2025-02-07 — New Kenwood TM-D750A, The Coming 21st Century AR Networking Revolution, Reality Check on FCC Regs for AR VHF / UHF, Updated IP400 RPi HAT, RadioMail 1.5, LiNK500 TNC, RepeaterSTART App
Eric - I guess I'm wired a bit differently than many Amateur Radio Operators that while HF is interesting (especially now that there are a variety of interesting, capable data modes), I remain fascinated what can be done with the six VHF / UHF bands bands we (US) Amateur Radio Operators have access to. I guess it's that old observation applies, that your favorite Amateur Radio modes are the ones you got started with as a new Amateur Radio Operator. For me, that was VHF / UHF Packet Radio in the 1980s, and it's never lost its fascination for me.
I did not intend to: but maybe we can start something to get it changed. However, at 100Kb/s there is still a lot we can do and stay within the regulations..
Martin - In our discussions I don't think that 100 kbps will be the upper limit of what we can accomplish. We American Amateur Radio Operators have some catching up to do with you enlightened Canadians Amateur Radio Operators.
Here in EU dPMR has been available for years. Besides technical problems that make me hate this technology as a ham, there is one problem, especially if you want to prepare for an emergency that hopefully will never come: dPMR handhelds are prohibitively expensive, about 10 times as expensive as simple analog PMR units.
OK, it is a bit unfair to compare a children's toy with a device for professional usage. But this is where all manufacturers I have found place their dPMR units. Somewhere around here a GD77 gathers dust that could (illegally) be used as a dPMR device and was quite a bit cheaper. Bit even that cost about as much as 4 dPMR devices.
By the way if you ever decide you don't want that SCS Tracker modem please drop me a line at my email on QRZ I'll buy it! Btw long time RSS "subscriber". Keep up the good work!
Justin - Fair enough - I'll put a note on it that you have "right of first purchase". But before then, I really need to put it on the air, at least on N8GNJ Labs Network and try out the 9600 FSK capability.
Justin - Oops. Thanks very much for that correction! That necessitates an update in ZR 0188. The mentions of firmware updates for the units other than the Tracker / DSP TNC give (me, at least) the impression that it shipped first in the Tracker / DSP TNC and then was added to the others as a firmware update. But thanks for pointing out that Robust Packet lives on in SCS' commercial product line. In the history of Robust Packet, I certainly had the impression that it was a good technology that SCS decided not to pursue. Thus it's doubly impressive that SCS allowed the Amateur Radio projects to make Robust Packet available at a lower price, like the Teensy and now the LiNK500.
Great stuff. Here in Canada we do not have the same restrictions, or even such as thing as a licence!
Martin - Don't rub it in ☹️
VHF is like Kathleen Madigan's bit about Canada... it's the amateur's attic. We forget about all the cool stuff up there while chasing DX. ;)
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx6nbpoVuVC_UPfb79qOpvYLZdHPCx3fY_?si=OmEP8vGs15rLDu1r
Eric - I guess I'm wired a bit differently than many Amateur Radio Operators that while HF is interesting (especially now that there are a variety of interesting, capable data modes), I remain fascinated what can be done with the six VHF / UHF bands bands we (US) Amateur Radio Operators have access to. I guess it's that old observation applies, that your favorite Amateur Radio modes are the ones you got started with as a new Amateur Radio Operator. For me, that was VHF / UHF Packet Radio in the 1980s, and it's never lost its fascination for me.
I did not intend to: but maybe we can start something to get it changed. However, at 100Kb/s there is still a lot we can do and stay within the regulations..
Martin - In our discussions I don't think that 100 kbps will be the upper limit of what we can accomplish. We American Amateur Radio Operators have some catching up to do with you enlightened Canadians Amateur Radio Operators.
Here in EU dPMR has been available for years. Besides technical problems that make me hate this technology as a ham, there is one problem, especially if you want to prepare for an emergency that hopefully will never come: dPMR handhelds are prohibitively expensive, about 10 times as expensive as simple analog PMR units.
Alexander - Wow, it surprises me that there's such a price differential between dPMR and analog PMR units. Thanks for that info!
OK, it is a bit unfair to compare a children's toy with a device for professional usage. But this is where all manufacturers I have found place their dPMR units. Somewhere around here a GD77 gathers dust that could (illegally) be used as a dPMR device and was quite a bit cheaper. Bit even that cost about as much as 4 dPMR devices.
Hi Steve, minor correction on the availability of Robust Packet. Many (most?) SCS modems support it. I have a PTC-IIex that supports it for example.
Ref "RPR Capable Modems" here:
http://robust-packet.st/
By the way if you ever decide you don't want that SCS Tracker modem please drop me a line at my email on QRZ I'll buy it! Btw long time RSS "subscriber". Keep up the good work!
-Justin AB3E
Justin - Fair enough - I'll put a note on it that you have "right of first purchase". But before then, I really need to put it on the air, at least on N8GNJ Labs Network and try out the 9600 FSK capability.
Justin - Oops. Thanks very much for that correction! That necessitates an update in ZR 0188. The mentions of firmware updates for the units other than the Tracker / DSP TNC give (me, at least) the impression that it shipped first in the Tracker / DSP TNC and then was added to the others as a firmware update. But thanks for pointing out that Robust Packet lives on in SCS' commercial product line. In the history of Robust Packet, I certainly had the impression that it was a good technology that SCS decided not to pursue. Thus it's doubly impressive that SCS allowed the Amateur Radio projects to make Robust Packet available at a lower price, like the Teensy and now the LiNK500.