Tech Night – Bellbrook Amateur Radio Club

Allstar Link Tech Night

For the June Tech Night, John Westerkamp, W8LRJ, presented a short overview of Allstar Link and EchoLink on the BARC repeater followed by a demonstration of his home Allstar node.

Allstar and EchoLink at BARC

Future Tech Nights

Scope: Antenna Builds, attenuator build, and related builds. We can work in teams.

Date: May 28^th, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: BARC Club House

Important needs:

Looking for a few low cost HDs that we could borrow radio or allow us to have it if you are of no use for it. Please let me know if you have one available
(4) 5 1/2 inch of solid copper wire ( 12 or 14 insulated wire). Strip some regular conduit wire (possible source)
We may need a hacksaw . If you can bring one let me know.

We plan to build the following:

Tape Measure Yagi
Fox Hunt Offset Attenuator Kits (Kits already received), You can order a kit and build it if you like one for your personal use. He ships quickly
ARDF transmitters with low power output and operate 2m (May build for fun, Bob Frye is loaning us some)

Some Reading Material:

Bob Frey BARC Presentation

The build event output will be used for a Field Day event and possible future events

All are welcome. It should be a fun project. We will discuss, build and test the components needed to do Fox & Hound event at field day. If there is enough interest, we will plan a follow-up event. This is a great Tech Night for New License to join.

We will also have a few demos as time permits.

Future 2025 Tech Night (day)

Tech Night – Date TBD
- Radio Orienteering (Fox and Hound) Builds
- Kit Build – Stu Holzer K8ST is the lead
  - More information to follow so you can reserve a kit

TBD

May? Radio Orienteering (Fox and Hound) Testing and Practice session outdoors (TBD)
Prototype using a microprocessor.
3D Printing Design for HAMS – Hands On if possible

Need to find a new name for tech Night since we are doing some of the LABS on Sunday

I hope to keep us planned for at least 2 meetings ahead, so people have enough time to purchase components if needed.

Current Presentation Backlog and growing. It would great if you can present or assist others.

“Duplexers and Tuning” – Tim
- Why duplexers are needed for repeaters, and actual tuning demonstration. Around 60 minutes.
“APRS-GPS” – Tim
- A 101 type presentation on the basics of APRS and sending your GPS coordinates over ham radio. 40 minutes.
“Wide-Narrow Band” – Tim
- Takes the confusion out of the use of “Narrow” and ‘Wide” in this 21st century. Short, 10 minutes; most of the time this is included with one of the other presentations.
“Usage of microcontrollers in Ham projects” Part 1 – Bob
- Demonstration of Arduino IDE, MicroPython and Microcontroller simulation software. Discussion of practical application of the technology for Ham Radio.
Setting up and using a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 either as a ham shack digital mode computer or for FT-8 on POTA. – Ray
KiwiSDR presentation: The presentation will be mostly on the worldwide network the receivers are connected to. How you can use the network of receivers for ham radio and other interests. Mike Suhar W8RKO
Solar / Battery Powered micro radio builds
Raspberry PI for POTA (Technight and POTA related)

All members regardless of knowledge or experience are always welcome and encouraged to attend.

Bob

AC8ZU

DC Circuit and Micro Transceiver Interest Group

BARC will be hosting a DC Circuit and Micro Transceiver Interest Goup on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 6:30 pm at the clubhouse. Dave Kender, KD8WSW, will be the instructor. More information will be emailed to members soon.

For more information, read the class description here.

BARC Build-A-Repeater (BAR) Project

The BARC BAR repeater is now on the air at 442.675+ (118.8 Hz CTCSS).

The BARC Build-A-Repeater or BAR project (where club members will build an amateur radio repeater and then place it on the air) will start in September. These are in-depth classes covering all aspects of the process of assembling a repeater, requirements by the FCC and OARC for proper operation, and site/antenna specifics. At the end of the project, attendees should feel confident to try this on their own.

Classes will be held at the clubhouse, twice per month; the 2^nd and 4^th Monday of each month starting @ 7pm and lasting around 1.5 hours. Email reminders will be sent out in advance.

Each class will consist of a short PowerPoint presentation covering a specific section of the project, followed by a hands-on session where members can participate in the actual construction.

The first class is scheduled on Monday, September 11, at 7pm at the clubhouse.