Batboard

Posted: **Mon Mar 25, 2002 6:50 pm**

Ok, so it is a bit early, but who is planning on going this year, and are people interested in meeting up at some point during the fest...

For those of you who don't know - check out http://www.hamvention.org

If you have never been it's worth the trip. Plan now, as hotels are becoming VERY booked, if not already filled.

-Alex

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: alex on 2002-03-25 21:50 ]</font>

Posted: **Mon Mar 25, 2002 8:43 pm**

I'm planning to be there if work commitments don't get in the way. It certainly would be nice to finally put a face with a name and exchange a handshake with the wonderful folks on this board. Name the time and place....

Posted: **Mon Mar 25, 2002 9:54 pm**

Name the time and place....

& FREQUENCY.......LOL

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:09 am**

Vacation time pending...but I WILL be there this year. All hotels in a 30 mile radius will be booked, no dought. We should meet up there. I know I'd like to see some faces to go with the names.

A Vhf or Uhf freq and PL would be good. I suggest a MURS freq and oddball PL.

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 7:11 am**

I'm planning on driving out there with a friend of mine on Thursday. The place we are staying in is about 15-20minutes from Hara, and we made our reservations about 2 weeks ago. Thankfully, my exam schedule permits me to go this year! (phew).

I like the MURS idea, it wasn't very tough using it last year... i think we were using 151.88 with a 100hz tone, and didn't have a single problem. I'd hate to even think of using FRS, or ham simplex... Talk about crowded air waves!

Are folks planning on being there for the whole weekend, or just one day? I should be there Friday/Saturday/Sunday.

-Alex

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 7:49 am**

I plan on being there again this year. Where I'm staying is about a 10 minute drive to Hara. This will be my fourth year there. We do need to decide a freq. and try to meetup there sometime or maybe meet someplace.

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 9:16 am**

It's never too early!

I've never been there but I think we may go this year... Is there a better day than another to go?

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:12 pm**

It all depends on what you are looking for. If you have a lot of money and know exectly what you want, go on Fri to get the expensive popular stuff. If you like brousing the flea market go Sat, if you like talking them down to nothing on the price and getting the useful junk that's left, go Sun. I always go for Sat and Sun.

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:38 pm**

I hear that there is some great dumpster diving to be had on sunday....

Part of the problem with Dayton is that people are not supposed to buy/sell/trade on Thursday during setup. I partly thought about buying a sellers pass so I could get in early, however they are saying it's going to be a lot more strict than it has been in past years, and they are going to try and restrict buying/selling before the start of the flea on Friday.

I have never been early, I wouldn't mind going and seeing what's there before everyone else.

Last year, it rained on Friday, which sucked. On Saturday the weather was much better, so people had more stuff out. Buying was much better on Sat. than Friday...

This will be my 3rd time in 4 years - I skipped one a while ago. However, I would plan on bringing a good HT (VHF it appears if you plan on meeting up with us...) lots of spare batteries, sun screen, sweat shirt, etc... plan for any type of weather, and bring a comfy bag to store this all in, plus what you buy

I can't wait to go - I think we should maybe plan on meeting up on friday maybe part way throught the day, and maybe depending on how tired people are finding some sort of dinner later on.

And, unlike on discussion here last year, running astro digitial on some channel, along with encryption, or whatever Elroy came up with requires the rest of us to have the technology

-Alex

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 6:05 pm**

What a great idea! For sure there should be a common Bat freq. I'll be there Friday and Saturday. I haven't been there in 12 years... I seem to remember getting an "RF headache" though, maybe they should sell shielding kits for baseball caps.

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 7:37 pm**

How have you all found the hotel/motel rates in the last couple of years?

I have attended the Hamvention for over 10 consecutive years... stayed at the Motel 6 in Inglewood only 5 minutes from Hara... along with a great bunch of other guys...until they started to raise the rates... from $35... $45... at $70 I said no thanks (others jumped to take our place at the motel) and stayed at the KOA kamping kabin! Didn't go last year. Not going this year. Might go next year if I can find a place for reasonable. Oh yah... very important.. I'm a Canuck, so everything costs me double down there!

So has anyone found 'bargain' or fair lodging rates?

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2002 10:39 pm**

I also think a BatLabs freq for Dayton is a GREAT idea. MURS 151.88 with specific PL sounds like a great idea. Alex mention he used 151.88 with 100.0 PL - I know this might be Alex's personal talk-around freq for Dayton, but 151.88 does sounds like a good idea. Now just a official BatLabs PL or even DPL (most radios we use have DPL).

Most of my Motorola radios came from Dayton, and I have never been burned, so maybe we can all get together and help each other out in finding the "perfect" radios at the HUGE Dayton Hamvention!

Less than two months till Dayton!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: **Wed Mar 27, 2002 12:48 am**

Message deleted by EC-7.

Posted: **Wed Mar 27, 2002 7:16 am**

Well, I'd assume that most of us who would be meeting up would be using a somewhat current portable, and most likly motorola - therefore, I would make the assumption that DPL would be ok, unless somone has a specific opposition.

I don't really care which MURS channel we use, I don't have a specific one in mind, just happened to use that one last year.

In past years, I've gone with a group from my college's amateur radio club, so the only thing I had to shell out cash for was food, and paying for parking. The rest was covered. Maybe another $20-$40 for lodging. We stayed at the Park Inn, which sucked. It's the one near the airport. Only advantage is that it's somewhat close to the fest.

This year, my friend used Yahoo to look up places to stay, and we were able to find one about 15-20 miles from Hara. No real big deal... about $90 a night, split between two people for a suite isn't bad. I believe breakfast is included... Waffle House does sound like a good idea too

.

-Alex

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2002 8:28 am**

I'll be there. I'm also gonna bring a full course dinner and stick it out in the middle of the Hamvention. I'd bet with all the radio waves bouncing around that place, I'd have a good fully cooked dinner with H'ors Deuvres in about an hour!!!!!!!!!!!:>:>:>:>:>:>
Jimmy in Romulus

Posted: **Sun Mar 31, 2002 9:05 am**

On 2002-03-31 12:02, jwood wrote:
On 2002-03-26 00:54, CHEFA2001 wrote:
Name the time and place....

& FREQUENCY.......LOL
Please Please no FRS Frequencies:)Well if you all are going to use MURS, I guess I will have to program that into my MOBILE and crank up the UHF PacRt!:)

Posted: **Mon Apr 15, 2002 12:58 pm**

*bump*

Can a moderator make this topic a sticky since it's coming up soon?

Thanks

Posted: **Mon Apr 15, 2002 1:27 pm**

alex wrote:*bump*

Can a moderator make this topic a sticky since it's coming up soon?

Thanks

Done. Again, OhioAPRS will be there. Details here:

http://ohioaprs.net/dayton.php

-j

Posted: **Mon Apr 15, 2002 3:50 pm**

Thanks Jon,

I'm starting to look forward to both Dayton, and my tax return

.

What days are people planning on attending? We should figure out what day is best if there's going to be a few that are here some parts if not all.

-Alex

Posted: **Mon Apr 15, 2002 5:56 pm**

I got my flea market stuff last week, it seems since 9/11/01 things are going to be a little tighter, including searchs of you and you belongings..... this ought to be a hoot. Oh yeah... and no firearms or knifes allowed, go figure. I say we do a Astro digital cahnnel with encryption on our trunk system, one of our towers is across the street from Hara, that would work out good for me, but most likely not the rest of you. Digital communications works well out there, no intermod or cross traffic from anyone other than those in your group.
The best ddeals I am told, happen on Wedsday, I have bought on Thursday before, good deals to be had, I bought a boatload of VHF MCS2000 RF decks a couple or years ago for $75 a pop. Quite a bargin, I always look forward to the flea market, plenty of deals to be had there.

See ya all there.
SG

Posted: **Mon Apr 15, 2002 6:47 pm**

Spectra god - Can you set us up a talk group that would work with an analog MTX8000?

-Alex

Posted: **Mon Apr 15, 2002 6:48 pm**

alex wrote:Thanks Jon,

I'm starting to look forward to both Dayton, and my tax return .

What days are people planning on attending? We should figure out what day is best if there's going to be a few that are here some parts if not all.

-Alex

I'll be in our flea market spot all 3 days selling.

-j

Posted: **Tue Apr 16, 2002 7:16 pm**

Err.. did we ever figure out a PL or DPL code?

I know that we seemed to decide on the "Offical BatLabs Simplex Channel" being 151.880 (MURS).

I would much rather like to use a DPL code.
DPL has the 134Hz turn-off code, which eliminates squelch tails quite well.

I'm probably going to be there on Saturday and/or Sunday. I can't look that far into the future with my schedule, though.

Anyhue, 73,

Posted: **Tue Apr 16, 2002 8:11 pm**

I don't think so.

I think going with DPL might be a good idea, just program a "pre" MDC system so that people wait before they speak

How about 346? Off the wall enough I think. Or if enough people oppose DPL, how about 100.0hz (1Z I think)....

edit....
oh wait... after re-reading I guess that was opposed... 151.4 would work too...

-Alex

Posted: **Wed Apr 17, 2002 8:28 pm**

Just wondering if there is a firm decision yet as to exactly what frequency is going to be used and what signalling squelch method, as I just want to make sure to get the radio programmed beforehand, but then again, I will likely bring a laptop with me, as to be able to test any possible equipment purchases if the need arises.

Also, Is there a specific reason as why VHF was chosen over UHF?

Does anyone know a local group or individual who would want to "donate to the cause" and set up a temporary repeater for the batlabs crew? Surely there must be a member of this board, or possibly a friend of a member who lives somewhat nearby, or possibly a local fire station can set up a dual radio & rick for the weekend?

I have never been to the hamfest before, so forgive me if this is something already spoken and discussed at some point in time.

Chefa

Posted: **Wed Apr 17, 2002 8:46 pm**

Pretty much I think we need to stay as far away as possible from FRS. There wasn't a person there who didn't have one. The airwaves are EXTREAMLY croweded, even the ham channels. Also, using a MURS frequency would allow for people w/out a ham license to talk on the channel, which is a concern.

I too would like to solidify our plans, they sooner the better. I have the frequency mentioned above in all my VHF radios, with that PL tone, but again, that's my suggestion. I'm a ham, so I don't object to using a ham frequencys, but I'd like to give everyone an opertunity.

I don't know anyone in dayton at all. Someone said they had a PAC-RT... maybe that can be usefull.

-Alex

Posted: **Fri Apr 19, 2002 6:35 am**

Alright: Since people need time to coordinate setting up their portables, why don't we plan on:

See Below!

Feel free to transmit whatever format of data you'd like

Modat, MDC, whatever. PLEASE keep the traffic clear, non-encrypted, and non-digital.

I haven't heard too many people say they don't want VHF, or come up with alternative plans, so we'll go with this. I'll prob. have a UHF radio with me too, but I have no idea what I'll program in there as of yet.

This should give everyone ample time to program their radios.

-Alex

Posted: **Sat Apr 20, 2002 8:10 am**

Please pick a frequency and pl already, I have to programm my radio's soon, they are sent out ahead of me. At this rate I am going to put all
the itinerant channels in my radio, and hope I have one that will work. Also has anybody thought about callsigns, not FCC, but names, so we know who each other are. How about our batlab names? Any ideas?

Posted: **Sat Apr 20, 2002 8:18 am**

RADIOMAN2002 wrote:Please pick a frequency and pl already, I have to programm my radio's soon, they are sent out ahead of me. At this rate I am going to put all
the itinerant channels in my radio, and hope I have one that will work. Also has anybody thought about callsigns, not FCC, but names, so we know who each other are. How about our batlab names? Any ideas?

The channel in my last post will be the official Dayton Channel.

That's

See Below

-Alex

Posted: **Sat Apr 20, 2002 7:07 pm**

There will be a crossband repeater set up for VHF to UHF. Check back for update on freqs.

Posted: **Sun Apr 21, 2002 10:01 pm**

Someone mentioned 154.570. I'd hightly recomment against this frequency. I've been at Dayton for the last 8 years, and that channel is the MOST used channel along with 154.600. THere are millions of Motorola DOT radios that everyone is using at Dayton.

MURS has just been allocated within the last few years, and there are less radios out there that can be programmed with dip switches in consumers hands at this moment. Lots less peeps using MURS than older DOTS

I'd have to insist staying away from the two most popular DOT freqs

The OFFICIAL freq should be:

The Freq 151.880 with DPL 143

Oh ya, you would NOT believe the illegal frequencies peeps use at Dayton. It amaizes me every year. I bring my Opto Scout and Xplorer every year. Its crazy

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 6:36 am**

Okay, I see no problem changing to that -- providing there is no one who has run to the radio shop to get their radio programmed. if that is the case, and NO ONE has any other comments about using 151.88 DPL 143, speak up now, or forever hold your peace.

I don't think using a repeater will be nesecary. I'm sure we can all relay for eachother, plus, everything is just about line of sight from one part of the fest to another. I don't think it's going to be a problem.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS?!?

-Alex

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 3:20 pm**

After going to Dayton for 25 years, I agree every commercial radio frequency you can think of is used there, ANYTHING but those frequencies that are dip switch programmable. I am going out on a limb and going to program one radio's with the MURS channel you suggest. Personnaly I am going to use some MP radios I signed out from my unit. They are on 406, with a suitcase repeater, nice and quiet there. DES will prevent any listening with anything.

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:14 pm**

OK, I would agree with that, but let's take a few extra measures if No one objects, Such as... We should come up with at least three alternative freqs (simplex) which would be utilized in the case of the single freq we choose to be used by someone with ten kids, or whatever else may pop up.

It could be any freq within the VHF or UHF bands, and possibly, for those who may not have access to a VHF rig, we could come up with one UHF freq to use, OR possibly use.
I know it's only going to be a few days, but it would be very interesting to share your finds, etc, and just normal chat with everyone from the board.

I myself was thinking about bringing the laptop, for testing purposes and, if anyone might need a radio tested, programmed, etc.. I'm sure there are others who will have the laptops there...

Anyone planning on staying at the Ramada Inn?

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:59 pm**

I can set up a VHF to UHF repeater in my car. Pick a good UHF freq to use. I also agree on a backup freq to use.

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 6:31 pm**

Having something like a repeater does sound like a good idea. My main concern was the fact that there are people who might not be hams, but police officers, ems, fire, etc that have radios, but couldn't talk on those frequencies without a licence.

I have my ham license, it's a non-issue, I just think it's not a bad idea to try and keep it legal (espically since it's being talked about in a public forum). The best way I think would be to use the VHF murs channels. A couple of us might put out more than 2 watts, but if we are all using portables, I don't think it would end up being a problem.

I don't object either to finding a UHF frequency as well, I'll just bring my UHF HT1K with me.

EC-7 if you want to let us know what frequencies you ahve in your PAC-RT or whatever device, that would be great.

I'll have a laptop too with internet with me providing there's nexhell service at hara, and maybe some other goodies

I'm looking forward to having a good wealth of knoledge at my finger tips this year.

-Alex
-Alex

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 7:46 pm**

Here's one for discussion, Well...Maybe...
Where is everyone staying?

I am likely going to be staying at the Ramada Inn which is about 10-15 from the arena, I am told.
The reservation was for someone else who could not go, so rather than take a farther away location, I will prob. take my friend's room.

How about figuring out between now and then two alternate UHF and 2 alternate VHF freqs. so everyone can make sure & have it loaded into the radios they have.

I would gladly bring a UHF maxtrac and power supply capable of handling two 45 watt radios, but would need someone to provide the following:
Rick unit or a "Will" unit...
Second UHF mobile radio.
I have coax and small antenna, unless someone wants to provide a better one. I have a small A/S Metal thingy, somewhat like a RINGO I think they call it. I have used it before, works good, but I had it @ 330a/s/l, so I could not say for a lower elev.
Anyhow, this is just a thought, so if anyone wants to chime in with replies, yeas, nays, etc....please do...

Maybe GMRS freqs? Unless they will be mobbed to? I would think a real oddball freq is "our" best bet for Dayton, Jest remember, others think the same way.

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 8:46 pm**

OK this is getting rediculous.

So the latest final decision is 151.88 DPL 143 correct? Ok. Now, just for fun, and I do mean for fun, should we coordinate an astro frequency as well, (don't yell! I just mean those who have the capability to do it!) Any suggestions from astro~capable folks, in my case WITHOUT encryption of any sort, just good ol plain astro simplex?

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 8:52 pm**

And so nobody forgets how fast it's coming go here:

http://tmedlin.com/dayton.html

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 9:05 pm**

Ray, Name your settings and I'm game...... For Astro operation. I am running CAI

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 9:21 pm**

Alrighty:

For those NON-ASTRO, NON-ENCRYPTED, ETC people:

151.880 mhz with a DPL 143

That's going to be the last change I make. I'm going to kill the other frequency from my other posts to avoid confusion.

My MDCID will be 1374 if you would like to page me.

You astro folks go nuts with your channel

I don't have an Astro portable *yet*. We are going to have a cross band repeater setup in someone's car prob to go between murs and UHF, but those details will follow later. I spoke with ChefA2001, EC-7, and Bob over AIM tonight, when we talk again, we'll hash out some more specifics I guess.

-Alex

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2002 11:27 pm**

That sounds like a good idea of having two frequencies. From past experiences, I've used GMRS with little problems(pl on of course) FRS - FORGET IT!!!!

462.675 is the emergency/travelers freq, and not sure if there is a system on that frequency around Dayton, so lets stay clear of that one. 462.625 is black dot - common in /\/\otorola dipswitch (cheapie) radios, so that freq is sure to be used by many.

My recommendations for GMRS freqs include
462.550
462.575
462.600
462.700 <--pretty quite last year. for crossband MURS 3 151.94 DPL 205
462.725
....other GMRS freqs had tons of peeps on them last year.

Official 2002 Dayton Hamvention VHF Freq.
151.880 mhz with a DPL 143

2002 Dayton Hamvention UHF Simplex or crossband (GMRS) freq.
To be announced (see above for recommendation)......

EC-7 had a good idea of a VHF to UHF crossband setup.........
I crossband (UHF to VHF -VHF to UHF [full crossband]) very often using Ham gear, and find that using the same PL on the VHF and UHF side works best. For an example, if the VHF has 131.8, and UHF has 192.8, sometimes certain different combos of PL's don't work well together. So if we are going to set up a crossband setup from VHF/UHF, lets use the same PL tone or DPL for that matter.

We got the officialVHF freq, now we just gotta figure out a UHF.......

24 days till Dayton!!!!!

Posted: **Tue Apr 23, 2002 4:33 pm**

CHEFA2001 wrote:

Ray, Name your settings and I'm game...... For Astro operation. I am running CAI

OK, well unlike those that actually OWN their own Astro capable radio, I have to borrow one, an XTS3000 with full keypad etc. It has been a while since I have set up anything Astro from scratch, and this is the wrong forum to yak in, I'll PM you some questions re: CAI so I don't look too stupid and we'll come up with something.

Posted: **Tue Apr 23, 2002 10:41 pm**

Offical Dayton VHF Freq as stated in previous posts:
151.880 mhz with a DPL 143

Remember to give a shout while at your hotel on the BatLabs channel also. I'll be staying at a hotel in Troy Ohio - right off the interstate.

23 days till Hamvention!!!

Cheers

Posted: **Wed Apr 24, 2002 3:25 pm**

Good News!

We have enough Maxtracs between us so that we can use one of Will's modules to link them together. We'll have a low power VHF/UHF cross band setup somewhere near or in the hamfest. It's yet to be determined what frequency this will be on, possibly on a ham channel since it's X-Band.

Will will be lending me one of the modules for this task THANKS!

-Alex

Posted: **Wed Apr 24, 2002 9:29 pm**

hEY aLEX, aR EYOU GOING TO,,,oops, Need my antenna and some coax or does someone have an antenna to use for the weekend?
I have a aluminum style Ringo kind of thing, NOt an actual ringo, but similar.

Maybe someone has one of those comtelco 4' antennas they have lying around used.???

I would be more than happy to bring my antenna, I dont have any coax lying around, so unless someone out there wants to throw some to the 'cause', it'll be run of some radio shack rg-8 I guess.

I will be there Thursday evening, depending on what time I leave.
ANyone using mobile radios in the vicinity? I will put in a temp VHF or UHF maxtrac in my vehicle if others are doing it.

Has anyone a clue where we can set this up for the weekend?
(the x-band setup that it...)
LOL, ANyone got the top floor of a high elevation hotel? Run the coax out your window and do a temp mount to soemthing on the roof with a double set of vice grips. he he he

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2002 12:07 am**

oh man there is even going to be a funeral, no i mean wedding also .

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2002 6:06 am**

Alrighty -

I have secured us an antenna - just a simple mag mount, shouldn't need anything too elaborate. I'm still trying to figure out a location that would run the two maxtracs all weekend. EC-7 offered up his vehicle, however, he won't be down there until Saturday. CHEFA2001 leave me a PM where your staying, maybe we can meet up on Thursday night. (or IM me) I should be at my hotel by then, and maybe we can figure something out. Since you find rare stuff on Friday morning, I want to be at the gate by 8, and wander the flea market. I'm not going to be worried about the crossband stuff until I've at least walked most of the fest first, so unless we get stuff done the night before, we'll have to hack something together on Friday late morning/afternoon.

Who is going to appear on Thursday and where will you be staying?

-Alex

(And Astro_Saber - what's that supposed to mean?)

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2002 6:48 pm**

I'll be there Thursday, I live in the Dayton area, so i guess I'll just stay at home. There may be a open 800 Mhz SMR some can use, I remember seeing someone post something about one on another board. SG

Posted: **Thu Apr 25, 2002 7:38 pm**

Hightower wrote:That sounds like a good idea of having two frequencies. From past experiences, I've used GMRS with little problems(pl on of course) FRS - FORGET IT!!!!

462.675 is the emergency/travelers freq, and not sure if there is a system on that frequency around Dayton, so lets stay clear of that one. 462.625 is black dot - common in /\/\otorola dipswitch (cheapie) radios, so that freq is sure to be used by many.

My recommendations for GMRS freqs include
462.550
462.575
462.600
462.700 <--pretty quite last year. for crossband MURS 3 151.94 DPL 205
462.725
....other GMRS freqs had tons of peeps on them last year.

Official 2002 Dayton Hamvention VHF Freq.
151.880 mhz with a DPL 143

2002 Dayton Hamvention UHF Simplex or crossband (GMRS) freq.
To be announced (see above for recommendation)......

EC-7 had a good idea of a VHF to UHF crossband setup.........
I crossband (UHF to VHF -VHF to UHF [full crossband]) very often using Ham gear, and find that using the same PL on the VHF and UHF side works best. For an example, if the VHF has 131.8, and UHF has 192.8, sometimes certain different combos of PL's don't work well together. So if we are going to set up a crossband setup from VHF/UHF, lets use the same PL tone or DPL for that matter.

We got the officialVHF freq, now we just gotta figure out a UHF.......

24 days till Dayton!!!!!

Of course the GMRS freqs would be limited to folks who are licensed on GMRS..

Batboard

Dayton Hamvention? - FINALLY Decided on a Frequency!

Dayton Hamvention? - FINALLY Decided on a Frequency!

Frequency used for Dayton

MURS at Dayton

Astro?

COUNTDOWN

Dayton Hamvention

Astro~nomical

Check the Batlabs freq while at your hotel

Re: Dayton Hamvention