Category Archives: Amateur Radio

Icom Type C Radio Information

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Well, I have a few to list on the newest Icom to come out.
The radio is pretty much like the ones out now that are Type D trunking but these units now act like the Kenwood’s to a degree.

Icom_typeC
Product info is at ICOM

For the most part, this radio is Conventional and Type C Trunking platform ready.
For those of us who use Kenwoods and Over the Air Alias, this radio will encode and
decode the OTAA, as will the Kenwoods. (the Type D Icom’s however will still act funky
with the OTAA even with the Newer Icom units) The mobiles come with GPS installed,
but you have to order the antenna if you do not have one for it.
How the GPS on these units and on the Kenwoods play out for the NXDN REFLECTOR
network, that has to be worked on still. The main issue is getting a program designed to
code out the GPS and send it to APRSd with a numerical / callsign database to proper
APRS position marker.

I have not had a chance to work on one yet, but I would imagine it will be like any other
Icom software wise. When I can, I will post information as I go along with looking one over.
For the most part, now the statement of two business units making a inter-operable radio
is now very true. Rather it is type C or D, both still carry the NXDN CAI in conventional modes, and they can both work side by side on the NXREF network.

Got a lightning storm in the area, so this is it for now. Enjoy!

Evans

 

 

Back from vacation..

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Hello all, back from vacation so I will be doing some updating here in the coming weeks as
I get all caught up with things again.

I will add this, while on vacation, Icom released their Type C NXDN radio line. What does this mean? You have a choice now on what Trunking format you want, but most of all, the
type C Icoms now have OTAA capabilities and are not effected by the Kenwood OTAA
on the Icom Type D radios. More on this as I build the block information and get photos
that are allowable for posting.

Kenwood NX-5000 Series has released the new ENHANCED Control Head, that will allow
for Multi-Deck RF units. More on this later, as I am installing mine shortly.

 

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

May 2015 Update

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So far there are 34 active repeaters I have in my database that are up and running, with a
a few more to come during the summer time out on the west coast.

Advancement of the NX-Reflector is on hold at the time being, but once the group gets
the needed information, development will continue forward and some things such as
GPS2APRSd, Talkgroup steering to name a couple, will be worked on and enhanced.

Interested in more information, click on the link to the yahoo group and join!

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

First NJ NXDN Repeater on the air and on the WW network

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The N2WNS repeater system, Boonton, NJ, has been upgraded to the first NXDN amateur repeater in NJ. Located in northeast Morris County on 449.775, the N2WNS repeater system covers most of eastern Morris County, parts of Essex and Union counties towards NYC. The repeater will leverage “Mixed Mode” narrowband (11K0) analog and very narrow (4K0) NXDN. In digital mode, the system will be connected to the WW NXDN network using a TG of 65000 on RAN 1. In analog mode, the system will continue to provide IRLP connectivity via node 4437 and Echolink connectivity via node 753534. Local digital access will be on RAN 62 and analog access will continue to be on PL 151.4. The N2WNS repeater will continue to provide weather alerts via NOAA issued warnings. Questions can be directed to Bill, N2WNS via n2wns.radio (*at*) gmail.com

Californication? Yes. NX-5000 Multi Mode Kenwood, COMING SOON!

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I had a nice chat with a California member of Kenwood, they are gearing up to get their rPi setup with their NXR-800, and get it installed and brought online soon!

I will post when it comes up and where to look for it.

Interested in joining the network with your ICOM or Kenwood NXDN repeater?
Your at the right place.

Search through the archive and posts to learn more.
I will be working on the HOW TO guide in the next few weeks and hope to have it
posted for both the ICOM’ers and Kenwood people.

October is the release of the 700/800MHz NX-5000. Lots of talk on Radio Reference
on this! The VHF and UHF will follow in December / January. And I will have HAM
Friendly pricing available as soon as I get the details. WARNING! It will not be cheap,
but you will get you monies worth for it.

Cheers!

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

NXREF Status: Active Connections report 8-29-14

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The following list is active on the network as of 8-29-14 at 9AM ET

ICOM – 11
W7QO, NI4CE, KI4SWY, AE7OD, KC1JET, KC9GMX, N1OTY, KB1ISZ, VA3YYZ

KENWOOD – 11
K4GFD-2, KJ4OVA, KD4EFM, W7QO, N5QZ, K1IFF, WX7Y, K1IFF-1, K4GFD-2, WB9HKE, KF4I

(Reflector connections are 2 W7QO would be duplicated, they create the bridge)

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

NXDN in CT

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More NXDN in CT

 K1KGQ/R is now full time operational VNFM NXDN, RAN 1, on 449.775 in Torrington CT.  Joel is working on connecting up to the WW network, likely before the fall of this year.

Also, we are working on setting up another UHF site in northeastern CT, one in western RI (if it doesn’t bug PAVE PAWS), and another in the south-central part of the state.

Cliff, k1iff

NXDN on trial in Torrington CT

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From Cliff, K1IFF

I have an NXR810 on the air, mixed mode (WFM) and VN digital in Torrington CT.  It’s at K1KGQ’s site as a trial. 

Joel is thinking seriously about getting his own NXR and some mobiles.  After only 5 days, he is VERY impressed.

Anyone in the area, give it a try.  It’s on 449.775 (-), PL is 141.3, RAN1.  No internet connection yet at the site.

Status of the NXREF and What Is Happening

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Greetings all,
Here is a quick run up of what is in the pressure cooker….
NXREF UPDATES TO ROLL OUT IN THE COMING MONTHS.

A & B; A Bug Fix for the Kenwood side of the NXREF. One is with the turn on / turn off messages, and the other is dealing with the heartbeat for the UDP ports, since KWD uses 2 UDP ports.

New Features: Talk Group Linking and Authentication, a simple Public PKM style (something like IRLP) to add security to the NXDN Network. If the access code does not match, no link will be established.
Talk Group Linking; this will allow for Local, Regional, State, or even Area Wide uses.
Florida uses TG 1200 for Florida Wide, and Tampa is using 1201 for West Central Florida. As an example.

If you have not become a member of the HAM_NXDN email group, this is a Yahoo group located at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ham_nxdn/
This is open to ALL HAMS World Wide, and talks about the use of NXDN Radios for the advancement of Ham Radio, and 6.25 Digital Technology.

That is it for now.

 

Antrak Turkey adds new repeater to thier network..

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From Serdar:

Dear Gang,
We setup our new NXDN repeater (VHF- R2- 145.650 MHz) to new location over the 17th and 18th weekend of August.
You can find installation photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/burcakcubukcu/sets/72157635115017614/

We linked this repeater to our other NXDN repeater (VHF-R7-145.775 MHz) which is located at our club building via 5Ghz link. Everything seems working now. In next days, we are planning to re-establish NXDN Reflector link via Raspberry PI.