Visited Lofoten this years X-Mas.
Busy with the family, so it was not busy in the shack.
Planning to build me a remote station, so I can activate Lofoten Islands EU-076
more often than I can now.

Remoterig is needed first - and Icom IC-706MKIIG will be the base first.
TS-480 is very interesting for this arrangement, so - we'll see...

73's and a Happy new year!!

Antennas in the night..

Just got a picture of the antennas - during late evening.

MFJ-2990, Mosley Mini-Beam and W3DZZ.. 

Stars are shining bright, but lights from nearby houses create special lights.. 

DCS Gateway and DVAP node running on Raspberry Pi..

I have been working on this miracle box to get it up and running with DVAP node and DCS Gateway software for Raspberry Pi.

Now - it's up and running and connected to a DCS-reflector.

A few tips on the way might be helpful, If you're to be making one yourself.

I started out with the Raspberry Wheezy image to make the whole config myself.
I followed the ircDDBgateway install document from Hans, DL5DI.
http://vk5rex.squarespace.com/downloads/g4klxraspberry-pi-related-documents/ircDDBGateway-DEB-instructions-ENG-20120918.pdf
This should work very well, but my installation went bad since I couldn't update needed packages from apt-repositories.
This project is put on hold for now..

I then went for the "ready-to-go" image from the pcrepeatercontroller group at yahoo.com.
I'm running the package from 12.11-2012.
This package comes with DVAP node software, Gateway, VNC and ssh enabled - so configuring it takes
about 10 minutes - and everything should work..
This is, if you would like to use ircDDBgateway software - not DCSgateway software with automatic start.

When configuring the image I started out with configuring the WLAN dongle.
Drivers/modules are configured/installed during boot.
After lxde UI is booted up - go into WiFi Config and setup the WLAN dongle.

Setting fixed IP is possible here:

root@raspberrypi:/etc/network# pwd
/etc/network


root@raspberrypi:/etc/network# cat interfaces
auto lo

iface lo inet loopback
iface eth0 inet dhcp

allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet manual
wpa-roam /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
iface default inet dhcp                                                                                                                                          

Configuring the WLAN can be done manually here:

root@raspberrypi:/etc/wpa_supplicant# pwd
/etc/wpa_supplicant

root@raspberrypi:/etc/wpa_supplicant# ls -lrt wpa_supplicant.conf
-rw------- 1 root root 382 Dec  6 22:57 wpa_supplicant.conf

This is then a good link to configure DVAP Node software and DCS Gateway software:

http://digitography.co.uk/digitographyblog/?p=397

Last thing.. this whole setup needs to boot by itself and get up and running without keyboard, mouse and monitor.

By default ircDDBgateway and DVAP Node software boots up when the power is applied and lxde UI is running.

This needs to be changed. 

Since Application Launcher is removed from the image this cannot be done in GUI. So, I did it at platform level.

This is where:

root@raspberrypi:/home/pi/.config/autostart# pwd

/home/pi/.config/autostart

root@raspberrypi:/home/pi/.config/autostart# ls -lrt

total 12

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  86 Nov 25 12:58 start_modem.desktop

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 101 Dec  9 13:29 start_gateway.desktop.bak

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  91 Dec  9 13:32 start_gateway.desktop

I made a backup and edited the start_gateway.desktop script.

root@raspberrypi:/home/pi/.config/autostart# cat start_modem.desktop

[Desktop Entry]

Type=Application

Exec=sudo /home/pi/Hotspot/Repeater/DVAPNode/dvapnoderoot@raspberrypi:/home/pi/.config/autostart#

root@raspberrypi:/home/pi/.config/autostart# cat start_gateway.desktop

[Desktop Entry]

Type=Application

Exec=sudo /home/pi/Hotspot/Repeater/DCSGateway/dcsgateway

root@raspberrypi:/home/pi/.config/autostart# cat start_gateway.desktop.bak

[Desktop Entry]

Type=Application

Exec=sudo /home/pi/Hotspot/ircDDBGateway/ircDDBGateway/ircddbgatewayroot@raspberrypi:/home/pi/.config/autostart#

So, that's it - bring 5V with you - 1.2A should be enough - your 3G phone as a accesspoint and your DV-Radio and you are QRV on DSTAR wherever you have access to 3G.. 

Good luck. 

Activity in the Shack..

This weekend it´s NRRL´s Fylkestest - CW.
I´ll try to be active, if family business allow it..

The Mosley did a fine work last weekend..

Hight over ground is low...
Still, doing a good job.

The vertical(MFJ-2990) and the W3DZZ did fine.
QTH is not the best(to carefully mention it), but the antennas gets me on the air.

CQWW CW done..

Just a few in 2015

And did it again... 2014...

And, did it again... 2013:



2012: A "few" hours spent in the shack this weekend...

The goal was to reach my CQWW CW 1993 result:

I did it.. :-)

CQWW CW coming up..

Possibly new antenna from Mosley:

http://www.mosley-electronics.com/pages/amateur/mini33a.htm

Borrowed one from the net. A A3S alternative is not possible with 4.72 radius swing.. 

Not any space for that.. 

So, CQWW CW is possible the next coming up with new antenna.

QRV from Franklin, MA; FN42GC

QRV from Franklin as W1/LA7DHA/P - Residence Inn Boston, Franklin. I'm staying here for a week.

My antenna is an Par Electronics EF-10/20/40 MkII

I asked for a "high floor" and the room is in third floor at the back and many trees are situated close by.

So, getting the antenna up was pretty easy.

The antenna also survived the hurricane Sandy - luckily, Franklin was not hit that hard.

Working modes are mostly CW and JT65.

Using JT65 its easy working EU stations at 5Watts.

So far only CW contacts with US stations. Conditions are not very good in the evening and in the morning

I have a window between 06:00 - 08:45 every morning - and conditions on 20m is not acceptable before 07:00 local time.

The Palm 817 Paddle was very easy to mount.
Unbelievable nice to use. I'm used to the Bencher's, but for travel my heavy Bencher is not needed.

I have mounted the Palm Peg Leg Kit for the FT-817.
Clever invention!

I´m active as OZ/LA7DHA/P

Royal Beer is the best :-)

So, this week I have worked about 20 stations around EU/US.

This, mostly at evenings - since daytime has passed by busy with the family.

I had a good copy/QSO with Steve - K4EU from VA.

This is a 6000km contact and so far the longest path for me using 5Watts.

It also helps a great deal when the operator in the other end is patience making the QSO possible!

It´s not easy in our noisy world(as I know it) to pick up distant dit´s and dot´s.

The FT-817 on a 5Ah power has done a great job via the 10meter Extended Double Zepp.

It seems like 30meter is interesting, so building a Zepp for 30 is absolutely one of my next projects.

The MFJ-949D is to big to bring around, so a MFJ-902H or MFJ-971 will be more suitable.

LDG Z-817H is also interesting as a automatic tuner.

I love my bencher, so I need to find something portable which is good "enough".

HamLog for i-products is very good and very easy to use for portable use.

HamLog will push the log into the cloud, so it can be synced to the other i-machines and can export to ADIF format. 

Suitcase for travelling is also a wish - and this seems suitable:

http://www.clasohlson.com/no/Koffert/Pr314142000?showRatings=true

Both the Extended Zepp mounted very low over ground and the Mobile antenna mounted on the car is visible.

Radioshack in our cabin.
Managed to work 3 QSO's on 10, 20 and 40m with my extended double zepp made for 10m


QRP 5 watts, and no problem working stations on CW.


The extended double zepp is really stealth made.



Now we are ready for play in Aquadome..


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Location:Åstvej,Vandel,Denmark

JT65-HF is a very interesting mode.

Will make a few contacts on this to be ready to go QRP on a FT-817ND.

For the moment running 25Watts.

By the pool!

Working the locals from the pool.
A beautiful day!


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Location:Avinguda de Mèxic,Alcúdia,Spain

QRV ved poolen..

QRV ved poolen.
Varmt å godt idag!


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Location:Carrer de Merlera,Alcúdia,Spain

QRV 39°N - Alcudia, Mallorca.

This is my shack in Waikiki Hotel..


I'm QRV in D-Star mode and APRS(http://aprs.fi/la7dha-5).



D-Star repeater ED6ZAB is 59 here..



Our backyard....



Not bad, really.
D-Star works..
Had a nice chat with Tom, EA5/EA6WQ and Steinar, LA5LIA in Sandnessjøen.
Worked very well from downtown Alcudia and only rubberduck on IC-92E.


/zzzz
EA6/LA7DHA

QRV from 68°N

Just 436M above sealevel to check out conds..















---- la7dha,.,.,

Satellite..

Satelittene VO-52 og FO-29 er rimelig lettkjørte på CW (SSB)

Har fått HRD opp å kjøre med rigstyring, slik at jeg nå har kontroll på UP/DWN link QRG.

Regn idag - så det ble ikke tur på taket for å bytte kabel. Men, det kommer.

Arti dette...

Bilde hentet fra Amsat:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=5

Aktive satelitter SSB/CW og FM

FO-29:

Mode V/U (J) Linear Transponder (Inverting): Operational
Uplink:	145.9000 - 146.0000 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink	435.8000 - 435.9000 MHz SSB/CW

VO-52:

Mode U/V (B) Linear Transponder (Inverting) (Dutch Transponder): Operational
Uplink:	435.2250 - 435.2750 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink	145.9250 - 145.8750 MHz SSB/CW

AO-27:

Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater: Operational
Uplink:	145.8500 MHz FM
Downlink	436.7950 MHz FM

SO-50:

Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (Downlink is sometimes ~5 kHz lower): Operational
Uplink:	145.8500 MHz FM, PL 67.0 Hz.
Downlink	436.7950 MHz FM

ISS:

Mode V APRS (Worldwide APRS Digipeater): Operational
Simplex:	145.8250 MHz FM 1200 BPS
Downlink	145.8250 MHz FM 1200 BPS
Mode V/V Crew Contact (Region 1): Operational
Uplink:	145.2000 MHz FM
Downlink	145.8000 MHz FM
Mode V/V Crew Contact (Regions 2 & 3): Operational
Uplink:	144.4900 MHz FM
Downlink	145.8000 MHz FM
Mode U/V (B) FM Voice Repeater (Worldwide): Operational
Uplink:	437.8000 MHz FM
Downlink	145.8000 MHz FM
Mode V Imaging: Operational
Downlink	145.8000 MHz SSTV

Westflex..

Nødvendig verktøy for å montere Crimp N-kontakt på Westflex W-103. Stiv kabel, med sine 0.72 dB tap på 10 meter(432MHz) så blir det nok bra...
Senter må files ned for å få den inn i vanlig sølvplugg..

Loss Per 100 meters:

RG213/URM67(Mil spec)	Westflex 103
100 MHz 7 dB	3.2 dB
144 MHz 8.5 dB	4.5 dB
200 MHz 10 dB	5.4 dB
300 MHz 13 dB	6.2 dB
432 MHz 15 dB	7.5 dB
1000 MHz 27 dB	13.0 dB
2450 MHz use Westflex 103	19.1dB
3000 MHz use Westflex 103	27.8 dB
5000 MHz use Westflex 103	34.1 dB

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Location:Morteveien,Hagan,Norway

HAM Meeting

Bra foredrag idag..

TAPR prosjekt med LA2NI..



APRS karttjeneste med LA7ECA



Praktisk satelittkjøring med LA4FPA



Utstyrshall...
Det ble litt plugger, presstang for 213, westflex W-103 kabel og ny W3DZZ antenne..
Bør være 100% QRV på satelitt mode iløpet av dagen..
TS-2000 trenger muligens 1.2GHz modul. Må inn i budsjettet...












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QRV på D-Star

Steinar har vært så vennlig å sendt meg en DV-Dongle i posten.

Arti å prøve ut.

Mange av tettstedene i nord er nå D-star ready.

Veldig bra!

LTE bandplan

A-index og K-index

A Index and K Index

The Earth's magnetic field is continuously monitored by a network of magnetometers. These readings are converted into the A and K index values.

The K index is computed once every three hours (eight times a day) and the values can range from 0 to 9, with 0 being inactive, and 9 representing an extreme severe storm condition. The values are quadi-logarithmic.

• K = 0 Inactive
• K = 1 Very quiet
• K = 2 Quiet
• K = 3 Unsettled
• K = 4 Active
• K = 5 Minor storm
• K = 6 Major storm
• K = 7 Severe storm
• K = 8 Very severe storm
• K = 9 Extremely severe storm

The A index is linear, and is computed from the eight previous K index values. It ranges from 0 (quiet) to 400 (severe storm).

• A = 0 - 7 Quiet
• A = 8 - 15 Unsettled
• A = 16 - 29 Active
• A = 30 - 49 Minor storm
• A = 50 - 99 Major storm
• A = 100 - 400 Severe storm

Generally, propagation conditions are best when the A index is 15 or lower, and the K index is 3 or lower.

QRV @ Winmor

eMail via HF.

Solflekktall: 45..