Parma Radio Club Online

Learn CW Online

2009-02-08T07:22:00.002-05:00

A new website to learn and practice Morse telegraphy has been launched: http://lcwo.net/ - Learn CW Online

There are already hundreds of training programs, MP3/CD courses and practice aids available, but LCWO follows a radically different concept: While sticking to well-proven methods for learning and practice, all you need for using LCWO is a web browser!

This gives the user the liberty to practice CW wherever an internet connection is available, always retaining the personal settings, scores and statistics.

Currently the site, which is available in 17 languages offers a complete Koch method Morse course, code group practice, callsign- and plain text training modes and also allows to convert random text to Morse MP3s.

A high score list is available to compare results with other users, personal statistics help to track training progress.

LCWO.net is a non-commercial project. Creating a free account only takes a few seconds, and you can start practicing CW right away!

Fabian Kurz, DJ1YFK

DXpedition to Desecheo Island

2009-02-07T12:10:00.004-05:00

Visit the WEB site

SolderSmoke NUMBER 100

2009-02-01T15:50:00.000-05:00

SPECIAL CENTENARY EDITION
A look back to the beginning
Rome Travelogue: Palatine Hill
Fixing my old freq counter: Trials and Tribulations
Empire of the Air:
More great history, but more tech faux pas
"The radio art"
An historical precedent for our GONG
Lake DeForest?
A. Frederick Collins
Understanding Beta Independence
Understanding Feedback and Distortion
SPRAT 137: Minimalist Radio:
The FETer/ET-1: "Haiku from Solder"
Regens: Not for the faint of heart

ARRL: Bird's Eye Viewing

2009-02-01T13:20:00.002-05:00

Go to the ARRLWeb's FCC License Data Search page and lookup the address of an Amateur Radio station you want to check out (type the station's call sign in the call sign field, then click on the "Submit Query" button).

When the search engine comes back with the results, copy the address to your computer's clipboard (select the address with your computer's mouse, then press the Ctrl-C keys).

Go to Microsoft's Live Search Maps page, paste the address in the Live Search field (press the Ctrl-V keys) then press the magnifying glass button.

More at http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2009/01/30/10601/

100 MOST NEEDED COUNTRIES

2009-01-26T10:57:00.001-05:00

THE 2008 DX MAGAZINE 100 MOST NEEDED COUNTRIES SURVEY was conducted in September and October 2008.

Get it at http://dxpub.com/dx_news.html

World Radio Online - Magazine

2009-01-24T07:00:00.003-05:00

World Radio Magazine, purchased by CQ Magazine a short time ago is now online at http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html. It looks just like a magazine that you would buy off the news stand. And, it's free!

This first issue is in full color and forty pages long, so it does take some time to download. It's a .pdf file over 12Mb long. It may not be long before the rest of the magazines go online.

VE5ISS ARISS Amateur Radio on International Space Station contact with King George School.

2009-01-19T07:46:00.000-05:00

CQ to accept eQSL confirmations for award credit

2009-01-14T06:52:00.001-05:00

CQ magazine will accept contact confirmations made on
the eQSL.cc electronic confirmation system for its operating awards effective immediately, CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, and eQSL Founder and Webmaster Dave Morris, N5UP, announced Tuesday.

More at http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2009/cq_to_accept_eqsls.htm

KD1JV's Surface Mount Video

2009-01-13T13:33:00.002-05:00

OK SolderSmoke fans, here's a video for YOU! Steve "Melt Solder" Weber has put out his first video. It is about surface mount soldering. It is all very interesting, and some actual solder smoke is released, but I was a bit disturbed when Steve put the PC board on an electric stove and then started using this purple thing that looked and sounded like a hair dryer. Made me yearn for my Weller soldering gun. Great video Steve, thanks!

TX5C Clipperton 2008 Part 2/2

2009-01-07T19:52:00.001-05:00

TX5C Clipperton 2008 Part 1/2

2009-01-07T19:51:00.001-05:00

SolderSmoke 98

2009-01-07T19:34:00.001-05:00

Sunday, January 4, 2009

New Year's in Rome, Fireworks, Abruzzo snow trip.
AA1TJ and the compact fluorescent bulb rig; "Michael the red-nosed Rainey, you'll go down in history!"
Billy's Asus eeePC : Amazin' piece of gear.
The Lure of Logic: Fixing my old Global Specialties counter (chip needed).
The Joy of Troubleshooting.
N3ZI's FB counter.
Balsa boxes.
Todd, VE7BPO, also getting logical.
Hans, G0UPL, back on 30 meter QRSS from London.
Lawrence, KL1X grabbing VK QRSS sigs in N. China.
My sigs steady in ON5EX grabber.
Dan's deals.
Book of the week: "Empire of the Air." Armstrong as a teenage ham.
MAILBAG:
Todd K5TAK on new name for Knack (no!)
Rick KC0PET has new 'scope, analyzer, Elsie
Bill N8ET Kanga USA getting going again.
Alan WA9IRS on Pete Millet's free online tech books
Wayne VA7AT on SDR
Frank VK2AKG is NOT the solenoid musician
Bill N3HQB was in Ade Weiss's summer camp ham class!
Roger K7RXV on shaving resistors
Dino KL0S on other free books on-line
Gareth G1DRG on BBC Digital Planet Podcast
Tim Walford's FB ham construction magazine
A word about words from our sponsors

Get it at http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2009/01/soldersmoke-98.html

Digital Mode Setup for PowerSDR 1.x by WA5QPZ - Part II

2008-12-30T09:55:00.002-05:00

Digital Modes for Flex Radio, Part 1

2008-12-30T09:55:00.001-05:00

QEX: A Software Defined Radio for the Masses, Part 4

2008-12-30T09:42:00.002-05:00

It has been a pleasure to receive feedback from so many QEX readers that they have been inspired to experiment with software-defined radios (SDRs) through this article series. SDRs truly offer opportunities to reinvigorate experimentation in the service and attract new blood from the ranks of future generations of computer-literate young people.1 It is encouraging to learn that many readers see the opportunity to return to a love of experimentation left behind because of the complexity of modern hardware. With SDRs, the opportunity again exists for the experimenter to achieve results that exceed the performance of existing commercial equipment.

Most respondents indicated an interest in gaining access to a complete SDR hardware solution on which they can experiment in software. Based on this feedback, I have decided to offer the SDR-1000 transceiver described in this article as a semi-assembled, three-board set. The SDR-1000 software will also be made available in open-source form along with support for the GNU Radio project on Linux.2 Table 1 outlines preliminary specifications for the SDR-1000 transceiver. I expect to have the hardware available by the time this article is in print.

More at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/030304qex020.pdf

Days of Future Passed - ARRL SKN 2009

2008-12-29T17:58:00.000-05:00

Digital Mode Setup with VAC for PowerSDR 1.x by WA5QPZ - Part I

2008-12-21T18:12:00.000-05:00

SolderSmoke 97

2008-12-21T18:06:00.001-05:00

DSB 80 "Kickpanel" project:
Rig reform
Harder than SSB?
Do we need to match diodes?
Terminating balanced modulators
An antenna for my "spot" ("net") circuit, LED
Thinking of speech processing
Driver hotter than final
---------------
MEPT QRSS:
VK2ZAY crosses Oz on 470 micro-watts
Using 9H1LO's grabber engine as time machine
My beacon box: 10 and 30 in same enclosure
Knights QSY to lower bands (temporarily)
---------------
Theory:
Thanks for beta independence help
Why does feedback lower distortion?
W3JDR's Ne602 modeling
Grinding resistors for precision
Broken counter leads to learning logic

Get it at http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke97.mp3

Southgate ARC: New Zealand scraps ban on traditional lightbulbs

2008-12-18T12:27:00.001-05:00

The standard low cost, low pollution incandescent light bulb had been banned in New Zealand but on Wednesday the NZ Goverment announced an end to the ban.

There have been concerns raised around the world about the high-energy costs involved in manufacturing so called "energy efficient" light bulbs along with the potential risks resulting from the use of the toxin Mercury in such bulbs.

The pollution of the Radio Frequency spectrum by so called "energy efficient" light bulbs, which deprives people of their radio programmes, has been raised in UK national newspapers. Traditional incandescent bulbs do not cause RF pollution.

More at http://www.southgatearc.org/news/december2008/nz_scraps_lightbulb_ban.htm

USS COD SS-224 W8COD Operating CW (Morse Code)

2008-12-17T18:16:00.000-05:00

The audio level is very high on this video, so turn your computer audio level down before viewing the video.

USS COD SS-224 W8COD Operating Voice (SSB)

2008-12-17T18:13:00.001-05:00

The audio level is very high on this video, so turn your computer audio level down before viewing the video.

TNT Transmitter Details

2008-12-17T07:13:00.000-05:00

QEX: A Software-Defined Radio for the Masses, Part 3

2008-12-17T06:11:00.002-05:00

Part 11 of this series provided a general description of digital signal processing (DSP) as used in software-defined radios (SDRs) and included an overview of a full-featured radio that uses a PC to perform all DSP and control functions. Part 2 described Visual Basic source code that implements a full-duplex quadrature interface to a PC sound card. As previously described, in-phase(I) and quadrature (Q) signals give the ability to modulate or demodulate virtually any type of signal.

The Tayloe Detector, described in Part 1, is a simple method of converting a modulated RF signal to baseband in quadrature, so that it can be presented to the left and right inputs of a stereo PC sound card for signal processing. The full-duplex DirectX8 interface, described in Part 2, accomplishes the input and output of the sampled quadrature signals. The sound-card interface provides an input buffer array, inBuffer(), and an output buffer array, outBuffer(), through which the DSP code receives the captured signal and then outputs the processed signal data.

More at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/021112qex027.pdf

uss_cod_radio_room.wmv

2008-12-16T17:15:00.000-05:00

K9LA's Amateur Radio Propagation Web Site

2008-12-16T07:58:00.003-05:00

General Propagation Articles

Where Do K and A Come From?

Day-to-Day Variability of the F2 Region

Noise

The Formation of the Ionosphere

Polarization

Disturbances to Propagation

A Look Inside the Auroral Zone

Propagation Planning for DXpeditions

Measuring the Ionosphere

Find them at http://www.google.com/search?q=hf+propagation+k9&btnG=Search&hl=en&sa=2

W3JK-Flex-Radio Remote Demo Part 2

2008-12-16T07:36:00.000-05:00

QEX: A Software-Defined Radio for the Masses, Part 2

2008-12-15T07:26:00.002-05:00

Part 1 gave a general description of digital signal processing (DSP) in software-defined radios (SDRs).1 It also provided an overview of a full-featured radio that uses a personal computer to perform all DSP functions. This article begins design implementation with a complete description of software that provides a full-duplex interface to a standard PC sound card.

To perform the magic of digital signal processing, we must be able to convert a signal from analog to digital and back to analog again. Most amateur experimenters already have this capability in their shacks and many have used it for slow-scan television or the new digital modes like PSK31.

More at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/020910qex010.pdf

Direct conversion receiver - a demonstration

2008-12-15T07:21:00.000-05:00

73s.org - HamBrief 7

2008-12-14T07:22:00.000-05:00

More Mesa HamFest footage! AMSAT & American RedCross (AZ chapter)

Get it at http://blip.tv/file/1573433

K7AGE: What the HELL?

2008-12-14T07:15:00.000-05:00

W3JK-Flex-Radio Remote Demo Part 1

2008-12-14T03:22:00.000-05:00

K7AGE: Remote Radio Station Control

2008-12-13T15:08:00.000-05:00

Wikipedia: Software-defined radio

2008-12-13T12:52:00.001-05:00

A Software-Defined Radio (SDR) system is a radio communication system where components that have typically been implemented in hardware (i.e. mixers, filters, amplifiers, modulators/demodulators, detectors. etc.) are instead implemented using software on a personal computer or other embedded computing devices. While the concept of SDR is not new, the rapidly evolving capabilities of digital electronics are making practical many processes that were once only theoretically possible.

A basic SDR may consist of a computer (PC) equipped with a sound card, or other analog-to-digital converter, preceded by some form of RF front end. Significant amounts of signal processing are handed over to the general purpose processor, rather than done using special-purpose hardware. Such a design produces a radio that can receive and transmit a different form of radio protocol (sometimes referred to as a waveform) just by running different software.

More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_radio

QEX: A Software-Defined Radio for the Masses, Part 1

2008-12-13T11:49:00.003-05:00

Acertain convergence occurs when multiple technologies align in time to make possible those things that once were only dreamed. The explosive growth of the Internet starting in 1994 was one of those events. While the Internet had existed for many years in government and education prior to that, its popularity had never crossed over into the general populace because of its slow speed and arcane interface. The development of the Web browser, the rapidly accelerating power and availability of the PC, and the availability of inexpensive and increasingly speedy modems brought about the Internet convergence. Suddenly, it all came together so that the Internet and the worldwide Web joined the everyday lexicon of our society.

A similar convergence is occurring in radio communications through digital signal processing (DSP) software to perform most radio functions at performance levels previously considered unattainable. DSP has now been incorporated into much of amateur radio gear on the market to deliver improved noise-reduction and digital-filtering performance. More recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the emergence of so-called softwaredefined radios (SDRs).

A software-defined radio is characterized by its flexibility: Simply modifying or replacing software programs can completely change its functionality. This allows easy upgrade to new modes and improved performance without the need to replace hardware. An SDR can also be easily modified to accommodate the operating needs of individual applications. There is a distinct difference between a radio that internally uses software for some of its functions and a radio that can be completely redefined in the field through modification of software. The latter is a software-defined radio.

More at http://www.ece.jhu.edu/~cooper/SWRadio/Yblood1.pdf

Flex Radio: Basic Tuning Operations

2008-12-13T11:41:00.001-05:00

W2ICE and Early Ham Transmitters

2008-12-13T10:47:00.001-05:00

ARCI: Solar Activity and HF Propagation

2008-12-12T11:59:00.003-05:00

The Sun–Earth Interconnect
Since the late 1800s, it was noted solar activity affected telegraphic lines, and ater, radio communications. However, there was no scientific proof for this link. from the 1920s onward, radio amateurs clearly correlated HF propagation and the MUF to the solar cycle. But again, there was no scientific proof. Astronomers and physicists knew there was a sun–earth connection, but without direct observational data, it remained an un proven scientific theory. The scientific proof did not come until quite recently – basically, the space age – when we got our first look at the sun from outside our protective atmosphere. In the 1970s, the Voyager spacecrafts were the first to confirm the existence of the solar wind. It was not until Skylab that increases in radiation and the solar wind were linked to solar flares, and coronal mass ejections (CME) were first detected. The sun-earth interconnect finally became a scientific fact.

Since then, numerous satellites and ground based instruments monitor the sun and our geomagnetic field in realtime. Today, the radio amateur and QRPer has a wealth of solar information available via the internet that professional astronomers did not have a decade ago. This article, in part, describes how to interpret this internet data, and some of the terminology encountered in the daily reports and solar data from NOAA. Much of the solar physics in this article has been developed by astrophysicists in the past 15 years, and not yet available in other than scientific journals.

More at http://www.qrparci.org/mambo/pdf/FDIM81.pdf

Linux in the HAM Shack

2008-12-11T18:59:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the first episode of Linux in the HAM Shack. In this episode, we give you a brief introduction to the podcast, explain who we are and what our backgrounds in Linux and Amateur Radio are. And we give a brief overview of what topics we’ll hope to cover in future episodes.

We sincerely hope you enjoy our opening episode and we look forward to hearing from you, the listener, about anything you’d like to say. We’ll be posting these episodes every two weeks on Tuesday morning. There’s a link to the RSS feed on the left hand navigation of our site, and you’ll be able to subscribe to our feed at iTunes, Feedburner and other popular feed management sites.

Anyway, enough rambling. On to the podcast.

73 de Russ and Richard

Find this and other episodes at http://blacksparrowmedia.com/lhs/

Psk31 And ham radio delux and Digital Master 780 On Vista

2008-12-11T17:49:00.003-05:00

Southgate ARC: QRZ.com to change

2008-12-11T04:34:00.001-05:00

Fred, AA7BQ, QRZ Founder, announced that QRZ.COM will be changing their database / web site.

He states, "Today we're pleased to make an initial announcement about a new version of our online callsign database that will soon replace our existing pages.

"Internally, we've been calling it QRZ 2.0, however, it will soon be known simply as QRZ as it becomes the system default. The new database includes a fresh new layout plus a number of new features and information details that were not previously available. In addition, the new callsign pages are customizable by the user to include colors, fonts, and multiple pictures. We've also included the GridFinder as a mainstream part of our data.

More at http://www.southgatearc.org/news/december2008/qrz_to_change.htm

eHam.net: CHU Canada to QSY on January 1

2008-12-11T04:23:00.002-05:00

Canadian time/frequency standard station CHU -- a fixture for decades on 7335 kHz -- will change frequency to 7850 kHz at 0000 UTC on January 1, 2009. The move comes as a result of the International Telecommunication Union's decision in 2007 to expand the 40-meter ham band in Europe and Africa (Region I) to 7000-7200 kHz. It was previously 7000-7100 kHz, with -- as every 40-meter DXer knows -- international broadcasting allocated from 7100-7300 kHz.

As part of the 40-meter expansion, the international broadcast band was shifted to 7200-7350 kHz. As broadcasters began relocating, CHU on 7335 began experiencing significant interference. Thus, officials at Canada's National Research Council, which operates CHU, decided to move the time/frequency standard station's transmissions to 7850 kHz as of the beginning of 2009. The complete NRC announcement (English version) is online at http://inms-ienm.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/common_files/stories/chu/communique_e.pdf.

The CQ DX Marathon!

2008-12-10T10:23:00.003-05:00

Starting January 1 of each year, the DX Marathon is the perfect answer for the DX-er who needs that extra incentive to get on the air every day! Simply work as many countries and CQ Zones as you can in each calendar year, regardless of the band or mode. Each country and zone counts only once, so you can concentrate on working new ones rather than working the same ones on multiple bands or modes.

More at http://www.dxmarathon.com/

The RadioShack Catalog Archive, 1939-Present

2008-12-10T10:13:00.002-05:00

What is RadioShackCatalogs.com?

This website is dedicated to America's technology store... RadioShack.

For almost 65 years RadioShack has produced a catalog to rival no other electronics and technology company. Through the years, this catalog expanded to contain a mix of hi-fidelity stereos, amplifiers, radios, phonographs, speakers, televisions & antennas, CBs & communication equipment, computers, electronic components, electronic testing equipment, educational kits, toys, gadgets, batteries, electronic circuitry, and much more. Products from the RadioShack catalog were purchased by the everyday consumer, hobbyist, and professional.

More at http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/

W0VLZ - QRP Operating using a K1

2008-12-09T18:04:00.002-05:00

Overlay Mapping

2008-12-09T10:51:00.003-05:00

What is Overlay Mapping ?
A common problem with any map, whether stored in printed form or on computer, is that there is either too little or too much information displayed. The mapmaker chooses what to put on the map. The client often wants different information. Overlay Mapping keeps everyone happy, by providing flexibility in the way a map is displayed, whilst displaying every item of data to its best advantage.

Overlay Mapping Advantages
Overlay Map has a number of layers or overlays that can be turned on and off as required. Not only can you choose how much information you want on the screen at any one time, you can also choose which order the layers are displayed in. Overlay Mapping thus gives you exciting new possibilities never available in a fixed or printed map. By comparing information on different layers, you can make new discoveries and find data inter-relationships only possible before with expensive GIS packages.

More at http://www.mapability.com/ei8ic/index.html

DXCC through Contesting + LoTW

2008-12-09T08:37:00.003-05:00

Even casual contesters can easily improve their DXCC counts by participating in a few international contests. CQ Magazine’s major “World Wide” contests provide a great opportunity to “work some new ones”, even when the propagation indices are terrible. (CQ WW CW for Morse Code enthusiasts and CQ WW SSB for those who prefer “phone”).

More at http://www.n0hr.com/hamradio_blog/2008/12/08/dxcc-through-contesting-lotw/

Contest Log Analysis: CQ WW CW

2008-12-08T08:44:00.002-05:00

If you want some additional insight into your contesting efforts, I highly recommend SH5. Dmitriy, UA4WLI, hosts this program on his TR4W (TR for Windows) website. This little known, free, ham radio software utility will tell you things that your current contest logging software may not.

More at http://www.n0hr.com/hamradio_blog/2008/12/05/contest-log-analysis-cq-ww-cw/

SolderSmoke, December 8, 2008

2008-12-08T07:33:00.002-05:00

Moj Music
Rome winter: Snowcapped mountains, Starlings
Billy’s Blog – Please visit!
“Make” redeems itself with LED video
80 DSB rig: LTSpice, Design, Diplexers, Decoupling
Properly terminating balanced modulators
The virtues of feedback
80 meter DSB QRP (in a contest)
Reading Recommendation: January 2009 “Air and Space”
Jupiter and Venus aligned
Saturn picture with (sorta) homebrew rig
Ben’s Balloon Beacon
Laurence KL1X in N. China – will set up QRSS grabber
MAILBAG
Roger K7RXV and Bob KD4EBM on SolderSmells
Jerry NR5A has WSPR-mania
Scott KD5NJR on “Soul of a New Machine”
Bob K7HBG “Real radios have knobs”

Get it at http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke96.mp3

73s.org - HamBrief 6

2008-12-07T19:50:00.003-05:00

Hammaps

2008-12-06T09:57:00.005-05:00

Here is a very nice ham radio map site. It has maps of WAC continents, DXCC entities, CQ zones, ITU zones, ITU Regions, Grid squares and much more. It's a good resource for contesters and wall paper collectors.

Getting started on amateur radio satellites

2008-12-05T16:19:00.001-05:00

WHY SATELLITES? As a class-B licensee under the old rules, I did not have any HF privileges at all. Satellites offered a technical challenge and the possibility to work some serious DX using 2m and 70cm. My first trans-Atlantic contact was achieved on the now-defunct RS-10 using 10W to a small Yagi for the uplink, and a sloping dipole to receive the RS-10 downlink signal in the 10m band. It took several months to achieve this first trans-Atlantic QSO as I needed to build up my operating skills and make improvements to my receive set up. To minimise noise pickup from the house, the antenna went at the bottom of the garden and a homebrew RF pre-amp overcame the cable loss and boosted the signal. It was a great sense of achievement to send and receive signals to and from space and to make that contact via an orbiting satellite. I still get a buzz from communication via a spacecraft.

More at http://www.uk.amsat.org/images/PDF/Satellites_RadCom_mar07.pdf

Amateur Satellite Beginners Slides

2008-12-05T16:14:00.000-05:00

Amateur Satelllite Beginners

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: amsat presentation)

ARRL Triple Play WAS Award

2008-12-05T15:58:00.000-05:00

As of January 1, 2009, the ARRL will offer another award: The Triple Play Worked All States Award. This new, exciting award is available to all amateurs who confirm contacts with each of the 50 states using three modes for each state: CW, phone and RTTY/digital. All 150 contacts must be made on or after the starting date and must be confirmed via Logbook of the World (LoTW). All bands -- with the exception of 60 meters -- may be used in pursuit of the Triple Play Award.

More at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/12/05/10490/

K7QO Lab

2008-12-05T09:49:00.000-05:00

This document will demonstrate how I experiment and build radio equipment in a small room (which I call the lab) on the second floor of the hacienda. It is work in progress and will take some time to complete and edit and modify as I go along. Will have to decide just how much to write about. This is just about how I do things and nothing is sacred and nothing is set in concrete. Different hams do things differently. Please use safety precautions and remember that tools and lots of stuff we play with can be dangerous if you get careless or don’t think about what you’re doing.

More at http://www.k7qo.net/lab.pdf

VE7CC Cluster User Program

2008-12-04T07:27:00.005-05:00

* Download Links at bottom of page.
*
* Full featured Telnet and TNC program for use with CC Cluster , AR Cluster , DX Spider , CLX, DxNet, or WinCluster Nodes.
* 32 Bit Windows Program that allows "point and click" setting of node parameters. Runs under Win95 and later versions of Windows.
* Has Telnet, DDE, and RS-232 outputs for logging and contest programs.
* Can insert States and Provinces into feed to contest programs to aid in multiplier determination.
* Separates data from the cluster. Dx spots, WWV, Announces, Mail, filtering etc all have their own tabs on the display.
* For Dx Spots, each band has its own color.
* Removes bad Dx Spots. (blank or duplicate)
* Can be set to reject dx spots by caller, dx call or by comments.
* Displays bearing and distance to Dx.
* As well as the usual data in a dx spot, the following data can also be shown. Spotter's node, Spotters country, Dx Country's regular prefix, Dx Country name, spotter and Dx stations CQ/ITU zones, grid squares, states/provinces.
* LOTW. Flags Dx calls with "+" before the callsign if the Dx Station uses LoTW.
* Full WWV data displayed on Dx Spot page.
* Hypertext links can be clicked.
* Auto reconnects and gets missed spots.
* QRZ.com page displayed by clicking on Dx or spotter callsign.
* "Talk" messages can be sent to multiple users at the same time. Allows a chat group using the "talk" command.
* For TNCs, receives spots in both connected and unconnected modes and broadcast UI Frames.
* Fix Spots
* Dx Alarms Can send you an email alert for needed countries.
* For Dx Spider Chat
* Saves Dx Spots to log file for later analysis or reloading to program.

W0SHL - DX Station

2008-12-04T07:15:00.004-05:00

2008-12-02T23:18:00.004-05:00

New Ham Radio Video Series

2008-12-02T07:32:00.004-05:00

Chris Matthieu, N7ICE, has started a new video series at http://73s.org/ . He is already up to episode 5. He covers a wide variety of subjects and seems to be on the leading edge on many of them. Here are the subjects covered so far.

Episode 1: 73s.org presents HamBrief episode 1 - News and reviews - Apple iPhone/iTouch CallBook application and Yaesu VX-7R review (5/5 diamonds)

Episode 2: Chris Matthieu, N7ICE, reviews the Icom IC-91AD.

Episode 3: N7ICE reviews ultra compact dual-band radios from Alinco and Icom.

Episode 4: Chris Matthieu, N7ICE, practices flying his new remote control helicopter before working on ATV video equipment.

Episode 5: Chris Matthieu, N7ICE, provides updates on 73s.org QSO social graph, ADIF importing, APRS integration, and the new Ham Radio aggregator called HamFeed.com!

Effects of the Atmosphere on HF Communications

2008-11-30T09:21:00.003-05:00

This is a nice little tutorial about the effects of the atmosphere on HF communications by the Naval Postgraduate School.

In this module you will learn hoe the lower frequency radio spectrum is affected by the environment. Particular emphasis is on HF transmissions and how knowledge about the sun and ionosphere will help you predict how and why HF transmissions vary with time of day, latitude, season and space weather. You should progress through the module in the order below. There are no online answers to the study questions, but you may contact the instructor if there is something you do not understand. Each page below will have navigation button at the bottom of the page that will allow you to return here (the index) or go to the previous or next page.

Get it at http://www.weather.nps.navy.mil/~psguest/EMEO_online/module3/module_3_index.html

ARRL: QSLing Those Radio Memories

2008-11-30T08:42:00.001-05:00

At the conclusion of a radio contact, the final courtesy is the QSL card. So, to conclude the recent run of Surfin's dealing with radio memories, it seems apropos to look at the QSL cards.

More at http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2008/11/28/10471/

First DXpedition to Clipperton Island

2008-11-27T09:30:00.007-05:00

Long Delayed Echoes
by Jeff Davis

In this edition you’ll hear the story of Bob Denniston, W0NWX and the very first amateur radio operation from Clipperton Island. The journey was ill-fated almost from the start but the team perservered and FO8AJ ended up being a successful operation.

Download it at http://media.libsyn.com/media/ke9v/lde-50.mp3

Ham Radio Podclass

2008-11-27T07:49:00.002-05:00

The ham radio class PodClass is hosted and taught by John Martin, KF8KK and Mike Dell, N7LMJ. John and Mike are both Amateur Extra class Ham Radio Licensees and have over (combined) 50 years in ham radio. This podcast will prepare you to take the Technician Class ham radio exam or your General Upgrade Exam at an FCC Volunteer exam session

More at http://www.hamradioclass.org/

KØKTY - Mobile APRS

2008-11-26T13:31:00.002-05:00

W0VB - 2 Meter Weak Signal Station, Part 2

2008-11-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

W0VB - 2 Meter Weak Signal Station, Part 1

2008-11-25T07:58:00.002-05:00

The Practical Amateur Radio Podcast v12.1

2008-11-24T07:52:00.002-05:00

The Practical Amateur Radio Podcast is a show about Amateur (ham) Radio. Each episode we dive into any various topics related to the hobby of amateur radio. Look for our Podcast in the iTunes Music Store

Get it at http://kd0bik.com/podcast/episodes/parp12_1.mp3

SolderSmoke #95

2008-11-23T08:13:00.001-05:00

November 23, 2008

Amp design adventures with Spice, EMRFD
WANTED: NE602 Spice model
Pictures (from pirates?) in 80 meter waterfall
Problems space with tools and solar panels
QRSS news: W1BW 50 mw heard in VK6 and VK7
WSPR QRO controversy
IK0IXI's video on HB 8 band SSB rig
Ordering parts -- the aroma factor
1 uF caps OK for HF bypass?
Reading Recommendation: December 2008 Discover Magazine
MAILBAG:
Thanks for help on CD for Mike's wife
Paul WA1MAC: Chapstick PTO, alternate use for political lawn signs
Aisea 3D2AA: Listening from Fiji. Just retired, has Softrock kit
Bob NT7S: Has setup SolderSmoke Facebook
Steve G0FUW: Bath Build-a-thon January 17, 2009
Roberto XE1GXG: Getting married, took detour to radio row
Ben N1VF: An old friend from Vienna Wireless Society
Steve "Snort Rosin" Smith: Wants real gong, "Once upon a clip lead..."
John VK3AJG's FB SSB rig
Steve KG6NRM TAK-40 Pic project

Get it at http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke95.mp3

Ham Radio Shack Chat #5

2008-11-23T08:00:00.005-05:00

Randy, K7AGE has been making "YouTube" videos for quite some time. In this episode he discusses the videos he plans to produce in the near future. However, what is particularly interesting is links to several podcasts that are related to ham radio. They are all very interesting and worth taking a listen to.

Bytes and Hertz: Beam Beauty

2008-11-15T10:32:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for BPL in your neighbourhood?

2008-11-14T07:59:00.003-05:00

Have you ever wondered what BPL interference sounds like. It's not pretty.

N3DNO's Antenna calculator

2008-11-14T07:46:00.002-05:00

If you need a quick calculator for a dipole, vertical or three element yagi, this is the place to go. http://bfn.org/~bn589/antenna.html

CQ Communications Acquires WorldRadio Magazine

2008-11-13T06:39:00.004-05:00

(Hicksville, NY and Sacramento, CA, November 12, 2008) -CQ Communications, Inc. has acquired WorldRadio magazine, CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA and WorldRadio Publisher Armond Noble, N6WR, announced jointly today. CQ, based in Hicksville, New York, currently publishes CQ Amateur Radio, CQ VHF and Popular Communications magazines.

More at http://newsvc.cq-amateur-radio.com/

K1EL CW Keyboard Keyer Kit

2008-11-10T09:37:00.002-05:00

The Sun Shows Signs of Life

2008-11-08T08:53:00.001-05:00

Nov. 7, 2008: After two-plus years of few sunspots, even fewer solar flares, and a generally eerie calm, the sun is finally showing signs of life.

"I think solar minimum is behind us," says sunspot forecaster David Hathaway of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

More at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/07nov_signsoflife.htm?list69914

All About DSTAR Amateur Radio

2008-10-31T07:30:00.000-04:00

'ON THE AIR' 1937 - How Radio Works

2008-10-28T14:38:00.002-04:00

73s.org - Ham Radio Social Network

2008-10-27T19:49:00.002-04:00

SolderSmoke: The Flea: Minimalist QRP from Catalonia

2008-10-25T21:05:00.003-04:00

More at http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/2008/10/flea-minimalist-qrp-from-catalonia.html

DXE-UT-80P

2008-10-22T17:01:00.002-04:00

Assembly tool for PL-259's on Coaxial Cable ...

DXE-UT-8213

2008-10-22T16:59:00.002-04:00

Coax prep tool for Ham Radio. Works GREAT - no more razor blades & cut fingers!!! ...

Zone to Zone FOT Propagation

2008-10-21T15:40:00.003-04:00

Here is good propagation tool that you can use during the CQWW SSB contest this weekend.

ZoneProp uses a widely accepted propagation engine to determine the band on which a contestant in one CQ DX zone is likely to be able to contact a contestant in another CQ DX zone taking into account the current geomagnetic activity.

Check it out at http://www.radiosport.ca/zoneprop/

Ten-Tec Best Shack Contest winners!

2008-10-21T11:24:00.000-04:00

More at http://www.tentec.com/news/third-quarter-best-shack-contest-winners

Downlink from Space with Richard Garriott Part 2

2008-10-17T10:08:00.003-04:00

Downlink from Space with Richard Garriott Part 1

2008-10-16T19:31:00.000-04:00

SSTV Video from the International Space Station

2008-10-16T19:27:00.003-04:00

ARISS-SSTV images

2008-10-16T09:57:00.000-04:00

This site will be the focal point for some of the best SSTV images received during Oct 2008 and beyond. Images will be downlinked by ISS on 145.800 MHz. To submit a received image for possible inclusion in this gallery, go to the following website to upload your image.

In addition to SSTV images, notes on planned events for the period of Oct 14-23 and reports of planned amateur radio activity will be provided.

More at http://www.ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/

SSTV Video From The International Space Station

2008-10-16T08:11:00.002-04:00

SSTV Video From The International Space Station

2008-10-16T08:10:00.002-04:00

W5YI: W5KWQ arrives at space station

2008-10-15T07:29:00.002-04:00

Oct. 14, 2008 - A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three space travelers including Austin amateur radio operator/game developer Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, successfully docked with the international space station early today.

The linkup also delivered NASA astronaut Mike Fincke and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov, who will take over as the Expedition 18 commander and flight engineer for the next six months. Fincke, 41, is making his second long-duration flight on the station. He is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds master's degrees from Stanford University and the University of Houston, Clear Lake.

More at http://www.w5yi.org/ama_news_article.php?id=321

SolderSmoke93.mp3

2008-10-15T07:25:00.001-04:00

October 12, 2008
HB Pi Network Tuna (with mystery)
Hamfest report from Belgium
Space Hackers removed from YouTube
Verdict on Judica Cordiglia brothers
FB Italian ham magazines
I shift to FSK on 30 meters
Gimmick capacitors
QRSS QSY woes
SolderJoke
MAILBOX:
Jerry NR5A Back in action
Scott KD5NJR on Space Hacker controversy
Steve WB6TNL on the different flavors of solder smoke!
Paul WA1MAC labled PC boards with SSDRA page numbers
Ramakrishnan VU3RDD getting back on the air
Jim K9JM had 60 POUNDS of 2N2222
Jim AL7R listening from Yuma
Wes W7ZOI on plumbing washer toroids
Paul WA5WCP on laser safety
Terry G4GHU also went to KSC on honeymoon
-

Get it at http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke93.mp3

The Simpsons on Ham Radio

2008-10-14T19:16:00.000-04:00

Getting started on amateur radio satellites

2008-10-14T13:13:00.000-04:00

WHY SATELLITES? As a class-B licensee under the old rules, I did not have any HF privileges at all. Satellites offered a technical challenge and the possibility to work some serious DX using 2m and 70cm. My first trans-Atlantic contact was achieved on the now-defunct RS-10 using 10W to a small Yagi for the uplink, and a sloping dipole to receive the RS-10 downlink signal in the 10m band. It took several months to achieve this first trans-Atlantic QSO as I needed to build up my operating skills and make improvements to my receive set up. To minimise noise pickup from the house, the antenna went at the bottom of the garden and a homebrew RF pre-amp overcame the cable loss and boosted the signal. It was a great sense of achievement to send and receive signals to and from space and to make that contact via an orbiting satellite. I still get a buzz from communication via a spacecraft.

More at http://www.uk.amsat.org/images/PDF/Satellites_RadCom_mar07.pdf

Another Cycle 24 Sunspot Today

2008-10-12T21:25:00.000-04:00

Looks like a pattern is developing.

W5YI: U.S. ham operator launches to Space Station

2008-10-12T21:20:00.002-04:00

Fulfilling a childhood dream, legendary video game developer and third generation ham operator Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, of Austin, Texas, blasted off into space aboard a Russian rocket early Sunday morning. He becomes the first American to follow his astronaut father, Owen Garriott, W5LFL, into space.

The Russian Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft lifted off in perfect weather from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (a landlocked country in southern Europe) just after 2 a.m. Central time. Space officials said the Soyuz rocket reached orbit ten minutes later and will dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday.

More at http://www.w5yi.org/ama_news_article.php?id=320

Yaesu FT-857 and ATAS-120 Mobile Set-up

2008-10-12T21:15:00.003-04:00

Yaesu FT-817ND Go-Pack

2008-10-12T21:04:00.004-04:00

ARISS SSTV gallery

2008-10-12T19:47:00.003-04:00

Check out SSTV images from ISS at http://www.amsat.com/ARISS_SSTV/

Southgate ARC: A 'new-cycle' sunspot emerges

2008-10-12T11:44:00.001-04:00

A 'new-cycle' sunspot belonging to Solar Cycle 24 is emerging near the sun's northeastern limb.

This is the third time in as many weeks that a new-cycle sunspot has interrupted the year's remarkable run of blank suns.

The accelerating pace of new-cycle sunspot production is an encouraging sign that, while solar activity remains very low, the sunspot cycle is unfolding more or less normally. We are not stuck in a permanent solar minimum.

Readers with solar telescopes should train them on the sun this weekend to observe sunspot genesis in action.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates

KB6NU: Find EchoLink, IRLP Nodes

2008-10-10T11:01:00.001-04:00

For those that wish to find a live on the air repeater or simplex node for either Echolink or IRLP.

* Echolink Node Locator
* IRLP Node Locator

Kiwi morse tutor program

2008-10-07T16:00:00.001-04:00

Learning The Morse Code

There are three words that help you to learn morse code:

PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE To help you get the practise, here is Gary Bold's free teaching software for learning morse (PC only, Windows 95/98 and above systems).

It can be downloaded here 550 kilobytes (kB)- (Last updated: 04/02/2008)Its just like learning to ride a bicycle. It’s far better to learn the Morse symbols by sound, and not sight! It is not a good idea to memorise a written table. Get an experienced Morse operator to send characters to you with an audio oscillator, saying each symbol after it’s sent. You want to recognise the symbols by their sound. Tapes are available which will teach you to recognise the symbols by their sound.

The ideal method to learn Morse is by use of a computer. Morse code training programmes are available –– see below for one of them.

Learn them at the same time–if learned later, they take a long while to become as familiar as the symbols. Learn each symbol at a speed of about 12 – 14 WPM, with long gaps between symbols. The gaps will close as you advance. When you have learned the symbols you can practice from a tape at varying speeds or at dub Morse classes.