Embry Riddle WX Balloon Launch with SharkRF OpenSpot - Post Event Discussion

Six Shooters ARC - San Diego
Presentation August 21, 2017

Occurred June 10, 2017
Embry Riddle OpenSPOT In Near Space Post Event Discussion.

If YouTube video available will post link.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...19707768046273

Gene Swiech WB9COY will present his high altitude balloon payload which included a DMR OpenSPOT transmitting on 439.000MHz. The payload was launched from Emery Riddle University in Prescott Arizona as part of the NASA Eclipse project. Other accepts of the payload included a 5GHz down link and an APRS GPS reporting sytem. The OpenSPOT with only 20mW of power was easily heard 30 miles down range. The openSPOT also was able to access the internet allowing hams across the country to connect to the payload. This was accomplished via the 5GHz downlink.

Time permitting Gene will also demonstrate how the OpenSPOT can be used via the AREDN broadband ham net system using a Raspberry PI server. Two OpenSPOT modules will be connected via the AREDN system and a completely off the grid contact will be made using the two OpenSPOT modules severed by the Raspberry PI.

Brandmeister Enhancements

Good afternoon, everyone.

The past 36 hours have brought forth some great enhancements in the performance and operation of Master Server 3103, and refinements to 3102 and 3108.

The GPS reporting functionality is now operating perfectly, and the links for APRS Location posting have been fine tuned.  If you have a BrandMeister supported GPS radio (Motorola, Hytera, etc) than all should be functioning perfectly now.

Getting the APRS connections refined and tuned has made it possible for APRS Messaging to be enabled across the BM USA Servers.  3102, 3103, and 3108 now all support "APRS Messaging  from radio to phone, phone to radio, radio to radio, and phone to phone." We've tested it also with a number of things such as WxBot, and find it to perform much better than we expected.  Check the BM Wiki for info on how to use it, if you are not already familiar.

The BrandMeister USA Shark RF IP Protocol Server is now fully tested and available from our high speed server farm in Chicago.  We will be releasing more information on that in days to come, but we feel that it too is a fun facility and perhaps a valuable resource for many with the SharkRF openSPOT's who would like to implement a more private network of their own.

As we continue on with the standardization ......

TAC-311 Net August 6

TAC 311 1111 Group - 6 August 2017

The gathering:

KB3YBT - Partick, FL
W5JXN - John, AR
KE0NXU - Nick, MN
K3ACE- Norm, DE
KA1GMN - Phil, TX  - Game Show Host

Subjects:

What are the popular talk groups?

  311 - Home of the the 311 1111 "This thing of ours"

  3100 - The busies talk group.  Someone is on 24 X 7.
  TAC 3 AKA TG 8953 - Technical QSOs

  31665 -  Relatively new talk group dedicated to helping
  operators out with their DMR system.  This talk group is also
   linked to Wires-X.

Introduction to Reflectors
  How to connect.
  How to disconnect.
  Check reflector connection status.
  Reference:  TG 3100  - An Alternative Access Method ( in "Files" section)

Brandmeister and ARPS
  No definitive answers on this one.  Those interested stated they had more investigation to do.

Phil de KA1GMN

Station International Space Station

Station International Space Station