The website is working just fine on my Comcast Business connection.  Apparently, they have physically moved according to their website.  Still making the some old TNCs, though, but with USB interfaces.

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

This diagram shows you how the function keys can be implemented to function like the ones on an Icom remote speaker-microphone.

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

39 dollars?  I don't recall that before...

Well, it's still pretty inexpensive compared to buying a PACTOR TNC!

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

No, it is referring to an adjustment procedure (levels, frequencies) that SHOULD be done prior to attempting to connect to another station.  This can prevent "this software/hardware doesn't work right"-itis. 

I suugest that you join the WINMOR group on Yahoo Groups (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WINMOR) and look at the howto's in the Files section.  They will help you get going and the hams on the Group are very helpful, too.

There is no registration fee.

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

According to an article published earlier this week in Bloomberg, Boeing's JTRS costs around $300K.  The "network integration kit" for a network node (like in a HMMWV) is just over $900K EACH.  The Army is having second thoughts about ordering any more.  They are having problems with audio quality and the mean-time-between-failures is less than a week.  Rebooting the NIK takes just over 30 minutes, during which time you have no comms.

Not good...  Since Harris, Racal and others have developed SDRs which work very well, there looks like a good chance that they will recompete and settle for half-a-loaf which works and is affordable rather than the gold-plated version they've been testing.

It seems that asking Boeing to build radios makes about as much sense as asking Nokia to build bombers. 

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

You can buy an American-made HF-UHF radio (2 MHz - 2 GHz) from Boeing.  They would be happy to sell you one right now since the Pentagon is having second-thoughts about buying many of them.  Of course, they don't work very well, the voice quality is not all that good (Army's tests, mind you) and they cost over $300,000 EACH.

Knock yourself out. 

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

That whole "the codec is too costly" is simply NOT true.  I can buy one AMBE codec chip from a ham in the Netherlands, quantity one, for 25 Euros!  Don't believe me  -- look on www.dutch-star.eu.

There may be reasons why you don't like Icom, but the cost of the codec isn't factual.  Even if you are using Bruce Peren's new, real-soon-now, "free" codec, it has to run on something physical and it won't be free.

Look it up.

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

PS.  I am building an Icom-free UHF D-Star repeater right now.  Open source software, Fred's "Dutch" S-Star board, pair of "old" Motorola GM300 radios and a duplexer.  It's not off-the-shelf, and its a lot of work, but infinitely more interesting than buying an Icom repeater at HRO. 

Here's a clue for you -- the US Government has ALREADY spent way more money than they should have on SDR -- it's called the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS).

Look it up.  And look at how many ZEROES are in the appropriations.  It is obscene. 

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

Sounds to me like you want one of the "wireless intercom" systems like the broadcast crews or motorcyclists use.  Some vendors include Telex, Eartec, Porta-Com, Midland. 

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

Or just mount an unprotected overhead HV transformer on a pole in the yard.  Doggone rats with tails constantly commit suicide on them in this neck of the woods. 

I was reading the TAPR newsletter today (PSR) and came across an interesting "short" regarding a packet node mapping project.  W5ONL is mentioned as the project's leader.

Does anyone know anything about this project?  How are they planning on getting this information? 

I was involved when the State of Delaware collected information regarding communications networks as part of the Federally-mandated Tactical Interoperable Communications Project (TICP) a couple of years ago.  They had a nice database for collecting the information for DHS which was developed by Navy SPAWAR, I think.  Like a lot of other Federal projects, I think that they "checked the box" and moved on.  I'm not aware of any ongoing maintenance efforts, as I've never heard of anyone asking for updates of the submitted information.

What is needed (IMHO) is for the frequency coordinators or the ARRL to take the responsibility for the upkeep of a decent database of this information...

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

We've had enough government giveaways.  We need to keep money in the consumer's pockets.  The USG is notoriously inefficient when you compare the $$ appropriated vs the $$ which makes it to the end user.

The Dept of Hopeless Security is an excellent example.  Most of the money is sucked up into endless studies conducted by leeches inside the DC Beltway.  Very little makes it out to the State level, and even less after they take their cut and drop a few pennies into the the city/local level.

If you want to do something positive for Made-in-America, take away all of the subsidies accrued by companies who off-shore their R&D, capital and manufacturing. 

john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

If you click on the picture on mods.dk, it will display a close-up of R900 with a red circle around it.

73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL

Yes, I had the same problem.  I think you'll actually find the OEM unit to actually be a little more rugged.

I sure wish that Yaesu hadn't done away with the DB9 packet connectors on the back of their 2-meter radios -- I still have several FT-2600 transceivers operating as APRS and Winlink systems and when they're "gone", the replacements will be Alincos if nothing changes.

Here is a link on an adapter cable which will allow you to utilize one of the Yaesu 8-pin round connectorized microphones with the FT-2600:  http://highfields-arc.6te.net/constructors/other/ct692.htm

or you can buy a new OEM microphone here:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/DTMF-Speaker-Mic-FT-90R-FT-2600R-FT8100-MH-36B6J-/140391595062