ORCA
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ORCA DIGITAL NET, Report 28/Apr/15
Check-ins: 6
Traffic: 5
Stations:
WA6NBG Don Bulletin
NX6D David T
KR5RR JB kbd
KA6ULG Bob kbd
W7ZAP Mindy T
K7KY Doug T NCS
A small, but productive net tonight. We certainly learned a lot about interference from nearby stations. Mindy & I are too close to work the same band simultaneously. I initially thought it would be handy to let Mindy work relays as we can talk together easily off-air, but no, our present station configurations will not permit us to transmit this close together.
Don WA6NBG ended up sending the Humboldt bulletin three times. Twice I couldn’t’ copy 100% due to interference from the relay station. Third time was 100% for all receivers. David NX6D and I both chose the Amateur round-the-world balloon story for our message. Very interesting story, for sure. The solar-powered radio balloon went completely around the world transmitting, before falling back to earth.
JB KR5RR had high SWR in his FT-817 before the net began and was unable to resolve it by rotation time. It was fine on 40m, but not so on 80m. He did manage brief keyboarding before checking out early. JB is leading an fldigi seminar for his local ARC this weekend.
Bob KA6ULG is still causing some TV interference at home, but was 100% copy on keyboard when he increased power. David didn’t copy him so well in the SF bay area.
Mindy sent her message and associated image in MFSK-64. I encourage everyone to experiment with modes that interest them. It will be good learn which modes work best for us under adverse band conditions.
Some of our regular members are not coming as often as usual. I think summer WX will reduce net participation a little. Also, this is a learning net and when we’re doing things the long-time members already know, they have less incentive to participate. I do my best to keep it stimulating and interesting. Now and then we get a new member that knows more than some of the regulars. I’m always glad to have them aboard; their knowledge is a major benefit to the net. If you have ideas or suggestions for net activities or improvement, let me know.
Thanks for coming tonight and I hope to see you again next week. 73 Doug K7KY NCS
————— Net Log ———————————————-
test de kr5rr
strickly manual
no macros.
test de kr5rr
KR5RR JB de K7KY GE JB How’r u? < K7KY k
Howdy
I'm OK but rig is showing high SWR and I don't know how.
FT817 with 5 watts.
Must go trouble shoot.
Try to be back in time for net.
k7ky de kr5rr k
KR5RR JB de K7KY OK JB good to hear from you. UR S-5 here and
100% print. Hope you can make it tonight.. 73
for now < K7KY k
Pse note that it will be NO macros
Don't know what happeded to them when I switched computers
ur rst 599
72 de kr5rr k
Testing from WA6NBG
WA6NBG Don de K7KY Good signal Don I’ll check you in early… de
K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:18Z MFSK-32 @ 1510>>
Thanks Doug…lots of noise at my end. hope it works tonight…
de WA6NBG
ORCA DIGIAL NET, Checked-in early:
ORCA DIGITAL NET
ORCA DIGIAL NET, Checked-in early:
KR5RR JB
WA6NBG Don
W7ZAP Mindy
K7KY Doug
< K7KY k NX6D David TU checked in early...< K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:25Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>
I’ve been runL
new NX6D k
NX6D David de K7KY three was a double David come
again< K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:26Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
Not important.
de NX6D k
ORCA DIGIAL NET,
Checked-in early:
WA6NBG Don
NX6D David
KR5RR JB
W7ZAP Mindy
K7KY Doug
< K7KY k
QST & WELCOME to the ORCA DIGITAL NET. Doug K7KY NCS -
Brookings,OR.
We meet every Tuesday at 1930p here on 3.595 USB. Software:
FLDIGI, FLMSG, & FLAMP. Mode: MFSK-32 @ 1500. Other
modes and bands depending on conditions. Alternate digital freq: 7.122
USB. Optional voice freq's: 3.955 &
7.200.
The ORCA DIGITAL NET is dedicated to learning digital operating skills
and practicing digital traffic handling.
The net connects Amateur Operators with mutual interest in training,
information-sharing, and support.
Visitors welcome.
This is a DIRECTED Net. Please answer check-in with your CALLSIGN.
If you can print your call on the WF, use
any free space in the passband.
After check-in, please stand-by while NCS organizes the rotation list.
NCS transmits grayscale test image
NCS transmits Rotation list
NCS transmits Announcements
Call for comments/questions on announcements
NCS calls each station in rotation (traffic or keyboard)
Before sending, please LOCK fldigi @ 1500, enable RxID, TxID, & AFC.
(Set CONFIGURE/ID/RsID 'Retain tx freq lock')
A round (or more) of fills, reception reports, comments, questions,
follows the traffic round.
NCS transmits Closing Announcment (optional QSY to voice)
-------------------------
ORCA DIGITAL NET website: http://orcadigitalnet.com/
ka6ulg de ka6ulg ka6ulg ka6ulg kn
KA6ULG Bob de K7KY GE anymore check ins? < K7KY k
ORCA DIGITAL NET de K7KY
Grayscale image for signal evaluation
Sending Pic:192×192;
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn K7KY-8.b2s]
:hdr_fm:20
K7KY 20152904023528
:hdr_ed:20
K7KY 20152904023514
:mg:117 ORCA DIGITAL NET, Rotation Order:
WA6NBG Don
NX6D David
KR5RR JB
KA6ULG Bob
W7ZAP Mindy
K7KY Doug
ORCA DIGITAL NET, Announcements,28/Apr/15
If you’re using flamp or another mode, tell us before your traffic. After you
send/receive traffic in a
different mode, please return to MFSK-32.
Tonight we’ll do some more relaying. Stations will QSY down frequency
to relay traffic, return, and pass that
traffic to the net, simulating poor band conditions. Please use short
messages so the relay stations don’t miss
much net activity. When you QSY to a relay frequency, continue using
1500wf. It’s near the center of fldigi’s
passband.
Following this announcement and comments, NCS will call stations in
order. If you don’t have traffic in flmsg,
you’re welcome to keyboard.
Following traffic , a round, of reception reports & comments. Voice
comments optional after net.
*** Remember to LOCK fldigi @ 1500, & enable RxID, TxID, & AFC ***
(Set CONFIGURE/ID/RsID ‘Retain tx freq lock’)
Comments, Questions?, come now with your callsign. de K7KY
ALL ORCA Before we begin rotation, I’d like to set up a relay. NX6D
David, can you catch a relay from Mindy
tonight? de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:39Z MFSK-32 @ 1501>>
Roger
de NX6D k
ALL ORCA Great. I’d like W7ZAP to relay traffic to NX6D @
3.594/1500wf. Please QSY to this freq and pass this
short message. While you’re gone, we’ll send the regular bulletin from
Don WA6NBG. The Humboldt report. You
can have this bulletin relayed to you when you return if you like.
W7ZAP & NX6D. Please QSY to 3.594/1500 and pass traffic. Return to
net and relay the traffic when your rotation
turn comes. de K7KY k
WA6NBG Don OK we can take the bulletin
now while the relay stations are working…WA6
NBG Don de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:42Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn WA6NBG-9.213]
:hdr_fm:22
ORCA
:p1:25 25 Watts into 185′ up 25′
:fm:10 Don WA6NBG
:d1:10 2015-04-27
:t1:5 1811L
:sb:26 Bulletins and Annoucements
:s1:23 Donald O. Nelson WA6NBG
:mg:439 Bulletins and Annoucements for April 27th.
No H.A.R.C board meeting this month!
Ave. of the Giants Marathon Sunday, May 3rd. VHF communicators
needed.
Tour of the Unknown Coˆlya tttnttH@oKN Qe} B atHdFRô fetåµs the
digital message for April 27th.
[WRAP:chksum 0E9C][WRAP:end]
… end
WA6NBG Don Well, my error here. 3.594 was too close and
interrupted your bulletin. I have them moving to
93. PLese resend the bulletin… tu de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:45Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn WA6NBG-9.213]
:hdr_fm:22
WA6NBG 20152904024501
:hdr_ed:22
WA6NBG 20152904021535
:to:27 Eureka Emergency Net & ORCA
for the Eureka Emergency VHF Net to
donelsonsteam@gmail.com or via Packet to WA6NBG @
W6ZZK-1 on 145.050 end
KA6ULG Bob did you copy Don’s bulletin OK? de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:47Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
yes idi de ka6ulg ka6ulg ka6ulg kn
ALL ORCA That’s good to hear. BOth times Don sent the bulletin, it
was interrupted here by Mindy’s transmission
. Moving down didn’t help as we are so close. JB KR5RR are you back
from troubleshooting? de K7KY k
ALL ORCA Relay stations please check in.. de K7KY k
ALL ORCA OK NX6D & W7ZAP are back with us. The relay exercise
is prooving to have much to learn. Mindy & I
are so close that her transmissions are swamping my rig and the relay
won’t work from our stations. Thanks for
doing the relay exercise. We’ll do it again with better chosen stations.
NX6D David. please send your message and the relay message now.
de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:52Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn NX6D-8.b2s]
:hdr_fm:20
NX6D 20152904025227
:hdr_ed:20
NX6D 20152904025227
:mg:970 A foil, party-type balloon carrying a ham radio payload has
circumnavigated the globe. Launched on April
6 by Australian radio amateur Andy Nguyen, VK3YT, of Kensington,
Victoria, Australia, the balloon, designated
PS-41, completed its round-the-world journey on April 16. It remained
aloft until April 22, when Nguyen reported
that it had gone down near South America. Along the way, it has been
tracked by a network of Amateur Radio
operators. Nguyen has been trying since early last year to have one of
his launches go full circle.
“PS-41 crossed the starting longitude of 144.903 at 11:20 AM AEST
(0120 UTC) this morning, completing the first
PicoSpace around-the-world trip,” Nguyen posted on April 16. “Thanks
to everyone for assistance with tracking and
providing encouragement for the project; the trip would not have been
possible without you.” In January, Nguyen’s
PS-30 balloon went down in suspected poor weather off the east coast
of Africa near Madagascar
[WRAP:chksum C740][WRAP:end]
… end
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:54Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
Relayed message follows:
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T02:54Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn RelayTest.213]
:hdr_fm:41
W7ZAP 20152904024534
NX6D 20152904025450
:hdr_ed:21
W7ZAP 20152904005022
:to:16 ORCA DIGITAL NET
:fm:11 Mindy W7ZAP
:sb:18 Relay Test Message
:s1:5 W7ZAP
:mg:37 Short ICS-213 message for relay test.
[WRAP:chksum 45C2][WRAP:end]
… end
KR5RR JB did you sort out the problems? are you here? de K7KY k
e kr5rr
KR5RR JB I have only partial copy now. try again.. de K7KY k
Sorry, I can’t seem to get the ALC to stay put.
I’ll monitor and maybe by next w& eek have it figured out
73 and taketare ORÄnCA
ke kr5rrk
KR5RR JB OK… last transmission was better, but still a little skippy.
JB is using his FT-817 @ 5w tonight and was having high SWR before
the net. Thanks for trying JB cu next time 73
de K7KY k
KA6ULG Bob over to you for traffic or keyboard , as you like…. de
K7KY k
D de ka6ulg ka6ulg ka6ulg kn
KA6ULG Bob I didn’t get much of that.. just the end. try again… de
K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:01Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
100 5copy i am lost de ka6ulg ka6ulg ka6ulg kn
KA6ULG Bob no problem… I know where you are… OK we’ll move
along to Mindy W7ZAP… go now please
de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:02Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
ALL ORCA > W7ZAP
My message will be in MFSK64 and will be followed by an image in the
same mode.
Standby for message…
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:02Z MFSK-32 @ 1510>>
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn 28april2015.213]
:hdr_fm:21
W7ZAP 20152904030241
:hdr_ed:21
W7ZAP 20152904023106
:to:16 ORCA DIGITAL NET
:p1:22 25w 120′ doublet @ 65′
:fm:11 Mindy W7ZAP
:p2:13 Brookings, OR
:d1:10 2015-04-28
:t1:5 1657Z
:sb:39 Yesterday was Morse Code Day (April 27)
:mg:1861
April 27 was Morse Code Day which commemorates the birth of the
inventor of the Morse Code – Samuel Morse in
1791.
Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791 – April 2, 1872) was an
American painter and inventor. After having
established his reputation as a portrait painter, in his middle age Morse
contributed to the invention of a
single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs. He was a
co-developer of the Morse code, and helped to
develop the commercial use of telegraphy.
In 1825 New York City had commissioned Morse to paint a portrait of
Lafayette in Washington, DC. While Morse was
painting, a horse messenger delivered a letter from his father that read,
“Your dear wife is convalescent”. The
next day he received a letter from his father detailing his wife’s sudden
death. Morse immediately left Washingto
n for his home at New Haven, leaving the portrait of Lafayette unfinished.
By the time he arrived, his wife had
already been buried. Heartbroken that for days he was unaware of his
wife’s failing health and her death, he
decided to explore a means of rapid long distance communication.
While returning by ship from Europe in 1832, Morse encountered
Charles Thomas Jackson of Boston, a man who was
well schooled in electromagnetism. Witnessing various experiments with
Jackson’s electromagnet, Morse developed
the concept of a single-wire telegraph. He set aside his painting, The
Gallery of the Louvre. The original Morse
telegraph, submitted with his patent application, is part of the collections
of the National Museum of American
History at the Smithsonian Institution. In time the Morse code, which he
developed, would become the primary
language of telegraphy in the world. It is still the standard for rhythmic
transmission of data.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_F._B._Morse
STANDBY: Image to follow…
[WRAP:chksum DA2E][WRAP:end]
… end
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:04Z MFSK-64 @ 1494>>
Sending Pic:200x124C;
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:06Z MFSK-64 @ 1492>>
Returning net to MFSK-32 < W7ZAP k
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn Balloon.213]
:hdr_fm:20
K7KY 20152904030633
:hdr_ed:20
K7KY 20152804204114
:to:16 ORCA DIGITAL NET
:fm:9 Doug K7KY
:p2:23 180′ doublet @ 80′, 25w
:sb:62 Australian Ham’s ‘PicoSpace’ Balloon Circumnavigates the
Globe
:s1:4 K7KY
:mg:941 A foil, party-type balloon carrying a ham radio payload has
circumnavigated the globe. Launched on April
6 by Australian radio amateur Andy Nguyen, VK3YT, of Kensington,
Victoria, Australia, the balloon, designated
PS-41 http://picospace.net/?p=825, completed its round-the-world
journey on April 16. It remained aloft until
April 22, when Nguyen reported that it had gone down near South
America. Along the way, it has been tracked by a
network of Amateur Radio operators. Nguyen has been trying since early
last year to have one of his launches go
full circle.
The solar-powered, helium-filled PS-41 balloon carried an HF payload,
sending WSPR spots and JT9 telemetry on 30
and 20 meters from a 25 mW transmitter. The high-attitude PS-41 took a
path over Tasmania, then south of New
Zealand, the southern tip of South America, directly over the South
Georgia and South Sandwich islands, well
south of Africa, and back across to Australia.
[WRAP:chksum 6068][WRAP:end]
… end
WA6NBG Don Before we begin the comment and reception report
round, please send the bulletin one more time. I
missed both due to interference and W7ZAP & NX6D were away during
your transmission. After your bulletin, please
go ahead with the round of reports.. tu de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:10Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn WA6NBG-9.213]
:hdr_fm:22
WA6NBG 20152904031003
:hdr_ed:22
WA6NBG 20152904021535
:to:27 Eureka Emergency Net & ORCA
:p1:25 25 Watts into 185′ up 25′
:fm:10 Don WA6NBG
:d1:10 2015-04-27
:t1:5 1811L
:sb:26 Bulletins and Annoucements
:s1:23 Donald O. Nelson WA6NBG
:mg:439 Bulletins and Annoucements for April 27th.
No H.A.R.C board meeting this month!
Ave. of the Giants Marathon Sunday, May 3rd. VHF communicators
needed.
Tour of the Unknown Coast Bicycle Event Saturday, May 9th. VHF
communicators needed.
Please send any bulletins or announcements for the Eureka Emergency
VHF Net to donelsonsteam@gmail.com or via
Packet to WA6NBG @ W6ZZK-1 on 145.050 MHz.
This ends the digital message for April 27th.
[WRAP:chksum A636][WRAP:end]
… end
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:12Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>
WA6NBG Reception Report
WA6NBG Don
NX6D David 100% & FLMSG x 2
KR5RR JB 3%
KA6ULG 100%
W7ZAP MFSK 64 100% & FLMSG – Photo 95%
K7KY 100% & FLMSG
I think we learned a few things tonight.
de WA6NBG
NX6D David up to you… de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:13Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn NX6D-8.213]
:hdr_fm:20
NX6D 20152904031305
:hdr_ed:20
NX6D 20152904031305
:mg:1064 Grayscale image OK.
Rotation order received with errors. Errors ignored.
My method, which works quite well for me, is to not lock the transmit
frequency, but to run with RxID and TxID at
all times, and to set the transmit wf freq to 1500 immediately prior to
transmission. The last step is done with
a macro.
I had to raise power to almost 100W before Mindy heard me during the
relay test. I received the message without
error.
KA6ULG’s transmissions were not received reliably. I have turned AGC
off in my ORCA profile so that the nearby
RTTY that starts just about 20h doesn’t knock the ORCA signals down
into the noise.
Mindy’s TxID signal was not strong enough to change my decoder mode
to the mode she was using. The wf frequency
was correct, just not enough signal to decode the TxID directive.
Switched to MFSK64 by hand and captured the
last part of the transmission without errors.
AGC reduction is not enough to keep the nearby RTTY from being
annoying to the ears. I’ve reduced my receiver
passband to 2630 Hz, which is working quite well.
NX6D David OK thanks for all the info… Don’s right, we’re learning quite
a bit tonight
JB has checked out eary… Over to Bob KA6ULG for keyboard
comments.. de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:16Z MFSK-32 @ 1501>>
100@ copy on all tonight. de ka6ulg ka6ulg ka6ulg kn
W7ZAP Mindy Thanks Bob.. OK MIndy ur up de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:17Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
W7ZAP Reception Report
WA6NBG Don 100% copy + FLMSG (2nd TX)
NX6D David 100% copy + FLMSG
100% copy + FLMSG on relay
KR5RR JB KBD – partial copy tonight
KA6ULG Bob KBD – 100% copy
K7KY Doug 100% copy + FLMSG + image
Well, learning what we can and cannot do with 2 stations so close
together… good to understand our limitations.
Nice to be doing different traffic exercises. Good net tonight :-)
W7ZAP k
… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn K7KY-8.b2s]
:hdr_fm:20
K7KY 20152904031757
:hdr_ed:20
K7KY 20152904023514
:mg:404 ORCA DIGITAL NET, Reception report:
WA6NBG Don interference from close station, 3rd time 100% +flmsg
NX6D David 100% + flmsg, 2 messages
KR5RR JB kbd good copy
KA6ULG Bob kbd OK copy, better on last
W7ZAP Mindy 100% +flmsg and image 100% MFSK-64
K7KY Doug Well, David really scooped me on this message and he
did a better job of
abstracting the story…
ALL ORCA That completes a round of transmissions and a round of
comments. Thanks to Mindy & David for trying the
relay tonight. There’s quite a bit to learn here. David also provided quite
a bit of technicial info that will
take me a little time to absorb…
Are there any stations that want to send another message or have
comments for the net? please come now de
K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:21Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
Mindy’s last came through quite well here. Noticably stronger signal in
the ears and on the wf.
de NX6D k
NX6D David Maybe just the band. She’s not changed anything. I’m
surprised you needed 100w to reach Mindy.
It could be that she wasn’t hearing you because I was transmitting to
Don at the time. It probably caused her
the same grief as me… Mindy says YES OK anything further? de
K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:23Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
Probably the band getting longer as it gets darker.
de NX6D k
NX6D David I think you’re right… any more business or comments
before we close? de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:24Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
k7ky is this any better.i raised the transmitter power a little ka6ulg de
ka6ulg ka6ulg ka6ulg kn
KA6ULG Bob Yes. 100
K7KY k
Sorry about that Bob… I lost the curser and got confused.
You are looking good on the waterfall
now. de K7KY k
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:25Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
Faint, but mostly readable here. Better.
de NX6D k
Maybe you two are too close… OK if there’s nothing further, we can
close for tonight. While the nets
seem small lately, it’s actually easier to manage and we may get to do
more exploring and experimenting..
anyway, thanks for coming and working with us and I hope to see you all
back next week. 73 Doug K7KY Sk
Before RSID: <<2015-04-29T03:27Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
Not likely too close. I’m using a horizontal loop on this band that
transmits almost straight up. NVIS.
de NX6D k
NX6D David I forgot about your antenna. I withdraw my guess… (-: cu
next time… 73 de K7KY k
