Unchained Preppers
Communications => Radio => Topic started by: JohnyMac on June 30, 2022, 08:36:50 AM
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Here is the SOI for this coming Tuesday's net. Based on propagation predictions June's digital net will move to 75/80-meters and phone net will stay on 40-meters. Digital will be 3.588 USB and phone will be 7.285 Mhz LSB or higher till we find clear air. Each net I will post the frequency we end up on for phone.
The next ERIN net will be Tuesday July 26, 2022, starting at 1900 hrs. eastern with the digital ERIN net. The PACE for that net is as follows,
1) At 1900 hrs. eastern the digital net (I am on frequency at 1850 hrs eastern) will commence.
Primary 3.588 Mhz USB Contestia 4/250 1000 on the Waterfall
Alternate 7.110 Mhz USB Contestia 4/250 1000 on the Waterfall
Contingency This email thread
Emergency Text. Do I have your cell phone number?
When the Net Control Station (NCS) calls for check-in's this is the reporting format,
de your call/name/location/emergency traffic/ de your call
Once the NCS has gathered check-in's he/she will post the check-in's for corrections or additional check-in's.
The NCS will then start the reports portion of the digital net. Report format will be,
de your call/name/location/traffic if any/your report for around your AO, Covid, unrest, military movement, petrol/diesel prices, inventory depth/outs, food prices, etc/weather/de your call
Please make sure your RXId button at the top right of your Fldigi screen. This allows folks to send their report via Flmsg. Probably, in the future, we will send reports via Flmsg as it is faster and you can save reports to your computer. Time to get familiar with the mode.
Suggestion...Pre type out your report then copy & paste it to your FLdigi when it is your time to give your report.
2) At 2000 hrs (I am typically on frequency at 1950 hrs. eastern) the voice net will commence.
Primary 7.285 Mhz LSB or higher till clear air
Alternate 3.807 Mhz LSB or higher till clean air
Contingency This email thread
Emergency Text. Do I have your cell phone number?
The above SOI will be used at first, if the interwiz is taken down through Executive Order -- Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions. Then we will develop and share a revised SOI.
As we move into a new propagation season, I will have available a new ERIN SOI for when the interwize goes down or other drama occurs that causes a breakdown in normal communication. If you would like a copy of that SOI, please drop me a PM and I will send to you.
73 & God Bless,
Johnymac
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Remember, the phone net tonight will start at 7.285 Mhz. :thumbsUp:
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Thanks, JohnyMac! 'See you on the radio.'
Will you be running on your solar power system tonight?
T-storm QRM is very LOUD here, right now. Tough copy with Cooter this afternoon, as my earphones were banging on and off my ears with the lightning strikes ;-)
(https://c.tenor.com/65aLyOdtVDUAAAAd/ear-rape-ears.gif)
(https://c.tenor.com/OiLnnnMUxfUAAAAC/torture-make-it-stop.gif)
-Sir John Honeybucket
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I'll do my best to be on the Phone net, BUT..... There are two storm fronts moving straight toward me and the first one should be at my house about 6:30PM. I'm betting that the second one, which is bigger, will be here about 7:30. If you don't hear me, its because I've turned off, disconnected, and unplugged.
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So far, I've just had a bit of drizzle rain so I copied the Digital net. Now...... What's going on with the spelling on the digital net? I could figure out most of it but it was awful. I got partial words, words that ran together with other words, awful mispellings. Is it just that the signals I'm receiving are just weak? I'm hoping I will be able to participate in the Phone net at 8. :popcorn:
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ON 7.287
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Tough copy on everyone this evening.
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Here in Va on the Bay, good copy on digital AND on the voice net. Even New Jersey was good copiable though rather close for NVIS this time of evening. JohnyMac was able to hear and talk with me when I was playing with my 5 Watt QRP CW/SSB transceiver. It's the size of a deck of cards.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gW5r5JQRbus/maxresdefault.jpg)
Nice to know that even without an electrical power grid, we can communicate using very low power comption transceivers. At least if we loose the grid, high powered ham QRM stations will mostly be off the air. :violin: :sarcasm:
73 de Sir John Honeybucket
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What is the make of that radio Sir John?
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Yeah copy was an issue. It was due to some space weather issues via the sun. Oh well...
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It is the TR(u)SDX transceiver. Link to 'approved' builder is in the following video from Gil at Radio Preppers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LTHavN7vLA&t=1s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LTHavN7vLA&t=1s)
It's good on SSB as you heard and also very good on Morse (CW)
- Sir John Honeybucket
This is the vendor I bought it from assembled and ready to use. (I did calibrate the frequency standard - a simple dial twist in the menu).
The vendor I I used was "uellyqh" on Ebay.
Here is another video and vendor suggestion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs7j4Ho44Xk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs7j4Ho44Xk)
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Here (https://rowaves.com/product/trusdx-5-band-multimode-qrp-transceiver-kit-assembled/) is a Romanian company that is producing this little transceiver. The transceiver handles 80/60/40/30/20, modes CW/LSB/USB/AM/FM (No digital at this point). Top power 6.5-watts at 13.8 volts power supply.
Based on some reviews, the above Romanian company produces a quality product (Out of stock at the moment). There has been some issues with the Chinesum produced one. Cost $133- (USD) plus shipping.
I had a great QSO (58 RX) with Sir John Tuesday night while he was using this little radio.
Interesting huh?
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Conditions were awful, I could hear Sir John fairly clearly, but NCS was just an occasional syllable in the noise. Really wanted to try the new radio, which just arrived yesterday afternoon.
I got a Xiegu X-6100, which is basically a Linux ARM computer with an RF stage attached. The screen is absolutely stunning. It's about the size of an 8" length of 2x4, and weighs about 2 pounds. It has a built-in soundcard so you can run digi modes with just a USB connection to the PC. Some people have installed ARMbian Linux and gotten fldigi and WSJT-X running right on the radio, but the display isn't suitable for running desktop apps. 5W on internal battery, 10W on external power. I added side handles/protection rails and a paracord handle last night, think it's going to make a great rig to throw in the pack and head out in the woods.
Hopefully conditions will be better next week, I should have it up and running on digital by then. Hoping to do a few nets from "the field".
(https://feedingfreedom.info/images/6100.JPEG)
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FF, AWESOME! I am green with envy. :cheers:
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FF Wow! your Xiegu 6100 looks great! I like the form factor very much.
SJH
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I'm pretty surprised by the receiver, not as good as my "big" radios, but better than I expected. The noise reduction is really good. I have a case coming that was recommended by a youtube ham, along with some other bits and bobs, like a straight mic cable that will take up much less space in my pack.
I did have a scare last night after the net, when they tell you to wait at least 30 seconds after shutting the radio down to restart it, they ain't kidding! Wasn't paying attention, hit the button too fast, and I had just a black screen. :faint:
Luckily, re-flashing the firmware (very quick process) completely brings it back, although you lose all your settings. Going to carry a spare SD card in the case with the latest firmware on it so I don't get stuck out in the woods with a blinky brick.
Made a couple contacts this morning, including K2B in Virginia on CW. Can't wait to get this thing out in the woods, I've got some great spots close to work that I can hit in the morning right after work.
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I am stuck down in the Philly area dealing with a mom issue. I have asked some UP folks to fill in for me. Have fun!
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I have thunderstorms approaching, I'll see how quickly they pass through.
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Whoever is hosting the phone net, please post the frequency. :facepalm: :popcorn:
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Looks like it's you, PK. We're in the middle of a severe thunderstorm.
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Between the various POTA parties and the A.M. guys, tis VERY crowded around the previously posted ERIN voice net frequency.
The CW sked with Cooter NOISY but entirely readable, with 100% copy of his ERIN SITREP on the very first pass in QRP CW. I wish that we had more ERIN Morse operators, it's a fine , efficient and reliable way to pass sitreps and the mode is SO narrowband that we can fit in almost anywhere. Slow, handsent Morse matches perfectly with slow hand WRITTEN, paper and pencil copy of message traffic. A five Watt CW signal being roughly as effective as a 100 Watt SSB signal and with fewer errors than trying to send messages in voice. If interested, please contact me. High speed not required.
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FROM COOTER
11JUL22 ERIN RPT
COVID 1 CASE
GAS 4.40 GAL
MINOR SHORTAGE
ALL WELL HERE
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73 de Sir John Honeybucket
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I would like to apologize to the Tuesday night ERIN group for the failure of this weeks net.
No excuse however, I was stuck in the Philly area returning my 90-year old mom back to her home. Buying groceries, setting up the seven day a week caregiver, and other minor duties before I made the 3-hour trek back to the redoubt.
This little incident is a great opportunity to point out we need ERIN NCS folks in a rotation or as backup to the two nets (Phone & Digital).
To whine a bit, I have been doing the ERIN net off and on since 2018 - Pretty much full-time since March 2020. I ask the group, what would happen to the ERIN net if I was hit by a bus? Would it die?
Anyway, food for thought.
73 & God Bless!
JMc
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If i was around this past Tuesday, i would have picked up the digital net. Already made macro's for the net :)
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I do not care what FF says about you OBH, you are Okay. :pirateThumbUp: :cheers:
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I have settled on 7.285
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I had a good copy on everyone this evening, the signals weren't strong, but my local noise level was low, which helped immensely. :fuckYeah:
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It took me a few minutes to find the net but I could hear everyone just fine even though I had a somewhat high noise level. It was constant so I calmed it down with my Noise Reduction feature. :popcorn:
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All and all a good net last evening - Both digital and phone.
I heard everyone but one station about 30-miles to the west of me. Later he told me that he heard everyone but the KC2 station about 30-miles east of me.
The band was not kind to folks close to me last night although just above the noise I could hear the KC2 station 30-miles east of me.
Jackalope, you were great last night at a 5/5 earlier then a 5/7 when you applied a bit of extra juice to your TX. I would love to buy a linear amp that puts out a max of lets say 500 watts however, we can't afford that right now.
I do not say this enough...Thank you all for participating in these nets, both digital & phone. They benefit all of us in practicing and tweaking our ham skills. The way things look, we may need to use them sooner than later.
73 & God Bless
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Am parked on digital freq. Good traffic pass from Cooter using his QRP CW and dipole.
See You On The Radio !
Sir John Honeybucket
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Crap.... I wanted to get on the Phone net at 8PM tonight but there is a huge storm hitting right now and the weather map shows it continuing until 8:30 PM. I've got all the antennas disconnected and the radios turned off. I guess I'll be missing the nets tonight. Sorry folks. :violin: :facepalm:
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i DID NOT HEAR ANYONE ON DIGITAL.
I A ON 7.285 MHZ NOW FOR THE PHONE BUT A LOT OF CRASHES SOUTH OF ME.
WE WILL TRY TO HOLD THE ERIN PHONE NET O 7.285 MHZ.
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GOOD SIGNALS ON THE VOICE ERIN NET TONIGHT.
de SJH
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:thumbsUp:
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Yup, solid copy on everyone tonight.
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I did have a scare last night after the net, when they tell you to wait at least 30 seconds after shutting the radio down to restart it, they ain't kidding! Wasn't paying attention, hit the button too fast, and I had just a black screen. :faint:
Luckily, re-flashing the firmware (very quick process) completely brings it back, although you lose all your settings. Going to carry a spare SD card in the case with the latest firmware on it so I don't get stuck out in the woods with a blinky brick.
I had the same problem with my X-6100 the other day. The radio had been sitting unused for maybe three weeks, and it wouldn't boot. Just the X6100 splash screen, a blinking Linux cursor then nothing.
As per FeedingFreedom, I simply reflashed the firmware and everything is now fine. I have also added a microSD card to my X6100 kit in case it happens again while I'm in the field.
I'd like to know how/why it happens so I can avoid it if possible.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Z5zW0QhR/IMG-20230103-180712-412.jpg)
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Uh Oh..... It would seem that those radios have a problem similar to the TYT 9000's. I have a big stack of perfectly good 2 meter, 220, and 440, TYT 9000's that completely lose their minds if the power goes off while the radio is turned on. I wiped out 3 radios in the house when the power flickered off and right back on. I can't find any Firmware to reset them. I have one TYT radio left that still works and I'm very careful to turn it off when I get out of the SUV and then turn it back on when I get back in.