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Friday, April 30, 2010

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Is Here!



Ubuntu 10.04 LTS is out and available for download now. A perfect operating system for hamradio's shack.
To find all hamradio related applications, go to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuHamsPackages. Feel free to join Ubuntu ham discussion on irc.freenode.net #ubuntu-hams. Official launchpad, https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-hams, wiki https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuHams. Spread the spirit of opensource ham!



Thursday, April 29, 2010

Z Code



Z Code (like Q Code and X Code) is a set of codes used in CW, TTY and RTTY radio communication. Actually, there are different sets of Z-codes: one originally developed by Cable & Wireless Ltd., for commercial communications in the early days of wire and radio communications, another one independently developed by NATO forces later for military needs and use. The NATO Z Code is still in use today, and is published in the unclassified document ACP-131. There are other set of codes internally used by USSR's military and other operating agencies. The old C&W Z Codes are not widely used today.


List of Z codes http://www.kloth.net/radio/zcodes.php

Sunday, April 25, 2010

IARU Region 3 Band Plan






A bandplan or band plan is a plan for using a particular band of radio frequencies, that are a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum . Each bandplan defines the frequency range to be included, how channels are to be defined, and what will be carried on those channels.





IRLP - Internet Radio Linking Project



IRLP

The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet. This arrangement forms what is known as an IRLP Node. Since all end users communicate using a radio as opposed to using a computer directly, IRLP has adopted the motto "Keeping the Radio in Amateur Radio".

Amateur radio (or ham) operators within range of a local node are able to use DTMF to initiate a node-to-node connection with any other available node in the world. Each node has a unique 4 digit node number in the range of 1000-8999. A real-time searchable list of all nodes worldwide (including their current status) is available anytime by viewing the IRLP Network at a Glance. As of June 2009, there are over 3,180 nodes across 7 continents.

Stations wishing to communicate with 3 or more nodes at the same time may accomplish this by connecting to what is called an IRLP Reflector. Most reflectors on the network have 10 channels (0-9) with channel 0 being the main channel. Each reflector has a unique 4 digit node number in the range of 9000-9999. The first 3 digits consist of the reflector number, while the fourth digit represents the channel number. As of April 2007, there are 20 operational reflectors (including Echo Reflector 9990, which digitally records and plays back your transmission for testing purposes). Since most reflectors have 10 channels, there are approximately 200 unique reflector channels available for use.


History

IRLP was invented by David "Dave" Cameron, VE7LTD. Born and raised in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Cameron attended the University of British Columbia where he joined the UBC Amateur Radio Society. He built his first repeater and computer-based repeater controller in the 1990s.

Cameron installed the first three IRLP nodes in November of 1997. They used the Windows operating system (OS) with VocalTec's iPhone installed. There were problems with the software, mainly in the fact that iPhone is not very stable nor is it controllable. After running iPhone for close to 6 months on active connections to Vernon, British Columbia, Canada and Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Cameron decided to rebuild the nodes. This is when the Linux OS and the Speak Freely software were first tested.

On November 12, 1998, the VE7RHS node was first installed in Gage Towers, UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada using Linux. A few days later, the VE7RVN node came online from the residence of Michael Paul Illingby, VE7TFD in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Since this point, no further problems were experienced. This planted the seed for the IRLP network to grow. New nodes slowly launched across Canada, followed by the United States and worldwide.

Node numbers were originally set at 3 digits in length. Due to the extensive growth of the IRLP network, an extra digit needed to be added in 2002. Existing node numbers after this change received a trailing zero. For example, if your node number was 123, it was now 1230. Most existing reflectors were also converted from single channels to 10 channels. This new type of reflector was known as a super-reflector.

Computer

* A dedicated IBM compatible computer, Pentium class (Intel, AMD etc), running a processor clocked at least 200 MHz

* At least 128 MB of RAM

* A dedicated hard drive of at least 2 GB

* Basic (legacy) parallel port running LPT1 (0x378/9)

* Soundcard - most PCI cards work as do many motherboard based chipsets

* Ethernet Adapter (Network Card) connected to the Internet



Operating system

Linux is the operating system (OS) of choice for IRLP, as it allows the best in reliability, programmability, efficiency, and functionality. Most older IRLP nodes use the Red Hat 7.3 or Red Hat 9 distribution, as they were very stable releases and ran very smoothly on any Pentium or better computer. In 2005, a custom version of Fedora Core 3 was introduced, followed by Fedora Core 5 in 2006. As of March 2007, IRLP no longer supports Red Hat and started shipping with the CentOS 4.4 distribution. This release provides greatly improved operation with more support for audio cards.
[edit] IRLP hardware

An IRLP board is required to interface to the radio. Currently version 3.0 IRLP boards are available fully assembled and tested. Each board comes complete with all the cables between the board and computer parallel port (with sub-hoods) and terminates in a male DB-9 connector for interface into the radio. You will require a female DB-9 to interface your radio/repeater/controller and two mono or stereo 1/8" audio plugs to connect to your sound card. The audio circuitry (since it is specific to your hardware) is the owner's responsibility.

The IRLP board is a very simple circuit, the most difficult part being the DTMF decoder. The DTMF decoder consists of a MT8870 (or similar) DTMF decoder IC and HCF4081 (or similar) and-gate IC. Two chips are needed because the MT8870 has latched outputs, and the IRLP software looks for short pulses at the parallel port pins 10,12,13,15 in order to acknowledge a DTMF digit. MT8870 pin 15 provides a pulse when any valid DTMF digit is decoded, so this signal is used on one input of each gate on the HCF4081. The other gate input is from MT8870 pins 11,12,13,14. The output of the HCF4081 (pins 3,4,10,11) connect to the parallel port and provide the pulsed input that IRLP needs.

The IRLP software cannot decode the D digit. This is a system limitation of IRLP. DTMF digit D is logic level 0 on all 4 bits from the MT8870. Thus, the parallel port pins would all be at 0 volts, which IRLP regards as no DTMF digit present. The IRLP PC does not see the MT8870's strobe pin, which would enable digit D detection.

The IRLP board has no audio transformers or bypass capacitors whatsoever. It is merely a DTMF decoder circuit with a simple COS and PTT circuit installed. Version 3 boards also have simple FET switches for AUX1,2,3.

RF hardware

A link radio or repeater is needed to interface to the IRLP board. The radio's COS (carrier operated squelch) and PTT lines must be available to the IRLP board. Additionally, courtesy tones, hang time, and node IDs must not be transmitted over the VoIP link. This can easily be accomplished using CTCSS on the repeater transmitter that follows the COS of the receiver.


IRLP On Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Installation

Download this file and run it as root. More info on http://irlp.kk7av.com/add-ons/50-irlp-ubuntu

IRLP On Centos 4.4 Installation

http://xe1rew.webs.com/IRLP_OS_Installation_COS44.pdf

Monday, April 19, 2010

TangoGPS - Free Map and GPS Software For Linux


tangogps is an easy to use, fast and lightweight mapping application for use with or without GPS.
It runs on any Linux platform from the desktop over eeePC down to phones like the Openmoko Neo.
By default tangoGPS uses map data from the Openstreetmap project. Additionally a variety of other repositories can be easily added.
The maps are automagically downloaded and cached for offline use while you drag or zoom the map. Furthermore you can conveniently pre-cache areas with tangoGPS.

Using GPS

If connected to a GPS your current position and track are shown on the map and you can log positional data for further processing, i.e. for geocoding photos or uploading streets to Openstreetmap.
Geocoded images can be shown with the correct position on the map and you can mark your favourite locations and any points of interest on the map.
Last not least a friend finder function lets you exchange your position with others

The License

tangoGPS is an open source project published under GPLv2 License. Founder, lead architect and head developer is Marcus Bauer.


Several screenshots showing tangoGPS in action:


tangoGPS on the desktop/laptop/eeePC

Satellite Imagery from Openaerial.org



Terrain Maps from maps-for-free.com




tangoGPS on the Openmoko Neo1973 / Neo Freerunner


Main Screen
Fullscreen
Detailed Trip Info
Map Context Menu
Friendfinder
30.000 POIs (FON)
Geo Photos
Distance Paris->Airport

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Ham Radio Talk By 9W2STT At HITB 2009

Introduction Of Amateur Radio

Presenter: SALLEH HUDDIN BIN ABDUL RASHID
Callsign: 9W2STT
Event: HackInTheBox Security Conference 2009
Venue: Crowne Plaza Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur

Video 1/7



Video 2/7



Video 3/7



Video 4/7



Video 5/7



Video 6/7



Video 7/7



p/s: nice speech Mr. Salleh and thanks to the uploader.

Arduino - A Toy For Ham Radio



Arduino is a physical computing platform based on a simple I/O board and a development environment that implements the Processing/Wiring language. Arduino can be used to develop stand-alone interactive objects or can be connected to software running on a computer (e.g., Macromedia Flash, Processing, Max/MSP, Pure Data, SuperCollider). Currently shipping versions can be purchased pre-assembled; hardware design information is available for those who would like to assemble an Arduino by hand.
The Arduino project received an honorary mention in the Digital Communities category at the Prix Ars Electronica 2006.

An Arduino board consists of an Atmel AVR microcontroller (ATmega168 in newer versions, ATmega8 in older versions) and complementary components to facilitate programming and incorporation into other circuits. Each board includes at least a 5-volt linear regulator and a 16MHz crystal oscillator (or ceramic resonator in some variants). The microcontroller is pre-programmed with a bootloader so that an external programmer is not necessary.
At a conceptual level, all boards are programmed over an RS-232 serial connection, but the way this is implemented in hardware varies by version. Serial Arduino boards contain a simple inverter circuit to convert between RS-232-level and TTL-level signals. Current Arduino boards including the Diecimila are programmed via USB, implemented using USB-to-serial adapter chips such as the FTDI FT232. Some variants, such as the Arduino Mini and the unofficial Boarduino, offload the circuitry required to connect to the computer onto a detachable USB-to-serial adapter board or cable.
The Arduino board exposes most of the microcontroller's I/O pins for use by other circuits. The Diecimila, for example, provides 14 digital I/O pins, 6 of which can produce PWM signals, and 6 analog inputs. These pins are available on the top side of the board, via female .1 inch headers. Several plug-in application boards known as "shields" are also commercially available.
The Arduino-compatible Barebones and Boarduino boards provide male header pins on the underside of the board in two more closely spaced rows for ease of use with solderless breadboards.

The Arduino IDE is a cross-platform Java application that serves as a code editor and compiler and is also capable of transferring firmware serially to the board.
The development environment is based on Processing, an IDE designed to introduce programming to artists unfamiliar with software development. The programming language is derived from Wiring, a C-like language that provides similar functionality for a more tightly restricted board design, whose IDE is also based on Processing.


Watch these video and see how Arduino can do for ham radio projects

Arduino Morse Beacon Keyer



Arduino Morse Keyer with PWM



Arduino Duemilanove - Morse code



Arduino Beacon Controller



Arduino Morse Code Callsign Player



Get your own Arduino now

http://www.arduino.cc/

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Does Ham Radio Suck ? You Tell Me



I had hoped to do these little blog entries on a more frequent basis. However, because I pretty much edit (and mostly write) a club newsletter, there's little time to add to this blog. However, every once in a while I find a reason to write something and this, I believe, is one of those times.

I would love to think ham radio is a noble hobby and an opportunity for others to enjoy the social and technical aspects of this hobby; a method of exercising "both" sides of the brain in a constructive and one would hope, fun way.

One thing I'm discovering as I enter my 3rd year in this hobby is a bit of, shall we say, disappointment in several areas. These would be the "myths" of ham radio which I though were the unchanging "truths" about the hobby and the people in it.

I bring these things up - not in anger or in malice, but as a point of discussion or reason.

At any rate, your mind may be wondering; What's my beef?

Myth #1 - Ham radio is the pinnacle of technology for civilians interested in electronics and communications.

While this sort of thing is true with some hams - those who experiment with frequencies and modes of operation - these folks are in the minority. Most ham radio activities actually hearkens back to earlier times, from AM to the "newer" yet 50 year old SSB. One can go to any hamfest and pick up any piece of ancient equipment, get it on the air, and successfully use it - perhaps even to another station using the same identical equipment.

Digital modes and capabilities are 40 years old, by many standards, and many hams still use 15 to 25 year old modems to communicate. When I attend hamfests it's more like a trip down memory lane - VOM's, oscilloscopes, even shortwave equipment I used when I was in high school are numerous and prevalent at these events.

I have no problem with preserving our past, but I really question whether we want to LIVE in it. This concerns me to no end and hams spend considerable time and effort obtaining, preserving, and using these relics - to the detriment of more modern equipment or for missing the joy of tinkering in a new mode or capability.

Myth #2: Hams are primarily social animals and seek other hams and members of the public to promote and preserve ham radio.

Some do this, but, as I've mentioned in prior blog entries, when attending club meetings (and I'm talking different clubs and meetings - not just the groups I belong to) the LAST thing fellow hams want to do is reach out and talk to either "new" people in the hobby, or fellow hams they don't already know. In short, they head to their friends they met 30+ years ago and stick with those people. You won't find them congregating with new people, nor do they extend a hand of friendship to people possessing new call signs or help others who look "lost" amongst in a sea of unfamiliar faces.

Also, I've noticed, when hams have an opportunity to promote the hobby they "talk a great game" - saying they will attend this or that event to promote ham radio - but as is the situation with any ordinary hobby, fail to show up. The same handful of people attend and promote those hobbies while the vast majority of those who SAY they contribute - don't. They perpetuate a lie and their imaginary presence at events speaks volumes about how much they really care about their hobby and their community. "Let someone else do it and I'll take 'credit' on the air." I personally grow weary going to event after event and seeing the same 1/2 dozen faces doing all the work and all the promotion. Yet I can expect three or more times that number of hams headed to a local hamfest "looking for deals". To me, that's selfish and self-centered.

Myth #3: Hams are optimistic.

No they aren't. They could quite probably be the most pessimistic, negative, people I've ever met. I think some people actually exit this hobby because they get so tired of the negative vibes over the airwaves and at meetings. It's an increasingly older crowd of white men who lament "America's diminishing greatness", evil politics, terrible nations, and lousy operators worldwide.

Yawn. Let me speak to this ham directly: I'm tired of hearing about how your fellow ham is "lousy human being" and "doesn't deserve a radio license". I really don't want to hear about how you hate "this or that" political party, or how the loss of "CW" has created "morons on the air" and yes, I can tell from your "codified comments" on HF that the "knuckle-head" operator you were referring to from "last Friday night" was a new operator. Good for you. You proved my point by personally dispelling the first two myths. Otherwise you would have pronounced to your fellow hammies how you actually HELPED that operator at better operation. But you know, I've NEVER heard that commentary on HF. Not once. Never. Nada.

Your personal opinions are heard not only by your small group of friends on your nightly informal net - it's heard by many more people - some hams, some shortwave listeners, some international. When they hear negative comments about political parties, people, and countries - that leaves a lasting, NEGATIVE impression of the transmitting party (that would be YOU) and a negative impression of ham radio in general. You are, in effect, driving another nail into ham radio's coffin. Doesn't that make one feel great about the hobby?

Myth #4: Hams mentor others and help them become better, more knowledgeable operators.

Hardly. Many hams never venture out of their shacks. They hide in there - away from family, friends and other hams. Their hobby is their oasis and they selfishly never share their passion or interests with other family members, kids, or new hams. They don't attend club meetings, or if they do, run to their friends with the sole intent to talk about what new "do-dad or "what-not" they acquired for their shack. You never hear a story about how they visited the BSA or some social event and brought in new people to the hobby. You don't hear much from them talking to a new ham on the radio. If they DO talk to a new ham it's usually about how they had "no clue" what an RST is - or how they ventured into contesting frequencies causing the earth to fall out of equilibrium and ruining their contesting fun.

It's another "object lesson" for "listeners" to stay out of the hobby.

Also, you'll hear how these individuals speak affectionately about their Elmer who got them involved in the hobby, but never about how they helped someone else - new - get into their beloved hobby.

Myth #5: Hams are prepared for any emergency and willing to take on health and humanitarian messages and missions for their community.

Nope. Most who claim ARES or RACES certification, or drone on during emergency preparedness nets NEVER check in on their local traffic nets, or actively pursue contact with their local hospitals, Red Cross, or other organizations. Case in point, I had a RACES member proudly check into my NTS net. The usual 3 or 4 people who regularly handle message traffic weren't available. I asked him to take a message in his local area. My request was met with silence. I know he heard my request because he has never checked in on my net ever again. My punishment for daring to ask "royalty" to do something constructive on my net. I can only speculate that his opinion is "how dare he request help of ME - MR. RACES."

In short, if there IS an emergency and his services are needed - I seriously doubt he'll be anywhere NEAR a radio. It's a farce, perpetrated and reinforced on practice emergency nets. I wonder just what would happen, in a real emergency, who would show up and who would pitch in. In another example, NTS performed an emergency drill on our local repeater. This drill included the same 4 or 5 people who regularly check in. The ARES and RACES people - who were given a month's notice as to where and when this event was taking place failed to show up for the drill. Man, now THAT'S community involvement, isn't it? Yet on their own nets, it's so important to give out their "card number" and show THEY CARE (oh - sorry - SPECIAL) and have the card number to prove it.

"Tiring" doesn't begin to describe my feelings about all this.

Myth #6: Hams respect each other.

No, they don't. A recent case in point include a club member of one of the clubs I belong to who won't talk to another member because they felt "they were done wrong." It doesn't really matter that this member has a rather negative profile amongst fellow hams or that they failed, numerous times, to "come through" when they promised to do so on any number of requested club activities. Failing to see the "mote in their own eye" they simply decided to opt out of talking to this person on the air. Childish.

Another example comes from a ham who achieved Extra under the new FCC rules. He immediately applied for a vanity call, and disappeared into the Dirty Secret Ham Association. This is an informal group of people who impersonate "old time" hams - talking and acting - like they've been in the hobby for years. To make matters worse, this individual thought it would be a great idea to berate another ham - on the air - by stating this ham wasn't worthy of doing anything for the club because "he didn't even know CW". This is an interesting comment as the "Extra" ham making the accusation didn't complete Element #1 the entire year he was licensed, instead opting for the change in FCC rules DROPPING Morse Code before venturing into General and Extra class and not actually having to "validate" his CW claim. I doubt the lad could pound out a single letter of code himself! If it weren't so tragic what happened, it would be laughable. His public service was non-existent - his willingness to do things for his local club - noticeably absent.

Lastly, a recent event involved a very public condemnation of ARRL policy in front of an invited ARRL official, in a club meeting - suggesting termination of contact with another organization.

Members were subjected to the tirade which should have happened (if at all) behind closed doors. In fact, the entire episode played out like a scene from another club - one whom the angry club member didn't particularly like for that exact same reason. The irony was striking. It's unlikely this invited ARRL official will ever attend this club's meetings ever again - just because this one member wanted to "set the record straight" in front of "everyone and God". I say, "if you wouldn't do it at work - don't do it anywhere else either!" It was uncalled for and very uncomfortable to watch.

So, if you've read this far, and you are a ham, your blood pressure is probably through the roof. Good thing too, there's a reason why I wrote this. It's simply this. Ham operators - myself included - aren't special - nor do we wield special powers, insight, loyalty, or love. We are ordinary people who, potentially, can do good for their community, but they have to recognize several things.

1. In order to gain the respect of the community, you must give to it freely and honestly before they respect you. No "official" capacity, radio related or not, will automatically give you that respect.

2. You must be honest and caring about yourself and others around you. How you conduct yourself speaks volumes about you and how you relate to others - on and off the radio.

3. Give back to the hobby. Offer your services and not lip-service. A liar is easy to spot - particularly if you are the person "giving" and someone else is SAYING they are "giving".

Our hobby is in trouble. Frequencies and operators are in short supply - both at our peril of non-interest and collective dysfunctional behavior. We have more passion for berating others and "making that radio deal" than finding ways to preserve the hobby.

I find this misuse of personal energy most disturbing. Don't you?

ke5icx

p/s: original post http://ke5icx.blogspot.com/2008/02/does-ham-radio-suck-you-tell-me.html

Must Have iPhone Apps For Ham Radio

  • IDSP   - IDSP is an app for IPHONE and IPOD Touch. Made by 2 powerful filters, a band pass and a band stop with adjustable bandwidth. Filters are butterworth 4 and 8 poles, sample rate at 44,100 32 bit. Cancel every noise and hear only your qso.



  • Amateur Radio Exam Prep for iPhone - Amateur Radio License exams are composed of questions from a pool. Use this application to practice all possible questions prior to taking your exam



  • APRS on your phone - iBCNU is an APRS GPS position reporting and text-messaging application for the Apple iPhone. When position reporting is enabled, the application will periodically send out location of your iPhone using either 3G or WiFi network and iPhone's built in GPS receiver



  • CallBook for iPhone - CallBook is an Amateur Radio application that allows you to look up call signs via the free WM7D server, the QRZ Online subscription service or the HamCall subscription server and track active APRS stations on www.aprs.fi. Lookup results can be emailed and the QTH can be instantly viewed in the Maps application




  • Elmer for iPhone - iPhone Software to practice taking your Ham Radio Exam (USA)




  • Freq Finder: iPhone Repeater Directory   - Freq Finder is an iPhone based Ham Radio Repeater Directory that locates repeaters based on the user location.(USA only)




  • FreqLoader: iPhone companion for the mobile ham   - FreqLoader is the perfect iPhone/iPod Touch companion for amateur radio operators, monitoring enthusiasts, shortwave listeners and anyone with an interest in the air waves. Whether you're an active licensed ham or an avid scanner listener, FreqLoader will allow you to find what you're looking for, keep track of your stations, maintain complete logs and share your finds with friends, groups and the world.



  • Friis-It NF for iPhone - Friis-It NF is the first iPhone OS based application that allows you to calculate noise figure, system sensitivity, and cascaded gain for an RF Receiver system



  • GoSatWatch - Satellite tracking on the iPhone/iPod touch. Track and predict visible satellite passes. Touch a satellite in the map view to see it’s orbit path and location.



  • Ham for iPhone - Ham is a free iPhone Ham Radio utility. View solar conditions (Solar Flux, Indices, X-Rays, Sunspots and calculated band conditions). View PSKreporter reports and Callsign lookups.



  • hamDXcluster for iPhone - DX Cluster for iPhone application



  • HamLog for iPhone - Amateur Radio logging application for the iPhone and iPod Touch.



  • HamMorse for iPhone - Ham Morse allows you to practice morse code on your iPhone or iPod Touch. It is designed particularly for Ham radio operators and others who wish to achieve or maintain a high level of proficiency in this classic mode of communication.



  • I-PSK31 - Ipsk31 is a modem based on Bpsk31 protocol for ham radio digital transmissions. Can be used on IPhone and Ipod Touch, and let you transmit and receive PSK31 directly from your Apple device.



  • iLocator for iPhone - A small application for Apple iPhone that calculate grid locator from gps, wifi or gsm cells by IW2BSQ



  • iPhone Ham Radio Callsign Lookup - This webapp provides an iPhone-compatible lookup of Amateur Radio Callsigns. It provides the name, address, and license class (from the FCC’s public records) of any US-Licensed Amateur Radio Operator.



  • IRTTY - IRRTY just a modem based on RTTY protocol for IPHONE and IPOD Touch.



  • Morse Key for iPhone - A free simple touchscreen-based CW Morse Code straight key. Practice sending Morse Code on your iPhone.

via dxzone 

SMSMorse - Vibrates Your SMS To Morse Code

SMSMorse is an Android application which will intercept incoming SMS messages and vibrate their contents in morse code.

Version 0.1.0 is a rudimentary proof-of-concept version but does provide some simple settings to customize the notification. The single dot length, the basis for the length of all timing (dash, letter space, word space, etc.), can be adjusted from 50ms to 250ms. You can also optionally choose to include the sender’s number before or after the message contents.

 http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.jakewharton.smsmorse/

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Echolink Application For Iphone, Ipod Touch




This app is for licensed Amateur Radio operators only. See www.echolink.org for more information.

EchoLink for iPhone provides access to the EchoLink network for validated EchoLink users. You can use this app to connect to the EchoLink system from almost anywhere, using either an iPhone or an iPod touch. (For an iPod touch, you will need to plug in earphones with a microphone for full two-way capability.) iPhone users can use either a WiFi or 3G (cellular) Internet connection.

Before running the app, you must be a registered user with a callsign and password that has already been validated. If you are not already validated for EchoLink, please see www.echolink.org for information on how to download and install the Windows edition first, or EchoMac if you are running MacOS instead of Windows. Please also see the iPhone FAQ at www.echolink.org.


Please note that this application uses streaming audio, which cellular providers in some countries may treat as VoIP. Please check the terms of your cellular provider agreement for information about additional fees your provider might charge for VoIP usage.

EchoLink for iPhone is available free of charge from Apple's App Store.

Saturday, April 03, 2010

PSKMail - Email Via Ham Radio

PSKmail is a narrow band arq mail delivery system for use by amateur radio hams via short wave (HF) communication. It does not use a special controller, you just need a computer with a sound card.
PSKmail uses the fldigi program as a modem, and can use most any digital mode supported by fldigi, including the new robust PSK modes which include soft viterbi decoding and interleave to increase immunity to qrm and qrn. The operator can choose several mode profiles to match channel conditions.

The system uses adaptive mode control to use the channel capacity efficiently. When channel quality changes during a connected session the system changes speed to accommodate the new circumstances.

PSKmail has a client/server architecture. Unlike Packet Radio the PSKmail protocol only allows 1 connected client at the time. Bandwidth (3dB) using the maximum speed (PSK500) is max. 500 Hz, providing a net throughput of ~400 wpm.

The multiplatform PSKmail client is written in java, and runs on windows, linux and OSX. The server is written in perl. Applications include a Mailbox (port 24) allowing down/upload of local mail and mail from the internet, downloading information from the web (ASCII text only), position update and station-to-station messaging via APRS(port26), and chat mode (between clients).

Pskmail is predestined for emergency communications. Even if the local internet is down, the long range on HF guarantees a connection to the internet. And it is child's play to set up an ad hoc server.

Pskmail also works together with Sylpheed and other Linux mail clients. You can use the mail integrator you are used to (any mbox compatible system).

You can use PSKMail to get and send your email, twitter and aprs messages!!


Pskmail on an EeePC-4G










PSKMail Demonstration


Runs on Linux, Windows, BSD and Macs too

Read more at http://pskmail.wikispaces.com/

Reading and sending your email via ham radio, cool is it ?



Why Ham Radio ?





A teen in Kuala Lumpur makes friends over the airwaves with a ham in United States. An aircraft engineer in Washington participates in an annual contest and exchanges call signs with hams in 100 countries during a single weekend. In North Carolina, volunteers pass health and welfare messages in the aftermath of a hurricane. 9w2wtf developed a JavaME apps for Malaysian ham callsign, repeater database, doing dxing on his freetime, 9w2oza exchanging his QSL cards with other overseas ham, 9m2get enjoying morse code with 9m2out, his wife. 9m2ody with his home brew HF helix antenna on his mobile, 9w2rut, 9w2tpt with their APRS devices. wb6acu also enjoying ham radio and music too, performing as a guitarist for EAGLES, kb1ooo with his iditdah, snappy, iphone apps. kc2uhb with her fashion and science at makezine.com. F0Fak with his livecd based on linux. 9m2dx / wt3e running Centre for Wireless and Radio Science (WARAS) at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. Fox hunting, Ahh, to much to type lah.

This mix of fun, experimenting, do-it-yourself, electronic hobby, public service, friendship and convenience is the main feature of amateur radio. The true origin of the term "ham" seems to have been lost, but there are several theories. It may simply be a shortcut way of saying the first syllable of amateur radio, or it may have originally been used as an insult. Hams start out in amateur radio for many reasons, but they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology, computer, electronic, electrical, regulations and operating principles.

In Malaysia, we have a few amateur radio clubs. MARTS, MARES, ASTRA and more. Sharing our passion, building new circuits, making friends true the airwaves, etc etc.

Then, Why Not ?

73 de 9w2pju

Malaysian Amateur Radio Station

What Is CB Radio ?

Citizens' Band radio (often shortened to CB radio) is, in many countries, a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-MHz (11 m) band. The CB radio service is distinct from FRS, GMRS, MURS, or amateur ("ham") radio. In many countries, CB does not require a license and, unlike amateur radio, it may be used for business as well as personal communications. Like many other two-way radio services, Citizens' Band channels are shared by many users. Only one station may transmit at a time. Other stations must listen and wait for the shared channel to be available.

Over time, several countries have created similar radio services, with varying requirements for licensing and differing technical standards. While they may be known by other names, such as General Radio Service in Canada, they often use similar frequencies (26 to 28 MHz), and have similar uses, and similar difficulties with antennas and propagation. Licenses may or may not be required, but eligibility is generally simple.

Some countries have personal radio services in the UHF band, such as the European PMR446 and the Australian UHF CB. Like the American FRS and GMRS services, these are more properly covered in their own articles, as much of this article is specific to the antenna and propagation of the upper HF and lower VHF bands.


Picture of Texas Ranger TR-696M ( Made In Malaysia )
http://www.ranger.com.my/


More Info For Malaysian:-



puB109 -


Class Assign-BI-register -


THE ELEVEN METERS DIVISION PREFIX OF THE WORLD -

Get your Mike Bravo CB Radio callsign now

http://my27mhz.blogspot.com/

See you on 27mhz.

:-)

ICOM IC-706 MK II G Wideband Transmit Mod

This modification of the Icom 706 MK IIG ( At Your Own Risk! ) will enable wide band transmit capability on
HF, VHF and UHF bands. When modified the radio will also transmit AM mode in the aircraft band with approximately 1 watt at 118 mhz to about 17 watts am carrier at 136mhz.

Wide band transmit mod for the IC-706 MK II G requires removal of diode D.2030.

1. Remove top cover to access main board.
2. Locate IC chip 4052C-8B99.
3. Orient the radio so that you are reading the chip number from left to right.
4. Look just left to the left of the chip to locate 11 solder pads running vertically.
5. Diode D.2030 is the tenth diode down from the top of the solder pads on USA version radio.
6. Remove diode.