开云体育

I couldn't resist posting on Leap Year Day (Feb 29). All the kids born today who only get a birthday every 4 years. I'll bet somewhere, for only $19/mo you can ease their suffering! This nice weather has me thinking of Spring fox hunting...I've only done it once, but, I had fun and would like to do it again. 73's Mike N0QBH

The local Winlink gateway has been on line for several days as I type this and it has been working well. I have been sending and receiving my Ham radio related emails in this manner and in the process, learning the ropes of operation. Presently, the only connections are VARA FM mode on 145.070 MHz. Ben tells me 1200 baud packet access will be added on the same frequency. Winlink packet is not quite the same as regular packet, but it uses the same hardware and can digipeat thru packet nodes to another Winlink station. Which brings us to "How do I do get and use Winlink?" You need a Windows 10 or newer computer to use Winlink and VARA. https://downloads.winlink.org/ The two programs are Winlink Express set up in the user programs area and you want VARA FM set up in the VARA products subdirectory. Both programs download as zip files. I recommend extracting while still in the downloads directory. The unpacked result is a installer program . The Winlink program will want to install in the root directory. Use it's recommendation. I learned the hard way that programs I installed in the program files directories are in protected memory. Windows won't let anything write in there, meaning saving configs that normally live with the program don't happen. To use Winlink you have to be registered (free). You register from within the Winlink Express program. It involves giving your valid callsign as your user name and you chose a recovery password. Then, assuming you have Internet, it will Telnet your application into headquarters and you are set. You will need a software modem to let Winlink communicate via radio. Around here VARA FM is the best method. VARA FM is downloaded and treated the same as Winlink - unzip and install it where it wants to go. You will need to run the installer as administrator (right click mouse) and select that option. Next, is determining how to connect the radio to the computer. There are several ways, I've tried many of them. Digirig is far in a way my favorite. Small, inexpensive ($50) and a great selection of cables for oodles of different radios, all under $30 ea. https://digirig.net/store/ USB soundcards can be intimidating to set up. Digirig's audio is "plug n play" - no drivers. The serial side is apt to need a driver download. Silicone Labs CP210x Universal Windows driver is what you will need. The install page on the Digirig web site shows how to install the new driver, if needed. It's important as it controls the PTT of the radio. It's a good resource and I recommend reading it first. https://digirig.net/getting-started-with-digirig-mobile/ Once you have your Winlink VARA FM station all talking to and hearing the radio, you will need to make a note of what USB port on the computer you are using. To keep life simple, always use that same port. If it isn't possible, you may need to reload the USB driver to the new port in order for the serial PTT to function. Another thing I've noticed with Windows and USB just seems to take time, sometimes :) Step away and have a cup of coffee and sometimes you'll return to working drivers. The last two steps before attempting a Winlink connection is to calibrate the audio levels in and out of the radio. Pretty easy usually. With the VARA FM program itself running, insure the squelch is open if you don't see any movement of the VU meter on the dashboard display. If your radio uses a RX data connection in the back, you only need to adjust the USB Soundcard mic in levels to get the VARA VU meter needle to the 2 O'clock position. If you had to open the squelch, you will also need to adjust the volume and USB Soundcard mic in to get the VU to the 2 O'clock level. This is because that audio is coming from the speaker. Setting the transmit audio level is done with another VARA FM station using the Auto tune function found in the VARA FM program soundcard button. Your frequency must be the same as the other station, around here we are using 145.07 MHz for VARA FM. When you start auto tune, your station will send a series of 10 tones at gradually louder levels. If the other station hears you, it answers back with a pass or fail and tells you what to adjust. It also sets the slider level in the auto tune display. Note, this adjustment is in series with the USB Soundcard Speakers (Digirig out to the mic) Windows slider. We normally use W0AYE-10 as the other station since it's who we'll usually be connecting to and it's a known good signal. That's all for this segment, next one will focus on operation. One of the best places for Winlink info is it's HELP menu. I will try to be available to talk someone thru installation and am usually listening on the 444.8 machine. Else try n0qbh@... 73 Mike N0QBH

Answers a lot of questions a potential user might have about using VARA software modems. https://www.k7yca.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/VARA-Rev-9.pdf

Tony WD0HXV has joined the local Winlink network! It's built around the Winlink Gateway W0AYE-10 run by Ben W0AYE. This serves as our access to the rest of the Winlink world. We are looking for more Hams to join us. You will need a computer running Windows 10 or 11. A USB sound card to radio interface like Digirig or Signalink USB. A 2 meter transceiver and preferably an outdoor antenna. A rubber duck might work in Olivia, probably not :) We'd like to have you join us, if you are interested. I'm still new to this, but there is a lot of info here: https://www.winlink.org/ on some browsers this link has to be tried twice https://digirig.net/ the Digirig store - lots of info here too. And, of course, ask us questions. 73 Mike N0QBH

If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at: http://www.arrl.org/nts-letter?issue=2024-02-06 February 6, 2024 The NTS Letter Archive ARRL Home Page From the Editor Update on NTS 2.0 -- One Year Later Treasure Hunt -- Let the Hunt Begin! "Radiogrammers" Needed for Web-based Radiogram Portal Traffic Tips: Best Practices Spotlight -- "Bud" Hippisley, W2RU NTS Resources Sign up to Receive The NTS Letter Support NTS: Join ARRL From the Editor Thanks to all who have subscribed to The NTS Letter, and those who have promoted the newsletter throughout other groups. We have received very positive responses. For example, Michael Ford, WZ0C, who operates the APRS-NTS Gateway, reports that The NTS Letter had been circulated via the Packet BBS Circuit. Currently we have over 1,500 subscribers. Unfortunately, there was a slight problem in the distribution process and not everyone who opted in to receive the newsletter was receiving it. We believe this problem has been solved. If anyone continues to experience problems, please let us know. Update on NTS 2.0 -- One Year Later We promised to keep the traffic handling community updated on the progress of the NTS 2.0 subcommittee, which currently oversees the efforts of several teams or "working groups" of traffic handlers. It has been one year since the working groups began meeting weekly. The groups have focused on: Digital Networks Emergency Communications and Agency Engagement Recruitment and Training Updated Access and Delivery Performance Standards and Activity Reporting In addition, several of the working groups are beginning to focus on recruiting new traffic handlers through outreach and mentoring of new and inactive licensees. A few of the accomplishments include: NTS 2.0 website -- A new website, https://nts2.arrl.org, has been created as a source for documentation, training, tools, and information that have been created as part of the NTS 2.0 effort. The NTS Letter -- in collaboration with ARRL HQ, we have created a monthly e-newsletter, The NTS Letter, which features progress on the NTS 2.0 project and spotlights people and activities that represent the great work being done by traffic handlers across the US. ARRL Net Directory 2.0 -- A specification document for a new, more maintainable net directory tool has been created, was reviewed with the ARRL HQ team, and is in the process of being implemented. This tool, when complete, will serve as a source of information about nets of all types, including traffic nets. Web-based tool to enable public origination of traffic -- A web-based tool, the NTS 2.0 Radiogram Portal, has been created to enable members of the public and amateur radio operators who are not traffic handlers to originate traffic to be handled by NTS. Plan to update and modernize recognition for traffic handlers -- A specification that seeks to update and decentralize recognitions for work done by traffic handlers has been created and is in the process of being reviewed and revised by ARRL HQ. Consistent with other recognition programs, the approach proposed relies on members of the ARRL Field Organization to administer the updated recognition vehicles. Tools and procedures to originate traffic via the APRS system -- An NTS gateway for originating traffic has been created and deployed. Documentation and video training have also been created for this tool. Article about NTS in QST magazine - The article, "The National Traffic System - A History and ARRL's Path Forward," appeared in the July 2023 issue, and won the QST Cover Plaque Award for that issue, due to receiving the highest number of ARRL member votes. Articles in On the Air magazine - The July/August 2023 issue featured "Talking About Traffic," and "ARRL Section Traffic Volunteering." There are many other activities in progress as well. The ongoing work is focused on areas such as improving ties between NTS operators and other amateur radio emergency services, expanding and modernizing digital traffic handling, tools to enable nationwide traffic system tests and performance ass

The case for APRS For those who aren't acronym savvy, APRS is Automatic Packet Reporting System. APRS was developed from the late 1980s forward by Bob Bruninga, call sign WB4APR(sk), a senior research engineer at the United States Naval Academy. He maintained the main APRS Web site until his death in 2022. APRS is one of the only applications using packet radio that has stood the test of time. The APRS world network is still thriving, long after other packet radio went away, because it didn't compete with, but leveraged the Internet. It uses mostly 2m FM 144.390 to gather the positions and the Internet to put them all in one place. APRS is an unconnected mode, meaning that the packets aren't connected to any one station. The packets are sent as information beacons without acks, eliminating the connection overhead. The broadcast is either heard or it isn't, hopefully, if not, conditions will be better the next. Here's why I'm telling you this. In the 5 months since I became involved with the WILMAR packet node out at the HHS tower we've had exactly two users locally, WD0HXV and myself N0QBH. We've had a total of 5 outside visitors that I am aware of. K1LEO, WG0A, AJ0O, KF9CP and K0LAV. Here's what I want to do. I propose we add the APRS frequency (144.390 MHz) to the WILMAR node 2m radio and change the freq to it. There are a couple of configuration changes to tell the node TNC it's to use the new UIFLOOD method of handling APRS digis. The node can still function the same as now by switching the frequency back to 145.670 MHz if needed. I think APRS is going to remain popular simply due to several new radios having it and the GPS built in. Too easy! One thing is for certain, this asset will get used if we decide to do this. It should cover approx a 30 mile radius from the tower north of Willmar and the local APRS Internet feeds will hear it as well, so users will plot on the Internet map www.aprs.fi What do YOU think? 73 Mike N0QBH

Ben,W0AYE has a Winlink Gateway station running with access via VARA-FM on 145.690 MHz. Winlink is a full featured email program for amateur radio and VARA is name of the software modem often used to communicate. Useful links: https://www.winlink.org/ https://downloads.winlink.org/ https://digirig.net/ The two programs of interest are Winlink Express and VARA_FM located in their respective subdirectories. You will also need a USB soundcard with PTT control. Digirig is popular (my choice) and Signalink USB is an old favorite that will work too. In both Win 10 and 11 installs, I've had to download and install the UART driver for the Digirig. The UART side of Digirig is what controls the PTT signal to the radio. The link to the driver is on the Digirig page. https://digirig.net/getting-started-with-digirig-mobile/ 73 Mike N0QBH

Saturday 2/3 is the Minnesota QSO Party. It is one of the more popular QSO parties with the amount of activity that is generated. Every county will be activated as you can tell by the activity map https://www.w0aa.org/activity-map/ . For Minnesota stations to get on the map send an email to webmaster@... with your Call, County, planned bands & modes, and if you know the time you will be on. This is you chance to play the rare DX, get on and call CQ as people around the world will be looking for you and your county. The forecast for the weekend looks to be good, so far. Yes, we all know in this part of the country the weather can change at a moment’s notice (usually not for the better). I’ll be mobiling in the NW corner of state, starting in Detroit Lakes and finishing in International Falls. The event states 8 AM CT and finishes 6 PM CT. Full details at https://www.w0aa.org/mn-qso-party/ . Not to leave the other stations out ND is hosting their QSO Party April 13 & 14. South Dakota has theirs party in the fall October 14 & 15. Bill AC?W Special Events: 2/3 – Minnesota QSO Party Minnesota stations it’s your day to be the rare DX, people from around the world will be looking for you. Help put all 87 counties on the air. Full details at www.w0aa.org/mn-qso-party/ 2/17 & 19 - Ice Station W0JH See website for details radioham.org/events/special-events-online-qsls/ ; Stillwater ARA 6/8 – MN Parks On The Air - 8 AM to 6 PM Help make this first-time event an success, get out and active a park or work one of the many park activations that day. This day is MN State Parks free admission day. Sponsored by Stillwater ARA. More details http://mnpota.com/ Hamfests (all times local time): 2/17 – St Cloud, MN; 9 AM – 1 PM; W0SV Cabin Fever Reliever; ST Cloud ARC; https://w0sv.club/hamfest/ 2/17 – Rapid City, SD; 8:30 doors open; Black Hills ARC Spring Auction; Faith Lutheran Church, 17 Indiana ST, Rapid City 2/24 – Bismarck, ND; 8 AM – 1 PM; ARRL ND State Convention; Central Dakota ARC; http://cdarcnd.com ; ARRL reps present 3/23 – Buffalo, MN; 8 AM – Noon; Midwinter Madness; Maple Grove RC; https://k0ltc.org/midwinter-madness/ ; ARRL reps present

Hello members, the next quarterly meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 23rd 6:30 pm located at the Kandiyohi Rescue Squad building 213 Lakeland Dr NE, Willmar, MN 56201 There will be a short presentation and discussion on Winlink and Vara after the club business is handled.

What is WFD? Winter Field Day is a communications exercise. WFD is held on the last full weekend in January. WFD can be worked from the comfort of your home or in a remote location. You can participate by yourself or get your friends, family, or whole club involved. Winter Field Day is open to participants worldwide. Amateur radio operators may use frequencies on the HF, VHF, or UHF bands and are free to use any mode that can faithfully transmit the required exchange intact. Similar to the ARRL’s Field Day, bonus points are earned in several ways, including using non-commercial power sources, operating from remote locations, satellite contacts, and more. Winter Field Day is sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association. We passionately believe that Ham radio operators should practice portable emergency communications in winter environments as the potential for freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and other hazards present unique operational concerns. WFD is formatted to help increase your level of preparedness for disasters and improve your operational skills in subpar conditions. Click here to read more about the history and purpose of winter field day. More info at: Home - WFDA (winterfieldday.org)