Glad this was useful! I, too, felt like a tech illiterate, but I'm slowly coming around. That's why I hope my explanations make sense, because I don't assume you are a whiz-bang ham nerd. I know what it's like not knowing anything. I will likely be making more videos on this in the future.
Great video. One thing I noticed. Your antenna has a wire fence right under it (and right next to the ends). This will disrupt your radiation pattern. Maybe make it into more of a NVIS antenna, maybe just make some weird lobes, can't say for sure, but in the future, I'd try moving your antenna away from the fence and use tent pegs and rope on the ends of the antenna. I've seen people put a piece of wire on the ground or just off the ground approx. 1/10th WL below a low horizontal dipole to enhance the NVIS effect, but the wire is not grounded and is 5% longer than the dipole. The fence may be why you are not getting the coverage you desire. It's more than likely is hurting the efficiency of the dipole. I have a very similar set up and I too found FT-8 and JS8CALL were a SOB to set up the first time and then to learn to use efficiently. I carry a homemade dipole and EFHF with me. It allows for different set ups and if one antenna fails, I always have a back up. Good on you for promoting Ghost Net.
Thanks for the suggestion! I've already moved my antenna around a few times trying to find the best configuration, and I'll admit, it feels like a kind of black magic. I know it's just physics, though ;)
Try to minimize your bandwidth on the GN frequency people sending out Snr requests and other useless emissions, your kit is great and you can be an asset on the network. Your antenna is configured for NVIS where your signal goes straight up and showers down over a region size area 100-500 miles with 230 being the sweet range the foF2 will give you the NVIS MUF” maximum usable frequency “ I do winlink messages from central WA to Olympia on 40m often 112 mi
Thank you, good example. I use TruSDx, long wire via tuner, old laptop and digirig. With 4 or 5 watts I have good results for a $200 setup. I've noticed when on 7.107 I still receive 7.078 signals?
That's awesome! I've played with a friend's TruSDX, it works great, especially for the price! I haven't noticed receiving 7.078 on 7.107, but as others have mentioned there is some interference from VARS and Winlink quite often.
What goes on at SSB in the USA by 6.3 to 7.0MHz? Here in Germany and Europe, like on 26-28MHz, things have become quite .. very quiet. Occasionally the Mediterranean pensioners can still be heard on their yachts at 13.950 to 14MHz
Yeah, I did the same. Someday I'll get it printed, laminated, and bound properly, but for now it keeps changing every couple months as it's still getting up and running.
It's a 12 Ah battery, and I generally recharge it after ~2 hrs of operation, though it could probably last 4-5 hours of operation, transmitting intermittently. I generally transmit at 80 W so it could last for quite a while at low power.
someone say free beer? lmao... checked out a few of yer vids and figured what the hell and stick around fer a few...as long as the beer is free anyways. 73
Yes, you can use JS8Call with pretty much any radio, even VHF/UHF bands, but it is most common on the HF band because of its ability to communicate long distance at low power.
So incredibly cool to a tech illiterate newb like me. Got into ham recently and this is my long term goal. S2 inspired me to get into comms.
Glad this was useful! I, too, felt like a tech illiterate, but I'm slowly coming around. That's why I hope my explanations make sense, because I don't assume you are a whiz-bang ham nerd. I know what it's like not knowing anything. I will likely be making more videos on this in the future.
Thanks for the vid! Nice seeing how others are doing it.
- "As always, fight in the shade"!
Great video. One thing I noticed. Your antenna has a wire fence right under it (and right next to the ends). This will disrupt your radiation pattern. Maybe make it into more of a NVIS antenna, maybe just make some weird lobes, can't say for sure, but in the future, I'd try moving your antenna away from the fence and use tent pegs and rope on the ends of the antenna. I've seen people put a piece of wire on the ground or just off the ground approx. 1/10th WL below a low horizontal dipole to enhance the NVIS effect, but the wire is not grounded and is 5% longer than the dipole. The fence may be why you are not getting the coverage you desire. It's more than likely is hurting the efficiency of the dipole. I have a very similar set up and I too found FT-8 and JS8CALL were a SOB to set up the first time and then to learn to use efficiently. I carry a homemade dipole and EFHF with me. It allows for different set ups and if one antenna fails, I always have a back up. Good on you for promoting Ghost Net.
Thanks for the suggestion! I've already moved my antenna around a few times trying to find the best configuration, and I'll admit, it feels like a kind of black magic. I know it's just physics, though ;)
@@CivilDefenseEngineer Physics IS black magic! 😅
Metal and glass soak up RF, so keep antennas away from them when possible.
I wish they would run that net on a diff frequency. It's right next to a Winlink node and often causes interference. QRP works great for this as well.
Thanks
Thanks for sharing. Looking into getting into this communication process.
Feels like I’m so far behind.
There is a cheaper way to get into doing this that I'm going to be making a video on soon! (the TruSDX) Stay tuned :)
I’m just getting into HF myself, but the QDX by QRP Labs seems like a decent intro to digital, price wise, if you can wait or assemble yourself.
The TruSDX is a great inexpensive QRP rig to tinker around with, too.
Very nice friend
Nice 👍
based
Try to minimize your bandwidth on the GN frequency people sending out Snr requests and other useless emissions, your kit is great and you can be an asset on the network. Your antenna is configured for NVIS where your signal goes straight up and showers down over a region size area 100-500 miles with 230 being the sweet range the foF2 will give you the NVIS MUF” maximum usable frequency “ I do winlink messages from central WA to Olympia on 40m often 112 mi
Thank you, good example.
I use TruSDx, long wire via tuner, old laptop and digirig.
With 4 or 5 watts I have good results for a $200 setup.
I've noticed when on 7.107 I still receive 7.078 signals?
That's awesome! I've played with a friend's TruSDX, it works great, especially for the price! I haven't noticed receiving 7.078 on 7.107, but as others have mentioned there is some interference from VARS and Winlink quite often.
What goes on at SSB in the USA by 6.3 to 7.0MHz?
Here in Germany and Europe, like on 26-28MHz, things have become quite .. very quiet.
Occasionally the Mediterranean pensioners can still be heard on their yachts at 13.950 to 14MHz
It's mostly old hams in their 60s rag chewing about their gear. I think the next generation is starting to change ham culture for the better.
What size did you print the ghost net booklet? I can not get the 4x6 size to print correctly, might just go full 8.5x11.5 size?
Yeah, I did the same. Someday I'll get it printed, laminated, and bound properly, but for now it keeps changing every couple months as it's still getting up and running.
How long does your battery last when sending long msgs like that?
It's a 12 Ah battery, and I generally recharge it after ~2 hrs of operation, though it could probably last 4-5 hours of operation, transmitting intermittently. I generally transmit at 80 W so it could last for quite a while at low power.
What brand solar panels are those?
Explorer, they come from Gigaparts. I'm making a video on 12v solar right now!
@CivilDefenseEngineer too bad they discontinued them :( their price versus a powerfilm was great. I missed out on them.
someone say free beer? lmao... checked out a few of yer vids and figured what the hell and stick around fer a few...as long as the beer is free anyways. 73
Please write up your configuration details
You're right, I should do that.
Is this possible with ftm6000r?
Yes, you can use JS8Call with pretty much any radio, even VHF/UHF bands, but it is most common on the HF band because of its ability to communicate long distance at low power.
@DTHRocket dude you rock! Been working with the radio i mentioned but am about ready to move to the next step.