MARA INC. NEWS. Mackay Amateur Radio Association Inc. Since July MEGA Edition 2018

Transcription

1 MARA INC. NEWS Mackay Amateur Radio Association Inc. Since 1972 July MEGA Edition 2018 Web: Facebook: NEXT MONTHLY MEETING IS ON: Tuesday 10th July 1930 Hrs Did you know? MARA Inc. is Leading the way into the Digital Voice Modes Revolution Story by Waratah, VK4BQ Central Queensland now has the best digital voice coverage in Australia while the big cities seem to be lagging behind. From helicopter lifts to access on quad bikes nothing is stopping us from moving into the future of digital voice. The DSTAR experience on our multimode repeaters is fantastic since upgrading from the Arduino Due MMDVM to the STM32 Nucleo MMDVM. The Pi STAR image has also been the most popular choice for setting up your own hotspot. The momentum has not stopped up here in the north with more and more amateur radio operators coming on-board and giving the digital modes a go! We are encouraging other clubs to follow our lead and start converting underutilised analogue repeaters to digital voice repeaters. It truly is a lot of fun to build your own digital repeater from scratch. Check out the multiprotocol reflector at Check out Waratah s Video at

2 D-Star News, DCS028Q changing to DCS389Q Story by Waratah, VK4BQ A new Brisbane based server has been setup by Adrian, VK4TUX. This server is called DCS 389, and some of you may have already been using trans-coding to talk to DMR on port B. Well to cut to a short story, all of our repeaters are moving to DCS389Q. So, we are moving off DCS028Q and moving onto DCS389Q. Please update your host files. You can look at the DCS389 dashboard by going to this address Please join us on DCS389Q soon. Any questions give me a call, or QSO. Mount Seaview, 2m Repeater MHz coming back! Story by Waratah, VK4BQ The Mt Seaview repeater MHz will soon be back online. Program your radios ready for the repeater activation! A 91.5hz CTCSS tone will be required for access! The repeater will be linked to the Central Highlands Repeater Linking System same as before however... The utilisation of this repeater will be monitored and logged. If it doesn't get used on analogue, then it will be re-purposed into a digital multimode repeater. So, die hard analogue users take note... use it or lose it.

3 Active Hyperlinks in Newsletter (Web & YouTube) So, if you are viewing this Newsletter correctly in Adobe Reader, you can click on the Hyperlinks directly to take you to the website and/or YouTube videos. Any problems? Let me know Neil VK4NB Black Mountain, VK4RBY 2m Repeater, New Duplexer Story by Waratah, VK4BQ Black Mountain 2m multimode has a new duplexer/cavity (6 can set) this is a big improvement. I have also replaced the modem with the latest and greatest stm32 DSP mmdvm. The power has now been increased to the full 50 watts output. So, a New duplexer, New modem and increased power has been the improvement to this site. Check out the following videos on YouTube for Waratah s Drone footage of the Black Mountain Site.

4 Mount Blackwood, VK4RMK Brand New 2m Repeater Story by Waratah, VK4BQ Mt Blackwood repeater MHz has been upgraded with a brand-new repeater thanks to the Mackay Council community grant. This repeater is now analogue / DMR. When using analogue, you must use a CTCSS of 91.5Hz to access the repeater. Same as Blue Mountain same as Sarina 2m. Please update your radio config files to meet the repeater requirements. Currently, The Mt Blackwood repeater is running on DMR test. Give it a try sometime MHz -600KHz Offset Channel 1 - Timeslot 1 TG1 Channel 2 - Timeslot 2 TG2 It s not linked to the internet, so local users only so not very busy.

5 Don t Forget! Our 80 Metre HF Net Every Monday 1930hrs on 3597 KHz +/- QRM VK4WIM Net Controller: Roy, VK4RM, MARA Inc. President Just a friendly reminder that the Mackay Amateur Radio Association Inc. 80 Metre HF Net is on EVERY Monday Night from 1930Hrs or 7:30pm local time!! Please come up and join us on 3597 KHz +/- QRM and listen out for Roy, and join the list and have a chat and let us know how your weekend was! Hear you there!

6 Competition to Create a Club Logo for MARA Inc. Story by Lawry, VK4YN Mackay Amateur Radio Association Inc. is holding a competition to create a club logo, the members with need to submit a design to the next monthly meeting. The logo needs to be printed or drawn on A4 paper, there will be an anonymous ballot so please do not put your name on it as we will number each design at the meeting. The creator of the elected logo will win a refurbished VHF P25 digital analogue radio programmed ready to use. Note: we cannot copy another clubs design. What Radio & ID s do I need to get onto Digital / Multimode? For DMR use, you will need to register a DMR ID and to do this, google, Register DMR ID and it s the first listing. This has to be programmed into your radio to use. For P25 use, you will use your DMR ID. This is through the P25 Gateways. Locally, we have been using ACMA ID but this is not suitable for the P25 Network. For APCO P-25 Tait TM9100 Series Mobiles Tait TM9400 Series Mobiles Tait TP9100 Series Portable Tait TP9400 Series Portable Motorola XTL/XTS/APX Series Portable & Mobiles Simoco SRM9000 Series with P25 Upgrade Only For DMR (Mototrbo or DMR Tier 2) Any Motorola Mototrbo Radio Motorola DM Series (Mobile) Motorola DP Series (Portable)

7 Motorola XPR Series Portables TYT MD-380 / MD-390 Portable Hytera, Any PD Series Portables Baofeng DM-5R (Not yet Tested) Beware early Tier 1 Batch. RETEVIS RT3 Portable HYTPD360 Portable Simoco SDM600/630 Series Mobiles C4FM Yaesu Fusion FTM100DR Mobile FTM-400DR Mobile FTM-3200DR Mobile FT1DR Portable FT2DR Portable D-Star All Icom ID prefix Model Radios Check out ebay, as most of these radios can be purchased secondhand and/or brand new! How we use MMDVM & Repeater Controller on VK4RBY 2m Repeater Story by Neil, VK4NB I would invite you all to check out the following YouTube video, from Waratah, VK4BQ, with a detailed explanation on how we utilise the MMDVM and Repeater Controllers that operate these Digital Multi- Mode Repeaters. The effort, knowledge and money that Waratah pours into these projects is an absolute asset to our Club, and we need to acknowledge Waz for what he does in leading the way into the Digital Voice Comms future. Check it out now!

8 Breakaway Horse Riders Meeting The next monthly meeting will be Held at Harrup Park Country Club on Monday 16 th 1900 Hrs. Radio Operators are encouraged to attend to be informed of any upcoming events and or to discuss radio related activities between the clubs. I do receive s with notifications of Upcoming Events and also the monthly newsletter. Below is a snapshot of events for July till end of August. Be aware, this is a Draft. When some of these rides occur, we need Radio Operators are needed please, so if you are interested, please contact Gary VK4CUZ at: vk4cuz@gmail.com and Gary will provide you with more info.

9

10 For Sale 144Mhz legal limit Amplifier $ Twin GI7B 400 watt plus linear amplifier. Home brew craftsman built by VK4BG, complete with internal HV power supply and external TX/RX changeover relays. An excellent amplifier for the 144Mhz enthusiast. The amplifier is highly suited to EME or Tropo/E s work. This amplifier is far too heavy to post at +30Kg so pickup is required or I can deliver to the Mackay area if that helps. I simply do not use this amplifier anymore after I purchased a solid state MOSFET unit, so it is best in the hands of an experienced 144Mhz enthusiast rather than gathering dust. If you have any interest in either unit please call Shane, VK4KHZ for further details on

11 For Sale 50Mhz legal limit Amplifier $ Twin GI7B 400 watt plus 50Mhz linear amplifier. Home brew craftsman built by VK3ZL(SK), complete with internal HV PSU and TX/RX changeover relays. This amplifier was purchased just prior to Bob VK3ZL passing and has had very little use. This unit is too heavy to post at ~30Kg so pickup is preferred. I can deliver within Mackay district if that helps. If you have any interest in either unit please call Shane, VK4KHZ for further details on

12 For Sale RFI VHF YAGI ANTENNA YHSS-06 $ Firm 6 Element Yagi perfect for 2m Operation. VSWR is ok on 2m. See Waratah, VK4BQ.

13 Thanks for Reading this MEGA JULY 2018 Edition: Please me at: to Submit any Articles, News or Info or if you have something to sell or wanting to buy etc. anything to help build these Newsletters in Future! Thanks for Reading and 73! Published by Neil, VK4NB Website Manager - MARA Inc. Publicity Officer MARA Inc. Mackay Amateur Radio Association Inc. Web: Facebook: facebook.com/vk4wim Twitter: twitter.com/vk4wim vk4wim@outlook.com.au