ORCA DIGITAL NET

ORCA DIGITAL NET,Report 15dec15

Check-ins: 7
Stations:
K7IFG
KE6SLS
K7KEV
NX6D
KW6JIM
W7ZAP (35w, 120′ doublet @ 65′)
K7KY NCS (35w, 180′ doublet @ 80′)

The band was really fickle tonight. We lost three stations by mid-net. I didn’t have good
copy on Keith K7KEV, Forest Grove,OR, from the outset. Jaye KE6SLS was perfect copy at
check-in with 5w, but was soon up to 50w. Jaye changed the mode to MFSK-16
to improve copy. This was working well, but was changed back to MFSK-32 and then
Jaye was gone along with Jim KW6JIM, both in Eureka. I regret losing Keith so early in
the net. Keith is Cascade Amateur Radio Society Digital Net’s NCS. They meet every
Wednesday, 2015p, 3.581usb, 1500, THOR-22.

Ken K7IFG is an official bulletin station. You can copy one of his broadcasts beginning
at 1900p on our net frequency, 30min before net. Have flamp running and RxID on. His
broadcast will include different modes. You can send him a REPORT and receive fills.

The band has not been too kind to us this fall. It seems to go long suddenly with lots of
QSB. This hinders the Ops in Humboldt Co. Unfortunate as many of our regular Ops are
in Humboldt County. Mindy & I belong to the Oregon Emergency Net that meets every
evening. Lately, ragchewers in TN swamp the west coast stations on 80m. That’s radio.

We’re still looking for a workable method of sending our REPORT following FLAMP
traffic. I’d hoped we could just run around the group w/o prompting to keep the net
moving along, but it doesn’t always work. Sometimes, not every stations is running
FLAMP, and sometimes the band has dropped some stations. This leave each Op to figure out what the preceding stations is doing. Not always easy. If you have any
suggestions, let’s try them out. Eventually, most Ops will be running FLAMP, but for
now, we will probably continue to have gaps. Maybe, it would be best if I call each Op
for a REPORT. It seems slower, but maybe the best solution overall when nets are
small.

Early in the net, Jaye was having trouble copying and dropped the mode to MFSK-16.
This slows thru-put, but increases reliability. Soon after, the mode was switched back to
MFSK-32. I wasn’t paying close attention to mode at the time, but realized later it may have been the end of Jaye’s ability to decode. We also lost Jim about this time. Although
we have experimented often with different modes, we’ve not switched modes on the fly, so to speak. I think it’s a good idea for any Op to change our mode in need. It does raise
some issues as to when and what mode to use. I notice that many digital nets use slower modes than ORCA. I become a little restless with Olivia myself, but it does get the
message thru when faster modes are floundering. We want to keep in mind that a mode
change is helping one or more stations copy and stay with the net, even though it slows us
down a bit. If we can keep working with MFSK-16, we’re still operating much faster than we would with Olivia.

There are a few things that cause unintended mode change. One is sending messages in
FLMSG. Mode is set at the bottom of the flmsg screen. When FLDIGI is configured to
follow FLMSG, it will default to the mode set in FLMSG, overriding the current mode.
I’ve made this mistake numerous times myself.

If you want off this email list, let me know. Thanks for taking time out of your evening
for the net. We appreciate your participation. Wishing you a safe and satisfying holiday.
73 Doug K7KY

———– Net Log ——————-

12/15/2015 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.

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 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://ferrycreek.com/wordpress/

* * 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 Checked in so far: K7IFG KE6SLS W7ZAP < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:33Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>

de K7KEV Keith Forest Grove, OR ARES Washington Co..QRU K
KN

K7KEV GE Keith… good to see you… any more checkins? < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:34Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>

NX6D

NX6D GE David… any more? < K7KY

… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn RotationOrder.b2s]2.0.12
:hdr_fm:20
K7KY 20151612033523
:hdr_ed:20
K7KY 20150211222816

:mg:137 15dec15, ORCA DIGITAL NET,Rotation:

K7IFG
KE6SLS
K7KEV
NX6D
W7ZAP (25w, 120′ doublet @ 65′)
K7KY NCS (25w, 180′ doublet @ 80′)

ORCA DIGITAL NET
Sending Pic:192×192;
Any more checkins? < K7KY ORCA DIGITAL NET, Announcements, 15/Dec/15 FLDIGI 3.23.07.03 is available @ SourceForge. It supports all new macro features including having all four rows of macro buttons visible and dockable anywhere, and it fixes a bug in ARQ. REMINDERS: MFSK-32 is our usual mode, but we also experiment. Please check the mode before you send. The previous station may have changed modes. For FLAMP traffic, we interrupt the directed traffic round for a single round of FLAMP REPORTs. All following Ops send their REPORT w/o NCS prompt. Originator resends missing blocks. Only one REPORT round. Then, continue directed traffic rotation. Ops still missing blocks can fill after net. Keep your rotation list handy. We occasionally have monitoring stations that check 'in & out'. They are not called during rotations. The ORCA DIGITAL NET website is unavaliable while we transition to a new provider. During this process, our email @ferrycreek.com is also down. You can contact me by replying to the net report. 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. Comments or questions before traffic round? Come now. < K7KY KW6JIM GE Jim NIce to see you... I'll resend the rotation list... now < K7KY

… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn RotationOrder.b2s]2.0.12
:hdr_fm:20
K7KY 20151612034050
:hdr_ed:20
K7KY 20150211222816

:mg:144 15dec15, ORCA DIGITAL NET,Rotation:

K7IFG
KE6SLS
K7KEV
NX6D
KW6JIM
W7ZAP (25w, 120′ doublet @ 65′)
K7KY NCS (25w, 180′ doublet @ 80′)

Last week, NIckKI6RIT sent me three images from earlier nets. It’s very interesting to see the images as decoded at the other end… Any comments or
questions before we start traffic rotation? < K7KY Remember to have FLAMP running... OK over to Ken K7IFG for t rafffic.... < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:43Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

K7KY and net de K7IFG traffic follows in FLamp Format compressed

Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:44Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>
QST DE K7IFG

{DA3A}FLAMP 2.2.03
{DA3A}20151216032012:K7IFG-252.m2s
{DA3A}K7IFG Beavercreek, OR CN85sg
{DA3A}321 7 48
{DA3A}QTC 1 Routine for ORCA Digi Net
{DA3A}FLAMP 2.2.03
{DA3A}20151216032012:K7IFG-252.m2s
{DA3A}K7IFG Beavercreek, OR CN85sg
{DA3A}321 7 48
{DA3A}QTC 1 Routine for ORCA Digi Net
{DA3A:1}[b64:start]AUxaTUEAAAD5XQAAAAQAHhmJhvwzDh5T3dGz4
{DA3A:2}BuB5V9sdj/MhYGc1B6k2dgMRIE/7Rx9e6sPknYQJxZ7flpWL
{DA3A:3}MyyF/IPjntK0MwpLT3JjWyUR3liHw4bpgfdZyilINyqZybW1
{DA3A:4}gCJ6enOY7R1j+IUw4n461dryQ1ducJVYOGInnXEqFl9+AvdW
{DA3A:5}VODIp/O4z3TU4Za9I13WeILJ1X6vXCoJwdKZ0Z6xPj3pjN7E
{DA3A:6}Qpoat/8iqDirm7sV6Ye2SFi9lGHsmCzwauBbyVFuszuVhp+3
{DA3A:7}7Mwv4PSaEas5OB1doKRvaAA
[b64:end] {DA3A:EOF}
{DA3A:EOT}

QST DE K7IFG K

All ORCA Send your FLAMP REPORT now.
All Ops follow in order from SENDING station w/o NCS prompt.
When REPORT rotation is complete, originator sends missing
blocks. Only one fill round; then, back to regular traffic rotation.
< K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:47Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>

ORCA de ke6sls 100% cp on flamp from K76IFG. TU
de ke6sls k

K7KEV Keith can you send a flamp REPORT? < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:48Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>
DE K7KEV
File : Unassigned
{DA3A}PREAMBLE
DE K7KEV K

NX6D David, your flamp REPORT please… < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:49Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>

Negative — I don’t have it installed at this time.

BTN de NX6D

KW6JIM Jim… can you send a flamp REPORT? < K7KY I did not have flamp installed... In the process. KW6JIM Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:50Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>
aiô@at et

DE W7ZAP
File : K7IFG-252.m2s
{DA3A}CONFIRMED
DE W7ZAP K
DE K7KY
File : K7IFG-252.m2s
{DA3A}CONFIRMED
DE K7KY K

Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:51Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>
QST DE K7IFG

{DA3A}FLAMP 2.2.03
{DA3A}20151216032012:K7IFG-252.m2s
{DA3A}K7IFG Beavercreek, OR CN85sg
{DA3A}321 7 48
{DA3A}QTC 1 Routine for ORCA Digi Net
{DA3A}FLAMP 2.2.03
{DA3A}20151216032012:K7IFG-252.m2s
{DA3A}K7IFG Beavercreek, OR CN85sg
{DA3A}321 7 48
{DA3A}QTC 1 Routine for ORCA Digi Net

QST DE K7IFG K

Before we move on I want to say a few things about flamp traffic. It’s not easy in a digital net to know when someone else is going to xmit. For
FLAMP traffic we’re trying to complete the fills w/o NCS prompting. It doesn’t always work out when we don’t know who is running flamp and who not.
maybe we can just keep our eye on what’s happening and when there’s a long gap just asume the Op is not going to xmit and make your report. We’re
only practiceing here and it’s not critical to complete each message. We’re we really trying to pass formal traffic, we would contimue the cycle until the
message was complete… OK, over to Jaye KE6SLS for traffic or kbd…
< K7KY < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:55Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>

Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T03:55Z MFSK-16 @ 1510>>

ORCA de ke6sls switching to 16 now, lost you much of last xmsn, Iam 50 watts.
my report
k7ifg 549
ke6sls no worries
k7kev 529
nx6d 599
kw6jim 599
w7zap e 539
k7ky 599, now 539 qsb
de ke6sls in the wind blown band of 80m!
tu ncs
de ke6sls k

K7KEV OK Keith… over to you for traffic or kbd… < K7KY lmsg doesn't seem to be workth¦ K7KEV Keith... I didn't copy very much of your last... I don't know if you still copy me. Band is changing quickly... < K7KY NX6D David... HOw copy? < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T04:01Z MFSK-16 @ 1510>>

I’m running FLDIGI 3.23.04. When I updated to this version I failed to install all of the components I need. Rather than go back and try to install the
missing bits, I’ll install the latest whole package. That usually takes at least an hour because of some self-inflicted complexities that I have to sort out
each time. I don’t have FLAMP installed at this time.

I’ll try to get this done before I check in next time.

Signal from Doug is exceptionally strong tonight. S9+10 or better.

Signal from KE6SLS was readable OK.

Signal from K7KEV was weak and only partly readable on MFSK16. Faded to zero.

No other traffic for tonight. Looks like output power is about 60 watts.

BTN de NX6D

NX6D Well, I have excellent copy on you… BREAK Over to Jim KW6JIM < K7KY sKW6JIM HOw copy Jim? < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T04:04Z MFSK-16 @ 1504>>

DE K7IFG NIL HEARD HERE DOUG BTU wBK

Looks like we’ve lost KW6JIM The band can change very fast sometimes… BREAK Over to Mindy W7ZAP < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T04:05Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>

… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn 15dec2015.213]2.0.12
:hdr_fm:21
W7ZAP 20151612040542
:hdr_ed:21
W7ZAP 20151512221928

:to:16 ORCA DIGITAL NET
:p1:22 35w 120′ doublet @ 65′
:fm:11 Mindy W7ZAP
:p2:13 Brookings, OR
:d1:10 2015-12-15
:t1:5 2219Z
:sb:78 American Satellite Started Transmitting 46 Years After Being Abandoned in 1967
:mg:1075
An American satellite, abandoned in 1967 as a piece of Space Junk has begun transmitting again after 46 years.

An Amateur Radio Astronomer in North Cornwall accidentally picked up the signal in 2013 and after cross checking with various lists, has identified it as
LES1 built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and launched in 1965. The satellite failed to reach its intended orbit owing to a wiring error and
has been drifting out of control ever since.

Phil Williams G3YPQ from near Bude noticed its peculiar signal drift caused by its tumbling end over end every 4 seconds as the solar panels become
shadowed by the engine. ‘This gives the signal a particularly ghostly sound as the voltage from the solar panels fluctuates’ Phil says.

It is likely that the on board batteries have now disintegrated and some other component failure has caused the transmitter on 237Mhz, to start up when
its in sunlight.

Read entire article online: https://www.thevintagenews.com/2015/10/23/american-satellite-started-transmitting-46-years-after-being-abandoned-in-1967
[WRAP:chksum 0033][WRAP:end] … end

ALL ORCA Any visitors or late check ins? come now… < K7KY I don't have traffic tonight and we're a bit off form so I'll send my reception report and we can go around from here with reports/comments ... start [WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn RotationOrder.b2s]2.0.12
:hdr_fm:20
K7KY 20151612040951
:hdr_ed:20
K7KY 20150211222816

:mg:287 15dec15, ORCA DIGITAL NET,Rotation:

K7IFG 100% S-8, 14db
KE6SLS 100% S-3, -4db
K7KEV 20% S-1, -14db
NX6D 100% S-9, 12db
KW6JIM no copy @ traffic round
W7ZAP 100% (25w, 120′ doublet @ 65′)
K7KY NCS (25w, 180′ doublet @ 80′)

K7IFG Up to you, Ken… < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T04:11Z MFSK-32 @ 1504>>

K7KY de K7IFG
K7IFG NOT A PROBLEM
KE6SLS S-7
K7KEV HI KEITH n:» oc½!LL REQUEST BUT SIG UNREADABLE NOW
NX6D DAVID, NICE SIGNAL RUNNING S-7 WITHƒe
KW6JIM
W7ZAP AND K7KY WERE STRONG AT BEGINNING, BUT NOE BARELY SHOWING
ON WATERFALL. STILL COPY 95%
Mindy’s message did not open in flmsg.
Doug’s o ‘f60 lmost open Flmsg with my help.

73 to all Böiq id a great job running nh lboe RÄshow tonite Doug k7ky de k7ifg

K7IFG Thanks, Ken… BREAK over to JayeKE6SLS < K7KY KE6SLS Jaye.... U maybe having trouble copying... hw about 16? < K7KY OK looks like we lost Jaye too... He and Jim are in Eureka, CA over to David NX6D < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T04:15Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>
Perfect copy from Mindy tonight. The changes you have made are working.

Good copy from K7IFG too.

Thats all for tonight — I must go to some other things now.

73

NX6D
NX6D FB David… Thanks for coming… cu next week 73 Doug K7KY BREAK K7KEV Keith. sorry to miss you in rotation… I got ahead of myself. I
hope you can still copy… Any comments for the net…? < K7KY K7KEV Keith... maybe you can copy mfsk16.... over toyou... < K7KY KW6JIM Jim... I hope you can copy MFSK-16 < K7KY W7ZAP OK MINDY... Looks like we've lost Jaye, Keith, and Jim... over to you for final comments... < K7KY Before RSID: <<2015-12-16T04:19Z MFSK-16 @ 1504>>

W7ZAP copied the following stations:

K7IFG 100% FLAMP S9+10 s/n = 14dB
KE6SLS 100% KBD MFSK-16 S0 s/n = -2dB
K7KEV 10% KBD MFSK-16
NX6D 100% KBD MFSK-32 S9 s/n = 18dB
KW6JIM 0% copy
K7KY 100% FLMSG + image

I can’t seem to get on freq early enough to catch K7IFG’s FLAMP TX prior to the ORCA NET.
Tuesdays are busy with local 2m nets prior to ORCA. Glad to see Ken sending the bulletins
and hope to catch one some Tuesday night.

Good copy on Ken and Jaye. By the time Keith was TXing, the band must have faded because
he was much stronger when he checked in. Sorry Keith, no sig report.

Strong signal from David, as usual.

73,
Mindy W7ZAP k

ALL ORCA well, that’s the whole rotation. Not the best band conditions tonight.. we’ve lost three stations already. NOTE: beginning half hour before
our net, Ken K7IFG is broadcasting bulletins on this freq. It’s a great opportunity to fine tune your operation with FLAMP. you can copy in many
different modes and send REPORTs to Ken and get fills…
Any more thoughts or comments for the net? any late checkins or visitors? come now… < K7KY This concludes the ORCA DIGITAL NET for:12/15/2015 20:24 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 m