Subj : Other Ham Radio News
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Wed Jun 08 2022 18:46:25

  I decided to try something new last night in doing the Arklatex
D-Star Net, with D-Rats checkins. I had originally done D-Rats when
I was doing D-Star under Windows 10...but with Windows 11, there
is a glitch with the audio drivers, the ThumbDV, and the BlueDV
program. I understand from other ham radio operators that some
of their programs and modes no longer work under Windows 11, not
to mention that Windows 11 is 64-bit only.

  So, I had to switch the D-Star over to the BBS computer, where the
CPU is too slow to run Windows 11. So, that computer instead has
Windows 10 32-bit, so the legacy DOS doors can run. I can not justify
discarding perfectly good and working programs, just to satisfy
Microsoft's bottom line. They seemingly are slowing down people's
coputers, so they'll upgrade to faster computers and a more current
operating system. What Microsoft (and apparently most in Washington,
DC) fail to see, or refuse to accept, is that not everyone has the
money to do the upgrades of computers or operating systems...and
they're perfectly happy with what they have. In some cases, they
are switching from Windows to Mac or Linux...and I know it irritates
Microsoft no end in that regard...not to mention not everyone is
running Microsoft Edge (I personally have gone to Mozilla Firefox).

  Anyway, to cut to the chase (hi hi), I decided to still run a
setup of D-Rats on the Windows 11 64-bit laptop, which has the
SSID of WX4QZ-1 -- then, I set up an identical copy of D-Rats on
the BBS computer, which has the SSID of WX4QZ-15 -- the latter
is monitored when I'm doing my weekly D-Star Traffic Nets. But,
with both of them connected to the St. Tammany Ratflector, I can
monitor each one for checkins...and by using different SSID's,
there's no conflict created.

  There is a file in my D-Rats shared folder, called Mode Overview;
a PDF file with an overview of Net Etiquette, setting up D-Rats,
the ThumbDV with the BlueDV program (these work mainly on Windows
10), and accessing the QuadNet Array, where the majority of my D-Star
Nets are run. Other files on there are PDF files related to ham radio,
plus Excel Spreadsheets of selected D-Star, Echolink, and D-Rats Nets,
in US Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time. These are a far
more current listing than what's at dstarinfo.com under nets (I had
tried numerous times to get my net info updated, but it was as if it
fell on deaf ears, so I gave up). I had started with PDF files, but
thanks to Gary, VA3GDZ, I was able to create the Excel Spreadsheets,
which are far easier to work with. For the spreadsheets, you'll need
either Microsoft Office, LibreOffice, or OpenOffice (the latter two
are free of charge) to view them. A PDF viewer is required to view
the PDF files, and an image viewer for the image files.

  If you don't have D-Rats set up, you can still get to these files
by going to the QRZ website, search for WX4QZ, and click on the
first hyperlink there. The second hyperlink will allow you to email
me, if you see an issue with the spreadsheets (such as an addition,
change, correction, or deletion, to a net listing), or have either a
question or comment. I'll get back with you as soon as possible.
Lastly, two other files note how to convert to UTC Time, especially
if you're in the US...plus links to other modes and nets...and a
list of nets where you'll find me on the air.

Daryl, WX4QZ
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 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

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