Difference between revisions of "Project:Packet Radio/Bulletin/1807"

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(August 2018 bulletin)
m (Oops.)
 
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   _____
 
   _____
−
   \ | /    L O N D O N  H A C K S P A C E           August 2018 update
+
   \ | /    L O N D O N  H A C K S P A C E             July 2018 update
 
     \|/    P A C K E T  R A D I O                        to HACKRS@GBR
 
     \|/    P A C K E T  R A D I O                        to HACKRS@GBR
 
     |      ____________________________________________________________
 
     |      ____________________________________________________________
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-+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+-
  
 +
      ---===( NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY 24 JULY 2018 AT 19:00 )===---
  
−
  ---===( NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2018 AT 18:00 )===---
+
Join  us for  another  hilltop  get-together and  enjoy  the fine  views
 +
and  the radio  connectivity! We'll  meet  by the  Royal Observatory  in
 +
Greenwich, near the clock, maybe sitting around a picnic table. Everyone
 +
welcome, as  usual. If you  get lost, give us  a shout on  433.500MHz or
 +
have a look on APRS for our  location. With any luck, we'll have an APRS
 +
'live object' called HACKRS letting others  know of the event, thanks to
 +
Julian M0IPU.
  
−
It looks  likely that  this will  be the  last hilltop  get-together, at
+
The last meeting on 19 June 2018 was a lot of fun. Sam M0SKF had brought
−
least  for 2018.  As  usual,  we'll meet  by  the  Royal Observatory in
+
some antennas and a camera tripod on his bike in the hope of connecting
−
Greenwich, nearish the clock. Everyone is welcome  - look  for bikes,
+
to either GB7NWG in Wood Green or GB7CIP in Caterham.  With Mat 2E0TPS
−
antennas, that sort  of thing.  If you get lost,  someone should be
+
and others he managed to get a reliable connection to both, using his
−
listening out on 433.500MHz. We even have an object on APRS -
+
Kenwood TH-D74 in KISS mode.  Elsewhere on the picnic table, ongoing
−
https://aprs.fi/info/a/HACKRS - look for HACKRS. Being September, the
+
experiments aiming to get onto packet with only a Baofeng and a
−
meeting will likely be a bit darker and damper than usual. It might even
+
Raspberry Pi developed further. Three people were inquisitive enough
−
rain, so check the wiki page (URL in the header) to check whether we've
+
about what we were doing to stop and chat to  us about radio,  and we
−
decided to go to a pub instead.
+
enjoyed a pleasant evening until the park closed.
  
−
=> Note the earlier time of 18:00; this is to allow for the fact that <=
 
−
=> the van to throw us out of the park appears at 20:00 in September! <=
 
  
−
An amateur-to-be, George, came along to our last meeting and we told him
+
                      ---===( GB7NWG NEWS )===---
−
a bit about  what radio is all  about. Others stopped to ask  what it is
 
−
we're doing or just to let us know  that they are into radio too. On the
 
−
table, Mat and Sam were testing out a couple of antennas for packet, one
 
−
on a bike-mounted pole and one on a cord slung over a nearby tree.
 
  
 +
Testing  continues, but  it  seems like  the new  node  is reliable  and
 +
supports nice steady connections. The next  stage is to get a packet BBS
 +
running there.  Ideas for other  programs and  facilities to run  on the
 +
node are welcome. GB7NWG is listening for your call on 144.925MHz!
  
−
                    ---===( HACKSPACE NEWS )===---
 
  
−
The hackspace  is returning, thanks to  a band of helpers.  Regular open
+
                        ---===( TNC POOL )===---
−
evenings have started again on Tuesdays at 7pm, the network is going in,
 
−
and work areas  are being installed. The more members  who can help, the
 
−
faster the space will be open. Get in touch if you can help!
 
  
 +
A reminder: Any London Hackspace member may borrow from this pool to get
 +
their packet station going as quickly and easily as possible, whether it
 +
is  for participation  in  the  packet network  or  other amateur  radio
 +
projects at the Hackspace. The status  of the TNC pool remains unchanged
 +
from last month:
  
−
                  ---===( TWO MEMBERS LEVEL UP )===---
+
    (T1) AEA PK-232, with manual (M1);
 +
    (T2) AEA PK-232MBX, with mailbox capability;
 +
(T3/T4) Two Pac-Comm Tiny-2s;
 +
    (T5) AEA PK-88 with manual (M2);
 +
    (M3) 'G4VRQ's Beginner's Guide to Packet Radio' booklet;
 +
    (S1) PC-Pakratt 2 software, with manual, 5.25" and 3.5" floppies.
 +
    (S2) PC-Pakratt/PK-88, with handbook and 3.5" floppy.
  
−
Mat 2E0TPS is now M0XPX and Michael 2E0KRV is now M0ISR! In other words,
+
We're looking for  testers for these TNC, and loans  of old transcievers
−
both have achieved full licence status. Congratulations to both of them!
+
to make  ready-to-go packet stations. If  you'd be interested in  such a
 +
station, please get in touch.
 +
 
 +
Related to this, Marrold 2E0SIP has started a  'Radio Programming Cable
 +
Library'. Instead  of paying lots for  a cable just to program your new
 +
radio, you can borrow one from a friendly Hackspace member. The list can
 +
be found at:
 +
http://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Radio_Programming_Cable_Library
  
  
Line 56: Line 75:
  
 
The network map shows the users  interested in connecting via packet and
 
The network map shows the users  interested in connecting via packet and
−
the success with which they  have reported establishing connections. The
+
the success with which they have established connections. Julian M0IPU
−
maps remain unchanged from  last month, though there  was a flurry of
+
has reliably connected, and we welcome him to the network!
−
interest in packet on the mailing list.
+
 
 +
I must now admit a shocking error found in the network maps for the last
 +
few months. A sign error was causing GB7NWG to be plotted to the east of
 +
the meridian and not the west. This has been corrected below, showing a
 +
network spread far more in the north-south axis than the east-west axis.
 +
It looks like we  need more west and east Londoners to  join in and make
 +
our network a bit wider!
  
 
,----------------------------------------------------------------------.
 
,----------------------------------------------------------------------.
 
|                      GB7NWG      __..--+ M0IPU                      |
 
|                      GB7NWG      __..--+ M0IPU                      |
−
|                    (M0SKF) o--"""                                  |
+
|                    (M0SKF) +--"""                                  |
 
|                            |\_                                      |
 
|                            |\_                                      |
 
|                      M0OKE .'+ \                                    |
 
|                      M0OKE .'+ \                                    |
−
|                            |    )+ M0XPX                            |
+
|                            |    )+ 2E0TPS                            |
 
|                          .' +-" 2E0RLZ                              |
 
|                          .' +-" 2E0RLZ                              |
 
|                          |  |                                      |
 
|                          |  |                                      |
Line 75: Line 100:
 
|                        |.'                      o  repeater or node  |
 
|                        |.'                      o  repeater or node  |
 
|                GB7CIP  ||                      --- reliable link    |
 
|                GB7CIP  ||                      --- reliable link    |
−
|                (G4APL) o                       ... occasional link  |
+
|                (G4APL) +                       ... occasional link  |
 
`----------------------------------------------------------------------'
 
`----------------------------------------------------------------------'
  
−
Because this is pretty narrow, here is a stretched version:
+
Because this is hard  to see, the map below is plotted with a distorted
 +
aspect ratio..
  
 
,---------<--------<-----<---<--<-<<>>->-->--->----->-------->---------.
 
,---------<--------<-----<---<--<-<<>>->-->--->----->-------->---------.
Line 86: Line 112:
 
|                  /  ""--__                                          |
 
|                  /  ""--__                                          |
 
|                ./    +    ""--__                                    |
 
|                ./    +    ""--__                                    |
−
|              ./  M0OKE    __.:::--+ M0XPX                          |
+
|              ./  M0OKE    __.:::--+ 2E0TPS                        |
 
|            /        +--"""                                        |
 
|            /        +--"""                                        |
 
|          ./      _-" 2E0RLZ                                        |
 
|          ./      _-" 2E0RLZ                                        |
Line 101: Line 127:
 
                   ---===( LINK OF THE MONTH )===---
 
                   ---===( LINK OF THE MONTH )===---
  
−
http://aprs.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/  -  Several members have reported
+
https://www.rawles.net/radio/packet/neda/  -  By 1994, the North East
−
hearing calls or seeing APRS packets from a long way away, even across
+
Digital Association (NEDA)  had  "promoted into  existence the Western
−
the Channel, on their radios while hillwalking lately. This is likely
+
Hemisphere's largest Amateur Radio packet network". Their Annual from
−
due to tropospheric ducting, the result of  climatic conditions causing
+
the same year serves as a record of what they needed to know to get to
−
temperature inversions, which in turn cause a higher refractive index in
+
that point and as  a reference for us today. By  kind permission of Tadd
−
the atmosphere, 'bending' the signal. Using data from APRS-IS (in other
+
Toborg KA2DEW.
−
words, packet stations), this site presents a world map showing radio
+
 
−
propagation from stations  operating near 144MHz from the  last hour. It
+
https://youtu.be/7ea8SwhrhMU -  As a  bonus link, Todd's  Triangle Linux
−
might surprise you how often and how far propagation is reported at this
+
Users Group hour-long  talk  about TARPN, "TARPN: Off the Grid Text
−
time of year.
+
Messaging", covers a lot of information about the network.
  
  
 
                     ---===( CONTRIBUTIONS )===---
 
                     ---===( CONTRIBUTIONS )===---
  
−
If you have any contributions  for the September 2018 bulletin, please
+
If you have any contributions for the August 2018 bulletin, please send
−
send them via mail (internet or packet) to the addresses shown at the
+
them via mail (internet or packet) to the addresses shown at the top of
−
top of this message.
+
this message.
−
 
 
  
 
-+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+-
 
-+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+-
 
[end]
 
[end]
 
</pre>
 
</pre>

Latest revision as of 17:43, 1 August 2018

-+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+-
   _____
   \ | /    L O N D O N   H A C K S P A C E             July 2018 update
    \|/     P A C K E T   R A D I O                        to HACKRS@GBR
     |      ____________________________________________________________
  .-"""-.
 /    \\ \      We are working together to build and maintain an amateur
| \\,='\\ |     radio packet network in and around London, UK.
 \ \\    /
  '-...-'                               Internet email: packet@m0hsl.org
   __|__                          AX25 email: HACKRS@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
    ===                     Internet IRC: #lhs-radio on irc.freenode.net
     =    https://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Project:Packet_Radio

-+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+-

      ---===( NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY 24 JULY 2018 AT 19:00 )===---

Join  us for  another  hilltop  get-together and  enjoy  the fine  views
and  the radio  connectivity! We'll  meet  by the  Royal Observatory  in
Greenwich, near the clock, maybe sitting around a picnic table. Everyone
welcome, as  usual. If you  get lost, give us  a shout on  433.500MHz or
have a look on APRS for our  location. With any luck, we'll have an APRS
'live object' called HACKRS letting others  know of the event, thanks to
Julian M0IPU.

The last meeting on 19 June 2018 was a lot of fun. Sam M0SKF had brought
some antennas and a camera tripod on  his bike in the hope of connecting
to either  GB7NWG in Wood Green  or GB7CIP in Caterham.  With Mat 2E0TPS
and others  he managed to get  a reliable connection to  both, using his
Kenwood  TH-D74 in  KISS mode.  Elsewhere on  the picnic  table, ongoing
experiments  aiming  to get  onto  packet  with  only  a Baofeng  and  a
Raspberry  Pi developed  further. Three  people were  inquisitive enough
about what  we were doing  to stop  and chat to  us about radio,  and we
enjoyed a pleasant evening until the park closed.


                      ---===( GB7NWG NEWS )===---

Testing  continues, but  it  seems like  the new  node  is reliable  and
supports nice steady connections. The next  stage is to get a packet BBS
running there.  Ideas for other  programs and  facilities to run  on the
node are welcome. GB7NWG is listening for your call on 144.925MHz!


                        ---===( TNC POOL )===---

A reminder: Any London Hackspace member may borrow from this pool to get
their packet station going as quickly and easily as possible, whether it
is  for participation  in  the  packet network  or  other amateur  radio
projects at the Hackspace. The status  of the TNC pool remains unchanged
from last month:

    (T1) AEA PK-232, with manual (M1);
    (T2) AEA PK-232MBX, with mailbox capability;
 (T3/T4) Two Pac-Comm Tiny-2s;
    (T5) AEA PK-88 with manual (M2);
    (M3) 'G4VRQ's Beginner's Guide to Packet Radio' booklet;
    (S1) PC-Pakratt 2 software, with manual, 5.25" and 3.5" floppies.
    (S2) PC-Pakratt/PK-88, with handbook and 3.5" floppy.

We're looking for  testers for these TNC, and loans  of old transcievers
to make  ready-to-go packet stations. If  you'd be interested in  such a
station, please get in touch.

Related to this,  Marrold 2E0SIP has started a  'Radio Programming Cable
Library'. Instead  of paying lots for  a cable just to  program your new
radio, you can borrow one from a friendly Hackspace member. The list can
be found at:
http://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Radio_Programming_Cable_Library


                      ---===( NETWORK MAP )===---

The network map shows the users  interested in connecting via packet and
the success with  which they have established  connections. Julian M0IPU
has reliably connected, and we welcome him to the network!

I must now admit a shocking error found in the network maps for the last
few months. A sign error was causing GB7NWG to be plotted to the east of
the meridian and not the west.  This has been corrected below, showing a
network spread far more in the north-south axis than the east-west axis.
It looks like we  need more west and east Londoners to  join in and make
our network a bit wider!

,----------------------------------------------------------------------.
|                      GB7NWG       __..--+ M0IPU                      |
|                     (M0SKF) +--"""                                   |
|                             |\_                                      |
|                      M0OKE .'+ \                                     |
|                            |    )+ 2E0TPS                            |
|                           .' +-" 2E0RLZ                              |
|                           |  |                                       |
|                          .' |                                        |
<-- M0PLL                  | .'                                        |
|                         .' |                                         |
|                         |.|                                          |
|                        .'|                      +  packet station    |
|                        |.'                      o  repeater or node  |
|                GB7CIP  ||                      --- reliable link     |
|                (G4APL) +                       ... occasional link   |
`----------------------------------------------------------------------'

Because this is hard  to see, the map below is  plotted with a distorted
aspect ratio..

,---------<--------<-----<---<--<-<<>>->-->--->----->-------->---------.
|                GB7NWG                                                |
|               (M0SKF)               ________........--------+ M0IPU  |
|                   .o_-------""""""""                                 |
|                  /   ""--__                                          |
|                ./    +     ""--__                                    |
|              ./   M0OKE     __.:::--+ 2E0TPS                         |
|             /         +--"""                                         |
|           ./       _-" 2E0RLZ                                        |
|         ./      _-"                                                  |
|       ./     _-"                                                     |
|      /    _-"                                                        |
|    ./  _-"                                      +  packet station    |
|   / _-"                                         o  repeater or node  |
|  o-" GB7CIP                                    --- reliable link     |
|      (G4APL)                                   ... occasional link   |
`---------<--------<-----<---<--<-<<>>->-->--->----->-------->---------'


                   ---===( LINK OF THE MONTH )===---

https://www.rawles.net/radio/packet/neda/  -  By  1994, the  North  East
Digital  Association (NEDA)  had  "promoted into  existence the  Western
Hemisphere's largest  Amateur Radio  packet network". Their  Annual from
the same year serves  as a record of what they needed to  know to get to
that point and as  a reference for us today. By  kind permission of Tadd
Toborg KA2DEW.

https://youtu.be/7ea8SwhrhMU -  As a  bonus link, Todd's  Triangle Linux
Users  Group hour-long  talk  about  TARPN, "TARPN:  Off  the Grid  Text
Messaging", covers a lot of information about the network.


                     ---===( CONTRIBUTIONS )===---

If you have any contributions for  the August 2018 bulletin, please send
them via mail (internet or packet) to  the addresses shown at the top of
this message.

-+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+::+==+-
[end]
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