[OZAPRS] 6m APRS
Ray Wells
vk2tv at exemail.com.au
Fri Aug 28 15:18:22 EST 2009
Propagation was one thing I had in mind.
I had both 2m FM and 6m FM mobile in and around Sydney/Central Coast
(and later Kempsey) for 25+ years. I diplexed to a 2m 5/8 roof-mounted
(later guard-mounted on a Landcruiser) whip. I found that although 6m
had the potential for greater reach than 2m it often wasn't realised
because of increased noise levels. My home station also had both 2m and
6m and could be cross-banded, so I could drive around and "talk" to
myself. It was a good way to compare bands. I feel that 6m has unused
potential but I guess it's popularity wained through a lack of
commercial equipment for the band, compared with 2m. Placing land
mobiles onto 2m was more often than not just a simple retune. For 6m it
was sometimes a major rebuild of rx front-ends and tx finals. Certainly
that was the case for the old AWA 25m. Converting the Tait T500 to 6m is
much simpler, requiring some additional C for rx front-end and an
additional slug in the VCO coil. The Tait was a dream to align. The
Midland 70-050 has A, B & C versions and the handbook lists the
components to be changed for band variations. Mine was originally on
40MHz. It also was easy to align. I wouldn't contemplate an FM900, even
though others have had success. I did modify an old Communico but that
was almost a rebuild of rx front-end and PA.
Comparing band plans between ZL and Oz, it seems that we both have a
segment above 53.000 MHz so 53.000 up to 53.100 should be feasible.
Perhaps Philip would like to comment from a ZL perspective.
I agree that a common trans-Tasman frequency would be ideal.
Looks like I'd better re-build my old 6m Ringo.
Ray vk2tv
VK2KFJ wrote:
> Interesting,
> 6m would be nice from a propagation study perspective, for looking for 6m openings, just as you can do now for 2m propagation by having a packet Rcv program monitoring 145.175 (a 'Heard' list) I have done before, very useful, but APRS on 6m would provide the same tool for monitoring 6m propagation. APRS is the perfect mechanism.
>
> With 6m beacons, they only useful if you sitting in front of a rcvr constantly tuning around looking for beacons, if you not monitoring, you don't know what you missed.
>
> For mobile APRS, 6m certainly a better option in places like Sydney than using 2m or 70cm, 6m refracts over hilltops, around hills, better than 2m & higher, obviously 6m not as good as HF, but HF not convenient in metro areas like Sydney.
>
> Whereas a fulltime, complete set of APRS nodes widely scattered provides:
> 1. another APRS facility to spread the load.
> 2. a 6m propagation path prediction service.
> 3. some actual usage on 53 Mhz !!!!
>
> Better to use one of the existing designated 6m packet freqs like 53.000 (or whatever it is)
> as I doubt anyone does anything on 6m FM with packet anymore.
>
> But worth consulting the ZL's etc, nice to have a common 6m APRS freq for Oceania region.
>
>
> Steve VK2KFJ, QF56og
> Blog: http://vk2kfj.blogspot.com
> Web: http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/
>
>
> --- On Fri, 28/8/09, Gerard Hill <vk2io at amsat.org> wrote:
>
>
>> From: Gerard Hill <vk2io at amsat.org>
>> Subject: Re: [OZAPRS] 6m APRS
>> To: "Ray Wells" <vk2tv at exemail.com.au>
>> Cc: "Australian APRS Users" <ozaprs at aprs.net.au>
>> Received: Friday, 28 August, 2009, 2:02 AM
>> Ray Wells wrote:
>>
>>> C'mon, I was pushing 30 when you were in the Youth
>>>
>> Radio Scheme with Gordon Proctor. Now that's going back in
>> time.
>>
>> Good memory!
>>
>>
>>> Age is only a number, until your knees remind you
>>>
>> otherwise.
>>
>> And they do sometimes, so I know what you mean :(
>>
>>
>>> The CCARC never did get 6m packet going but I think
>>>
>> there's some recent progress with their 6m voice repeater.
>>
>> OK - probably a bit late now for a 6m packet repeater,
>> unless its APRS.
>>
>>
>>> Ray vk2tv
>>>
>> Cheers ... Gerard
>>
>>
>>> Gerard Hill wrote:
>>>
>>>> Ray Wells wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Gerard,
>>>>>
>>>>> You have the advantage of youth :-)
>>>>>
>>>> 30 years ago, I would have agreed with you :)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> I said I was in a senior moment, but
>>>>> I can't remember if I enjoyed it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Somewhere in the back of my mind I have this
>>>>>
>> thought that VK2DOT is doing something on or around 53.000
>> for conventional packet. Are you in contact with Rod?
>>
>>>> Yes - even on packet ;-) Not sure that he has 6m
>>>>
>> running still as only one 70cm radio port is showing up on
>> XRouter. VK2RAG was allocated 53.000 - did it ever operate?
>>
>>>> I ran a 53.050 BBS/node port for some time but
>>>>
>> there was limited interest. There was more interest in using
>> 53.100 at that time.
>>
>>>>> Ray vk2tv
>>>>>
>>>> Cheers ... Gerard
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Gerard Hill wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> 50.2930 is in the beacons band 50.280 to
>>>>>>
>> 50.320.
>>
>>>>>> <http://www.wia.org.au/members/bandplans/data/documents/Australian%20Band%20Plans%20090724.pdf>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In the past there has been discussion of
>>>>>>
>> APRS on 53.100 MHz. Perhaps there's a repeater in VK3
>> operating there. Last year you suggested 53.000 MHz, Ray.
>>
>>>>>> Cheers ... Gerard
>>>>>>
>>>>>> David and Justine Olsen wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dial 50.2930
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 27 Aug 2009, at 15:30, Ray Wells
>>>>>>>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> There's considerable discussion on
>>>>>>>>
>> the TAPR APRS mailing list about 6m APRS.
>>
>>>>>>>> I vaguely recall discussion on
>>>>>>>>
>> this locally in the recent past but my
>>
>>>>>>>> current senior moment has denied
>>>>>>>>
>> me more detail.
>>
>>>>>>>> Is there a 6m APRS frequency in
>>>>>>>>
>> Oz? I'd be happy to establish such a
>>
>>>>>>>> port if I wasn't going to be a
>>>>>>>>
>> network of one station.
>>
>>>>>>>> Any thoughts on this?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Ray vk2tv
>>>>>>>>
>>>
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