Bill's Amateur Radio Page K7MT !!!

My Ham Shack updates for 2012 and antenna's !! I really enjoy the hobby and especially the experimenting and learning.

I upgraded my solar system with two new used panels and 5 new deep cycle batteries.  I now have about 15 amps solar to a 550 amp battery storage system for my Ham Shack. I run RMS Packet (Radio/TNC), APRS Igate (Radio/TNC), Wireless High Speed Internet, in house router/wireless internet, Pactor III Station (Radio ICOM706/SCS Modem), and a IBM T43 laptop computer all on solar 24/7. The APRS IGATE station has been operational for 10 years on solar!!

BPQ32 Switch  (BBS, Chat, RMS Packet to Winlink, WWW connection) station is top to bottom - Net Gear for Hi Speed Wireless Internet and  in house wireless/10-T, WX station is a Oregon Scientific WM918 for APRS WX reports, KPC-3 TNC/Alinco DR-1200T Radio 145.010 @ 5 watts, and Edgeport USB to 4 RS-232 connections for TNC/ Radio control to a IBM T43 Laptop.

I got a great deal on an Alinco DR-135TP with the built in TNC EJ-41U and put in on my APRS Station to replace the Kantronics KPC-3 and Alinco DR-1200T.  I will keep the KPC-3 and DR-1200T for a spare mountain top APRS Digi.

Here is the WX Station off the side of my Tower that feeds data to the Monitor which intern puts it out on Amateur Radio APRS every 15 Minutes.  NOAA in Great Falls uses this data and appreciates we hams around Montana for the WX Data input.

Here is a computer screen shot (IBM T43) with 4 programs running. Weather Display to collect and save data from the Weather Station, APRS Plus SA for the APRS Internet Gateway - Winlink E-Mail using APRS Link, BPQ32 Switch with BBS -  Chat -  WWW connect, RMS Packet for Winlink E-Mail. If the internet goes down,  Pactor III for Winlink E-Mail is available. The CAT5 cable lying on the desk is testing HSMM-MESH on 2.4GHZ. The system is on Solar/battery 24/7.

Here is a screen shot of my active HSMM-MESH in testing mode.  I am working on Windows Server 2003 and setting up access to programs on the IBM T43 Computer. It is sure a fun learning experience.

Here is a screen shot of RMS Express using the Winmor Protocol to send an receive e-mail on HF Radio through the WinLink System.  A small laptop and a $100 Signal Link USB Sound Card interface hooked to your HF radio is all that is needed to do e-mail.  

I did get a deal on a SCS Pactor PTC-IIe with Pactor III license at $600 and it is now on line for emergencies. 

I upgraded to Pactor III on the Winlink System with a SCS PTC-IIe Modem.  My ICOM-706MKIIG does the work for Winlink using the SCS Modem.  I use it once a week or so on voice to check into the Montana Traffic Net which is on 03910 KHZ at 0030Z daily.

Here are my satellite antennas. I also use my hand held Kenwood TH-D7G and an Arrow II antenna for portable FM Satellite operation. I took the Kenwood and Arrow with me to Antarctica and worked AO-51 to New Zealand, Tasmania, and Australia.  Ye Ha !

About 40 feet away is all my HF antennas ( 10 to 80 Meters, 2 meters, 70 CM, 6 meters) and Hi Speed wireless Internet connection (2.4 GHZ - I have upgraded to 5.6 GHZ). Lots of antennas but could always use a couple more !!!!!