HR4BTC

radio

Turn an unused/underused repeater into a decentralized local digital chat

If you like bitcoin or you like radio (or both), take a few minutes of your time to familiarize yourself with the ESP32:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLQa1sX9KIk

15 minute lesson on the ESP32 (useful for mesh networks)

The article "Simplex Channel Confusion on 2 Meters" from AmateurRadio.com discusses challenges in selecting suitable simplex frequencies on the 2-meter (144 to 148 MHz) band. The main issue is the variation in channel spacing, with some areas using 15-kHz and others 20-kHz spacing. This discrepancy can cause confusion and interference problems. The article advises checking local VHF band plans for guidance on simplex frequencies and notes the importance of frequency coordination in amateur radio. It also mentions the National Simplex Calling Frequency (146.52 MHz) as a universally recognized channel. For more detailed information, you can read the full article.

https://www.amateurradio.com/simplex-channel-confusion-on-2-meters/

Choosing simplex frequencies on the 2 meter ham band:

Winter Field Day is an annual event organized by the Winter Field Day Association (WFDA) for amateur radio enthusiasts. It's designed to encourage emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators. Participants set up temporary stations in various locations, often in challenging winter weather conditions, to demonstrate their ability to operate in various environmental settings and conditions.

The event is similar to the more well-known Field Day in summer, organized by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). During Winter Field Day, operators attempt to make as many contacts as possible, using different modes of transmission and bands, enhancing their skills and readiness for emergency situations.

Winter Field Day in 2024 is scheduled for January 27th and 28th. This event is held on the last full weekend of January each year. It's a 24-hour exercise starting from 1900 UTC on Saturday and ending at 1900 UTC on Sunday. Participants can begin setting up their stations no earlier than 1900 UTC on the Friday before the event.

https://winterfieldday.org/index.php

Winter Field Day 2024

Instructions & video by KB9VBR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmHoQrDfw-0

Parts List
1 25 foot 1 inch wide steel tape measure
1 10 foot piece of 3/4 inch Schedule 40 PVC Tube
2 3/4 inch PVC Cross connectors
2 3/4 inch PVC T connector
6 3/4 to 1 1/2 inch stainless Hose Clamps
1 5 inch piece of 14 ga wire
1 length of RG-58 cable, approx 6 foot
Solder and Flux
Electrical Tape
Tools
Soldering Iron
Tin Snips
Wire Cutter
Screw driver or nut driver
PVC cutter or fine tooth saw
Sand paper or Dremel tool with sanding disk
Ruler or tape measure

Step 1
Cut three pieces of PVC tubing. One piece will be 11 1/4 inches long and the second will be 6 7/8 inches long. These pieces will make up the support boom for the antenna. The third piece can be any length, it will be the handle for the antenna, so give yourself about a foot or foot and a half. Whatever is comfortable.

Fit the pieces of PVC tube together with the crosses and the T. You may PVC cement if you wish to make the connections permanent, otherwise dry fitting them will be fine. The distance between the first cross and the middle cross has to be 8 inches and the distance between the middle cross and and the T has to be 12 1/2 inches. These are measured from the center points of the connectors. Make adjustment if necessary.

Step 2
Cut the tape measure into four pieces. One piece will be 41 3/8 inch and the second will be 35 1/8 inch. These are the reflector and director elements for your yagi. The driven element is made up of two pieces, so cut two pieces that are 17 3/4 inches long.

Step 3
On the two driven element pieces, sand or grind away the paint from one corner. This is where we will solder the the coax and the hairpin match. Apply flux and use your soldering iron to tin this area. It’s easier to tin this area now before attaching the elements to the support boom.

Step 4
Assemble the director and reflector elements. Making sure they are centered, use the hose clamps to attach the elements to the T and Cross connectors.

Step 5
Assemble the driven elements. Using the hose clamps, attach each half of the driven elements to the Cross connector. There should be a one inch gap between the two pieces.

Step 6
Attach the hairpin match. Take your 5 inch piece of wire and strip 1/4 inch off each end. Bend the wire so it is in a U shape with a 3/4 inch gap. Solder this to the tinned ends of the driven element.

Step 7
Attach the coax. I’ve got a six foot length prepared piece of RG-58 coax where I put a BNC connector on one end and stripped the braid and center conductor on the other. You’ll solder these two ends to the driven element of the antenna. It doesn’t make a difference which end goes where. Now before you solder, you can drill a hole in your boom and thread the coax inside the pipe. Otherwise just use a couple of cable ties or electrical tape to secure the coax to the antenna.

With that, your antenna is complete. With these dimensions the antenna should be resonant at about 146.5 Mhz. If you are going to use this as a receive antenna for fox hunting, tuning isn’t critical, but if you plan to transmit with it, then you can check it with an antenna analyzer or power meter and make any small adjustments by varying the gap between two parts of the driven element.

Build it: 2 meter Tape Measure Yagi Beam Antenna

Quality discussion on NVIS antennas:

A great, very low cost DIY antenna for local comms on HF.

⚡️⚡️Do not pay high prices for what you can do yourself with $10 of speaker wire.⚡️⚡️

https://www.youtube.com/live/WFE6S7ihyZk

DIY NVIS antennas (low cost, ~$10)

⚡️Make your own HF Ham Radio (SSB/AM/FM/CW Transmitter) w/ a Raspberry Pi Pico⚡️

Job opportunity at @ Coinkite for an RF Antenna Engineer

Secure Off-Grid Communications with Meshtastic and LoRa 

This video offers an in-depth exploration into the world of secure, off-grid communication, focusing on Meshtastic and LoRa technology. It's an essential watch for anyone interested in alternative communication methods, from survivalists to outdoor enthusiasts, or just those curious about these innovative technologies.

Highlighted Topics Include:

1. Basics of Meshtastic and LoRa: Gain foundational knowledge about Meshtastic and LoRa technology and their impact on off-grid communications.

2. Creating Your Mesh Network: Follow a detailed guide to establish and configure your Meshtastic mesh network, ensuring secure and decentralized communication.

3. Long-Range Communication with LoRa: Delve into how LoRa technology facilitates communication over vast distances, independent of conventional infrastructure.

4. Security Aspects: Understand the advanced security features integral to Meshtastic, enhancing your private and secure communication experience off-grid.

5. Practical Uses in the Real World: Learn about the diverse applications of Meshtastic and LoRa in various settings, from adventurous outdoor activities to critical emergency situations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA6tJ9n39Bg

ecash

deleted by author

Introducing: GhostNet by S2 Underground (YouYube & GitHub)

S2 Underground's GitHub:

https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet/tree/main

THERE ARE CHANGES TO THE PLAN AS DESCRIBED IN THIS VIDEO
CLICK BELOW TO GET THE UPDATED PLAN
Download the PDF from the GitHub:

00:00 - Introduction
02:18 - Overview
05:15 - Benefits
08:35 - Concepts
11:58 - C2 Nodes and Survivability
14:05 - Privacy and Intent
16:54 - Data Bridge Overview
19:52 - Regional Plans
30:38 - Incident Response
31:50 - Time Zones and Platforms
32:33 - Ion2G
33:27 - Receive Only Options
34:21 - Disadvantages and Cons
41:30 - Closing Thoughts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk7Jlln16EU

nutband: eCash over Reticulum mesh network (github)

https://njump.me/nevent1qqsx6j6s888a2lsrjmjdzv75thvanlma0h64eg20jdxtmpn732kxefgpz4mhxue69uhhqatjwpkx2un9d3shjtnrdakszrthwden5te0dehhxtnvdakqygx6kmrqvhzrnwd6lv9s78l45rrgyuauuhqetxjptzkk5uy9rag8kcpsgqqqqqqsvgyfn6

S2 Underground on YouTube puts out a lot of quality radio content.

Check out their latest on Bare Minimum Comms Strategy.

00:00 - Introduction and Reasoning
02:16 - Meshtastic
08:39 - Satellite Communicators
12:56 - HF Radio
14:03 - Thinking Strategically
18:26 - Zero-Trust Environments
27:17 - Non Radio-based Comms
31:45 - Closing Thoughts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjnVypmqGoo