
[ ANARTS - Australian National Amateur Radio Teletype Society ]

ANARTS NEWS BULLETIN 808 08/05/1994

Sunday Transmission Schedule
  3.545 MHz plus/minus 3     0930 UTC     VK2BQS (Jim)
  7.045 MHz to minus 3       0030 UTC     VK2CTD (Col)
 14.070 MHz (amtor/fec)      0030 UTC     VK2DPM (Alan)
 14.091 MHz                  0030 UTC     VK2BQS (JIM)
146.675 MHz             0030/0930 UTC     VK2JPA (PAT)
144.850 MHz (ax25 bbs)                    VK2JPA AT VK2RWI
146.675 MHz (rtty mmbbs/repeater)          VK2RTY

Views  expressed  in  this news bulletin are  not  necessarily
those of the Broadcast Officer, the Relay Officers,  or of the
Society.

GTOR (conclusion)       reprinted from RTTY Digital Journal                     ------------

On-The-Air Testing

During  the  month  of  January  over  a  million  bytes  were
transferred error-free from Lawrence, Kansas to Laguna Niguel,
California.  During  these  tests,  TRACE was set ON  at  each
station,  enabling  the  display of acknowledgement bytes  and
data frames including control bytes.  This allowed us to  view
and  count  data and acknowledgement frames received with  and
without the aid of forward error correction and interleaving.

The  results  were somewhat  surprising!  While  Pactor  often
dropped  in  transmission speed from 200 to  100  baud,  G-TOR
nearly  always kept on crunching frames at  300  baud!  Enough
frames  are corrected to keep the system running at 300  baud,
regardless of man-made interference and mild multi-path condi-
tions.  Transfer duration for the entire test file varied from
12  to  27 minutes for Pactor but only 5.5 to 7.5 minutes  for
all  but one transfer in G-TOR.  G-TOR simply  maintained  its
highest  pace better than Pactor,  resulting in a  substantial
increase in average throughput.

Operation  of G-TOR is much like AMTOR.  Establish a  link  by
typing (GTOR callsign) and (return) at the cmd:  prompt. Enter
standby  to  copy CQs or to receive a link request  by  typing
(GTOR)  and (Return).  Tune to a G-TOR CQ call as you would in
AMTOR. G-TOR uses the AMTOR FEC mode for calling CQ and as its
broadcast mode. Change the direction of information flow using
the directives (Control-C T) and (control-C E).
Conclusion
G-TOR features include Golay forward error correction  coding,
full-frame interleaving,  on-the-fly Huffman data  compression
with  run-length  encoding,   fuzzy  acknowledgments,  a  long
hybrid-ARQ  cycle  of 2.4 seconds,  and a  link-quality  based
transmission rate. Combined, these techniques result in a new,
very  robust,   interference-resistant  mode  for  HF  digital
communication  for  the  amateur  radio  service.   Throughput
exceeds  other existing all-mode TNC modes by better than two-
to-one. 

G-TOR  will  be standard in the KAM Plus and  the  Enhancement
board  for the KAM (predecessor of the KAM Plus).  G-TOR  will
not be available for KAMs without the enhancement board  since
EPROM  space  is  too small.  Firmware EPROM updates  will  be
available for the KAM Plus and KAM with Enhancement board.
G-TOR is a trademark of Kantronics, Inc.  

Editor's  note  :  there is a critique of G-TOR on the  packet
system here at the moment. In the interests of amateurs who do
not have access to packet, we will run this item following the
completion  of this review so as to have another viewpoint  on
this new system.

          -----------------------------------------

VOLTA RTTY WW Contest 

Contest period: from 1200z Saturday to 1200Z Sunday 14-15 May
                (24 hours, no rest periods required)

Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10M

Classes:  A1 - Single op, all bands
          A2/xx - Single op, single band (xx = band)
          B  - Multi-op, single transmitter
          C  - SWL

Exchange : Send : RST plus QSO nr. plus CQ zone nr. 

Multipliers:  DXCC Country List plus each call area in VK,  VE
and USA. 
        DO NOT COUNT VK, VE , or USA as separate country. (USA
stations  with callsigns from one district but are now  living
in  a  different district should give  proper  identification,
such  as :K6WZ/0.) The same multiplier counts again on  a  new
band.   An   additional   multiplier   is   given   for   each
INTERCONTINENTAL  COUNTRY  worked  on  at  least  four  bands.
Contacts  between stations within the same country will not be
valid, such as: a W2 station can work W1, W3, W4 etc.  but not
W2.  Contacts made OUTSIDE ones own continent on 80 or 10M are
worth double QSO points.  A contact with a station that  would
count as a multiplier will be valid if that station appears in
at least 4 other logs,  or a contest log is received from that
station.
More next week  
           -----------------------------------------

                      IPS weekly report
                      -----------------

                    29 April - 5 May 1994
Issue No 18
Date of issue: 6 May 1994

INDICES:
Date     29    30    01    02    03    04    05
10cm    078   075   075   076   074   073   073
A        06    02    25    41    45    23  (30 estimated)
T        45    40    27   -05    49    09    16

                     SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY

Solar activity was very low during the period.

The geomagnetic field at Learmonth (WA) was quiet on 29th-30th
April,  unsettled to minor storm 1st-2nd May, and unsettled to
active 3rd-5th with a brief minor storm period on 3rd.

Ionospheric  F2  critical  frequencies  at  Sydney  were  near
predicted monthly values 29th-30 April,  near normal to 30 per
cent  enhanced on 1st May,  depressed by up to 30 per cent  on
2nd,  returning to near normal to 20 per cent enhanced on 3rd.
On  4th-5th May,  frequencies were near normal to 30 per  cent
depressed. 

Spread  F was observed on 2nd and 4th-5th May,  and blanketing
sporadic E conditions obtained at times on 2nd May.

           FORECAST FOR THE NEXT WEEK (6 - 12 May)

SOLAR:        Very low 

GEOMAGNETIC:  Unsettled to active 

IONOSPHERIC    Near predicted monthly values. 

   Updated IPS Monthly Predicted Smoothed T-Indices
YR  JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV DEC
-------------------------------------------------------------
94   39   37   36   35   34   31   28   26   24   22   21  19
95   18   18   17   16   15   14   14   13   12   11   11  10
96   10    9    9    8    8    8    8    9    9   10   11  12
97   13   15   17   19   21   23   26   30   33   38   43  48


Courtesy of IPS Radio and Space Services

           ----------------------------------------

VK2SG RTTY DX NOTES 29 APR 94

VK2SG RTTY DXNOTES FOR WEEKENDING 29 APR. 1994 (BID RTDX0429)

THIS  HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE WEEKS WHERE NOTHING HAS  HAPPENED,
SO
I TOOK LIBERTY TO LOOK AROUND THE BANDS.  ONE WONDERS AT TIMES
ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF SOME PEOPLE, IT WOULD  APPEAR THAT, AT
THE  MOMENT,  THE BIG GAME IS TO JAM OTHER STATIONS.   IT  HAS
BEEN  NOTICED  THAT THERE ARE LOTS  OF SIGNALS THAT JUST  IDLE
ON  TOP  OF STATIONS THAT ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH  A  CONTACT.
SOME  OTHER OPERATOR SEEM TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME JUST  LISTING
BULLETINS  IN EVERY MAILBOX THAT CAN FIND,   WELL EACH  ONE IS
ENTITLED TO DO THAT, BUT IT SURE SEEMS TO ANNOY SOME PEOPLE.

OUR THANKS THIS WEEK GO TO: ZS5S, W2JGR, WB2CJL, VK2SG, OH2BBF
ON6RO, DJ3IW AND THE CENTRAL-EU. DXCLUSTER  NODE DB0SPC, I5ICY
AND IK5PWJ PACKETCLUSTER AND THE NJ0M NODE OF THE TWIN CITIES.

BANDPASS:
FRIDAY 22
0641-14084 C91AI
1240-14085 RA1ZD
1337-14087 J28JJ
2005-14084 UY0IO
2201-14083 EI3GZ

SATURDAY 23 (INT. MARCONI DAY)
0056-14082 CX7BF
0140-14077 P29RB  PACTOR
0338-14069 A35CT  AMT
0551-14080 7Z1AB  PACTOR
1006-14077 T30NS  PACTOR
1256-21085 ZD7DP
1304-21084 Z21HD
1440-14082 XU7VK
1443-14086 3Z0RY  FER PREFIX
1445-21085 5R8DS
1447-21088 S92ZM
1512-14078 V51A
1538-21083 VQ9SS
1541-21091 ZP6XR
1639-21085 J28JJ
1705-14083 UN5PR
1836-21090 9H1ET
1930-14088 VP9MZ

SUNDAY 24

0302-14085 ZL3GQ
0321-14075 V31AE  PACTOR
0937-21086 UZ9CWA
0944-21084 3Z0RY
1448-21083 Z21HD
1511-14085 LZ1KB
1653-21087 CX5CJ
2032-14086 VA3MM
2153-14081 LU1HM

MONDAY 25

0345-14084 T28RW  QSL ZL1AMO
0605-14086 HV4NAC QSL IK0FVC
1345-21070 J28JJ  ARQ
1355-21074 VP8WA  PACTOR
1414-14082 UN5PR
1512-14087 RU9FM
1526-21076 ZC4SW  PACTOR QSL G0DVF
1638-14087 TA5C
1741-14089 5R8KH
2156-14086 SV1QN

TUESDAY 26

0612-14095 V63JM  PACTOR
0625-14082 C91AI  QSL VIA  CT1GTZ
0720-14090 WL7EE
1205-14087 UT7FP
1340-21085 VS6GA
1747-14084 SV1ADG
2310-14089 HK0DPA
2356-14083 V31AR

WEDNESDAY 27

0552-14085 C91AI
0605-14088 NH6XM
0620-14086 WL7EF
0745-14086 T28RW
1107-21070 S92ZM  ARQ
1404-14090 VS6GA
1555-14085 9H1ET
1714-14089 ZC4ZZ
2212-14088 HK0DPA

THURSDAY 28

0524-14080 OD5NA PACTOR
0552-14083 C91AI
1514-21070 J28JJ ARQ

NOTES OF INTEREST:
MORE ON 9X5LJ.  ON HIS RETURN  IN BELGIUM,  JACQUES WAS ON TV
NEWS. HE WAS  RECOMMENDED FOR  KEEPING A 2 MTR VOICE REPEATER
IN KIGALI  GOING WHICH ASSISTED GREATLY DURING THE EVACUATION
OPERATIONS.JACQUES WAS HOPITALISED FOR MALARIA AND HEPATITIS.
BOTH, MONIQUE AND JACQUES ARE TOUCHED BY ALL SEND MESSAGES OF
OF SYMPATHY THEY HAVE RECEIVED. THEY  ARE  VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THEM AND SEND THEIR REGARDS TO ALL OF YOU.  THE BOX WAS STILL
RUNNING ON THE 25TH APR. 21073 ON AMTOR.

MARKET REEF. ERIC OJ0/OH2BBF PLANS TO AIR SOME RTTY FROM 15TH
TO 16TH MAY FROM  MARKET REEF. OJ0/OH1VR, OJ0/AC6T, OJ0/OH6RM
AND OH0MB WILL BE ON SSB/CW, OJ0/OH1VR ALSO ON 6 METERS, 14TH
TO 17TH MAY.  (OH0MB IS THE CURRENT MARKET REEF CALL OF LARS,
OH0RJ).  OPERATION IS PENDING FROM  WEATHER DUE TO HELICOPTER
TRANSPORTATION.

VOLTA RTTY TEST.  HONORING ITALIAN DISCOVERER OF ELECTRICITY,
ALESSANDRO VOLTA, I REMIND YOU  THIS CONTEST WHICH WILL START
FROM 1200Z MAY 14TH AND WILL END 1200Z OF MAY 15TH.  EXCHANGE
RST, QSO NUMBER AND CQ ZONE NUMBER.

GENEVA.  AN ITALIAN TEAM WILL BE ACTIVE FROM ITU HEADQUARTERS
MAY 20-22TH USING SPECIAL CALL 4U9ITU ON CW, SSB AND RTTY.
  
SEND YOUR BANDPASS AND NOTES FOR NEXT WEEK BULLETIN TO JULES,
W2JGR AT W2TKU.#SRQFL.FL.USA.NA.

GL DE (DX2) LUCIANO, I5FLN AT ZS5S.ZAF.AF


Editors Note

Lucianos  comments  apply here as much as overseas.  What  has
happened to the Amateurs code of respecting others rights? All
that  is required is to choose a frequency in that segment  of
the band set aside for the mode you want to use, and to take a
moment  or  two  to listen for any traffic  to  see  that  the
frequency is clear. Not too much to ask, is it?

Surely  amateurs of today can abide by the gentlemans code and
make the hobby pleasant and friendly for all.
           ---------------------------------------

Coming events
-------------
1994
----

May                14th-15th      Volta RTTY WW  Contest

              ------------------------------------

Society information

The Society may be contacted at :  PO Box 860, Crows Nest 2065
Australia,   for   such  matters  as  membership  and  general
enquiries.  Enquiries  can  also  be made  by  packet  to  the
President (Col) VK2CTD, or the Secretary (Pat) VK2JPA @ VK2RWI
or whatever BBS is providing the alternative communication.


News  items  may  be  sent to  Broadcast  Officer  PO  Box  60
Blacktown  2148 Australia,  or by packet to VK2JPA  as per the
above outline.
Email address for the Broadcast Officer is: 

patl@pitt.conmusic.su.oz.au  

The  Society welcomes news items on any digital subjects  from
anywhere in the broadcast footprint.   We know we reach ZL and
South Pacific islands.    We  are looking forward to news from
your areas to let other amateurs know what you are doing in the
hobby. Hope to hear from you.

73s de Pat VK2JPA Broadcast Officer 
That concludes ANARTS NEWS 808 08/05/94.

To assist an analysis of our distribution, if you use this means
of obtaining a copy of the bulletins, a VERY BRIEF note would be
appreciated.  Simply  your  call  and  via  ??????BBS  would  be
sufficient-   Send via Packet through VK2DAA,   or Amtor through
VK2AGE, I monitor them both weekly......Additional comments will
be read with interest.


Inserted by VK2BQS (Jim) Vice President ANARTS.
