The MB6IGK Digital Fusion Gateway has been operating perfectly since it was first activated. It's currently connected by default to the UK-NET-HUB room, along with a whole bunch of other Gateways, Repeaters and individual nodes. There are eight Fusion repeaters, fourteen Gateways, and a bunch of individual user Nodes connected up.
It's not exactly buzzing with D-Star levels of activity yet, but new Repeaters, Gateways and Nodes are joining the network on a weekly basis. Hopefully, as time passes, the interconnected nodes will stabilise into something robust and used. I think a lot of people are still wondering exactly what to do with all these interconnected nodes. Some of the rooms have so many nodes connected, I think people are frightened to talk on them. The Japan room had 204 connected nodes the other night. Can you imagine what that would look like if only 10% of them were trying to talk?!
It needs an easy way for people to listen in on a "CQ" room, and then QSY to a chat room. This is easy to do if you have the control software screen open in front of you, but seriously challenging if you are operating from an actual radio display screen.
On the upside, scheduled nets would be very easy to set up and organise with this system, as each node automatically has it's own 'room' it can make use of.
Just tuned in - obviously out of range or not operational (attended only isn't it?).
ReplyDeleteWill keep trying - be great to start playing with the wires x functionality on the ftm 400!
Dave M0WDG
Hi Dave,
DeleteIt's an attended NoV, so only operational during weekday evenings and at weekends. Unless I happen to be around, in which case I switch it on.
Please feel free to make use of it. It automatically connects up to the UK NET HUB, which has 20+ nodes connected up to it usually. You can disconnect and connect elsewhere with simple commands.
No problem Jon, I had a quick qso on way home from the club with an old friend from the York club, but dropped out of range as soon as I dropped down Walderslade hill... It's a shame you don't live in a radio friendly place, but we are where we are... I'll try again over the weekend, try and park up near yours and get the wires x mode working on the ftm400 to navigate around.
ReplyDeleteWe should meet up at some point and have a catch up - it's been too long!
Coverage is limited, but partly by design/licence. Getting a NoV for a digital Gateway these days is quite a challenge. I'm limited on power output, antenna type and placement.
DeleteThe coverage around the University areas and down along the riverside (including the Dockyard area) and up into Gillingham is pretty good. The hills ruin all the other directions, unfortunately.
Hope the FTM-400 is getting some use. Catch up with you soon.