SBARC-list February 2011

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8 participants
22 discussions

SBARC ATVSIG Roadmap and Workgroup Update... ("State of the SBARC ATVSIG Committee Address")
by rod＠sbatv.org 12 Mar '11

12 Mar '11

Hello SBARC ATVSIG Members and Friends, I'm very grateful that Cyril AF6GW drove to KTYD yesterday to help me with the projects. Thank you. We had some success and some disappointment. My brain has been churning today and I have some ideas (underlined) that might help us get where we want to go. SBARC ATVSIG ROADMAP - These are the projects, priorities, status and plans. 1. 5.8 GHz Link from Oxnard (Won't it be great to get solid video from L.A.?) - Oxnard is receiving Oat Mtn P5, but no signal is detected in Santa Barbara yet . Installed new 28dbi antennas, leaving old ones in place; aligned using lasers to spot locations . Used my Spectrum Analyzer to look for a signal; none was seen . Cyril is fabricating a calibrated laser mount to attach to the antenna . Mike WA6SVT is assembling a 5.8 GHz preamp . Bob W6KGE is investigating how to build a 5.8 GHz driver amp to give us 1-watt at the antenna . Rod is investigating how to use 5.8 GHz WiFi units (EnGenius EOC-5610) to help align the antennas . We may try again this evening - or - as soon as we feel we have what we need to succeed 2. 2.4 GHz Audio Level (This will allow you to hear me and the new Club Station TX) - 2.4 GHz is done; others need tweaking . Determined that the RX only outputs out -10 db audio at 10k ohms, not adjustable . Increased audio modulation so -10 db at the receivers (controller inputs) and at the controller output produces 100% modulation . The 2.4 GHz RX audio level is good now; 434 MHz and other RX audio levels (not TX levels) need to be lowered to the -10 db standard (from the original 0 db standard); I plan to make adjustments sometime today 3. Club Station 2.4 GHz Signal Optimization (Ensure a high-quality video signal into the repeater) . Mount adapter bracket and align 2.4 GHz antenna - K6QD (sometime after Tuesday) . Identify the source of WiFi interference at KTYD and correct the problem - Need a volunteer or two (Is this the function of the SBARC RFI Committee?) 4. 2.4 GHz Link To Santiago Peak (Won't it be great to send solid video to L.A.?) - Need to package, test and install equipment . Draw up a block diagram of modules to be mounted - WB9KMO . Connect subsystems, test them and ensure that they work properly - Need a couple of volunteers . Plan the physical layout of modules and connectors in the box - Need a volunteer . Mount the modules and connectors in the box - Need a volunteer . Verify that everything works properly - WB9KMO . Mount the box on the antenna pole at KTYD and connect antennas and feed line - Need a couple of volunteers . Test the feedline from the bias-T in the equipment rack, apply power and verify proper operation - WB9KMO . Optimize operation of all systems - WA6SVT 5. SBARC ATVSIG Committee (Increase ATV activity and use ATV regularly in SBARC operations) . Help plan ATVSIG activities, projects, proposals and purchases - Need a few members to meet regularly, identify action items, assign them and coordinate completion 6. 2.4/5.6 GHz WiFi (This offers incredible flexibility; you may want to try hitting this from your house.) - Starting proof of concept . I'm looking for someone to take the lead on this project . I have two EnGenius EOC-5610 units and two EnGenius EOC-2610 units for this project . The units have built-in antennas that will be used if they are adequate; optionally, we'll use external antennas . I'm prototyping this at home today to prove the concepts . Today, if time allows, I'll do a site survey to see what's active around KTYD (aka identify interference) . The first objective is to bridge KTYD to an Access Point at my house on 2.4 or 5.x GHz . Using Part 15 is preferable, otherwise I'll use Part 97 (Amateur Radio) . The second objective is to set up a "Public to Radio Amateurs" 2.4 or 5.x GHz Access Point at KTYD . Integrate WiFi into the Rover and interface it with the Internet and WinLink . Consider creation of an Amateur Radio Mesh network in the Santa Barbara area 7. Computer Installation (This will allow all sorts of exciting new features, including WiFi high-definition pix and video) - Laptop installed . I'm looking for someone(s) to take the lead on this project (or parts of it) . Installed Sony VAIO laptop (Windows XP) . Need to complete assembly of rack-mount desktop PC (currently Windows XP, considering OS change) . Need to install router, probably Linksys BEFSX41 (at least initially) . Need to connect to bridge, AP, etc. . Need to assess, plan and implement numerous interfaces and applications 8. Camera installation (SB, Goleta and ocean views from the mountain whenever you want) - No progress . I'm looking for someone to take the lead on this project . Extend cables or relocate two outdoor cameras; use ferrite beads to prevent interference . Relocate one indoor camera . Install in indoor pan and tilt webcam . Install an outdoor pan, tilt and zoom camera 9. Move out rack, mower and weed-whacker (tidying up a bit to be good citizens) - All items are staged for pick-up . For the rack, pay $50 to the Club Station Rent Fund (or swap something with me), first come, first served . For the lawn mower, pay $30 to Rod Fritz . For the weed-whacker, pay $30 to Rod Fritz 10. Other SBARC ATVSIG projects. . Determine where to permanently locate the 32" LCD TV - Club Station Committee (need volunteers) . Permanently install the 32" LCD TV - AF6GW . Build and install hard line from Club Station tower to ham shack - W1UUQ and K6QD . Plan and install ATV and WiFi equipment in Rover - Rover Committee (need volunteers) . Run video cables from ham shack to TV in outer room - Need a volunteer . Copy numerous videos (mostly high-definition) to DVD for SBARC Video Library - Need a volunteer . Edit selected videos in high-definition for output to Blu-Ray for the SBARC Video Library - Need a volunteer . Organize and manage the SBARC Video Library - Need a volunteer . Make copies of SBARC Video Library discs for presenters and club members, as needed - Need a couple of volunteers . Manage backups and video storage on the Club Station Windows PC - Need a volunteer . Set up video streams for SBARC events and meetings, as needed - Need a volunteer . Act as Net Control for the SBARC ATV Net on Tuesday nights at 8:30pm - Need a couple of volunteers . Assess ATVSIG inventory to use or liquidate equipment and accessories - Need a volunteer . Help videotape Construction Night (starting March 3rd at the Club Station) and other SBARC activities, as needed - Need a couple of volunteers . Help create and maintain an ATVSIG Members List - Need a volunteer 11. Other ATV Repeater projects. . Install 1.2 GHz Remote Base (Voice and control communication to Santiago Peak and the rest of ATN) - WB9KMO . Install 146 MHz Remote Base (Voice and Slow-Scan TV Simplex Repeater communications to the Santa Barbara area); possibly frequency-agile . Interface 220 MHz Repeater to AllStarNet or EchoLink (Allow world-wide access to audio on the ATV Repeater) . Implement the best way to connect the ATV Repeater to the Internet for two-way audio and video access . Consider linking ATV to other sites, locally, in Ventura County, in northern Santa Barbara County, in SLO County and beyond. What do you want to help with? Let me know and let's make this happen. If you have email addresses for the following people, please pass them on to me and route this email to them: KJ6MID, KI6SXA, KJ6FAF, KJ6KEK, K6LCM, WT6JS, KI6PWE, AF6VM, KJ6GDS, KE6YMW, KG6NRW, W9ELG, KJ6AAL, KD7DMQ, AF6YB, KO6OJ and AC6W. Thank you all for your interest and participation in SBARC ATVSIG, Rod WB9KMO SBARC ATVSIG Chair P.S. I installed a 2.4 GHz ATV transmitter at the Club Station. The signal is P4 and may improve when the antenna direction is optimized. WiFi is interfering significantly. I'm tracking down the source to determine how we can remove the interference.

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Balloon Video - RE: WB8ELK 20 meter HF balloon landing site has been received from CA
by rod＠sbatv.org 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Hello Doug and Bill, Well done. Thanks for sending your excellent video my way. I'm passing this on to our local Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club list server. Rod Fritz, WB9KMO P.S. Good luck with WhiteStarBalloon (see www.whitestarballoon.org). -----Original Message----- From: Douglas Crandall [mailto:dmcrandall@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 1:33 PM To: wb8elk(a)aol.com Cc: Undisclosed Recipients... Subject: Re: WB8ELK 20 meter HF balloon landing site has been received from CA Here's a link to a clip of the video stream I made http://tinyurl.com/4e4kvay On Sat, Feb 26, 2011 at 10:35 PM, <wb8elk(a)aol.com> wrote: > > Beautiful day to fly....clear skies, 65 degrees and light surface winds. > Thanks to all who tuned into the streaming video of the launch and to all > those who listened on 20 meters for the balloon signals. It was tough for my > half-watt balloon transmitter to compete with all the kilowatt RTTY contest > stations but several of us in the Huntsville and the southeast had good > reception out to 180 miles or more. We all lost the signal after it > parachuted below our radio horizon in eastern Georgia at about 20,000 feet. > > I received reception reports from AL, NC and partial reports from W0RPK in > Iowa and KB9ZWL in WI. I was able to copy some partial reports via the Grand > Junction, Colorado GlobalTuner radio as well. > > I just received a reception report with a complete telemetry frame about 45 > minutes AFTER it landed in east Georgia from Kamal KA6MAL in CA. He copied > the signal at 00:03 UTC and thanks to his report from across the country we > now know that it landed near Carnesville, GA not far from the SC border just > north of I-85. > > Here's the final landing site telemetry frame as received in CA: > > $WB8ELK2,242,00:03:00,3426.16,-08312.74,245,06,8.38,24,000* > > <callsign,sequence#,UTCtime,lat(ddmm.mm),lon(dddmm.mm),altitude(m),satellite s,battery > voltage,internal temperature (C),spare field which will be used on the > WhiteStar flight> > > which translates to a landing spot of: 34 deg 26.16 min 83 deg 12.74 > min > > The altitude of 245m works out to 803 feet...the topo map shows 740 feet > there so looks like it's 60 feet up in a tree. > > It's great fun to fly HF for balloons as the last few HF flights I've > received reports of the landing spot from a thousand miles away or more. > It's also great to include the whole country (and World) in a balloon flight > in this manner. > > I plan more HF balloon flights and the White Star Balloon trans-Atlantic > balloon will be flying soon on 40 meters as well (7.102 MHz USB). > > The flight track for today's flight is still up for viewing at: > http://spacenear.us/tracker > > For those who asked...there was no APRS transmitter on this flight....just > the Multi-Mode HF Transmitter sending out DominoEX16, RTTY, Hellscreiber and > CW and plotting on the Spacenear website. > > 600 gram eBay special balloon....3 foot Spherachutes parachute, Payload > weight of 11 ounces, 20m dipole antenna was 2 ounces.....total flight train > weight: 1 lb 4 oz...balloon nozzle lift of 2 lb 11 oz. > > I also tested my new latex balloon vent valve. It did not include the servo > to open it...I just flew it to see if it leaked during the flight....I > haven't calculated the ascent profile to see if it leaked any but it did > make it to 97,782 feet which is not bad for a $20 eBay surplus 600 gram > balloon. > > 73s de Bill WB8ELK > > http://www.wb8elk.com > > P.S. No paper airplane drop this flight....the Makers Local 256 club are > adding some features to their paper airplane payload so it will fly in > March. >

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SBARC Anacapa Trip Saturday April 23
by Ken Owen 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Hi folks: Please check out the attached flyer regarding our upcoming SBARC trip to Anacapa Island. We had a spectacular time last year. We were treated to a wonderful boat ride, amazing views and Anacapa is a GREAT place to take a radio! This is a fundraiser for the club station, so you will be helping out the club while having a great time. Last year we raised $400, and we hope to repeat that this year! If you would like to join us, please contact Michael Taylor, WA6RQV, at mst56(a)juno.com for detailed information. The cost of the trip is $75. If you would like to sign up, please send a check, made out to Michael Taylor, to P.O. Box 951, Goleta, CA 93116. We will use all this money to pay for the boat and for the club station. I hope to see you on Anacapa! Ken Owen N6KTH

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ATV NEWS and CONSTRUCTION NIGHT, February 28, 2011...
by rod＠sbatv.org 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Hello SBARC Members and friends of SBARC ATVSIG, There is now an ATV NEWS button on the front page of our website, www.sbarc.org. ATV NEWS will contain frequent updates on what's happening with ATV in Santa Barbara. I hope you check it out daily to see what's going on. Coming soon. Watch for our CONSTRUCTION NIGHT button, which will describe what we'll be doing at the Club Station on Thursday nights from 7:30 to 9:30. If you have a project you want us to help you with (anything ham radio-related), we'll round up appropriate elmers for you. This Thursday, I'll introduce you to some of the ATV equipment we use and recommend. Some is for sale now, as long as supplies last. Watch for our ATV SHOPPING LIST, which will be published shortly. This document lists equipment, where you can buy it and prices. Here's a sample of what's in ATV NEWS today. - Rod Fritz, WB9KMO ATV NEWS Last Updated on February 28, 2011 RodneyScottFritzWe hope you'll visit this site every day to see what's happening with ATV in Santa Barbara. Thank you for your interest and participation. Rod Fritz, WB9KMO ATVSIG Committee Chair WATCH THE AMATEUR TELEVISION NETWORK Last Updated on February 28, 2011 atn_247x68With great effort and perseverance, we have finally linked Oat Mountain to Oxnard with a P5 picture and Oxnard to Santa Barbara with a P2 picture. A 5.8 GHz preamp is being built. When installed, we expect a P5 picture. Please have patience as we fine-tune this important addition to our system. This link allows us to watch the Amateur Television Network, interconnecting seven ATV Repeaters in southern California with dozens of active members. The Amateur Television Network provides. . ATN Net - Every Tuesday night at 7:30pm . SBARC ATV Net - Every Tuesday night at 8:30pm . San Bernardino Microwave Meetings - The first Thursday of the month at 7:00pm . Spanish-English Net - Every Saturday at 9:00am, 12:00pm or 4:00pm . Sunday Morning Net - Every Sunday Morning at 9:00am . Live, real-time video contacts between members - Anytime, but primarily evenings and on weekends . A world-class ATN website at www.atn-tv.org . An ATN Calendar of events at http://atn-tv.org/calendar.php The best way to watch is to directly receive the WB9KMO ATV Repeater on 1277.25 MHz. If you don't have an ATV receiver yet, you can view the WB9KMO video stream at www.batc.tv > ATV Repeaters > WB9KMO-ATN or the ATN video stream at www.batc.tv > ATV Repeaters > W6ATN. Several SBARC members generously offered their time and skills to make this happen. Thank you. SBARC ATVSIG ROADMAP - 2011 Last Updated on February 28, 2011 NewRptr 006The roadmap is a list of our projects and priorities. This is what we're working on now. 1. 5.8 GHz Link from Oxnard (Won't it be great to get solid video from L.A.?) - P2 picture achieved, preamp expected to give us P5 2. 2.4 GHz Audio Level Adjustment (This will allow you to hear me and the new Club Station TX) - Adjusted and ready to test 3. Club Station 2.4 GHz Signal Optimization (Ensure a high-quality video signal into the repeater) - Need to install an antenna bracket 4. 2.4 GHz Link to Santiago Peak (Won't it be great to send solid video to L.A.?) - Need to layout components in the outdoor cabinet 5. Activate the SBARC ATVSIG Committee (Increase ATV activity and use ATV regularly in SBARC operations) - Planning to set up a meeting shortly 6. 2.4/5 GHz WiFi (This offers incredible flexibility; you may want to try hitting this from your house.) - Conducting a site survey 7. Computer Installation (This will allow all sorts of exciting new features, including WiFi high-definition pix and video) - Configuring a laptop and a rack-mount PC 8. Camera installation (SB, Goleta and ocean views from the mountain whenever you want) - Replacing cables on two existing cameras 9. Sell a double-wide outdoor rack ($50), a lawn mower ($30) and a weed-whacker ($30) (tidying up a bit to be good citizens) - For sale 10. Other SBARC ATVSIG projects. . LCD TV - Installed at the Club Station . Hardline to Tower - Need to acquire and install . ATV and WiFi in Rover - Need to make a funding proposal . SBARC Video Library - Need volunteers to copy disks and manage the library . Video Recording and Streaming - Need volunteers for cameras and streaming at events . ATVSIG Members List - Need a volunteer to maintain this list 11. Other ATV Repeater projects. . 146 MHz Remote Base (ATV Talkback and SSTV) - Complete priority projects first . 1.2 GHz Remote Base (ATN Talkback and Control) - Complete priority projects first . Link ATV Repeater to AllStarNet or EchoLink - Complete priority projects first . Link ATV to Other Locations - Complete priority projects first What do you want to help with? Let me know at <mailto:wb9kmo@sbarc.org> wb9kmo(a)sbarc.org and let's make this happen. Rod Fritz, WB9KMO

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Streaming video on BATC for the upcoming WB8ELK HF balloon flight this Saturday
by rod＠sbatv.org 26 Feb '11

26 Feb '11

If you're interested in 20-meters or Ham Radio Balloons, check out this email I received from my friend in Alabama, Bill Brown WB8ELK. - Rod From: wb8elk(a)aol.com [mailto:wb8elk@aol.com] Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 2:50 PM To: Undisclosed Recipients. Subject: Streaming video on BATC for the upcoming WB8ELK HF balloon flight this Saturday Forgot to mention: Streaming video for this Saturday afternoon's launch will be on the BATC: www.batc.tv - Click on Member's Streams then select WB8ELK and hit VIEW. Starting around 1 pm CST Sat. Feb. 26th Launch around 1:30 pm CST from the NSSTC building in Huntsville AL (34.73, -86.64) CW, DominoEX16, 110 baud ASCII RTTY and Hellscreiber on 14.102 MHz USB (1700 hz audio center). - Bill WB8ELK

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Technical Elmering Net
by Michael＠NO6O.com 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

Come Join the Technical Elmering Net ------------------------------------ Thursday, 7:30pm until 9:30pm On the following repeaters: 146.79 MHz (La Vigia Hill) 223.92 MHz (Santa Cruz Island) 224.08 MHz (La Cumbre Peak) Minus offset, PL 131.8 Hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN All Amateur Radio-related topics are welcome. Bring your questions, experiences, and/or expertise. ---Michael, NO6O

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SBARC Wednesday Nets
by Michael＠NO6O.com 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

SBARC Wednesday Nets -------------------- Beginning at 7:00 pm on the following linked repeaters: 146.79 MHz (La Vigia Hill) 223.92 MHz (Santa Cruz Island) 224.08 MHz (La Cumbre Peak) Minus offset, PL 131.8 ---------------------------------- 7:00pm - 7:30pm -- Amateur Radio Newsline (www.ARNewsLine.org) 7:30pm - 8:00pm -- Weekly Club Net 8:00pm - 8:30pm -- Swap Net, hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN ---------------------------------- Then, at 8:30pm, on 144.210 MHz, is the VHF Single Side Band Roundtable, typically hosted by Ken Owen, N6KTH. This popular roundtable is now in its fourth year. Some People start checking in early between 8:00pm and 8:30pm. For details, visit www.n6kth.com/vhf. ---Michael, NO6O

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MIT Coastal Forum
by Bill Talanian 18 Feb '11

18 Feb '11

Expert predicts wireless traffic jam RAY ESTRADA, NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT February 18, 2011 12:00 AM A South Coast radio communications expert said Wednesday the nation may soon surpass its capacity to handle all its wireless devices. Andrew Seybold discussed bandwidth limitations at the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion at the MIT Central Coast Forum attended by some 100 people, including Mayor Helene Schneider. Mr. Seybold, a Santa Barbara resident, is one of the mobile wireless industry's top experts for strategic consulting, research and analysis. "I am very concerned that we're going to run out of bandwidth," Mr. Seybold said. "By 2012 we may exceed capacity. We may be out of bandwidth next year." He said 96 percent of the U.S. population uses a wireless voice device while 86 percent use some other type of wireless device. And, he said, 50 percent of the streaming traffic is video, which uses a great deal of bandwidth at one time. Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. The Federal Communication Commission regulates bandwidth and sells it to communications companies. Mr. Seybold contends the spectrum on which bandwidth can be used is about full. Today's array of wireless devices includes everything from e-books to global positioning devices and even some dog collars, he said. "We can't create more bandwidth," he said. "We need to get away from what we are doing on the Internet." For example, using browsers on smartphones is not a good idea because of all the bandwidth it uses, he said. "Wireless data consumes much more than a phone call," he said. To provide broadband to more people, "It's not about technology; it's not about building more networks," Mr. Seybold said. "It's about economics." Eventually, he said, communication companies will have to create a subscription-type system to mete out bandwidth per family. It might be similar to how residents of a certain area pay for utilities such as gas and electricity. Not everyone on the forum's panel of experts agreed with Mr. Seybold. Henry Baker, an MIT engineer, said the issue is not the amount of bandwidth remaining, but how it all can be used more efficiently. But another panelist believes Mr. Seybold's views are correct. "It's no exaggeration," said panelist Bob Fasulkey, vice president of engineering for Digital West Networks, Inc. Other panelists included Jay Hennigan, one of the founders of one of the first ISPs in the Central Coast and now director of Network Engineering at Impulse Advanced Communications. Mr. Seybold and his colleagues agreed that more efficient use of bandwidth would expand its use. However, they said the "latency" issue might prevent that since the quality of communications might be diminished. Despite sounding an alarm about the issue, Mr. Seybold expressed some optimism about the government's ability to deal with the problem. Mr. Seybold said the Obama administration has addressed the issue of bandwidth and several bills have been introduced in Congress. "I think the FCC will find what we need," he said. Mr. Seybold also stressed the need for more cell sites -- antenna arrays that allow wireless communications devices to operate better. The number of South Coast cell sites will triple in the next three years, but some communities such as Montecito are opposed to adding any more, he said. "Cell site growth since 1997 has been great," Mr. Seybold said, "but it's moving very slowly now because everybody says, 'Not in my backyard.' " In Santa Barbara County, Mr. Seybold said, it takes more than two years to obtain government approval for a cell site, which costs about $250,000 to build. e-mail: news(a)newspress.com

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Technical Elmering Net
by Michael＠NO6O.com 17 Feb '11

17 Feb '11

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SBARC Wednesday Nets - Trivia Night!
by Michael＠NO6O.com 16 Feb '11

16 Feb '11

SBARC Wednesday Nets -- TRIVIA NIGHT! ------------------------------------- Beginning at 7:00 pm on the following linked repeaters: 146.79 MHz (La Vigia Hill) 223.92 MHz (Santa Cruz Island) 224.08 MHz (La Cumbre Peak) Minus offset, PL 131.8 ---------------------------------- 7:00pm - 7:30pm -- Amateur Radio Newsline (www.ARNewsLine.org) 7:30pm - 8:00pm -- !! TRIVIA NIGHT !! Hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN 8:00pm - 8:30pm -- Swap Net, hosted by Dave Milton, K6HWN ---------------------------------- Then, at 8:30pm, on 144.210 MHz, is the VHF Single Side Band Roundtable, typically hosted by Ken Owen, N6KTH. This popular roundtable is now in its fourth year. Some People start checking in early between 8:00pm and 8:30pm. For details, visit www.n6kth.com/vhf. ---Michael, NO6O

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SBARC-list February 2011