[Mep-dev] Team software - baby steps! and transverter update

[Michelle]

Hello everyone,

This week we added some team software to the software section of MEP. 

Before anyone gets excited, it's only a rewrite of a script from twitter.com that allows multiple twitter feeds to be added to the home page, but there is actually now something on the software page that isn't placeholders! Whoohoo!

If you haven't ever visited our software page, then check it out here:

http://www.delmarnorth.com/microwave/software.php

Although a very small bit of software, it was done collaboratively and it now works. This is a good trend that I want to see continue. 

Other activities:

We're continuing to work on characterizing the initial SBMS board using the previously published test plan. Results aren't quite ready yet on the initial board. 

Between various members of the San Diego Microwave Group, we have 6 boards on order, so when the test setup is complete we can get some statistics across the population (assuming Kerry Banke is willing to duplicate the tests as the boards are built - thanks again to Kerry N6IZW for being so helpful on this front). 

It came up in the last microwave meeting here in San Diego that the selection of a 2m IF and other transverter tradeoffs was not the best direction. These are constructive and correct comments. The transverter, if it works out technically, is just one of several strategies to get hardware up and stations off the ground and on the air and further developed. 

Characterizing the transverter also helps other groups and individuals that choose to use the kit for their microwave station, so any work we do provides a service to others, even if we don't use this transverter on MEP. 

More soon,-Michelle W5NYV