Hey! New IRLP Activities!

Dave Cameron, the driving force behind IRLP has announced some new Activity Channels. You might find something that really grabs your interest. Check it out.

—–Original Message—–
From: ve7ltd <dcameron@irlp.net>
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 17:59:43
To: <irlp@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [irlp] Announcing IRLP Topic Channels

– RELEASE PDF IS IN THE FILES AREA –

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/EPFUT60sQHXt1H24Cn68FryPwlQSanH4XIz9XO84wI4UvaSu9YuzgW7Q7VTFQjV0OjxO2cXRE4235YSKywBE/IRLP%20Topic%20Channels%20News%20Release%20-%20Rev%201.pdf

A new activity is coming to Amateur Radio.  Beginning March 3, 2012 the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) will host IRLP Topic Channels.  Interested in history?  Media?  DX?  There’s an IRLP topic channel for you.

With nearly 3000 IRLP nodes worldwide, amateur radio operators can access a nearby IRLP node or repeater.  Or, they can build an IRLP node, or even buy a plug-and-play node and join the conversation today.  There are nearly thirty reflectors scattered around the world that make it possible for nodes to talk to one another.  Each reflector has ten channels and most of these go unused.  The owners of these reflectors have contributed more than twenty channels for topic based discussions.

There is an IRLP Topic Lounge that serves as the meeting place for the IRLP Topic Channels.  Then there are six channels with topics like DX, sports, movies and media, history and current events, emergency communications, and even the meaning of life itself.  Then there are three flex channels that change periodically. These now include election 2012, stamp collecting and “the next new thing”.  The number of channels is expected to increase as interest in new topics develops.

The IRLP Topic Channels is the brainchild of Michael Bloom, W7RAT, and is sponsored by the Oregon Radio Internet Group, a radio club established to promote the use of voice of internet combined with actual ham radio.  IRLP Topic Channels is supported by reflector owners in the US, Australia, Canada, and Norway.  While IRLP is the backbone of the system some topic channels will provide access via Echolink and other VOIP systems.

The IRLP system was designed in 1998 by David Cameron VE7LTD who has volunteered channels on his own reflectors for this project.  For more information on using IRLP visit www.irlp.net <http://www.irlp.net> .  The first group of topics and channels is expected to be published in the April issue of QST Magazine.  For the latest list of channels visit www.irlptopics.net <http://www.irlptopics.net>  for the latest topics or to suggest your own.

Hey! Remember Packet? It’s Back! * Updated*

Our Packet system is back on the air after a little a little hiatus.  Turn your TNC or Soundcard TNC and radio on to 145.010 simplex at 1200 baud and get started.

Here’s the current setup:

1. Our Node – connect to VE3PRC.  This gives you access to a range of features.  Try them out – explore.
2. Our BBS – Connect to VE3PRC-2.  This puts you on our F6FBB Mail System and Bulletin Board.  Here you can leave mail, read mail, create and read bulletins, and create and read NTS traffic.  Mail forwarding happens automatically between our system and the VA3BAL systems.
3. Winlink – connect to VE3PRC-10.  We now have a full Winlink RMS service on our packet system.  While designed as an Emcomm system, it is useable anytime. It allows email service between packet radio and the Internet.  “When all else fails …”

Have fun!

New ARES Standard Operating Procedure Available

Thanks to the efforts of our AEC Vic Henderson, and EC Richard Upfield, we have a new updated version of the Standard Operating procedures (SOP). This manual covers our local methodologies and procedures.

The document is contained in a fairly large PDF file available to PARC ARES members here.  Note that you must be signed in to Yahoo Groups and be a member of the PARC ARES eGroup to gain access.

If you have any questions regarding the new SOP, please contact Richard.

If you need a PDF viewer, it is available free here from Adobe.

Packeteers: VE3PRC-7 KA-Node Now Configured

Dave, VE3DKX and Bryan, VA3OG were able to get up to the site and were able to configure the VE3PRC-7 KA-Node.  So now, to reach stations that are outside of your stations reach, do the following:

C VE3PRC-7 <— This connects you to the “PRC” Node

Then connect onward to your destination.

This is the preferred method of packeting. It is a little more efficient, and has better reliability. Each of your packets is acknowledged by the node, which then takes responsibility of moving it onward. If packet collisions cause a missed packet, the node will repeat it automatically.

Try it out and enjoy packet again!

Packeteers: VE3PRC PBBS is Back

The VE3PRC packet PBBS is back in action after getting the KPC-3+ programmed properly.  (Well, almost properly – we still have to activate the VE3PRC-7 KA-Node! Ooops!)

The BBS is on our standard packet frequency of 145.01 (simplex).

Please give the system a try. You can connect to either VE3PRC or VE3PRC-1 to reach the mailbox. Standard packet commands, which you should be familiar with, let you read and write messages and bulletins, even NTS messages!

We highly recommend the use of Outpost Packet Manager as your software of choice! It is perfect for BBS operations, and has a familiar email kind of feel!

At the moment, the VE3PRC-7 KA-node isn’t on, but you can still “old school” digipeat through VE3PRC.

eg, for me to reach Jim, VE3ETZ, whose station I cannot hear, I would issue the following:

C VE3ETZ v VE3PRC

That lets VE3PRC digipeat everything I send over to Jim. Not packet elegance, but it still works!

Dust off your gear and give it a try!

Packet Revival Continues

Our good friends in the Maritime Provinces have been working at reviving the packet network  across NB, NS and PEI.

Here is a copy of a message from the Maritime SM, Jim Langille, VE1JBL, to Maritime hams, outlining their progress. There is a good link in his message, too, worth looking at.

---

From: ve1jbl@eastlink.ca
To: ;
Subject: Packet Radio
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 16:47:00 -0400

RAC Section Manager: Maritimes

---

Greetings to all,

There seems to be a revival of packet radio here in the Maritimes as more and more amateurs dig out their old TNC’s from the back of the closet, dust them off, hook them up and get on the air. As more amateur radio clubs set up packet as another mode to use as part of their emergency communications, amateurs are getting back into packet. This is still a great way to send messages back and forth without the internet.

There is now a list on The Maritime Amateur website www.maritimeamateur.ca of amateurs being heard on packet. This page was created so that other amateurs setting up their packet station again can have a idea of who is on and who they can contact. At the Homepage, click on Packet Radio in the gray bar near the top of the page.

If you, your club or EMO would like to be added to this list, contact me at ve1jbl@eastlink.ca and I will get you on.

Jean-Guy Landry VE9BUF will soon update a list of paths for getting to EMO’s across the Maritimes. When I receive this, I will post it on the website.

There is also talk about renewing nodes around the Maritimes to make it easier to get around. I will update the site as I receive these.

Thanks,

James (Jim) Langille  VE1JBL
President: Westcumb Amateur Radio Club Inc.
RAC Section Manager: Maritimes
The Maritime Amateur