LITMUS TESTS
By Paul Toth-NB9X
Every profession, every hobby seems to come with its own set of litmus tests as a means of measuring a person’s commitment to and competence with the endeavor. Ham Radio has had a number of these “qualifiers” over the years, some which newly licensed Hams probably never experienced.
There was a time when you could not earn a U.S. Amateur Radio license without passing a Morse Code test. Even an entry-level Technician Class licensee had to pass a five word per minute proficiency test to get on the air. If you wanted to upgrade to a General Class license, the requirement was the success with a thirteen word Morse Code exam. And Amateur Extra candidates had to score a passing grade on a twenty word per minute code test to earn the top ticket.
Some old time Hams maintained these Morse Code requirements kept CBers from getting into the ranks of Ham Radio and trashing up the airwaves with their use of “10 codes” and “Roger Good Buddy” lingo. I have heard worse language, much worse, from Hams who passed the Morse Code litmus test, once again demonstrating the fallacy of that filter as a benchmark.
Another litmus test was a Ham’s ability to build a radio from scratch, or at least from a kit you could purchase from the local Ham Radio Store. There are some radio kits still available if you want to make the effort. But it is less of a litmus test and/or rite of passage in today’s microprocessor-based world.
I would suggest a better measure of a Ham Radio operator is their command of the radio(s) they are using, their technical ability to construct a station that operates efficiently and enables clear communication and their grasp of written and verbal communications skills. Unfortunately, none of these qualities are incorporated into any of the FCC exams. And unlike Marshall McLuhan, who put forth the position “the medium is the message”, I would maintain it is how you use your Ham Radio technology that is much more important. “The message IS the message” even if all it is is “You’re 5-9, West Central Florida. Good luck in the contest”.
Know the basics. You wouldn’t use #18 wire for a twenty amp electrical circuit in your shack. Check the specs on your coax and use an appropriately sized cable when building your antenna system. Check your forward and reflected power. If the SWR is greater than 2:1, some adjustments are required.
If all you have is a portable radio (particularly one of the “cheap” portables), don’t expect to hit a repeater forty miles away with a clear signal, not even NI4CE. Concrete, metal, and distance attenuate radio signals.
Know what you want to say before you press the PTT button on your mic or radio. The goal is to convey information, clearly, concisely and conversationally. Find a mentor to help you. At the very least, take the advice of an Air Force MARS Training Officer I know, “Listen, listen and learn”.
LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
By Paul Toth-NB9X
It has been eighteen years since the NI4CE Repeater System began serving the Amateur Radio community of West Central Florida. February 24, 2001 to be exact. Back in the day, the two repeaters (145.430 and 442.950) at Verna were known as “Big Stick”, in part, because they operated from the tallest commercial broadcast tower on this side of the state. Only the Channel 6 tower in Homestead and what will soon be the Channel 14 tower in Osceola County are taller.
Many of the Hams who helped put the original “Big Stick” repeaters, either through generous financial support or what we call “sweat equity” are still with us and are still active on the repeater system. Others, sadly, have become Silent Keys. But their contributions to the success of the NI4CE system live on.
The equipment that made up the first repeaters at Verna has been retired and replaced (twice) with newer hardware. The Verna site also serves as home for one of three NXDN digital repeaters that are part of a separate, parallel “next generation” Amateur Radio repeater system. This NXDN digital system covers a major portion of the NI4CE analog system’s footprint. And like the NI4CE analog repeaters, the NXDN digital repeaters are linked full time to each other. In addition, you will hear Hams from as far away as Europe and Australia providing West Central Florida Hams with one more Window on the World.
When the repeater system went on the air, there were two primary objectives / purposes for NI4CE. One was to provide the newly created ARRL West Central Florida Section a dynamic, multi-county communications conduit to conduct Nets, provide emergency communications support and to help with Ham Radio education. Today, the Section still conducts a weekly Information Net, the nightly Eagle NTS Traffic Net and the Tech Net every Thursday evening to help get Hams answers to their technical questions.
The second objective was to provide trained Ham Radio SKYWARN severe weather spotters a one-stop communications link to report severe weather to the National Weather Service and to receive guidance and warning information from the NWS. NI4CE has been there for every major severe weather event. And as the NI4CE expanded, the objective was to build out a “mission critical” communications system that offered Hams in the Greater TampaBay area with multiple ways of getting into the system.
In the end, the NI4CE system is all about YOU, the Hams of West Central Florida who use the system occasionally or every day exercising the operating privileges that come with your Amateur Radio license. Whether you are experimenting with a new radio, trying to have a little fun, whether you are catching up some of with your Ham Radio friends or are part of an emergency communications response effort, the NI4CE systems are the glue that brings it all together. On behalf of the West Central Florida Group, Inc., thanks for your continuing support and for making NI4CE part of your Ham Radio life.
-Feb. 21, 2019
MAKING THE CASE
By Paul Toth-NB9X
For those of you who haven’t checked your calendar lately, it is time for the annual TampaBay Hamfest. This year’s event, as has been the case the past several years, will be held this Friday and Saturday at the Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City.
The West Central Florida Group, Inc. and our Board members will be there as well. And as has been the case for the last several years, we will hold our Annual Meeting on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. I would like to invite all WCFG members and non-members alike to join us. And if you cannot make the meeting, please visit us at the NI4CE Booth inside the Main Exhibit Hall. We will be there for both days.
This year’s Hamfest and WCFG Annual Meeting come at a crucial time for Amateur Radio. We will know by this weekend whether the FCC intends to boot Amateur Radio off the spectrum between 3.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz. As I noted in my last post, this spectrum is the last real swath of frequencies Amateur Radio has to develop a high speed, broadband digital capability of its own. Why is this important? The world has gone digital. And while Amateur Radio is lagging behind, it must be allowed to catch up to remain viable and useful.
If you haven’t visited FCC Part 97.1, here is why the Amateur Radio Service exists:
§ 97.1 Basis and purpose.
The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:
(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art.
(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.
(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique ability to enhance international goodwill.
The words above are Amateur Radio’s Mission Statement. To deliver on this charge, we must have the spectrum resources and the regulatory freedom to embrace technological change and modern engineering practices.
The FCC’s anticipated action on the 3.3 GHz issue this week is a setback (and all for the glory and promotion of the commercial “5G” gold mine). The Commission is also expected to render its decision on RM-11831. Should the FCC enact the rules changes it is considering, it will send Amateur Radio back to the communications “Stone Age” and relegate it to a footnote in history books.
By the way, if you have made the leap into NXDN Digital Ham Radio, we will have a LIVE and LINKED NXDN repeater operating on 442.150 MHz at the NI4CE Booth. And if you have never heard the sound quality of NXDN digital Ham Radio, we will have radios at the booth for a test drive.
-December 9, 2019
MORE 2020 MACHINATIONS
By Paul Toth-NB9X
It seems I am not the only Amateur Radio operator who OPPOSES the proposed fees recently put forth by the FCC. A scan of the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System webpage shows most of the comments placed on the site since the Comment Period opened last week feel the same way. Many of the comments called the proposed License Application Fee excessive and uncalled for. And they are correct! If you are a licensed Amateur Radio operator reading this and have not commented to the FCC on this proposal, I urge you to do so NOW. Open your web browser and go to http://www.fcc.gov/ecfs . The Docket Number is 20-270. And, as I previously suggested, send a copy of your comments to your elected U. S. House member and your two U. S. Senators. They are the ones who passed the bill two years ago mandating these proposed FCC actions. And they are the only ones who can fix what they have broken.
In the meantime, the FCC announced the results of the first in a series of Spectrum Auctions to open the “C Band” spectrum to 5G Cellular providers and BIG TECH. Among those who will be remitting over Four Billion Dollars for this spectrum are Verizon, the wireless affiliate of DISH Network and Spectrum Wireless. Of course, these folks don’t mind forking over the money because they will make it back many times over once they are on the air.
Also on the FCC’s September Monthly Meeting agenda is a new NPRM to sell off 100 MHz of spectrum between 3.45 GHz and 3.55 GHz. If approved, this NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) will permanently strip the Amateur Radio Service of its 9 cm band between 3.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz with no provision for assigning replacement spectrum, even on a Secondary basis.
This all begs to ask the question “Exactly WHO Is Benefitting From All These Actions?”. It is certainly not the Amateur Radio community. A license and set of rules that govern where and how we operate that, at least as long as I have had a license, has been fee-free will now come with a price tag attached to it. Add insult to injury, Hams are also doing the FCC’s job for them (with a few exceptions). Our assigned spectrum, with a couple of exceptions, is SHARED with other users, both licensed and unlicensed. And because the other licensed users are PRIMARY on the spectrum, we must accept interference from them. And now, even these SECONDARY assignments are being taken away to enable commercial interests to enrich themselves.
BIG TECH’s lobbyists have done a great job in Washington convincing a lot of people there is an overriding need to have everything “connected” to a Mothership. For those of you who are Star Trek fans, you will note that was what the BORG relied on to create their “collective”. Look at how well that turned out for humanity (and a lot of other biological species).
It is more than ironic the Cellular providers and BIG TECH are now burying fiber optic cable to enable all the additional bandwidth they are going to need to drive their newly acquired wireless capabilities. Maybe, just maybe, if they would simply install fiber to every home and every business, the consumer would have a secure, one-size-fits-all information pipe without cluttering up the RF spectrum to enable it.
-September 15, 2020
MORE ON HOTSPOTS
By Paul Toth-NB9X
Well, I figured there would be some reaction to my last article on the use of HotSpots to support Amateur Radio Digital Communications activity. But by some of the reaction I received, you would have thought I was suggesting the abolition of Amateur Radio.
“How dare you criticize my use of a HotSpot?” wrote one commenter. Another commented “If I want to build and use a HotSpot, I am going to do it. After all, this is Ham Radio where experimentation is perfectly OK.”
As a short-term “means to an end” solution, using a HotSpot will enable operators to use their NXDN, DMR, and P25 radios almost everywhere. Aside from a reliance on “commercial, pay-to-play” network services, both wired and wireless, it is a way to allow Hams to use these modes. But to grow the digital modes, to really make them part of the mainstream rather than just another Ham Radio sideshow, the Ham community needs to make a commitment, a long-term commitment to building out the digital repeater infrastructure needed in their area. Relying on commercial cellular carriers for the transport of a Ham Radio signal is not in the hobby’s best interest.
The FCC holds the future of analog VHF and UHF radio in its hand. We are still waiting for the other shoe to drop as the Commission moves towards its quest to squeeze more use out of the existing VHF and UHF spectrum. Their stated goal is to enable four “conversations” in the same bandwidth that used to support one conversation. The 2013 implementation of Narrowbanding-Part One has achieved half that goal. The other half remains in abeyance in part, because the Commission allowed Public Safety to use P25 Phase One emissions on VHF and UHF channels. P25 Phase One uses a 12.5 KHz emission making the “Ultra-Narrowbanding” of these bands to the stated goal of 6.25 KHz channels, at least on some level, impossible. But when analog emissions are finally phased out, Hams will be hard-pressed to continue analog operations for very long.
That is why it is in Ham Radio’s long-term interest to build and operate a digital infrastructure. Yes, the food fight going on in the industry between NXDN, DMR, Fusion, and D-Star make that more difficult. But remember, the FCC has already stated the ultimate goal is 6.25 KHz channelization for Land Mobile Radio. Ham Radio would do well to take its lead from that pronouncement and embrace the technology that gets us there.
Of course, HotSpots enable the use of low power, digital portable radios almost everywhere. But that’s because the cellular industry can afford to build out its massive infrastructure. Ham Radio, collectively, does not have that kind of money. Ham operators will better serve their interests by mixing portable radios with higher output mobile/base radios. This will reduce the cost of the infrastructure needed and reduce the dependence on non-Ham Radio infrastructure to have fun and serve the community.
MORTALITY
By Paul Toth-NB9X
One of the things the CoVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to consider is our own mortality. While humans are a species that is self-aware of our own demise, many of us rarely think about it, even when we pass certain age milestones that increase the odds we will pass into the great beyond. CoVID has made many of us, particularly those of us over the age of sixty think about our mortality a lot more.
But it may be more than our own self-existence that may be at stake in the age of the enemy we cannot see, at least not without a microscope. Amateur Radio may also be facing its demise, thanks to this little critter. You see, Amateur Radio, for all the good things it brings to life and our society, has one potentially fatal flaw: It is, by design, self-sustaining. Here is what I mean by that.
Yes, it is true. Any United States citizen, of any age, any ethnicity, and any socio-economic background, can become a licensed Amateur Radio operator. With very few exceptions or limitations, you can become a Ham. The process is quite simple. You have the desire, the motivation, and in many cases the intestinal fortitude to “go for it”. Many Hams, today at least, are self-taught. They purchase a Study Guide or at least a book with all the questions (and correct answers). Yes, there are some Ham Radio classes available and some groups of current license holders who teach prospective Hams all that they need to know to pass one or more Amateur Radio license exams.
But here is where these new, prospective members of our esteemed group may hit “the wall”. Ham Radio License tests are administered by Volunteer Examiners. Most VEs (but not all) hold an Amateur Extra class license and have gone through some additional training to conduct Amateur Radio Testing sessions in accordance with the rules set forth in Part 97. Those rules state a VE Testing Session must have at least three credentialed examiners present for each testing session. Large testing sessions may have more examiners to expedite the process. And just like Amateur Radio itself, a VE Testing session is a “contact” event.
Here’s the challenge in the age of CoVID-19. The vast majority of Volunteer Examiners (myself included) are members of the at higher risk “Over 60” crowd. We are among those in the population who, statistically, are most likely to be negatively impacted by “the bug”. What is unknown as U.S. society begins to re-open is just how many Volunteer Examiners over the age of 60 will be willing to risk their health and mortality to help keep the door open for new Hams to join our esteemed group. Amateur Radio needs a new generation of younger, talented Amateur Extra Class operators to step up and take the reins of Amateur Radio testing. At the same time, if you are under the age of sixty and have thought about upgrading your license to Amateur Extra Class so you can be a fully accredited Volunteer Examiner, now is a great time to crack the Study Guide and get it done. There is nothing like the satisfaction of being able to sign-off on a CSCE and a Form 605 for a new or upgrading Ham!
Ham Radio already has more than its share of challenges to overcome to remain viable. Let’s make sure a lack of VEs is not one of them.
-June 6, 2020
NARROWBANDING HAM RADIO – Part 1
By Paul Toth-NB9X
It has been fifteen years since the FCC proposed a fundamental makeover of the VHF and UHF Land Mobile Radio (commercial) bands. For those of you who may not be familiar with Land Mobile Radio, it is the part of the spectrum right above our Two Meter and Seventy Centimeter bands used by Private and Public Sector commercial users. The makeover proposed slicing and dicing the available spectrum to enable more users in both bands. The first step, implemented in 2013, saw all Land Mobile users migrated to either Narrowband Analog or some digital mode (e.g. NXDN, DMR, P25, etc.). All LMR users that used to have a 25 KHz channel now has half the bandwidth they used to have.
Those that chose to continue operating in Narrowband Analog mode, NBFM, quickly came to realize they got the short end of the deal. NBFM had some distinct downsides, not the least of which is a significant and noticeable reduction in RF coverage. In reality, most who chose NBFM gave up about thirty percent of their coverage footprint. In simple terms, if their 25 KHz signal was weak, their NBFM signal was probably non-existent. And areas, where coverage was OK, may now be marginal.
Narrowbanding has been proposed (but not mandated yet) for Amateur Radio VHF and UHF operations. At a time where repeater frequencies are hard to come by in many places, you might view Narrowbanding as a positive move. Narrower channels mean more frequencies will be available. More frequencies means more repeaters, right? Maybe, but at what cost.
Narrowbanding reduces channel bandwidth to 12.5 KHz. Two Meter channels between 145.00 MHz and 145.50 MHz are 20 KHz wide. Channels above 146 KHz are only 15 KHz wide. Unless you completely re-order the VHF band, the net gain in channels from Narrowbanding is ZERO!
In the UHF-seventy centimeter band, where channels are 25 KHz wide, Narrowbanding could result in some additional repeater frequencies becoming available. But not without a price in coverage. Remember, most Land Mobile users saw a thirty percent reduction in their coverage footprint when they went from WBFM (25 KHz) to NBFM (12.5 KHz). Now think about what that would mean if the repeaters you currently use lost their percent of their coverage. I guarantee you there will be a lot of Hams who primarily use portable radios who will be left out in the cold.
Most Ham Radio transceivers, portable and mobile, built in the last ten years will operate in Narrowband FM mode. But it is usually an “all or nothing” proposition. All your memory channels will operate in NBFM mode like it or not. Repeater operators would take the biggest hit if narrowband operation is mandated. Most legacy repeaters, particularly all those converted mobile radios, cannot be narrowbanded. Then, there is the coverage loss. If you were in the outer thirty percent of the repeater’s coverage footprint, well, you are now in the land of “white noise”. Remember, indoor coverage takes about a 30 dbm hit versus outdoor coverage.
And then, there is the reality of the marketplace. Repeaters are, for the most part, Land Mobile Radio products. Many commercial repeaters can be made to operate in WBFM mode with special firmware. But for how long? Now, factor in the economics of Narrowbanding. How many repeater operators will be willing to spend the money on new equipment? Narrowband Amateur Radio is not the answer. But what is?
More on this topic in my next post immediately below.
-July 28, 2019
NARROWBANDING HAM RADIO – Part 2
By Paul Toth-NB9X
Narrowbanding Ham Radio in the VHF and UHF bands in not a practical solution for a lot of reasons. Narrowband FM comes at an enormous cost for both the repeater operators and the repeater users in the need for new radio equipment and loss of coverage. And unless there is a major re-ordering of the Two Meter (VHF) band, there are no new channels to be gained.
We can lament the inevitable loss of Wide Band FM (WBFM). But that train has already left the station. So, what’s next? Is there a future for Ham Radio on the Two Meter (VHF) and Seventy Centimeter (UHF) bands?
The answer is MAYBE. I say that because of the driving force behind most things Ham Radio is the commercial communications marketplace. The introduction of cellular and smartphone technology has sucked up most of the oxygen in the room. Simply put, the marketplace and the technology is passing us by.
There has been a lot of experimentation in the Ham community with the several digital modes available. The West Central Florida Group began digital operations in 2007. Our first entrée was with ICOM’s D-Star platform, a technology of, by and for Hams. We stuck with it for about a year and walked away from it because of all its shortcomings.
We then migrated to NXDN, a mode created jointly in ICOM and Kenwood. We were attracted to NXDN because we felt it had the most to offer. The audio quality was really good, better than DMR. RF coverage was comparable to wideband FM. Unlike D-Star, it is easy to network. And the price for repeaters and end-user radio equipment was reasonable (unlike P25). Moreover, the underlying technology was exactly what the FCC was looking to have implemented in the Land Mobile Radio spectrum.
Unfortunately, Digital Ham Radio has not taken off, in part because of the continuing “Food Fight” that persists in the marketplace, the incompatibilities that exist between the several digital modes on the air and the unwillingness of government regulators (FCC) to stick to the roadmap they laid out for the two-way radio industry in 2004. None of the major radio manufacturers are actively pursuing the Ham Radio market with their LMR Digital offerings. ICOM is still promoting D-Star. Yaseu now has Fusion, or should I say “confusion” to muddy up the digital waters even more. And the influx of cheap Chinese imports, analog and digital (mostly DMR), further dilutes the market.
Ham Radio operators have created products like the MMDVM interface and NXCore networking software has demonstrated some creativity and ingenuity to address some of the “food fight” issues. Unfortunately, MMDVM relies heavily on leveraging commercial technologies (Internet and LTE) to make connections. That dependence detracts from the need to build a parallel, independent Ham Radio infrastructure. There is still development needed to make NXCore a complete product. It lacks the ability to support text messaging and individual calling.
There still is a need for “one to many” push-to-talk communications that does not rely on the “ginormous” commercial LTE, 5G and wired networks. I believe there is a need for portable and mobile radio products that will allow simplex and repeated signaling that enables digital voice and text messaging with a user interface similar to what is now available on most cellular smartphones. And I think enough Hams worldwide will buy into this technology if it is offered at a reasonable price point.
In the meantime, come join us on Wednesday evenings at 8:00 PM for our weekly TampaBay NXDN Net. There are six NXDN repeaters in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk Counties waiting to help you discover Digital Ham Radio.
-August 9, 2019
NEW DECADE, NEW TECH
(What Does It All Mean?)
By Paul Paul-NB9X
Now that the holidays are behind us and a new decade has begun, I thought it might be useful to shine some light on why there is such a need to allocate more unlicensed bandwidth for the general public (at the expense of Amateur Radio). But first, a little historical perspective.
Amateur Radio and RF experimenters were around at the beginning. They were the original explorers of the RF spectrum (and least on this planet). Without people like Marconi, Sarnoff, Bell and many, many others, we would not have the modern communications tapestry we have in the year 2020.
But while Amateur Radio operators are still pre-occupied with AM, FM, SSB and the like, the rest of the world has moved on and at lightning speed. Today, you are on the leading edge if your vocabulary includes OFDM and OFDMA. Speeds are not measured in “baud” but rather in “gigabits per second”. And new standards for over-the-air transmission of voice, video, and data and being set every day.
It has been just over twenty years since we were first introduced to the term Wi-Fi with IEEE standard 802.11b. It enabled data transmissions at 11 Mbps on thirteen channels at 2.4 GHz. It got the attention of Amateur Radio operators because people operating these Wi-Fi devices on Channels 1-6 (and without a license, I might add) were using spectrum assigned to the Amateur Radio Service. That was the beginning. Soon there would be a new standard (802.11g) and a new data speed (54 Mbps) not to mention a whole new standard (802.11a) for a new patch of spectrum in the 5 GHz band. And just like the original license-free products, these new licensee-free, Part 15 devices would operate on 5 GHz frequencies allocated to the Amateur Radio Service.
Fast forward to the present. While some Hams cannot distinguish between data compression and encryption, the electronics industry is bringing to market two new Wi-Fi standards that will leave 802.11n and 802.11ac in the dust. Say hello to 802.11ax for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands and 802.11ay for the 60 GHz band, no license required. Encryption and data security are fully legal. There are improvements with latency to provide smoother video streaming. And data rates are measured in Gigabits per second. WHOA!
Initial 802.11ax devices are already on the market, available to the general public with retail prices ranging from a mere $70.00 to as much as $450.00.
802.11ay devices are still under development and will likely be targeted at business and industry as a way to “connect the dots”, building mesh networks where the cost of deploying fiber is prohibitive.
Both new standards will have a very limited range, less than one thousand feet. But as more people clamor for 8K and 16K video, as more Internet-ready “smart devices” find their way into your home and the homes of all your neighbors, as Virtual Reality (VR) and video calling become the norm, the FCC and the communications industry are ramping up to meet the expected demand for bandwidth. Even things like email and SMS are going to seem archaic (frown).
Still, I can’t help wondering if we are not losing sight of the forest for the trees and other shiny objects. None of this stuff works when the next hurricane, tornado, earthquake or other such calamity visits the neighborhood. There still is a lot to be said for keeping it “simple”.
-January 4, 2020
NI4CE and Broadcastify
By Paul Toth-NB9X
During one of our recent SKYWARN severe weather nets, an operator came up on frequency asking if the NI4CE System had an Echolink node. It seemed he was going to be moving to a location (inside a building) where the signal from the nearest NI4CE repeater was weak. I informed him we had taken down both the Echolink node we used to operate as well as the IRLP mode. A couple of moments later, another Ham came up on frequency and suggested that operator use his computer to log in to a website called Broadcastify.com. NI4CE and everything transmitted on NI4CE can be heard there.
Well, this raised my antenna and got my attention because as President of the West Central Florida Group, Inc., the owner and operator of the NI4CE system, this Broadcastify thing was all news to me. I also checked with our System Trustee. He, too, knew nothing about this Broadcastify thing. So, what is Broadcastify and how does it work? A little research shows Broadcastify.com was created to stream audio products, primarily Public Safety Radio (Police, Fire, EMS) traffic. Consumers of these audio streams include Broadcast News Departments, Newspapers, “Scanner Heads” and others who are fascinated with the daily events going on in their communities. Because these digital audio streams can be accessed from anywhere there is an Internet connection, consumers are no longer restricted to accessing this information with a Bearcat or similar Police Scanner receiver. Gee, what a concept. Now you can use your computer or smartphone to eavesdrop on your local “Cop Shop” and Fire Department no matter where you are and all without having to invest in a Police Scanner or be within the coverage footprint of these radio systems. And, as an extra added bonus, you can also monitor the NI4CE Amateur Radio Repeater System without having to have a radio, too. In fact, when you go to the Broadcastify website’s NI4CE page, it looks just some something you would find here on our NI4Ce.org website. But the disclaimer at the bottom of this page contains the important “fine print” you should not ignore. NI4CE on Broadcastify is NOT AUTHORIZED by the West Central Florida Group, Inc. In fact, one could make the case their actions constitute a theft of “intellectual property”. No one from Broadcastify has ever contacted us to ask our permission to re-transmit the voice transmissions heard on NI4CE. As such, the “who, what, where and how” of their effort to obtain the audio from the NI4CE system is something of a mystery.
The West Central Florida Group, Inc. has gone to great lengths over the eighteen years we have been in operation to make the NI4CE system “mission critical” reliable. The repeaters and other electronics are on battery and generator backup power. The antennas at each site are sturdy “professional grade” quality. Our grounding and lightning protection is engineered to take a pounding so we can remain in service and on the air even through major hurricanes.
We have no idea to what lengths, if any, Broadcastify has gone to insure the viability of their audio streaming product. One other point that needs to be made. Even though NI4CE analog radio transmissions are “in the clear” and open for eavesdropping by other Hams and non-Hams, Broadcastify has taken that potential eavesdropping to a significantly higher level. We want you to be aware of this not only for what you say but how you say it. Now, you really can have no idea who may be listening. It might be gratifying to know that someone thinks what we do on NI4CE is worth sharing with the rest of the world, literally. But I have serious ethical issues with what Broadcastify and any accomplices they may have are doing. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should!
-April 28,2019
NXDN (Almost) Everywhere: Increase coverage with Hotspots
Part One: Introduction and Brief History
By Jason Triolo, KD4ACG
Several years ago, as digital modes were becoming more popular on Amateur Radio airwaves, we started to see a small number of Internet-connected devices arrive on the market. These devices were typically a USB stick, designed to connect to a Windows PC. They enabled a user to access a D-Star network, even if a D-Star repeater was not available in his/her area.
Over the years, much has changed. When these “dongles” first arrived on the scene, D-Star was still the predominant digital mode in Amateur Radio. Now, these devices have evolved to support virtually every digital mode that’s present in our hobby. These include not only amateur-only modes like D-Star and Fusion, but also modes adapted from the commercial realm, such as DMR, P25, and most recently, NXDN.
While their capability has improved, so has their portability. Thanks to miniature computers, such as the wildly popular Raspberry Pi, coupled with an inexpensive USB battery pack, and the nearly universal access to Internet/Wi-Fi, these hotspots now allow users to take their favorite digital modes almost anywhere. Digital users are no longer limited strictly to the coverage footprint of a repeater.
This means, you no longer have to leave the NXDN radio at home, just because you’re leaving the NI4CE coverage area. Now, you have a way to take NXDN with you, virtually anywhere you go.
(Pictured Left: Hotspot based on Pi 3, Right: Hotspot based on Pi Zero. Both have a .96-inch OLED display mounted to them, and are in clear cases purchased online. Part Two of this article will provide more detail.)
While we believe in the importance of full-power terrestrial repeaters, the reality is that not every digital mode has blanket repeater coverage in every part of the country, or in every building within a coverage area. Thanks to hotspots, all digital modes are now more accessible to more people in more places and can extend a user’s digital footprint when he/she travels. They are certainly a handy supplement to your digital communications toolbox.
In Parts Two and Three respectively, we’ll discuss the hardware and software that comprises a hotspot.
-November 4, 2019
NXDN (Almost) Everywhere: Increase coverage with Hotspots
Part Two: The Hardware
By Jason Triolo, KD4ACG
Now that you have a brief background on the concept of a digital hotspot, you may wonder what it takes to get started?
Of course, you’ll need a digital radio, which you probably already own. Ideally, the radio should operate in the digital mode that you plan to use. (In a future article, we’ll discuss this in more detail.)
The foundation for virtually all hotspots is a Raspberry Pi. Almost any model will work, from the ultra-compact Pi Zero to the more powerful Pi-3 or newer Pi-4 models. Although any model provides the same audio quality and on-air performance, those who prefer to have both wired Ethernet and Wi-Fi capability should opt for the Pi 3 or 4, as the Pi Zero only has Wi-Fi built-in. You’ll also need a microSD card for the Pi, which will hold the operating system and software for the device. The hotspot doesn’t need a lot of storage, so that old 8GB card that you probably already have lying around somewhere, can be put to good use here. For this application, it’s far more than you’ll ever need
Once you have the computer, it’s time to add the digital interface. There are many models available, from the commercially-made ZumSpot (named for the callsign of its creator, KI6ZUM), to imports and competitors like Jumbospot and Nex-Gen, to name a few. If you’re really skilled and adventurous, you can even build your own. Be sure to choose your device carefully, as some older devices (namely, the DVMEGA) do not support all modes, particularly NXDN. Further, the OpenSpot, which is not based on Raspberry Pi, doesn’t properly link to NXDN repeaters, just other hotspots. So, read the specs on any device before clicking the “Buy” button, to make sure it supports the modes you intend to use.
Assembly of the components is easy. The digital board simply attaches to the Pi, by way of the 40-pin GPIO connector.
As far as hardware is concerned, that’s all you’ll need. However, you’ll probably want to consider a couple of extras, such as a case (the standard Pi cases aren’t tall enough and lack a cutout for the antenna, but custom models and 3D printer templates are available online), or an external display. Displays can be as compact as a .96-inch monochrome OLED display, or as large as a full-color Nextion LCD display, which ranges from 2.3-inch to 4.0-inch.
If you’d rather not purchase and assemble the parts yourself, fear not. Many pre-assembled kits are available online (but where’s the fun in that?).
How much does it cost? Depending on the Raspberry Pi model you choose, the manufacturer of the board, and the accessories (display) you select, an entry-level hotspot starts at approximately $100. Even for a fully-loaded device, it’s hard to spend more than $250 for a complete package.
Now that you have the hardware, we’ll tackle the software in the next installment.
Editor’s Note: Jason will be at the West Central Florida Group, Inc. Booth at the TampaBay Hamfest on December 13th and 14th. We will have several NXDN radios and a live, working NXDN repeater in the booth. We invite you to stop by and find out more about Digital Amateur Radio.
-November 10, 2019
NXDN (Almost) Everywhere: Increase coverage with Hotspots
Part Three: Software and More
By Jason Triolo, KD4ACG
In Part Two, we gave a brief explanation of the hardware that makes up a digital hotspot. Hardware is only half the solution. In order for the hotspot to function, you’ll also need software. For most devices, it’s as simple as a free download.
One more note: This is by no means intended to be a full tutorial on the setup of a hotspot. There are plenty of resources available for detailed instructions, particularly on YouTube, social media, and the Pi-Star website. Those interested in setting up a device are encouraged to visit those sites for more detailed instructions and demos.
Virtually all hotspot hardware uses the MMDVM (Multi-Mode Digital Voice Modem) software, developed by Jonathan Naylor, G4KLX and others. While you can build everything on your own from the ground up, from the Raspberry Pi OS to the MMDVM software (and the author of this article has done that in the past), it is much simpler to install the Pi-Star software, available free of charge at http://pistar.uk. The software provides a hotspot user with a near turnkey solution, including the Pi’s operating system, MMDVM, and a robust web interface for viewing and managing your device.
If using an OpenSpot device, those units operate on their own software, not MMDVM. They are a notable exception in the hotspot realm.
Once Pi-Star is installed on the hotspot, the user simply needs to configure the device for the simplex frequency to use, as well as specific data for the modes that will be used, and enter unique data (callsign, user or radio ID, etc.).
For those who feel this approach is too “appliance operator-ish,” Pi-Star’s expert modes allow you full control of the device and software. If you prefer not to use the web UI for configuration, all of the files can be viewed and modified using Telnet or SSH. However, you’ll quickly see the advantages of using the Pi-Star UI, no matter what your skill level.
The download takes only a few minutes, and installation on your microSD card takes only a few more. In a short time, you’ll be ready to configure and use your hotspot.
If you opted for a Nextion display, you also have a wealth of options for screen layout. There are Facebook pages devoted to just Nextion screen displays for Pi-Star. There, you can find screen designs available for download, as well as resources to help you design your own custom layout. Screens can be as basic or as informative as you like.
There’s one last requirement for the hotspot: an Internet connection and almost anything will do. Since many phone plans offer tethering, many users have their own Wi-Fi wherever they are. Otherwise, any Wi-Fi hotspot or wired connection (on Pi 3 and 4 models) will work. Normal use of the hotspot consumes very little bandwidth.
Now that you have the hardware assembled, and the software configured, and you’re online, you’re ready to get on the air. In the next part, we’ll cover some of the things that can be done with a hotspot, including mode interoperability.
Editor’s Note: Jason will be at the West Central Florida Group, Inc. Booth at the TampaBay Hamfest on December 13th and 14th. We will have several NXDN radios and a live, working NXDN repeater in the booth. We invite you to stop by and find out more about Digital Amateur Radio.
-November 17, 2019
NXDN (Almost) Everywhere: Increase coverage with Hotspots
Part Four: Use and Interoperability
By Jason Triolo, KD4ACG
After configuring the hardware and software on your new hotspot, and getting it connected to the Internet, you’re ready to get on the air.
Exactly what you can reach from the hotspot, depends on the digital mode you’re using. Each mode provides access to talkgroups or reflectors that are native to that mode. NXDN users have access to our most common talkgroups, such as 1200 and 65000, through the use of reflectors. These are third-party interfaces that provide a link between the talkgroup user, and the NXDN network. Through this system, NXDN hotspot users can communicate with users on traditional NXDN repeaters. A current list of available reflectors can be found at www.nxdninfo.com. Simply program your radio to the simplex frequency that you defined in the hotspot, tune to that frequency and talkgroup, and begin transmitting. You’ll be connected to the NXDN network automatically.
While reflectors provide a gateway to the network, there are still limitations. Not all talkgroups are joined by reflector, and there is no support for private calls or text messaging. However, for those times that you want to join a QSO on the repeater network, or participate in a net, the reflectors enable you to join the conversation.
One of the long-standing concerns among users and non-users of digital modes, is the lack of interoperability. DMR radios aren’t directly compatible with Fusion radios, which aren’t compatible with NXDN radios, and so on. Recent advances in hotspots are helping to bridge the gap between modes. This happens in two ways: First, some talkgroups are connected to multi-mode reflectors, which allows users of different modes to connect to a talkgroup in their native mode, and the digital audio is transcoded into one or more other digital modes. This allows communication between all modes, including D-Star, which is usually left out due to the differences in its codec. The other method is through the hotspot itself, which can handle some of the cross-network routing for you. Fusion users can cross-link to DMR, P25, and NXDN, while DMR users can cross-link to Fusion and NXDN. Expect to see more cross-mode compatibility over time, as development is a continuous process. This can be useful, particularly in emergencies. Barring the loss of Internet connectivity, it enables more people to stay connected, no matter what radio they own.
The growth and popularity of hotspots have truly created a “go-anywhere” solution for your favorite digital modes. Being out of repeater coverage, doesn’t mean you have to be out of touch.
If you’re planning to attend the Tampa Bay Hamfest, look for the NI4CE booth, where we’ll have both repeaters and hotspots on display.
-November 23, 2019
NXDN HAM RADIO:
It’s All About Choices
By Paul Toth-NB9X
For those of you who have discovered Digital VHF-UHF Ham Radio, particularly NXDN Ham Radio, you know just how good the audio quality is. You know the number of Talkgroups and other features that come with your NXDN radio are growing, allowing you to talk (and soon text) to many places in Florida, the USA, other portions of North America and, for that matter, the world.
For those of you who haven’t discovered NXDN Ham Radio, good news! You live in one of the most NXDN pro-active locales in North America. A growing number of Hams are wrapping their arms around NXDN as their digital mode of choice for communicating with other Hams across the street and Hams in my other places far removed from West Central Florida. And here is why.
The TampaBay area is blessed to have several high-profile NXDN repeaters on the air. If you can currently use any of the NI4CE analog repeaters, you should be able to access one (or more) of the NXDN repeaters. These digital repeaters are co-located with the NI4CE repeaters at Verna, Riverview, and Holiday. There are also NXDN repeaters in Pinellas and Polk Counties that provide fill-in coverage and extend the coverage footprint further East toward Orlando. Unlike some other digital modes, there is no loss of coverage when you compare an NXDN repeater to a comparable Wideband FM repeater. In fact, coverage is usually better!
Now, here is a BIG benefit that comes with NXDN. Thanks to NXCore, the glue that holds the network together, each repeater can be part of a larger, connected multi-repeater network, like the NI4CE analog system. But unlike the NI4CE analog system, each repeater can, on-demand, break off from the larger network to operate on its own. This granularity can be very LOCAL when one repeater is all you need to conduct a QSO or pass text messages. Or a specific repeater can be joined, on-demand, to another NXDN networked repeater that maybe half a world away. An automatic timer brings the disconnected repeater back to its default “1200” Talkgroup when the distant QSO is over.
Another big advantage of NXDN is voice clarity. FDMA modulation, coupled with digital processing that substantially reduces background noise (such as road noise when you are mobile) puts NXDN in a class by itself. And NXDN’s technical features makes you and whoever you are communicating with much easier to understand, particularly in high ambient noise environments.
The TampaBay Area NXDN Repeaters connected with NXCore also provide connectivity with NXDN Hotspots. These are very small pico-computers that connect to the Internet to provide personal-sized footprint coverage when you are out of range of a repeater.
NXDN Ham Radio is a great alternative for operators who have moved into Deed Restricted communities that don’t allow outdoor antennas. NXDN allows you to make DX contacts with a portable radio and a LOCAL repeater.
NXDN portable and mobile radios are readily available from ICOM and Kenwood Land Mobile Radio dealers. No surprise, if you cannot find one locally, there are also lots of online dealers. Some second-generation radios also support GPS and Bluetooth connectivity for voice and data. There is also a USED radio market out there for NXDN radios that have been replaced by newer, second-generation product.
Ham Radio is all about making CONTACTS! NXDN Ham Radio is a great way to do it.
-October 29, 2020