It’s been a busy few months, and the folx who I interact with on Mastodon already know that I’ve got lots of irons in lots of fires. I figured it’s probably time for me to do a quick ‘state of the shack’ post to give a quick highlight on where all my various projects and activities stand, in case anyone has been wondering about the status of any particular item.
So, in no particular order, here we go:
Repeater
Check out the Repeater Page and posts tagged repeater for more details.
The quick summary here, is that my Motorola GR1225 died, so I currently have a machine on the air using a pair of Kenwood TK840 radios, the duplexer from the Motorola, and a new USB interface from Repeater-Builder to connect it to the computer that runs the Allstar software. After some very positive feedback on the post I wrote as I was trying to get the machine running again, I decided to start a fund-raiser to support some upgrades to the repeater, and to also help repair and get some additional repeaters on the air, which brings us to the next project…
r4e
Check out the r4e project pages for more details.
r4e is an acronym for Repeaters 4 Everybody.
As a way to support upgrades on my repeater and some additional repeaters that are operated with a purposeful mission of openness and acceptance, and to help bulk up the RF side of the Pride Radio Network, I’ve started the r4e project which some of you may have stumbled across already in the header of my site. If you’re willing to help support some repeaters financially, or with donations of equipment, or to just connect an existing repeater to the pride network, those gifts and actions can go a long way towards our roadmap!
Subversive Radio
Check out the Subversive Radio Shop for details, and to buy cool stuff!
This project is an offshoot of the r4e project, and is a way to raise additional funds for those projects by selling radio merch that (I hope) is unlike most of the stuff already out there. Buy some cool stuff to support the project!
Radio Rocket
Check out the Radio Rocket Page and the Radio-Rocket Tagged Posts for more details.
Version 3 of the rocket (Ponzu) had some body tube damage during its first flight, which is now repaired, and it’s ready to fly again. I also built a new ground station that is an all-in one unit with the single board computer, LoRa receiver, an RTL-SDR dongle for receiving APRS packets, touchscreen for launch control and data display, etc. Motors are ordered for the next launch, which will be on June 13th or 14th, as weather permits.
Club Net
Check out the Narwhal Amateur Radio Society, and our Nets Page (details coming soon, if they aren’t already there!) for more info.
A while back I joined the Narwhal Amateur Radio Society (NR7WL) - they’re a relatively new club, but have values that I dig. We had kicked around the idea of a club ‘network’ to be able to connect via digital modes, and potentially a club net. That idea sat for a little bit, but bubbled back up recently, so I took the initiative to set up an Allstar node for the club (61672) which will serve as our hub, and the location for our first club net, for which I’ll be serving as net control!
Net details as follows:
Narwhal Amateur Radio Society Club Net
Time: 1st Tuesday of Every Month at 7pm Pacific, 10pm Eastern
Location: Hosted on the NR7WL Allstar Node (61672) and the Pride Radio Network. The Pride Radio network has bridges that will allow you to connect via DMR, IRLP, System Fusion, M-17, NXDN, P-25, D-Star, Echolink, Hamps Over IP, Hamshack Hotline, plus others!
Shack
Check out posts tagged shack for more details.
I haven’t made any major updates to the shack recently, but I have moved a few things around. In the utility space behind the operating position I added a DIY rack made from lumber to move the various computer and network bits and bobs into. My next project in the shack is related to re-doing some of the audio routing - I have designs drawn up in KiCad for an interface device that will sit beside my mixer and convert all the audio to the OHIS standard. The basic reasoning behind this for me, is that by converting the audio to OHIS, I can leverage an existing standard to run a single shielded cat6 cable to each radio and device, instead of the 3 or 4 audio and PTT cables that run to each radio now. I currently have some bursting-at the seams cable management, and doing this should reduce the mess in there quite a bit. The plan is also to eventually replace my aging mixer, and build a new rack mount arrangement to the left of my operating position to house the mixer, interface, and some other related shack equipment.
ARIP
Check out the ARIP website for more info.
Diversity is something important to our hobby. If you disagree, or think this statement is somehow political, you’re part of the problem in the hobby, and I won’t engage with you on the subject. If you do feel the same way I do however, the ARIP is one of my projects that is essentially a tool that clubs, individuals, or other organizations can use as a way to show their commitment to inclusion in the hobby. The most recent update on this effort is some changes to the website and methodology to make it more of a self-serve tool. There is more information about that available on the ARIP Website
Radio League of America
Check out the Radio League of America website for more info.
Currently, the Radio League of America (RLA) is little more than an idea. That idea being that the amateur radio community is too large and diverse for everyone to have their voices heard by a single national organization. There are many amateurs who have voiced a desire for something different to be available, and the RLA is just one of many potential avenues as that movement takes life. I have committed to at some point in the near future getting together an initial presentation of what that might look like, and setting up a recurring (probably quarterly) series of meetings for people who are interested to see if it is something worth fleshing out in more detail and organizing around.