Technical Support Software

Project: Software Development
Language: ASP.NET

Well I'm at it some more on the code! This will be my 4th published work and this time its gonna be a doozy. I personally have been in the technical support industry for over 10 years and have began implementing that experience in my new application.

The purpose of this web based program is to have client prompted support requests logged and organized for multiple techs to work on and solve. These support issues will automatically update the requester when changes or updates have been made, or the issue was resolved. If the requester is not pleased with the resolution they can reopen for further assistance. another benefit is all Techs related to the program will be able to access the system anywhere there is a web connection keeping all of our efforts in sync and the users actively attended to.

Current status
Portal: Temp Server from IDE
Database: Access 2000
Layers:
-Contacts- Beta2
-Technicians- Beta2
-Tickets- Beta2
-Companies- Beta
-Admin- Alpha
-Catagories- Beta2
-SubCatagories-Alpha
-Items- Alpha
-Pop/SMTP- Alpha
if you are interested in assisting in the initial testing of this application you can request beta enrollment by going to http://www.askgeorgeroy.com and submitting a request with the subject "Beta User" I would love to have ya as a tester :)

George
AD7QA
http://www.askgeorgeroy.com

VHF UHF Digital Mode Tests

Yes again I have fired up the ol Digital modes PSK Pactor... no packet this time. packet as far as I can tell is quite inactive and appears to only exist in times of emergency. as I have mentiond before there are oodles of Packet nodes out there but they are all just repeater machines and carry little to no traffic in the SW Washington area. I have tested most the major digital modes now over the VHF/UHF and I must say I am very pleased with the results. I have a nice signal, no anoyin HF static and the gear is cheap and small. One problem I am noticing is the amount of bandwidth that some modes consume on the VHF UHF side of things. I beleive this is due to the mode expecting only side band opperations which my radio currently does not support. I am however researching a way to externall clip the output to emulate the sideband but in the long run a 2m or 70cm rig that supports side band would do the job nice. My IC 208H does support narrow and wide banded modes I expect to test later in October and hope that will trim tha amount of bandwith used.

Projects:
Currently my robot is fully cabable of terminal based commands and I may attempt to connect to it via my VHF useing TCP/IP and Telnet however I have yet to find a test buddy on that mode. The Telnet server is a re-write of the MUD32 source code and will support multi user connections and personal mailing systems for a new kind of Ham BBS instead of that darn packet radio. This is one of many projects i get to spend to little time on so updates will be slow on this topic.

AD7QA
George Roy
http://www.askgeorgeroy.com

Robotics 101.. Teaching myself some MPU implementation

A couple years ago I started out my interest with the Micro Processing Unit by buying a Z8 encore 4K chip on an evaluation board.

I found this to be very exciting addition to my gizmo collection however its use was a bit over my head, and I have allot to learn about the C/C++ programming language. So needless to say I didn’t manage to get much farther than the demo program.  So after a while I decided I should look in to kids toys to get some "pre-made" parts for testing.  This led me into researching Robot Kits.

After Much review on the many kits out there I decided to go with the ASURO Bot.
This robot kit developed by and licensed from DLR, the German aerospace institute. Includes RS-232 IR transceiver.  I build it in one day woot !!  and it worked on the first power up!  I was so proud.

Stay Tuned lol  more to come...  Gotta ruin for now.

George
http://www.askgeorgeroy.com

Ok bee a while since I posted any details..

However that does not mean I been board...  Im now a Daddy!!!  My baby boy Johnathan is now 3 months old!  As for projects here is a summary of past status;

• Packet Radio: Fully operational using the sound card methods I was working on, yet when all said and done Packet radio is boring.  I found one person in all my testing and that was just luck.  95% of the stations are monitoring PC with no user at the controls.  All Packet equipment is now committed to VOIP operations from the Internet to my radio,  and is working great!
• Radio Telescope: Abandoned due to insufficient space for the dish and the place I live got a new land lord that is less than enthusiastic about my projects.  This one will continue when property is purchased one day.

So there is the brief update to my blog,  I am working on a new project related to Robotics.  Ill detail out the project and upload some video's in my next post.

George
http://www.askgeorgeroy.com

Upgraded

Extra Class Passed! new call : Station known as KE7HDF now Known as AD7QA.

Now its time for building. Stay tuned as my blog will now be committed to my Gizmo's.

IRLP Node 345390 KE7HDF-L

Yes yet another project in the works.  This time I'm operational without to much hassle.  Using the Tigertronics SignaLink from http://www.tigertronics.com that I purchased for packet radio, and EchoLink, I have managed to successfully connect my ICOM VHF for VOIP operations.  In a nut shell Packet around my area is BORING!  just a bunch of monitoring stations and little traffic.  So using the same theory as I was using with my packet setup this little SignaLink box works as a VOX interface between the PC and My radio.  I did have to enable the built in delay in the SignaLink and still need to shorten the delay as much as I can.  All in all this is working great!  I use my normal EchoLink call KE7HDF and connect from work to my Link Node KE7HDF-L using EchoLink and BAM! I'm using my local simplex freq and annoying all my local buddies :)

 

Notes:

**Audio Isolation in the SignaLink device is making the audio over the pc kinda quiet when trying to hear traffic received from radio to link.

**Delay circuit is adjustable and seems to be 3 seconds by default.  in order to prevent my transmission from continuing for 3 seconds after I am done talking I need to lower that as much as I can.  however need to balance so the radio does not bounce the keying when their is a pause in received audio from the internet.  I'm going to shoot for 1-1.5 sec.

 

In Progress:

** I am currently attempting to intergrade a mixerbord to clean audio and attempt to shorten the minor clipping I have now.

 

Happy Hammin!

73's KE7HDF

George

Extending HF Bands

I am now the proud owner of an old SWAN radio covering 20,40,80 meter bands. Should be up in running in the next 2 weeks. I have a Sloper antenna I will be using parallel to the peak of my roof then at a 45 degree angle to the ground for the 20 meter band. Due to the ever expanding radio room I have yet to complete installation of my packet station back to my 2 meter radio. I intend now to hook in to my HF bands and run the PSK 31 i hear so much great stuff about.

Just a quick update ill post antenna progress as I attempt to set up mu first HF Sloper heh

--George

Oh and P.S. My website is back up and going! Its not related specifically to George the Ham, it more George the computer geek side hehe. Check it out at http://www.askgeorgeroy.com

10 Meter up and Running

After some 3-4 time raising and lowering my 30 ft. mast for an Antron99 Antenna my friend Matt and I managed to get a 1.2-1.7 SWR on an RCI 2950. This was not optimal however will do for now, soon to be adding a Antenna tuner as when I make the mods to the RCI 2950 to get 20Mhz-30Mhz my SWR will be crap. No the question is can I make a tuner.... I bet I can hehehe

Keep an ear out on the 28.400Mhz as KE7HDF is seeking in to the HF Bands :)

Astroid Hunter via Radio

Project Radio Astronomy:

            Since I was a young boy I have been studing the stars.  My Grandfather from wher my namesake comes taught me many things about the stars and constellations, based on his experience as a merchant marine navigator.  This project is in its earliest stages and will require allot more research.  Areas of interest for this project are; SETI, Super Nova detection, and Asteroid tracking.

 

Materials Collected so far:

1.)     A huge 12-14 ft. parabolic dish.

2.)     Multiple satellite receiver units both old and new.

3.)     A Super heterodyne tube controlled Morrow Radio Phone (possibly useful for a down converter)

 

Please feel free to add some direction and resources to this project.  My current challenge is where to mount the dish lol.

 

--George

Her lies the blog of KE7HDF, welcome to any one who cares to read.

Current Project: Sound Card Packet

When I grew interest in the packet environment this year, I went shopping!

I had set out to buy a TNC with little knowledge of available products. I had however heard of a device from Tigertronics called the SignaLink SL-1+ and a USB option. I selected the SL-1+ due to its lower cost of about $85.00 with extra cables. When the device arrived I was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to get home and play with it.

After hooking everything up and attempting to use it I admit I was extremely disappointed. Realizing this was not a TNC rather a Sound Card Interface I was unable to get working with Packet Radio software. I made a call the next day to Tigertronics support and read many reviews online and felt at that point I had not given the device its due chance. The reviews were outstanding all over the web, I don’t mind a challenge so I was feeling better at that point, and the Tech that helped me review some options on the phone was friendly and helpful. So now you know how I got started.

Key Points I’ve learned so far;

1.) Packet Software is not likely compatible. You must search on the term “Sound Card Packet”

2.) AGW Packet engine is your friend, this is a critical part of Sound Card Packet. Pro you will want eventually however the standard will keep you busy for weeks to come heh.

3.) As for the rest of the software needed.. I am still researching what I feel are the best options. First you Need a Terminal app. (Im currently testing AGWTerm) Second a Mail Program / BBS for messaging like everyone else (Im testing AIZ). Once Done testing I will update and let you know what I feel is be best to work with. At this point I feel Ill likely have to write additional software to support my desired needs.

4.) Sound Card Packet appears to me to be still early in its software development and at this point I am eager to contribute.

For those of you who want to be a basic Packet user and have an easy setup, seek out and buy a TNC device, Though often limited in its growth and protocols they do have non PC operation.

If you are looking for a more diverse option go Soundcard! Unlimited potential with the power of your PC, as well as growth in coming technology the pc can easily add a program to do the job. If you are hardware dependant for your protocols then you will need to get a new hardware TNC, likely to cost you more. Of course these are my opinions and may be subject to change as I learn.

Happy Ham’n!

George