Thursday, 26 July 2018

ALL EARS Echelford newsletter about Black Cherry Fair event





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Saturday, 14 July 2018

GB4BCF and GB8BCF Chertsey and Echelford run Radio display at Black Cherry Fair











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Thursday, 5 July 2018

Easy DMR GPS: MD-380G / RT3S Tutorial

BIG GOTCHA!!!

Different countries use DIFFERENT CALL ID's for GPS *I got caught out*

The only one I have working is by connecting the hot-spot to BM_united_states_1

 USA connected repeaters, use's 310999
  • How to use the built in GPS to report into APRS.FI for APRS location 
  • How to set up a TYT MD-380G UHF version for this feature


First Step - Getting a GPS signal lock

Chances are that your radio's GPS was last tested in China, at the factory or never at all.

You may need to wait a while to get a signal lock. Be patient.

But first, program the following into your radio to get the GPS actually working.

Digital Contact

Create a new "Digital Contact" and label as "APRS-310999". Make the contact "Private Call".
 Set the Call ID to "310999". Do not enable a call receive tone.

It should look like this when done





Channel Setup

Create a new channel on a frequency (UHF or VHF does not matter) of your choice, such
as the one used on your hot spot, like an RF Shark OpenSpot.
Label the channel "APRS GPS ON" . Enable the "Send GPS Info" and "Receive GPS
Info" settings.

Select the Contact as the "APRS-310999" one created.

Select an appropriate group you may already have in your radio that includes TG 9
and any of your other favorites. This is what enables voice communication on the
same channel on your MD-380, but using a different talk group than TG 310999
which is for GPS only.

Use the same color code as your hotspot.
You may want to use TS 2 if in use with your Open Spot.

Make sure there is "None" in the Privacy setting.

Select "1" in the GPS System setting.

Your channel should look like this when done












Word about Group List:
This is optional, but setting up an RX Group List allows you
to monitor multiple TG at the same time.

GPS Settings

Go to the GPS Settings in the CPS and enable GPS Revert Channel to
the channel you created called "APRS GPS ON"
Set your default GPS report interval to a value of "180".
If you select a smaller value, the GPS will affect your battery life.
Set the Destination ID to the Digital Contact you created called "APRS-310999"

When finished, it should look like this





Now, create another Channel

Follow every step as above, but the only thing to do different is to not enable a GPS System.
 So, instead of "1" make sure that box is set to "None". Label this channel "APRS GPS OFF"

Before you write file to radio

Put both of the channels created into a new or existing zone.

Check to make sure GPS is enabled in the Menu Item setting like below




Getting CLOSER!!!

Write the file to your radio and then go to the channel you made called "APRS GPS ON"

Key your PTT for a second or so.

Go put your radio outside or where it could get a good GPS signal. WAIT about 10 minutes!

You will get a GPS lock when the globe icon changes from red to green.

Confirm you have GPS Lock

Go into your MD-380G radio menu under "Utilities" and "GPS BeiDou Info"

You should see your latitude, longitude, altitude and number of GPS satellites
 your radio can receive.

Like below




If you do not have that, you either set something up wrong or did not wait
long enough in a good location for a satellite lock. Try again.
If you have location data, proceed as follows:

Brandmeister Setup

Log in to your Brandmeister Network account and go to the SelfCare section.
The below URL "should" work if you can not figure it out.
https://brandmeister.network/?page=selfcare

Select "Chinese Radio", enable a 60 second APRS interval and select the
appropriate SSID for your call sign and icon. Generally,
a portable HT should be -2,  a mobile, -7 or -9.
A detailed table to consult can be found here.




See what happens next at APRS.fi


If you have done everything correctly and key your PTT and have a GPS signal lock,
you should be able to now see your DMR MD-380 on aprs.fi.

NOTE:  This will only work through a hotspot.
Many repeater operators may not let private calls or TG 310999 pass through,
so just want to be clear about that.

Next Steps & Future:

Much like there how APRS has RX only iGateways, it is entirely possible for
different areas to start supporting a DMR gateway by re-purposing a hotspot or
simplex link radio using MMDVM but for "receive only". This will then enable your
position to be shared without having to use a hotspot or repeater which
may disrupt traffic. Repeaters owners say this is an issue.
This approach in adding a separate gateway will solve the issue
AND create uniform adoption by using the same frequency like 144.39 for APRS.
Perhaps DMR uses could use one of the proposed 427 MHz channels in the simplex
channel plan found here.

Actual use cases:

Maybe you travel?  Take your hotspot with you in the car and talk on your DMR HT?
Now, you will have GPS APRS on aprs.fi from anywhere (That has mobile phone coverage)

Via simplex communication, you and another radio can exchange location and
altitude data independent of any infrastructure at any time.

Excite the amateur radio community to continue development for non-network
infrastructure use cases possibly by incorporating local cached maps, mesh
networks and iGateways on coordinated frequencies to support another layer of
communication and situational awareness.

Kindly shared from pi-star users group on facebook By Steve B
The official blog of the Hudson Valley Digital Network.

We focus on DMR and the latest emerging disruptive technology in amateur radio today to encourage relevancy of ham radio in a modern world.
http://notebook.hvdn.org/2018/02/easy-dmr-gps-md-380g-tutorial.html?m=1
The TYT MD-380 as well as a few other DMR radios have alternate versions that incorporate a built in GPS.
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James / M0JFP on get surrey TV talking about recent ISS SSTV transmissions







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Tuesday, 3 July 2018

ISS contact with Kardinal-Fringes-Gymnasium in Bonn Germany received by James / M0JFP in the UK #retevis




Here is a list of the questions asked (translated to English)

 1. Yasna (11): How does the human body change in outer space?
2. Victor (11): Does your biorhythm change in space and can you sleep well?
3. Eva (17): Is it true that people cannot belch in space?
4. Tessa (11): Which everyday commodities and habits do you miss most?
5. Max (14): Is it possible to light a candle in the space station, and if so, what does it look like?
6. Roman (16): Do you see the fireworks on New Year’s Eve on the ISS?
7. Lena (16): Do you think that the idea of populating the Moon and Mars in near future is realistic?
8. Lorenz (16): Have you ever lost anything outside the ISS?
9. Max (17): What do you think about the disposal of waste, e. g. electronic scrap, in outer space?
10. Sven (17): What would you ask an astronaut if you were not an astronaut yourself?
11. Charlotte (13): How clean is the air inside the ISS? Do you need to do dusting?
12. David (13): What did your assistant CIMON surprise you the most with?
13. Linda (11): What does it feel like to go on a spacewalk?
14. Lorent (11): What was your most exceptional experience in outer space?
15. Anna (18): How difficult is it to readjust to life on earth after a long stay in space?
16. Maurice (15): Which spaceship would you take to fly to the ISS if you had the choice between the time-tested Soyuz capsule or the new Dragon V2?
17. Max (14): How fast is your internet connection on the ISS?
18. Lukas (15): What would happen in case of an acute medical emergency, e. g. appendicitis?
19. Anne (17): Is it possible to fly directly to the moon from the ISS?
20. Benjamin (9): What is your favorite food on the space station?

 Live form the school itself:
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