June 30: TS-2000 interface built
TS-2000 interface built, in testing now. Photo of circuit
June 25: Echolink progress
The VA3TO controller has been modified to fit the needs of the RLC Club controller, namely removing two resistors, an optoisolator, and changing a capacitor value.
There is still hope that the install could be on the July 4th weekend, provided the equipment will fit in the cabinet without another rack shelf being needed.
June 20: Field Day 2006 Satellite schedule posted
AO-51 is already in Field Day mode, and ISS will be going into Field Day cross-band repeat mode on Thursday June 21, to allow people to practice.
June 19: Remaining HF/Echolink parts ordered
After receiving and powering up the DRF controller, and agonizing over what exact parts needed to be ordered (about fifty!), the parts order was finally placed. The shipment should arrive well in time to implement on schedule, provided mech hall access is available.
June 12: Heil mic here and wired
Wired up mic to Orion today. I didn't agree with Heil's suggested wiring, and used my own method. No hum or WKAR AM 870 audio noted. Very clean and surprisingly, it also eliminated the hum on the Aux. Input!
June 12: Echolink controller shipped
Expecting delivery within 2 weeks, and Mouser parts even sooner. Anticipating install around July 4th weekend.
June 11: AO-51 / International Space Station (ISS) Satellite Field Day
Both the International Space Station and AO-51 will be in special Field Day modes, allowing easier access to users. Besides the congestion of heavy usage, dual-band HTs with long antennas or yagis should be able to access either satellite.
ISS:
ISS will be in cross-band repeat mode. Since the downlink is on VHF and is 10 Watts, it is easily hearable on HTs with long (more than 10 centimeter) antennas.
You can practice listening now since the BBS sends packet bursts about every 15 seconds on that frequency.
ISS Field Day Frequencies:
Downlink: 145.800MHz, 10 Watts
Uplink: 437.800MHz, NO PL
AO-51:
AO-51 will have TWO FM voice transponders operational.
AO-51 Field Day Frequencies:
AO-51 Transponder 1:
Downlink: 435.300MHz, 1300mW
Uplink: 145.920MHz, 67.0Hz PL REQUIRED!
AO-51 Transponder 2 "QRP":
Downlink: 435.150MHz, 400mW
Uplink: 145.880MHz, NO PL
For tips on accounting for Doppler shift (which you must do!) and general satellite information, check out the FM HT Tips.
June 9: Echolink controller ordered.
Ordered VA3TO controller, will place Mouser parts order this weekend or Monday.
June 8: Echolink approval pending
Pending a reconfirmation from the officers, the Echolink controller and associated components to modify it are planned to be ordered
on Monday.
Also in the same order is planned the HF Data upgrade parts (to eliminate transmit hum).
June 6: Tentative Echolink / HF Data upgrade proposal posted
Pending some vetting, this list gives the estimated cost of upgrading the repeater for Echolink and upgrading the HF data connection to eliminate hum.
June 5: HF Digital modes rolling!
After putting my sound card in temporarily, I've been making tons of digital mode contacts, and getting compliments on clean output signal with amplifier. But, spent too much time on that and not enough on Echolink! So, tonight I plan to work on Echolink BOM.
There is also now a sort of lousy cardboard cover on the wooden boost transformer box. Enough to prevent against some accidents, but we really need a proper housing for it!!
June 4: Echolink BOM in progress
Getting exact BOM to bring before officers for a vote to purchase VA3TO computer/radio interface since repeater controller cannot directly interface to computer.
Also, Echolink now shuts down automatically (even if QSO in progress) from midnight to 6AM. Please email one of the officers if you'd like access during those night hours.
June 3: Digital modes impaired w/o sound card
Tried working PSK31/SSTV with internal sound card, but too much distortion from cheap motherboard sound chips. Researching what is best card to get for about $50 or less.
June 3: HF amp online temporarily
Interference:
DON'T use the amp from 8AM to 5PM, because of interference to building phone system.
Cleaned up and wired transformer to produce 240V from 208V, which makes the amp easily produce rated output.
The limiting factor seems to be the cooling--no chimney so the tubes overheat more quickly.
Must get/make a proper enclosure for boost transformer. For now, only plug into wall when using and be careful!
Also, because Orion is now programmed for loop control, it must be plugged into amp to transmit (even though amp may be powered off, control circuitry in amp (relays) close circuits to allow Orion to transmit).
June 2: HF Amp install
Friday around noon--
Details of Install:
Rewire 208-240VAC boost transformer--figure out best way to switch and fuse AC input to transformer for fire/safety issues--figure out what type of enclosure we should make to safely house transformer
Install 12/10 meter filter upgrade in amp
Wire QSK loop control and reprogram Orion to accept loop control
Determine appropriate drive levels and document typical drive and knob settings for each band segment.
Make a label for amp front panel indicating not to exceed 800mA(?) plate current nor 130mA(?) grid current (must check manual)
May 30: Echolink
Programmed the controller some more in regards to the upgrades--must get access to the controller to measure/verify levels as noted on the Wiki. Estimate it will cost about $30 to build an interface, or about $90 to buy one--but in any event, the levels must be verified.
May 30: Orion II
Getting AM 870 WKAR broadcast coming through faintly in TX audio due to cheap temporary mic cord--but Heil equipment should be here soon enough, so not bothering to fix it now.
May 29: Orion II Operational
Orion II is on and working, no amplifier connected yet, but hopefully soon.
May 25 2006: HF Upgrade
Orion II install begins today, continuing through tomorrow. Have temporary mic, we now have funds to purchase a Heil mic, thus we are specifying one to order by 6/2.
May 22 2006: Projects
We have several open projects that you can help with! Even if only to learn about the systems involved,
we'd love to have your help.
Build rapport with colleagues and faculty, gaining practical experience.
Some of these topics may sound intimidating, but if you are basically familiar with radios and/or networking, you can make a serious contribution to the project(s).
Current Projects: [for details, see Wiki]
HF Station Upgrade
Echolink/web/email server upgrade
Website design
Repeater maintenance
W8SH Remote Control
May 22 2006: Wiki
Launched MSU Amateur Radio Club Wiki! A wiki is a place to collaborate on projects and share ideas.
May 21 2006: Dayton
Good times had, nice to meet people and operate equipment in person. Not much in "bargains" on used gear, excepting test equipment, modules and components.
Found that a dual-receive HT gets too much self-generated interference in an RF-intense environment to listen on two frequencies at once, and switched to one band only.
Didn't find any bargains on sound cards, so going to mail order for Echolink and HF/UHF stations. Also didn't find a bargain
on used UHF mobile, so likewise with that for the Remote Operation project.
I compared the Orion II operation with the Yaesu FTDX-9000 and Icom IC-7800 ($10000 class rigs) and feel more strongly than ever that the
club made the right choice in choosing the Orion II. The Orion II sweep update seems 2-3 times as fast as the 7800 and 9000. The receiver performance of the Orion II tested under actual operating conditions significantly exceeds
that of either radio. The much simpler control layout and native
computer interfacing make the most sense for our club.
In short, a $160,000 Bentley has some more gimmicky features than a $40,000 Lexus, but it's hard to justify the price increase for the Bentley--and the Lexus probably has better handling.
Also, compared the Centurion amplifier to equivalent MFJ models, and found the Centurion to be of substantially higher quality.
Updated remaining pages to XHTML, auditing web collaboration/wiki server for new server.
May 19 2006
Friday evening: Dinner in Dayton: Rob's Family Restaurant 6:30PM
May 16 2006: Repeater
Note: Some repeater messages have been modified for the time being to alleviate message bleedthrough onto Echolink.
This does not help the PL dropout issue, but will make internet repeater conferencing possible in the meantime at least.
(PL Dropout issue is where a fluttering signal (or for any other reason PL level uplink drops low such as high modulation) sometimes experiences loss of repeater transmit PL for the duration of their transmission).
May 15 2006
Updated new web server to Apache 2.2.2. Installed LSoft Listserv 14.5 on new server. Currently testing NMail SMTP server solution. Investigating ASSP for SMTP server proxy/filtering.
Planning to order Echolink parts by end of next week; waiting to see what parts we'll need for new HF install to save on shipping costs.
Directly connected temporary Echolink audio to server, improving reliability of level, increasing fidelity, and reducing distortion.
May 14 2006
Setup IDP system for new server today. Need to make crossover cable, then finalize web server/email server setup.
Also, reformatted entire website, except old photo archives (to be fixed in future when new photos are taken).
May 12 2006
Anticipating install of Orion II & Centurion week of May 22
May 1 2006
New Michigan Scanner Law comes into effect May 31, 2006
March 4 2006
Dr. Gerry Park, W8QS amplifier dedication celebration
