PTRS Net Attempt 2022-08-27T20:00-04:00

Goal

Test out local network radio communications. Specifically, determine real-world frequency and power reach.

For this example, N0CALL is an FCC Amateur Radio license callsign. In the real test, use real callsign.

For this example, John Three is a pseudonym.

Announce net start on Matrix/Telegram.
Call out on Pats Peak - K1BKE Repeater
- Repeater output 146.895 MHz, CTCSS 100.0 Hz, FM (repeater input 146.295 MHz, CTCSS 100.0 Hz, FM)
- using 60 watts
- "This is November Zero Charlie Alpha Lima Lima monitoring on K 1 B K E for a couple minutes."
Call out on VHF Ham frequency
- 146.550 MHz FM
- using 60 watts
- "This is November Zero Charlie Alpha Lima Lima monitoring on one four six decimal five five simplex for a couple minutes."
Call out on FRS 17 / GMRS 17
- 462.60000 MHz FM
- using ahem 2 watts (obviously not UV-5R 5 watts into roof mount antenna)
- "This is John Three monitoring on F R S seventeen for a couple minutes."
Call out on CB 3
- 26.985 MHz AM
- using ahem 4 watts (obviously not IC-7300 25 watts)
- "This is John Three monitoring on Channel Three for a couple minutes."
Call out on 80m Voice (SSB)
- 3.990 MHz LSB
- using 100 watts
- "This is November Zero Charlie Alpha Lima Lima monitoring on eighty meters for a couple minutes."
Call out on 80m Digital
- 3.990 MHz LSB
  - By convention, Ham digital is USB. Leaving as LSB from prior test.
- using ~40 watts
- Contestia 4-250, 1500 Hz on the waterfall
- FlDigi with optional FlMsg, or for Android, AndFlmsg
- Brief text "Hello Radio de N0CALL"
- Brief blank form message with "Hello Radio de N0CALL"

Icom IC-7300
- 100 watt HF Ham radio
- home made End-fed Half-wave (EFHW) 80m inverted-V sloping from ground to 40 feet
Cobra CXT385
- FRS hand-held
- Fixed Antenna
Baofeng UV-5RV2+
- Ham radio hand-held
- MFJ-1754 Dual-band 144/440 ground plane mounted above two-story roof peak
Cobra 19 ULTRA III
- CB mobile radio
- home made End-fed Half-wave (EFHW) 80m inverted-V sloping from ground to 40 feet
Kenwood TM-281
- VHF Ham radio
- MFJ-1754 Dual-band 144/440 ground plane mounted above two-story roof peak

AM: Amplitude Modulation (Encode low-high sound by varying output power less or more)
CB: Citizen's Band ~27 MHz
CTCSS: continuous, tone-coded squelch system
FM: Frequency Modulation (Encode low-high sound by deviating the transmit frequency lower or higher)
FRS: Family Radio Service (Blister pack, Walmart, low power, camping UHF radios. Fixed antenna.)
GMRS: General Mobile Radio Service (FCC family license, high power, UHF radios. Repeaters allowed.)
HF: High Frequency 3 - 30 MHz
LSB: Lower Side Band (left half of AM signal with carrier suppressed. Used by Hams below 10 MHz.)
NVIS: Near Vertical Incidence Skywave
PL: Private Line (Motorola proprietary term for CTCSS, not "private")
PTRS: Pine Tree Radio Society
SSB: Single Sideband (half of an AM signal with the central carrier suppressed. Commonly Upper Sideband, except Ham voice below 10 MHz.)
SWL: Short Wave (Radio) Listening
UHF: Ultra High Frequency 300 - 3000 MHz
USB: Upper Side Band (right half of AM signal with carrier suppressed. Used by Hams above 10 MHz and everyone else everywhere, including digital.)
VHF: Very High Frequency 30 - 299 MHz
Watts: Measure of power named after Issac Watts, inventor of the steam engine. (Yes, watts convert to horsepower.)