In an effort to simplify mobile operations, I’ve replaced my Icom IC-2820 and my IC-706MKII with an IC-7100.  I still need to finish the install and get the radio under the seat, but I plan to do that after a couple of days of drive testing the install.  I’ll post some more pictures once everything is complete.

So far, after an initial test run, I’m liking the radio and its touch screen interface.

Made my first trip to Dayton for the 2014 Dayton Hamvention.  I was accompanied by Ed (K3HTK) and Eric (K9ZX) and of course, my XYL, Angela.  We attended Friday and Saturday and drove back and forth from Indy each day.

Other than restrooms, we didn’t get a chance to explore the inside much, even though the weather was less than cooperative.  Since this was my first trip, I was more interested in what I might uncover out in the flea markets vs. the commercial opportunities inside, that I could always find online.  Had the weather been better, I think we might have finished the outside and had time for at least a cursory trip inside, but as it was, after two days we hadn’t even cleared all of the outside flea market.

I didn’t come back with any major treasures to report.  Mostly connectors, coax and a few odds and ends.  But all in all, a good trip and I’m looking forward to next year.

Installed a sharp-tune cavity as a pre-selector and a pre-amp on the NF9K 70cm repeater.  Still need to fire up the service monitor and determine the exact impact that the pre-amp has had, but initial tests show an improvement.

Participated in a VE session with the WD9BSA Team where we tested 11 scouts and scouters, seven of which earned their tickets.  The remaining four will be returning later this month to re-test.

I began to explore the world of the HSMM Broadband-Hamnet Mesh networking.  Again, K3HTK and I are playing around with the various ways to implement the nodes and would like to get something going here in Indy.  If you’re interested, get in touch with one of us.

The N9AG VE Team was able to successfully assist the visually impaired Ham that I mentioned in last months report.  She was a pre-1987 Tech, and as she currently holds a valid Technician license is eligible for a grandfathered to General.  It was nice to help her out and her nephew in NH, who originally contacted me, has expressed his gratitude for our efforts.  The N9AG VE Team Members who participated in this special session were: NF9K (Bill Atkinson), K3HTK (Ed Valasek), and K9WTH (Mark Buchanan).

No positive progress with the Rig Blaster Blue.  At this point, I feel the product just isn’t fully baked, but believe that once it is, they will  have a cool product.  Looks like I’ll be RMA’ing the unit for a refund.

Continued looking at options for APRS iGates, particularly on the Raspberry Pi.

Also continued work on the presentation on the Raspberry Pi and Ed (K3HTK) and I will be doing at the Indianapolis Hamfest in July.

And finally started working on plans to make it to Dayton.  This will be my first trip so I’m looking forward to it.

And lastly there was a weeks vacation in there.  Due to antenna limitations, I didn’t get much operating done, but as always, I enjoyed my time in Gatlinburg and look forward to our return trip in a few months.

Last evening the WD9BSA VE Team, of which I’m a member, successfully tested 11 Boy Scouts and Scouters.  Of the eleven, seven passed!  The remaining four will retest with our VE Team later this month.  This testing session following a six-week Technician course.  Congratulations to the new members of our wonderful hobby!

I’ve recently installed a pre-amp on the 442.850+ repeater.  While I’m still limited in height, the addition of the pre-amp has made a measurable difference in the receive capabilities.  I’m planning to do some testing to figured out exactly what the impact was to the system.  So if you’re on the N/W side, tune it up and drop your call.  As a reminder, this repeater is linked via Echolink to the 70cm and 33cm repeaters of K3HTK in Noblesville.

Last evening I completed the setup of a Broadband Hamnet Mesh node.  I chose to go with the Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco M2.  Amazon as them for ~$56 and available for Prime shipping.  Since I’m currently the only node in Indy, I’ll likely be purchasing another node in the near future to do some experimentation.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can visit their website HERE.  And if there are any questions, I can answer, please feel free to contact me!

Quite a few projects/activities competed for my time last month:

Worked with Ed Valasek (K3HTK) to completely tear down and rebuild his repeater rack.  Took the majority of a Saturday, but when we finished, things looked a whole lost better.  We were able to get the amplified functioning on his 33cm repeater and install a new 70cm repeater all tied to my two machines via IRLP.

Put up a new antenna and new feed line on the 70cm NF9K repeater.  In the process of ordering a sharp-tune cavity and pre-amp now.  Thanks to K3HTK for his help with this little project.  While we were working on my machines, we made some audio adjustments in the controller that greatly improved the audio both to the repeaters and the PiRLP link.  We also installed a new set of Wacom duplexers this month.  The Decibel model that I had was just not providing enough isolation resulting in a desensed receiver.

Organized an ARRL VE session with the N9AG Club.  Only had three participants and one of them was a no-show (she had the wrong address).  Was contacted by a NH amateur to help with his visually impaired aunt.  She is a pre-1987 technician and qualifies for the General Class grandfather.  When I get back from vacation, the N9AG team is going to arrange a time to meet with her an do the appropriate paperwork for her upgrade.

Purchased an Argent Data Systems T3-301 TNC/Data Radio unit for mobile APRS.  After working through a few nuances, I’m happy to report that it’s chugging along as I type this while traveling through the Tennessee mountains.  For the record, the XYL is driving….  Give me some time to work some HF>

May the venture in 23cm as well.  A rather interesting band.  K3HTK and I will be working on doing some data connections via that band.  I ended up with an Alinco DJ-G7 and an Icom ID-1.

Worked on the outline for my Raspberry Pi presentation at the Indianapolis Hamfest in July.  Again, K3HTK will be helping me out with the presentation.

I picked up one of the new RigBlaster Blue units to check out.  So far my experience has been less than positive, but I’m hoping to play with it a bit while on vacation and perhaps get it working.  More on this next month.

I received an email from a relatively new ham, KC1BGY, looking for guidance in purchasing a new mobile radio.  Evidently two of the units he was researching lead to my website where he was able to contact me.  After identifying his needs, I was able to offer some advise on his options.

The NF9K UHF Repeater received new LMR-400 feed line and a new antenna today.  Thanks to Ed Valasek, K3HTK, for his help.  We found water in the connectors at the old antenna.  The new antenna system is performing much better!

I’m going to be looking for a sharp-tune cavity in order to add a pre-amp soon.

Where did the month go?  February found me involved with the Camp Belzer Group (WD9BSA) for my first VE session with their team.  I had a great time and we were able to facilitate some license upgrades as well as some new licensees.  I actually participated in two VE sessions, one held the following day for some folks who were unable to attend the first session.

I gave up on finding some good weather and finally braved the single digit temps long enough to get my antenna launcher out and get my primary HF antenna back up and running.  So I’m back on the air once again.

The shack is coming together nicely and I’m looking forward to building a custom bench in the next couple of weeks so that I can keep my service monitor, oscilloscope and other tools in a much easier place.

I was finally able to get my Echolink node moved over to IRLP/EchoIRLP and migrated from the Windows XP laptop over to a Raspberry Pi.  For the most part it’s working well, but when I connect my 70cm machine to the K3HTK 33cm machine in Noblesville we experience some weird audio anomalies.  So far we’ve been unsuccessful in tracking them down.  In the meantime we’re linking our systems via IRLP instead of Echolink which ironically works just fine, even using the same hardware.

I’ve been ask to doing a presentation at the Indianapolis Hamfest titled, “Meet the Raspberry Pi.”  Ed Valasek, K3HTK, will be assisting me with the presentation, but we hope to give those curious about the platform a good introduction as well as list some of the ham radio related possibilities, many of which Ed and or myself have experimented with.  If you have any questions or suggestions on the topic, please let me know.  We have some time, but July will be here before we know it.

Assisted a fellow ham (KG8Q) who found me via my website with getting his Motorola XPR 6580 up and running on 33cm.  

Attended the Brownsburg Hamfest.  Same venue as last year, but seemed like it drew a decent crowd.  Was good to visit with some fellow hams.

The Naptown Amateur Group, where I serve as president, will be hosting an ARRL VE session on March 29th from 0900-1200.  More details at www.n9ag.org or www.nf9k.net.

Looking forward to vacation in a few weeks and doing some mobile operating as well as stationary once we get down to Gatlinburg.

The Naptown Amateur Group’s VE Team will host an ARRL VE Session on Saturday March 29th, 2014 from 09:00-12:00.  The session will be held at American Structurepoint Inc. located at 7260 Shadeland Station, Indianapolis, IN 46256.  Participants must pre-register in order to attend.  Please visit the Naptown Amateur Group’s website at http://www.n9ag.org for information on what participants should bring as well as an online form for registration.  The exam fee is $15.00.  Any questions, please contact Bill Atkinson (NF9K) via email at bill@nf9k.net.