Passing ARRL Field Day messages the easy way with packet radio

Here is a video of our radio group passing field day bonus point messages off site using packet radio. Gear includes: Kenwood TS-2000 transceiver, but not using the internal TNC as it is not up to the task of regular packet radio use; SignaLink USB soundcard interface; Direwolf software TNC; N9TAX Slimjim J antenna; Outpost … Read more

April 2017 status report

Yes it’s been a while since our last post, but we have been super busy testing the prototype system along with convenient access tools like Outpost PMM, etc. Some highlights include: Testing the 2m port at both 1200 and 9600 bps; Hammering away and posting and retrieving of messages in the BBS; Using the chat … Read more

2m rollout opportunity possibly Fall 2016

2016-03-02 VAPN System Line Drawing

Opportunity knocks The curators of the local Fauquier 145.730 MHz packet node decommissioned their system on the very same hill we hope to rollout our version of the Virginia Packet Network. The antenna and cavity filter are still in place. This makes our 2m packet frequency open for use with relative ease. With some lobbying efforts from … Read more

Berryville Ham Fest 2016

Ham Fest Poster

John and maybe Mark will attend the Berryville, Virginia ham fest this weekend and will have our poster setup at a tail-gate spot weather permitting. We look forward to continuing discussions with the ham population as we continue to vet the usefullness of our VAPN concepts.

KY Packet Network Going Dark

KYPN - Gone but not forgotten

WA4ZKO posted the upcoming dismantling of the various components of the Kentucky Packet Network and other amateur radio assets on the informative web blog… https://kypn.wordpress.com/ Twenty-five years is a good long run and we wish the KYPN folks the best in their endeavors. The enormous contribution of technical knowhow formally contained in the above web site … Read more

W4VPN callsign received

We have received confirmation and callsign for the Virginia Packet Network “club” organization from the FCC.  This is the next step towards putting some test gear on the air to begin experimentation. UPDATE May 17, 2016: The FCC has granted our petition for the vanity callsign W4VPN. Graphic courtesy http://www6.flamingtext.com/

Club application submission

Several local hams have taken the step to organize the VAPN as an amateur radio club to better organize the VAPN goals.

Another blog is born

Not big enough for packet.

Successful or not, we will record progress on the Virginia Packet Network on this web site to help others decide whether their locale might benefit from a packet node. I usually log ham radio articles and such on my regular blog, www.hamradio.me, but this topic and project are big enough for their own web presence.