Playing with Amateur Radio Toy communications

[Phil Perry]

I know that there are a handful of Amateur operators on RF, not sure whether they post here too.

 

One of my local radio ham friends has set up an 'All star and Echolink Gateway' just oop the road from my location ( 3 Km ) and I've been playing with that and trying to get my head around how it all works., having been 'Off Air' for nearly ten years, due to flying and other stuff, ie too many expensive time consuming pastimes I guess. . .

 

I'm astounded at how the technology has advanced in that time. I knew that a couple of the guys mentioned 'Dstar' communications in Australia, but didn't take much notice back then, as all my gear was stashed away. Now I've set some of it back up and begun having a play, I'm gradually learning what is now available in the way of comms over long distances, with the minimum of equipment.

 

I don't know if I will be able to connect to a DSTAR node in Australia, as I have not found out yet whether this and 'Allstar' use the same protocols. Still chatting and reading around to find out. Thus far I've worked into Brazil, Africa, many parts of the USA and this afternoon into Beijing, just using a hand held portable radio with a tiny rubber ducky antenna attached. . .fascinating stuff ( to ME anyhow ! )

 

Daughter is buying me yet another radio set for Christmas, which is DMR ( Digital Mobile Radio ) which is yet another layer of tech, with repeater nodes popping up all over the UK. . .that's another thing I'll have to study, all good for keeping what's left of the grey matter ticking over, to add to my posting rubbish on Internet blogs.

 

I'd like to get back onto Shortwave, the snap crackle and pop bands, but they require big long bits of wire slung up trees and it's too hard for a bloke of my years to start climbing trees again. . . Still, it beats trainspotting I suppose, especially in cold weather. . .

 

 

[old man emu]

Phil,

 

What is Elizabeth R's wavelength?

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Phil,What is Elizabeth R's wavelength?

Dunno mate,. . .depends on how calm the sea ain't,. ?. . .wot, you mean the Aircraft Carrier ? Still dunno though. . .

 

 

[facthunter]

She moves her hand about 13 cms. Nev

 

 

[Phil Perry]

She moves her hand about 13 cms. Nev

That's what's confuddling me. . .Our wavelengths are in yards 'n' feet Y'see. . . . . .

 

( Sorry OME. . . it'z bin a long day. . .)

 

 

[Yenn]

Is the reason Muslims don't play with this due to it being "Ham" radio?

 

 

[old man emu]

Is the reason Muslims don't play with this due to it being "Ham" radio?

I'm reporting you, Yenn. That reply wasn't kosher.

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Is the reason Muslims don't play with this due to it being "Ham" radio?

That comment was definitely HARAM !

 

 

[Phil Perry]

I'm reporting you, Yenn. That reply wasn't kosher.

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Santa delivered my NEW DMR radio ( From Hong Kong) on Christmas morning,. . .but the Idiot gave me an AMERICAN power plug on the charger unit ( What a Plonker. . .you'd have thought he should have known. . ! ). . .need a USA / UK socket adaptor now. . . Then it's Booklearning again. Watched Kyle Communications Video on another thread. . .most interesting ( to geeks ) . . .Local builder mate is coming around shortly to put up some wire aerials for me to get back onto HF again. . . .I can't do this as I can't stand heights. . . .Downside is that I've got to do a £400 Graphiccs job on his new van in payment. . . . . .always a downside . . . .

 

 

[spacesailor]

110volt! But American plugs can be connected either way!, (left probe positive or right probe positive, reverse polarity?.

 

Any souvenir shop will have adapter socket.

 

spacesailor

 

 

[Phil Perry]

110volt! But American plugs can be connected either way!, (left probe positive or right probe positive, reverse polarity?.Any souvenir shop will have adapter socket.

 

spacesailor

The local 'Poundshop' have them discounted to £0.99. . . . !

 

***EDITED TO ADD***

 

The local Maplins 'Drone Shop' wanted £19.99 for an adapter for American Drone chargers. . . I preferred the Ninety Nine pence model, which I have now super glued to the yank plug and it works fine buddy. . .

 

 

[Yenn]

When I lived in the UK the plugs differed depending on where you lived. they had 2 pin and 3 pin, round and rectangular pins, fused and unfused. if you moved house as I id from Middlesex to Norfolk, you had to re wire every appliance you owned. I came to Australia and whoopee, all the plugs where the same. The only difference being 10 or 15 Amp.

 

 

[facthunter]

Are you giving a "plug " for moving from Britain to Australia, Yenn.? We overcapitalised at 10 quid each last time and some of them decided to go back " HOME" and THEN came back here, Later. Talk about pro crastination.. Nev

 

 

[Yenn]

I am a ten pound pom and consider it the very best investment I ever made. Wife and I for twenty quid, plus 2 kids free, nearly a months luxury holiday on the Canberra, then we had our go at populating Australia. If I had stayed in England my communications would probably have peaked with 2 tin cans and a taught string.

 

 

[facthunter]

Did you sell that NBN design to MalcolmTurnbull?

 

That populating was copulating. Everyone does it. usually for fun . It's not hard work if I remember it correctly. Nev

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Did you sell that NBN design to MalcolmTurnbull?That populating was copulating. Everyone does it. usually for fun . It's not hard work if I remember it correctly. Nev

True Nev,. . .providing that Hubby keeps a goodly supply of 'Headache' tablets for Wifey. . . . .

 

 

[David2ayo]

True Nev,. . .providing that Hubby keeps a goodly supply of 'Headache' tablets for Wifey. . . . .

.. which is further proof that women CANNOT multi-task - you find a woman that can have sex and a headache at the same time.

 

David

 

 

[David2ayo]

Had a customer ring me a while ago to get me to fix his battery drill charger. Good unit, Makita I think, bought it from the States because it was much cheaper on line. It wasn't one of those fancy switch-mode universal ones, and now its a piece of scrap metal without the smoke. I think he saved himself about -$100.

 

David

 

 

[spacesailor]

Should have bought a step-down transformer, 240 into an Aussie wall-socket, & plug the yankee 110 volt charger to that.

 

how do I know this, had a American Milwaukee (110v)charger thrown in when buying a cheap Milwaukee drill.

 

spacesailor

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Had a customer ring me a while ago to get me to fix his battery drill charger. Good unit, Makita I think, bought it from the States because it was much cheaper on line. It wasn't one of those fancy switch-mode universal ones, and now its a piece of scrap metal without the smoke. I think he saved himself about -$100.David

I bought a Makita hammer drill in 1985. SDS system, and 110 Volts. No 240V kit is allowed on building sites in the UK. The transformer is bloody heavy though. . . Brilliant tool, used it last week to drill a series f holes in concrete fence posts. Went through the concrete like butter. I am amazed that the motor just keeps going. Best power tool I ever bought by far. Nowadays, tradesmen seem to prefer battery operated tools with the availability of better battery packs. . .

 

 

[David2ayo]

OK Phil, no 240v but they allow 110v with a transformer? I think I prefer the straight 240 volt with a residual current breaker and regular 'test and tag'.

 

No, on second thoughts, just the residual current circuit breaker. Test and Tag is trying to legislate common sense. As soon as a tool or lead is tested, it can be dragged across a sharp edge and made useless and / or dangerous, and because its been officially tested the operator won't bother checking it.

 

Spoke to a digital radio adapter supplier bloke the other day (just trying to get some semblance of thread continuity) and he won't send a power supply (wall-wort type) overseas. Too many beaurecrats to satisfy!

 

David

 

 

[Phil Perry]

OK Phil, no 240v but they allow 110v with a transformer? I think I prefer the straight 240 volt with a residual current breaker and regular 'test and tag'.No, on second thoughts, just the residual current circuit breaker. Test and Tag is trying to legislate common sense. As soon as a tool or lead is tested, it can be dragged across a sharp edge and made useless and / or dangerous, and because its been officially tested the operator won't bother checking it.

 

Spoke to a digital radio adapter supplier bloke the other day (just trying to get some semblance of thread continuity) and he won't send a power supply (wall-wort type) overseas. Too many beaurecrats to satisfy!

 

David

Same thing with a Car really, Get an MOT test cert. Valid for 12 months, then drive out of the test centre, over a speed hump too quickly and bugger up your middle or back muffler box. Exhaust now Illegal. !

 

I believe that any item like that PSU, would have to be compliant with the current EU regs, or it couldn't be imported here either.

 

Test 'N' Tag, yes that is enforced in the UK, commonly known as 'PAT' Portable Appliance Testing, which includes all power tools, leads and extensions.They normally do this testing at the factory holiday shutdowns every six months. This EU reg came out in the 1970s whilst I was having a ball and really enjoying life in OZ. . . .And yet, from 1984 - 2010, I worked as a subbie very regularly for a large manufacturer of Mobile exhibition units. Their numerous large factory bays were a giggle, with 240V extensions snaking all over the floor areas, causing a trip hazard in themselves. NO 110v kit at all. ! ! Yet blokes were 'Manhandling 8ft x 4ft and 10 x 5 sheets of aluminium which, if dropped, would immediately slice a cable ! I gathered that a whole raft of companies were obviously ignoring the regs.

 

I used to sell thousands of vinyl stickers of various sizes for PAT test guys to place onto tested items with their test number and signature, all supplied on self adhesive Rolls to peel off. . . . . .but the Sodding Germans undercut me ! ! ! Still, no good scam lasts for ever eh ?

 

You couldn't get away with that on a Building site, as there were specific H+S officers assigned to each site checking that you'd got 'Nail Proof' boot soles, regulation Hard Hats, gloves, Goggles, knee protectors, Ear defenders and everything else that could pose a possible risk to human health. I had no problem with these regimes, made sense. . . THE PROBLEM came when some of these H+S contractors / personnel went over the top. . . .

 

I once had to fit some Neon glass tube sections to 'Backlight' a mobile display in a unit. The H+S guy watched me installing the tubes on plastic insulators. . but when he asked about the transformers and the operating voltage, he went Bananas. . . He insisted that I replace it all with LOW voltage neon. That didn't exist, and AFAIK still doesn't. It's got two speeds, ether OFF or 6 - 10Kv @up to 50 mA, or it Don't work Bro. . .. All installations are guarded against contact by people. . . Nowadays, I'd have used High intensity LED lighting. . . .nice, low voltages YAY!

 

Following a half day hold up, and much discussion with the designers of the unit, He acepted that I would be allowed to continue, BUT he insisted on fencing the unit of, with plastic fences at 4 metres clearance all around this 10 Metre long mobile, with a Safety bloke standing at each corner with a uhf radio to prevent anybody being frazzled whilst I tested the circuits. . . .Oh what fun. . .

 

Yes, the H+S 'Industry' attracted some good people, no doubt, it was just that most of the ones I met had an IQ in the low 50s, it seemed, with managers who were self important but not very clever 'Jobsworths'

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Should have bought a step-down transformer, 240 into an Aussie wall-socket, & plug the yankee 110 volt charger to that.how do I know this, had a American Milwaukee (110v)charger thrown in when buying a cheap Milwaukee drill.

 

spacesailor

Oddly enough Spacey,. . it's universal. Takes 240V no problems. .. and the radio loves it. just like the Delta V Pulse charger I bought for my Ni mh Airband hand held. icom thingy ages ago .Advertised as 90v up to 240. . .I've posted this site here before, some useful info on it, even though it's just up the street from Chateau Phil. Look at the tab on Chargers ( ! ) <Strikalite - the rechargable battery specialists>

 

 

[old man emu]

WorkSafe in New South Wales (and its equivalent in the rest of the country) required these Test 'n'Tag tests. The only organisation that makes people get equipment tested before it can be used on a site is the building/construction union.

 

I contacted WorkSafe a few years ago when I was doing these tests to ask if businesses ( such as hair dressers and small factories were inspected for compliance with Test 'n' Tag. The response? "We only look for tags if there is an incident" Another piece of toothless tiger legislation. That was another little earner I tried that went down the drain with the money I spent to get certified and buy the equipment.