Looks like we had an honourable mention on the Brandmeister top talkers list. While it’s my callsign, this is the busy VK6-HUB group that has put this here. This is a screenshot from BM’s Top Activity app.
https://www.brandmeisteractivity.live/
This week in amateur radio I finally put the finishing touches on my 2015 VK5JST (Jim) VHF Aerial Analyser.
Originally I purchased this kit from Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society (AHARS) in 2015. But life and work got in the way and I have taken this long to get around to putting it together.
The kit was easy to assemble, setup and test using Jim’s instructions. All parts were included with clear instructions and diagrams. Here is a scan of the instructions that came with my kit:
The AA works very well and will be a mainstay in my kit for years to come.
A new improved version of the AA from Jim is now available for a very modest price including shipping – see the link below.
For those just starting out in the hobby, this bit of kit is an excellent way to get started in electronics with a project that will prove to be a very useful tool for building and testing antennas. Even with limited skills in soldering etc, if you have a good soldering iron, take your time and follow Jim’s instructions, you will have no issues.
Here are some details on setting up an automated recording system for AllStar Link nodes. The ground work for this has been done in app_rpt, but this script will assist in publishing the recordings making them more accessible.
The original script was from Joshua Nolton (KG5EBI) – Self Proclaimed Engineer on youtube.
Joshua’s post is here: https://dvswitch.groups.io/g/allstarlink/topic/recording_your_qso_s_as_an/32389801
I have modified his script to not cut off any currently recording transmissions and also to sort the recordings in to day, month and year.
The script can be added to cron to automate everything.
Firstly watch and follow the instructions in the above video, using the modified script below instead. Note that my script location and name may be different to the ones used in the video and you also need to install lsof.
You need to do the following:
You will need to install the following:
Bash Script:
#!/bin/bash
#This script can be safely added to cron to run every minute. It will not copy and convert the currently recording file as it checks to see if each .WAV is in use by using lsof.
#Required programs:
#lsof, rsync, ffmpeg. i.e. run "apt install lsof rsync ffmpeg"
#Set your node number here:
node=42688
cd /var/log/asterisk/recording/$node
for i in *.WAV;
do name=`echo "$i" | cut -d'.' -f1`
echo "$name"
if [ -z "$(lsof "$name".WAV)" ]
then
ffmpeg -i "$i" -codec:a libmp3lame -filter:a loudnorm -qscale:a 2 "${name}.mp3"
mkdir -p "/var/www/html/library/`date -d now +%Y`/`date -d now +%m - %B`/`date -d now +%d - %A`"
rsync -avP ./"$name".mp3 "/var/www/html/library/`date -d now +%Y`/`date -d now +%m - %B`/`date -d now +%d - %A`"
rm ./"$name".*
rm *.txt
else
sleep 1
fi
doneYour root crontab can have the following added to automate the whole process. Of course change the script location and name as required. This will run the script every minute.
* * * * * /var/log/asterisk/recording/encodepost.sh 
I’ve just built a basic node for use at my home QTH here in Kununurra. The node is made up of:
In and around Kununurra the node seems to give good coverage to about 5km from town.
The WIA National News and VK6 NewsWest will be broadcast on Sundays at 0900 and 1900.
The node will be connected to the VK6-Hub (42732) most of the time, so give me a call!
This week I have setup a windows VM on my server to run RMS Trimode fro the Winlink network. This setup is running for several HF bands. Details can be seen here.
The VK6 Hub now has a bridge to DMR on the Brandmeister network.
Node 42716 is bridged to Brandmeister Talk Group 505005. This node is generally connected into 42732 (the VK6 Hub), so you can talk to all the folks on that network via DMR.
Also listen via your web browser using Hose Line.
Feel free to use this at any time – the more active the better!
The News Hub can be listened to by using a VoIP client (such as X-Lite on a Mac or PC or Groundwire on a smartphone). This will allow you to listen from any device that has VoIP client. To connect:
Last month the Rottnest 70cm repeater came online (http://www.vk6uu.id.au/Rottnest-mark-2.html).
Getting into the repeater should have been easy for me at my QTH with nothing but water between, but due to some teething limitations of the new repeater a challenge has been set.
Firstly I tried my flower-pot dual-band antenna (pictured at the top of the mast) with no luck. Sometimes I could open the repeater, but that was about it.
Next I tried a home-brew 8 element co-linear. I could consistently open the repeater, and had reports of carrier with some modulation, but not enough to hold a QSO.
So then, just the kick I needed to build a Yagi! I settled on a modified design of the Bow and Arrow dual bander (http://www.radioaficion.com/…/1478-qbowq-and-qarrowq-satell…) utilising a gamma match to feed it, negating the requirement for a balun.
For less than $50, including mounting hardware, here is the result.
My first contact was with Will, VK6UU where my signal was reported to be a readable 5.
