Yaesu FT2DR Transmitting APRS Beacon Manually

I'm enjoying the FT2DR. It's a solid radio, good audio output and overall well designed.

However I did have some confusion on how to transmit APRS info, namely a manual beacon text transmit.

I had set up the GPS, my APRS callsign, the beacon text and I programmed 144.390 in the B VFO.

After I acquired a GPS signal, I tried to press the soft key that would manually transmit my beacon info/text. All I received was an error beep.

I rechecked my settings and everything looked okay.

My Mode was set to FM (with a line over the top of the letters FM) Auto Mode Select  (AMS). I decided to switch off the AMS. So now the  mode displayed was just the letters FM with no line over the letters.

This worked! I was able to send an APRS beacon text message!


So you can't have AMS enabled when your using APRS.  LUCKILY you can set AMS on for the VFO A and have it off on VFO B at the same time.

Notice the A VFO has AMS on, while the
B VFO has AMS off. 

FT2DR APRS Manual



73  Jay AB1II

And where does that go, that goes this way!

Ride of the Brownshirts SC and myself this AM!  About 20 miles in 2 hours.  Weather was fine, with fog and some drizzle.  We rode into the Blue Hills from Quincy and did sections of the multi-use trails and the adjoining single track.



  As always a fun ride and a great work out.

Blue Hills HIke

Great Hike today in the Blue Hills.  SM and I hiked the trails around Hancock Hill for a few hours. We had nice QSO with Pi K1RV on simplex from near one of the summits.  

The WX was a perfect day.  Temps in the 70sF and good 12 MPH winds.  and Sunny!

We did get some APRS positions reported via Internet gateways, so you can see some of our track in the photos below.

Happy Trails!

Eaton's Bond Braintree MA

A few weeks ago, I helped out the New England Mountain Biking Association (NEMBA) with a trail maintenance day at Eaton's Pond in Braintree MA.  Today I checked out these trails on the bike.  I rode to Eaton's from the house here.  About 4.3 miles away.  Today the WX was great.  Sunny, temps in the 70s F. low winds.  

The trails are new, and more are being built.  This space will have a nice trail system when the work is completed.

I did take a break and had a nice chat with Nick KC1MA.  He was on a way to a club meeting. This was via the Boston K1RJZ 900 MHz repeater in Boston MA.  I always try to bring some type of ham radio with me on these rides.

The whole ride was about 2 hours, that's including the QSO with KC1MA, and a detour to walk over the Fore River Bridge.

I all ready cleaned off the bike, so it's all set for the next ride.

Thanks to NEBMA  and the Town of Braintree for creating these trails!

Check out NEMBA

Mountain Bike ride Great Blue Hill Blue Hills Massachusetts

Got started around 8AM Temp was about 33 F.  Road up Wolcolt Path.  Right at the start my legs were burning. As a result of this feeling, I placed the bike in the easy gear.  Took a right on to 1122, then another onto 1121, right onto 1166 and all the way to 1191.  Here it was a left onto The yellow multi-use trail.  Road this system to 1085, then up the path leading to the paved summit road of Great Blue Hill.  Road the paved road to the summit of Great Blue Hill.  Now it's a bit warmer out, the sun is out, and it's a clear day. Enjoyed the view.  I placed a call out on 146.52 and KA1BBU returned.  We switched to the Norwell 145.39 and had a very nice chat.  73 Bob!

After a nice break at the summit, I road the Coon Hollow Path back to the paved summit road.  This was the most fun part of the ride.  It was very rocky, but because it was a descent, it was quite manageable.

From the paved road, I found my way back to Wolcolt.  Before ending the ride, I did the quick loop around Houghton Hill.  I enjoy Houghton Hill because it's easy climb, with more great views.

A great ride again.  Thanks to the Blue Hills for such a great trail system.

Mountain Biking today in the Blue Hills

Due to the extra dry thaw this year the DCR South ended the bike ban early! So today I did some of the Blue Hills.  I wanted to check out stuff that I have not done before.  The wx was great, under 60F, and cloudy.  Perfect for riding.  Started at after 8AM and finished after 10:30 AM.

Started on Wolcolt Path, then right onto 1122, then right onto 1121 (Eustis Trail)  Then at 1183 I was looking at the map to decide what's next.  A nice jogger asked me If i was lost. After chatting with him about good trails to check out, I realized he had found my ham radio!  How lucky for me!  I though he was a ham, and he happen to have the same radio as me.

Based on the joggers advice i took Chestnut Run Path to Border Path, then left onto Rotch Path at 1114.  This got me back to Wolcott Path, from there I did the loop at top of Houghtons Hill.  This was very nice break at the top of that hill.  I put my call out on the Bridgewater 2m machine (147.18) a few time.  No one was around, but the machine was sounding solid from up there.

Now it's 9:00 AM.  I take trail back down to Wolcolth path, cross over and at 1160 I take the Hancock Hill Path.  Now this was where I had to walk the bike though some tough sections.  I hope to improve my riding skills more in this section in the future.  It's a great trail for views, it's up high.  From this trail I was back on Chestnut Run Path.  I then road again Border Path and Roach Path.  I then road Wolcolt Path back to the main road.

I was still feeling good, so I crossed over Hillside St.  and I road the 6 mile Intermediate Loop.  I took it easy on that side, but still happy with my timing, and I did not have too many breaks.

I can't wait to my next Blue Hills ride!  Next time I'll bring more water.  70 OZ was not enough, and it was not even sunny or hot.

Hemenway Hill Hancock Hill in the Blue Hills MA

Today was a great day for a hike in the Blue Hills MA. It was partly sunny, and the temps were in the low 40s F. I wanted to buy the new Dec 2011 trail maps and get a few copies of the new Mountain Bike maps. So I started my hike today at the Blue Hills Headquarters. Then took Rotch Path at 1122, next Hemenway Hill Path at 1121, next onto Jeffries Trail that runs North at the summit of Hemenway Hill, then it bends to the East down to 1182. Around there there's a fenced in Well!  Moving along Base Path to 1185, then onto Hancock Hill Path starting at 1204.  Then to the summit of Hancock Hill via path 1201. Made it to the summit of Hancock HIll. While there I had a QSO with Dave N1LUM on simplex, 146.520. It was nice to meet Dave and hope to catch him again. I took the Blue Line Trail back to the Headquarters and onto the parking lot.  Over all the hike was under two hours. 

Chickatawbut Hill, Fox Hill, & Wampatuck Hill Blue Hills Quincy MA Hike

Today it was going to be a longer hike.  Temps in the 30s F when I started, high in the 30s F at the end.  Quite breezy especially at the summits.  Got an 8:00 AM start from Shea Rink Parking lot.  Then I hiked the Sawcut Notch Patch to the gas line.  I hiked the gas line south all the way to Chickatawbut Road.  After crossing the road, I picked up the Red Dot trail heading South.  Shortly I took a left onto a narrow trail that lead to the summit of Chickatawbut Hill.  I then took a narrow trail down to the yellow dot trail to the Overlook Area on the road.  After crossing the road again I picked up Ceder Rock Path at 4013.  I took this to the pipeline at 4012.  I took the pipeline North to 4048, and took a right on to Ridge Path.  At 4072  I took left onto a narrow path, and took that too Pine Tree Brook Path.  Heading West on this path I took a right onto a narrow path and follow to the green dot trail.  From there It was my normal route up and over Fox Hill, then onto Wampatuck Hill,  and back to the parking lot via Green Dot Trail.  Today was a very good hike.  I was back at Shea rink at 11:00 AM.

Christmas Day Blue Hills Quincy MA Hike

APRS AB1II-7

The temp was in the 20s F.  Great day for a hike!  We started the usual spot and trails from Shea Rink.  Except this time we stayed on Sawcut Notch Path until the gas line at 4066.  Then left onto the gas line, until 4049 we took a left onto Pine Tree Brook Path.  Then we took a narrow path to 4090 to the Indian Camp Path (Green Dot)  At 4102 I took Fox Hill path over fox hill, and down to the green dot trail.  Ame stayed on the Green Dot trail, but we stayed in touch via D-Star on simplex.  Hike was about 2 hours long.  There were a few snowflakes today.  

My APRS setup is a Yeasu VX-8DR with GPS mic.  I was using a Diamond tri-band antenna.  Today I tried a 1/4 wavelength telescoping whip.  This worked much better.  I was able to see 95% of our hike today on aprs.fi.  APRS Position of AB1II

ARRL Field Day 2011

I had a fun time on 10 meters today. I had set up the buddi-pole vertical: 8' of wire, whip set to 99" attached to two arms. No coils needed.

I ran QRP on battery power.

Glad to see 10 meters open up for the whole day.

A Fine Travel 2m HT The Alinco DJ-S11

I find this is a handy radio to bring with me on trips. Above, The DJ-S11 while on vacation in Houston, TX.

It's small, discrete, simple, good audio, low power consumption, and since it takes 3 regular AA batteries, you don't have to pack a separate battery charger. Also if the repeater is near by, the radio still receives great with the unique folding antenna folded down, out of the way.

73
jay / ab1ii

Antenna Party at the new location

The ham radio mentor n1jfu, Steve generously offered his help, time, resources to getting an excellent start to the ham shack here at the new home location.

Steve teaches that design is very important in getting your station set up. A well thought out design can save you time and give you flexibility as you try out different modes, radios etc. throughout your ham radio career. He also teaches it's better to use high grade connectors and transmission lines. Why buy an expensive radio and have junk for your weakest link?

I am grateful for Steve's help.

Thank you Steve!

The LMR 400, 200, and connectors arrive


2 inch hole in the ceiling of the closet


standard electric outlet with 2 inch hole
drilled in the back. So if the shack is moved
this hole can be covered by a standard plate.


the 'workshop'



Steve does great work! Will be adding ground.


900 MHz antenna



n1jfu and the 20 meter dipole.




results so far with attic antennas.

noise floor

Can't wait to get out of this Apartment. Noise floor on HF just went from s3-s5 to s9+! Can't even hear wwv on 10 MHz.

Super Antennas MP1

HRO sold me this antenna when I told them i planned to use an antenna inside my apartment for HF. I think they had intended my mounting it out a window or something.

Still being brand new to HF, I would like to tell you somethings that i learned.

HF right now, with no sunspot activity, with the MP1 indoors; I am getting poor results.

When using the MPI indoors, do not use the Collar Position Info chart. This chart helps you position the collar for the band you want to work. This is good guide only if you have the MPI in a optimal location.

Inside an apartment is not the best location. With limited room for the counterpoise wires and other factors, affecting my SWR: setting the collar position was the last step in getting a good SWR. With my situation my best SWR for the band I want, never matched the Info Chart.

With this antenna indoors:
I have worked voice all over the states on 6m when there are E openings,
30 meter CW, and 20 Meter Phone.

This antenna does tune 40 meters - 10 meters indoors.

Lucky I will be moving into a home soon, and will have more antenna options. Many more options.

73
jay / ab1ii