Aug 05 2014
Some Hytera models have a hidden service menu. This will display some more information. Most useful is the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) value giving detail about the real quality of the received signal. I’ve tested this on the MD-785G, PD-785 and the X1p. Entering this menu can be done by pressing some buttons in the order displayed below.
A demonstration video:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR2qz2xc3Gs]
Aug 05 2014
Take two pieces of the Hytera MD785 and build your own (crossband) repeater. No logic, just a simple cable with 4 resistors are needed. Works with FM and DMR of FM to DMR or the other way around. Keep in mind that when using a DMR-DMR repeater, audio will be converted to analog first causing a slightly extra delay and loose of quality.
Jun 28 2014
Santino (PD8S) called me to help sorting out a problem at the new PI2ASD and PI3ASD repeaters. PI3ASD is causing interference on a TELE2 microwave link. Tough this link works on 13 GHz, the modulator has a baseband working on 140 MHz +/- bandwidth. The PI3AMS repeater is just in the middle of that band, transmitting at 145.7750 MHz. Inteferance was caused by RFI in to the coax and direct RFI into there baseband modulator. The fix was to move the antenne a few meters away from TELE2’s equipment. Too bad they used wrong frequencies they shoudn’t use and it was costing me allmost a full day of labour.
Jun 28 2014
Last week we had a nice meeting about the roll-out of HAMNET in the Netherlands. Attendees were Paul (PE1RJV), Lucas (PD0LVS), Rob (PE1CHL) and me. We all have our specialties when it comes to networking, IP, DNS, etc. With this small team we should be able to make fast progress… We already found a network provider to announce the 44.137.0.0/16 IP-prefix as well the interlink from their datacenter in Amsterdam to a location in Hilversum. From that location, point2point links can be created. The link Hilversum – Utrecht, Hilversum – Amsterdam en Amsterdam – Alkmaar are the most obvious ones to start with. To be continued…
Meeting where the PI2NOS repeater is located
Jun 28 2014
I’m changing the default 12VDC connector from banana jack to Anderson PowerPole. No more soldering or even worse: screwing high current power connectors. The new default is Anderson PowerPole crimp connectors. To support a transfer phase I’ve created a PowerPole to Banana jack cable this morning capable of running 30 Amps of power at 12 Volts. For mobile use there are factory assembled sigarette to powerpole adapters availlable ready to flow 20 Amps at 14 Volts.
Jun 03 2014
Yesterday evening I managed to work the last state to achieve the Worked All States Certificate: Wyoming. I had a JT65 QSO with Jackie, N7MJ on the 17-meters band.
He already confirmed the QSO via Logbook of the World (LoTW) so my certificate is requested. I only used a magnetic loop antenna.
The current WAS status can be seen top-right of my blog or colored via an interactive map on the certificate page. Next is to go for triple-play WAS, so I have 26 states to go in SSB and CW and 3 in DIGI.
Apr 05 2014
I like my I3VHF loop, like Wimo sells it as Baby loop. It has full coverage between 6,5 and 30 MHz and provides me with the 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meter band. I can work around the world in digimode (JT65) with it and there aren’t many day’s I can’t work Japan or the States. Even worked Australia and New Zeeland with it. I’m only missing the 160 and 80 meter band.
I don’t expect to go around the world with the new loop, sold as MLA-T and manufactured in BTV in Czech but it should give me lots of DXCC points throughout Europe and it would be great if it could go across the Atlantic to the United States, Canada and some Latin-America countries.
Mar 30 2014
Today I was giving CQ on 15M via JT65. Kevin, KH6KX, answered my call from Hawaii, one of the two missing states for my Worked All States certificate. It’s nice to see he’s using a Buddypole antenna while I’m using a Magnetic loop. Tough not bad, both are knitting needles compared to yagi’s.
Hawaii is in. As state and as DXCC. Thanks Kevin! Now one more state left and that’s Wyoming.
Mar 11 2014
Today, my new attenuator arrived. The old home-brew unit wasn’t really suitable to do measurements on 150 MHz and above. This Bird is suitable till 6 Ghz and has a -30 dB attenuator (the old one had a -40 dB att.).
The type is 100-SA-NFM-30 and documents can be found on the Bird website. By accident I found this one on Ebay for only $50.- including shipping costs and taxes.
Now, the only thing missing in my lab is a VSWR-bridge. I’ve ordered the Rigol DSA-VB1020 and this should arrive soon.
Mar 10 2014
In 2013 we activated the island of Texel (EU-038) during the RSGB IOTA weekend in July. This year, in 2014, we will return with better equipment and more operators. This year we will use PA6TX as callsign. More info will follow soon. Meanwhile: qrz.com/db/pa6tx.
Confirmed operators: PA4RVS, PH4X, PD0LVS, PD1JFB
Confirmed guests: DL1KVN
Logs will be uploaded to both LoTW and to eQSL at the end of the contest. QSL to the bureau via PD0LVS.
Feb 28 2014
Gibraltar (DXCC 146 on the most wanted list) is confirmed as of today on the 10-meter band in CW.
Feb 24 2014
For some weeks now I notice I get more and more SWL reports from the JT65 QSO’s. Guess JT65-HF is the new skimmer, automatically collecting QSO’s for the SWL. Today it became even more frustrating, receiving an e-mail with ‘PDF QSL card’ and the request to send a card back via direct mail. How about no?
I stopped sending out paper QSL cards long time ago. If I want your card, I’ll send direct. If you send me yours via the bureau, I’ll answer via the bureau, tough Logbook of the World is preferred. But I will never answer these kinds of request, neither SWL reports collected by automatic skimming software via eQSL.cc.
