Winter Field Day — Satellite Success

Posted on January 29, 2017 by robert

I joined Newport County Radio Club, W1SYE, for their Winter Field Day again this year. The weather for New England was fantastic — in the low 40s dropping down to the upper 20s at night.  The only downside was a pretty stiff breeze.  But there was no snow on the ground!

Our WFD had two stations; one on phone for the entire 24 hours, and the other on CW or Digital modes.  Antennas were simple ladder-line fed non-resonant dipoles tuned with venerable Johnson Matchbox balanced tuners.  Power came from a generator, or LiFePO4 battery in my case.

My task was to make a single satellite contact.  I had been planning and practicing the week before, having identified three optimal passes each for  Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.  As is usual for me, I avoided the FM birds because they tend to be insanely busy.

I had things set up about an hour before the contest began at 1900Z yesterday, and figured I might as well try a SO-50 pass that would be at mid-pass at 1905Z, just a few minutes after the start of the contest.  I spoke with the CW tent and asked them to go off the air between 19:03 and 19:08 UTC, and preset my antenna for the mid-pass Az/El values, planning to have the satellite find me.

Just as expected, at about 19:04 S9 signals came out of the noise, a cacophony of call signs and grid squares.  I put out my info once (W1SYE, FN41, Winter Field Day), WB9YIG immediately returned from EM68 (Indiana) and we are all done at 19:05:25 UTC.

Satellite Station setup in my truck – Icom IC-9100, Toughbook running SATPC32.

Arrow 2m/70cm crossed-beam mounted on tripod. Ax and El were set for mid pass

Posted in Contests, Satellite, SO-50, WFD | Leave a comment

W1YRC Maximum Society Member

Posted on January 26, 2017 by robert

I’m always “selling” the benefits of Amateur Radio to my friends, and one of the things I mention is you get to meet some wonderful people.  I consider myself very lucky to know Bob Beaudet, W1YRC, RI’s Section Manager and avid DXer (on top of many other things).

Bob’s been a strong advocate for the ARRL for many years, and puts his money where his mouth is.  He recently received a batch of QSL cards from the ARRL honoring the fact that he is a member of the Maximum Society.  The Maximum Society is a group of  individuals whose extraordinary generosity continues to support the ARRL, having contributed a minimum of $10,000.  I received one of his card in the mail the other day.

While I belong to the Diamond Club, it will take me many more years to reach Bob’s level of giving.

Nice job, Bob, and thanks for all you do day in and day out to make Amateur Radio fun for all Rhode Island hams!

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Getting Ready for Winter Field Day – Satellite

Posted on January 25, 2017 by robert

Well it’s that time of year again, I’m dusting off the portable satellite gear and making sure it’s working.  I had just updated the clock, and TLEs, when I noticed that UKube was above the horizon.  I quickly turned on the Dashboard and immediately started decoding data packets.

Since it is in daylight, the transponder is off, but it was fun to pick up 46 packets.  This is one of the satellites that will be possible to use on WFD.

At this point I know the control between my PC and IC9100 is working as well as the soundcard interface.  Now to wait for some transponder passes for FO-29, AO-7, SO-50, AO-73, etc.

QSOs were made with the following:

  • On XW-2A, N4IQV, Uplink Calibration was spot on
  • On AO-73, KD2BVM and N4IQV, Uplink Calibration was KHz high, but drifting about 1 KHz lower per minute.  VERY hard tuning a CW station
  • On AO-85, N1AIA & KF4FC — VERY hard to key transponder
  • On FO-29, nary a soul was heard, on either CW or SSB although my downlink was fine.  The pass was mid-Atlantic, so favoring Europe & Africa
  • The later pass around 0325 UTC on FO-29 was more fruitful.  Worked K8YSE, N8RO, HI8KW, and W4CVV.
  • On BY70-1, A new FM satellite for me.  I heard myself quite well in the downlink, better that SO-50 or AO-85, but nobody answered despite 5 minutes of calling CQ.  The delay on the downlink does catch your attention (maybe 100ms).
  • The later pass around 03:45 UTC of BY70-1 was more successful.  Worked N8HM and AA5PK.

Posted in AO-73, AO-85, BY70-1, FO-29, IC-9100, Satellite, UKUBE-1, XW-2A | Leave a comment

VNC Viewer for RPi

Posted on January 5, 2017 by robert

I had no idea that Raspberrian supported VNC connections to the RPi.  I was astounded to find out that a small VNC Viewer Application would remotely connect me to the desktop!

  1. Download “TightVNCViewerPortable” here:  http://portableapps.com/node/32118
  2. Run the installation package.
    (Running it from your desktop will created a folder on the desktop called “TightVNCViewerPortable”
  3. Run the Executable “TightVNCViewerPortable.exe”
  4. Select your RPi IP address and press “Connect” (use the same password as you would use for a SSH session)

5. Enjoy your VNC!

 

Posted in Raspberry Pi | Leave a comment

Modifying MMDVMHost-Dashboard Config Values on a RPi

Posted on January 1, 2017 by robert

Well, as it turned out, I was overthinking the problem.  Sure enough there were NO usernames/passwords assigned to the Dashboard buttons.  Sigh.  However it was a good experience because it lead me to understanding how the Dashboard configuration is carried out, setting the correct timezone, and fixing a typo that prevented the reboot function from working. (Thanks to Kim, DG9VH, who got me going in the right direction.)

A PHP script called “setup.php” needs to be copied from the /home/pi/MMDVMHost-Dashboard directory to the root in the /var/www/html directory.

Once setup.php is there, open the browser and go to http://127.0.0.1/setup.php (assuming you are at the RPi, otherwise substitute your network address).  This will open the setup process. Modify the usernames/passwords as desired and also change to the correct Timezone.

The typo, either in the default config values, or perhaps a mistake made by gigaparts is the “Reboot system command” that needs to be changed from “sudo revboot” to “sudo reboot”.

Since I wasn’t running DMR, I decided to uncheck the “Enable Network-Switching-Function” box turning that feature off. as well.  I also added a URL to my webpage masthead.

After completing the update, you MUST delete setup.php from /var/www/html otherwise anyone who knows your Dashboard address can modify the settings.

 

Posted in D-Star | Leave a comment

Setting up New DVmega-RPi 3B Dual-Band Hotspot

Posted on January 1, 2017 by robert

A friend of mine wanted a Hotspot for his home, which is far enough away from our DSTAR repeater to connect to without resorting to high power and a high gain antenna.  I volunteered to set up a RPi 3B based DVmega for him, and he ordered the kit of parts form gigaparts.

I was expecting to clone my image and change the call signs, but not before checking out the latest build supplied with the kit.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they had changed the OS to Raspbian with PIXEL.  It also changed over to MMDVMHost with Dashboard.

In theory gigaparts did all the work on the setup.  That might be the case for their own needs, but it wasn’t working for me.

There were two missing bits of information that would have been helpful on their limited single-sheet instruction:

  1. They claimed the username/password was pi & pi.  That’s not correct.  It is pi & raspberry
  2. They failed to mention that the MMDVMHost setup.php program should be run so that whatever MMDVM usernames/passwords could be modified.

Probably because of #2, I was NOT able to get the RF working.  I checked my older load and everything worked fine, so that meant it had to be a configuration issue.  Eventually I noticed that while I was hearing nothing on my HT, the DVmega was transmitting almost constantly.  Turns out it was repeating DMR signals.

I made the following changes to the MMDVM.ini file (in the MMDVMHost directory) and things started working correctly:

[Info]
RXFrequency=144900000
TXFrequency=144900000
Power=1
Latitude=41.5
Longitude=-71.5
Height=0
Location=Narragansett RI

… … …

[D-Star]
Enable=1
Module=C
SelfOnly=0

[DMR]
Enable=0
Beacons=0
… … …

I REALLY like the MMDVMHost-Dashboard, especially the Buttons that allow updates of the reflector, restarts, shutdowns, etc.  Exactly what is needed to manage a headless RPi.

But at least until I rerun the setup.php program I have no idea what the assigned username/password is for each of the Dashboard buttons.

 

Posted in D-Star | 2 Comments

Goals for 2017 and 2016 in Review

Posted on January 1, 2017 by robert

Four out of seven 2016 goals were completed successfully:

  • 255 Confirmed Countries  YES
  • 1,200 DX Band-Points  YES
  • WAS Completed on 12 Meters (need WV)  NO
  • Successful ARISS Contact at All Saints Academy  YES
  • Teach a Technician Class for Monsignor Clarke Middle School  NO
  • Teach a Technician Class Elsewhere  NO
  • Complete my K1  YES

I made a mistake on two attempted technician classes in 2016 by allowing them to be marketed to professional educators.  The first class was canceled when only 2 students appeared on class day, and the second never got off the ground as nobody signed up. Understandably, teaching professionals are very busy.  Fool me once, fool me twice, no way I get fooled again.

The ARISS contact was a complete success with a record number of questions asked and answered during our contact with Astronaut Jeff Williams.  The crew was excited enough that a second contact for Bishop Hendricken High School is planned for 2017.

DX worked out a bit better than I planned, with 258 confirmed Countries in LotW at year-end, plus 1225 confirmed Band-Points.  However the higher frequency bands are suffering as we are on the downhill side of the solar cycle (which wasn’t that grand to begin with).  I heard painfully few stations on 12 meters at all, let alone a desired West Virginia station.

Other accomplishments for 2016 were writing a comprehensive DSTAR Repeater Supervisor’s Guide for our W1AAD DSTAR machine, along with upgrading the hardware and software. I also installed a DVmega 2m/70cm Access Point in my home.  A visit to ARRL HQ and seeing my father’s memorial brick was a real highlight.

The K1 kit building experience was very positive, reigniting a desire to build more kits.  I have at least two more simple superhet QRP kits ready and waiting for 2017.  Our club will be holding a “Build-Night” for a simple 40m QRP “Pixie” kit that I will help direct.  My acquisition of a Spectrum Analyzer has opened up a world of possibilities as well.

Goals for 2017:

  • Teach a Technician Class
  • 265 Confirmed Countries
  • 1250 DX Band-Points
  • Successful ARISS Contact at Bishop Hendricken High School
  • Complete at least one QRP kit
  • Convert from HRD to DXlabs

Posted in DX, Education, From the OM, Operating, Training | Leave a comment

K1 30-meter Emissions, Revisited

Posted on December 16, 2016 by robert

So I decided to open up my K1 and recheck the 30-meter bandpass filter alignment, guessing that the simple “peak coils for maximum” in the manual might also tend to peak the spurious emissions for maximum as well.  Sure enough that was the case.  I was able to find coil settings that favored a lower 6th harmonic value without negatively impacting the output power.

In the above graph, there was 40 dB of external attenuation.  So the carrier on 10.120 MHz is 40-6.90 dBm, or  33.1 dBm (which is 2 watts — the value used for alignment).  At this setting, the greatest spur was the 6th harmonic, and it was -49.1 dBc, a passing value.

Life is good!

Posted in Operating, QRP, Testing | Leave a comment

Elecraft K1 Emissions

Posted on December 14, 2016 by robert

After completing the internal tuner add-on for my K1, I wanted to run emission tests on it as well.  My unit is two bands: 30-meter and 20-meter.

FCC Limit:  For transmitters installed after January 1, 2003, the mean power of any spurious emission from a station transmitter or external RF power amplifier transmitting on a frequency below 30 MHz must be at least 43 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission.

Test Setup:  UUT feeds a 50 dB Power Attenuator, the output of which is feeding a Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyzer.  The SA calibration is valid through November of 2017.

Test Settings for Carrier Noise:  For close in viewing, span is 10 KHz, centered on transmit frequency.  RBW/VBW 100 Hz.  On 10.125 MHz, 30-meters, Input Power to SA was 50 – 13.36 dBm, or 36.74 dBm (4.72 watts).  TX noise is -73 dBc.

On 14.050 MHz, 20-meters, Input Power to SA was 50 – 12.35, or 37.65 dBm (5.82 watts). TX noise is –  76 dBc.

Worst Case Spurious Emission 30-Meters:  The worst-case emission on 30-meters was the 6th Harmonic.  This was -54.20 dBm, or -41.1 dBc which does not pass.  However, this was with the antenna tuner bypassed, which would add additional harmonic rejection, especially at higher frequencies.

Worst Case Spurious Emission 20-Meters:  The worst-case emission on 20-meters was actually 630 KHz above the carrier at -58.84 dBm.  This is -46.6 dBc, passing.  The second harmonic was at -64.76 dBm, or -52.5 dBc.  Higher harmonics were not visible.

 

 

Posted in Operating, Testing | Leave a comment

Kenwood TH-F6A Passes Spur Test

Posted on December 12, 2016 by robert

Running a spectral purity check on my Kenwood TH-F6A tri-band radio, I found that it passes FCC requirements as you would hope it would.

The test setup used for the UV5R was only slightly modified to change the bandwidth so that the noise floor was lowered.  This uncovered a spur that is in the SA itself, at 344.8 MHz.  Since that is not coming from the UUT, it can be ignored.

The power from the TH-F6A was -3.68 dBm + 40 dB for the external attenuator = +36.32 dBm = 4.29 watts.

The worst case spur the second harmonic at -74.69 dBm, which (adding back the 40 dB from the external attenuator) is -34.69 dBm or 0.3 microwatts, a passing value.  It is also 71.0 dB below the carrier.

Posted in Projects | Leave a comment