Yes. If you have an older iPad with the audio jack, then you can use a variety of iOS apps and an adapter to the 6 pin mini-DIN jack. I have such an adapter. I came with the radio when I bought it as a kit from another ham.

If you have a newer iPad then you need the Lightning to headset adapter, or maybe a USB-C to headset adapter.

I have used a PSK app and a packet app although I have better solutions for packet.

Hope that helps.


73,

Kevin N5KRG

I’m an “Apple guy” but for Ham use options are very limited. As someone stated, what exactly do you want to use it for? Do you want to use an iPad you already have or a tablet you plan to buy? A windows tablet is likely your best option here. Since I go out of my way to use Apple products, maybe an 11” MacAir (intel version) running VMWare to accommodate MS Windows? I use a 13” MacBook Pro ?

I use my iPad but the radio connects to a raspberry pi. ?VNC is doable but I find it a pain since a touch screen only interface in that scenario is not ideal. I also use it for winlink messaging but again via pi.?

there are small laptops that will only take an inch or Teo more that the iPad setup.?

?

I understand the limitation to be the kind of Bluetooth interface required is not supported by Apple. You will likely find Android based apps. There is an 817 specific app on android but it never worked for me. It is also no longer supported.?

I hope that helps.?

Carlos
N3RDR

On 2023-02-03 16:03, Joe W4HH NAQCC #3938 wrote:

I'm afraid I know the answer to this, but, here goes: Any way to
connect an iPad to an 817 instead of connecting to a computer?
My station consists of a homemade 2 ft X 2 ft table in my utility
room, wedged between our spare refrigerator and the water heater. No
room for even a small laptop, so, I'd like to use the iPad in place of
a laptop to control the 817.
Of course, there probably is not an app for this, but, I thought I'd
ask -- never know what I may find.
Thanks.
--------
Joe
W4HH

Hullo Joe,

I'm out of the iPad Mini market. "Upgrades" required, and impossible.

Perhaps define/state what kind of control you'd like.

Actually, is it in fact rig control, or a data modes interface that is desired?

Look for the apps. Mull over that bit.

There are Bluetooth "dongles" one may plug into the radio CAT port, for control. Perhaps one of those . . .

There are sound card types of cables as well for data modes.

73, John
--
J. D. Erskine
VA7OTC CN88hk
Victoria, BC

开云体育

I'm afraid I know the answer to this, but, here goes:? Any way to connect an iPad to an 817 instead of connecting to a computer?

My station consists of a homemade 2 ft X 2 ft table in my utility room, wedged between our spare refrigerator and the water heater.? No room for even a small laptop, so, I'd like to use the iPad in place of a laptop to control the 817.

Of course, there probably is not an app for this, but, I thought I'd ask -- never know what I may find.

Thanks.

--------
Joe
W4HH

See if a local club has a 6m net. Mine does and I’m able to listen to the net controller as he spins his beam around. He’s only 11km away but as he turns his beam around, calling out compass directions, I can determine how far away the other check-ins are located. Over his hour net, I can hear some of the others and I ask who else can hear my 6w FT818. Sometimes conditions are good, sometimes not so good. On occasion, one of our club members checks in from his new QTH in the southern US. I’m in S Ontario, Canada.. But it’s all a learning experience.?

Check to see if a nearby club has such a net.?

Rod
VA3MZD

Wow!? You've given me a lot to chew on.? I've been reading through the posts and checking out the links you sent.

Basic takeaways:

• Unlike a band like 40m where you can hear signals and make contacts at pretty much any time, on 6m you've got to follow the band's "schedule" and wait for it to be open.??
• Online tools like the DXMaps site are the fastest way to see when the band is open (in addition to just listening).
• Maybe the reason I'm not hearing anything as I tune around in the CW or USB modes is that most of the activity is on FT8?? Maybe the signals are so weak that you can't hear any audible "tones", even though a computer would be able to decode the FT8 signals??
• It looks like most of the digital activity is on 50.313??
• But I won't give up on CW, SSB, or even FM- maybe it's worth hanging out on the calling frequencies (50.125, 52.02, 52.04) or even some of the FM simplex frequencies (53.02, 53.52, 53.9)?? I think there are a few repeaters in my area- I'll check them out too.

Anyway, thanks again for all of the info- I really appreciate it!
Larry (WA2VKG)

Hi,
Some years back I got myself an FT690r and using a dipole worked all over Europe with 1watt, the radio was supposed to put out 2.5W, as others have said the conditions have to be right.
I've never tried 817 or TS 2000 on 6M yet.

Regards
Amanda M0DZO

I started out on 6m with an IC502 running three watts.? With a Cushcraft three element beam at about 20 feet I was very successful, even managed to work Hawaii from Michigan.? I also made contacts with that rig and the built-in telescoping whip.? 6m is very much a good band for QRP.
But...? To be successful on 6m you have to understand 6m.? You have to know when and where to listen.? You have to study and understand propagation, especially sporadic E.? Most of the year you won't hear anything, then during Es season it can be wild.? Working aurora on 6m is also an unforgettable experience.? Now is a good time to start studying and preparing, then next June and July you'll be ready to take part in the fun.

As others have said, 6m is very seasonal - it is far better in the summer than winter. Even during the summer, it is very volatile - it can swing from completely closed to wide open and back to closed on a few tens of minutes. But when it is open, it is like no other band! Some years ago, I was on holiday in the south west of France and I had taken my little 817 along with me. One afternoon, my wife and I went for a walk on the beach and I took the 817 with me - operated as an overgrown walkie-talkie on its internal battery and rubber duck antenna. We sat on top of a sand dune and I tuned across 6m. I heard a scratchy signal calling CQ, keyed up the microphone to reply and had a proper QSO with the DXpedition on St. Kilda - I measured the path as just over 1000 miles - not bad on 5w into a rubber duck!

Martin (G8FXC)

On 2023-01-30 13:00, lbakely wrote:

I’ve been a ham “forever”, but I’ve never done anything on 6
meters. My FT-817 is the only radio I have with 6M capability, so
I’m eyeing it as a way to try out 6M.
For the past few weeks I’ve been occasionally tuning around looking
for CW or SSB signals between 50.0 – 50.3. Other than a beacon,
I’m not hearing anything. I listen at various times during the day.
Maybe I’m looking in the wrong places, or maybe the band is dead
(where are we in the sunspot cycle?).
Anyway, question: Is anyone using their FT-817 on 6M? What
frequencies are you using? What modes? Are you having any success,
or is it just unreasonable to expect to work anything on 6M using QRP?
Tnx,
Larry (WA2VKG)

Hi Larry,

Welcome to The Magic Band. Sometimes it's magic that one gets a contact, any contact, however the times it "opens" are truly Magic. It has the LOS features other VHF+ frequencies do, with a bit of the somewhat extended ground wave (compared to High Band VHF) that keeps military land mobile there however a wee book I have on it has about seven kinds of funky propagation beyond simple Skywave.

Sad to say, however you _just_ missed the winter hotbed of activity for the band -- the ARRL January VHF Contest. There are three of these hosted by the Big A, the others being June and Sept. There are Sprints (single band, mini-contests), Spring and Fall. These often draw out a number of folks. Other hosted contests, say those by CQ Magazine, are good draws for ops. Check out Bruce's


I started a local 50 MHz activity group about 18 mo. back. We have played on the local repeater, on FM direct ("simplex") and on SSB / Fone. A number of my mates use the FT-817 as their 6 m rig. I hit up the Sprints and Contests, often as a Rover in the latter.

It sounds like you've worked out it isn't like FM at all in a number of ways.

Speaking of FM, sometimes it is useful. I had a look at RepeaterBook to see if you had any 6 m rptrs in your area. I didn't see one in Pitman, however there are about a half dozen reported as serviceable in the state. Perhaps you might reach one. At least you'd find someone to play on the band with.

I left a rig on 52.525 MHz FM when living in another city and was super surprised one day when the band opened south a number of states away. One fellow reportedly achieved WAS on 50 MHz -- all FM. Left it on and worked anyone who showed up over several years.

When one is not on the FM band plan we tend to call it Weak Signal work, even if folks are running, 100 W, 300 W, or a KW. No matter the amount, one is invariably trying to reach to the edge of what is seemingly possible, so the received signal is often (technically) weak.

Have a look for a local, regional or larger Weak Signal group. This gives one people and resources, information.

I'm lucky to have both the
Western Canada Weak Signal Association
and the
Pacific Northwest VHF Society
in the area, to lean on or look to for information, advice, encouragement, contacts.

I'd heartily encourage some local-ish contact, on or off air or on-line, with enthusiasts. Even following along on a mailing list can help.

I'm unsure of how distances are regarded in your locale, and these may or may not seem regional if not local, however they may know of folks closer to you:

Mt Airy VHF Radio Club Warminster, PA
North East Weak Signal [N.E.W.S.] Group, Longmeadow, MA
W3HZU Keystone VHF Club, York, PA

Signals _are_ up. The MUF climbs. 10 m has been wide open the last few days. Reports exist of 6 m activity and some fun has been reported on "8 m" (40 MHz experiments in progress.)

52.525 MHz FM NA Calling. Might be treated as a Watering Hole in your area, or some may treat it as strictly for calling. If no activity, call out! Hang out!
50.125 MHz USB is generally NA Calling. If one leaves the frequency, Tune Up! That is, Up The Band. CW and I think an Int'l DX Window is "below."

Re the contests. Some are single band -- if so, hang out, trade off calling out CQ. Most will work a new op on the air in an unofficial round robin. If the band opens then it feels more like HF and folks spread out.

Looking for contacts/points? Try out FM every now and again. Many folks have 50 MHz bolted on to their MF/HF rig. Some models of HT have 50 MHz. So encourage a local activity.

Some 'tests are multi-band. Manys the time that folks meet on 144 MHz, and the question is asked, "Do you have ____?" Other ops may follow that pair to that band (inc. 6 m) and another round robin ensues, then other bands are visited, many ops/stations returning to 144.2 MHz, or what have you, as a mix of watering hole, contact puddle, and coordinating frequency.

Try a dipole as minimum. The portability of the rig allows for getting out to local high ground which acts in lieu of a tower or other structure. Still one's antenna needs to be a helpful distance above ground.

Have fun. Weak Signal Work is sometimes a bit about listening to white noise. Also remember, if no one is calling a band looks dead. Don't be shy. <grin>

73, John

Some events:


for Fall Sprints, have to check out all the links sometimes to find your prey


--
J. D. Erskine
VA7OTC CN88hk
VE7MHI VA7RCN
Victoria, BC

Oh yes Larry!

We have a 25W ERP and horizontal polarisation here in DL on 6m, so 'often' I only use my FT-817, first generation made 2000, for that prupose. Most of the time its my only radio, i used, to make my 6m work!?
I don't need more power, and it 'frees' the other rigs, to do the rest of the SW-work!?

You should use, a short Yagi-typ antenna!
Here I use a 6-element Konni-antenna, more then enough, ...? I did work every station that I receive here! The 'balance' is more than adequate.
Best is, I can 'mute', most half of the world, with the Yagi-antenna, and listen to the prefered stations.
Have a lot of 'luck' with it!

You may always 'missed' the openings, or something else must happened!
(Go dancing with the XYL, or fishing?)

The 'open 6m Magic-Band' is less "open" then 10m, ... because of the wave-lenghts of 6m. There are about 'half' the acticity of 10m. But when open, the 'crowd' will be amazing and 'loud' and everywhere! - Like a shortwave 40m contest! - especialy the signal strengs of the stations. (9+10 to 20dB and more)

Listen to 10m and 2m. If there is some 'activity', go to 6m, and you will not missed the opening again!?

It is a real 'macig' band! Most of the times, only local 'backgroung noise', but when open, "der Punk geht ab!", as we say in DL! (The 'dude' will turn arround in circles!)

Watch some more times, and do a little more 'selective' search on 6m, when the higher band will work!

Now we are in the 'beginning' of a new strong sun-circle, in the up-comming part, and it will be a good one! (For the next 3 to 5 years)

Sorry for my bad English, it's not my native tounge!?

73 de Markus - db9pz?

开云体育

HI?

--

开云体育

Where to start…

I’ve been a ham “forever”, but I’ve never done anything on 6 meters.? My FT-817 is the only radio I have with 6M capability, so I’m eyeing it as a way to try out 6M.

For the past few weeks I’ve been occasionally tuning around looking for CW or SSB signals between 50.0 – 50.3.? Other than a beacon, I’m not hearing anything.? I listen at various times during the day.? Maybe I’m looking in the wrong places, or maybe the band is dead (where are we in the sunspot cycle?).

Anyway, question:? Is anyone using their FT-817 on 6M?? What frequencies are you using?? What modes?? Are you having any success, or is it just unreasonable to expect to work anything on 6M using QRP?

Tnx,

Larry (WA2VKG)