WICEN Vic: WICEN Digital Playground (last night)

Sat Sep 4 07:23:26 CDT 2021

Hi all,

Yes, thanks Mark for putting the evening on. Some challenges were found, 
and some met.
It certainly showed up a number of difficulties and enabled some 
targeted investigations.
My own case, I could not get Vara FM to PTT my Tcvr. I use a hardwired 
PTT with my IC706IIG.
I have since found that the HF & VHF TX is on different pins on the ACC 
plug.

All Winlink HF Gateways should be fairly equal - just distance & 
conditions can cause variation. John 3ZRX
would be able to say a lot about NVIS propagation. Thats why a well 
spaced number of Gateways
around the State and Country is very helpful. Also, Gateways with a 
number of bands.

You can set RMS Express to inform you if an update is available, and 
enables you to cancel an install if desired.
It will nag next time you run. Always good to have that OFF - its the 
last thing you want out in the field!

As for congestion - Im thinking a Zoom or Email or Text or other checkin 
system at the start of the net...
Control station collates Callsign, Frequencies & Modes and where traffic 
directed. Then an allocation list is sent back.
Reasonable time is allotted for each attempt. Move on if problems - get 
through the list, then at the end, retry
if adjustments need testing.  Zoom active throught the period.

IE:      19:30 - 19:35  VK3MDH - VK3DPW Gateway - 80 Mtr  - Vara HF  - 
Winlink Message - Message to datagrp at vic.wicen.org.au
           19:35 - 19:40   VK3LSN   - VK3MIT  Gateway -  80 Mtr  - Vara 
HF  - Winlink Message - Message to datagrp at vic.wicen.org.au
           19:40 - 19:50   VK3MDH - VK3LSN                   - 144.2     
- VaraFM - P2P   - long text message (50 words).
           19:50 - 20:00   Vk3EQ     -  VK3YYF                   - 
144.2     - Vara       - Chat - Long text message (50 Words)
           20:00 - 20:10   VK3DPW - VK3MDH                 -  80 Mtr  - 
Vara HF  - P2P  - Message with attachment.

Id like to do some more testing re: being able to read messages not 
directed to you.
It may be just the handshaking and the message &/or attachment is not clear.

Anyway, thats my thoughts for now. I must look into Slack on the PC.

Thanks

Paul Whitaker. VK3DPW

On 4/09/2021 5:58 pm, Mark Hudson wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Many thanks to all those who were able to participate in last night’s 
> digital session. It was an enjoyable evening with lots of excellent 
> discussions held on Zoom. Had my hands full running Zoom and the two 
> systems keeping the stream going but I think we got there in the end.
>
> I finally got my 2M Winlink system working after many had left Zoom. I 
> further tested Winlink P2P today with Rik, VK3EQ and it worked 
> flawlessly. I’m sure my list below can be further expanded and I’ll 
> upload it into *Slack* under the Winlink channel. Please add your own 
> comments / thoughts in Slack so others may have later all our 
> collective thoughts in one place.
>
> I was hoping next Friday evening we do something similar if there is 
> interest. This will allow others to join us, to test or retest our 
> systems, theories and share ideas. If anyone has any idea’s how we 
> could run the 2hr session please let me know then mid next week I’ll 
> issue the Zoom log in details and how we will structure the exercise 
> for next Friday evening.
>
> The aim is  to see how if decided these Winlink / Vara systems could 
> be used in a WICEN activation or public service event.
>
> *Item*
>
> 	
>
> *Learnings / Questions*
>
> Vara HF / VHF Chat
>
> 	
>
> Assuming stations are all operating on a single frequency it’s 
> difficult to ensure messages can be passed. How do stations operating 
> on single or multiple frequencies effectively operate / co-exist.  In 
> testing a message for one station was received and read by another. 
> Messages are not encrypted and could be intercepted. This also begs 
> the question re: other stations / other traffic operating Winlink and 
> causing interference. VARA HF Chat works well when connections are made.
>
> If multiple stations require chat what benefit does Vara Chat bring 
> over TRAK. Multiple stations operating in the field require a TRAK / 
> Mesh like environment.
>
> Winlink Gateways
>
> 	
>
> Some gateways are more accessible than others. No guarantee of up time 
> and if there systems are at the most current software revisions. VARA 
> works well and the system operates as required.
>
> Vara FM P2P
>
> 	
>
> Worked well once systems are configured correctly. 2M FM provided 
> reasonable coverage.
>
> Systems
>
> 	
>
> Systems (radio & computers) should be standardised. While this may not 
> be possible systems need to be established, tested and checked prior 
> to use.  Training of field operators is more than software it needs to 
> be holistic - PC, radio & software.
>
> Software
>
> 	
>
> Updates can be pushed without notice and current versions may be 
> needed to be update prior to use. This imposes a field risk as systems 
> may not be able to be updated in the field.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mark
>
> *Mark Hudson*
> State Ordinary Member & Membership Officer
>
> WICEN Victoria
>
> *Mobile *+61 409 500 414 <tel:+61%20409%20500%20414>
>
> *Email *vk3mdh at gmail.com<mailto:vk3mdh at gmail.com >
>
> *Website *www.vic.wicen.org.au <http://www.vic.wicen.org.au/>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> wicenvic mailing list
> wicenvic at vic.wicen.org.au
> http://vic.wicen.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wicenvic_vic.wicen.org.au
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://vic.wicen.org.au/pipermail/wicenvic_vic.wicen.org.au/attachments/20210904/c7e5030d/attachment-0001.html>