Digital Voice coming to CNY and the 147.39 repeater

Yaesu's System Fusion Digital Voice capability will be coming to the WN8Z 147.39 repeater in Oswego County in early 2015. WN8Z; Pat has reported that the new Fusion DR-1X repeater is on order and he hopes to have it up and running within a month or two. Pat now has the Fusion capable FTM-400DR mobile as well as the FT1DR handheld that he is starting to explore all the System Fusion capabilities with.

Several local Ham's in the area have also purchased new System Fusion capable radios in recent months and have expressed much enthusiasm for this new mode's capabilities. There are also discussions of the possibility of one or more other Fusion repeaters coming to CNY in 2015. There are also at least two System Fusion repeaters coming on line in the Rochester area, and one in Cortland later this year.

Stay tuned here for updates on Pat's progress on this exciting project, as well as news of other System Fusion repeaters in Upstate NY.

link to a System Fusion overview: http://www.yaesu.com/pdf/System_Fusion_text.pdf

Recent articles on digital voice for Amateur Radio:

The Spectrum Monitor; January 2015, (http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/)

Reviews of 2 Fusion Radios - QST Magazine; September 2014 (http://www.arrl.org/qst)

Monday Night Hobby Net - have you got a topic?

Check out the CNY Hobby Information Net; Mondays at 7:00 pm on the 146.67 (-) PL=103.5. (also linked to the KD2SL-53.67 mhz repeater for this NET)

What's your hobby? Model cars, Radio Control aircraft, Portable Operation, Model RR or Railfans, Auto restoration, Cameras, Kites; among others ......we want to hear your story and experiences.

On Monday January 26th we wanted to see if we could get people to discuss portable operations, QRP, and SOTA. What portable antennas have you used? What radios and power sources do you use?  Have you tried SOTA - Summits-on-the-Air? Where do you go, the beach, your deck, maybe the Adirondacks? Please come joins us next Monday Night and share your experiences. Note: other topics can always also be covered, after all this is your net...have at it!.

Varying topics are covered each week (no guns or weapons please...), so tune in or contact N2VZD, Tim for more information at N2VZD@AOL.com. (...and a big THANK YOU to N2VZD -Tim for bringing this NET to the airwaves)

145.15 added to the CNY VHF linked system today!

The KD2SL 145.15 repeater, (-) offset and 123.0 PL, has been linked into the CNY linked repeater system. This repeater has excellent coverage in the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Give it a try sometime!

THE CNY LINKED REPEATER SYSTEM:
147.000 + PL 71.9 Auburn - Cayuga County -W2QYT  (echolink node# 9188)
145.330 - PL 71.9 Remsen - Oneida County - KB2AUJ (temporarily un-linked)
147.225 + PL 71.9 Cortland - Cortland County -KB2FAF
146.970 - PL 103.5 Ithaca - Tompkins County - AF2A (TCARA)
145.150 - PL 123.0 Lafayette - Onondaga County - KD2SL (added 1/18/15)***
443.150 + PL 71.9 Syracuse - Onondaga County (MOST)

Blue Mountain Repeater update

Blue Mountain Fire Tower and antennas (1/13/15)

Nick Deyulio from the Bear Bait Radio Club sent us an update this week on the 146.865 repeater on top of Blue Mountain in Hamilton County (central ADK's). The repeater had some issues recently and has now been replaced with a temporary replacement while the original repeater is being repaired. Thanks to Chris; KD2BAD for braving the elements to go up top on January 13th to replace the repeater (check out the picture to the left). This repeater provides good coverage to the central Adirondacks where cell coverage is very limited. Thanks to the Bear Bait Club (and helpers) for this important north country repeater!

Nick also mentioned that there is now APRS capability from on top of Blue Mountain. See the clubs web page for more information at: http://www.bearbaitradioclub.com/index.html


Read more about this repeater in an older UpstateHam story here: http://www.upstateham.com/2013/05/new-2-meter-repeater-for-adirondacks_20.html

The Bear Bait Radio Club is also having a Amateur Radio Technician Class and VE test session on February 21st and 22nd, 2015 at the Clay Welcome Center on RT. 31, Clay NY. It's from 8-5 each day. Lunch will be provided. Contact Scott; WA2DTN for more info at: kb2bdb@twcny.rr.com

The club also provides Amateur Radio licensing classes several times a year. See their calendar for more dates and times at:http://www.bearbaitradioclub.com/main_003.htm#

Cool Drone camera footage of changing a tower lamp

KD2SL - Kevin passed this on to us earlier today, nice video and story;

 "Very cool drone camera footage of a TV tower lamp bulb change. The antenna shown (batwings) is essentially the same as what we have on our tower, used for the 6m repeater for a time." 

Thanks Kevin!

link to story and video:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/dronecam-captures-tower-tech-changing-bulb-at--feet-/273995

MODEL AIRCRAFT FORUM AND INDOOR FUN FLY - Saturday 1/24

1/24/2015 -- Syracuse, NY (C) MODEL AIRCRAFT FORUM AND INDOOR FUN FLY.

Location: Syracuse Academy Of Science. 1001 Park Ave., Syracuse N.Y.

Indoor Electric Micro flying in an 80x80 gym.

Separate room for static displays,swap shop, information sessions, vendors and food.

A great Mid Winter activity. Sponsor: AERO RADIO CLUB OF SYRACUSE

link to web site:
http://www.amadistrictiistars.org/images/events/2015/MAFflyer2015_HQ_front.jpg

More info: Herbert Ziegler CD PH: 315.857.6266 Email: herbz1957@yahoo.com.