Baofeng BF-T1

 The Baofeng UV5R had a baby I guess...

More on Packet Radio

 Navigating packet radio can be very hard, especially if you're just starting out in the hobby. You may have questions like "What's the difference between APRS and packet?" or "Why can't I use X software for packet?" Heck you may even wonder how can you set up your own packet radio operation. Today, I hope that this blog post can put some of those wonder and questions to rest. So follow me as I delve into (hopefully) helping you get your start in the internet of amateur radio - packet radio!

BBS Packet Radio PART II

Okay everyone, we are just a few connections and solder blobs away from putting the packet radio node on the air! It's been quite the adventure, so let me tell you all about it!

BBS Packet Radio

 Okay, so my AllStar node was a bit too...ambitious. Therefore, Project AllStar has been cancelled :( I might make a personal radio-less AllStar node just for me.

That's okay, though, because I have a better and easier project that even YOU can do! And this should still benefit my community too!

Motorola SM50 for Ham VoIP

Along with my Maxon SM4450, I was given a Motorola SM50 GMRS radio. I actually thought that it didn't work at first until I realized that the power leads were installed backwards on the SAE pigtail! I can confirm that it now works and puts out RF quite well. 

Well, after lots and lots of trial and error (and with the confidence I gained through rebanding and reprogramming the 4450!), I got my Motorola SM50 UHF radio realigned on 440MHz! After modifying the .MDF file for the RSS software, I was able to program it to 440MHz to 480MHz. Of course, I won't need all this bandwidth as I'm only allocated to the lower 10MHz!

I programmed this radio using a CP2102 connected to the radio, and I used DOSBox to emulate DOS. It is recommended to use an actual DOS computer, but I found this method to work best for me, despite it having lots of hiccups along the way. I did find a workaround for it though!

Maxon SM-4450 70cm Conversion

    A short time ago, I was given some GMRS radios from a local ham friend who was cleaning out his house. One of the radios given to me was a Maxon SM4000 series radio, namely, the SM4450. From the factory, this radio operates from 450 to 470MHz. It was also one of the very first radios to be programmed via a computer and software.

    Unfortunately, I am a ham operator and cannot use the GMRS frequencies legally. I am not licensed to do so and I am not seeking a GMRS license. I am, however, guaranteed a section of the UHF band. In the United States below Line A (see FCC definition), hams are allocated the 70 centimeter band on a secondary basis, running from 420MHz to 450MHz. Hams above Line A must refrain from using 420 to 430MHz, as this is a crucial frequency to the Canadian government. 70cm is unexplored territory for me. I have only made 2 contacts on 2 meters via a repeater and the simplex frequency.

    To open up myself for 70cm exploration, I got the wild, but certainly not impossible, idea to realign this radio to operate in the 70cm band. In doing some rabbit-hole research, I not only found that this was possible, but it is simple too! Unfortunately, 70cm is very inactive around my area, but I'm hoping to change that with this task!