LATEST KB0P LINKING NEWS
NEWS WILL BE UPDATED!
The KB0P Internet Link has been "on-the-air" since January,
2001. In the beginning, the 147.240 repeater
in Virginia, Minnesota was linked to the internet via KB0P Internet
Link using Vocaltec IPhone. During the summer,
2001, the Vocaltec IPhone server was discontinued and KB0P had to find
an alternate internet linking software.
In May, 2001, KB0P switched over to ILINK. ILINK served the 147.240
repeater well. During the spring, 2002, ECHOLINK
was created to replace ILINK, and at that time KB0P switched over to
ECHOLINK. To this date, the KB0P Internet Link remains on
ECHOLINK as KB0P-L. In 2003, KB0P moved from Minnesota to Michigan. The
147.240 repeater in Virginia, Minnesota remains
on ECHOLINK with a new direct connection, as WD8RFS-R. The KB0P
Internet Link now serves Marquette County in Michigan's
beautiful Upper Peninsula (U.P.) as KB0P-L. Look for us on ECHOLINK.
Update: January, 2001
We are now on the internet. The 147.240, WD8RFS repeater is the very
FIRST internet repeater
in the state of Minnesota!!!!! We are using Vocaltec IPhone and our
repeater is located on my webpage, KB0P, Paul. This is the coolest
thing to be able to talk to friends from my home state,
Michigan, and from around the world while driving down the road. WOW!
Update: Sunday, 7/8/2001
I added this "NEWS" page to the website to help inform you of changes
being
made to my website. I do pay attention to what is going on and I do
update my site frequently.
Update: Monday, 7/9/2001
I fixed the K5JD conference room on the Iphone and the Surf & Call
pages. Also,
I added the "Off-The-Air Chat" conference square to each page. I
monitor the activity on the conference
squares and update them frequently. I don't like "dead" squares on my
page.
Update: Friday, 7/13/01
I think I figured it out! During the day, I log into the "Ely Repeater"
conference
square on my conference website. Unfortunately, I am always being
disconnected from the conference square
at least once a day, which makes it unreliable when I am away from
home. I discovered the reason for the
daily disconnects. It appears that the Iphone Server is shutting down
the conference rooms at least once
a day, perhaps to perform backups and other daily maintenance. So, I
will continue to check my computer,
daily, to make sure we remain logged in.
Update: Saturday, 7/28/01
I just returned from another trip to Michigan. This time, I was away
for
2 weeks. I logged into the KB0P-L from my laptop in the hotel room,
once. After that, I noticed the
Iphone link crashed. So, the system remained down until I returned home
and reset it. This Iphone
system needs constant baby sitting. We are back on the air, now!
Update: Sunday, 7/29/01
We have now earned international recognition. Today, I have been
informed that we have been
added to two websites. Take a look at Dave's, M1BHP
site by clicking here.
Also, Tom's,
W2ZQ page by clicking here. Thank you , Dave and Tom
for adding the KB0P-L URL to your websites.
Update: Sunday, 7/29/01
Today, I added more conference squares to my website. You will now
notice
the EA8EE, Canary Island Repeater, and the KP3AV, Puerto Rico Repeater
on my page.
Monday, 8/20/01
We have been added to the K0MSP Midwest Radio Association website,
which is
located in the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. To
visit the K0MSP MRA website, goto www.2meters.org.
Update: Monday, 8/27/01
I have been noticing that the stability of our connection on the
webpage
has been very poor. It goes in spurts. There are times when I can
maintain a connection for two
days, and then there are times when the VocalTec Iphone server dumps
the connection several times
a day. This is the reason why I will be switching over to a new system,
this fall.
Update: Tuesday, 8/28/01
Today, I completed my circuit for programming PIC's (EPROMS). I am one
step closer to switching over to the new system. PLEASE BE ADVISED!
We will be switching over
to iLINK this fall.
What does the switch-over to iLINK mean to you?
(1). We will be abandoning IPhone and Surf&Call.
(2). We will be using iLINK, instead. iLINK is much more reliable.
(3). To learn more about iLINK, goto www.aacnet.net.
Update: Wednesday, 8/29/01
I uploaded Surf&Call directly to my webpage. Since the URL for the
program failed, I now have it HERE for you! On that note, I have
decided to not offer IPhone, anymore.
All new users will have to use Surf&Call from now on.
Update: Friday, 9/7/01
I changed the format of the Repeater Link Pages. Now, instead
of having a separate page
for IPhone users and another for Surf & Call users,
I combined the two into a single page. Also,
I was informed, today, that the "Capice Server" for Vocaltec is down!
The server was hacked! Now, we
just wait and see if the server will ever resurface. So, for now our
repeater linking days are over
until that service is re-established. But, I am working on getting iLink
up and running.
Update: Saturday, 9/15/01
The new iLINK system is working!!! It was about 11:00 PM
tonight when I finally got the system
up and running. I dumped the IPHONE system all together! No more
headaches.
Update: Monday, 9/24/01
The new iLINK system is working GREAT!!! Today, I updated my
webpage to include instructions
for ILink. Also, I am maintaining the IPhone page by
popular demand. I still have to create some
help instruction for ILink, but I will get to that, soon.
Update: Saturday, 10/6/01
We now have a "Listen To 147.240 Repeater"
box on the LISTEN.TO/24 website.
This was done by popular request-- many amateurs wanted us to provide a
way for them to "park"
on the 147.240 repeater just to listen. If you are interested in
LISTENING ONLY, goto the two-four
website at http://listen.to/24
Update: November, 2001
The "Listen To 147.240 Repeater" box on the
LISTEN.TO/24 website, has died.
Actually, Vocaltec IPhone, which supported that page, has died. We will
no longer support a "listen only" site.
Update: December, 2001
The KB0P-L link went "OFF-THE-AIR" due to an ANTHRAX scare. All of the
equipment has been disassembled and
put away. I recieved a QSL card from a Britain internet station (via
ILINK) and the envelope contained white powder.
This powder resulted in my company being shut down for 48 hours. Now,
we have to lay low for a few months until
the news media forgets about what happened.
Update: March, 2002
We now switched over to ECHOLINK and will no longer use ILINK. ILINK
support got a girlfriend and disappeared
off the face of the Earth. Fortunately, all the ILINK node numbers will
work directly with ECHOLINK. Smooth transition.
Update: October, 2002
KB0P is moving from Minnesota to Michigan. So, the KB0P-L will be
"off-the-air" for awhile until the move is complete.
The 147.240 repeater in Aurora, MN will now have a dedicated PC at the
repeater site and will be on ECHOLINK. Look
for this repeater on ECHOLINK as WD8RFS-R. This repeater will be
semi-closed to incoming stations.
Update: Novemer, 2002
The KB0P-L link is now up and running in Ishpeming, Michigan. We are
linked to the 444.200 repeater in Marquette, MI (N8PUM repeater). The
link computer and radios are currently set up at Brandon, N8PUM
residence. Thank you, Brandon, for your help.
Update: March, 2003
The KB0P-L link has been moved off the 444.200 repeater and put on
445.000 simplex for the time being. The
444.200, N8PUM repeater was taken off the air due to problems caused at
the repeater site by the new 500,000 Watt UHF television station. We
will hopefully get this problem resolved, soon.
Update: April, 2003
The KB0P-L link has been running GREAT all winter in the new Michigan
location. This month (1) The webpage has
finally been updated, (2) The KB0P-L link has been added to the
ECHOLINK map on the internet, and (3) The KB0P-L has
been put back on the 444.200 repeater (actually, the repeater was put
back "on-the-air").
Update: April 20, 2003
Upgraded the Echolink software on the repeater to version 1.6. Now we
have a CW ID instead of the voice ID. Also,
added a link to the webpage to allow viewers to download echolink.
Update: Summer 2003
Moved into a new house and dismantled all linking hardware. Also, the
repeater went off the air as N8PUM was
looking for a new home for his repeater. Echolink is now stored in a
box in the attic of my garage.
Update: October 23, 2006
We are back! We have been away from Echolink for some time due to busy
work schedules, moving into a new house,
family stuff, etc. But we are now on the 444.200 Repeater (N8PUM
repeater) in Ishpeming, Michigan. Tonight,
Norm, KD8BPC, and I climbed the Cliffs Shaft to install a CTCSS board
on the repeater so that we could turn
Echolink back on. It was dark (night), cold and snowy, and breezy. On
our way up (about a 1000 stair climb to the top), we woke up 2 pigeons
with our flashlights and they both
tried to fly into my face. I hit the floor fast and hard, face burried
in pigeon poop, feathers, and iron ore dust. Then, I realized
something. The pigeons were flying toward the light, the head light
that was strapped to my forehead. I quickly doused the beam and
ran up 2 flights of stairs to safety. Norm was laughing his butt off.
Update: November5, 2006
Finally, I got the dedicated Echolink computer up and running in the
work shop. I designed and built
a new interface solely for Echolink with a local microphone built in.
Now, I can use the local
microphone on the interface and the station on the repeater as well as
the station on the computer will hear my transmission.
Update: November 29, 2006
Tonight, I decided to abandon the recent built interface and go with a
PIC microprocessor interface.
I started this project at 8:00 PM and finally completed it at 3:00 AM.
Using a PIC controller chip
and an HT9170 DTMF decoder chip, I built an external controler for
Echolink. This is the same
controler I used back in the iLINK days. Now, instead of using the
DTMF decoder built into the Echolink software (been having some
problems with that decoder), I now have
an external decoder (a hardware decoder). I found that as a result of
switching over, the DTMF
response is FAST! Also, I have eliminated all of the time delays in the
program and now the switch over
from transmit and receive is almost instantaneous.
Update: January 2007
I purchased some Motorola GM300 UHF radios. I am now using a Motorola
Maxtrac as my linking
radio. The previously used Yaesu FT-8500 was put away in the box. Also
this month, my friends
in Wisconsin and Minnesota helped me out by collecting their used parts
and donating those
parts toward a repeater. Joel K9MLD, John N9QWH, Randy N0BZZ, Doug
AA0AW, donated the parts,
and Pat KB0QYC put the repeater together for me. I picked up the
repeater in Duluth during
one of my work assignment trips to Hibbing, MN. Thank you guys for you
help,
Update: February 2007
I purchased more Motorola Maxtrac radios. Also this month, I purchased
an IFR-1000S service monitor from
Ebay, so now I have some nice, used, vintage, test equipment to assist
my setting up links. And, finally
I rebuilt the interface, again. I was receiving complaints on Echolink
that my audio sounded
"tinny". So, I rebuilt the interface and paid special attention to
audio impedance matching. Now my
online audio sounds GREAT!
Update: April 1, 2007
This weekend I worked with Raoul, W8RDR in Munising. The Munising and
Grand Marais, Michigan
repeater is now on Echolink. Munising is 145.410 MHz (-) and Grand
Marais is 147.195 MHz (+).
You can find the Munising repeater on Echolink under W8RDR-R or node#
275200.
Update: February 2008
This month, the KB0P-L Echolink system was moved off the Ishpeming,
N8PUM-R, 444.200 repeater and onto the
147.270 HARA repeater(s). This was done so that Echolink would be
available for the UP200 Sled Dog Race.
Update: April 4, 2008
Talking to the HARA members, they like having Echolink on the 147.270
repeater. I had recently removed it from
the repeater to help prevent problems, and I was scolded (lightly) and
told to restore it. That is GREAT!
Update: Fall, 2008
Now the 444.800 Repeater in Marquette is on Echolink (KE8IL-R). So, I
move my Echolink node back to the N8PUM 444.200 Repeater in Ishpeming.
Now, all local Echolink activity is on UHF.
Update: February 20, 2009
Moved the KB0P-L Echolink off of 444.200 and placed it back on 147.270
Linked System for the UP200 Sled Dog Race (20th annual). Ham were able
to listen to the UP200 radio traffice on Echolink over the weekend on
the WMPORN conference. This worked great! After the race, I moved the
Echolink node back to the N8PUM 444.200 Repeater in Ishpeming and
resumed normal operation.
Update: March 7, 2009
We now have LIVE! Streaming Audio on this website! The Linked Repeater
System (27, 64, 41, and 195) can now be monitored via the Internet
using Windows Media Player.
Update: August, 2009
We moved the 444.200 and 443.500 repeater. Brandon N8PUM, Norm W8NWD,
and your's truly (Paul KB0P) climbed up and down the Cliff's Shaft (175
feet, over 250 stairs),
to put 443.500 into service. The 443.500 repeater has replaced the
444.200 repeater in Ishpeming. The 443.500 repeater is a GE MAster II,
100 Watts, with
a 100 Hz PL tone. This repeater was built with the help of my friend,
Pay, KC0QYC, as a dedicated Echolink repeater.
Update: April 19, 2010, Friday
I am now on IRLP!!! After 10 years of Internet linking (8 of which I
spent on Echolink), I finally switched over to IRLP. With the help of
Mike, KB8ZGL I am running an ITX computer (which I obtained with the
help of my friend, Todd, N8JWT via Ebay) on IRLP. I shipped the
computer
to Mike, he set up it up for me, and he shipped it back. I dismantled
my Echolink node, and went on the air with IRLP about 11:00 PM this
evening.
I am already impressed with the improved audio quality of IRLP over
Echolink as well as the improved (reduced) delays between
transmissions;
it sound more like real radio.
Update: December 1, 2010
Built an experimental repeater and placed it in my garage for local
coverage around my neighborhood. I have been using it to talk with
Wayne, WD8CYB in Gwinn; Todd, N8JWT in Rapid River; and Norm, W8NWD in
Ishpeming. Also, my son has been using the repeater to talk with his
cousin and friends (all hams, or course). The repeater is open and on
146.820 MHz with the standard (-) 600 KHz offset. My intention is to
link this 2-meter repeater to my UHF repeater, which is located in town
(443.500 MHz).
Update: December 11, 2010
Today, I added links on my website (in the IRLP area of the page) to
the IRLP status of my IRLP node as well as a IRLP map, which indicates
the location of my node and all the nodes currently connected to it.
Today, I am also building up the linking cable and programmed the
Maxtrac radio, which will both be used to link together my two
repeaters (443.500 MHz and 146.820 MHz).
Update: January 7, 2011
I am now a Droid owner/user. Today, I switched over my cell service to
Verizon (faster 3G network) and became a Droid user. The very first
thing I did with the Droid (even before making a phone call) was
install Echolink. I have been using Echolink on my smart phone and I
love it!
Update: January 14, 2011
Today, I connected the Echo/IRLP system directly to the 146.820 MHz
repeater. Now, I have full duplex control of the Echo/IRLP system.
Then, using a dualband radio in crossband repeater mode, the 146.820
MHz repeater (at my home) and the 443.500 MHz repeater (in town) are
now linked together. All of this has been done just before my business
trip to Milwaukee next week. I will certainly be using my Droid as an
HT and I will be connecting into my repeater system while driving to
Milwaukee.
Update: Summer 2011
Since I have difficulty getting into my UHF repeater from my house,
which is about 6 miles south of the repeater, I added a simplex link to
the network. For those of you driving around Ishpeming, please check
out 145.550 (100 Hz) simplex.
Update: Week of September 5, 2011
Norm (W8NWD) and I climbed 259 stairs to the 443.500 repeater to check
the antenna for loose hardware. There has been crackling noises on the
repeater, and I felt a need to check for loose hardware. Everything
checked out okay.
Update: Thursday, September 8, 2011
Todd (N8JWT) and I (KB0P) installed the 146.820 two-meter repeater at
the Champion site that we have been talking about for awhile. The
repeater is located west of Ishpeming (about 15 miles west) in Humboldt
at a tower site provided by John (W8ZUL). The ground elevation is only
1667 feet and the antenna is about 50 feet high (a total of about 1710
feet or so). Todd tested the repeater, while driving westward on US41
and almost made it to Convington Junction. Later in the week, it was
confirmed that a mobile is capable of getting in from Republic (which
is south of the repeater location). The repeater can also be heard in
Ishpeming and Negaunee.
** The repeater is 146.820(-) with no tone **
Update: Thursday, September 15, 2011
Todd (N8JWT) and I climbed 259 stairs to the 443.500 repeater, which is
located at the top of a 175 foot hoist building in downtown Ishpeming.
Our goal was to test the receiver and attempt to improve sensitivity.
We succeeded! The sensitivity (with the repeater transmitting) was
improve by about 8 dB-- previously 0.8 uV to now 0.2 uV to trip the
squelch, and no desense. I am now able to hit the repeater while using
an HT on low power at about 2-3 miles from the repeater.
Update: Friday, September 30, 2011
I went alone to the 146.820 repeater in Champion, leaving the house
about 9:00 PM and returning home about 12:30 AM. Brandon N8PUM and I
were talking on the repeater (and Norm W8NWD was listening, as he
always does). At the repeater, I turned on the UHF link radio
and reprogrammed it. We had a storm last night with 70 MPH winds, which
resulted in multiple power outages and tree damage. At the repeater the
power went out and when that happens, the Yaesu FT-8500 link radio
shuts off and goes back to default. Also, while at the site, I adjusted
the deviation levels of the repeater and the UHF link to eliminate the
audio clipping that has been experienced. And finally, the 146.820
repeater squelch was turned back in the software of the Motorola R1225
repeater. The "82" is sounding much better, now.
Update: Monday, October 10, 2011
I created a map of the 2 Meter repeaters located in the Upper Peninsula
and added the link to the website. Coming soon, will be the same for
the 440 UHF repeaters in the U.P.
Update: Sunday, May 13, 2012
I switched my Echolink/ IRLP system over to the 147.270 repeater in
Marquette. This is DAYTON HAMVENTION WEEK! The system remained on the
"27" repeater until I returned home from Dayton
When I got home, I put the IRLP/ Echolink system back on my 443.500
repeater.
Update: Monday, June 18, 2012
I switched my Echolink/ IRLP system over to the 147.270 repeater in
Marquette, which is the Linked Repeater System that covers Marquette
County and Alger County (6 repeaters in all).
This week the HARA will host the Model A Convention, and we needed
Internet linking to successfully carry out the net between Marquette
County and Houghton County. I am keeping the
system on the "27" for now.
Update: Thursday, August 2, 2012
The HARA club (Marquette County) had its annual club picnic this
evening. During the picnic, I did a presentation on IRLP to introduce
Internet linking to the club members.
Update: Sunday, August 5, 2012
I updated the data on the website for my IRLP and Echolink node, so now
it shows the 147.270 repeater instead of the 443.500 repeater. Now, my
443.500 repeater in Ishpeming is just sitting
idle with no activity on it.
Update: Fall 2013
I installed an IRLP and EchoIRLP node at the repeater site of 147.270
repeater in Marquette. This new node is now permanently hard-wired into
the repeater controller on the Linked Repeater System, which allows a
dedicated node, and full duplex operation. The new node numbers for the
Linked System is now IRLP, node 8461; and Echolink, node 507166
(KB0P-L). I placed my personal node (IRLP 8993) back over to the
443.500(+)(100.0) repeater in Ishpeming.
Update: Saturday, March 14, 2015
I received our new Yaesu Fusion DR-1X repeaters this past week. The
442.200(+) C4FM (digital) repeater went on the air, today. This is the
first digital repeater to go
operational in the U.P. of Michigan.
idle with no activity on it.
Update: Thursday, April 9, 2015
I was visiting Peoria, IL for work. Today, I talk on the 147.075(+)
FUSION repeater. John (TNZ) and I spoke for over an hour. This was the
first time ever that I used FUSION.
Update: Sunday, April 12, 2015
I tied in IRLP and EchoIRLP to the 442.200(+) FUSION repeater. After
working out some minors logic issues, it seems to be working well.
Update: Tuesday, April 14, 2015
I added the FUSION webpage to my website.
Update: Summer 2018
I am now on ALLSTAR. I subscribed to ALLSTAR in 2014, but never got
around to building a node
until now, 2018. I've built 4 nodes this year: A simplex node for
myself (48578); a node for my
repeater (48579); a node for my son, Chad, KD8LAG in Cleveland, GA; and
a node for Bill, WB8Q
in Wetmore/Munising, Michigan (49692).
Update: December 2018
Installed ALLSTAR node 49692 in Wetmore/Munising, MI at the location of
Bill, WB8Q.
The Munising area now has an ALLSTAR node on 146.460 MHz Simplex (PL
100.0 Hz).
***
Also installed an ALLSTAR repeater in Marquette, Michigan on 442.200
MHz(+)(PL 100.0 Hz)
Update: January 2019
After spending 17 years back home in Ishpeming, MI, raised my family
and planted linked repeater
systems, we are moving to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Linked my 442.200 MHz
repeater to the FM38 system
in Wisconsin. You will hear me on the air on 442.200 MHz (Marquette
area), 146.460 MHz (Munising area),
and 442.800 MHz (Green Bay area), as well as several other UHF
repeaters throughout Wisconsin.
Update: Friday, June 5, 2020
During my Covid-cation, I went to Marquette and we installed DMR on the 442.200 repeater.
The Allstar node went off the air and DMR replaced it. This is the first DMR repeater
in Marquette County, Michigan.
Update: Saturday, May 27, 2023
The IRLP/EchoIRLP computer failed and this provided an opportunity to update the system to Allstar.
The UP Linked Repeater System now is an Allstar system (Echolink still remains on the system).
The Allstar node is 48579 and the Echolink node is 420942 (K8LOD-R).