Is there a LIVE link to download Precisions Mapping and Traveler 9.0?
First of all, thanks to Steve, WA8LMF, for all his good work making UI-View32 more usable and easier to configure, use etc. I still have a ways to go to be a proficient user but at least I know where to go (Steve's website and groups.io)!
Now that I've gotten UI-View32 running, I wanted to get the maps loaded. I have downloaded (but not installed yet) PMAP Server 9, but am stuck I can't find the corresponding maps file to download i.e. "Precision Mapping Streets & Traveler 9.0"... every link that I've found leads to a dead end.
So, does anyone know where I can download the installation file for "Precision Mapping Streets and Traveler 9.0"?
Thanks
Jim W0JPO
|
WA8LMF "TNC Test CD" RE-Released!
[2 Feb 2025]
i originally released? version 1 of the "WA8LMF TNC Test CD" ? in 2006, with with a slight update, version 1.1, in 2009.
This was an image file that created an audio CD.? The disk contains a variety of recordings of packet APRS transmissions to verify/compare the performance of packet TNCs (both hardware and software).? Over the past 16 years it has become sort of a de-facto standard for testing/comparing various packet radio receiving systems.
In 2009, computer CD systems were plagued with cheap unstable software-based audio decoding (the infamous "AC97" codec) that used system interrupts for timing. The audio sample rate would actually vary, depending on CPU loading and the number of tasks currently running on the computer.
On the other hand, AUDIO CD players (even cheap boomboxes and DiscMan portables) used stable crystal-controlled time-bases. In 2009, I chose to produce the disk as an audio CD?? (not a CD-ROM with .WAV files)? to yield more accurate and repeatable tests of TNC performance.
The ver 1.1. CD was produced in the "CD-Extra" format that combines CD audio tracks playable on a music CD player -- with a data CD-ROM area accessible with a computer CD/DVD drive.? (This hybrid format is sometimes used on modern music CDs to include song lyrics, artist bios, etc on the disk along with the music.)
??? Some users have had problems with recording the BIN/CUE format of the TNC Test image file to physical CDs.? (This now-somewhat-obscure disk-image format was required because the more-common .ISO disk image format can't handle the mixed-mode half-music-CD/half-CD-ROM format of the disk.)
Today, the "horsepower" of the average computer has increased orders of magnitude since 2009. More importantly, for the last decade or so, most computers have been equipped with the "RealTek HD" audio chips that use an accurate crystal-controlled time-base. As a result, computer-playback of audio files is now very accurate with stable sample rates.
I have now re-released the Test CD as a standard CD-ROM in the common .ISO image format. This disk contains the identical test audio tracks, but now stored as lossless FLAC files.? The .ISO image file can be used to burn a physical CD.? Or the .ISO file can be used as-is,? "mounted" as a virtual CD-ROM drive using an used drive letter on your system. Or the FLAC-format? audio files could be copied to a flash drive.
I have extensively revised the page on my web site for the Test CD .? It now includes download links for both the original ver 1.1 audio CD image, and the new ver 2.0? .ISO CD-ROM image.
< >
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:
New? 30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency
As of 1 Jan 2025.?? Details Here:
<>
- APRS over VARA? --
<>
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<>
-
|
Interesting. I’m
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail for iPhone
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Monday, January 13, 2025, 16:25, Joe Dietrick via groups.io <kc0nox@...> wrote:
Stephen, I appreciate your experience & response.? I certainly agree with my document format; I realized it a little after I posted it - PDF has been added.
Ref #2: A number of us use APRS over radio, and I posted here because people, like you, are experts and can help me formulate information most accurately.? However, the fact exists that not everyone in my rural community has/can afford equipment to do APRS via RF and maintain voice comms.? Also, not everyone is convinced of the value of APRS regardless of the mode (especially at the home station), and I am trying to show them the additional utility.? If they can use it & practice with it on their phone app, I hope this will promote APRS' significance to operators and make them more likely to upgrade.? It certainly is about radio, so I have to disagree with your statement.?
We have many radio/internet interfaces that are in regular use, so this is not unique. Also, we are a rural area where digipeater coverage is limited. I have no desire to exclude information or participation just because one is not in the range of a digipeater.
For our net during the Blizzard, I made a concerted effort to exercise our APRS capabilities, which was the genesis for the instructions. First, we had the tactical information of who was participating in a visual format using an APRS mapping view.?
Second, stations were asked to update their symbol with their numerical snowfall total, use the comment to timestamp (and their total if they couldn't change their symbol), and I placed Objects for locations where the operator did not have APRS capability.? This was quite a distinctive APRS visual that I have not seen used in my 20+ years in amateur radio.
Third, we established a group message ID, and sent messages to share with the group.? Some RF/ some IS; that's simply my reality. But we had good participation and there were learning curves overcome. That's a positive.
Finally, the information I am working on includes APRS to SMS. I can't imagine a situation where that would be uniquely useful except when the is no cell service and the operator is using APRS RF.
I think all of these combined definitely show a radio utility for my project.
REF #3. We are encouraging practice & utilization of Winlink as it has mult attributes useful for EmComm, but it is a connection-based link.? Those who run APRS can get notification each day that one has pending Winlink emails (this morning, I found I have 4 msgs to retrieve). That makes APRS more useful, and promotes continued use of Winlink. It's a win/win.
As well, I understand there is some capacity to send & receive Winlink emails over APRS.? Any process which make it more than "position" reporting is what, I believe, will get my operators more interested in APRS, and enhance our communication connectivity.
REF #4. If they don't have it on their phone and find utility of APRS, they won't get it, period.? It's a curve, not a square wave. Also, many of them are on APRSDroid, and as you noted, with a cable & UV-5R - they've got a good inexpensive APRS station (I have 2). But, back to #2 - I have to show them the utility of APRS before the spend the $/effort.? Our Blizzard net, I believe, was successful in that respect.
From my pew, you're preaching to the choir, . I've run APRS for about 15 years, established our digipeater here (CHILLI), use UI-View32 @ home/mobile continuously including storm-spotting or participating in public service events, add Overlays and Objects, and use messaging.? But I can't force other amateur operators to do what I think they should; I am working on carrots.
Again, I appreciate your experience & knowledge in APRS.
So, my ask for everyone: is the information in the (new) attachment correct & understandable? Are there any other specific features which broadly appeal to operators?
Joe,KC0NOX
|
Stephen, I appreciate your experience & response. I certainly agree with my document format; I realized it a little after I posted it - PDF has been added.
Ref #2: A number of us use APRS over radio, and I posted here because people, like you, are experts and can help me formulate information most accurately. However, the fact exists that not everyone in my rural community has/can afford equipment to do APRS via RF and maintain voice comms. Also, not everyone is convinced of the value of APRS regardless of the mode (especially at the home station), and I am trying to show them the additional utility. If they can use it & practice with it on their phone app, I hope this will promote APRS' significance to operators and make them more likely to upgrade. It certainly is about radio, so I have to disagree with your statement.
We have many radio/internet interfaces that are in regular use, so this is not unique. Also, we are a rural area where digipeater coverage is limited. I have no desire to exclude information or participation just because one is not in the range of a digipeater.
For our net during the Blizzard, I made a concerted effort to exercise our APRS capabilities, which was the genesis for the instructions. First, we had the tactical information of who was participating in a visual format using an APRS mapping view.
Second, stations were asked to update their symbol with their numerical snowfall total, use the comment to timestamp (and their total if they couldn't change their symbol), and I placed Objects for locations where the operator did not have APRS capability. This was quite a distinctive APRS visual that I have not seen used in my 20+ years in amateur radio.
Third, we established a group message ID, and sent messages to share with the group. Some RF/ some IS; that's simply my reality. But we had good participation and there were learning curves overcome. That's a positive.
Finally, the information I am working on includes APRS to SMS. I can't imagine a situation where that would be uniquely useful except when the is no cell service and the operator is using APRS RF.
I think all of these combined definitely show a radio utility for my project.
REF #3. We are encouraging practice & utilization of Winlink as it has mult attributes useful for EmComm, but it is a connection-based link. Those who run APRS can get notification each day that one has pending Winlink emails (this morning, I found I have 4 msgs to retrieve). That makes APRS more useful, and promotes continued use of Winlink. It's a win/win.
As well, I understand there is some capacity to send & receive Winlink emails over APRS. Any process which make it more than "position" reporting is what, I believe, will get my operators more interested in APRS, and enhance our communication connectivity.
REF #4. If they don't have it on their phone and find utility of APRS, they won't get it, period. It's a curve, not a square wave. Also, many of them are on APRSDroid, and as you noted, with a cable & UV-5R - they've got a good inexpensive APRS station (I have 2). But, back to #2 - I have to show them the utility of APRS before the spend the $/effort. Our Blizzard net, I believe, was successful in that respect.
From my pew, you're preaching to the choir, . I've run APRS for about 15 years, established our digipeater here (CHILLI), use UI-View32 @ home/mobile continuously including storm-spotting or participating in public service events, add Overlays and Objects, and use messaging. But I can't force other amateur operators to do what I think they should; I am working on carrots.
Again, I appreciate your experience & knowledge in APRS.
So, my ask for everyone: is the information in the (new) attachment correct & understandable? Are there any other specific features which broadly appeal to operators?
Joe,KC0NOX
|
well, Best 2025 to all users of Uiview . One of the Best if not the Best and simple to use but it cannot be updated!! i tried other software and i always come back to it! Simple and it works! 73 everyone gervais,ve2ckn ________________________________ De : [email protected] < [email protected]> de la part de WA8LMF via groups.io <wa8lmf@...> Envoyé : 13 janvier 2025 13:00 ? : [email protected] < [email protected]> Objet : Re: [UI-View] Instruction review On 1/13/2025 11:22 AM, Joe Dietrick via groups.io wrote: Good morning. Our ARES group was exercising APRS group messaging during our recent Blizzard Warning. Most of them are using phone apps (APRSDroid, APRSfi, APRSPro), and I am working on an instructional document for APRS including:
- Winlink pending mail notification
- SMS texting
- Group messaging
Are there features beyond these 3 to include? Are there corrections or clarifications to the attachment?
I am not being exhaustive (such as instructions for send/receiving WINLINK via APRS). Just trying to get operators to expand their APRS functionality & use, especially considering their limitations for being on phones.
I would be interested in reviews of the attachment for accuracy & clarity.
Thank you.
Joe, KC0NOX
1) Documents being distributed to unknown recipients should NOT be in the format of a single proprietary program; i.e. Microsoft Word .DOCX format. You can't simply assume everyone can open a DOCX document, especially on a phone or tablet. They should be in a platform-agnostic format like a simple text file, or a PDF document that can be opened on any platform. 2) Conspicuously absent here is any reference to *RADIO* !! First and foremost, APRS is about data sent over RADIO. The interfaces to the Internet are the tail wagging the dog. If you are using only phone apps and no radio, why get APRS involved at all? If radio is NOT involved, there are much more efficient ways to communicate text and data than APRS protocols, such as text messages and email. 3) It's not clear how WinLink is involved with APRS at all. APRS and WinLink are both applications that that ride on top of packet radio for data transport, but they are separate from each other. Winlink can use classic packet protocols, but it can also use Pactor, VARA or other data transmission modes as the transport medium. I.e. the message is separate from the transmission medium. 4) if the majority of your users are only using phone apps, they are digging themselves deeper and deeper into the tar baby of cellular/Internet dependency, which has a high chance of being NOT FUNCTIONAL after a major disaster. Some of these phone apps (APRSdroid, PocketPACKET, etc) can use the phone's sound system as a soft TNC for 300- or 1200-baud packet. [I have actually linked an iPad to a Yaesu FT-857 for VHF/HF packet and APRS. It does work!] You need to focus on how to connect the phone "soft modems" to RADIOs, not the Internet..... 5) This sort of brings to mind an actual experience I had as a radio systems engineer decades ago with disaster planning in Los Angeles county. We were gaming out disaster comms scenarios for the City and County of Los Angeles after the "Big One" (the anticipated 8.0+ earthquake). This was before cellular networks became ubiquitous - the issue was the relative surviveability of the public land-line phone network vs the fire and police public safety radio networks. A representative of the County Board of Supervisors came up with this brilliant response plan: "If the phones go out, we'll use the FAX" !!! NOTE: These are the organizations dealing with the current fires there... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com Skype: WA8LMF EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band] Home Page: New 30 Meter APRS-over VARA Frequency As of 1 Jan 2025. Details Here: <> - APRS over VARA -- <> "Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels <> -
|
On 1/13/2025 11:22 AM, Joe Dietrick via groups.io wrote: Good morning. Our ARES group was exercising APRS group messaging during our recent Blizzard Warning. Most of them are using phone apps (APRSDroid, APRSfi, APRSPro), and I am working on an instructional document for APRS including:
- Winlink pending mail notification
- SMS texting
- Group messaging
Are there features beyond these 3 to include? Are there corrections or clarifications to the attachment?
I am not being exhaustive (such as instructions for send/receiving WINLINK via APRS). Just trying to get operators to expand their APRS functionality & use, especially considering their limitations for being on phones.
I would be interested in reviews of the attachment for accuracy & clarity.
Thank you.
Joe, KC0NOX
?1)??? Documents being distributed to unknown recipients should NOT be in the format of a single proprietary program; i.e. Microsoft Word .DOCX? format.? You can't simply assume everyone can open a DOCX document, especially on a phone or tablet. They should be in a platform-agnostic format like a simple text file,? or a PDF document that can be opened on any platform. 2)??? Conspicuously absent here is any reference to *RADIO* !! First and foremost, APRS is about data sent over RADIO.? The interfaces to the Internet are the tail wagging the dog. If you are using only phone apps and no radio, why get APRS involved at all???? If radio is NOT involved, there are much more efficient ways to communicate text and data than APRS protocols, such as text messages and email. 3)??? It's not clear how WinLink is involved with APRS at all. APRS and WinLink are both applications that that ride on top of packet radio for data transport, but they are separate from each other.? Winlink can use classic packet protocols, but it can also use Pactor, VARA or other data transmission modes as the transport medium.? I.e. the message is separate from the transmission medium. 4)??? if the majority of your users are only using phone apps, they are digging themselves deeper and deeper into the tar baby of? cellular/Internet dependency, which has a high chance of being NOT FUNCTIONAL after a major disaster. Some of these phone apps (APRSdroid, PocketPACKET, etc) can use the phone's sound system as a soft TNC for 300- or 1200-baud packet. [I have actually linked an iPad to a Yaesu FT-857 for VHF/HF packet and APRS. It does work!] ? You need to focus on how to connect the phone "soft modems" to RADIOs, not the Internet..... 5)?? This sort of brings to mind an actual experience I had as a radio systems engineer decades ago with disaster planning in Los Angeles county.? We were gaming out disaster comms scenarios for the City and County of Los Angeles after the "Big One" (the anticipated 8.0+ earthquake).? This was before cellular networks became ubiquitous - the issue was the relative surviveability of the public land-line phone network vs the fire and police public safety radio networks.?? A representative of the County Board of Supervisors came up with this brilliant response plan:? "If the phones go out, we'll use the FAX"? !!!??? NOTE: These are the organizations dealing with the current fires there... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com Skype:??????? WA8LMF EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band] Home Page: New? 30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency As of 1 Jan 2025.?? Details Here: <> - APRS over VARA? -- <> "Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels <> -
|
Please include PinPoint ? Hello George Kirn had contact with this data. On Mon, Jan 13, 2025 at 11:10?AM Joe Dietrick via groups.io <kc0nox= [email protected]> wrote: Good morning. Our ARES group was exercising APRS group messaging during
our recent Blizzard Warning. Most of them are using phone apps (APRSDroid,
APRSfi, APRSPro), and I am working on an instructional document for APRS
including:
- Winlink pending mail notification
- SMS texting
- Group messaging
Are there features beyond these 3 to include? Are there corrections or
clarifications to the attachment?
I am not being exhaustive (such as instructions for send/receiving WINLINK
via APRS). Just trying to get operators to expand their APRS functionality
& use, especially considering their limitations for being on phones.
I would be interested in reviews of the attachment for accuracy & clarity.
Thank you.
Joe, KC0NOX
|
Good morning. Our ARES group was exercising APRS group messaging during our recent Blizzard Warning. Most of them are using phone apps (APRSDroid, APRSfi, APRSPro), and I am working on an instructional document for APRS including:
- Winlink pending mail notification
- SMS texting
- Group messaging
Are there features beyond these 3 to include? Are there corrections or clarifications to the attachment?
I am not being exhaustive (such as instructions for send/receiving WINLINK via APRS). Just trying to get operators to expand their APRS functionality & use, especially considering their limitations for being on phones.
I would be interested in reviews of the attachment for accuracy & clarity.
Thank you.
Joe, KC0NOX
|
Another Geomagnetic Disturbance Showing the Superiority of VARA over AX.25
[14:30 Eastern Time / 1930 UTC? 5 January 2025
We've just had yet another solar eruption that disrupted HF propagation.?? Once again, VARA vastly outperformed classic AX.25 packet.?? Compare the real-time mapping displays show the two modes as received at WA8LMF's QTH in central Michigan.
<> ?? (APRS over classic AX.25 Packet on 30M)
<> (APRS over VARA on 30M)
Graph from NOAA/NIST Space Weather Center
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:
New? 30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency
As of 1 Jan 2025.?? Details Here:
<>
- APRS over VARA? --
<>
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<>
-
|
I am interested in finding a relatively recent video resource or simplified "plug and play" recipe for setting up UI-View. I'm a long(ish) term user of SoundModem for Winlink / Pinpoint APRS on VHF. I don't have a VARA license. I have also had some success experimenting with DireWolf.
Rig is either FT857 with Signalink or Elecraft KX3 using a simple soundcard dongle for I/O.
I have a registered UI-View system with minimal configuration so far.
I don't have a deep tech background, AGE 73 (young ? or old? for a Ham - I've lost track). I am fascinated though by basic emergency data comms, since I live in a very small community on an island in coastal BC.
Any "leg up" would be gratefully received.
Thank you,
Kevin VE7KHI
|
Re: 30-meters vs 40-meters APRS-over-VARA Shootout Coming
i am listening now using a web site that is SDR Receiver. the site that i am using is quite performant. i am listening at 40 meters. i dont hear any sound,,no bizarre sound like FT8 if you like! what noise should i listen?? Gervais ________________________________ De : [email protected] < [email protected]> de la part de WA8LMF via groups.io <wa8lmf@...> Envoyé : 3 janvier 2025 18:24 ? : [email protected] < [email protected]> Objet : Re: [UI-View] 30-meters vs 40-meters APRS-over-VARA Shootout Coming On 1/3/2025 6:13 PM, Gervais Fillion via groups.io wrote: 40 meters is way more popular than 30.
it would be a great opportunity for folks who have tnc with UIdigi for example to transfer there ,,for fun and try!
what are frequencies that you are using?
i am curious to listen and see if i hear something here!!
73 stephen,Best 2025 in your projet.
Gervais,ve2ckn
i am running an Igate and Digi here on vhf.
________________________________ This is APRS over the VARA-HF high-performance soundcard "soft-modem" -- not conventional packet. The standard frequencies for this mode are 7083.500 KHz USB on 40 meters 10148.200 KHz USB on 30 meters Packet TNCs, either hardware or software are useless for this mode. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com Skype: WA8LMF EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band] Home Page: New 30 Meter APRS-over VARA Frequency As of 1 Jan 2025. Details Here: <> - APRS over VARA -- <> "Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels <> -
|
Re: 30-meters vs 40-meters APRS-over-VARA Shootout Coming
On 1/3/2025 6:13 PM, Gervais Fillion via groups.io wrote: 40 meters is way more popular than 30.
it would be a great opportunity for folks who have tnc with UIdigi for example to transfer there ,,for fun and try!
what are frequencies that you are using?
i am curious to listen and see if i hear something here!!
73 stephen,Best 2025 in your projet.
Gervais,ve2ckn
i am running an Igate and Digi here on vhf.
________________________________ This is APRS over the VARA-HF high-performance soundcard "soft-modem" --? not conventional packet.?? The standard frequencies for this mode are ??? 7083.500 KHz USB on 40 meters ? 10148.200 KHz USB on 30 meters Packet TNCs, either hardware or software are useless for this mode. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com Skype:??????? WA8LMF EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band] Home Page: New? 30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency As of 1 Jan 2025.?? Details Here: <> - APRS over VARA? -- <> "Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels <> -
|
Re: 30-meters vs 40-meters APRS-over-VARA Shootout Coming
40 meters is way more popular than 30. it would be a great opportunity for folks who have tnc with UIdigi for example to transfer there ,,for fun and try! what are frequencies that you are using? i am curious to listen and see if i hear something here!! 73 stephen,Best 2025 in your projet. Gervais,ve2ckn i am running an Igate and Digi here on vhf. ________________________________ De : [email protected] < [email protected]> de la part de WA8LMF via groups.io <wa8lmf@...> Envoyé : 3 janvier 2025 17:58 ? : Stephen Smith <wa8lmf@...> Objet : [UI-View] 30-meters vs 40-meters APRS-over-VARA Shootout Coming There has been considerable discussion of the relative merits of APRS-over-VARA on 30 meters vs 40 meters recently on several mailing lists. On February 8th, I will be traveling from my home QTH in central Michigan (Meridian Twp east of East Lansing) to Traverse City, MI for the annual Cherryland Amateur Radio Club Swap-N-Shop. This is about a two-hundred mile (360 Km) drive. I plan to conduct a test of 30M vs 40M APRS-over-VARA on this trip. I have TWO HF rigs in the car with separate antennas. One is a Yaesu FT-891 with a mono-band hamstick on a fender split-ball mount, dedicated full-time to 30M HF APRS. The other is a Yaesu FT-857 with an ATAS-120A screwdriver antenna hard-mounted to the trunk lid is used for general operating on bands other than 30M -- usually for my "Mobile SSTV LiveCAM" on 15 or 10 meters. For this trip, I will put the 857 and ATAS-120 on 40 meters APRS. I will run two instances of UIview, two instances of the VARA-HF modem, and two interfaces on the mobile laptop, one for 30 meters and one for 40 meters side-by-side. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-53 quad-core computer with 16GB RAM has no trouble running all this, along with a third instance of UIview for two-meter packet APRS on my Kenwood TM-D700. The departure to the ham fest will be in darkness around 3:00 AM local (Eastern) time, so as to arrive at the venue by 7:30 AM (around sunrise) in time to setup. The return trip will be in full daylight, problably starting around 1:30 PM local. As in previous packet vs VARA tests, I will be using different SSIDs for the 30 and 40 meter beacons -- WA8LMF-2 for 30 meters and WA8LMF-3 for 40 meters so one will able to generate different tracks on APRS-fi for the two bands. WA8LMF (no SSID) is always my two-meters FM + internet beacons. This trip will probably be in the skip zone for my own igate in central MI (once I get out of town) on 30 meters, and probably also on 40. I will be depending on other's igates on both bands to reach the Internet on HF. Any thoughts about this before I set out next month?? I'm already planning to do this also on next summer's annual road trip to Evergreen Colorado for the Evergreen Jazz Festival always the last weekend of July. This will involve full-summer long-days HF propagation on both bands. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com Skype: WA8LMF EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band] Home Page: New 30 Meter APRS-over VARA Frequency As of 1 Jan 2025. Details Here: <> - APRS over VARA -- <> "Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels <> -
|
Re: 30-meters vs 40-meters APRS-over-VARA Shootout Coming
No thoughts. Just congratulations and I am so proud of your work. I love 40M. Be safe and keep warm. Hello George Kirn had contact with this data. On Fri, Jan 3, 2025 at 4:58?PM WA8LMF via groups.io <wa8lmf= [email protected]> wrote: There has been considerable discussion of the relative merits of
APRS-over-VARA
on 30 meters vs 40 meters recently on several mailing lists.
On February 8th, I will be traveling from my home QTH in central Michigan
(Meridian Twp east of East Lansing) to Traverse City, MI for the annual
Cherryland Amateur Radio Club Swap-N-Shop. This is about a two-hundred
mile
(360 Km) drive.
I plan to conduct a test of 30M vs 40M APRS-over-VARA on this trip. I have
TWO
HF rigs in the car with separate antennas. One is a Yaesu FT-891 with a
mono-band hamstick on a fender split-ball mount, dedicated full-time to
30M HF
APRS. The other is a Yaesu FT-857 with an ATAS-120A screwdriver antenna
hard-mounted to the trunk lid is used for general operating on bands other
than
30M -- usually for my "Mobile SSTV LiveCAM" on 15 or 10 meters.
For this trip, I will put the 857 and ATAS-120 on 40 meters APRS. I will
run
two instances of UIview, two instances of the VARA-HF modem, and two
interfaces
on the mobile laptop, one for 30 meters and one for 40 meters
side-by-side. The
Panasonic Toughbook CF-53 quad-core computer with 16GB RAM has no trouble
running all this, along with a third instance of UIview for two-meter
packet
APRS on my Kenwood TM-D700.
The departure to the ham fest will be in darkness around 3:00 AM local
(Eastern) time, so as to arrive at the venue by 7:30 AM (around sunrise)
in
time to setup. The return trip will be in full daylight, problably
starting
around 1:30 PM local.
As in previous packet vs VARA tests, I will be using different SSIDs for
the 30
and 40 meter beacons -- WA8LMF-2 for 30 meters and WA8LMF-3 for 40 meters
so
one will able to generate different tracks on APRS-fi for the two bands.
WA8LMF
(no SSID) is always my two-meters FM + internet beacons.
This trip will probably be in the skip zone for my own igate in central MI
(once I get out of town) on 30 meters, and probably also on 40. I will be
depending on other's igates on both bands to reach the Internet on HF.
Any thoughts about this before I set out next month??
I'm already planning to do this also on next summer's annual road trip to
Evergreen Colorado for the Evergreen Jazz Festival always the last
weekend of
July. This will involve full-summer long-days HF propagation on both bands.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype: WA8LMF
EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:
New 30 Meter APRS-over VARA Frequency
As of 1 Jan 2025. Details Here:
<>
- APRS over VARA --
<>
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<>
-
|
30-meters vs 40-meters APRS-over-VARA Shootout Coming
There has been considerable discussion of the relative merits of APRS-over-VARA on 30 meters vs 40 meters recently on several mailing lists.
On February 8th, I will be traveling from my home QTH in central Michigan (Meridian Twp east of East Lansing) to Traverse City, MI for the annual Cherryland Amateur Radio Club? Swap-N-Shop. This is about a two-hundred mile (360 Km) drive.
I plan to conduct a test of 30M vs 40M APRS-over-VARA on this trip. I have TWO HF rigs in the car with separate antennas. One is a Yaesu FT-891 with a mono-band hamstick on a fender split-ball mount, dedicated full-time to 30M HF APRS. The other is a Yaesu FT-857 with an ATAS-120A screwdriver antenna? hard-mounted to the trunk lid is used for general operating on bands other than 30M -- usually for my "Mobile SSTV LiveCAM" on 15 or 10 meters.
For this trip, I will put the 857 and ATAS-120 on 40 meters APRS.? I will run two instances of UIview, two instances of the VARA-HF modem, and two interfaces on the mobile laptop, one for 30 meters and one for 40 meters side-by-side. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-53 quad-core computer with 16GB RAM has no trouble running all this,? along with a third instance of UIview for two-meter packet APRS on my Kenwood TM-D700.
The departure to the ham fest will be in darkness around 3:00 AM local (Eastern) time, so as to arrive at the venue by 7:30 AM (around sunrise) in time to setup.? The return trip will be in full daylight, problably starting around 1:30 PM local.
As in previous packet vs VARA tests, I will be using different SSIDs for the 30 and 40 meter beacons -- WA8LMF-2 for 30 meters and WA8LMF-3 for 40 meters so one will able to generate different tracks on APRS-fi for the two bands. WA8LMF (no SSID) is always my two-meters FM + internet beacons.
This trip will probably be in the skip zone for my own igate in central MI (once I get out of town) on 30 meters, and probably also on 40. I will be depending on other's igates on both bands to reach the Internet on HF.
Any thoughts about this before I set out next month??
I'm already planning to do this also on next summer's annual road trip to Evergreen Colorado for the Evergreen Jazz Festival always the last weekend? of July. This will involve full-summer long-days HF propagation on both bands.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:
New? 30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency
As of 1 Jan 2025.?? Details Here:
<>
- APRS over VARA? --
<>
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<>
-
|
Re: WA8LMF UIwebserver & Igate Now Operating on New 30M APRS-over-VARA Freq
Amazing. Congratulations Hello George Kirn had contact with this data. On Tue, Dec 31, 2024 at 5:58?PM WA8LMF via groups.io <wa8lmf= [email protected]> wrote: As of 0000 Hrs UTC 1 January, the WA8LMF APRS-over-VARA igate and
webserver has
moved from the old APRS-over-VARA channel (10.147.60 MHz USB)
to the new channel at "dial frequency" of *_10.148.200 MHz USB _*. This
corresponds to an actual RF center frequency for VARA of 10.149.700 MHz .
You can view the real-time mapping anytime on my webserver at
<>
Note that the new VARA map spans the Atlantic because we ARE hearing
stations
from the UK and Europe here in Michigan, USA on APRS-over-VARA.
Or visit the gateway page for all the WA8LMF igate/webservers at:
<>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype: WA8LMF
EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:
*30 Meter APRS-over VARA Frequency Change
As of 1 Jan 2025. Details Here:
<>
- APRS over VARA --
<>
*
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<>
-
|
WA8LMF UIwebserver & Igate Now Operating on New 30M APRS-over-VARA Freq
As of 0000 Hrs UTC 1 January, the WA8LMF APRS-over-VARA igate and webserver has moved from the old APRS-over-VARA channel (10.147.60 MHz USB)
to the new channel at "dial frequency" of *_10.148.200 MHz USB _*.?? This corresponds to an actual RF center frequency for VARA of 10.149.700? MHz .
You can view the real-time mapping anytime on my webserver at
<>
Note that the new VARA map spans the Atlantic because we ARE hearing stations from the UK and Europe here in Michigan, USA on APRS-over-VARA.
Or visit the gateway page for all the WA8LMF igate/webservers at:
<>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:
*30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency Change
As of 1 Jan 2025.?? Details Here:
<>
- APRS over VARA? --
<>
*
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<>
-
|
Re: Most People Ever on New 30M APRS-over-VARA Channel
Just to be funny? You’re helping that.
That’s good Thanks
Robust is in my sites?
|
Most People Ever on New 30M APRS-over-VARA Channel
Latest screen cap from my 30-meter APRS-over-VARA test setup -- less than 1 day before the main WA8LMF 30-meters APRS igate and UIweb-server switches to the new 10.148.200 MHz channel at 0000 UTC New Years Day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:??????? WA8LMF
EchoLink:? Node #? 14400? [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:
*30 Meter?? APRS-over VARA? Frequency Change
Coming 1 Jan 2025.?? Details Here:
<>
- APRS over VARA? --
<>
*
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<>
-
|
Re: Switch to New 30M APRS-over-VARA Channel.
I am a no body. I find you a great leader. I look forward to all your continuing success. My opinion is yes! Your doing great Hello George Kirn had contact with this data. On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 11:51?AM WA8LMF via groups.io <wa8lmf= [email protected]> wrote: I have been promoting the change-over to the new 30-meters APRS-over-VARA
channel for several weeks now. I had previously proposed the switch-over
for
New Years Eve UTC.
However, I am already seeing numerous stations on the new *10.148.200 MHz
USB*
channel. And virtually no one on the old 10.147.600 MHz channel.
Should I consider this migration a "done deal" and move the WA8LMF
APRS-over-VARA main igate and UI-mapping-webserver infrastructure over to
the
new channel early?
View of the new 30M APRS-over-VARAchannel as I write this...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype: WA8LMF
EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page:
*30 Meter APRS-over VARA Frequency Change
Coming 1 Jan 2025. Details Here:
<>
- APRS over VARA --
<>*
"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<>
-
|
Gervais Fillion
N9PNO
