
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Dave gave an informative presentation on LoRa at the UKHAS 2016 Conference which is now available online (starts around 3 minutes in)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="292" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PQJAjDEq5AA" width="520"></iframe></center>
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I had intended to fly a LoRa transmitter on my <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/hamfest">2015 Hamfest balloon</a> but it stopped working at the eleventh hour and hadn't done anything else with LoRa till recently.<br />
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Spurred on by the conference presentation and the fact more and more flights are carrying LoRa I invested in one of the Raspberry Pi expansion boards sold by <a href="https://store.uputronics.com/">Uputronics</a> and built up another prototype tracker with a working LoRa module.<br />
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I have done talks at various radio clubs and societies and demonstrated it working but hadn't actually received a 'real flight' as opportunities have been scarce due to the weather. However in the few weeks I have tracked a couple of flights receiving both telemetry and image data, getting a couple of complete images from the imaginatively named 'SPACE' flight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoaYx0oP73X9Hd0S8o9abbfm_s_qQIaEsEygn6L2NWyNn1SCPFOeYPAtT4pB5l7PIcg1sCJm2LSQvAgla1PQQHSgdDmghkg4LL3bOwYfcsvdiuich2c_YhPXeytxMBBCSUwK6Q-1wzgU/s1600/SPACE2_132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoaYx0oP73X9Hd0S8o9abbfm_s_qQIaEsEygn6L2NWyNn1SCPFOeYPAtT4pB5l7PIcg1sCJm2LSQvAgla1PQQHSgdDmghkg4LL3bOwYfcsvdiuich2c_YhPXeytxMBBCSUwK6Q-1wzgU/s400/SPACE2_132.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dave Akerman also flew a flight experimenting with multiple payloads using Time-division multiplexing (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-division_multiplexing">TDM</a>). It had 10 small of "AVRLoRaNut" trackers (of Anthony M0UPU's design) all set to the same frequency (434.450MHz) and same transmission mode. The trackers took turns to transmit, with each one allocated a particular transmission slot in a 20-second cycle. The cycle was GPS-timed but, if any tracker lost GPS lock then it derived timing from the transmissions from the other trackers (the LoRa devices are also receivers) All 10 trackers were suspended from the same balloon. This was in preparation for the '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Outward">Operation Outward</a>' re-enactment next year (Steve Randall gave a presentation on it in the above conference video starts 1 hour 16 mins in)<br />
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I successfully received telemetry despite the flight not being local and constantly heading away from me as can be seen in the screen shots.<br />
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Always a busy man Dave also flew a flight with an experimental camera setup. The SSDV images this time came from a Nikon compact camera, connected to
the Raspberry Pi via USB, and using gphoto2 software to take and transfer images
to the Pi where they were stored, resized and converted to SSDV format
for transmission. These were large images with a high quality
SSDV setting so lots of packets per image, approx 1400 per image in testing. <br />
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This flight was using a 868MHz LoRa device, rather than the usual 434MHz due to the IR2030 restriction on bandwidth and duty cycle. Dave was using his Turbo-X or Mode 4 setting which is as fast as LoRa
will go within IR2030 bandwidth restrictions (approx 8 packets / 2k
bytes per second) <br />
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I hastily ordered a 868MHz device and soldered it in the spare slot on my gateway and built a collinear for 868MHz similar to the one <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/video-making-ads-b-collinear-antenna.html">I built for ADB-S</a> reception (see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkUYdCPFXXs">video here</a>).<br />
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You can see it lashed up just below the dual-band collinear - not ideal mounting and it wasn't tested in anyway, built blind! The less than optimal setup at UHF, the insane data rate and the distance (>100miles) were going to make reception difficult, so I was pleased I did manage to receive telemetry and image packets.<br />
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Most of the current LoRa development in the HAB community has tended to be on the Raspberry Pi due to the use with SSDV and the easy availability of cameras and ready built kit. LoRa is of course available on the Arduino platform and I had purchased a couple of 'Dragino' shields (pictured below) with a LoRa device on.<br />
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Dave has done some work on a AVR tracker software and a simple Arduino 'Serial' LoRa receiver. The receiver connects to a host PC appearing as a serial port and by running some gateway software the receiver can be configured via the serial link and received data is sent back to the gateway to be uploaded to the Habitat tracking system and SSDV system - the software can be seen here during the 'Operation Outward' test flight.<br />
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This gateway software is written in Pascal using Delphi and is not as functional as the Raspberry Pi Gateway software. Dave has made the source code available but I am not au fait at all with Delphi however I installed the <a href="https://www.embarcadero.com/free-tools">free development IDE</a> and intended to get in and make modifications but it seems to require a non-free(?) library for the serial comms so ditched the idea.<br />
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Instead I have spent the last few days developing a C# .NET version using Microsoft Visual Studio (the <a href="https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/community/">community version</a> is free) and also have been modifying the Arduino code in the receiver to add functionality, such as storing the SSDV images locally.<br />
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It is still a work in progress but I have made a video showing the current state<br />
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Anyway as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilla_Black">Cilla Black</a> would say it's been a Lorra Lorra Laughs!<br />
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<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-59669553132621150042016-06-02T17:18:00.000+01:002016-06-02T17:18:18.899+01:00Having fun on the "Magic Band"In April I <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/6m70cm-antenna-updates-at-qth.html">installed</a> a second-hand HB9CV for 6m, primarily for use in the <a href="http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/">UKAC</a> VHF contests but I hoped to use it during the upcoming <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporadic_E_propagation">sporadic 'E'</a> season.<br />
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Still a relative newcomer to the hobby (only licensed at end of 2013) I had little experience of the 50MHz/6m band and have been mostly met with static whenever I did turn the dial to have a listen but happily that has changed in the last few weeks.<br />
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<a href="http://uksmg.org/new-to-six.php">I knew</a> that 6m can be an interesting, unpredictable almost unique band. Being at the lower end of the VHF spectrum it exhibits the usual characteristics of VHF communication, mostly short range line-of-sight contacts since 50MHz is usually well beyond the maximum usable frequency (MUF) for normal 'F-layer' ionospheric propagation utilised by the lower bands. However solar activity and other factors can trigger other types of propagation, in fact the band can support just about every form of propagation possible and is the main reason why it has become known as the "Magic Band"<br />
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One interesting form of propagation is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporadic_E_propagation">sporadic E</a>, or popularly referred to as Es. Small clouds of unusually ionised atmospheric gas form in the lower E-layer of the ionosphere (located at altitudes of 90 to 160 km). These clouds 'bounce' the radio waves allowing long-distance communication at VHF frequencies, sometimes multiple hops are possible giving extreme DX. One advantage of sporadic E over other forms of propagation is that it allows low-power QRP communication. As its name suggests, sporadic E is not a normal occurrence but can happen at almost any time. It does display a seasonal pattern with activity peaking in the summertime most noticeable in mid-to-late June. <br />
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I had turned the antenna to the East and have been running WSPR on and off over the last month on 6m with no luck, just the odd spot from the UK. I was in the shack one Saturday evening and was tuning around on 6m and heard some Italian stations calling CQ on SSB. I tried my luck and answered (using 50W) and was amazed to be heard, working a couple of stations in quick succession then suddenly the opening closed mid contact with another station. I was hooked!<br />
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Over the past few weeks I have caught a few more openings and have managed to work (in no particular order) Latvia, Croatia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, France, Spain, Austria, Canary Islands and Finland - using a combination of voice on SSB and the JT65 digital mode.<br />
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Using JT65 has been particularly interesting since it allows me to 'remote operate' from work otherwise I would miss most of the 'Es'. Being able to monitor the waterfall and see the signals gaining and falling in strength during the minute long transmission is particularly fascinating.<br />
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Using the <a href="https://www.pskreporter.info/">PSKReporter</a> website I can see the location of all the stations I could hear and was being heard by. This map shows activity over the couple of hours on the 26 May using just JT65.<br />
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I have joined the UK Six Meter Group (<a href="http://uksmg.org/">UKSMG</a>) to find out more about this "magic band" and their website is full of lots of information and resources along with the magazine Six News for subscribers.<br />
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<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-23872586624090601722016-05-23T11:25:00.000+01:002016-05-23T11:25:56.514+01:00Inverted L I have been lacking the ability to operate on the lower HF bands, while my small 'multi-band' OCFD could be used on 40m trying to use it on 80m was nigh on impossible with my ATU. As you would expect even if matched for a useable VSWR the actual performance has been compromised.<br />
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I needed a cheap and relatively unobtrusive solution and I found one in Len Paget's (GM0ONX) design for an inverted L. The full details were printed in the Practical Wireless magazine several years ago and PDFs are available for download from <a href="http://www.gm0onx.co.uk/">Len's website</a>. The designs make use of coaxial traps, one for the 80m version, two if you want to add a top-band (160m) option.<br />
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Opting for the smaller 80m version I set about building one. Using an old fibre-glass fishing pole about 5m high at the far end of the garden tucked behind the summer house which I could collapse down and then retract the wire elements when not in use so hiding it from view.<br />
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The fun and interesting part was building the trap. They are formed by coiling some coax, in this case RG58, round a former such as plastic waste pipe. I had a bit of scrap pipe but it was 32mm not the 40mm diameter type described in the article, thinking it couldn't make 'that much difference' I built one using the same number of turns but the resultant antenna wasn't anywhere near resonant according to the analyser.<br />
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I decided I needed to test the trap's frequency response. I found a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiI1RCrOpbM">YouTube video</a> by Dave Tadlock (KG0ZZ) where he demonstrates using a MFJ 'Grid Dip Meter' adapter on an MFJ antenna analyser to test coaxial traps.<br />
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The adapter consists of nothing more than a coil of wire on a suitable former so I made my own to use with my <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/feature-tech-aw07a-antenna-analyser.html">AW07A analyser</a>. It worked a treat and I discovered my trap was way off frequency. In the mean time I had located a useful <a href="http://www.g3zpf.raota.org/articles/FreeTraps.pdf">PDF document</a> by David Reynolds (G3ZPF) which informed me I actually needed 180cm of RG58 round a 32mm pipe to make a suitable 7MHz trap, so I made another.<br />
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I made a small video showing the traps and how I tested them.<br />
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The resulting antenna seems to perform well, but it does sag a little due to the weight of the trap and wire and the flimsiness of the pole. But I have made a number of contacts on it and used it during the RSGB 80m CC Datamode contest a few weeks back. It was my first go at this contest but once I got the hang of operating it was great fun.<br />
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Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-25034785381022080042016-04-18T17:17:00.000+01:002016-04-18T17:17:12.836+01:006m/70cm antenna updates at the QTHI have made some changes to my antenna set up. A local amateur was selling a second 13-element 70cm yagi and a 6m HB9CV antenna at a low price so decided to acquire them.<br />
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The 70cm yagi was to replace the small 7-element one which I pressed
into service as a hand held antenna for potentially finding my <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/?q=label:eggsplorer1%7Clabel:pigs%20in%20space">HAB payloads</a> last year. <br />
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To be honest I wasn't really after a 6m antenna due to the size and visual impact. I have a 6m <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/been-busy-boy.html">'wooden' moxon</a> I made back in 2014 but it is heavy, ugly and unstable so had been collecting cobwebs in the garage. I decided with the prospect of 'Sporadic E' season around the corner I would be foolish not to put it up. <br />
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The HB9CV wasn't in the best of conditions but seemed complete albeit it was purchased dismantled. The elements were a little weathered so I set about cleaning them up with a light rubbing down with some wire wool and a rag with a drop of WD40. On closer inspection the tube that made up the front element had some noticeable bending and on removing the plastic mounting to investigate I spotted a crack in the tube wall by the hole for the mounting bolt.<br />
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While it hadn't totally separated it would only be a matter of time before it did fail as it was flexing, the plastic mount was the only thing holding it together. I found a suitable piece of alloy tube from a scrap antenna which was a perfect fit inside the broken element. I cut a suitable length and pushed it up inside the element to the appropriate position and then simply drilled through and bolted either side of the central hole to stabilise and strengthen it (can be seen in image below)<br />
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The next issue I had to address was the feed point, it came with about six inches of RG58 coax projecting from it where it had simply been cut for removal by the previous owner. I prised off the cover cap to find it full of water, the reason being a hole in the back and it being stored outside I believe.<br />
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Thankfully the trimming capacitor seemed okay, while it was wet it wasn't corroded. It was all dried out and the hole plugged with silicon and I set about re-assembling the antenna which was a little fiddly to get the phasing line to sit properly but once done it was a simple matter of adjusting the capacitor to get the VSWR to a minimum in the SSB section of the 6m band. I mounted on the rotator pole just below the X50 collinear.<br />
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I used it last month in the 6m UKAC and while my operating not exactly earth shattering I was happy with its performance using just 10W in the low power section just "search and pouncing" for a little over an hour.<br />
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The 70cm Yagi was straight forward as was already assembled, I just had to make a slight tweak to the gamma-matching bar as the VSWR was unexpectedly high around 2:1 in the SSB segment of the band, it seemed to have been tuned for the FM portion of the band. I managed just an hour "search and pouncing" in Aprils 70cm UKAC, I started late and while signal reports both ways were a marked improvement I found the extra directionality and off beam rejection something I will have to get used not helped by a temperamental rotator. <br />
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<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-7697490437321649952016-02-25T16:08:00.001+00:002016-02-25T16:08:09.369+00:00Some Radio AnticsShack activity has been curtailed with the antenna 'mast' spending a lot of time luffed over due of the winter storms and high winds that have battered the UK over recent weeks.<br />
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Thankfully things calmed down and was able to put the antenna back up but I seemed a little deaf on VHF/UHF dropping several S-points on local repeaters and then started to see high VSWR readings. The incessant rain had somehow got into the connector under the collinear despite being generously wrapped in self amalgamating tape. I replaced the connector and removed a couple of feet of coax in case any had seeped into the cable.<br />
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Like much of the UK amateur community I have been trying to listen in to British Astronaut Major Tim Peake during a number of ARISS UK school contacts during the <a href="https://principia.org.uk/">Principia mission</a> on the International Space Station. It is pleasing to see the enthusiasm, interest and publicity it has generated for the hobby.<br />
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There is another contact tomorrow (Friday 26th February 2016 at 1440UTC) with the City of Norwich School. While reception of the first two contacts proved a little disappointing for me, the one last week was much better and I made a video during the pass.<br />
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The Astronauts are certainly busy on the space station and there was an ARISS contact this morning with an Italian school. It was a low pass here only reaching 7 degrees above the horizon but was pleased to capture Tim Kopra conversing. I was using just the X-50 collinear on the FT857-D <br />
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The <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/repaired-my-atu.html">repaired ATU</a> and a new balun on the OCFD has made a big difference to HF. It is much less noisy and I am now able to match the antenna to 80m something I could never do before. While it will be very inefficient on such a short antenna I did run a little over 2W last night on <a href="http://wsprnet.org/drupal/">WSPR</a> as a test, and was pleasantly surprised.<br />
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I have also been doing some JT65 and for the first time some JT9 inspired by a demonstration at <a href="http://www.skars.co.uk/">SKARS</a> and I was pleased to make a JT9 QSO with JA5BDZ on 15m using 10W.<br />
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A big help to HF has been tracking down the <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/poetic-justice.html">source of my recent QRM</a>, which wasn't as many suggested my <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/plt-devices-have-i-welcomed-devil-in-to.html">evil PLT devices</a> but in fact the now redundant wireless router. While the WiFi was switched off it was still being used as a network switch and for some reason had suddenly become RF noisy, it wasn't the switching PSU but the actual unit and would happen a few hours after being switched on. Funny thing it is <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/my-wrt54g-has-become-noisy.html">not the first time</a> I've had an access point suddenly emit QRM.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago I went out with Stewart (M0SDM) to assist him flying his kite antenna and we operated under the club callsign MX0SKR, for a couple of hours, it was great fun.<br />
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Last weekend I also helped my brother David (M6GTD) install a couple of antennas at the family home. He can finally use the radio he brought at the Hamfest back in September, a Diamond X-50 dual band collinear and a home brewed 33ft long OCFD should get him on the air! <br />
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David helped me at the Hamfest with the balloon launch<br />
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My apologies if this blog post sounds like a bit like an excited child recanting his holiday "I did this, and then I did this and I also did that" I hope to post something a little more coherent and structured soon!Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-60892400821531829482016-01-13T13:08:00.003+00:002016-01-13T13:08:51.734+00:00Poetic justice?Following my last post it is perhaps ironic that for the last few evenings I have been plagued by an increase in QRM.<br />
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Trying some JT65 on 40m I was being plagued by S8-S9 of local noise, it is noise I have had regularly (even before the purchase of my PLT devices) so I reconnected up the <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/noises-off-wimo-qrm-eliminator.html">WiMo QRM Eliminator</a>, which has been collecting dust, to see if I could improve matters.<br />
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Using just a short piece of wire as the auxillary 'noise' antenna managed to null out most of it to greatly improve reception. No commentary on the video below but hopefully you can see it working.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M_iQMGxNJvI" width="420"></iframe>
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Interestingly the noise seems to abate around 11pm when people are off to bed.Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-55150780799695764942016-01-01T22:34:00.000+00:002016-01-01T22:34:27.955+00:00PLT Devices - Have I welcomed the Devil in to the shack?I <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/dmr-joining-dark-side.html">joked recently</a> about turning to the Dark Side, well my conversion really was complete after the Boxing Day sales.<br />
<br />
I need to set up the ability to remotely operate the station via the internet as well as experiment with internet linking systems but the <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/wireless-woes.html">wi-fi link to the shack</a>
isn't fast or reliable enough. Now if I do a scan looking for wi-fi networks I
can see well over a dozen, some of them quite strong and more are popping up all the time and I suspect this congestion is part of my problem.<br />
<br />
The Samsung Smart TV in the house was also wi-fi linked but we were having increasing issues with the BBC iPlayer and Netflix with buffering or poor quality images because of poor signal and data rates.<br />
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Ideally I would be like to fit proper ethernet cables but it is totally impractical without major upheaval or unsightly trunking a definite no-no. In the end the
only workable and affordable solution seemed to be to get some of those evil Powerline Transmission (PLT) devices.<br />
<br />
I have suffered strong sporadic QRM myself which I have assumed were neighbours PLT networking devices as I'd read the horror stories, seen the videos and anecdotal reports of mains borne noise caused by them. So I hadn't even considered it until I saw a post and video by <a class="u-url profile" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="http://www.m0tgn.com/2015/11/ham-radio-plt-devices.html"><span class="full-name"><span class="p-name customisable-highlight" data-scribe="element:name">Dan Trudgian</span></span></a> (M0TGN) about his experiences of using some Netgear devices and the apparant lack of interference to his radio activities. Some members of South Kesteven ARS had also started using them, so I took the plunge and ordered some Netgear ones reduced on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QV8DWHS">Amazon</a> in the Boxing Day sales.<br />
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Setting them up was easy, but the acid test was how much noise did they generate? I set up one device in the shack at the far end of the mains cable run to maximise radiation. Streaming internet radio and a HD movie on Netflix I then used the FUNCube Dongle PRO+ SDR connected to the OCFD to see what noise they were generating.<br />
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Here are my observations going through the various HF bands. Where noise is present I first stopped the streaming and then powered off the devices to eliminate them as the cause, where they were the cause it seemed eliminating the network traffic was sufficient to greatly reduce the effect.<br />
<h3>
80 Meters</h3>
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While the antenna isn't optimised for 80m, signals can be seen as well as noise. Before you get excited this noise has been present for quite a while and isn't being caused by the new Netgear devices. This noise is what I suspected was generated by PLT devices used by my neighbours.<br />
<h3>
60 Meters</h3>
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Shocking noise but again this isn't caused by my new devices, the noise has the same characteristics as that seen on 80m.<br />
<h3>
40 Meters</h3>
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The band was busy, there is some noise again but not from the new devices, this was looking encouraging. I have also showed the adjacent broadcast band.<br />
<h3>
30 Meters</h3>
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Again, largely noise free<br />
<h3>
20 Meters</h3>
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Still largely noise free, the QRM that is present still wasn't due to the new devices<br />
<h3>
17 Meters</h3>
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This was the first indication of QRM from the new devices, however it appears effectively filtered to leave the amateur allocation clear. The faint noise in the middle picture is not from the new devices.<br />
<h3>
15 Meters</h3>
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Again this band was clear of noise<br />
<h3>
12 Meters</h3>
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Showing the two ends of the band again the clear signal/noise from the devices again seems effectively filtered<br />
<h3>
10 Meter</h3>
I didn't observe any additional noise on this band, but unfortunately deleted the screen grabs ;-) <br />
<h3>
So where was the QRM?</h3>
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While the amateur bands appear to be filtered, the transmission can of course can clearly be seen on some non-amateur bands and apart from 16 meters seems to avoid the broadcast bands.<br />
<h3>
Conclusion </h3>
These Netgear XAVB5221 devices seem effective, indeed doing a speedtest in the shack was more than acceptable (the dire upload speed is a 'feature' of my cable ISP)<br />
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This fairly rudimentary testing has largely given me confidence that they won't be any issues. The band conditions weren't brilliant when I did test, but even with the absence of signals on the band any noise would be evident as seen. Yes they clearly do generate QRM but thankfully not it seems in the amateur bands. I haven't heard any extra noise on any of the radios over the last few days so all is looking promising. I will keep you posted if there is any change.Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-34875851145510168772015-12-25T23:19:00.000+00:002015-12-25T23:19:12.425+00:00Repaired my ATUMerry Christmas!<br />
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Not wishing to contend with an evening of dire XYL style Christmas TV (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m8dq">Strictly Come Dancing</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0118t80">Call the Midwife</a> and <a href="http://www.itv.com/downtonabbey">Downton Abbey</a>) I escaped into the shack and decided to repair my Vectronics VC300DLP Antenna Tuner. I got this ATU second hand last year and while it has been serviceable it had become temperamental of late. The units rotary inductor switch had become stiff and suddenly I was unable to match the OCFD on some bands so it had clearly broken.<br />
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I had a 12-position switch (rated at 5A) and knob, originally sourced for an abandoned project and hoped it would be suitable. The existing switch knob on the ATU wasn't an original, I'd assumed it had replaced one lost or broken. When I removed the cover it was clear that the whole switch had already been changed at sometime.<br />
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I also noticed a prominent burn mark inside the inductor coil, caused by a clear break in the insulation of the wire which was resting on the grounded bottom plate.<br />
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I know the previous owner of the ATU has a 300W RM BLA-350 linear amplifier, whereas I only normally operate around 30W maximum at my QTH, so not sure how much of this arcing I had caused but it needed sorting! A little over half an hour with the soldering iron and I had replaced the switch and slipped some heat shrink over the broken insulation and re-soldered the wire, lifting it off the ground plate.<br />
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The ATU seems to work well, now fitted with a new knob (just missing a cap at the moment) the switch turns nicely. I also cleaned up the SO-239 connectors on the back as they were tarnished and oxidised. I used a small bit of contact cleaner on some cotton buds to clean up the threads and the centre pins, removing a surprising amount of crud. The patch and antenna leads now screws on much better.<br />
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With the Mother--in-law staying with us over the festive period I suspect I may be in the shack quite a bit, I have plenty of jobs and half finished projects to keep me busy!Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-59435381813986624142015-12-22T17:05:00.002+00:002015-12-22T17:05:54.596+00:00DMR - Joining the Dark Side!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a birthday present to myself I have just ordered a <a href="http://www.retevis.com/dmr-radio-rt3-uhf-1000ch-digital-two-way-radio-walkie-talkie">Retevis RT3 DMR</a> hand-held off eBay which should be delivered just after Christmas.<br />
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<a href="http://www.skars.co.uk/">South Kesteven ARS</a> had a talk in October by <a href="http://digbydog1.blogspot.co.uk/">Sean Burton</a> 2E0ENN about amateur DMR where he demonstrated some handsets and the new <a href="http://www.helitron.de/shop/product_info.php?language=en&products_id=81">DV4Mini</a> which allows gateway and internet linking for the various networks, DSTAR, DMR and System Fusion. This piqued my interest in the DMR scene.<br />
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As I posted last time I dabbled a few years ago with decoding PMR DMR using software and a sound card but they were very hit and miss at the time. I reacquainted myself with the various projects and using the FUNCube Dongle Pro+ and the latest version of <a href="http://www.dsdplus.com/">DSDPlus</a> (support forum at <a href="http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/DSDPlus">RadioReference.com</a>) monitored the nearby <a href="http://www.gb7rr.co.uk/">GB7RR</a> DMRPlus repeater managing to get some reasonably clear decodes of some amateur transmissions.<br />
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I decided to dig out my Realistic PRO-2022 scanner and using a discriminator tap fed into the sound card got slightly better quality decodes.<br />
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Doing some research and reading a couple of reviews had decided I was going to get a Tytera TYT MD-380 when funds allowed but spotted the Retevis RT3 which appears to be identical and slightly cheaper.<br />
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I know some people wince at the thought of DMR and issues with proprietary technology used in some of the systems but I think the genie is out the bottle and it isn't going away soon. Adoption of DMR appears to be growing with talk of restructuring of talk groups needed to deal with the growth (whatever that means!) so I should at least get my feet wet and understand the technology.<br />
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I registered for an ID, now off to decode the jingo and understand all this talk of codeplugs, talk groups and time slots.Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-82209310338665064082015-11-20T11:51:00.003+00:002015-11-20T11:52:30.289+00:00Latest anticsHere I am a month after the last post and it is has been a month of very little 'radio antics'.
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I was acutely aware that since the end of September my wife had become a radio widow so promised not to lock myself away in the shack for a while and have been doing some much needed painting and decorating around the house.<br />
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I haven't been in much of a radio mood anyway as I have been unwell and am still not fully over my <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/black-dog-days.html">last wobble</a>. Band and weather conditions have been rubbish with a sustained period of high wind and rain including storms <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_UK_and_Ireland_windstorm_season">Abigail</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_UK_and_Ireland_windstorm_season">Barney</a>. As a precaution I dropped the pole and it became apparent I had some maintenance to do on the OCFD. <br />
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The shack too had been in need of some sorting out, which I thankfully I did muster enthusiasm to tidy up. <br />
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While being largely uninspired I haven't been completely radio silent, I did get on air for the <a href="http://www.skars.co.uk/">South Kesteven ARS</a> 2m net but found myself suffering some QRM again<br />
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It isn't the first time <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/ariss-school-contact-reception-despite.html">I've seen this sort of signal</a>, but I had thought it had gone away, it seems it is back and stronger! This was an ARISS contact I monitored back in 2013 before I was licensed with a similar noise.<br />
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After using the SDR to identify the noise I realised I have been neglecting the FUNCube Dongle for far too long. So ordered some new SMA adapters from <a href="http://www.hamgoodies.co.uk/">HamGoodies</a> and pressed it back into service. I have been using it to decode the <a href="http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=4532">telemetry</a> from the FOX-1A (AO-85) satellite with the updated <a href="http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=4532">software</a> and have now got myself on the <a href="http://www.amsat.org/tlm/">leader board</a> even if the collinear is currently horizontal about four feet off the ground!<br />
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<a href="http://www.skars.co.uk/">South Kesteven ARS</a> had a talk in October by <a href="http://digbydog1.blogspot.co.uk/">Sean Burton</a> 2E0ENN about amateur DMR where he demonstrated some handsets and the new <a href="http://www.helitron.de/shop/product_info.php?language=en&products_id=81">DV4Mini</a> which allows gateway and internet linking.<br />
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I remembered I dabbled a few years ago with decoding PMR DMR using the SDR and a scanner with a discriminator tap using various programs but they were very hit and miss at the time. I reacquainted myself with the various projects and had a go at decoding some amateur transmissions.<br />
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I downloaded the latest program called <a href="http://www.dsdplus.com/">DSDPlus</a> (support at <a href="http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/DSDPlus">RadioReference.com</a>) and monitoring the nearby <a href="http://www.gb7rr.co.uk/">GB7RR</a> DMRPlus repeater managing to get some clear decodes with little effort.<br />
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Finally this week I gave a presentation at <a href="http://www.skars.co.uk/">SKARS</a> on the subject of HABs and how to plan a HAB launch. Following on from the <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/eggsplorer1">Eggsplorer-1</a> and <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/pigs%20in%20space">Hamfest "Pigs In Space" HAB</a> launch I decided to try to explain everything I had learned for anyone else contemplating giving it a go!<br />
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It was a long talk (perhaps too long) as I covered everything from building the electronics, software, making the payload box, getting the right balloon, parachute, gas, obtaining permission and then the prediction, launching tracking and recovery.<br />
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It was a great turnout with a lot of interest. <br />
<span id="goog_968110395"></span><span id="goog_968110396"></span><br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-72005826589136451632015-10-18T20:03:00.000+01:002015-10-18T20:03:11.939+01:00A wonderful weekend of JOTAWhat a difference a week makes, <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/black-dog-days.html">last week</a> I was feeling somewhat low and as a result ducked out of the RSGB convention as I wasn't feeling very sociable.<br />
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But this week I had to get my head straight since the South Kesteven ARS (of which I am Chairman) were involved for the second year in the Scouting Jamboree on the Air (<a href="http://jotajoti.info/">JOTA</a>) weekend operating GB5FSG for the 1st Foston Scouts.<br />
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But before that we were also involved with another local scouting group, the 1st Barrowby where we assisted in a class of 12 Cubs with their communication badge.<br />
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Together with Stewart (M0SDM), Sean (2E0ENN) and Konrad (2E0KVF) we spent an evening giving them a introduction to amateur radio. Konrad who is an ex-scout leader explained the hobby, Stewart and Sean helped them pass messages via a radio. There was also a timely visible pass of the International Space Station during the evening and I hoped they might be able to see it while I demonstrated transmitting <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/sending-christmas-greetings-to-iss.html">APRS messages</a> via the onboard digipeater.<br />
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Using my <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/made-my-first-satellite-qso.html">new dual band Yagi</a>, laptop and FT857D in the boot of my car I did successfully get messages digipeated and igated however the cloud and rain prevented the cubs seeing the ISS pass overhead (I put the coordinates in slightly wrong, so are shown slightly south of where we were)<br />
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The evening was a great success and the enthusiasm shown by the Scout leaders hopefully means SKARS will be involved in more activities for the Barrowby Scout group. Interestingly we were not the first local club they approached to assist but after they were given the cold shoulder by them we were happy to take up the challenge. The Barrowby group were also interested in being involved in the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) next year.<br />
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So on to the main event this week, the GB5FSG JOTA station, operated by Stewart, Sean and myself. It is <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/over-moon-m0nrd.html">exactly a year</a> since I gained my full licence and this was my first Notice of Variation for a special event station, last year under the previous chairman we had run <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/gb2ffc-jota-2014.html">GB2FFC</a> with some success but this year we hoped to improve the experience for the Cubs/Beavers and Scouts.<br />
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Firstly we had a much improved antenna installation, with Stewart's Land Rover and impressive pushup mast we had an excellent OCFD dipole, resonant on several bands including 40m along with another smaller pole holding up an end fed long wire for the datamode station. We also put up a collinear for a 2m VHF station.<br />
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Last year we were hampered by the noise of excitable children in the main room of the scout hut which made operating and hearing contacts difficult. This year we asked for some separation from the hubbub and had planned to use a tent. Instead we setup in the storage area in the back of the hut which proved ideal as it allowed us to control the number of children and allowed easier working conditions - it was a little chilly but much warmer than a tent would have been.<br />
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On Saturday we used Stewart's FT897 as the main HF rig, Sean operated a 2m meter station with a number of contacts. Like last year I had my FT857 operating a datamode (primarily PSK) but a damaged feeder issue curtailed this for most of the day and we soon concentrated on the HF SSB voice contact as conditions were good and the band was busy with other JOTA stations.<br />
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In keeping with the aims of JOTA we didn't chase numbers instead we had some lengthy quality contacts, including a marathon 30 minute plus contact with I believe was GB2WSG the 2nd Wellington Scout Group with lots of two-way greeting messages being sent to really give the children a full experience of using the radio.<br />
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The day before I had quickly constructed a Morse code oscillator (since I didn't have one) using an arduino board and an old computer speaker for added volume and this proved popular as the children tapped out their own names, their friends names, call signs, their ages and various words.<br />
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I had created some certificates and stickers to reward the children and to prove they had completed the tasks should they need them for any future scouting badges and awards.</div>
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Sunday we just operated for the morning and since Stewart couldn't attend I brought along my FT450D and Sean and myself operated on HF SSB. Sadly my poor Morse oscillator failed quite spectacularly in a puff of smoke but all was not lost as again conditions were excellent and we were able to pass lots of greeting messages again. I haven't used the FT450D in anger so it was excellent to let it stretch its legs and the audio and DSP proved excellent in dealing with the QRM from the contest running at the same time. <br />
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Working with the Scouts this week has really was a therapeutic exercise for my soul and made me glad I got licenced and was able to get involved with this. I am not naturally comfortable with children, since I am not a parent. But it was rewarding seeing the look of wonder on some of their faces as they passed messages.. like it was magic ;-)<br />
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<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-66149108851694120032015-10-10T21:55:00.000+01:002015-10-10T21:55:32.448+01:00Black Dog DaysThis time <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/over-moon-m0nrd.html">last year</a> I was preparing to take my advanced licence exam at the RSGB Convention (which I passed) and I vowed to attend <a href="http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/rsgb-convention/">this years</a> convention proper.<br />
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Unfortunately I have a had a bit of a wobble emotionally and despite having booked day tickets I have decided at the last minute not to attend.<br />
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The past few weeks have had plenty of euphoric moments, with the <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/pigs%20in%20space">successful flight</a> of my the high altitude balloon at the recent hamfest and my <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/made-my-first-satellite-qso.html">first satellite QSO</a> however following these highs I have suddenly found myself in a bit of a low, this is due to a number of factors.<br />
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This isn't the first time I have been in one of these <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-isnt.html">dark moods</a>. Sadly apart from my hobby, which has become a crutch I realise I am again stuck in a rut and I know I have to make a number of major decisions to put things back on track. <br />
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<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-63267247795166598282015-10-07T11:05:00.000+01:002015-10-07T11:05:47.527+01:00My first RAYNET eventSunday I took part in my first <a href="http://rsgb.org/main/operating/emergency-communications/raynet-amateur-radio-emergency-communications-in-the-uk/">RAYNET</a> event at the <a href="http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/content/walk-parkinsons-burghley-house-lincolnshire">Walk for Parkinson's</a> at Burghley House in Lincolnshire. This was a sponsored walk to raise money for <a href="http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/">Parkinson's UK</a> a research and support charity working to help find a cure and improve life for those affected by Parkinson’s disease.<br />
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Starting at the <a href="http://www.burghley.co.uk/">Burghley House</a> stately home, participants could chose to do either a gentle 3 mile stroll within the grounds or a more challenging 10-mile walk out of the park and through the Barnack Hills and Holes National Nature Reserve.<br />
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RAYNET's task was to provide communication support to the organisers with operators situated around the course at various marshalling points to pass messages and if necessary request assistance.<br />
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Earlier in the year there was a presentation about the work of RAYNET at the <a href="http://www.skars.co.uk/">South Kesteven ARS</a> by Jim Wheeldon (M0JHW) and Alan Clarke (M0NLR) after which I'd offered my services for future events, so when Jim called me and asked for some help I was happy to oblige.<br />
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My task was quite straightforward, simply manning one of the marshal points along the course directing the walkers and making sure they were happy and injury free, if not I was to call for assistance. Despite being under the weather for the last few days with a bad head cold and a painful sore throat I still turned out and really enjoyed helping.<br />
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It was nice to use my radio licence and equipment for something useful, spending a pleasant morning in the sunshine talking to the walkers and some local residents explaining all about amateur radio.<br />
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RAYNET was formed back in the 1950s following the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea_flood_of_1953">East Coast floods</a> to provide a way of organising the valuable resource that Amateur Radio is able to provide to the community. While it is called the Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network the majority of its work nowadays is to provide support to community events, like the sponsored walk.<br />
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However it can still be called up to offer assistance at incidents such as the recent <a href="http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2015/august/shoreham_plane_crash_and_raynet.htm">Shoreham Airshow plane crash</a>. The South Sussex RAYNET group, assisted by members of South Kent RAYNET, were already providing communications support for the organisers and the user
services at the airshow when the Hawker Hunter aircraft crashed into vehicles on the A27 during a flying display.<br />
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It was reported that following the crash the area was in lock down in four hours and it the demand on the local mobile networks by concerned spectators, residents and residents outstripped capacity making normal communication difficult. RAYNET operators were able to provide much needed support in the aftermath.Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-75491266280853419212015-10-02T10:33:00.001+01:002015-10-02T10:33:13.209+01:00Made my first satellite QSOAs well as flying a <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/hab">high altitude balloon</a> another of my <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/another-year-gone.html">aims this year</a> was to finally make a satellite QSO. Pleased to say last night I finally achieved it!<br />
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Last month Abdel Mesbah M0NPT chairman of the <a href="http://www.hrrarc.com/">Hucknall Rolls-Royce ARC</a> came to <a href="http://www.skars.co.uk/">South Kesteven ARS</a> to give an informative talk on operating amateur radio satellites. Abdel was the first UK operator to receive the AMSAT-UK 73 on 73 award for making 73 confirmed contacts via the FUNCube satellite AO-73.
<a href="http://amsat-uk.org/2015/01/28/abdel-m0npt-73-on-73-award/">http://amsat-uk.org/2015/01/28/abdel-m0npt-73-on-73-award/</a><br />
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Abdel explained all the current active satellites, how to work through them and gave hints and described techniques for achieving success on this more challenging mode of operation.<br />
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Spurred on I opted to target the <a href="http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1015">SO-50 satellite</a> which until very recently this was the only satellite carrying a FM transponder. The satellite receives on 145.850 MHz and retransmits them on 436.800 MHz (+/- 10
kHz Doppler shift). Operation requires the use of CTCSS (PL) tones of 74.4 Hz which starts a 10 minute timer and then a 67
Hz tone used for the contact. More details of how to operate and a video are on the <a href="http://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-work-fm-satellites/">AMSAT-UK website</a><br />
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I initially tried using just a suitably programmed Baofeng UV-5R with a NA771 whip and could clearly hear the downlink on higher passes, I called a few times with no luck. <br />
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I hadn't monitored SO-50 much before and sadly it seems to suffer from very poor operating, with stations calling over contacts in progress, or stations continually calling CQ CQ seemingly oblivious to any reply and those that just keep calling "hola hola hola" for whatever bizarre reason! I would be lucky to get through the QRM with just the whip so I needed a better antenna.<br />
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Despite being extremely busy at the National Hamfest <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/pigs%20in%20space">last weekend</a> I did manage to get hold of a dual band Yagi that was reasonably lightweight for hand held use and capable of being easily dismantled for transporting. <a href="http://www.moonraker.eu/amateur-radio/beam-and-yagi-antennas/vhf-uhf-yagi/moonraker-yagi-antenna/yg27-35-dual-band-hi-spec-2-70cm-yagi-antenna">(The Moonraker YG27-35 Dual Band)</a> it has a single feed point and two adjustable gamma match sliders and was easy to adjust using my analyser.<br />
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It has a single feed and I tried it with the Baofeng and reception of the downlink was excellent, again on a couple of passes I tried answering calls with no success.<br />
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Last night I decided to try again but with the FT-857D set at 10W output. I put it on a small workbench in the garden and powered it from my portable SLA battery. I ran split operation with the 2m Tx VFO set at 145.850MHz with 67Hz CTCSS, the 70cm Rx VFO set at 436.800Mhz I was able to adjusted it down in 5kHz steps during the pass. I got the wife to take a picture while I was operating.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPGtkB6DLhrM-BaG3wXv896N-JdDDbf0IGu9bMkXxJgly7bnuO286KdgTkclkO7xtHCjKE-V3AeSx-l1y_3uI0RGYmPEg0hMHAOl85bXZc33d4IusXmlV88k3vBpSynR9e0xy6DqEM30/s1600/m0nrd-sat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPGtkB6DLhrM-BaG3wXv896N-JdDDbf0IGu9bMkXxJgly7bnuO286KdgTkclkO7xtHCjKE-V3AeSx-l1y_3uI0RGYmPEg0hMHAOl85bXZc33d4IusXmlV88k3vBpSynR9e0xy6DqEM30/s400/m0nrd-sat1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As I started to hear the downlink I heard Abdel M0NPT calling and answered him, I was shocked when he came back and we exchanging details - that was it I had made my first QSO via an amateur radio satellite! Then amazingly other stations started calling me and I was able to also work DO2SYD.<br />
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I did manage to record it on a small dictaphone (did have a bit of a brain fade with my callsign at one point!)<br />
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I could get hooked on this... There is also the new <a href="http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/lilacsat-2/">LilacSat-2 (CAS-3H)</a> satellite with a FM transponder to try to work!So much to do, so little time...<br />
<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2579021932056854916.post-32362581317918141642015-10-01T17:37:00.004+01:002015-10-01T17:39:12.650+01:00Hamfest Balloon - Some analysis<div style="text-align: center;">
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It has been five days since PINKY and PIGLET had their successful flight into the stratosphere. I have been studying the telemetry data and the photographs. I am really pleased with them but it makes the failure of previous <a href="http://nerdsville.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/eggsplorer1">Eggsplorer-1</a> mission to get any wow images more painful.<br />
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I contacted some local and national newspapers about the flight but with little response. The Register IT news website did put an article on <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/28/pigs_in_spaaaace/">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/28/pigs_in_spaaaace </a><br />
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I checked out the telemetry statistics on <a href="http://habitat.habhub.org/stats/">http://habitat.habhub.org/stats/</a> and was impressed with the number of people who tracked (as can be seen in the pie chart below) I know that several interested parties have since visited the UKHAS wiki and have been asking questions on the IRC channel on how to do a flight and/or develop their own trackers. Naturally I have also been thinking about some possible future flights.<br />
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While the novelty of flying something into space, be it a toy pig or an egg is satisfying I would like to make any future flight serve some purpose, whether collecting more data or ideally doing some experiment with radio even if it within the constraints of the UK draconian regulations when operating in the air!<br />
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One set of data I did extract was the temperature profile during the flight. PINKY had two sensors, one internal to the Styrofoam box, the other external. PIGLET also had a temperature/pressure sensor but it was giving odd readings during the flight so have ignored that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLM-eptAy4yU1h-TUZhpqtbstg54d2g_fqfm5D6qmEnjyxq8e8KcpJfZp07P5gZPBrc7r-GWQ5xI9Bpnxnv0D3qIWV5OMAPr5s9imwpOROp2u23yyC5SSm-zbzHDHqQQkiNhyphenhyphengErSpQ_c/s1600/pinkyTemp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLM-eptAy4yU1h-TUZhpqtbstg54d2g_fqfm5D6qmEnjyxq8e8KcpJfZp07P5gZPBrc7r-GWQ5xI9Bpnxnv0D3qIWV5OMAPr5s9imwpOROp2u23yyC5SSm-zbzHDHqQQkiNhyphenhyphengErSpQ_c/s400/pinkyTemp.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The graph shows internal/external temperature recorded by PINKY against altitude, there are two plots for each showing the ascent profile and the decent. The lowest temperature recorded by the external temperature was -49.5<span class="st">°C</span> (-57.1<span class="st">°F) and the foam did a good job of insulating the internal electronics, though it drop below 0</span><span class="st"><span class="st">°C during the decent.</span> <i><br /></i></span><br />
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One thing I will do on the next flight (if it happens) is take a lot more photographs, using a 32GB memory card I could have held a lot more images. Also I will look at embedding the GPS coordinates (geotagging) into the image files.<br />
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I will also put on board a video camera, I did purchase a cheap dash cam type for £20 one off eBay for the Eggsplorer-1 but didn't use it because of sea-landing, I need to sort out powering it as the internal battery wouldn't last for the duration of the flight.<br />
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I have still to investigate the issues with the LoRa as to why it failed. This weekend <a href="http://www.daveakerman.com/">Dave Akerman</a> is flying three balloons in succession with LoRa tracker modules. They will be set up to work in a mesh, receiving and repeat each others telemetry. Sounds an interesting experiment, I will have to set my LoRa gateway back up and attempt to receive them.<br />
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<br />Andrew Garratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04571132780954006097noreply@blogger.com0