Kawartha Packet Group
VE3KPG
Kawartha Packet Group Meetings
Keene Fire Hall - TBD
Kawartha Packet Group is planning to hold first meeting in number of years at Keene Fire Hall sometime in 2024. Topics of discussion is VE3KPG status, Winlink, HamWAN, AREDN and APRS. ARDC (Amateur Radio Digital Communications) grant proposal for a HamWAN network will also be discussed.
VE3KPG Winlink Hybrid Gateway Status
Note: VE3KPG is constantly making changes to its configuration as we add hardware, test different modes and frequencies. Therefore, please check the status below to see if the mode and frequencies you are testing are operational.
VARA FM connections into VE3KPG has been tested as far away as 43 kms. This ping test was done from Buckhorn using a DRA-50 Interface, an Arrow antenna mounted on a tripod 8' in the air running 50 watts.
VE3KPG STATUS
| BBS/Node | 145.670 MHz, VE3KPG-2, AX.25 1200 baud | Active |
| Winlink Packet | 145.670 MHz, VE3KPG-2, AX.25 1200 baud | Active |
| Winlink VARA FM Node VE3KPG-10 | 147.500 MHz, VE3KPG-10, VARA FM Wide | Active |
| Winlink VARA FM Digipeater VE3MT-10 | 147.500 MHz, VE3KPG-10, VARA FM Wide | Active |
| Winlink VARA FM Digipeater VE3YCL-10 | 147.500 MHz, VE3KPG-10, VARA FM Wide | Active |
| Winlink VARA FM Node VE3BUY-10 | 439.925 MHz, VE3BUY-10, VARA FM Wide | Active |
| Winlink VARA HF | 28.131 MHz, VE3KPG, VARA HF 2300 Hz | Active |
| Winlink VARA HF & PACTOR 4 | 14.093 MHz, VE3KPG, VARA HF 2300 Hz | Active |
| Winlink VARA HF & PACTOR 4 | 10.131 MHz, VE3KPG, VARA HF 2300 Hz | Active |
| Winlink VARA HF & PACTOR 4 | 7.091 MHz, VE3KPG, VARA HF 2300 Hz | Active |
| Winlink VARA HF & PACTOR 4 | 5.349 MHz, VE3KPG, VARA HF 2300 Hz | Active |
| Winlink VARA HF & PACTOR 4 | 3.585 MHz, VE3KPG, VARA HF 2300 Hz | Active |
Speacial thanks to VE3BLM/VE3MT for his time and patience testing all frequencies and modes as well as loaning his IC-7300 for testing.
Winlink Setup Tips
When setting up your Winlink station it is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with Winlink Express program by using Winlink Telnet first.
If you are using a Signalink, set the TX Delay knob at around 9:00 o'clock. Is is also recommended to use VARA "narrow" first to establish first connection.
Establish a P2P (Peer to Peer) connection with a station that is very close to you first before experimenting at longer distances. There isn't any point in going to the moon if your rocket can't get into orbit :-)
For those of you who are at very long distances from others and have a HF radio, you will likely have more success with VARA HF than VARA FM
There a plenty of online tutorials and videos on how to setup a Winlink station.
VE3KPG-GATEWAY AREDN Node
AREDN
VE3KPG is now on AREDN. It supports access to the KPG BPQ32 BBS, Winlink, MeshChat and PBX Server for VOIP Phones.
VA3HIP CANADA SATGATE
SATGATE SERVICE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
The SATGATE service has been officially dissolved largely due to the reduced number of SATGATE operators world wide. Without a strategic network of operators, SATGATE could no longer provide a reliable service. Since VA3HIP BBS in no longer needed it has been shut down indefinitely.
When the SATGATE was still operational, VA3HIP BBS linked South Central Ontario as well as the rest of Canada to other BBSs throughout the world via Amateur Radio Satellites. UO-22, GO-32 and AO-51 PACSAT satellites were utilized for SATGATE services. International mail was forwarded to the VA3HIP BBS were it awaited for the next pass of the designated Amateur Radio PACSAT Satellite. When the satellite came into range, the mail was automatically uploaded to the satellite's mailbox. When the satellite flew over the Country that mail needed to be sent to, a Satgate operator for that Country automatically download the mail and forward it terrestrially. More information on the former Satgate Service can be found at Satgate.
APRS
144.390
VE3KPG is using BPQ32 APRS operating Digipeater and IGate.
VE3SSF APRS node is no longer operational.