NI4CE – Verna status update

Posted on October 1, 2015 by kd4efm

The new NI4CE NXDN Repeater at Verna went on the air at 3:20 PM this afternoon. The repeater is operating on 444.3125 / 449.3125 RAN 1. Some tweaking to connect the repeater to the NXDN Worldwide Network is still needed but should be completed in the near day or two. In the meantime, we invite you to use the repeater on a local basis (TG1200).

We would also appreciate your signal reports. Send your Callsign, Location, Time of Day and Signal Strength (if you can read RSSI with your radio) to info@ni4ce.org.

73 de Paul-NB9X

New Repeater coming on line in South West Fla. and 1 on the East Coast

Posted on September 25, 2015 by kd4efm

From Paul Toth; NB9X

It seems like we started talking about this a long ago. But the new NI4CE NXDN Repeater at Verna is poised for launch next week. The repeater and its several components have been assembled and are burning in. The new Telewave Antenna that will radiate the signal from 500′ AGL is configured and tested. And a tower crew is scheduled to put it on the tower this coming Monday. Of course, everything in Florida this time of year is “weather permitting”.

RX 444.3125 TX 449.3125 RAN-1 are the important numbers to program into your radio. TG 1200 will keep your traffic on the NI4CE system (Verna and Riverview). TG65000 will gate you to the remainder of the NXDN Worldwide Network.

Keep watching here for updates.
73 de Paul-NB9X

editors note Verna is located in Sarasota County near the town of Myakka City.

And this nice report from Ed in Brevard County Fl had this to say earlier also when repling to Paul

“Great news, we are trying to setup one here in Brevard. I think we found a tower. Will let you know once we get further information.”

Regards,
Ed

I have a video on what the NX-5000 FPP does

Posted on September 16, 2015 by kd4efm

Well, I broke my silence, yes, I made a video to demonstrate the FPP functions of the
NX-5000 series. Some of you who are on Radiorefrence.com will also see this in the
kenwood commercial group also.

Enjoy.
Click this link FPP on NX-5000 series radios Opens in a new window/tab.

Mount Uncanoonuc, Manchester, NH on the air

Posted on September 13, 2015 by kd4efm

The UHF repeater (443.400 +5 MHz), an Icom FR6000, was installed yesterday on Mount Uncanoonuc just outside of Manchester, NH. We did not get it connected to the network yet, but that process starts today. The plan is integrating into the Massachusetts hub in Swansea, MA.
Please send feedback if anyone detects any glitches such as one way audio and so forth.
Thanks,
John N1OTY

Identification Solutions for Kenwood NXR series repeaters

Posted on September 4, 2015 by n1xdn

Cliff, K1IFF, and myself authored a proposal for two ways of generating a digital ID that are less disruptive and in the spirit of experimentation with NXDN. Click the “MCW ID fix v4” link below to download the PDF. In CT, we have found that the analog ID takes far longer than sending a short Over-The-Air Alias digital burst.

73, Bob, N1XDN

MCW ID fix v4

NXDN Transparent Mode Program (Chat)

Posted on September 2, 2015 by kd4efm

From a Radio Reference user, this is a pretty simple program that makes use of the Kenwood Transparent Mode using text (or SMS) and can send text files to and from
other users or stations.
Installation starts off in Spanish, but the program itself is English.

Let me know what you think.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f54v7gh61uqgls3/NXDN-Chat.zip?dl=0

Icom Repeater Setup Info Guide

Posted on August 30, 2015 by kd4efm

Good evening,
I wanted to include to the links list, the Icom Repeater Setup Guide from our friends in the Northeast Corridor Group, www.nxdnradio.com

They have a very nice layout on setting up your Icom Repeater(s) and getting onto the NXDN Reflector network. Please be sure you have signed up on our yahoo email group
ham_nxdn at yahoogroups dot com to follow along with the progress of the network.
Spread the word to your friends in the West, would lover to see more West Coast activity.

Have a great week.

Evans M
KD4EFM

Next version of Kenwood’s NX-5000 Series due out soon

Posted on August 28, 2015 by kd4efm

The next firmware update for the NX-5000 series is due out within the next few weeks. This will have a minor bug fix and several expansion items being added to the radio. 2 weeks ago, I submitted a volume bug to Kenwood on the enhanced control head, and that
was validated and sent on up the line for correction. Now from what I am being told, this next release is supposed to contain the following, multi RF DECK control, and adding the NX-5900 to the software KPG-D1NK. There are a few other tweaks that will also be put into the Version 1.60 also.

WIDE BAND CAPABLE NX-5000 SOFTWARE
I have all the information, fought tooth and nail for it, on obtaining WIDE BAND software for the NX series radios. You will have to pay full price for the software, even if you already bought the NARROW version. There is no way around that. To obtain the wide band version from the GET GO you have to order it from your dealer DIRECTLY. Even I get pickled for my copy. Kenwood says so, so that is the word.

Anyone who has purchased the new ICOMS let me know, like to find out
about the OTAA on them.
More updates as they come.

Evans M.

Icom Type C Radio Information

Posted on July 21, 2015 by kd4efm

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.

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..

Posted on July 16, 2015 by kd4efm

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

NXDNINFO.COM

NXDN CAI and its application to Amateur Radio