The event was organised by Norman M0FZW, and ran from Wednesday the 15th to Sunday the 19th of May. A surprising amount members of Thames ARG are campers or caravanners, and the group had a lot of fun putting up tents, awnings and antennas.

TARG’s Camping and Fishing Week at Downham, near Billericay

The venue for the event was Crowsheath Fishery, which has some excellent lakes for fishing, and the perfect ground for camping. Its altitude and remoteness also helped a lot with conditions for radio, allowing the team, and visiting Essex hams, to rack up some decent HF and VHF contacts over the five day mini-break

Crowsheath Fishery in Downham, Essex

The culmination of the trip was a solid day of radio on Saturday the 18th of May, with the club’s callsign of GX0TRG being in use on 40m and 2m for much of the day, with an afternoon break to work the 2m SSB contest. The PSK31 and JT65 data modes were also worked.

Lucy M6UCY working GX0TRG/P on 2m

Essex Ham’s Pete M0PSX working HF

As well as a great place to work radio, it was a great place to socialise and chew the fat. From what we at Essex Ham hear, there were a few late nights, some great feasts, and the tea, wine and beer were flowing too, we understand.

Event organiser Norman M0FZW with Deam M6BYF and Mike M0MMB

Photo Gallery

Here’s a small selection of photos from the event. Click on a thumbnail for the full-size image:

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For a larger collection of photos from the event, see the TARG Downham Field Trip Report.

Well done to the Thames ARG team for putting on such a great, and novel, event. We heard some rumours via this week’s Monday Night Net that another similar event may occur later in the Summer… plenty of time for us to pop out and get a tent!

GETTING STARTED ON ECHOLINK

Several products allow QSOs by interlinking radio and the internet using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The technology began in 1997 with the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP), followed by iLink in 2001, Yaesu’s WIRES-II in 2002, eQSO and finally EchoLink. VoIP is possible due to ever higher line speeds and is available in various commercial formats, such as Skype or Vonage, which also provide video conferencing.

This brief overview and guidance, in the use of EchoLink (E/L) Single-User Mode, is for the novice. E/L is the brainchild of Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD. See www.echolink.org for his “Introduction to EchoLink”, software download, User’s Guide, and FAQs. There is extensive information in his book, “VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs”. The RSGB Bookshop can supply a copy. Once familiar with E/L the user can advance to Sysop Mode, which is covered in K1RFD’s literature. Interfacing radio with the internet for the first time can prove to be a steep learning curve so reading the EchoLink User’s Guide is advisable before attempting it.

Protocols

First some background. When we use the world wide web (www) we are usually using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http) and when transferring money or personal details Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (https).  These error corrected protocols are intended for use in a “request and fetch” information format and are enhanced with Cookies, ActiveX, JavaScript etc. E/L is a “real time” bit streaming system which, for the sake of speed and efficiency, uses the much simpler User Datagram Protocol (UDP), with no error correction. Users must therefore accept occasional loss of syllables, words or even drop-outs.

By default Hubs/Routers (pron. “rooters”) “firewall” UDP ports to prevent hacker attack so they must be reconfigured to pass all incoming data on UDP ports 5198 and 5199 to your PC. Similarly Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port 5200 must be allowed outward connections. Refer to Internet Service Provider (ISP) documentation or call their Helpline for assistance.

Once the software is working on line a callsign and email address are required to validate an applicant before a unique Node Number is issued. The system stores each user’s callsign against their node number in a database. Having received your Node Number you are free to use the EchoLink system. The Test Server, Firewall/Router test, Sound adjustment, Preferences, Help and FAQ are all accessed via the Toolbar.

“Explorer View” resembles windows file explorer. Folders are in the left pane, sub-folders in the right. With country folders in the left pane individual stations are listed in the right pane. With the “United Kingdom” folder open, UK callsigns, Repeaters (e.g. GB3XX-R) and Simplex Links (e.g.MB7XXX-L) are listed in the right pane.

“Index View” shows a worldwide list, in alpha/numerical order, of all stations logged on. Powerful servers provide Conferences by linking several or many nodes together, eg *KENT*, *IRELAND*, *AUSSIE*.  All QSOs are made via the main USA server.

RF Operation

Provided a transceiver with CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System) and DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) microphone is available E/L can be used, without direct internet connection, via either Simplex FM Internet Voice Gateways (-L) http://www.ukrepeater.net/data4.htm or Internet Linked Repeaters (-R) http://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaterlist7.htm. These operate on specific frequencies in the 6M, 2M or 70cm bands. Both Links and Repeaters transmit their identity every 15 minutes. Links, unlike most repeaters, are provided at the expense, and convenience, of single operators with NOVs, using a single transceiver, and are limited to low power, typically 1W. They may only be available when the owner/operator is in their shack. Clive Ward’s MB7IDA-L, at Danbury, is normally on 24/7: http://www.whitewickets.org.uk/.

RF Mode Test Call

Example: MB7IDA-L: 145.3375MHz. CTCSS: 110.9Hz.

1. Listen on the frequency to ensure it is not in use.
2. Key microphone giving your callsign and enter *.
3. De-key and the logic will reply “MB7IDA”.
4. Key mic stating your callsign and enter 9999.
5. De-key and the logic will reply with “Connecting to Conference ECHOTST”.  Connected.
6. Re-key stating your callsign and a test message.
7. De-key for playback. Adjust microphone gain setting etc
8. Repeat as necessary.
9. When testing complete key up and then # to clear the call.
10. De-key and “Conference ECHOTST disconnected” will be sent back.

Having established that the DTMF microphone is working and the audio is set correctly you are ready for your first RF QSO. A list of stations at this stage is very helpful. Choose a time of day when many English speaking stations are likely to be logged on and select File/ Print Preview on E/L Toolbar to view a 60 page snapshot of every station, otherwise check http://www.echolink.org/logins.jsp. A selection or all may be printed for future reference. Use the listings to locate the desired station and note the Node Number in the right hand column. Without such a listing it is possible to find a Node Number and status by entering a callsign in a special format, using the following tables.

Setting Up

State your callsign and what you are doing before using DTMF.

e.g. “This is <callsign> connecting to Kent Conference”. Then key “257078”.

E/L will  reply alphabetically with “Connected to  K E N T  Conference”.

Always allow a 3 second break, for internet delay, between overs and never leave links connected after a QSO. Clear all calls sending # or ##.  A base station should clear the link if a mobile travels out of range.

Clearing a Link

State your callsign and what you are doing before using DTMF.

            e.g. “M0FZW is clearing with G1EUC”. Then key #.

E/L will  reply with “G1EUC disconnected”

Key ## to clear all stations on the link.

Table 2:  ALPHA NUMERICAL TO DTMF CONVERSION
CHAR	ENTER	CHAR	ENTER	CHAR	ENTER
A	21	N	62	1	10
B	22	O	63	2	20
C	23	P	71	3	30
D	31	Q	11	4	40
E	32	R	72	5	50
F	33	S	73	6	60
G	41	T	81	7	70
H	42	U	82	8	80
I	43	V	83	9	90
J	51	W	91	0	00
K	52	X	92
L	53	Y	93
M	61	Z	12

Example 1: Find EchoLink Node Number for M0FZW by using 07+Callsign+# as shown in Table 1. Convert M0FZW into the correct format using the Table 2, which is based on a telephone keypad but with Q and Z placed on key 1.

M=61, 0=00, F=33, Z=12, W=91 so key the microphone and dial: 07 61 00 33 12 91 #

EchoLink will reply with: M 0 F Z W 1 4 4 0 7. To make contact with M0FZW simply key up and send 14407.

EchoLink will reply with “Connected”, “Not Found” or even “Disconnected” in the event of a fault.

Example 2: Use MicC+Callsign+# to make contact. i.e. MicC 61 00 33 12 91 #

where “MicC” is the DTMF “C” key on the microphone.

EchoLink will reply with “Connected”, “Not Found”, or even “Disconnected” in the event of a fault.

When connecting to a Link, Repeater or a Conference listen briefly to ensure a QSO is not in progress before announcing your Callsign and “listening through”. If nobody replies, briefly call CQ for a contact.

To finish say <callsign> is clearing with <Conference/Repeater/Link>. Then key #.

Radio to Radio Contacts

This is possible via Link to Link (-L to –L), Repeater to Repeater (-R to –R) or Link to Repeater (-L to –R or –R to –L). Apart from the usual connection to a Node or Repeater it is possible to meet by prior arrangement, known as a “sked”. No PC or direct connection to the internet is required by any party. Each operator tunes their transceiver to their local -L or -R and then interconnects using Node Numbers. It is even possible to run a RF Network, providing the group at each node can hear each others radio signals.

Norman, M0FZW

Live Chat: After last week’s experiment, we’ll have the chatroom running again tonight. Go to www.essexham.co.uk/chat - Just put in your callsign to get in – no password needed

EchoLink Experiment: We’ll be holding this off for tonight, if that’s OK with everyone – give us time to get everyone ready for it.

Here’s the attendance list for this week’s net:

1. Pete M0PSX in Southend, in the chair
2. Mitchell M6GYN
3. Keith G3WRO
4. Dean M6BYF
5. David G3SVI (and Myra M0MYR in the background)
6. Norman M0FZW
7. Jim 2E0RMI
8. Mark M0IEO
9. James 2E1GUA

Topics for the evening as follows:

• The TARG Downham camping trip at the weekend

Pete M0PSX, controlling the Monday Night Net

Handy Links

• The M0FZW Guide to Echolink

An apology

Sorry to all participants, but I had to drop off the net mid-flow. By the time I was able to return, the net  had ended. Again, sorry for ducking out – hopefully normal service to be resumed next week. Pete

Please show your support for GB3DA and GB3ER by joining the Essex Repeater Group, or making a donation.

Got a comment about this week’s Monday Night Net? Please add it below.

The net started at 8:00pm on the GB3DA repeater.

For details of the net, see www.EssexHam.net

Live Chat: As an experiment, we have a live chat room running. Go to www.essexham.co.uk/chat - Just put in your callsign to get in – no password

Next week’s net: Seems there is some desire to try an Echolink Monday Night Net as an experiment – So, we’ll run the net as normal from 8pm, and try an Echolink Net from 9pm.

Anyway, here’s the attendance list for this week’s net:

1. Pete M0PSX in Southend, in the chair
2. Jim 2E0RMI
3. Ken M6BZS
4. Norman M0FZW (on the way to a quiz night, so just one over)
5. Dean M6BYF
6. Joel G0URK
7. Neil G0RNU
8. Gary G0BDY
9. Rob M6KDP
10. Chris M6EDF (a very brief over, then we lost you!)
11. Mark M0IEO
12. Jim 2E1GUA
13. John M3JHQ
14. Chris G0IPU

Chatroom

A successful experiment tonight. Thanks to those of you that logged into the chatroom. Something we’ll repeat again.

Screenshot of the Essex Ham Chatroom, used for the first time tonight

Topics for the evening as follows:

• Stow Maries Airfield event at the weekend – Details here
• NDB – Non-directional beacons – Neil suggests 362.5kHz, as a Southend beacon
• Joel wondering if anyone use 4 metres?

Pete M0PSX, controlling the Monday Night Net

Handy Links

• Noble Radio – this rig does 4m and 6m, at a price of $800

We wrapped up just after 22:15 – Thanks everyone!

Please show your support for GB3DA and GB3ER by joining the Essex Repeater Group, or making a donation.

Got a comment about this week’s Monday Night Net? Please add it below.

The weekend event, the “Stow Maries Fly In”, was a spectacular for anyone with an interest in World War I, aviation, model aircraft, historical reenactment, and classic cars – A great family event with lots of light aircraft popping in, flying past and performing stunts for the gathered crowds. Great to see so many people in uniform, showing their passion for the period.

Dengie Hundred Amateur Radio Society’s shack

The amateur radio shack at Stow Maries airfield was busy with people popping in to see what was going on and to find our more about the hobby. Here’s our short video showing some of the day’s flights, plus a look inside the DHARS shack:

Essex Hams Pete M0PSX and Jim 2E0RMI popped in to see the team hard at work – thanks to Steve M0SHQ, Keith G7FFI, Don G0INO and David, the DHARS Chairman for making us welcome and showing off the shack.

Keith, Don and Steve working GB0SMA

Despite having a very long wire and an impressive cobweb on the roof (as seen in the video), HF operations had to be limited, to prevent interference with the neighbouring blacksmith’s mobile disco set up close to the shack. VHF was active though, and as we arrived, we could hear traffic from both Stock and Rayleigh “Windmills On The Air”.

An enjoyable day out with lots to see, and also great to have a catch-up with the team from DHARS, who seem very happy in their impressive home at Stow Maries Aerodrome. Thanks for the tour chaps.

Handy Links

• Dengie Hundred Amateur Radio Society
• Friends of Stow Maries Aerodrome

Stow Maries Fly In Images

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The team from the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society was out-and-about at Stock Windmill, near Ingatestone, to activate this historic location, and on this page, you’ll find a few pictures from today’s activities at the mill.

Stock Windmill and the antenna farm

The team was operating both on HF and 2m, and in attendance were a number of Essex amateurs including: Mark M0IEO, Norman M0FZW, Jim 2E1GUA, Tom 2E0TNC, Patrick M0XAP, John 2E0NNQ, John G8DET, Luke M6LNT, David M0BQC, Jim 2E0RMI and Pete M0PSX.

Mark M0IEO, operating HF at Stock Windmill in May 2013

There wasn’t as much activity to be had on the bands from the windmill, but the team will be operating again tomorrow (Sunday the 12th), and it’d be great if as many of you as possible could make contact with the special event callsign GB5SM.

2m mast, with beam, at Stock Windmill May 2013

Putting up the 2m beam at Stock Windmill

About Stock Windmill

Stock Tower Windmill was built around 1816 and is a fine example of the millwright’s craft of that time. The windmill has been restored to working order by Essex County Council, and is open to the public on the second Sunday of the month (April to September), when it’s manned by volunteers.

Happy “Windmills On The Air” Weekend from Essex Ham.

Around the world, enthusiasts get together to let off helium-filled weather balloons with a payload of camera, GPS trackers and radio transmitters, and then use a network of trackers to plot the journey of the balloon, then pinpoint the landing site and retrieve the payload.

On Sunday the 5th of May 2013, two balloons were released from a location to the west of Cambridge, and I was able to track the second one very well.If you prefer watching to reading, here is a short video clip of my experiences:

Signals from the balloons were on the 70cms band, but single sideband, so my standard rig couldn’t get the signals. So, I used an SDR, Software Defined Radio. The one I went for was my cheap-and-trusty Realtek RTL2832 dongle.  This costs around £10 and plugs into a computer or laptop USB socket. This was connected to my main 2m/70cm collinear on the roof.

Next – Software: I used the free package SDR Sharp – This package lets you tune into the correct frequency and set USB. Flights are announced on the ukhas.org.uk site, and frequencies are given. The flight I track,ed was using was on 434.244MHz – Here is what the signal looked like on the SDR# package. The two narrow bars are essentially packets of RTTY data.

Data received from a high altitude balloon

Next, I used DL-FLDigi to decode the packets. It took a while to get the software to recognise the audio from the SDR, and some juggling to get everything working, but eventually, packets were being received and decoded.

Decoding balloon telemetry data using DL-FLDigi

Now the clever bit. On the website spacenear.us , there’s a realtime-tracker that shows the location of the balloon, based on uploads from spotters like me. My spots were appearing on the map showing the path of the balloon.

Tracking balloons using spacenear.us

The various spotters, and the balloon owners, all hang out in an IRC chatroom, and a good dozen or so other folk were tracking the flight too. Following the balloons were the owners in a chase car, ready to recover the payload. The balloon I tracked covered a distance of around 12 mile due North over around 2 and a half hours, touching down between Peterborough and March. The tracking site shows altitude against time, and the eventual landing site, almost in a river.

The Xaben-1 balloon, almost landing in a river

It’s always fun to try something new radio-wise, and I’ll certainly be trying a little balloon tracking again. Well done to today’s balloonists, and thanks to Chris Stubbs M6EDF, owner of one of today’s payloads, called CHEAPO, for introducing me to this activity.

For a quick how-to guide, and more information on how I was able to track these balloons, see our guide here: How to track High Altitude Balloons

The net started at 8:00pm on GB3ER, as the GB3DA repeater is playing up again (well, it’s been a warm day, which lends weight to the heating cavities theory)

• Output Frequency: 433.075MHz
• Input Frequency: 434.675MHz
• CTCSS Tone: 110.9Hz

For details of the net, see www.EssexHam.net

Here’s the attendance list for this week’s net:

1. Pete M0PSX in Southend, in the chair
2. Phil M0IMA in Swanscombe
3. Dean M6BYF in Kent
4. Chris M6EDF
5. Joel G0URK in Chelmsford (now running voice idents on his D-Star Raspberry Pi node)
6. Steve M0SHQ in Maldon
7. James 2E1GUA in Writtle
8. Ian 2E0EOM in Hockley
9. Gary G0BDY in Brentwood
10. Neil G0RNU in Tilbury
11. Penny M6ZXB in Danbury (welcome to the first net)
12. Clive M3SSB in Danbury

Topics for the evening as follows:

• Some of you trekked off to the Kempton Rally – thanks for the update
• Chris M6EDF’s been flying balloons – See our video on how to track high altitude balloons - Lots of questions for Chris about frequencies, chase cars and data formats.
• Can you decode D-Star? In theory, yes, $30 for the decoder chip, according to Joel. It’s not possible from software and a dongle though.
• The joys of trying to get registered on the D-Star networks – Joel’s asked the Essex Repeater Group if he can handle registration for the GB7ZP D-Star repeater. Fingers crossed.
• Who would you most like to talk to on ham radio? ISS astronauts came out high, as expected.

Pete M0PSX, controlling the Monday Night Net

Handy Links

• Thanks to Dean for recommending www.freemake.com as a free video converter
• A write-up on this weekend’s balloon activities can be found here: chris-stubbs.co.uk

Please show your support for GB3DA and GB3ER by joining the Essex Repeater Group, or making a donation.

Got a comment about this week’s Monday Night Net? Please add it below.

Essex Ham May 2013 Newsletter

The latest version of Essex Ham TV, the newsletter from Essex Ham, has just been released.

In the free May edition of this newsletter, we look at the following:

• Upcoming events for May and early June for amateurs in the Essex area
• An update on the Monday Night Net, hampered by ongoing problems with GB3DA
• Recent ham radio events in the area, including a tabletop sale and International Marconi Day
• More information on the amazingly-cheap SDR dongle -
• Our guide on the basics of this vital £10 receiver
• An RSGB update, plus news of a local frequency change
• Training courses in the Essex area

Download the free newsletter as a PDF below – or why not sign up to our newsletter from the links at the top right of www.essexham.co.uk

Share and Enjoy!

Due to issues with the Great Baddow venue for CARS, it was agreed that the May club nights for TARG and CARS would be a joint event – a combined Tabletop sale and social get-together. The event took place at Jubilee Hall on Canvey Island, the permanent base for the Thames Amateur Radio Group.

It was great to see such an impressive turnout, with lots of members from both clubs, as well as visitors from outside Essex, including Kent and London. If you missed the event, take a look at our three minute video montage.

The evening kicked off at 7:30pm with all tables sold out. There was a fair variety of stuff available – and it was encouraging to see so many people there browsing, and more importantly, walking away with a bargain or too.

Browsing at the Tabletop sale on Canvey Island

It’s great to see the spitir of co-operation between two of the local clubs alive and well in Essex. Many members from both clubs turned out, and tables had been booked by a good mix from each club. Many members car-pooled to share fuel and navigators, and as well as hunting for bargains, the event was a great chance to catch up, swap ideas, and socialise with a cup of tea and some cake, iin an atmosphere a little less hectic and cut-throat than at a daytime rally.

The Chairmen – Mike M0MMB (TARG) and John G8DET (CARS)

As with both CARS and TARG club nights, one of the main attractions is the raffle – which not only gives members a chance to get a cheap bargain,but is also a very handy way of clubs to raise funds to cover the cost of the hall hire. Friday’s raffle was shared between both clubs, with members of each club pulling the tickets, and prizes donated by both clubs. Lots of winners, and lots of smiles.

Some of the winners of the joint CARS / TARG raffle

From feedback received by Essex Ham, a good night was had by all, and it was a very successful shared event between the two Essex-based clubs. Hopefully there’s the possibility of more shared events in the future.

Attended the Tabletop? Please add your thoughts below, for all to see.

Photo Gallery

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