Subj : Re: Anybody here?
To   : All
From : dotslash
Date : Sun Mar 06 2022 05:51 pm

Hi Vk3jed,

On 06/03/2022 21:23, Vk3jed wrote:
> -=> On 03-05-22 16:25, dotslash wrote to Vk3jed <=-
> 
>   Vk> That hasn't been updated in years. :)  I still have D-STAR (added an
>   Vk> ID-5100A last year), but I can also do DMR, YSF, and even M17 on RF.
> 
>   do> Oooh, M17 is new to me! The little bit I have seen looks very
>   do> interesting, this looks excellent!
> 
> M17 is exciting, because it's hams developing, and it's evolving rapidly.  I
> was there when M17 support was added to the MMDVM suite, and also the arrival
> of several methods of generating M17 RF.  Testing all that was fun too. :)


I've started messing about with it a bit, very impressive the quality 
you can get with 9600 baud and less. Wow!


> Still got nothing to do with the local noise floor, but relocating has
> certainly improved propagation, which is not unusual.  I tend to get out better
> from the beach or the outback, as well as where I was when I first started on
> radio.  The local soil condition has a lot of inpact on propagation.  Beach has
> great soil conductivity, due to the seawater.  The outback has high iron
> content (it's basically rusted). :)

You are of course correct. I live on what is called the "North Downs" in 
the South-East of England, which is mostly meters worth of sandy chalk. 
Sparked by your comment about soil conductivity, I consulted the British 
Geological Survey map to see if there is an explanation. My favourite 
spot is further south towards the coastal plain, and it seems that the 
bed-rock there is mainly hard limestone as opposed to the chalk where I 
live. Interesting, this needs some more study - I had no idea that 
ground conditions could have such a big impact.

Cheerio,
.../

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