I’m off the air for a little while as I get the new shack in shape (after “she who must be obeyed” finishing touch list is completed).

Thanks go out to Pat Farrell my carpenter, without whom the project couldn’t be completed and Paul Lux, K1PL, for his electrical work and making my life more interesting figuring out all the three way switches and light dimmers!

If all goes according to plan (that would be a miracle!) I should be emitting RF for the ARRL 10 meter test in December.
(Note: 14-DEC-2010, well the 10 Meter contest didn’t happen, so much for the “plan”!)

Also sorting, purging and putting the shack back to together after 25 years at the old location has proved to be a challenge and exercise in archeology as I unearth items from the past that I lost or where forgotten.
I guess that I found out how to fill a 20 yard dumpster to maximum capacity!

73, K1PU

This past weekend, the W1VLA D-Star repeater stack got it’s internet connection for linking into the national D-STAR network.
Bill N1JBS and Mark K1PU (Phil WB1EXV lending moral support and the occasional tool hand up), fought off yellow jackets and other stinging insects that started to “wake up” with the warmer temperatures, to install both ends of a secure wireless link.

The W1VLA Repeater, located at the Rocky Hill CT Fire Station #2, is just 400 feet from K1PU’s work location, the “near end” of the link, so the link budget was a “No Brainer”. Signal margins look excellent and the whole link is connected to the first router in the network. Latency test end to end are in the order of 1 to 2 mS so there should be no problems the connection to the local Cable Company Internet service.

The Fire Station is connected via the town-wide network, but with discussions with the town, it was easier for the group to get an independent internet connection and not leave any “finger prints” inside the town network, and we’ll have better control over other network performance parameters with our own connection anyway.

Bill N1JBS is putting the final touches on the computer, loading the new software and NIC drivers, and we hope to have the system liked up by April 1st.

The W1VLA repeater uses ICOM brand D-Star repeater modules for Digital Voice on 2m and 70cm.
Frequencies are VHF 145.27Mhz -600 Khz and UHF 444.150Mhz +5 Mhz

Internet connection and the link equipment are donated by K1PU’s “Day Job”.

Mark, K1PU

Al Cohen, W1FXQ, a “well known” personality for more reasons than just Ham Radio, celebrates his 92nd Birthday today January 16th, 2010.

Happy Birthday Al !

Mark, K1PU