Category: DIY

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There’s a new WinLink Gateway in EL95so

Here's the skinny of it:

  • Where: EL95so
  • Frequency: 145.030
  • Band: VHF
  • Name: WB4DB-10
  • Format: FM Packet

System is located just south of Country Walk or grid square EL95so for you grid square nerds. The Gateway is running FM Packet on 145.030 under the call WB4DB. Keep in mind that the system is experimental at the moment and has been thrown up haphazardly. Equipment, such as, radios, antennas, TNC, power... etc, will be changed in an effort to find the best setup for my situation. So if you try to connect and you don't have any luck, please try again at a later time. It could be down for maintenance or in the process of having equipment changed out.

Current setup:

  • Diamond x51 Antenna @ 20 ft HAAT
  • 50ft LMR400 Coax
  • ICom ID-5100 Mobile radio
  • Raspberry Pi Zero
  • Digirig Mini
  • Home Brew Interface Cable
  • Direwolf TNC Sound Modem Software
  • RMS Packet Software
  • Powerwerx SPS-30DM power supply

Stay tuned and check back for updates. For information on how to connect checkout this channel on the tube,

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SDR-Control App

Last week, I found myself with a "1st World" problem… I could not hit my local repeater from inside the workplace with my HT. What's a ham to do during lunch time… just sit there and eat? No way! There had to be a way without deploying heftier radios and antennas.

A couple of days later, While eating my spaghetti and meatballs , I sat there wishing I could play radio with the same great performance of my base station gear while not at home, so I began looking around the inter-webs. Then, I came across a software package that provided me with just the solution I was looking for. The app let me connect to my Icom IC-705 remotely, using my laptop or my iPad. It provided me most, if not all, of the functionality I would have if I were sitting in front of my radio at home. It is extremely intuitive and a piece of cake to set up. The audio coming through is clear as day and, as far as I can tell, the audio I am sending out is just as good, with zero to no latency. In fact, a couple of my fellow hams… Tim, KM4DFR and Charlie, N4CRE, have given me great signal reports. Thank you.

The app is called SDR-Control and more information can be found at https://roskosch.de/sdr-control/

With the good, comes the bad. In this case, the possible "bad" for you might be the limited radios the app supports (i.e. Icom IC-705, Icom IC-9700 and the Icom IC-7610) and the price of the app. However, it all depends on your perspective. I am a firm believer of supporting developers if they provide me with quality software. Your opinion may vary.

Lots of YouTubers, including Josh, KI4NAZ, go into more depth in his video below, so make sure you check it out before making your decision.

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W4THM’s Ultra Cheap Radio Build

Tired of all the Baofeng bashing and trash talking on the air about cheap radios? What if you can build something cheaper more embarrassing but spank almost everyone on performance and "Bulletproofness". Well... Our very own W4THM (foremerly KE4MCL) has done another fascinating write-up on Instructables on how to build an ultra-dirt-cheap radio that is sure to outperform any Chinese radio out there in Power, Reliability and Selectivity. It won't be as stylish or flashy as your latest Icom ID-51Plus, Yaesu FT2DR or Kenwood TH-D74A, but you sure will be turning heads when you brandish this abomination!

So head on over and check out Robert's Instructable and challenge yourself to see how cheaply you can build your very own Frankenham Radio! Who knows? Stay tuned and check this website regularly, there just might be a "Cheaper Than Dirt Dirty Old Radio Shootout!!"

https://www.instructables.com/id/UHF-Ham-Radio-on-the-Ultra-Cheap/