[aprssig] 6M APRS via meteor scatter forum?

Sun Oct 15 07:11:21 EDT 2017

 Hi Ron,If you are interested in specifically using APRS for MS on 6 meters, you will need to setup both ends of the path, just as you have done.  There is little-to-no 6 meter APRS activity on 6 meters to use as a "base".
Operation requires a transceiver and/or amplifier that is capable of 50% duty cycle (use a Fan!).  One station will TX for 15 seconds while the other one RX's.  Clearly, you must coordinate TX and RX intervals.

The more power you transmit, the easier it is to make a contact (a general principle that transcends MS-specific communication).
Some degree of success has been had with as little as 25 watts + 10 dBi antenna (250 watts EIRP) at 6 meters.
Success is largely defined within the "time dimension" (being able to operate for long periods of time).  Since everything is computer controlled, it is possible to select a seldom used frequency and let it run over night...taking advantage of the spike in MS ionization that occurs from 3 AM to 9 AM local time.  This works well if you are allowed to run under "automatic control" (like an FM repeater does) rather than being forced to have a human operator present at all time.

FM APRS works well.  So does the SSB mode.  You can experiment to see which provides a superior experience.
'hope this has helped as a bit of a primer.

Best regards,Ev, W2EV

    On Saturday, October 14, 2017, 8:21:12 PM EDT, Ron VE8RT <ve8rt at yknwt.ca> wrote:  

 Hi,

  I've re-joined the APRS SIG forum.

  And I'm doing a little shopping for 6M gear.  I have a FT 726 that
is being shipped to me from the US, Joel at RF Connection offered it to
me for free, along with additional modules, and manuals, for the cost
of shipping.  And I have a new in the box Cushcraft 5el yagi thats been
in the back shed since I bought it.  With short coax run up the tower I
should be fine without a masthead preamp.

  The National APRS Meteorscatter test that Bob mentioned would be
interesting to look at.  Of particular interest is the useable range,
we need a thousand kilometres to get into Edmonton from here, the
closest major city.  This part of the Northwest Territories is
relatively flat, the Yukon on the other hand is mountainous and I'd
like to know how well this would work in the mountain valleys. 

  Yuuri, VY1YU / JS6SHS, who ran the earlier HF propagation
experiments has been e-mailed to see if he'd be interested in trying a
MS APRS experiment.  He's gotten back to me and is interested in
setting up some tests.

  What additional hardware, other than the transceiver and antenna,
should I have to try this?  I've been tinkering with Arduinos, Cory had
mentioned earlier, but I'm not sure where they fit in.

  If there is anything that I need to buy out of the US I'd like to
get it ordered and on it's way to Joel at RF Connection to have it
included in the package he's sending me.

  Thanks for your help!

        Ron VE8RT (30M WSPR as VE8TEA)

On Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:45:45 -0400
Cory Vickruck <crvickru at lakeheadu.ca> wrote:

> Also I would be happy to setup an igate for him to test. I think I might be
> just out of range however. I am in thunder bay Ontario
> 
> 
> On Oct 12, 2017 4:31 PM, "Cory Vickruck" <crvickru at lakeheadu.ca> wrote:
> 
> > After reading a bit more about the topic I am interested in trying it out.
> > How much power would be enough for reliable packets at 6m APRS?
> >
> >
> > On Oct 12, 2017 2:36 PM, "Cory Vickruck" <crvickru at lakeheadu.ca> wrote:
> >
> >> Could PSK-31 be a option? Maybe fsq would be a good option as it can be
> >> interfaced with an Arduino.
> >>
> >> On Oct 12, 2017 2:12 PM, "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga at usna.edu> wrote:
> >>
> >> We have had great success with APRS Meteor Scatter on 6 meters, but I have
> >> not done it since 1996?  Maybe its time for some new blood.  Let me see if
> >> I can find the results of our first National APRS Meteroscatter test.
> >>
> >> Everyone, meet Ron, VE8RT who needs to communicate probably by APRS using
> >> Meteorscatter from the great Northwest...  He currently is not on the
> >> APRSSIG and so reply here so we can see the interest, and I will forward
> >> any useful replies to him.  Bob, WB4aPR
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Ron VE8RT [ve8rt at yknwt.ca]
> >> Subject: 6M APRS via meteor scatter forum?
> >>
> >> Hi Bob,
> >>
> >>    I'm looking for a forum, if there is one, on meteor scatter and APRS.
> >> I'm one of less than a score of active amateur radio operators here in the
> >> Northwest Territories of Canada.  The majority of amateur radio activity
> >> is here in Yellowknife (the capital), with distances of over a thousand
> >> kilometres seperating some of us.  HF propagation is generally poor and
> >> unreliable, so I'm looking into 6M meteor scatter APRS or other digital
> >> modes for emergency communications.
> >>
> >>    I had joined the TAPR APRS SIG forum for a few days, having posted my
> >> introduction and my interest in meteor scatter APRS, but it didn't
> >> generate any replies (so I unsubscribed).
> >>
> >>    Would you have any suggestions?
> >>
> >>    Thanks,
> >>
> >>            Ron VE8RT in DP22
> >> --
> >> Ron VE8RT <ve8rt at yknwt.ca>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> aprssig mailing list
> >> aprssig at tapr.org
> >> http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig
> >>
> >>
> >>

-- 
Ron VE8RT <ve8rt at yknwt.ca>
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