In 1982 I took a course at HMCS Quadra (a Sea Cadet Training Camp in Comox, BC) Called Operations / Communications. Part of this course enabled me to write an exam for me to receive my Restricted Radio Telephone Operators Licence. This enabled me to get a summer job in the Communications Center of the Camp, and eventually be one of the course instructors in 1985.

in 1987 I received my Citizens Band (CB) Licence (XM1338458) and played a large part in the formation of an Organization called "ROARS" Radio Operators Association for Road Safety. (RAR002). This organization monitored Channel 9 on the CB Band on Vancouver Island in BC. Other Citizen Band Clubs I was associated with were; KWW881, BC952, MU010, BK002, G67, TI695 & 58XRAY1595. Most of these clubs were DX Clubs.

In 1989 I attended an Amateur Radio Course in Kelowna, BC with the Orchard City Amateur Radio Club and Received my Basic and then my Advance Certification for Amateur Radio. I played a very active roll in the Club especially in Packet Radio (I ran a Packet BBS for many years, Linked with a landline BBS called "The Amateur Link BBS"), APRS, Community Events, Club Newsletter & Club Executive. My Callsigns in BC were; VE7TGR (Used on Voice) & VE7RGJ (Used on Digital)

in 2001 I moved my family to Winnipeg and transfered my Callsigns to Manitoba.
VE4OK, VE4TGR and VE4GRJ replaced my BC Callsigns.

In 2004 I found that my employment did not let me have the spare time I needed to explore the hobby so I was only able to participate from time to time so in late 2004 I packed up my Station Equipment and tucked it away.

in 2010 I have begun to unpack and dust off the boxes of my equipment and get active with Amateur Radio again. My plan is to be a more active member of the local HAM Community. I have since re-newed my memberships in the clubs you see along the right side of this screen.

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VE4OK Station Equipment

For my equipment I choose Kenwood because of the built in digital capabilities and the way each of these radios worked together. I like the fact that the TS-2000 is an all-in-one rig including built in tuner.

Kenwood TS-2000 Base Station

The Kenwood TS-2000 is an all band HF/VHF/UHF transceiver with exceptional features and versatility. Wide band Main HF reception includes: 30 kHz-60 MHz. On VHF/UHF you get: 142-152 and 420-450 MHz. 1240-1300 MHz is featured in the TS-2000X model. Sub band (AM/FM modes only) reception includes: 118-174, 220-512 MHz. Output is 100 watts on HF, 6 meters and 2 meters. 50 watts for 440 MHz. A built-in TCXO ensures excellent stabililty. A back lit front panel makes operation easy in any lighting conditions. This radio features keypad entry plus RIT/XIT. The TS-2000 comes with the Kenwood MC-43S hand mic.

 

Kenwood TM-D700a Mobile

The advanced Kenwood TM-D700A dual bander allows you to harness APRS, GPS and SSTV technologies to provide world class communications. The new-generation mobile transceiver features a built-in TNC to offer a wide range of data communications options including simple packet operation using the AX.25 protocol. But above all the TM-D700A is fully equipped to make the most of APRS - Automatic Packet/Position Reporting System. And it can employeed as part of Kenwood’s Skycommand System II+ when used with the TS-2000 series. You will also enjoy wideband receive 118 MHz to 1.3 GHz (cellular blocked). This radio includes the MC-53DM DTMF backlit hand mic.

Kenwood TM-D7AG Portable

The Kenwood TH-D7AG Data Communicator is equipped with a built-in TNC (1200/9600) and provides APRS® (Automatic Packet/Position Reporting System). APRS® lets you transmit your coordinates to a friend who can then pinpoint your position using a map on a computer. You can input your latitude and longitude manually or connect a NMEA-0183 compatible GPS (not supplied) for automatic operation (Tx interval .5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20 or 30 mins). Other features include: CTCSS, 200 8-character memories, 10 DTMF memories, dual receive on the same band V+V (VHF only) and backlit keys. RF output is 2.5/2 watts with the supplied PB-38 battery, 5/5 watts with the optional PB-39 battery or 6/5.5W from 13.8 VDC. And the TH-D7AG can employeed as part of Kenwood’s Skycommand System II+ when used with the TS-2000 series.

 

 

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Packet Radio is a particular digital mode of Amateur Radio ("Ham" Radio) communications which corresponds to computer telecommunications. The telephone modem is replaced by a "magic" box called a terminal node controller (TNC); the telephone is replaced by an amateur radio transceiver, and the phone system is replaced by the "free" amateur radio waves. Packet radio takes any data stream sent from a computer and sends that via radio to another amateur radio station similarly equipped. Packet radio is so named because it sends the data in small bursts, or packets.

I ran a Packet BBS (VE7RGJ) using FBB Softwatre back in the 90's in Kelowna, BC. This Packet BBS was also linked to a Landine BBS (The Amateur Link BBS) using Mustang BBS Software and "DOORWAY" that enabled people to "dial in" and then depending on access be able to get out over the air onto Packet Radio. Unfortunatly when the Internet was opened to the General Public and
E-Mail became more popular this mode soon lost its interest.

However, Packet Radio is still alive for the few Hard Core Packet Operators on 145.010 Mhz. Packet Radio is also available via TELNET to enable better accessability.

My Packet Radio Address is: VE4OK@VE4BBS.#WPG.MB.CAN.NOAM

If you get a chance to be on Packet, Send me a message I would love to hear from you!

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Unlike packet radio, where stations connect to each other in order to exchange information, APRS operates in an unconnected fashion. All stations use a single frequency. On the VHF 2m band - the most commonly used band for APRS - APRS uses 144.800MHz in Europe and 144.390MHz in the USA. HF is also used, with many HF stations acting as gateways between HF and VHF creating the potential for a worldwide radio-based network.
Stations transmit their position reports, beacons, telemetry, messages and so on using unnumbered AX.25 frames for any other stations within range to hear. Other stations that receive the frames may retransmit them after inserting their callsign into the data. Stations that do this are called digipeaters. They are generally well-sited stations with a good coverage area that help to extend the range of low power mobile users.
Much of the information sent by APRS stations - beacons, position reports, objects, telemetry and bulletin messages - is not addressed to anyone in particular. Other information such as text messages are addressed to a specific station, which transmits an acknowledgement when it receives it. To try to guarantee reception, an APRS station will retransmit a message several times with an increasing delay between each attempt until an acknowledgement is received from the recipient station. However after several failed attempts retransmission will stop. Unlike with cellular SMS APRS has no mechanism for storing an unacknowledged message until the recipient comes on the air and is able to receive it.

I started to get involved with APRS in the mid 90's. The Internet was growing fast and Packet Radio interest was slowing. Because this was a digital mode for Amateur Radio I started to explore what I could do with APRS.

If you click on the logo to the left you will see the APRSactivity in Winnipeg in the past 24 hours. If I have been active on APRS in the past 24 hours you will see my callsign (VE4OK) show up on the map.

CLICK ON THE APRS LOGO
to see Winnipeg's APRS Activity

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Lately I have been exploring other digital modes of communication, PSK31 is fast becoming one of my favorite modes of Ham Radio Communication.

PSK31 or "Phase Shift Keying, 31 Baud" is a digital , used primarily in the amateur radio field to conduct real-time informal conversation. It uses the computers sound card to create tones to transmit on the radio via an interface cable . It allows many keyboard-to-keyboard conversations to happen in a small amount of bandwith.

On the screen you see what Amateurs call the "Waterfall" when you click on one of the waterfall lines you see the decoded text in another screen.

Other Modes that I have tried that are simular and use the same software is RTTY and Olivia.

RTTY stands for Radio Teletype which has been around for awhile, it uses a dual waterfall stream and seems to be slower than PSK. Olivia also appears slower but has less errors in the decoding process.

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