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The intent is to help people experience various wireless communications projects/services available to makers, hackers across the Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum. Whether you have a (Amateur Radio) license or not, you can enjoy ways of sending and receiving [https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide RF signals]. All activities are targeted at the beginner and intermediate level.
The intent is to help people experience various wireless communications projects/services available to makers, hackers across the Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum. Whether you have a (Amateur Radio) license or not, you can enjoy ways of sending and receiving [https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide RF signals]. All activities are targeted at the beginner and intermediate level.


== Activities ==
== Activities ==
=== Exploring RF with SDR for the Absolute Beginner ===
=== Exploring RF with SDR for the Absolute Beginner ===
''Wednesday: 1800 EDT/2200 UTC (One Hour)''
''  Friday: 1300 EDT/1700 UTC (One Hour)''
A guide on the bare minimum information required for you to quickly experience capturing, listening, and processing (decoding) signals with open source and off the shelf SDR resources. Hardware of choice will be
A guide on the bare minimum information required for you to quickly experience capturing, listening, and processing (decoding) signals with open source and off the shelf SDR resources. Hardware of choice will be
the [https://a.co/aksM6al RTL-SDR v3].  
the [https://a.co/aksM6al RTL-SDR v3].
 


=== Capture the Signal for the Absolute Beginner ===
=== Capture the Signal for the Absolute Beginner ===
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortwave_listening Shortwave Listening (SWL)] is perhaps the oldest hobbyist listening of RF. Given the international reach of that spectrum and [https://a.co/aksM6al cheap Software Defined Radio (SDR) kit], special event station W2H will be operating from New York (state) on various [http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Band%20Chart%20-%2011X17%20Color.pdf Amateur Radio HF bands] focusing on [https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Amateur_Radio digital modes] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20-meter_band 20] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40-meter_band 40] Meter Band.
''Wednesday through Sunday''
 
Arm yourself with at minimum access to an [http://websdr.org/ WebSDR site] or a [https://a.co/aksM6al cheap Software Defined Radio (SDR) kit] with a modest outside wire antenna
running a SDR live distro like [https://skywavelinux.com/ Skywave]. Here are a list of challenes that involve capturing various signals.
 
* Find three time stations on the HF Band from three different countries
* Besides time, what other services do some of theses time stations provide
* Find a NDB beacon serving an airport local to you. (Hint: they are between 150 to 500 KHz)
* Where is the nearest NOAA Weather station to you (Hint: stations are on VHF)
 
More challenges will be added.
 
 
=== Show and Tell ===
''Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 1800 EDT/2200 UTC (One Hour)''
 
Do you have an Open Source RF project you would like to share? You chance
for 15 minutes of fame as we open the floor to hear four projects over the hour.
Contact us to slot you some time at rfvillage AT cupano DOT com
 
 
=== HOPE 2020 Radio Nets ===
 
 
==== Single Sideband (phone/voice) NETS ON HF BANDS ====
 
Henry "Strick" W6REK is announcing 20m and 40m radio nets on four days, Wednesday through Saturday (in North America).
 
Net controls and relays may be under a W2H call sign (possibly "W2H portable six")
or with their individual call sign.  We need relays, if you can help.
W6REK will be transmitting from San Jose, California.
 
Listen for us, up or down, within 20 kilocycles of the frequencies below.
Once we start, we will post the exact frequency to the _Hallway Discussions_ channel on Riot
( https://riot.hope.net/#/room/#hallway-conversations:hope.net )
since our station W2H has traditionally been located in the _Hallway_ on the 18th floor.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! BAND & SSB !! Freq ± 20kHz !! EDT !! PDT !! UTC
|-
| 20m USB || 14290 || Wed 8pm || Wed 5pm || Thu 0000
|-
| 40m LSB || 7190 || Wed 9pm || Wed 6pm || Thu 0100
|-
| 20m USB || 14290 || Thu 8pm || Thu 5pm || Fri 0000
|-
| 40m LSB || 7190 || Thu 9pm || Thu 6pm || Fri 0100
|-
| 20m USB || 14290 || Fri 8pm || Fri 5pm || Sat 0000
|-
| 40m LSB || 7190 || Fri 9pm || Fri 6pm || Sat 0100
|-
| 20m USB || 14290 || Sat 8pm || Sat 5pm || Sun 0000
|-
| 40m LSB || 7190 || Sat 9pm || Sat 6pm || Sun 0100
|}
 
 
==== Other nets? TBD... ====
 
HOPE XI is the first year we ran an Amateur Radio repeater encouraging licensed attendees to make new contacts. We tried adding an [http://echolink.org/ Echolink node] so we could have global reach but it did not work out.  
 
Is anyone organizing a VHF, UHF, or internet-mediated net (like DMR or Echolink or Allstar)?
 


=== HOPE 2020 Radio Net ===
HOPE XI is the first year we ran an Amateur Radio repeater encouraging licensed attendees to make new contacts. We tried adding an [http://echolink.org/ Echolink node] so we could have global reach but it did not work out. This year we will look to run a one hour net accessible via [https://hvdn.org/whatsdmr DMR] and Echolink. W2H will be available via the net.


=== W2H Operating Schedule ===
=== W2H Operating Schedule ===
Besides making contacts with those of you who are licensed, we will be making test transmissions with messages in them using various modes. Successfully contact us or send as copy of the message received during our test transmissions and you will receive a QSL Card (snail mail or electronic.) Operating schedule is subject to change according to band conditions. Digital modes will be used on all bands in schedule. Schedule will be updated with specific mode used closer to the operating day.
To ensure maximum opportunity, we will have multiple stations across the US operating as W2H this week according to the schedule below.
 
Each cell indicates the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_frequency_allocations Amateur Radio Bands] and mode we will be using.
 
Digital modes (DIG) may be any number of modes. Voice will be LSB for 80 and 40 meters and USB for 20 through 10 Meters.


Successfully contact us or send date/time/band/mode you heard us and you will receive a electronic verification postcard (aka eQSL.) EMAIL your report to rfvillage AT cupano DOT com
Check this schedule often is it will be updated daily.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Time ([https://time.is/UTC UTC]) || Day 1 !! Day 2 !! Day 3 !! Day 4 !! Day 5 !! Day 6 !! Day 7 !! Day 8 !! Day 9 !!  
! Time ([https://time.is/UTC UTC]) !! Day 3 !! Day 4 !! Day 5 !! Day 6 !! Day 7 !! Day 8 !! Day 9 !!  
|-
| 0001 - 0059 || - - - || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 20M SSB Net * || * 20M SSB Net * || * 20M SSB Net * || * 20M SSB Net *
|-
| 0100 - 0159 || - - - || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M SSB Net * || * 40M SSB Net * || * 40M SSB Net * || * 40M SSB Net *
|-
| 0200 - 0259 || - - - || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG *
|-
| 0300 - 0359 || - - - || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG *
|-
| 0400 - 0459 || - - - || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG *
|-
| 0500 - 0559 || - - - || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG *
|-
| 0600 - 0659 || - - - || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG *
|-
| 0700 - 0759 || - - - || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG * || * 40M DIG *
|-
| 0800 - 0859 || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - ||
|-
| 0900 - 0959 || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - ||
|-
| 1000 - 1059 || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - ||
|-
| 1100 - 1159 || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - ||
|-
| 1200 - 1259 || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - || - - - ||
|-
| 1300 - 1359 || - - - || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG *
|-
|-
| 0001 - 0100 || --- || --- || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz
| 1400 - 1459 || - - - || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG *
|-
|-
| 0200 - 0259 || --- || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz || 7040-7125 KHz
| 1500 - 1559 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG *
|-
|-
| 2200 - 2259 || --- || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || ---
| 1600 - 1659 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG *
|-
|-
| 2300 - 2359 || --- || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || 14060-14100 KHz || ---
| 1700 - 1759 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || - - -
|-
| 1800 - 1859 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || - - -
|-
| 1900 - 1959 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || - - -
|-
| 2000 - 2059 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || - - -
|-
| 2100 - 2159 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || - - -
|-
| 2200 - 2259 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || - - -
|-
| 2300 - 2359 || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || * 20M DIG * || - - -
|}
|}


== FAQ ==
== FAQ ==
Line 40: Line 158:
==== Can I still decode digital signals if I am using an online SDR? ====  
==== Can I still decode digital signals if I am using an online SDR? ====  
Yes. Using [https://www.vb-audio.com/Cable/ virtual audio cable] you can pipe output of online SDR to input of digital decode software.
Yes. Using [https://www.vb-audio.com/Cable/ virtual audio cable] you can pipe output of online SDR to input of digital decode software.


== Questions? ==
== Questions? ==
Any questions, ideas, can be directed to rfvillage AT cupano DOT com
Any questions, ideas, can be directed to rfvillage AT cupano DOT com

Latest revision as of 14:10, 30 July 2020

Welcome

The intent is to help people experience various wireless communications projects/services available to makers, hackers across the Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum. Whether you have a (Amateur Radio) license or not, you can enjoy ways of sending and receiving RF signals. All activities are targeted at the beginner and intermediate level.


Activities

Exploring RF with SDR for the Absolute Beginner

Wednesday: 1800 EDT/2200 UTC (One Hour)

Friday: 1300 EDT/1700 UTC (One Hour)


A guide on the bare minimum information required for you to quickly experience capturing, listening, and processing (decoding) signals with open source and off the shelf SDR resources. Hardware of choice will be the RTL-SDR v3.


Capture the Signal for the Absolute Beginner

Wednesday through Sunday

Arm yourself with at minimum access to an WebSDR site or a cheap Software Defined Radio (SDR) kit with a modest outside wire antenna running a SDR live distro like Skywave. Here are a list of challenes that involve capturing various signals.

  • Find three time stations on the HF Band from three different countries
  • Besides time, what other services do some of theses time stations provide
  • Find a NDB beacon serving an airport local to you. (Hint: they are between 150 to 500 KHz)
  • Where is the nearest NOAA Weather station to you (Hint: stations are on VHF)

More challenges will be added.


Show and Tell

Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 1800 EDT/2200 UTC (One Hour)

Do you have an Open Source RF project you would like to share? You chance for 15 minutes of fame as we open the floor to hear four projects over the hour. Contact us to slot you some time at rfvillage AT cupano DOT com


HOPE 2020 Radio Nets

Single Sideband (phone/voice) NETS ON HF BANDS

Henry "Strick" W6REK is announcing 20m and 40m radio nets on four days, Wednesday through Saturday (in North America).

Net controls and relays may be under a W2H call sign (possibly "W2H portable six") or with their individual call sign. We need relays, if you can help. W6REK will be transmitting from San Jose, California.

Listen for us, up or down, within 20 kilocycles of the frequencies below. Once we start, we will post the exact frequency to the _Hallway Discussions_ channel on Riot ( https://riot.hope.net/#/room/#hallway-conversations:hope.net ) since our station W2H has traditionally been located in the _Hallway_ on the 18th floor.

BAND & SSB Freq ± 20kHz EDT PDT UTC
20m USB 14290 Wed 8pm Wed 5pm Thu 0000
40m LSB 7190 Wed 9pm Wed 6pm Thu 0100
20m USB 14290 Thu 8pm Thu 5pm Fri 0000
40m LSB 7190 Thu 9pm Thu 6pm Fri 0100
20m USB 14290 Fri 8pm Fri 5pm Sat 0000
40m LSB 7190 Fri 9pm Fri 6pm Sat 0100
20m USB 14290 Sat 8pm Sat 5pm Sun 0000
40m LSB 7190 Sat 9pm Sat 6pm Sun 0100


Other nets? TBD...

HOPE XI is the first year we ran an Amateur Radio repeater encouraging licensed attendees to make new contacts. We tried adding an Echolink node so we could have global reach but it did not work out.

Is anyone organizing a VHF, UHF, or internet-mediated net (like DMR or Echolink or Allstar)?


W2H Operating Schedule

To ensure maximum opportunity, we will have multiple stations across the US operating as W2H this week according to the schedule below.

Each cell indicates the Amateur Radio Bands and mode we will be using.

Digital modes (DIG) may be any number of modes. Voice will be LSB for 80 and 40 meters and USB for 20 through 10 Meters.

Successfully contact us or send date/time/band/mode you heard us and you will receive a electronic verification postcard (aka eQSL.) EMAIL your report to rfvillage AT cupano DOT com

Check this schedule often is it will be updated daily.

Time (UTC) Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9
0001 - 0059 - - - * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 20M SSB Net * * 20M SSB Net * * 20M SSB Net * * 20M SSB Net *
0100 - 0159 - - - * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M SSB Net * * 40M SSB Net * * 40M SSB Net * * 40M SSB Net *
0200 - 0259 - - - * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG *
0300 - 0359 - - - * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG *
0400 - 0459 - - - * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG *
0500 - 0559 - - - * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG *
0600 - 0659 - - - * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG *
0700 - 0759 - - - * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG * * 40M DIG *
0800 - 0859 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0900 - 0959 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1000 - 1059 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1100 - 1159 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1200 - 1259 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1300 - 1359 - - - * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG *
1400 - 1459 - - - * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG *
1500 - 1559 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG *
1600 - 1659 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG *
1700 - 1759 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * - - -
1800 - 1859 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * - - -
1900 - 1959 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * - - -
2000 - 2059 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * - - -
2100 - 2159 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * - - -
2200 - 2259 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * - - -
2300 - 2359 * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * * 20M DIG * - - -


FAQ

Don't have a radio?

No problem. Check out these freely accessible online SDRs.

What can I use to decode digital modes

Recommended cross-platform software includes FLdigi and WSJT-X. Will be updating this page on how to use the software with a radio or piping from audio from an online SDR.

Can I still decode digital signals if I am using an online SDR?

Yes. Using virtual audio cable you can pipe output of online SDR to input of digital decode software.


Questions?

Any questions, ideas, can be directed to rfvillage AT cupano DOT com