Radio-less Allstar node

Allstar is a great way of linking simplex radios and repeaters together. However sometimes a radio is not required.  With direct access to the net, either by Cat 5 or wifi all you really need is a way to receive audio, transmit audio and key up a node. This is what a radio-less node does. All that's required is a Raspberry Pi 3 a USB Sound FOB, a Microphone and Speaker and a few bits to connect it all together.

I used an old bluetooth speaker as the starting point.  The case housed a mic preamp an LM-386 amp module to drive the speakers the usb sound fob and 8v regulator for the Icom mic that I was using. The Pi is mounted in a separate case which also includes a relay module and 5v regulator.

APRSdroid at 10000m+

I just hoped on a flight to Perth with free wifi. So thought I'd run APRSdroid. All workings well so far! Check out the full trip on aprs.fi.

You can download APRSdroid here or from the google play store.

IC-9700 Release Date and Pricing

Two websites are reporting that Icom's IC-9700 is to be released in February 2019.  Both these sites are in Europe and show the price as €1,995.00 at the HamShop in the Netherlands and £1795.95 from Icom UK  respectively.  This placed it at an estimated price of $3100 ( more accurately $3200) Australian.

The Icom IC-9700 is the long awaited successor of the IC-910.  Currently on VK Classified, secondhand IC-910's are selling for between $1800 and $2200 (depending on the condition and options installed).

The IC-9100 which is a HF, 6m, 2m and 70cm Base Transceiver (with optional 23cm and D-STAR) is selling for around $4000 from Australian retailers.

IC-7300 Firmware updated (Version 1.30)

Just updated the firmware to version 1.30.  It was released back in July (but I missed it).

Changes in this version: -

• A SET MODE item is added to expand the transmission passband width for the SSB data mode up to "100 to 2900 Hz". 
• A SET MODE item is added to make the USB SEND/USB Keying function active immediately after USB port connection. The Menu structure is changed accordingly.