Announcing the RME on-air ham radio net

TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
Location
Lehi, UT
Congratulations to all who participated in our first official RME net! I personally thank each one of you for joining in the conversation. In the end, our attendance roster looked like this:

NM0AB---Dempsey (TurboMinivan) as net control
W7DMW---Dave (moab_cj5)
KI7TWF---Davy (mesha)
KI7BUY---Jared (iceaxe)
K7RLN---Ralph (not an RME member)

W6NDR---Nate (nnnnnate) also made an indirect appearance via text messaging; he was not able to program his radio in advance and thus he could not transmit to the repeater, but he was able to listen in. From a post above, it seems KJ7DCP---Lane (lhracing) also wanted to participate but was too far away for his handheld radio's signal to reach the repeater. One great thing about amateur radio is how we are always experimenting, always testing.

I consider this net very successful, for a few reasons. Most importantly, everybody got some practice keying up, identifying themselves, etc. Also, we did have a few doubles so we gained experience on how to react when that happens. It was also kinda like a relay with Nate coming in via text messaging; this wasn't exactly a radio relay, but it's close enough and I'll take it. I also want to make a special mention of Jared; he was using a Baofeng handheld radio--with its stock rubber antenna--from his home in Sandy, 18.5 miles from the repeater. Despite being across the valley, his signal was coming through pretty well and we were able to hear and understand him just fine. I was impressed.

I like that we had an impromptu guest, Ralph. He was just scanning around on his radio, heard our net in progress, so he stayed on frequency to keep listening and ended up checking in at the end. This was a great illustration of the friendliness of most radio operators, and also a reminder that these frequencies are public and someone else may be listening at any time.

In order to try to accommodate DAA, I suggested to the group that next week we meet at 8:30pm rather than 9:00. This was unanimously agreed upon, and thus I plan to start at 8:30pm next week. To all would-be participants, please make a note of it.

Thanks again, guys.
 

nnnnnate

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
WVC, UT
As Dave said I was listening on my HT but didn't have the station programmed on either that or my mobile. I've got chirp up now as well as my spreadsheet with the programming for my Yaesu mobile and I guess I have a couple questions about programming.

On the Yaesu side its asking for "rtonefreq" and "ctonefreq." Which one of those is the 88.5 and what is the other value?

On chirp for the baofeng uv5r the fields are totally different. I assume for "tone mode" tone is the correct choise and the ton is 88.5. Is there a tonesql or DRCS/DTCS RX code? Thanks. Hoping to get this set up and ready for next week.
 

TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
Location
Lehi, UT
I've got chirp up now

On the Yaesu side its asking for "rtonefreq" and "ctonefreq." Which one of those is the 88.5 and what is the other value?

Hmm. For my Yaesus, chirp only offers "tone mode" and "tone" so your radio is different from mine. You only want to use a tone on transmit, not receive. Pick one of them and use 88.5; make sure the other is set to no tone. Then test and see if you can wake up the repeater. If not, try the other one. <shrug>

On chirp for the baofeng uv5r the fields are totally different. I assume for "tone mode" tone is the correct choise and the ton is 88.5.

Exactly.

Is there a tonesql or DRCS/DTCS RX code?

Nope. However, don't worry about what data is in those fields--it doesn't matter. When 'Tone Mode' is set to 'Tone' the software ignores whatever values are listed under ToneSql and DTCS Code.
 

nnnnnate

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
WVC, UT
What software do you use to program your yaesu Dempsey? I have my xls file from when I did the first programming but can't remember what I used. I did some searching through the mega ham thread and can't find if I mentioned how I transferred that memory file.

edit: nevermind, i downloaded the yaeso adms-7 software and think i've figured that out again.
 
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DAA

Well-Known Member
I used Chirp for my Baoefengs and it didn't seem too difficult. But I used the RT Systems software for my Yaesu and it was even easier. It uses an SD card too though, which is even easier still, not having to mess around with a cable connection. I only used the stuff once for each radio though and it has been awhile, I'd have to learn it all over again to make any changes. I do have this repeater in there already, hopefully correctly.

Appreciate the accommodation for next week. I expect I'll be on the air. Will probably take a short drive from my house, as my driveway faces north and my house blocks Farnsworth pretty completely. I have been able to monitor the other repeater on Farnsworth from my garage, but have not tried to TX and suspect I'll have better luck moving a mile to the east.

- DAA
 

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
What software do you use to program your yaesu Dempsey? I have my xls file from when I did the first programming but can't remember what I used. I did some searching through the mega ham thread and can't find if I mentioned how I transferred that memory file.

edit: nevermind, i downloaded the yaeso adms-7 software and think i've figured that out again.


I've used Chirp for my Yaesu
 

TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
Location
Lehi, UT
What software do you use to program your yaesu Dempsey?

I also use Chirp for my Yaesu FT-7900R radios and my FT-60R handheld. Chirp does not yet support my new Yaesu FTM-7250DR mobile radio, so I've had to program that one manually so far. Thank goodness it isn't too difficult.

Glad to hear you've got things figured out, Nate.
 

moab_cj5

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
I can hear most of the conversations but cannot get to the repeater with my HT from Layton.
I found that to hit the repeater with my HT from West Kaysville, I had to be outside or near a window in the upstairs of my garage. I also had to be on high power, so pushing the full 5 watts.

I do have signal sticks antenna on my HT too. Are you using the stock antenna on your HT Lane?
 

lhracing

Well-Known Member
Location
Layton, UT
I can see the repeater antenna from my kitchen but did not try to go outside. I tried both my stock antenna and a Diamond SRH77CA, neither would hit the repeater. I also tried a Baofeng and it was a no-go also. It is interesting that can communicate on one of the other repeaters on the same Farnsworth peak 146.62 no problem. I know the programing is ok because I talked to Dempsey last week when I drove to Bountiful.
 
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nnnnnate

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
WVC, UT
I'm planning on 830 but am now fiddling with my radios to see if I can get them programmed correctly.

On my HT I can't get it to connect back up to my computer and can't tell if what I've done on the radio actually is working or not.
 

DAA

Well-Known Member
Cool!

I was sure I had this repeater programmed already. But, just checked, and I actually did not. Added it, manually - on the radio, not using the software. Seemed easy enough to do and it appears I am keying it up, from inside my garage no less. So hopefully I am good to go.

Dave, I have your cell, so if I didn't program it correctly and can't TX, I'll shoot you a text to at least let you know.

- DAA
 

DAA

Well-Known Member
On the programming... My radio has automatic repeater shift turned on and it appears that it is adding a shift. Dempsey didn't mention needing one, so not sure if I should try and turn that off or not. I am not 100% sure, as I'm so inexperienced, but I think I am keying up the repeater. It gives me back a little white noise when I key the mic.

So, anyway, like I said, not totally sure I have this set up right, but think so. We'll find out. Which is the whole point.

- DAA
 

nnnnnate

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
WVC, UT
I think it's supposed to be a minus shift and the shift is typically 600. On the baofeng I think that equates to 000.600.
I don't get anything back from the repeater to acknowledge that I'm hitting it though so I may be totally off. Did you get the 88.5 tone in there Dave?
 

DAA

Well-Known Member
Nate, yes, 600 is what it is automatically applying. Sounds like I don't need to mess with that.

I did add the 88.5 tone. On my Yaesu FTM-400, that was a two step process. One menu - Signaling - to set the tone to 88.5. Then another menu, in a completely different place to turn the tone "on" for TX. It's in the Function screen on mine - Squelch - which is set to "noise" as the default so I had to change it to "T-TX" to send it with transmit.

Then I added it as a memory channel.

Knocking on my wooden head I did that right!

- DAA
 

gijohn40

too poor to wheel... :(
Location
Layton, Utah
the off set is the two frequencies being used... one is the transmit and one is the receive. if they were both on the same frequency the repeater would have troubles. so yes you need the offset when working a repeater. some are - some + you have to watch that. if you set it to auto then it will do the work for you. Hope to be on tonight from Kaysville.
 
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