Tuesday, September 08, 2015

How to search for % in a string in Cognos Report Studio

If you need to search in a report for % it will not work. The % character is reserved in SQL.

The solution is to use \% (Backslash Percentage)



Thursday, July 02, 2015

Kenwood TM-D710GE hints, tips and tricks

This radio is not in production anymore.

APRS

The Kenwood TM-D710GE has a GPS built inside the head so you can put an APRS beacon on the air without the wire hassle.
The internal GPS  has to be turned on with the GPS button after which the iGPS icon appears. Here are some hints and tricks that are not in the manual.
  • After the GPS searches for satellites, finds a few of them and gets a lock/fix the iGPS icon will start to blink.
    Mostly on other hardware this is shown the opposite way and the icon starts to blink if a fix is needed. So keep in mind, blinking is good as it shows the internal GPS has a lock/fix.
  • The internal GPS in the control head of the rig, placed in front of the hand brake, has a very good reception as it even keeps tracking inside my garage outfitted with only a small roof window. Its summer here so the car has no roof.
  • Default smart-beaconing settings are good as they are. 

  • In the Netherlands digipeating is not allowed with a normal licence, you need an "unmanned station licence" to do digipeat on air so set all digipeat options to off.
  • The rig shows GPS coordinates in minutes or degrees but also shows a very useful Maidenhead locator. After the GPS has a fix and the iGPS icon is blinking press the POS button and the Maidenhead locator is on the bottom line. Navigate trough the pages with the left and right arrow keys.

Other hints, tips and tricks

  •  If you leave the head in the sun the display will turn black. If it cools down it will turn normal again.
  • Note that the problem with the ceramic filter in the 2nd IF stage that is present in older versions of this radio has been solved by Kenwood in this Kenwood TM-D710GE. 
  • The transmit frequency range of this radio can be expanded by removing resistor W601 as described here.

  • There are two VFO's in this rig, one on the left and one on the right called A and B.
    VFO A is unable to transmit or receive on 800 to 1300MHz.
    VFO B is unable to transmit or receive on 118 to 136MHz. 
    This feature is important if you want to do APRS and air-band scanning at the same time. To use air-band and APRS simultaneously set B as the data band so that the APRS is on the B side. 
    If you want to do APRS and listen to the 23cm HAM band for a duplex use the A side as data band.
    The range the radio can do on side/VFO A and side/VFO B is:

    A118 MHz118.000 MHz through 135.995 MHz AM+FM
    A144 MHz136.000 MHz through 199.995 MHz FM
    A220 MHz200.000 MHz through 299.995 MHz FM
    A300 MHz300.000 MHz through 399.995 MHz FM
    A430 MHz400.000 MHz through 523.995 MHz FM
    B144 MHz136.000 MHz through 199.995 MHz FM
    B220 MHz200.000 MHz through 299.995 MHz FM
    B300 MHz300.000 MHz through 399.995 MHz FM
    B430 MHz400.000 MHz through 523.995 MHz FM
    B800 MHz800.000 MHz through 1.299.995 MHz FM

  • In the summertime the GMT settings for the rig are +2:00 in the Netherlands.
    In the wintertime the GMT settings for this rigs are +1:00 in the Netherlands.

  • To connect to the TNC you need to make a serial connection with the COM port on the head of the rig, not the pc port on the brick. It is the same cable as the PC port.

  • Even though all brochures of this rig claim it can decode DTMF and can be remote controlled by DTMF it can not decode DTMF at all. On 08/31/18 Kenwood announced that radios with serial numbers B8610001 and up no longer feature DTMF decode capability. (The decoding chip is not in the rig anymore.) This means the TM-D710GE does NOT support remote control with DTMF via a HT or EchoLink functionality. The TM-D710GE is not able to remote control the TS-590S or TS-890S.

  • The Kenwood TM-D710GE does NOT have any repeater function and does not do crossband repeat. (The TM-D710GA does.) However, this can be changed by placing a 0 Ohm resistor/jumper from PAD0 to PAD2 as shown in the picture below.


  • The Kenwood TM-D710GE does NOT have weather channels or weather channel alert. (The TM-D710GA does.)

  • The TM-D710GE has a TNC build inside that has a mail/message-box option. Other packet radio stations can connect to your TNC with packet radio and leave a message for you.

  • The Tone function only works with transmit. Use CTCSS if you also want to use a Tone for receive. For simple repeaters Tone is good enough but on combined digital repeaters use CTCSS so you do not have to listen to the digital blerps.

  • Send Email over the APRS network by pressing the "MSG" button then "NEW". set EMAIL in the TO field and start the message with the Email address, a space and then the message. (You can not send Email from PC to an APRS station.)

  • Don't forget to check out if there are firmware updates that give extra fun. The latest panel firmware update increases the amount of rigs shown in the APRS list.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

How to click on a DX call in a cluster and set your rig to the correct frequency in Ubuntu.

I have Hamradio Deluxe working under WINE on Ubuntu but realized I only used the DX-cluster. I found Xdx that has exactly the same functionality and works native on Ubuntu.

Xdx is a Linux DX-cluster client. It features the possibility to click on a DX entity in the cluster where Xdx automatically changes the frequency of your rig to the stations location on the band.
It is installable from the Ubuntu Software Center where it has the option to install the rig control software in one go.
or open a terminal and type: sudo apt-get install xdx

Connecting to the DX-cluster server.


After starting the program you will have to set the URL and port of a DX-cluster server.
To get a list of DX-cluster servers check: http://www.ng3k.com/misc/cluster.html 
or http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/?dx-cluster-telnet-links,65

My local DX-cluster server
After connecting with the DX-cluster server there is a welcome text in the bottom part of your screen.  It is called the terminal screen and you can send several useful commands to the server:

reject/spot 1 on hf/cw      Do not show spots on HF with CW.
reject/spot 2 on vhf          Do not show spots on VHF. (second rule)
accept/spot on hf/ssb      Only show spots on HF in SSB.
show/bands                       Show what bands are available for filtering etc.
show/filter                         Show the filters that are set.
apropos buddy                  Show any help info on the buddy command

You can check who is connected to the server and chat with them.

who                                  Show connected users. (To check if someone is DXing.)
talk callsign blah           Send blah to a connected user with callsign.


Just like in a packet BBS you can list, read and send messages worldwide to all servers in the cluster.

directory                       Show a list of public messages. (Like in a BBS.)
read 25                         Read a message with number 25 in the directory list.

Xdx screen-shot, click to enlarge

Connecting Xdx to your transceiver.


Go to Setting > preferences.

Check out the number of your rig with rigctl.   Type in terminal: rigctl -l

This is the current list:
 Rig #  Mfg                    Model                   Version         Status
     1  Hamlib                 Dummy                   0.5             Beta
     2  Hamlib                 NET rigctl              0.3             Beta
   101  Yaesu                  FT-847                  0.5             Beta
   103  Yaesu                  FT-1000D                0.0.6           Alpha
   104  Yaesu                  MARK-V FT-1000MP        0.0.5           Alpha
   105  Yaesu                  FT-747GX                0.4.1           Beta
   106  Yaesu                  FT-757GX                0.4.1           Beta
   107  Yaesu                  FT-757GXII              0.4             Stable
   109  Yaesu                  FT-767GX                1.0             Stable
   110  Yaesu                  FT-736R                 0.3             Stable
   111  Yaesu                  FT-840                  0.1             Untested
   113  Yaesu                  FT-900                  0.1             Untested
   114  Yaesu                  FT-920                  2010-08-23      Stable
   115  Yaesu                  FT-890                  0.1             Stable
   116  Yaesu                  FT-990                  0.2.1           Alpha
   117  Yaesu                  FRG-100                 0.4             Beta
   118  Yaesu                  FRG-9600                0.2             Untested
   119  Yaesu                  FRG-8800                0.2             Untested
   120  Yaesu                  FT-817                  0.5.1           Beta
   121  Yaesu                  FT-100                  0.4.1           Beta
   122  Yaesu                  FT-857                  0.4             Beta
   123  Yaesu                  FT-897                  0.3.3           Beta
   124  Yaesu                  FT-1000MP               0.1.1           Beta
   125  Yaesu                  MARK-V Field FT-1000MP  0.0.5           Alpha
   126  Yaesu                  VR-5000                 0.2             Alpha
   127  Yaesu                  FT-450                  0.22.1          Beta
   128  Yaesu                  FT-950                  0.22.2          Stable
   129  Yaesu                  FT-2000                 0.22.1          Stable
   130  Yaesu                  FTDX-9000               0.22.1          Untested
   131  Yaesu                  FT-980                  0.1             Alpha
   132  Yaesu                  FT-DX5000               0.22            Alpha
   133  Vertex Standard        VX-1700                 1.1             Alpha
   201  Kenwood                TS-50S                  0.8             Untested
   202  Kenwood                TS-440                  0.8.0.6.1       Alpha
   203  Kenwood                TS-450S                 0.8.1           Beta
   204  Kenwood                TS-570D                 0.8.2           Stable
   205  Kenwood                TS-690S                 0.8.1           Beta
   206  Kenwood                TS-711                  0.8.0.6.1       Untested
   207  Kenwood                TS-790                  0.8.2           Alpha
   208  Kenwood                TS-811                  0.8.0.6.1       Untested
   209  Kenwood                TS-850                  0.8.1           Beta
   210  Kenwood                TS-870S                 0.8.0           Beta
   211  Kenwood                TS-940S                 0.8.0.6.1       Alpha
   213  Kenwood                TS-950SDX               0.8             Beta
   214  Kenwood                TS-2000                 0.8.4           Beta
   215  Kenwood                R-5000                  0.6.1           Alpha
   216  Kenwood                TS-570S                 0.8.1           Stable
   217  Kenwood                TH-D7A                  0.5             Alpha
   219  Kenwood                TH-F6A                  0.5             Beta
   220  Kenwood                TH-F7E                  0.5.1           Beta
   221  Elecraft               K2                      20120615        Beta
   222  Kenwood                TS-930                  0.8             Untested
   223  Kenwood                TH-G71                  0.5             Beta
   224  Kenwood                TS-680S                 0.8.1           Beta
   225  Kenwood                TS-140S                 0.8.1           Beta
   226  Kenwood                TM-D700                 0.5             Beta
   227  Kenwood                TM-V7                   0.5             Beta
   228  Kenwood                TS-480                  0.8.5           Untested
   229  Elecraft               K3/KX3                  20120615        Beta
   230  Kenwood                TRC-80                  0.8             Alpha
   231  Kenwood                TS-590S                 0.8.1           Beta
   232  SigFox                 Transfox                20111223        Alpha
   233  Kenwood                TH-D72A                 0.5.1           Alpha
   234  Kenwood                TM-D710                 0.5             Untested
   302  Icom                   IC-1275                 0.7             Beta
   303  Icom                   IC-271                  0.7             Untested
   304  Icom                   IC-275                  0.7.1           Beta
   306  Icom                   IC-471                  0.7             Untested
   307  Icom                   IC-475                  0.7.1           Beta
   309  Icom                   IC-706                  0.7.1           Untested
   310  Icom                   IC-706MkII              0.7.1           Untested
   311  Icom                   IC-706MkIIG             0.7.2           Stable
   312  Icom                   IC-707                  0.7             Untested
   313  Icom                   IC-718                  0.7.1           Beta
   314  Icom                   IC-725                  0.7.1           Stable
   315  Icom                   IC-726                  0.7             Stable
   316  Icom                   IC-728                  0.7             Untested
   319  Icom                   IC-735                  0.7.1           Beta
   320  Icom                   IC-736                  0.7             Untested
   321  Icom                   IC-737                  0.7             Untested
   322  Icom                   IC-738                  0.7             Untested
   323  Icom                   IC-746                  0.7.1           Beta
   324  Icom                   IC-751                  0.7.1           Beta
   326  Icom                   IC-756                  0.7.1           Alpha
   327  Icom                   IC-756PRO               0.7             Untested
   328  Icom                   IC-761                  0.7.1           Stable
   329  Icom                   IC-765                  0.7             Stable
   330  Icom                   IC-775                  0.7.1           Untested
   331  Icom                   IC-781                  0.7.1           Untested
   332  Icom                   IC-820H                 0.7             Alpha
   334  Icom                   IC-821H                 0.7             Alpha
   335  Icom                   IC-970                  0.7             Untested
   336  Icom                   IC-R10                  0.7             Untested
   337  Icom                   IC-R71                  0.7             Untested
   338  Icom                   IC-R72                  0.7             Untested
   339  Icom                   IC-R75                  0.7             Beta
   340  Icom                   IC-R7000                0.7.0           Alpha
   341  Icom                   IC-R7100                0.7.0           Untested
   342  Icom                   ICR-8500                0.7.1           Beta
   343  Icom                   IC-R9000                0.7.1           Alpha
   344  Icom                   IC-910                  0.7.1           Beta
   345  Icom                   IC-78                   0.7             Untested
   346  Icom                   IC-746PRO               0.7             Stable
   347  Icom                   IC-756PROII             0.7             Alpha
   351  Ten-Tec                Omni VI Plus            0.2             Beta
   352  Optoelectronics        OptoScan535             0.3             Beta
   353  Optoelectronics        OptoScan456             0.3             Beta
   354  Icom                   IC ID-1                 0.7             Untested
   355  Icom                   IC-703                  0.7             Untested
   356  Icom                   IC-7800                 0.7.2           Untested
   357  Icom                   IC-756PROIII            0.7.1           Beta
   358  Icom                   IC-R20                  0.7             Untested
   360  Icom                   IC-7000                 0.7.2           Beta
   361  Icom                   IC-7200                 0.7             Beta
   362  Icom                   IC-7700                 0.7.1           Stable
   363  Icom                   IC-7600                 0.7             Beta
   364  Ten-Tec                Delta II                0.1             Untested
   365  Icom                   IC-92D                  0.7             Untested
   366  Icom                   IC-R9500                0.7.1           Untested
   367  Icom                   IC-7410                 0.7             Untested
   368  Icom                   IC-9100                 0.7             Untested
   369  Icom                   IC-RX7                  0.7             Untested
   401  Icom                   IC-PCR1000              0.8             Beta
   402  Icom                   IC-PCR100               0.8             Beta
   403  Icom                   IC-PCR1500              0.8             Beta
   404  Icom                   IC-PCR2500              0.8             Beta
   501  AOR                    AR8200                  0.6.1           Alpha
   502  AOR                    AR8000                  0.6.1           Beta
   503  AOR                    AR7030                  0.4.1           Beta
   504  AOR                    AR5000                  0.6.1           Beta
   505  AOR                    AR3030                  0.4             Untested
   506  AOR                    AR3000A                 0.5             Beta
   508  AOR                    AR2700                  0.6             Untested
   513  AOR                    AR8600                  0.6.1           Beta
   514  AOR                    AR5000A                 0.6             Alpha
   515  AOR                    AR7030 Plus             0.1             Beta
   516  AOR                    SR2200                  0.1             Beta
   605  JRC                    NRD-525                 0.1             Alpha
   606  JRC                    NRD-535D                0.6             Stable
   607  JRC                    NRD-545 DSP             0.6             Beta
   801  Uniden                 BC780xlt                0.3             Untested
   802  Uniden                 BC245xlt                0.3             Untested
   803  Uniden                 BC895xlt                0.3             Untested
   804  Radio Shack            PRO-2052                0.3             Untested
   806  Uniden                 BC250D                  0.3             Untested
   810  Uniden                 BCD-396T                0.3             Alpha
   811  Uniden                 BCD-996T                0.3             Alpha
   812  Uniden                 BC898T                  0.3             Untested
   902  Drake                  R-8A                    0.5.1           Beta
   903  Drake                  R-8B                    0.5             Untested
  1004  Lowe                   HF-235                  0.3             Alpha
  1103  Racal                  RA6790/GM               0.1             Untested
  1105  Racal                  RA3702                  0.1             Alpha
  1204  Watkins-Johnson        WJ-8888                 0.2             Untested
  1402  Skanti                 TRP8000                 0.2             Untested
  1404  Skanti                 TRP 8255 S R            0.1             Untested
  1501  Winradio               WR-1000                 0.6             Untested
  1502  Winradio               WR-1500                 0.6             Untested
  1503  Winradio               WR-1550                 0.6             Untested
  1504  Winradio               WR-3100                 0.6             Untested
  1505  Winradio               WR-3150                 0.6             Untested
  1506  Winradio               WR-3500                 0.6             Untested
  1507  Winradio               WR-3700                 0.6             Untested
  1601  Ten-Tec                TT-550                  0.2             Beta
  1602  Ten-Tec                TT-538 Jupiter          0.6             Beta
  1603  Ten-Tec                RX-320                  0.6             Stable
  1604  Ten-Tec                RX-340                  0.3             Untested
  1605  Ten-Tec                RX-350                  0.1             Untested
  1607  Ten-Tec                TT-516 Argonaut V       0.2             Stable
  1608  Ten-Tec                TT-565 Orion            0.5             Beta
  1609  Ten-Tec                TT-585 Paragon          0.3             Beta
  1611  Ten-Tec                TT-588 Omni VII         0.3             Alpha
  1612  Ten-Tec                RX-331                  0.1             Beta
  1613  Ten-Tec                TT-599 Eagle            0.4             Untested
  1701  Alinco                 DX-77                   0.7             Beta
  1801  Kachina                505DSP                  0.3             Alpha
  1901  Hamlib                 RPC rig                 0.3             Beta
  2201  TAPR                   DSP-10                  0.2             Alpha
  2301  Flex-radio             SDR-1000                0.2             Untested
  2303  DTTS Microwave Society DttSP IPC               0.2             Alpha
  2304  DTTS Microwave Society DttSP UDP               0.2             Alpha
  2401  RFT                    EKD-500                 0.4             Alpha
  2501  Elektor                Elektor 3/04            0.4             Stable
  2502  SAT-Schneider          DRT1                    0.2             Beta
  2503  Coding Technologies    Digital World Traveller 0.1             Untested
  2506  AmQRP                  DDS-60                  0.1             Alpha
  2507  Elektor                Elektor SDR-USB         0.3.1           Stable
  2508  mRS                    miniVNA                 0.1             Alpha
  2509  SoftRock               Si570 AVR-USB           0.2             Beta
  2511  KTH-SDR kit            Si570 PIC-USB           0.2             Beta
  2512  FiFi                   FiFi-SDR                0.5             Beta
  2513  AMSAT-UK               FUNcube Dongle          0.2             Beta
  2514  N2ADR                  HiQSDR                  0.2             Untested
  2601  Video4Linux            SW/FM radio             0.2.1           Beta
  2602  Video4Linux2           SW/FM radio             0.2.1           Alpha
  2701  Rohde&Schwarz          ESMC                    0.1             Alpha
  2702  Rohde&Schwarz          EB200                   0.1             Untested
  2801  Philips/Simoco         PRM8060                 0.1             Alpha
  2901  ADAT www.adat.ch       ADT-200A                1.36            Beta

I have set the speed of My Kenwood TS-590S USB connection to 19200. In my computer it turns up at USB0. So the following settings apply for me:

My settings for a Kenwood TS-590S with USB
Note that I have a Kenwood TS-590S (#231) but instead I used the Kenwood TS-570D (#204) because that one works very good.

Remember to become member of the group dialout. After adding yourself to the group, do a reboot or re-login.

Friday, May 01, 2015

Ham radio stations in my neighborhood

This map shows my city and the cities around it with red dots for every HAM station registered at QRZ.com

Red dots are HAM radio stations

 This map shows all registered HAM radio antennas around my QTH at http://www.antenneregister.nl.

Green dots are HAM radio stations

There are at this point in time approximately 14.000 HAM radio call-signs and about 13.000 active HAM radio operators in the Netherlands.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

How to export from HRDLOG.net and import to QRZ.com?


Normally I log my QSO's manually on hrdlog.net. The log is automatically exported every day to eQSL.cc and LOTW
To import an ADIF file in QRZ.com I need an ADIF file first. Hmmm... Where to get it? HRDLOG.net does not have an export function to ADIF file.
In HRDLOG you can send the logs to eQSL. eQSL has a feature to export to ADIF.

First make sure to register an eQSL account. Then set the connection to eQSL up in HRDLOG via: Home>Modify profile>eQSL



Next go to eQSL and click on Log/Outbox. Select the entire list.

On the bottom of the page there is a Download link: ( Download entire Inbox in ADIF format (for importing into some loggers)   Click on the link.

Next click on the .ADI file link.
An HTML page will appear. Download it to disk in your browser with File>Save Page As.  

This .ADI file can be imported into QRZ.com.
Log in to QRZ.com and go to My Logbook. Next go to the Settings page where you will be able to add the file.
Now you can start harvesting those QRZ awards.


Wednesday, March 04, 2015

How to Brother HL-2135W on Ubuntu via secure WIFI router

The Brother HL-2135W laser printer only has one USB port and a wireless port. In this "how to" the USB port is never used and there is no need for any USB cable at all.
Your Ubuntu computer can use the printer wireless via your network Access Point or via a wired connection to your router, both work fine after this how to.

I use standard 32 bit Ubuntu 14.04 with the standard Unity GUI and the printer-drivers can be found in the "Ubuntu Software Center" if you search for Brother and unhide the technical items.

The printer runs fine with USB but cannot be configured with USB.

Here is how to get the printers wireless connection to your secure wireless router configured so you can use the printer by any computer in your network without using USB or Windows .

First turn on the printer in range of your wireless router Access Point.
  • Check if the printers WIFI is running, check for the green LED under the USB port on the back of the printer to light up. A new SSID called SETUP should be on air in the 2.4 GHz band. (We might need this SSID later on.)
  • If it does not light up, press and hold the Go button for 10 long seconds to turn on the printers WIFI.
  • Next, press the Go button 3 times within 2 seconds and the "network status page" will be printed.
  • Now check the settings on the paper. If they are all wrong you might want to reset the printer to factory defaults.
If you wish to reset the print server back to its default factory settings (resetting all information such as the password and IP address information), please follow the steps below:
  1. Turn off the printer.
  2. Make sure that the front cover is closed and the power cord is plugged in.
  3. Hold down the Go button as you turn on the power switch. Keep the Go button pressed down until all the LEDs light up, and then the Ready LED turns off.
  4. Release the Go button. Make sure that all the LEDs turn off.
  5. Press the Go button six times. Make sure that all the LEDs light up to indicate the print server has been reset to its factory default settings. The machine will restart.

Don’t forget to turn on the printers WIFI after the reset if needed. IP range 169.254.x.x is given when DHCP fails.
    If you have an open network with DHCP and without security, the printer has already connected to the network and you will see the Brother HL-2135W if you add a new printer in Ubuntu. (Wait for it.) But many wireless Access Points have a password so:
    • Check the IP address on the "network status page" you just printed and open it in your browser. It will open the printers web-control site. (A website inside your printer.) The standard password is admin/access.
    Now this will work if you are very lucky but most wireless network cards are not in the same IP range as the printer so then there is still no connection yet.

    BRAdmin Light works perfectly under WINE (Install wine in Terminal with " sudo apt-get install wine") and finds the wireless printer too.
    It uses its own port (631) to do that. BRAdmin Light is on the CD that came with the Brother HL-2135W and on some download-sites.

    Make a wireless connection in Ubuntu to the printers SSID called "SETUP". You might want to edit the network connection in your Ubuntu to connect successfully. Here are the settings:



    Start BRAdmin Light by pressing the Icon in the dash and it will discover the printer.


    With this tool you can set the printers network settings into the same IP range as your laptop or PC so you can connect to the web-control with your browser.
    • In the web-control site you can set all kind of settings like wireless settings, IP, Subnet Mask, Gateway, SSID and DHCP.
    • Set the printer to use the correct gateway and subnet mask and then set it to DHCP (under TCP/IP settings) and press submit to apply. 
    • Now go to "Network Configuration" - "Configure Wireless" and set up the access to your secured wireless router. (Use infrastructure Mode.) Press submit to apply the new settings.
    • After this is done, Reconnect Ubuntu again to your own wireless Access Point.
    • Reboot the printer or power it off and on again. The printer will now connect to your wireless Access Point and receive an IP from its DHCP server. 
    • Restart BRAdmin Light and it will again find the printer, this time is in the correct network IP range.
    • Any computer in the network can now connect to the web-control site of the printer with an internet browser.
    If you now add a printer in Ubuntu the Brother HL-2135W will magically appear under network printers as long as the PC or laptop is connected to the network. (Wait for Ubuntu to scan the network.)

    As Ubuntu driver choose the jetdirect driver (The one with the ip address.) Then choose Brother foomatic.


    Please let me know if this was any help.