West Mountain Radio Quarterly

Check out  http://www.westmountainradio.com/pdf/Quarter-2-2018.pdf

This issue includes:

* Teach your Old Radio New Tricks: Shortwave Radio

* FT8 Operating Guide

* Product Spotlight: ISOpwr+

* Digital Mode Happenings

Note for Dave - You need the ISOpwr+ for your external battery and charging system

FT8 DXpedition Mode Trial 5 May 2018

Here's an extract from an ARRL email on the trial of the DXpedition mode of FT8.  Unfortunately it's at unearthly hour for ZLs. Note that the latest version of FT8 is rc4 A third public test of the developing FT8 "DXpedition Mode" is set for Saturday, May 5, the WSJT development group has announced. A fourth "release candidate" is now available, and participants in the May 5 public test should install WSJT-X version 1.9.0-rc4 beforehand. "Once again, the goal is to simulate a rare DXpedition pileup by having many stations ('Hounds') calling and trying to work a designated pseudo-DXpedition station ('Fox'). Everyone participating in the test must use WSJT-X v1.9.0-rc4," Joe Taylor, K1JT, said on behalf of the WSJT development team. Taylor urged participants to "read, understand, and carefully follow" the FT8 DXpedition Mode User Guide, which contains some operating procedure details that differ from earlier versions of the beta mode software. "If you have legitimate access to more than one call sign (spouse, a club call, or whatever), please feel free to call and work each Fox more than once," Taylor said. "The more Hounds, the better; we want the test pileup to be as deep as possible." The third public test will include three 1-hour sessions. UTC Frequency Fox Call Sign Operator 1400 14.090 MHz W1/KH7Z N1DG 1500 14.090 W7/KH7Z AA7A 1600 14.090 K1JT K1JT Any last-minute instructions will be announced on the Ping Jockey Relief chat page. Installation packages for WSJT-X v1.9.0-rc4 on Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and Raspbian Jessie have been posted on the WSJT website. Participants are asked to report their test results and any problems encountered to the WSJT-X development lists on sourceforge.com or to the Yahoo WSJT-X Development Group reflector. You must be a subscriber in order to post to these lists. The third beta release of the new DXpedition Mode has been tested over the past several weeks, including during a public test on April 7. "A few additional bugs were identified and corrected, and the -rc4 release also includes some minor enhancements," Taylor said. "A general availability (GA) release of WSJT-X version 1.9.0 will be announced at a suitable time, probably in the near future. After that you should stop using any -rc# release candidate."

5MHz Becoming Popular and FT8 Taking Over

60 metres

With hams in NZ being allowed to use the 5MHz band, here are a couple of pages that may be of interest.

<tinyurl.com/GB2RS-0514B>

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60-meter_band>

And here's the NZART FAQ with all the local details

<http://www.nzart.org.nz/info/60m/60m-faq/>

And the application form <http://www.nzart.org.nz/assets/info/60m/60m-Sub-Licence.pdf>

FT8 Taking Over

Check out the Present and Future with <www.ei5di.com/jt.html>

D-Star Operation without a D-Star Radio

The other day I was hammering away at FT8 and listening to reflector 30C on my D-Star setup.  I use a SharkRF Openspot and an old Icom 880H.

K1VT was on the air for the first time, accessing D-Star reflector 30C using his mobile phone instead of a D-Star radio.  In fact, he had a fully portable setup and no expensive D-Star radios were involved.  Sounded the sort of thing that many hams would be interested in.  (Normally with D-Star, you need a D-Star radio to access a D-Star repeater or Digital Voice access point.  Using a PC and a D-Star compatible dongle will give you access but then you have to haul your PC everywhere.)

I listen to his description and emailed him to ensure that I had the story right.

The whole thing hinges around the products and interest groups set up by North West Digital Radio <nwdigitalradio.com> and <nw-digital-radio.groups.io>

Here are the basics:

•    He was using a NW Digital ThumbDV connected to a Raspberry Pi model 3B.

•    The Pi was running Compass Linux which is a derivative of Raspian Linux.

•    AmbeServer was the app running on the Pi.

•    On his Android phone he was running BlueDVAMBE.  (Note that there are two versions of BlueDV for Android, BlueDV and BlueDVAMBE)   David, PA7LIM, has done all the work on BlueDV.

•    From his mobile phone, he connected to the AmbeServer, his desired reflector and then he went straight into the internet and DStar around the world.

•    The AmbeServer is also accessible using Windows and OSX devices using special apps.

FT8 Skimmer

Recently I stumbled upon another development microcomputer tool, like Arduino or Raspberry Pi.  It's called Red Pitaya and is designed with more of an engineering focus.  It has four SMA connetors so that it can take RF in and out. 

Check out www.redpitaya.com   Pricing ranges between Euros 240 - 350 plus shipping for the starter kits.  Application software is free.

Pavel Demin has created a site with links to a number of tools and applications. 

https://pavel-demin.github.io/red-pitaya-notes/

Pavel has created a multiband FT8 transceiver and collects data as if it were a CW Skimmer.  Dick Williams, W3OA, has done some work with his "aggregator" and can send the spots to the Reverse Beacon Network.  Dick's site is http://www.wake2013.org/bios/W3OA.html

The real practical value for us down here in New Zealand is only for those who wish to follow the Earth Moon Earth (EME) VHF path.   On HF, FT8 signals are concentrated into one 2kHz channel, or there abouts on each band.  With VHF EME, transmissions are not so restricted and there a skimmer comes into its own.

Early April 2018

FT8 newest version

The beta release of WSJT-X, version 19.0-rc3 is out and you will need it to work any DXpedition that is using the expedition mode to work multiple stations (called Hounds) at the same time.  Go to <tinyurl.com/ZL1LC301> and download a copy for your operating system.  Make sure you read the instructions for the DXpedition mode, although you can get it going as per normal quite easily. 
There have been a couple of US based tests on the DXpedition mode, but unfortunately they have been at the wrong time of the day for propagation down here.

FT8 User Guide

ZL2iFB's FT8 manual is extremely popular.  <www.g4ifb.com/FT8_Hinson_tips_for_HF_DXers.pdf>  The ARRL were pushing it in a recent Contest Update, and it's now been translated into German and Czech.

The Bouvet DXpedition is back on track.  

Visit bouvetoya.org for more details and for some wonderful photos.

A 3D printed Foot Switch 

remoteqth.com/3d-ptt-foot-switch.php  Print it on your 3D printer and add a micro switch.

Worried about your dipole height?

Dipole Height

				Dipole Height How High should my Dipole be? Dipole Antennas - the Effect of Height Above Ground I frequently hear the question: how high should my dipole be?
				View on www.qsl.net	Preview by Yahoo

And the radiation patterns for a dipole.

Dipole Antenna Radiation Patterns by WB4YJT

				Dipole Antenna Radiation Patterns by WB4YJT Tune Around! SEARCH Topics For Technicians! Loaded with info for new ham radio operators! About Hamuniverse Antenna Designs Antenna Safety! Ask...
				View on www.hamuniverse.com	Preview by Yahoo

Here's an old one that reminds you to make sure your PC system is regularly updated.

https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/3eytah/huge_windows_bug_ruining_your_receive_performance/