26-02-2006

Here are details of where to get hand-held DTMF gismos for
accoustic coupling into your mic. They are ex-Vodafone and are being sold
o.b.o. Newbury ARS.

Kevin Martin G6FOP
Tel: 01635 826397

Cost: £2.50 each including p.&p.

It would be as well to check that he still has some.

Details of a CTCSS Audio Oscillator can be found by clicking on this link www.radiowrench.com/sonic/so02148.htm

01-02-2006

Hello Everybody ( Yes Again!),
Well today was the big day and our James M1APC, though suffering from mild trepidation, was up at the site pretty sharpish this morning along with Ken M3TVP who carried the toolbox:>). After a couple of minor annoyances (e.g. everybody echoing who had CTCSS) the equipment was rapidly installed and fully functional. It has been a pleasure to hear lots of you having a go at connecting up and making use of the facilities available, even if you only want to know what the time is. James connected to somewhere in the land of his birth so we then listened to two people that we couldn't understand! (Oh-Only Joking James). So, more seriously now. This project seems to have taken forever to get off the ground but so much time and effort has gone into this by initially Matt G4RKY who has been the absolute star of the show and has devoted so much time that there is no way we can thank him and his very understanding wife enough, and now by James who has come into this quite cold but has taken the proverbial bull by the horns and got the job done....so thank you James. We know you were a bit concerned about all of this but you did it "No Problem".
Just a few Useful Hints and Tips these may come in useful but do remember we are all new to it so we are all feeling our feet and hopefully we can all pass on useful bits of info to each other.
DTMF TONES:
00 = Check connection status enter 4 digit node number to connect to required node. e.g. 5600 = GB3LV (London)
73 = To end connection
When after disconnection from one node, wait until CH says " IRLP Ready " and unkeys before you connect to a new node.
59 = To hear yourself and check your own signal (the narcissus mode!) e.g. Dial 59 then unkey, wait for reply telling you to start recording then TX.. Max 30 Seconds
12 = To check the time
*69 = To check the last connection

All node numbers are available at www.irlp.net
There is a definite difference between the pips when connected and disconnected which you will all soon get used to we are sure. At the end of a call after the two pips you will hear either "IRLP READY" meaning not connected but will accept a connection, or "IRLP CONNECTED" to find out to what press 0 on your DTMF Pad. Only one node can connect to another node at any one time, if it's already busy you will not be able to connect but it will tell you that it's in use. Multiple connections are only available via a relector, these "reflector numbers" are also available on the site shown above.
These bits of info are quite important and will cut down on yours and everyone else's stress levels!
If you are in a local QSO and are hoping that another node will connect it cannot happen unless you allow a gap of 30 seconds after the carrier has dropped So with that in mind it would perhaps be prudent to allow this gap periodically...just in case.
Also, and finally, all of you that are using CTCSS DECODE (thus don't hear the pips) please please remember to leave a sufficient space between RX and TX to allow the time delay for those of us who are using the pips.
You will no longer be able to access CH via a 1750Hz tone-burst. 77Hz CTCSS must be enabled on your TX, if it's not you will not be able to hold the repeater open.
This is as new to us as the rest of you, we want the transition to be smooth and hopefully fruitful on the contact front for everybody. What we have heard on here today has been very promising and rewarding. Together we will get it right! Yours Denise 2E0PDQ (Secretary)

30-01-2006

Hello Everybody,
Well as the heading depicts, there are changes happening at CH. I'm sure you all know that Matt G4RKY in Somerset has been working away at our IRLP project by finalising the programming of the RC210 controller and "marrying" it up to a radio and a Linux System computer which will (hopefully) gives the required end result of finally linking CH via IRLP. John and I collected all of the equipment from Ralph G1OJJ on Saturday as he very kindly met up with Matt on Friday night on his nightly pilgrimage up to Coventry. We dropped the RC210 in to James' house on the way back to Polperro and he is going up to the site on his day off on Wednesday to have a go at installing it. James was our RC210 "builder" as it came from the US of A in kit form and he made a very good and tidy job of it too. There is a down side in this email too, sadly, Pete G7DQC has decided that he can no longer devote the time to CH that is currently needed to get the project going and has decided to resign from the post of keeper, we are fully supportive in his decision only because we know he has serious involvement in other radio related projects and also is in a new position at work which requires more from him than ever before and, more importantly, we must not forget time for family. So regretfully we have had to accept his decision but are more than happy to say that James (M1APC) has kindly agreed to take the roll on, this has been fully supported by the committee. We are sure that you, like ourselves, would like to thank Pete for all of his input over his "term of office" his help has been immeasurable and we will remain grateful for his help and hard work. I haven't really got any further info for you , but please trust that we will keep you all informed as and when things happen.
Best wishes to you all,
Denise 2E0 PDQ (Secretary)