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73
Bill

2016 NW APRS Summer Gathering - Update 05, 2016-07-15 - Facebook Group and New "Registration" Form

Happy Friday!

As of today, it's now exactly 8 weeks now until the 2016 Northwest APRS Summer Gathering at Valley Camp!

NWAPRS has a Facebook group! Please like us there for updates posted there to appear on your Facebook feed. We know that Facebook is very popular, and we'll try to regularly update information about the 2016 Summer Gathering there.

There is now a form online to "register" to attend the 2016 Summer Gathering. Register is in quotes because, as always, all are welcome at the Summer Gathering, but it really helps the organizers to have an idea of how many are planning to attend, and some other basic info for planning purposes. This is a change from the previous request to send an email to Thom K7FZO at Valley Camp to indicate that you're going to attend 2016 Summer Gathering - the form will serve this purpose, and Thom and Teena are very busy during the summers at Valley Camp.

UNCHANGED - If you plan to stay at Valley Camp for the 2016 Summer Gathering - bunking, renting, or camping, please DO email Teena K9HAV at Valley Camp that you'd like to discuss staying over. 


Thanks,

Steve Stroh N8GNJ
listmeister for the Northwest APRS Summer Gathering
2016 event: September 9-11, 2016

Like NWAPRS on Facebook

It's come to my attention that NWAPRS is on Facebook. Please click on this link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/111038378958696/

and Like us to be notified of updates in Facebook.

Now that we're gearing up for the 2016 Summer Gathering, we'll start posting on Facebook also.

Steve N8GNJ

2016 NW APRS Summer Gathering - Update 03, 2016-07-13

Hello again.

This is announcement list for the Northwest APRS Summer Gathering, held annually, usually the weekend after Labor Day (September), at Valley Camp near North Bend, WA.

Updates

It's now just over 8 weeks to the Northwest APRS Summer Gathering on:
Friday, September 9, 2016
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
at Valley Camp near North Bend, WA.

Theme(s)?
The Northwest APRS Summer Gathering has evolved to encompass more than just APRS over the past few years, and sometimes it helps when planning an event to develop a theme. There's a lot that has been going on in 2016 relating to digital / data communications in Amateur Radio. One that comes immediately to my mind are the incredible, and rapidly evolving capabilities of the "SDR receiver dongles" (there are many names - that's just a generic description). For under $100 - the price of the receiver dongle and a Raspberry Pi, you can have an incredible receiver dedicated to a single purpose, such as monitoring aircraft transponders and plotting them on a map.

Another advancement is the Raspberry Pi 3... what would be considered a supercomputer 20 years ago (literally - compare the MIPS available of a Raspberry Pi versus a Cray supercomputer of 20 years ago) and you have an amazing computer that you can afford to dedicate to a specific Amateur Radio task, such as monitoring one specific repeater, a packet radio system that can operate in a window of your primary computer, etc.

Those are just a couple of ideas for "themes" - I hope you have some ideas and I'll have more ideas for themes to share in the next few mailings.

Demonstration / Display Area - South Side
It's mentioned only in passing that the NW APRS Summer Gathering encourages "show and tell" by providing space (picnic tables) on the south side of the shelter for demonstrations. If you've got something notable to demonstrate, please do so. Remember that it's "first come, first served" for table space - no reservations. Also, please be considerate and don't take over a table in the demo area if you aren't actually demonstrating something.

Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
One change for the 2016 event is that on Saturday, in addition to providing Saturday breakfast and lunch, dinner will be provided for those that plan to stay overnight. As usual, there will be a Sunday breakfast provided for those that stayed overnight, or those few that come back for the Sunday sessions.

We've recruited a great cook - Tina Stroh KD7WSF to coordinate logistics of meals and manage the cooking. That frees up Curt Black WR5J to more closely manage the presentations and the overall event... and just generally have more fun as an attendee. If you'd like to help regarding the meals (logistics, cooking, etc. pleaseemail Tina KD7WSF.

As always, breakfast, lunch, and now dinner, isn't "mandatory" - you aren't expected. If you wish to not attend or bring your own food (such as RV owners), that's perfectly OK.

As the event gets closer, we'll ask for head counts for those that intend to stay for Saturday dinner to minimize wasted food and expense.

Also as always, there's no charge for meals - they're provided by various people (NOT Valley Camp*) donating the food for such a neat event. If you feel strongly about contributing (and we hope a number of you do), we ask that you contribute to Valley Camp to help keep this wonderful venue going.

* Valley Camp and Teena K9HAV do provide coffee and hot tea all weekend long, with help from Boyd's Coffee and we thank Teena and Boyd's Coffee.

Call for Presentations

Now that Curt Black WR5J doesn't have to worry about meals for 2016 NW APRS SG, as soon as he's done with communications for RAMROD (Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day), he'll start working on organizing the presentations for Saturday. If you have something you'd like to present, or there's a topic you'd like to see (someone else provides a presentation about), please email Curt. As noted, he's a bit busy at the moment, so you might not receive an immediate reply.

Administrivia

If you plan to attend the 2016 NWAPRSSG, please email Thom K7FZO at Valley Camp that you plan to attend. This helps gauge interest and otherwise plan the event. If you plan to stay at Valley Camp for the 2016 NWAPRSSG - bunking, renting, or camping, please email Teena K9HAV at Valley Camp that you'd like to discuss staying over. 

There is no one (web) place for info on the NWAPRSSG, but given that it evolved out of the NW APRS group, the NWAPRS Blog and the NWAPRS Wiki are probably the best web pages for info on the NW APRS SG (as soon as they're update with info on the 2016 event).

Although I started this list, and I'll likely continue to manage it, I don't intend to be the exclusive person to post to it. If you'd like to post to this list to provide information about the NWAPRSSG, drop me an email and I'll explain how to do so.

This list is an "announce-only" list - any replies you make won't be posted back to the list, but go to me as the list administrator.

Feel free to post this link to any other appropriate list of Amateur Radio Operators that might be interested in attending the 2016 NW APRS Summer Gathering, or forward this link via email:
http://tinyletter.com/nwaprssg

Please let me know if you'd like to be taken off this email list, or your email address changed, etc.; email me.


Thanks,

Steve Stroh N8GNJ
listmeister for the Northwest APRS Summer Gathering
2016 event: September 9-11, 2016

9.6Kpalousa - 2016 Summer Gathering

Originally posted at:  http://nwdigitalradio.com/9-6kpalousa/

----

It's time to move from 1200 bauds (it's been 38 years).

NW Digital Radio will setup a test bench at the Northwest APRS Summer Gathering (Sep 9-11 at Valley Camp) to help get stations operating at 9600 baud packet.  This is your opportunity to get your equipment up and running on 9.6K packet.

We will have spectrum analyzers and deviation measurement equipment setup to make sure your configuration is optimal.

Bring your 9.6K capable hardware or software TNC, your radio, connection cables, and documentation on adjusting the radio's deviation and TNC levels.

If you don't have a 9.6K capability.  We will be offering the UDRC for sale on site (or pre-order).

You need to provide:

• A Raspberry Pi 2 or 3
• A 9600 baud packet capable radio with appropriate cable 
• Mini Din 6 on the UDRC to your radio's interface 
• We will bring a soldering station if you need to put a connector on a Mini Din 6 cable, 
• A micro SD Card, preloaded with Compass Linux and direwolf 
• We can load your SD Card on site.
• Power supply for radio and Raspberry Pi (5V 3A recommended)

There will also be examples of messaging applications as well as APRS applications available for running on the Raspberry Pi.

--

John D. Hays
K7VE

2016 NW APRS Summer Gathering - Update 02, 2016-07-07

by Steve Stroh N8GNJ

Hello again.

This email list is intended to be an announcement list for the Northwest APRS Summer Gathering, held annually, usually the weekend after Labor Day (September), at Valley Camp near North Bend, WA.

Info about 2016 NWAPRSSG

Most importantly, the 2016 / 19th annual Northwest APRS Summer Gathering (NWAPRSSG) is ON!

Dates are:

• Friday, September 9th, 2016 (Setup, no formal presentations, show and tell)
• Saturday, September 10, 2016 (Formal presentations, evening movie)
• Sunday, September 11, 2016 (Morning - debrief)

If you plan to attend the 2016 NWAPRSSG, please email Thom at Valley Camp that you plan to attend. This helps gauge interest and otherwise plan the event. If you plan to stay at Valley Camp for the 2016 NWAPRSSG - bunking, renting, or camping, please email Teena at Valley Camp that you'd like to discuss staying over.

If you're curious about Valley Camp, the wonderful venue of the NWAPRSSG, Lynn N7CFO has posted some nice photos of the 2015 NWAPRSSG here.

Given that the NWAPRSSG is loosely organized, and I haven't yet heard back from any of the usual suspects that often attempt some organization, I'm winging it at the moment in providing info about the 2016 event. But, I'm sure that eventually they'll get in touch with me.

There is no one (web) place for info on the NWAPRSSG, but given that it evolved out of the NW APRS group, the NWAPRS Blog (http://blog.nwaprs.info) and the NWAPRS Wiki (http://www.nwaprs.info/index.php/Main_Page) are probably the best web pages for info on the NWAPRSSG.

From NWAPRSSG 2015 (worth repeating) from Curt WR5J

Summer Gathering - Rules Of Engagement

Have FUN!   Try out new things!  Meet as many new people as possible!

Satisfy your Thirst For Knowledge!

YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD TIME - if at any time you are not having a good time please find Curt Black - WR5J, - 206 755-4541c - and let him know what’s up and we will work to fix it…

Please meet your fellow participants. If you don't know someone, go find out what makes them tick - there is a treasure trove of interest and experience here - make sure you check it all out.

We would like to reserve the whole north side for presentations. Please don't set up equipment on the north side; please set up demos on the south side tables only.

Please socialize anytime, but during presentations, please move conversations to the south side with the Demos - we want everyone to be able to hear our speakers and their presentations.

If you have a QUESTION you would like answered during the Gathering, please:

1. write it out and put it on the Kiosk, and/or
2. bring it up during the introductions, and/or
3. grab any of the presenters or other participants anytime during the weekend.
   

Don't leave without getting help or setting up future help!

If you are willing to act as a topic resource, please put your interests/areas of expertise on your name tag.

Please DONATE to Valley Camp to keep this beautiful venue available to us. The Mail Box for donations is on the railing of the main pavilion on the north side cleverly labeled, "Donations". We are hoping the day folks will help with $15 or $20 or more for the day (if you enjoyed the free breakfast, maybe add what that would cost in a restaurant) and $25 per night for overnight stays.

Thom and Teena and the SG Team (Curt, Bill, Ann, Brian, Herb) Thank You!


List Administrivia

Since my initial email to this list, I've received a few suggestions of people to add, and I've done so (welcome, Dave Dobbins!).

Although I started this list, and I'll likely continue to manage it, I don't intend to be the exclusive person to post to it. If you'd like to post to this list to provide information about the NWAPRSSG, drop me an email and I'll explain how to do so.

This list is an "announce-only" list - any replies you make won't be posted back to the list, but go to me as the list administrator.

I've published notification of this list to the "WETNET" mailing list and the MicroHAMS mailing list. Feel free to post this link to any other appropriate list of Amateur Radio Operators.

If you're using Gmail or other large email provider, likely messages from this list are being de-prioritized. In Gmail, they'll likely be put into your "Promotions" or "Updates" or "Forums" sections.

Please let me know if you'd like to be taken off this email list, or your email address changed, etc.; email me at steve.stroh@gmail.com.

Please forward this email to any others who you think would like to be on this list. Anyone can subscribe to it at http://tinyletter.com/nwaprssg

Thanks,

Steve Stroh N8GNJ
listmeister for the Northwest APRS Summer Gathering

Summer Gathering Announcement List

The Northwest APRS Summer Gathering Announcement List is now up and running.

If you'd like to receive announcement emails for this event, you can add your email address to the list at:

   http://tinyletter.com/nwaprssg

Thanks,

Steve N8GNJ
NWAPRSSG listmeister

New NWAPRS Website Update

The wiki/website is 'finally' available at www.nwaprs.info.

Any static info here on the blog will be eventually migrated to the wiki.

More news soon as we come up with a process for management.

73
Bill, WA7NWP