ORCA DIGITAL NET

ORCA DIGITAL NET Report 01/dec/15

Check-ins: 9

Stations:
K7IFG
KW6JIM
NX6D
NR5NN in&out
N6IET  in&out
KE6SLS
KI6RIT
W7ZAP
K7KY NCS (30w 180′ doublet @ 80′)

Despite some noise and fading, we did very well tonight.  Fading was deep at times.  Jim KW6JIM checked in from Eureka, but we couldn’t hear him at traffic round.  The band may have passed him over or maybe a technical fault.  It’s good to have Jim back, even if brief.  Jaye KE6SLS, also in Eureka, faded at times, but was there throughout the net.  Ken K7IFG has two new email addresses, you can find them below in the Net Log.

Prior to tonight’s net, Ken K7IFG was sending Amateur bulletins on 3.595 using various modes.  He also does this prior to the OREGON DIGITAL NET on Friday evenings.  It’s a good opportunity to tune your station and check features like TXID/RXID.  I wish more Ops used these features; it makes identifying modes so easy and accurate.  Most Ops recognize RTTY & PSK-31, but the other modes are more difficult to identify.  Ken’s traffic uses FLAMP, so you need to have it running.  It’s a good opportunity to practice REPORT & CONFIRM.

Two of my CW friends checked in tonight too.  JB NR5RR (was KR5RR) has been here before and Rick N6IET recently configured his station for digital.  Both JB & Rick NCS user-friendly CW nets.  JB emailed me our test image decoded in the SF bay area.  It’s always interesting to see how the image decodes at the other end.

David NX6D optimized his horizontal loop for the 80m band.  His signal was strong and clean.  Mindy was difficult for most stations to copy tonight and we discovered that ALC was too low.  A little tune up and she was back to normal and better copied by all.

We didn’t have any FLAMP traffic tonight; that’s unusual.  I like FLAMP for the ease of filling missing blocks.

I noticed during last weeks net that Nick KI6RIT had already begun to experiment with the ID macro.  Nick, don’t forget to uncheck all boxes on the left of the ‘Video Preamble ID’ tab.  This will let the text print horizontally.  Don’t worry about unchecking ‘Transmit mode ID’ here; TxID on the main screen will override this setting.

Attached is the ORCA b/w image.  I’d like to copy it from afar now & then.

Thanks for taking time in your evening to join the net.  We appreciate your participation and hope to work with you again next Tuesday evening.  I hope everyone had a satisfying Thanksgiving holiday.    73 Doug K7KY

————— Net Log ————-

DE K7IFG

K7IFG  < K7KY GE Ken.. ur checked in…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:26Z DominoEX 22 @ 1499>>

Htlo Doug!  Happy December!

KW6JIM

KW6JIM  < K7KY GE Jim   I thought you guys had meetings tonight   Good to see you, ur checked in…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:27Z DominoEX 22 @ 1499>>

Wt ora- Ioot busband completely forgo boutt.  I was teaching today.

KW6JIM

Mode: MFSK-32 @ 1500  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:28Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

NX6D

NX6D  < K7KY GE David  UR checked in     < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:29Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>

Signals 599 tonight.  Much better!

de NX6D k

W7ZAP  < K7KY UR checked in…  < K7KY

12/1/2015 19:30 Pacific Standard Time

QST & WELCOME to the ORCA DIGITAL NET*

Doug K7KY NCS              Brookings,OR

 

ORCA meets every Tuesday @ 1930p here on/about 3.595usb.

Software: FLDIGI, FLMSG, FLAMP. Mode: MFSK-32 @ 1500.

Other modes and bands depending on conditions.  Alternate

data freq: 7.122 USB.  Optional phone freq’s: 3.955 &  7.200.

 

The ORCA DIGITAL NET is dedicated to learning and developing

digital operating skills and practicing digital traffic handling.  The

net connects digital Amateur Operators with common interests in

training, information-sharing, and mutual-aid. Visitors always welcome.

 

This is a DIRECTED Net. FLMSG-TRAFFIC & KEYBOARD stations

check-in with your ‘CALLSIGN’ only.

Monitoring stations may check-in-&-out with: ‘CALLSIGN  IN&OUT’.

 

After check-in, please stand-by while NCS organizes the rotation list.

 

NCS transmits test image

NCS transmits Rotation list  (keep it handy)

NCS transmits Announcements (comments/questions?)

 

NCS calls each station in order for traffic/keyboard **

 

Next, a round (or more) of  fills, reception reports, comments, questions

(keyboard or BLANKFORM as you like)

 

Closing Announcement

 

* ORCA DIGITAL NET website: http://orcadigitalnet.com/

 

* * LOCK fldigi @ 1500, enable RxID, TxID,  AFC.

Enable: CONFIGURE/ID/RsID ‘Retain tx freq lock’

Have FLAMP open.  FLAMP traffic is followed with

a round of FLAMP REPORTs and one fill round.  < K7KY

 

 

ORCA DIGITAL NET Check-in:

Send your CALLSIGN only or

print it either side of 1500wf.

If your only monitoring: send

your CALLSIGN IN&OUT. < K7KY

 

 

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:33Z MFSK-32 @ 1501>>

NR5NN

In&Out 73 Doug

NR5NN

 

NR5NN    < K7KY GE JB   good to see you… I check you in&OUt   thanks…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:34Z MFSK-32 @ 1501>>

 

N6IET IN&OUT

 

N6IET  < K7KY  GE Rick   I chedk you in&out…  Nice to see you too…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:35Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>

 

ORCA de ke6sls k

 

KE6SLS  < K7KY GE Jaye…. ur checked in…  < K7KY

 

ORCA DIGITAL NET <K7KY

ORCA B/W logo for signal evaluation

<IMAGE:G,D:\Radio\ORCA\Announcements\ORCAlogo.png>

 

Sending Pic:192×192;

<STX>

 

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn RotationOrder.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.12

:hdr_fm:20

K7KY 20150212033731

:hdr_ed:20

K7KY 20150211222816

<blankform>

:mg:126 1dec15, ORCA DIGITAL NET,Rotation:

 

K7IFG

KW6JIM

NX6D

NR5NN in&out

N6IET in&out

KE6SLS

W7ZAP

K7KY NCS (30w 180′ doublet @ 80′)

[WRAP:chksum 5808][WRAP:end]

… end

 

ORCA DIGITAL NET,  Announcements, 1/Dec/15

 

FLDIGI 3.23.05pa is available for Windows.  It supports all new macro features

including having all four rows of macro buttons visible and dockable anywhere.

 

Tonight, I’ll resend a file that shows how to make an ID printing macro.  It will print

your callsign anywhere on the waterfall in a few seconds.  Recent version required.

 

At Check-in: Send CALLSIGN only for flmsg traffic or keyboard.

Monitoring stations may check-in  & out with: CALLSIGN  IN&OUT.

 

FLAMP doesn’t open automatically.  FLDIGI can be configured to start FLAMP on

the AutoStart menu.  FLAMP provides for a REPORT from receiving stations.

Sender then resends only the missing blocks; automated by FLAMP.

 

IMPORTANT!  For FLAMP traffic, we interrupt the directed traffic round for a single

round of FLAMP REPORTs. Next Op after Sender sends REPORT w/o NCS prompt.

All following Ops REPORT w/o prompt.  Sender resends missing blocks. Only one

REPORT round.  Then, continue directed traffic rotation.  Ops still missing blocks

can fill after net.

 

Checking in late? Send your CALLSIGN during a lull or print it nearby on the waterfall.

Have to leave early? Check-out with NCS so we don’t search for you during rotation.

 

Announcments, comments, questions, before traffic round?  Come now….      < K7KY

 

KI6RIT  < K7KY GE Nick  I’m adding you to the rotation after KE6SLS     < K7KY OK….  Lets begin traffic rotation with Ken K7IFG   Remember when we

get traffic in FLAMP that the next stations sends REPORT directly w/o my prompt and each station follows the same. Sender sends one fill and we return

to regular traffic rotation…  Over to Ken…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:43Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

R cïç

[1]

ORCA de K7IFG    SIGS STARTING TO FADE NOW DOUG  flMSG FORMAT FOLLOWS

 

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:43Z MFSK-32 @ 1497>>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn K7IFG-152.p2s]<flmsg>2.0.12

:hdr_fm:21

K7IFG 20150212034342

:hdr_ed:21

K7IFG 20150212033501

<plaintext>

:tt:15 General Message

:to:17 ALL ORCA STATIONS

:fm:16 Ken Miller K7IFG

:dt:8 12/02/15

:tm:5 0327Z

:sb:20 Email address change

:mg:126 Having problems with emails so have added the following email

addresses:

 

kenk7ifg@gmail.com

and

k7ifg@winlink.org

 

73 de Ken

[WRAP:chksum E9B0][WRAP:end]

… end

 

KW6JIM  < K7KY   Over to you for traffic or keyboard…   < K7KY

KW6JIM  < K7KY How copy Jim?  I upped my power a bit..  Hope the band doesn’t fade away on us…  < K7KY NX6D  < K7KY  Looks like we lost Jim….

Hope you copy me OK    Over to you for traffic or keyboard…   < K7KY

 

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:46Z MFSK-32 @ 1498>>

 

Picture received, very fine copy.  Signals strong and clear tonight.  599++

 

I retuned my 80M horizontal loop antenna yesterday — now it is centered on the band and gives SWRs below 3 at the edges of the band.  Tunes easily.

On this band it is NVIS, but hearing you well tonight.  I don’t know how far it reaches. Running 50 watts.

 

Looks like the last time I updated FLDIGI, I didn’t install FLMSG and FLAMP.  Don’t know why I didn’t do that.  I will fix that before the next net.

 

Thanks all for tonight.

 

NX6D

 

NX6D  < K7KY  Good S9 signal here David   I’m interested in the change in your ant and would like to know how it works out…   BREAK   KE6SLS

Over to you Jaye…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:49Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>

 

ORCA de kviaPs

r delay watts.  Doug, very hard copy now.  Had great copy on I think Jim.

 

Anyt akael GREAT ThanktM4C and mea±¿Br that.  Just finieR rz vond round of Corned Beef and Cabbage!  i weLn   j Zo did I sf¹   OHo}h I did!

 

Okay, I’ll continue to cp what I can here in Eureka.\

De ke6s  aeg t erÆhKE6SLS  < K7KY Jaye…   not good copy now….  I think the band has gone long… I have good copy on David NX6D in the bay area,

but not doing well into Eureka now…  I did get some about CB&C     OK   OVER to Nick KI6RIT   < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:52Z MFSK-32 @ 1525>>

 

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn NC6MC-7.p2s]<flmsg>2.0.12

:hdr_fm:21

NC6MC 20150212035205

:hdr_ed:21

NC6MC 20150212035205

<plaintext>

:to:8 ORCA Net

:fm:29 Nick KI6RIT @ Ukiah EOC NC6MC

:dt:10 2015-12-01

:tm:5 1951L

:sb:14 Happy Holidays

:mg:127 Good signals here tonight, except for KE6SLS – very faint. Nothing much for me to add. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving :)

[WRAP:chksum 9FCE][WRAP:end]

… end

 

KI6RIT  < K7KY FB NIck   good copy here on you….   BREAK  W7ZAP   Over to you for traffic or keyboard…   < K7KY

 

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T03:53Z MFSK-32 @ 1505>>

 

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn 01dec2015.213]<flmsg>2.0.10

:hdr_fm:21

W7ZAP 20150212035344

:hdr_ed:21

W7ZAP 20150212034552

<ics213>

:to:16 ORCA DIGITAL NET

:p1:22 35w 120′ doublet @ 65′

:fm:11 Mindy W7ZAP

:p2:13 Brookings, OR

:d1:10 2015-12-01

:t1:5 2035Z

:sb:41 Upcoming Digital Contests (Dec 4-6, 2015)

:mg:793

I ran across an amateur’s blog today that said Ops are using contests for propagation experiments. Some are experimenting with QRPp (extreme low

power) just to see what is possible and others to study information from RBN. Sounds like a good idea and fun.

 

ARRL 160-Meter Contest: 2200Z, Dec 4 to 1600Z, Dec 6

Mode: CW

Bands: 160m Only

Rules: http://www.arrl.org/160-meter

 

TARA RTTY Melee: 0000Z-2400Z, Dec 5

Mode: RTTY

Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m

Rules: http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_melee_rules.html

 

SARL Digital Contest: 1300Z-1600Z, Dec 6

Mode: PSK, RTTY

Bands:             80, 40, 20m

Rules: http://www.sarl.org.za/Document_Store/CONT_20150101_SARL_Contest_Manual_2015.pdf

 

 

To view the full 8 day contests calendar, visit website:

http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/weeklycont.php#5731

[WRAP:chksum 49B9][WRAP:end]

… end

 

W7ZAP  < K7KY Mindy   A good announcement for tonight when we have two monitoring stations that love CW… They may be interested in the

160m CW contest…  OK here comes my traffic.  It is the same as last week, a primer to setup an ID macro…   < K7KY <STX>

 

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn IDmacro.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.12

:hdr_fm:20

K7KY 20150212035725

:hdr_ed:20

K7KY 20151111002707

<blankform>

:mg:1376 Macro prints your CALLSIGN on waterfall

 

Here’s a basic macro for checking-in to a digital net. It prints

your callsign anywhere in the passband with one click. It only

takes a few seconds. The macro does a little housekeeping

before and after printing.  This example prints a 4 character

callsign on the wf very quickly  and sets the modem to MFSK-32.

The curser remains in place. You can set the modem to any mode.

 

Here’s all it takes to print your callsign with this macro:

 

1)Go to FLDIGI topbar menu:  Configure/IDs/Video

Section: Video Preamble ID

All left side options: unchecked

Enter CALLSIGN in text window

Set: CharsRow: One character more than CALLSIGN (W1AW = 5)

SAVE

 

2) Replace my CALLSIGN with yours

Replace <MODEM:MFSK32> with any mode (<MODEM:BPSK31>)

 

3) Right click a blank macro button (or any button you don’t use)

to open the Macro Editor.  Copy the macro below (that you’ve

modified) and paste it into the editor.  At the bottom, name the

macro ‘Print ID’. Be sure to click APPLY before leaving that button

or closing the editor.  Back up to the menu bar: File/Macros/Save

Save your macro . That’s it.

 

 

<TXRSID:off>

<LOCK:off>

<MODEM:NULL>

<TX>

<RXRSID:on>

<VIDEO:K7KY>

<@MODEM:MFSK32>

<@TXRSID:on>

<@RXRSID:on>

<RX>

 

[WRAP:chksum 8854][WRAP:end]

… end

 

Late check ins, come now…  < K7KY

ALL ORCA  < K7KY OK, we’ll move on to a round of comments, signal reports and observations.  Rembember to skip the two in&out stations.  they may

be aorund and want to comment at the end of net….  Up to Ken K7KFG…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:01Z MFSK-32 @ 1503>>

 

k7ky de k7ifg  ok  well it was interesting the difference between your sig and mindy’s doug could not copy her at all.   HI HI.

 

KW6JIM

NX6D DAVID           S-9 Sig Solid copy

KE6SLS JAYE           S-7 Sig Solid copy

KI6RIT NICK            S-7 Sig 100% Flmsg

W7ZAP Mindy           Signal down in noise no copy

K7KY Doug   S-5 now copy is about 90%

flmsg failed checksum but after

query box answer was able to open

k7ky de k7ifg  kn

K7IFG  < K7KY Very interesting, Ken…   Mindy is at the same power as me, but her ant is 90deg off from mine.   Makes quite a difference tonight.

Also, you are copying KE6SLS much better than I…   BREAK KW6JIM  Jim,  how copy?   < K7KY NX6D  < K7KY David,  Looks like the band is skipping

over Jim…. Up to you…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:05Z MFSK-32 @ 1498>>

nDtt MtmŸn anoug: I retuned the antenna because I have a better idea of how I want to use it now, than when I built it.  It is now well centered on 80M

and 40M.  SWRs less than 2 across the bands. The 20M band is “on the shoulder”, about SWR 5 or so.  Not intended to be useful in higher frequency

bands, but could be tuned for 10M.  I wound up adding about 10 feet of wire to the loop, making it about 270 feet around. I’m considering adding special

switched inductance to the base of my 43 foot vertical to squeeze it onto 160M.  We’ll see.

 

I think I have received everybody with good to perfect copy, even W7ZAP, partially.  The last portion of her FLMSG faded to zero for a moment, but best

reception of her station yet.

 

BTN de NX6D

 

NX6D  < K7KY David… How high is your loop?    < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:07Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

 

Supported on 4 masts around the back yard.  30 feet up.

NX6D It’s doing a good job… BREAK  KE6SLS over to you, Jaye.  I hope you still copy me.  Other stations are copying you very well…   < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:08Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

 

ORCA de ke6sls

fb Doug and the gang.  I have very good cp on you now.  I had moved my IF shift over at some point, probably during a SSB net and once tI noted it, put

it back to zero and you came right up.  Have some strong qrm on either side, but still great cp. NX6D is at 589 here, you are at 549 here, Mindy is 000

*sorry Mindy* but no copy at all on her–the 90 off just kills it to us down yound­O

t3 the rest are good copy.  Got your message, but not a complete copy of the macro file–flamp would be handy for xmt that next time!  At least I could

get fills.

Anyway, dinner was dandy and I feel much better now HIHI.

 

BTU NC

de ke6sls k

 

KE6SLS  < K7KY FB Jaye…  Mindy usually does just abut the same as me, but tonight, the differences in the ant’s seems to be more important.  I’m

copying you 100% now.   Your last was hard to cpy…   BREAK  Over to Nick KI6RIT    < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:12Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>

£el  :i’R !rn seeerI coS aybe 3 words from Mindy’s transmission. Jaye is much stronger this time. As a reference, the noise floor here is S9, with peaks of

+10. ugh

de KI6RIT k

 

ALL ORCA

Please StandBy…  < K7KY   W7ZAP  < K7KY   We just tinkered with Mindy’s rig… Let’s see if it makes any difference…  over to you, Mindy…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:14Z MFSK-32 @ 1505>>

 

W7ZAP copied the following stations:

 

K7IFG            100% copy FLMSG (S/N = 8dB)

KW6JIM         No copy

NX6D 100% KBD copy (S/N = 10dB)

NR5NN          in/out   100% KBD copy – Hi JB! Nice call :-)

N6IET in/out   100% KBD copy

KE6SLS          60% KBD copy(S/N = -3dB)

2nd TX 100% copy S7

KI6RIT           100% KBD copy (S/N = 11dB)

K7KY 100% copy + image + FLMSG (S/N = 18db)

 

Nice turnout tonight! I missed the first half of Ken’s bulletin prior to the ORCA net. Will try to get on freq sooner next week. Sometimes a challenge with

our local 2m nets!

 

Band seems to be fading in and out. Jaye was difficult to copy. Was busy typing when JB and Rick checked in, so no S/N signal.

 

Hmmm… looks like my signal not so good tonight. I upped my power to 40w and readjusted my ALC.

 

73,

Mindy W7ZAP

 

K7IFG  < K7KY Ken.. How copy, Mindy?    < K7KY

DE K7IFG  COPY IS ABOUT 75% NOW.   e J¸o³nÄiYES THE BAND IS GETTING WORSE BY THE MINUTE THOUGH.¶mn  DE K7IFG  KN

 

NX6D  < K7KY David,  How copy Mindy?   < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:17Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

 

MUCH STRONGER SIGNAL FROM MINDY!!  Ten over S9, -80 dBm.

 

BTN de NX6D

 

ALL ORCA OK.  Looks like we sorted Mindy’s problem out here comes my report.  I hope the band holds a few more minutes…<STX>

 

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn RotationOrder.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.12

:hdr_fm:20

K7KY 20150212041802

:hdr_ed:20

K7KY 20150211222816

<blankform>

:mg:220 1dec15, ORCA DIGITAL NET,Rotation:

 

K7IFG  100%

KW6JIM  no copy

NX6D S9 100%

NR5NN in&out

N6IET in&out

KE6SLS  initally good copy, but only 45% at rotation

KI6RIT  S7 100%

W7ZAP  100%

K7KY NCS (30w 180′ doublet @ 80′)

[WRAP:chksum ADF5][WRAP:end]

… end

 

ALL ORCA   Well, that’s it for traffic and comments…   We didn’t have any traffic in FLAMP tonight, but that’s unusual.     Any more comments, or activity

before we close?  please come now….  < K7KY Any monitoring stations want to chip in before we close? come now  < K7KY ¥t

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:20Z MFSK-32 @ 1501>>

R7eazpt

[1]

N6IET

ki»tn añunt

N6IET  < K7KY Hi Rick….   you’ve got the kbd… go ahead…  < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:21Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>

 

K7KY de N6IET

What a great net. This was fun. I’ll be joining in every week. hopefully.

73 allBTU  K7KY de N6IET k

 

N6IET  < K7KY FB Rick…. YOu’re certainly welcome..    Rick is one of my CW friends and runs a CW net of his own on Sunday evenings….   OK anything

else be fore we close?    < K7KY

 

This concludes the ORCA DIGITAL NET

for:12/1/2015 20:23 Pacific Standard Time

 

Thank’s for participating in the net tonight.

We appreciate your time and input.

Hope to see you again next week.

73   < Doug  K7KY NCS i

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:23Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>

Good net — thanks!

 

de NX6D sk

 

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:23Z MFSK-32 @ 1501>>

 

I second that Nick!  Great loop antenna too!  Sounds very fb here in Eureka.

GW Mindy and Doug.   Copy Mindy 100% on her last too and signal FB from nothing before.

 

Okay, hope to see you all again next week same chanel same time!

hihi

de ke6sls k

 

dit dit

K7IFG  < K7KY go ahead, Ken    < K7KY  7IFG   WAS TESTING OUT THE MI

sAT DOU  THANKS FOR YOUR WOdB AND DAVESe×nnj g¨

 

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:26Z MFSK-32 @ 1506>>

\

Dead simple antenna to build, doesn’t cost much.  300 feet of wire, supports if you need them, 300 ohm ladder line for feeding, 4:1 current balun.

DXEngineering has a good writeup.  See also the Sky Loop antenna in the ARRL antenna book.

 

NX6D

 

\NX6D  < K7KY David… We have the plans and hope to turn Mindy’s doublet into a loop when we get time…. cu next week.. thanks for coming

tonight  73   < K7KY i³FR~ nÁIeaoZot

n”

Before RSID: <<2015-12-02T04:28Z MFSK-32 @ 1503>>

 

Night everyone!

de KI6RIT k