Hamfest time...

 Puyallup Mike and Key swapfest - March 12th

Stanwood Hamfest - https://www.scarcwa.org/  (Same date as Dayton Hamvention?)

PNW APRS Summer Gathering at North Bend Valley Camp - no news yet, the squirrels are quiet.

To be improved upon as I remember how to use blogspot.

2019 Northwest Summer 'Digital' Gathering

It's almost here:   https://wa7vc.org/summergathering/2019

OREGON ECLIPSE BALLOON LAUNCH - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

I am looking for fellow hams (and, perhaps, non-hams) from Eastern Oregon to help chase a balloon that will be launched from Unity, OR during the total solar eclipse on August 21st. If you can help, please contact me directly -  - L. Paul Verhage KD4STH, nearsys@gmail.com, 208-514-5000.

2017 NW APRS Summer Gathering - Update 02A

The OFFICIAL source of info for the 2017 NW APRS Summer Gathering can be found at:

  http://tinyletter.com/nwaprssg

… where you can sign up to receive email bulletins about Summer Gathering.

DATES

The 2017 NW APRS Summer Gathering is:

• Friday September 8
• Saturday September 9; the main day, presentations begin at 9:00 (presentations)
• Sunday September 10 (informal, debrief, departure)

Many folks arrive on Friday, or even Thursday, for socializing. Saturday is the main day and presentations start approximately 09:00, with breakfast at 08:00. In addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided (see below). Sunday is primarily for the folks that stay overnight, and a breakfast is provided. Sunday morning is a debrief and/or general discussion. There is no lunch provided on Sunday.

As of today (2017-08-09, Summer Gathering is only 30 days away!)

BACKGROUND

The NW APRS Summer Gathering is a very social and educational event right here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s great fun and a great opportunity to learn and practice just about anything you can do with a computer and your ham radio. Summer Gathering started with a focus on Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS - http://www.aprs.org) but the presentations are now on many facets of digital / data communications in Amateur Radio and related subjects. Some of the most fun of Summer Gathering is the informal discussions between like-minded hams from different areas, and the “show and tell” benches with a chance to see and operate different digital Amateur Radio systems.

VALLEY CAMP

If you have not previously attended a Summer Gathering, it’s held at Valley Camp (http://valleycamp.org), an incredibly beautiful campground near North Bend, WA with lots of nature trails and birding opportunities for the family along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. Elk and deer abound and can often be observed in the main clearing of Valley Camp.

Valley Camp offers hot showers and a bunkhouse, tent camping, and RV camping. It’s located near North Bend, WA and is 10 minutes off of I-90 at Exit 34. At the bottom of the Exit 34 ramp, turn Left (North) and continue 1/2 mile past the convenience stores and truck stops and watch for the right turn onto SE Middle Fork Road (County Road sign says Valley Camp 2.2 miles). Continue to the "Y" and take the Left on SE Middle Fork Road (the lower road). Follow until you come to the STOP sign. The entrance to the camp is straight ahead across the small intersection. Please note: there is road work (still) underway on the main road to Valley Camp. It may well be complete by the time of Summer Gathering, but we cannot be certain of that. In previous years, the road work occurs AFTER Valley Camp. Please note: The speed limit once you enter Valley Camp’s grounds 5 MPH because of dust, kids playing, wildlife, and adults shooting antenna wires in the air.

Coordinates for Valley Camp’s entrance are Lat 47.4680 and Lon -121.6808 (Don't forget the minus on the longitude or you'll end up in Mongolia!) Valley Camp’s Amateur Radio club call is WA7VC and the club IS on APRS. Check it out on http://aprs.fi/wa7vc.

If you do plan to stay overnight in a bunk, tent, or RV, you must contact Teena at Valley Camp to secure a spot - email teena@valleycamp.org. (Please don’t contact Steve N8GNJ about this - you must contact Teena DIRECTLY).

As is the norm for the Pacific Northwest in September, you should come prepared for the weather to be hot... or cool... or wet... or dry. The seating is picnic benches in a shelter, so you might wish to bring your own camp chair.

FIRE DANGER / POOR AIR QUALITY - NO FIRES

As of this writing, because there has been no measurable rain in the greater Seattle area for 50+ days, the fire danger is EXTREME, which means there can be no candles or campfires at Valley Camp (or anywhere else in the greater Seattle area). At present, the air quality is poor so not even charcoal fires are allowed. This could change by the time of Summer Gathering, but that is the situation at the moment.

CELLULAR IS SPOTTY, LIMITED WI-FI AVAILABLE

One caution... due to the terrain and the location, cellular service is spotty at Valley Camp. There are places on the grounds that cellular service will work, but generally not at the picnic shelter where the presentations are held. There is Wi-Fi Internet access, but the bandwidth is limited - please don't plan on downloading videos or other high-bandwidth activities.

DONATIONS

Summer Gathering operates on donations. A campground like Valley Camp incurs significant expense in hosting an event like Summer Gathering (even though it’s informal). To date we’ve been able to keep Summer Gathering going for 20 years now based on donations instead of charging a hard fee like most similar events do. We suggest a donation $25 and you can donate cash in the donations mailbox at the Valley Camp picnic shelter where Summer Gathering is held, or you can donate with a credit card by talking to Teena at the event.

INFORMAL PRESENTATIONS, SHOW AND TELL

As always, the presentations will be informal, primarily about Amateur Radio digital communications such as APRS, Packet Radio, digital communications in general, and related subjects. The agenda is still being organized and will be detailed as the event gets closer. If you have suggestions or are willing to make a presentation, please contact Steve Stroh N8GNJ - steve.stroh@gmail.com. As always, there will be room for "show and tell" tabletop demonstrations.

Activities

Presentation: High Altitude Ballooning - L. Paul Verhage KD4STH
I did a presentation on this subject at the 2016 Summer Gathering and people told me they really enjoyed it. I plan to do a followup presentation this year. With any luck, I will have images and data from a balloon launch I am doing for the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21st (see below).


I will bring a drone and can get an aerial shot of all the attendees.


(Potential) Activity: Balloon Launch - Volunteers Needed
Is there interest in launching a balloon like we did at the 2016 Summer Gathering? Depending on the winds, the tracker launch from Valley Camp may end up in the mountains. In that case, I wonder if someone has a Tracker that they wouldn't mind losing? To do this we need a volunteer to purchase and deliver a tank of hydrogen (cheaper) or helium (more expensive) brought to Valley Camp. Depending on the type of tank, return may be required. As I'm coming from Idaho, I'm unable to provide the helium. If there are any volunteers to assist me in this activity please contact me directly - L. Paul Verhage KD4STH, nearsys@gmail.com, 208-514-5000.

MEALS

Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday breakfast will be provided. Apologies in advance, but we can't take requests such as special meals such as vegan, gluten-free, low-fat, etc. If you have dietary restrictions, please plan on bringing and storing your own food (the refrigerator in the shelter will not be available). The meals are provided as a donation by Tina and Steve Stroh (though donations for the expense of the food are appreciated).

BYO BEVERAGES

Coffee, iced tea, lemonade, and water will be provided. If you wish to bring bottled water, canned soda, or “adult beverages”, please bring your own cooler and ice, and perhaps enough to share with your fellow attendees.

PLEASE REGISTER!

To plan well for a great event, and especially to ensure that we have enough food (and cake - it is the 20th anniversary event) please fill out the form at: https://goo.gl/3P5zpZ (updated, more reliable link - apologies for the very long one in the previous bulletin). We really need to know how many people to expect! As of 2017-08-09 15 people have confirmed that they will be attending Summer Gathering... out of 134 people on this distribution list. Please - let us know if you're coming by filling out the form.

NWAPRS Homepage Update

The free-for-life after an initial charge web server at Cloud at Cost has implemented a $9 annual maintenance fee.   Sorry folks but your flakey service isn't worth that.

Better alternatives for the future are being evaluated.

Until something new is put in place, I'll be using the blogspot site. - http://blog.nwaprs.info  

The first update will be redirecting the www page here.

73
Bill, WA7NWP

nwaprs.info homepage

The too cheap to be true cloud web site hosting our nwaprs.info homepage is being troublesome.  A better solution will be found real soon..

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

NWAPRS Website Replacement

The new NWAPRS wiki should be showing up with the main name/URL (http://www.nwaprs.info)  once I tweek the Domain Name Services which I hope to do today.

In the meantime, check it out at wa7nwp.xastir.org

18th Annual Summer Gathering - Sept 11, 12 and 13 - 2015

-- QST QST - All APRS and Digital Radio enthusiasts --

18th Annual Summer Gathering near North Bend , WA Sept 11, 12 and 13th

Always the weekend after Labor Day.  Primary content is Saturday

This is a very social and educational event right here in the Pacific Northwest .

The Summer Gathering is great fun and a great opportunity to learn and practice just about anything you can do with a computer and your ham radio particularly focused on the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) http://www.aprs.org/.

Summer Gathering happens at Valley Camp: http://valleycamp.org/ located near North Bend , Washington 10 minutes off of I-90 at exit 34. At the bottom of the Exit 34 ramp, turn left (north) and continue 1/2 mile past the convenience stores and truck stops and watch for the right turn onto SE Middle Fork Road (County Road sign says Valley Camp 2.2 miles). Continue to the "Y" and take the left on SE Middle Fork Road (lower road). Follow until you come to the stop sign. The entrance to the camp is straight ahead across the small intersection.  Ignore any signs about road closures/detours – if they are still happening, they are after the camp.

GPS Coordinates for the entrance of camp: 47.4680 -121.6808 (Don't forget the minus on the longitude or you'll end up in Mongolia !)  The camp call is WA7VC and is on APRS with that call.  Check it out on aprs.fi

The location is a beautiful camp with hot showers and a bunkhouse, tent camping or RV opportunities. Many folks arrive on Thursday or Friday for socializing. The presentations are on Saturday.  Contact Teena at info@valleycamp.org  with your request for overnight accommodation.  Arrive for breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30. Presentations start at 9:00am.

The event runs on donations and we encourage you to shoot for $15 for the day or $25 for the overnight experience - there is a donation box at the event. If you donated what you would pay for your breakfast and other tasty meals, we would probably be in great shape. Please help us keep this event going for another 18 years!  This venue is made available to us at no charge but it cannot continue to happen without your participation and support.

Bring your thirst for knowledge, some warm clothing for the evenings, a chair and something soft to enhance your enjoyment of the picnic-table seats and some food and drink to eat and share. Steaks and burgers are most frequently consumed.  There are grills going for lunch and dinner and coffee early each day... Breakfast is 0700 to 0830 – try not to miss it.

Valley Camp is an incredibly beautiful place - lots of nature trails and birding opportunities for the family along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River .  Elk and deer abound.

We’re still working on it, but here’s an idea of what the content may be this year – if you don’t see your favorite topic – propose a presentation on it – we are trying for a larger number of focused mini-talks with just enough time allotted for treatment of each topic and questions:

Getting Started with APRS - why do we use digital modes and what characteristics make them so effective – Curt Black – WR5J

SARTrack – New Zealand ’s Gift to the APRS, ARES and SAR Communities– Herb Gerhardt, KB7UVC and Friends…

Near Space Balloons and APRS Adventures - Paul Verhage, AF7HL

APRSIS - The Swiss-Army Knife of free Digital Software Ann Reeves, WA7ROS

APRS_Messenger - Toolkit for Digital Communication

Trackers and Systems on a Chip - Raspberry-Pi/Beagle-bone Black vs. Arduino – what platforms best enhance your use of APRS?  Small trackers and Big Tools  AP 510 APRS tracker

Sarguy Digital's New Products" http://www.sarguydigital.com/ including a ruggedized APRS Tracker and a nice Android App for coordinate translation on the quick and easy…

XASTIR – Wonderful APRS Software and the Best Reason Yet to Move Toward the Light that is Linux…  http://xastir.org/index.php/Main_Page

Recent use of FLDIGI-FLAMP – and RMSExpress August this year transporting data from the backcountry for 800 cyclists in RAMROD – (Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day) to the start/finish line.  FLDIGI with the Amateur Multicast Protocol and RMSExpress with WinLink2000 worldwide stations is certainly an effective emergency communications combination.  (We are encouraging folks to develop skill with these and other tools as we spool up to the Cascadia Rising exercise next spring   http://nws.weather.gov/nthmp/2015annualmeeting/CascadiaRising.pdf

  West Seattle Grand Parade – APRS Testbed:  What are the best tools to track assets and activity for parade organizers?  Examples and Discussion – Curt Black, WR5J Ken Iverson, AB7X

D-RATS handles APRS data and nicely uses FLDIGI and its included modes for transport.  You don’t need any D-STAR equipment to use D-RATS for its functionality – lots of cool features.  If we talk about Dan’s work, we should mention CHIRP – so we will.

There will be excellent operating conditions for you to try HF - rigs, computers with lots of digital modes, interfaces and 3-element Triband antenna or some awesome wires in very tall trees…Lots of space to experiment with your next antenna project and excellent analysis tools…

There will still be free beer with every new digital mode you try...there are more than 120 modes inside FLDIGI alone…  Good Luck exploring those – or watching others try!

If there is interest, there will be a talk about Bats just before sunset Saturday – Not sports bats, but the one-third of earth’s  mammals flying ones …

There will be cheesy Sci-Fi Movies and popcorn late into Saturday Night thanks to Bill, WA7NWP..optional, but very fun...

Or you can just socialize and learn from your fellow hams is this near perfect venue.

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.

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!

If you are willing to act as a topic resource, please put your
interests/areas of expertise on your name tag
Questions:        Contact Thom Proehl, K7FZO  k7fzo.thom@gmail.com  425 888-1852

Or Curt Black, WR5J, wr5j@arrl.net  206 755-4541

Please check your station settings

We currently have three stationary stations generating over 500 packets a day - closer to 1000.   Better settings would have that at an adequate 50 packets a day...

• If your mobile is stationary...   Configure it to slow down beacons.   Once every half hour is fine - a beacon every minute when not moving is not needed.
• If you're doing telemetry - you don't need the heading and data rules transmitted every few minutes.  Once an hour would be fine.  Once every day or two would work if you're not making changes.
• If your mobile is moving - you don't need to beacon every 10 seconds.   A transmission very couple minutes on the busy 144.390 MHz channel is adequate to show where you're at.  Better yet - use smart beaconing to send beacons when needed and not when not needed.

As for general configuration...

• RELAY,WIDE is no longer supported.   You won't get the advantage of fill in digipeaters.  Yes - we still have stations using that path.

NWAPRS WIKI Coming soon...

A new NWAPRS wiki will be taking the place of old static web page.   Check out the preview

Digital APRS Gathering

17th Annual Summer Gathering near North Bend, Washington Sept 5, 6 and 7th
          (primary content is Saturday)        Always the weekend after Labor Day.

CQ CQ CQ All APRS and Digital radio enthusiasts - >

Summer Gathering is almost here and the weather is forecast to be great!

This is a very social and very educational event right here in the Pacific Northwest in North Bend, Washington.

The Summer Gathering is great fun and a great opportunity to learn and practice just about anything you can do with a computer and your ham radio particularly focused on the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) http://www.aprs.org/.

Here is the link to Valley Camp: http://valleycamp.org/ it is located in North Bend, Washington 10 minutes off of I-90 at exit 34. At the bottom of the Exit 34 ramp, turn north and continue 1/2 mile past the convenience stores and truck stop and watch for and take the right turn onto SE Middle Fork Road (County Road sign says Valley Camp 2.2 miles). Continue to the "Y" and take the left on SE
Middle Fork Road (lower road). Follow until you come to the stop sign. The entrance to the camp is straight ahead across the small intersection. GPS Coordinates for the entrance of camp: 47.4680 -121.6808 (Don't forget the minus on the longitude or you'll end up in Mongolia!)

Many folks arrive on Friday for socializing. The presentations are on Saturday. Try and arrive for breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30. Presentations start at 9:00am. If you plan to attend and want to stay overnight we still have bunk space available in Teneriffe Lodge as well as full service RV sites and plenty of tent spaces.

Please contact Teena at info@valleycamp.org as soon as possible with your request and to get info on overnight accommodation.

The location is a beautiful camp with hot showers and a bunkhouse or camping or RV opportunities. The event runs on donations and we encourage you to shoot for $10 for the day or $25 for the overnight experience - there is a donation box at the event. This venue is made available to us at no charge but it can't continue to happen without your participation and support.

If you donated what you would pay for your breakfast, we would probably be in great shape. Please help us keep this event going for another 17 years!

Bring your thirst for knowledge, some warm clothing for the evenings and some food and drink to eat and share. There are grills going for lunch and dinner and coffee early each day...

Valley Camp is an incredibly beautiful place - lots of nature trails and birding opportunities for the family along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River.

Here’s an idea of the content:

• Getting Started with APRS - why do we use digital and what characteristics make it work
• Digital Communication and Emergency Communications Debate - Who can you trust, what can you use...?
• APRSIS - the swiss army knife of free digital communications software
• APRS_Messenger - more tools for effective communication
• FLDIGI-FLAMP - is the Amateur Multicast Protocol the perfect emergency communication tool?
• There will be excellent operating conditions for you to try HF - a K3, computer with lots of digital modes, interface and 4-element Triband antenna
• There will still be free beer with every new digital mode you try...
• There will be a talk about Bats just before sunset Saturday
• There will be cheezy Sci-Fy Movies late into Saturday Night...if that's your thing...
• Or you can just socialize and learn from your fellow hams is this near perfect venue.

Summer Gathering - Rules Of Engagement:
Please wear a name tag. 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. If you are willing to act as a subject/topic resource, please put your interests/areas of expertise on your name tag.

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 brave presenters;

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;

Please DONATE to Valley Camp to keep this beautiful venue available to us for events like this. 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 $10, more if you are so moved, if you enjoyed the free breakfast, maybe add more and check with Thom and Teena for overnight stays –

Contact Thom Proehl, K7FZO
k7fzo.thom@gmail.com

17th Annual Summer Gathering

The 17th Annual Summer Gathering is now less than a month away, September 5th, 6th & 7th, have you made your reservations?

If not contact our wonderful reservation gal, K9HAV at info@valleycamp.org soon!
This year we have accommodations available Friday and Saturday nights for tents, RV's and bunk space in our lodge.

WA7VC the Valley Camp Amateur Radio Group is once again hosting the APRS Summer Gathering at Valley Camp North Bend WA, a must attended event for anyone interested in APRS, all APRS related activities, Digital Communication modes, and just good fun together around a common interest, Amateur Radio, in a very casual but modern outdoor location.

Do you have an interest in sharing what you are doing with APRS, APRS related activities, radio linking projects, Echolink, IRLP, DSTAR and other Digital Communication modes by giving a presentation? If so please contact us at vcarg@valleycamp.org with your ideas and we will work to make it happen. Right now we are working on filling up Saturday slots and if there is enough interest we will open Sunday for 2 or 3 presentations.

This is the first of several posts regarding the event, please cross post to other groups you may think would like to attend.

Remember for all overnight accommodations contact info@valleycamp.org
For event info or to volunteer to help with the event contact vcarg@valleycamp.org

73 de Thom / K7FZO
WA7VC | Valley Camp

MRTG Packet graph of 96UHF channel - almost the first week

... and onward!