[AReU] Recap of July AReU meeting

[Terry Petrash]

Hello Everyone,

We had another great AREU meeting with another fine group of
attendees.

This past meeting had Dan, W2NDP, and Gregg, N6ZUE, putting on a
super RTTY demonstration.  Here are a few of the highlights:

Dan first set up his station consisting of a laptop running
MMTTY freeware, Icom HF transceiver, Rigblaster interface, coax,
and a vertical antenna on a portable tripod.  Gregg had his
laptop running MMTTY with a Buxcomm interface tied into using
Dan's station equipment.  

The equipment was first setup and tested before the meeting and
worked fine.  But, as Murphy's law would have it, by the time of
the demonstration, a very strong interference signal was
blanketing most of the HF spectrum and blocking almost all
incoming signals.  However, this didn't stop Dan's presentation.
 He had Steve, KS4WA, standing by in the local neighborhood at
his station, ready to act as a live demonstration station if
needed, and he was needed!  

The demonstration proceeded with that little speed bump very
successfully.  Dan showed various parts of the program operation
and how text information was exchanged back and forth.  Then
Gregg connected up showing similar performance with an
alternative interface, the Buxcomm verses the Rigblaster.  Both
worked fine and the merits of each were discussed among the
group.

Our thanks go out to Dan and Steve for a great demonstration.

Later it was found out that from that from the time of the
original equipment setup to the actual demonstration the sun had
set.  With that the Mercury Vapor parking lights came on which
were located almost over the antenna.  It was determined that
this was the source of the interference that blocked out most of
the HF incoming signals with noise.  Keep that in mind the next
time you might encounter a similar situation.  Look up and see
if some street lights aren't blocking your incoming signals with
a strong noise blanket!

The free table was set up but, apparently everyone had more junk
than they needed at that time.  So, what was offered was taken
back for a future time.  Remember, if you have something you
want to pass along for free, just bring it to the meeting and
put it up for offer on the free table.

Anyone interested in further information on what was presented
can click on the following links for more information.

Rigblaster equipment: C:\Ham\Code\West Mountain Radio -
RIGblaster Product Comparisons -.htm

Buxcomm equipment:   http://www.buxcomm.com/

MMTTY software: http://mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/


Our next gathering is scheduled for Tuesday, next week, August
1st.  

Hope to see you all there!

73
Terry Petrash
WA4BYK


 

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