I live in upstate New York, I have a general class license, and this is my first time using Lemmy (or any federated social for that matter).
My mobile rig is a VR-N7500 "50W" VHF/UHF. It uses Bluetooth control from my phone, and it does APRS.
My QTH rig is a Xiegu G90 on a 40m EFHW powered by micro solar. I mainly do FT8, as well as a little VARA HF WinLink. (I'm a bit mic shy and my antenna setup isn't that great.)
I'm interested in POTA (and maybe SOTA).
Hope to meet some friendly folk!
25 Comments
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 3 pts · 3y
Welcome! This is my first experience too but I figured since I have the know how and the equipment, i might as well spin up an instance and contribute!
I have an interest in POTA/SOTA but im still trying to get my hf rig working the way I want.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
What radio do you have and what issue do you have? If you don't mind my asking
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
Xeigu X6100 and I'm having antenna inconsistencies. I think I've gotten my dipole sorted out. Just need to do a TX test. Now trying to figure out why my vehicle mounted whip wont cooperate.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
Maybe you need more bonding and grounding?
I know my setup isn't ideal in those regards. I bought some tinned copper straps, but I still need to install them.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
If you don't mind sharing, what know-how and equipment do you have in regards to Lemmy?
I like learning :)
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
Not at all! I actual have a few enterprise class Dell servers here at home that I host a handful of things on for myself and some friends. I have always believed in a more distributed internet and so when I learned about this project, I had to get involved.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
That's very cool!
It's cool to run servers at home.
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
Its not cool. Its very hot. Keeping them cool is a constant battle! haha
I enjoy it. Media server, home automation, virtual desktops, and now Lemmy!
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
For cooling do you use air, water, or both?
I want to run a home media server. Something like Jellyfin probably. Maybe a Minecraft server too.
I also interested in rolling my own VPN. So far I've just use an SSH tunnel for traffic tunneling.
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
I just use air cooling at the moment. I might have to get a little A/C unit for the closet though.
I run a Plex server, but I will likely be switching to Jellyfin soon.
Look into Kasm I am actually using it instead of a VPN because I can log into it, spin up a browser instance, and browse all of my local network with it directly in a web browser anywhere. I can also spin up a terminal in the browser and SSH into any box I need on my network.
For your hosting, I highly recommend Proxmox. It can do full on virtuals or containers and the interface is super easy to use.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
For a little while, I had a tiny web page running on a raspberry pi at my house.
I also used that raspberry pi for the SSH tunnel.
Raspberry Pi 1 B+
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
How do you do the VARA WinLink? It is something I am interested in playing with on VHF and HF. I think the X6100 can do it natively, but I have a digirig device for VHF.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
Personally I use a DigiRig with my G90. Laptop running WinLink Express<->VARA HF<->DigiRig<->Cables<->G90
I have heard of the X6100 running FT8 natively. I'm sure it could run some version of WinLink, but I'm not sure if it could do VARA specifically. Last I knew VARA (the modem itself) was Windows only.
If the X6100 uses x86, you could probably just use WINE. If it's something like ARM, you'd need WINE inside an emulator.
I imagine there's other options too, like packet/ARDOP/etc.
I have personally never done WinLink over VHF/UHF, although it is a goal of mine someday. (Doesn't help that the nearest VHF/UHF nodes to me presently are at least 30 miles away.)
Do you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help anytime!
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
Yeah I used natively wrong. I meant without needing something like a digirig in the middle. Connected directly to the computer.
I actually managed VHF Winlink using the digirif and a baofeng, but man it was unreliable. Going to try it with my mobile QYT KT908Plus and see if its any better.
I would love to use my linux chromebook and the X6100 box to make a mobile packet station, but im not really sure where to start.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
If you have a Linux distro installed, you could install Pat. It's an email client. It works with some of WinLinks stuff, if I remember correctly.
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
I used PAT for my VHF winlink. I like it!
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
If the X6100 runs Linux, it's possible you could install Pat onto it!
UnexampledSalt@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
I've seen people override the firmware and install linux on the X6100, but I am hesitant to do that with such an expensive radio.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 1 pts · 3y
Fair enough!
Still an interesting idea for possible future endeavors.
Inductor@feddit.de · 2 pts · 3y
Hi,
I live in Germany. I've had the Klasse E licence (equivalent to something between tech and general) for a few months now.
I'm using a IC7300 with a 10/15/20 tri-band dipole.
Also really mic shy, so I'm looking into POTA/SOTA because of the standard exchange.
I started using Lemmy a few days ago, also still fairly new to it.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 2 pts · 3y
Hello! Nice to meet you!
I recently bought arborist throw line for POTA use. It helps to get the antenna into the trees.
Might be worth a look, if you're interested in that. I bought from Weaver leather.
Inductor@feddit.de · 3 pts · 3y
Thanks!
I have neither the portable equipment, nor a nearby park for a POTA activation, so I think I'll try hunting first.
There are lots of mountains where I live though, so SOTA with a HT might work.
jtfletchbot@lemmy.ko4abp.com · 3 pts · 3y
Even with a HT, you'll probably have a blast on a summit. Line of sight for miles and miles could mean lots of contacts!