Specifications:
ID: K6QBQ-1
Digi Name: SOLAR1
Freq: 145.030 MHz
Loc: Altamont Pass @775 ft
Path: “via SOLAR1”
Equipment:
Icom IC-V82 transceiver, TinyTrak4 packet controller, 20 watt solar panel, “Generic” 20 amp MPPT solar charger, Nermak LIFEPO4 10 amp battery and a Cushcraft Ringo antenna with 3.5 DB gain.
Project Goal:
To test the viability of this site for Amateur radio packet support in San Joaquin County.
Design Details:
SOLAR1 is “unproto mode” AX-25 packet radio digipeater. There is nothing to connect to at the site, nor can you use SOLAR1 to connect to anything else through it. SOLAR1 sends a ID or a position beacon every 15 minutes. Amateur operators can send text, chat or beacons “via SOLAR1” using EasyTerm or a similar terminal program. Note: duplicate packet messages are limited to 1 packet frame per minute, while unique packets have no such restrictions. Also a maximum packet size of 128 bytes is recommended.
Family History:
“Our father, Paul Marciel, purchased the 466 acre cattle ranch in the 1970’s as an extension of existing grazing land in the Livermore valley. Today, my sister, Janice Marciel, and I are partners in the Altamont ranch as we continue the cattle ranching tradition that our father requested. Once I was aware of the need for another packet digipeater in the area, we determined a suitable site and notified club members of the availability. It took almost 2 years, and now the it’s operational to benefit amateur radio operations. Thank you to Tom WA6OSX for his hard work and patience, and to all the contributors of the materials necessary to make this possible.”
-Joyce K6QBQ
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