Sunday, February 20, 2022

Winlink over the Mesh

 ** General **
Keep track of messages on ICS-309.

** Connect mesh node to mesh (CH 179 seems like a good one to start with) **

** Winlink Express **
Open session: Telnet P2P

Add station
Name: person's callsign or name
Password: leave blank
IP Address: IP address of the recipient (from Windows' ipconfig or Linux's ifconfig)

Compose a new message
Select Template
Standard templates
ICS USA Forms
ICS213.txt
Include message number at start of subject

Can leave "Telnet P2P" session running and listening while drafting a new message. Will need to close session to switch to Winlink Post Office (on the mesh) session.

** Pat **
pat configure
listen: ["telnet"]
telnet, listen port: ":8774"

Will automatically listen once pat webserver is started with pat http

Action: Compose
Template/form
ICS USA Forms
ICS213
Include message number at start of subject

Action: Connect
transport: telnet
target: wl2k
address: <yourcall>:CMSTelnet@<IP address of recipient>:8774
Radio only: unchecked
Alias or pat connect <URL> uses URL: telnet://<yourcall>:CMSTelnet@<ip>:8774/wl2k



Saturday, February 12, 2022

Portable HF kit

When I go backpacking, I try to bring an HF station for SOTA or general fun. My equipment tends to include:
  1. MTR-3B transceiver (20/30/40m, CW only, 5W)
  2. QRPGuys No-Tune EFHW (end fed half wave) antenna (see construction notes below) with accessories:
    1. 5x Tent stakes
    2. Fishing pole
    3. Pole guying kit (homemade)
  3. 3 Ah Bioenno 12V LiFePO4 battery with:
    1. Power cable for MTR-3B with powerpole connectors
  4. WhiteRook MK-64 mini paddles with:
    1. 3.5mm TRS audio cable for paddles
  5. Headphones with inline volume adjust slider
  6. 50' paracord (for lashing the pole to a fence post) with:
    1. Small zippered bag for rocks (for throwing over a tree branch)
  7. Tiny notebook for recording what I hear
  8. ARRL Minilog for recording confirmed contacts with:
    1. (2) pens
  9. 25' coax cable with BNC ends
  10. Mini portable mono speaker with:
    1. Included 3.5mm audio/charge cable
Center/top of antenna includes a 3D printed 1.5mm assembly: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/gWuzJ9P9X1z-telescopic-pole-holder-15mm-hole

Pole guying includes a 3D printed 10.5mm assembly: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/eVDi0VG4UBt-telescopic-pole-holder-105mm-hole