RCARES hardware for digital communications
From Megawiki
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Recommended Hardware for Digital Communications
KB9MMA
EMAIL: KB9MMA@KB9MMA.COM
Winlink: KB9MMA@WINLINK.ORG
AX.25 PACKET BBS: KB9MMA@KB9MMA.#SEWI.WI.USA.NOAM
PHONE: 262-909-3996
This document is dedicated to the silent key KC9JS JOHN L SPRINGER who proofread many documents for the digital group.
Contents |
Radio recommendations single band and multiband
RADIOS FOR USE IN DIGITAL NETWORKING Most radios can be used at 1200 baud, variable or fixed audio, which is recommended.
Consult your local A.E.C. digital with model of radio and manual if you have it. Most older radios can be used and are a perfect niche for data use. Below is a table of higher speed radios, this information should be taken into conjunction with other operations to efficiently utilize your resources. Again consultation is recommended.
VHF/UHF PACKET RADIOS - EVALUATED AT 9600 BAUD
(Edited from a table provided by Mike Tracy, KC1SX, ARRL Lab, August 20, 2004) , plus some additions
| Radio Model | QST Issue | TX/RX SWITCH | FIXED AF | SURVEY | COMMENTS |
| Kenwood TS-2000 | Jul 2001 | Y MINI-DIN INTERNAL TNC | NOT ADEQUATE/SEE EXTERNALTNC | ||
| ICOM IC-208H | Oct 2003 | Y MINI-DIN | |||
| Yaesu FT-7800 | Apr 2004 | Y MINI-DIN RX | |||
| Alinco DR-135TP /Alinco DR-435T | Jan 2001 | 9 pin DB9(Alnico pin out) | |||
| ICOM IC-910H | May 2001 (3 band) (1.2G) | ||||
| Kenwood TMD700A | May 2000 (ext.TNC) | Y | MINI-DIN INTERNAL TNC | NOT ADEQUATE/SEE EXTERNAL TNC | |
| ICOM IC-2720H | Mar 2003 (Septrcvrs) | Not published | Y MINI-DIN | 6 wire remote head | |
| Icom IC-706 M II G | Jun 1999 (hf/vhf/UHF) | Y MINI-DIN | Works when and all filters are off. and DSP | ||
| Yaesu FT-817 | Apr 2001 (hf/vhf/UHF) | ||||
| Yaesu FT-857/Yaesu FT-897 May 2003 | Aug 2003 (hf/vhf/UHF) | ||||
| Yaesu FT-1500 | Jul 2000 | Y | MINI-DIN RX SENSITIVITY LOW, USE WHEN | SIGNAL S9 OR up | |
| Kenwood TMG707A | 20 ms | Y | MINI-DIN | Works very good High sensitivity | |
| Kenwood TMV708a | 30ms | Y | MINI-DIN | High sensitivity |
Radio modem Interfaces ( TNC ) and wiring standards
Radio modem (TNC) and interfaces wiring standards
A number of new radios with built-in TNC have limited buffer size and/or limited computer COM port
speed capabilities, which may hinder operation on Winlink 2000 or other (data transfer) applications
requiring packet lengths greater than 128 bytes at 9600b data rates. Such radios often have provisions for
interfacing external TNC, which are recommended for such applications.
At 1200b most KISS mode TNC will work with Paclink, Telpac, Airmail, switch and digipeater
applications with the use of the AGW Packet Engine.
TNC for 1200 baud
Pricing can range from free to $100 used new, about double that..
KPC-3+ Audio digitally controlled ), workhorse TNC small in size 8.3 ROM and up
KPC-3 Reasonably available and priced, 5.0 to 8.2 ROM recommended.
KAM+ Dual port one HF 300b and VHF 1200b (reasonably available) medium size
KAM Older version of Kam+ again works fine, same port optioning, reasonably available. 5.0 ROM
MFJ-1270c etc… Multiple versions ( MFJ makes TAPR TNC 2 compliant TNC, Newer the better, widely available.) ROM’s freely available for Kiss only mode, and other options, most on Racine county Digital CD. Timewave AEA type TNC, and other Tapr TNC2 clones.
TNCs for 9600 baud:
Pricing around $100 to $200 used, New much more costly. KPC-9612+
(top pick for packet operations, has two ports, one 1200 and one 9600 audio controlled command line)
KPC-9612 (be aware that audio tuning is done by potentiometers they can wear and dry out and hard to replace)
PK-96 (two port 1200/9600).
Racine County Standard TNC Interconnect Interface
KANTRONICS DB9 PIN
1- (TX AUDIO AFSK)
2-
3- (PTT)
4-
5- RX AUDIO IN FROM RADIO
6- (SHIELD AND GND)
7-
8-
9-
Recommended portable computing equipment
Recommended portable computing equipment There are two levels of support for Packet / Winlink 2000.
Traditional terminal way
NOT require a computer, just a terminal and/or terminal program. Here is what you do with these types of computers. Currently conventional packet and Winlink 2000 (limited messaging support) support both. A good example is an old mainframe VTXXX terminal, with an RS-232 serial port. Like an old 486 computer with a terminal program like hyper term and communications rs-232 port (serial port) i.e. com1, etc.
The Graphical Way
(Outpost, Paclink, airmail, etc. ) Using Outpost, Airmail, Outlook, and other Winlink 2000 applications requires a little more horsepower, and is more human interface friendly. Outpost, and others usually require Windows 98 SE or better. This requirement is usually because of Dependant programs and processor speed. Minimum right now a Pentium 200 MHz with 64 MB of memory RAM and 2 GB Hard disk is recommended.
I will recommend Windows 2000 and a PII 200 MHz- 1 GHz PC, on up.
2-4 GB and at least 64 MB of memory. These machines don't break the bank. and are usually collecting dust at peoples basements or local hamfests they can be picked up for little to almost nothing. Good way to obtain one is to talk to people, and if someone says works fine, and haven't used in Ask if you can give it a good home, if you need one. (IE friend, relative, etc.. ).
Sometimes it is a box itself, other parts you can get really reasonable.. For portable operation, laptop is ideal. Ask if they have the disks that came with it. And what is wrong with the device.. STAY away from ( its the battery, main board, or the Hard disk do not work.. etc..) (run away screaming! (just kidding), say I will think about it. ) Power it up and poke round in the computer if you can...
I personally use the format C: /U when I boot a new computer and rebuilt it. The reason is that it is easier for to use a fresh install, instead of figuring out what it has on it. Not much money involved, just the time and effort of possibly formatting the drive and elbow grease. Our group has more than enough of knowledge base available for question's on this! Many have years of experience in computers.
Recommended fixed station computing equipment
Computers that can be at a fixed location usually can come more horsepower. Most of Section III applies here. Don’t break the bank, but recommend more than 1 GHz processor speed with sound card, serial ports, and a lot of RAM and Hard disk.
Sound Card Interfaces
Computer Sound card Rig Interfaces.
- Rascal
(seems to be the pick of choice and cost is relatively low).
Recommend this for non Winlink 2000 and packet modes.
http://www.packetradio.com
- Rig Blaster
These let you do other modes like PSK##, and Slow scan TV we will be covering for the county.
http://www.westmountainradio.com or distributor.
Antennas
J-POLE
Requirement is a ½ wave or 3 Db gain antenna or better on two meter Since most of these are Dual band, you get 70 CM as a plus. Which has about 5 Db gain on a ½ wave two meter, being a third harmonic. Typical antennas are vertically polarized, probably omni-directional, or Yagi Example below is an antenna you can build
J-Pole Antenna Design All Frequency SAVE TIME BY USING THE CALCULATOR BELOW.
NOTE: Coax center conductor is attached to the "Long section" feed
point Shield is attached to the short section feed point.
Enter The Operating Frequency 145.610 Freq MHz
A (Long section) dimension is: 4.84 feet, 58.08 inches, 1.475 meters
B (Short section) dimension is: 1.61 feet, 19.32 inches, 0.491 meters
C (Feed point) dimension is: 0.16 feet, 1.92 inches, 0.049 meters
D (Spacing) dimension is: 0.15 feet, 1.8 inches, 0.046 meters
Inside (spacing) dimensions are metal to metal measurements, NOT center to center.
This homemade copper J-Pole antenna is mounted is tuned for best VSWR by
moving the feed point up or down along the pipes, and then soldering in place.
On mine, I had to slide the feed point all the way down, and the lowest VSWR
point was still not in the middle of the 2 meter band. It's very good, but not
perfect. I would recommend that you start with each pipe being 1 or 2 inches
longer than the book calls for, and tuning the antenna before soldering the caps
on the pipes. Then you can trim the pipes if needed.
This type of antenna is cheap, easy to build, rugged, and is an excellent
performer. It is omni-directional, and can be made portable or permanently
mounted. It can be grounded, so it is quiet, and somewhat lightning protected.
This antenna needs no impedance matching if used with 50 ohm coax, since its
resistance/reactance appears as about 50 ohms. The simple BALUN is made from
several loops of RG-8 coax, if needed.
This is a picture of a finished J-pole built by the group.
Note hanger clamp ( original N9RGX design).
Pictured WA9JMO ( our PIO officer)
Directional Antennas
- Yagi's
A simple two meter Yagi can be used as well.
http://www.arrl.org/members-only/tis/info/pdf/0110042.pdf
or see ARRL handbook / Antenna book.
- Log Periodic
We have also produced a Dual Band Log periodic antenna, which has proven quite usefull in the field. See RCARES_Dualband_Logperiodic
