[OZAPRS] HF

[Chris Herd]

On 30/05/2010 10:02 a.m., Howard Small wrote:
> Thanks for the feedback guys. Just got back from a morning Quad Bike
> riding so ready for a sleep now but then saw the posts and figure APRS
> comes first!
>
> The HF radio I am using is an ex-military PRC319 so there are very few
> (like no) adjustments. I have just started the set beaconing on 30metres
> using TUNE and will shortly change that back to APRS,GATE,WIDE2-1. No
> response from the tune beacon. By the way, the TT3+ is set to 300baud.
>
> I am guessing that it can be one of three things:
>
> 1.  the antenna I am using (a broadband HF dipole that is hooked on my
> 17 metre tower at one end and a tree about 10 metres the other) is not
> up to scratch;
> 2.  the transceiver is off frequency (but I doubt that as I have sent
> and received data messages with it using its Electronic Messaging Unit
> at 300 baud and 1200 baud which would not have worked if both sets were
> on different frequencies);
> 3.  it is probably not appearing on aprs.fi and findu as it is not
> beaconing a position correctly. I say this as I set it to 1200 baud and
> hooked it up to a VHF transmitter and beaconed to my D7A. The position
> info appeared as a beacon text instead of position - I did it as per the
> instructions !nnnn.nnE/nnnnn.nnS- and also tried ! and # but neither
> worked. Doing it as ! and # works on my FoxDelta digi.
>
> Advice re 3 would be useful. Re the others, I can try another PRC319 and
> a BCC39B to see if they work. I can also try a set in the mobile
> installation and see if that antenna (auto ATU for the PRC319 and 9foot
> whip) setup works better.
>
> So will persevere ...
>
> Howard
> VK4BS
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>    
Hi from VU land.

When I first got into APRS I experienced the same things as you.

I dont know what your setup is but suggest the following.

Set up your TNC as dumb as possible, ie fixed position, fixed beacon 
burst, etc

Set it to run into a dummy load with a bit of a leak and listen to the 
RF out via another RX, listen fror the classic squawk noise, adjust 
drive into the microphone until you can hear it.

Next find some one who can monitor a gateway somewhere decrease the 
beacon time to 10 secs and test for a short period (if this is too long 
you will upset a few folks so take care)

Once your mate can see your packets back off the beacon timer then add 
back the clever TNC features and monitor the effect via aprs.fi

Best of luck

Chris
zl2tch de VU