G4CTP's Amateur Radio Hints and Tips

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Configuring fldigi for RSGB data contests

February 21, 2024

I use fldigi for RSGB data contests (RTTY and PSK modes). In this article I describe how I have configured 12 macro buttons for efficient contest operation. Here is a screen shot of the 12 buttons: They are divided into three groups. The first four buttons, teal coloured, are for "Run" mode (a.k.a. "Fox" mode), i.e. for calling CQ. The next four buttons, in brown, are for "Search & Pounce" mode (a.k.a."Hound" mode), i.e. when replying to a CQ. The final four buttons, dark blue, are seldom used in contesting but enable free text to be sent. Here are each of the button definitions: CQ - obviously used to send a CQ call <TX> CQ RSGB de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> CQ <RX> QRZ? - to send a QRZ? if needed <TX> QRZ? QRZ? de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> k <RX> Exchange - sends RST signal report and the serial number three times, bracketed by the other party's callsign <TX> <CALL> <MYRST> <CNTR>

D-Star Simplex Channels

February 20, 2024

D-Star is normally used via hotspots and repeaters, but it is also possible to use this digital voice mode as point-to-point simplex. I recently added a bunch of recommended D-Star frequencies to my IC-705 memory configuration and it certainly works... but don't expect to find much activity! Here are the channels that I have configured:

A self-adhesive slot antenna for 70 cm

January 25, 2024

Credits and Background The inspiration for this antenna came from an excellent workshop led by Richard M0GET at a recent meeting of SEMARC . Additional ideas are from the Kindle book Slot Antennas for Ham Radio: The Forgotten Antenna by John Fortune W6NBC. The aim of this design is a simple antenna that can be stuck onto an outside window, providing vertical polarisation primarily for access to the local repeater on 70cm (FM and DMR). An unusual property of slot antennas is that a horizontal slot provides vertical polarisation - so this makes a much easier and tidier installation than (say) an equivalent vertical wire dipole. Construction Details The materials needed are: Some self-adhesive, conductive tape. I used this 75mm tape from Screwfix, but really any copper or aluminium tape will work, and the width is not critical. A short piece of thin 50Ω coax, terminated with a suitable connector. I happened to find something suitable in my junk box: a short piece of RJ174 already fitte

Trimming down the "contacts.csv" file

November 09, 2023

A challenge with the Retevis RT-3S, and other similar DMR rigs, is that the maximum number of contacts.csv entries is limited. In the case of the RT-3S, the maximum number of entries 120,000 - but the number of registered DMR IDs is now over double that quantity! Hence it is necessary to filter down the list in some way before loading it into the rig. The master file lives at RadioID.net , although it isn't obvious where to find it. At the time of writing, the file can be found in Database / Data Dumps / user.csv. RadioID.net offers downloads of filtered versions of the list, for subscribing users - currently $12.99/year. Alternatively it isn't terribly difficult to filter the list using Microsoft Excel. Really as an exercise in programming, I have written a Python program that can filter the list by country. The program and its instructions can be found here: https://github.com/V96GLF/DMR_Prune_Contacts

Backing up a Raspberry Pi to a Mac

July 07, 2023

I try to keep most of my amateur radio applications on a Raspberry Pi, although some are on Mac and some on Windows. For general use I have a Mac that is always on, and this machine is backed up on-site using Time Machine and off-site using Backblaze . So in order to keep my Pi backed up, the simplest method is to synchronise it periodically to the Mac which in turn will be included in the automatic on-site and off-site backups. Should be simple, but in practice I have found that Mac and Pi are tricky to configure over an SMB (Samba) network. Too many versions and options! Hence this blog which documents what works for me. There are two steps: 1. Configure a shared directory on the Mac, and configure the Pi to mount it automatically on its desktop. 2. Set a backup routine on the Pi, with the destination as the shared directory. It is assumed that the two machines are on the same LAN. 1. Configuring a shared folder On the Mac, create a new folder that will be shared with the Pi. In my

Adding Brandmeister to the Hotspot (DMR Part 4)

November 04, 2022

So far in this series of articles we have: Built a codeplug for the Retevis RT3S, enabling it to operate on the Phoenix (DMR+) network via a local repeater. Built a Hotspot and added a new zone to the codeplug, so that the RT3S can access the Phoenix (DMR+) network using the Hotspot. I chose Phoenix initially, because that is the network that my nearest repeater uses. Whilst this gives worldwide coverage, it is not the only DMR network. Confusingly, there are quite a few networks out there - including Brandmeister, TGIF, FreeDMR and probably others. Each has its own layout of talkgroups and timeslots. Sometimes these are similar, and there are links between networks so that some talkgroups are accessible on more than one network, but each has its own quirks and so they are different and mainly incompatible. With a Hotspot, it is possible to join more than one DMR network simultaneously - up to four networks - using functionality known as DMR Master. In this blog we will look at buildin