This is an update of some of our activities in the month of February, 2024.

Did an introductory video-conference presentation about ham radio to a group of comrades in the Northeast.

Two of us worked together remotely to get set up using CAT control and JS8call on one of our stations. CAT control works. However, the contact failed due to suspected coax problems. It was too cold outside to check. It was also suspected that one of the rigs suffered internal damage due to high SWR, but the problem appears to have been solved by a factory reset.

A second attempt was made a couple weeks later, this time using a Linux command line tool called minimodem which is a general purpose audio FSK modem capable of sending at very low bit rates, which, in theory should allow for a message to cut through very high noise levels. Experiments with very low audio (not RF) between two computers in the same building yielded promising results. We set our radios to VOX control and let it rip. No joy. One of the antennas was simply not radiating. The endfed random wire antenna that is proving to be problematic will likely be replaced with a soe form of multiband resonant dipole when the ice melts. Minimodem may get its own post in the future. There’s something to be said for such a simple and flexible command line utility, as opposed to more complex GUI applications such as FLDigi and JS8Call.

Solar powered Meshtastic modules have been ordered and should arrive soon. One Meshtastic device was given to a comrade who lives just beyond line of sight. Arrangements will be made to install the device on a mast, and attempt experimental contact when both parties have time. They are hopeful, as the mesh network is expanding in their localities and contact should be possible through at least two hops.

None of us have been affected by the AT&T outage. Although, it does serve as a stark reminder that whether due to disaster, malice, or sheer incompetence, governments and private corporations cannot always be trusted to maintain critical infrastructure.