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

Digital Modes for Flex Radio, Part 1

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

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

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

SolderSmoke 97

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

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)

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)

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

TNT Transmitter Details

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

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

K9LA's Amateur Radio Propagation Web Site

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

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

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

73s.org - HamBrief 7

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

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

K7AGE: What the HELL?

W3JK-Flex-Radio Remote Demo Part 1

K7AGE: Remote Radio Station Control

Wikipedia: Software-defined radio

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

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

W2ICE and Early Ham Transmitters

ARCI: Solar Activity and HF Propagation

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

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

Southgate ARC: QRZ.com to change

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

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!

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

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

Overlay Mapping

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

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

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

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

Hammaps

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

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

Amateur Satelllite Beginners

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

ARRL Triple Play WAS Award

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

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

* 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

New Ham Radio Video Series

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

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

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

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

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

W0VB - 2 Meter Weak Signal Station, Part 2

W0VB - 2 Meter Weak Signal Station, Part 1

The Practical Amateur Radio Podcast v12.1

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

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

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

Are you ready for BPL in your neighbourhood?

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

N3DNO's Antenna calculator

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

(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

The Sun Shows Signs of Life

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

'ON THE AIR' 1937 - How Radio Works

73s.org - Ham Radio Social Network

SolderSmoke: The Flea: Minimalist QRP from Catalonia

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

DXE-UT-80P

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

DXE-UT-8213

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

Zone to Zone FOT Propagation

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!

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

Downlink from Space with Richard Garriott Part 2

Downlink from Space with Richard Garriott Part 1

SSTV Video from the International Space Station

ARISS-SSTV images

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

SSTV Video From The International Space Station

W5YI: W5KWQ arrives at space station

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

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

Getting started on amateur radio satellites

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

Looks like a pattern is developing.

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

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

Yaesu FT-817ND Go-Pack

ARISS SSTV gallery

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

Southgate ARC: A 'new-cycle' sunspot emerges

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

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

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.

Simplex Preservation Society

From Amateur Radio Newsline:

The Simplex Preservation Society is a club in the United States that is an alternative to what it calls the traditional repeater-centric amateur radio groups. It's not suggesting anyone gives up repeater use, but its members do monitor simplex, make regular contacts that way and maintain a capability to be able to operate independently of repeaters. SPS members maintain, or improve, their VHF stations to ensure they can effectively communicate within their city limits.

Hmmm? Aren't we doing this on 146.460 MHz? Learn more at http://www.73sps.com/about/simplex-utilization.html

QRP-a-Field w/Goats + FT817/Buddistick & K1/dipole

This from Barry, KC8IOO

Spotless Sun: Blankest Year of the Space Age

Sept. 30, 2008: Astronomers who count sunspots have announced that 2008 is now the "blankest year" of the Space Age.

As of Sept. 27, 2008, the sun had been blank, i.e., had no visible sunspots, on 200 days of the year. To find a year with more blank suns, you have to go back to 1954, three years before the launch of Sputnik, when the sun was blank 241 times.

"Sunspot counts are at a 50-year low," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. "We're experiencing a deep minimum of the solar cycle."

More at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/30sep_blankyear.htm?list1066509

Solar Cycle Prediction (Updated 2008/09/02)

Predicting the behavior of a sunspot cycle is fairly reliable once the cycle is well underway (about 3 years after the minimum in sunspot number occurs [see Hathaway, Wilson, and Reichmann Solar Physics; 151, 177 (1994)]). Prior to that time the predictions are less reliable but nonetheless equally as important. Planning for satellite orbits and space missions often require knowledge of solar activity levels years in advance.
A number of techniques are used to predict the amplitude of a cycle during the time near and before sunspot minimum. Relationships have been found between the size of the next cycle maximum and the length of the previous cycle, the level of activity at sunspot minimum, and the size of the previous cycle.

More at http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml

Rufz - "Listening to Callsigns"

"Rufz" is the abbreviation of the German word "Rufzeichen-Hören", which means "Listening to Callsigns". RufzXP is an excellent training software for improving code speed and CW practice, particularly (ultra) high speed memory copying of true amateur radio calls. Focussing on improvement of CW proficiency, it is no contest simulator and does not provide for QRM. It provides additional tools for keeping track of training progress and comparing with other operators via International RufzXP Toplist

More at http://www.rufzxp.net/

Soldersmoke92

Get it at http://www.soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke92.mp3

Mega Parts Storage

Have a lot of parts to store? Here's a great way to store them. More at http://www.vk2zay.net/article.php/66

W4BQF: QRQ or Copying CW over 70 wpm

Don't pass this article up because it talks about super high speed CW. Some of the suggestions apply to all speeds.

Quite often I am asked "How can you copy CW at 70 wpm and higher?" Since it's pretty insulting just to answer by saying "Practice, practice, practice", I normally wind up emailing back a synopsis on how I learned to do it. Others have used different methods of achieving QRQ copy by ear.

What I have to say on this subject is only my own personal opinion, which normally does not agree with everyone else!

I really don't believe in the various methods of learning code. I think learning to copy high speed code is much simpler than following someone else's method of learning to copy QRQ. What I am sharing with you is things that I found to work for me.

More at http://tom.w4bqf.googlepages.com/COPYINGCWOVER70WPM

M0KHZ: Signal to noise ratio

New Sunspot Appears

A cycle 24 sunspot has appeared today and it is a big one, at least bigger than any of the previous cycle 24 spots. The good times are coming.

SOLAR ACTIVITY & HF PROPAGATION

Here is a very good article that explains how the Sun works and how it effects radio communications. It's a bit technical, but if you can manage to understand it you'll be a propagation guru and amaze your friends.

Find it at http://www.qrparci.org/mambo/pdf/FDIM81.pdf

W2LJ: Station in a Box

More at http://w2lj.blogspot.com/2008/09/station-in-box.html

Great CW Practice Program for Contesters

"Rufz" is the abbreviation of the German word "Rufzeichen-Hören", which means "Listening to Callsigns". RufzXP is an excellent training software for improving code speed and CW practice, particularly (ultra) high speed memory copying of true amateur radio calls. Focussing on improvement of CW proficiency, it is no contest simulator and does not provide for QRM. It provides additional tools for keeping track of training progress and comparing with other operators via International RufzXP Toplist.

RufzXP is a "must" for every serious high speed telegraphy operator and is an official competition of IARU High Speed Telegraphy Championships.

Find out more at http://www.rufzxp.net/

Earth Space 4-D; Visualizing the Ionosphere using Google Earth

Find out how to use this great propagation tool at http://terra1.spacenvironment.net/~ionops/ES4Dintro.html

Interview clip with W. Kent Tobiska, Space Environment Technologies, Inc.

See the video at http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010200/a010208/Ham_radio_640x480.mp4

Demo of the '4D Ionosphere' tool, Communication Alert and Prediction System

See the video at http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010200/a010208/Ionoshpere_B_Roll_640x480.mp4

Introduction to the '4D Ionosphere' tool, Communication Alert and Prediction System

See the video at http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010200/a010208/Ionoshpere_WebShort_640x480.mp4

DX-IS News Site

The main content here is expected to be about Amateur Radio DX News. You can post:

* DXpedition announcements
* Stories of DXpeditions

To keep up to date and not have to come to this web page, you can use a RSS Reader that will deliver news to you as it comes in. If you use a news reader in conjunction with the WAP capability to get DX Cluster spots via your internet connected cell phone, you will never be without DX News.

More at http://dx-is.com/news/?page_id=2

KB6NU: MI Section Publishes First Youth Newsletter

MI Assistant Section Manager Simon, KC8DYZ, has published the first Youth Radio in Michigan newsletter. Included in this issue are articles by out SM Dale, WA8EFK; Corey, KD8BOQ; and Simon himself.

Another interesting part of the newsletter is a proposal for creating a website just for kids in ham radio. I like this idea a lot. Not only would it be great for kids who are hams in Michigan, but perhaps for kids all over the country.

The Super J-Pole Antenna(Collinear Design)

This is a copper pipe j-pole with gain. The site also includes a java script to calculate exact dimensions. Find it at http://users.marktwain.net/aschmitz/antennas/jpolecalc.html

6m Copper Pipe J-pole

Here is a very solid design for a 6m copper pipe J-pole antenna.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2775/6mjant01.html

6m 5/8 Wave Vertical Ground Plane

Specifications 6MU Vertical Antenna

* Total length (including the 50cm mounting boom piece): 3,5m (2,95m effective)
* centre frequency: 51 Mhz
* bandwidth: 2 Mhz
* maximum tunable frequency range: 49...53 MHz+-
* impedance: 50 Ohms
* Gain: 3,6 dBi
* Maximum power using the components described: 20 watt
* NO counterpoise or radials needed if the boom is grounded or the boom length is >= 1,5m
* DC grounded (no static buildup)
* Height: 2,95m
* If needed, it can be disassembled into a very small bundle no longer than the longest element.

Be sure to seal everything up to avoid moisture, corrosion etc...

More at http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/schemas/on6mu_6meter_verticalantenna.htm#58verticalgroundplane

SolderSmoke #91 STEREO SPECIAL

Be sure to listen to episode 91 of the SolderSmoke podcast:

http://www.soldersmoke.com

September 14, 2008

TOPICS:

Sardinia!
ON5EX's QRSS MEPT leads us back to bike riding
Watching Jupiter, listening for Jupiter
KF6KYI's I-tunes QRSS
Stan, 9H1LO's new grabber
Laptop motion detectors as earthquake detectors
Nuclear fusion in the shack
Philo T. Farnsworth
Building a QRSS freq standard
SPRAT CD
Forget about stocks: SSDRA now selling at $399.89
SolderJokes
QST articles on-line! FB!
Jim Williams and the joy of fixing things
STEREO SPECIAL: Roger Hayward's new binaural DSB project
Antenna woes
MAILBAG:
G0WAT on HOGCON 2008 (21 Sept in Herts.)
AJ8T on Russian rovers with laser reflectors
KA9OOI on language and low pass audio filtering
WB6TNL says NO to rat neurons in QRP gear
KB6QR "beknacked" vice "knackered" ?????
NR5A has a Drake 2A
7J1AWL on the air from Vietnam
KC0PET goes solar
OZ1CJX Bad case of Knack, may need professional help
K8WPR says Knack keeping him away from wild women, bars
AJ8T on CK722 museum
AG5RS works Texas balloon from Dubai (via net)
KI4SGU POW radio parts
N8WQ on schematic drawing program
KF4LMZ has QRSS-itis, finds 10.140 rock in CB rig

WAC Certificate Gets New Look

On Friday, he ARRL Awards Branch unveiled a new design for two IARU award certificates: the Worked All Continents Award (WAC) and the 5 Band Worked All Continents Award (5BWAC). WAC is awarded to amateurs who have confirmed contacts on any band with Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, North America and Oceania, while 5BWAC recognizes hams who have made confirmed contacts with those continents on 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 meters.

More at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/09/20/10346/?nc=1

Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur

If there was ever a users manual for amateur radio, this is it. Get it at http://www.rsgb.org/operating/procedures/Eth-operating-EN-RSGB-SITE-july1-2008.pdf

Pileupbusters

eHam.net: The St. Louis Key

The St. Louis key is actually a not so much an individual key, but a way of making all sorts of keys. The "key" ingredient ( pardon the pun) is the use of parts salvaged from old Telephone Lever Switches and telephone relays. These parts are long springy levers with very good contact points, sometimes even made of silver.

More at http://www.eham.net/articles/20086

Copy W1AW without a receiver

Bryn N4VM has generously made available hundreds of hours of W1AW code practice mp3 files that you can download and play on your mp3 player or computer at http://www.pcpractice.com/CW/.

They range in speed from 5 to 40 wpm. Text files showing the sent characters are also provided. They are indexed by speed: 5, 7-1/2, 10, 13, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 wpm as well by date of transmission. There are also two directories 18 and 18 wpm - both of which contain 18 wpm Morse code practice.

Below the directories of the various speeds are directories with dates. These directories (folders) are different files than the one’s above and are from an earlier period where perhaps Bryn indexed the files by date instead of by speed. So if you run out of the ones indexed by speed, there are entire W1AW sessions recorded here.

KB6NU: Principles of Semiconductor Devices

This online text book appears to be college level and over the heads of some of you, but you still may get something out of it.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Review of Modern Physics
Chapter 2: Semiconductor Fundamentals
Chapter 3: Metal-Semiconductor Junctions
Chapter 4: p-n Junctions
Chapter 5: Bipolar Transistors
Chapter 6: MOS Capacitors
Chapter 7: MOS Field-Effect-Transistors
Appendix

Print your own License certificate

N4MC's
U.S. Amateur Radio
Certificate Builder
Make your own FREE call sign certificate.
40,070 certificates created since July 19, 2003.

Print your own FCC ham license

An amateur's legal operating authority in the USA comes from the data in the FCC's ULS database (see FCC rules, Part 97.5(a) & 97.7(a)), and not from the paper license that the FCC prints and mails, which is just a legal notification of that data (although the paper license may be required by foreign governments if you travel outside the USA). In fact, the FCC provides a web page for printing a "reference" copy of any FCC license:

* Go to the FCC Universal Licensing System.
* Search for a callsign.
* Select the callsign to display the license data page.
* Click on "Reference Copy".

However, neither the FCC's mailed copy nor (especially) their web page reference copy is very attractive. For a high-resolution (1200 dpi) color license reference copy suitable for printing, enter your callsign below (change the fonts & watermark color if you wish) and click "Generate".

More at http://www.ae7q.net/Generate.php

ARRL - W1AW Tour

DUAL MODE MORSE CODE KEY

ARRL: Collins Radio Turns 75

Seventy-five years ago a small radio communications company, operating from the owner's basement, officially incorporated in the state of Delaware. From these humble beginnings arose one of the nation's foremost communications and avionics companies -- The Collins Radio Company. Arthur Collins, W0CXX, started building high quality Amateur Radio equipment that from the very beginning was to make the Collins brand legendary among ham radio operators worldwide. The Collins Radio Company was incorporated with $29,000 in capital and eight employees during the depth of the Great Depression. In 1973, Collins was acquired by Rockwell International. In 2001 the company was spun off into what is today Rockwell Collins, Inc with over 19,500 employees worldwide and annual sales of $4.415 billion.

More at http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2008/09/11/10326/

Download QST Any QST Article

With just a mouse click or two, ARRL members can now access the online QST magazine archive. This new benefit -- a service of the ARRL Technical Information Service (TIS) -- provides PDF copies of all QST articles from December 1915 through December 2004, enabling members to view and print their favorite article, project or advertisement. For many years, the TIS has provided members with assistance researching ARRL periodicals and publications, as well as providing members and non-members with article reprints for a small fee. Access to the new online digital QST archive is free for ARRL members.

more at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/09/09/10322/

NASA Amateur Radio Special Event

Members of the NASA Glenn Amateur Radio Club will be active daily (2200-0500 GMT) between October 1 and 6 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beginning of NASA operations. NA8SA is the amateur radio call sign of the ham club at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. NASA Glenn is the northernmost of the NASA centers. Located at Lewis Field, it is adjacent to and west of the Cleveland, Ohio Hopkins International Airport. NA8SA is one of nine NASA amateur radio clubs

Suggested frequencies are: 14280, 7280, 3880 and 1880 kHz. QSL via: NASA Glenn Amateur Radio Club, Lewis Field, 21000 Brookpark Rd, MS 8-1, Cleveland, OH 44135-3191.

Solar Cycle 24: The Wait Continues

ARRL is Using Twitter

I have no idea what Twitter is, but ARRL is there. I don't see anything on their Twitter page that isn't on the news page of their big WEB site. I guess I'm to old to get it. See if you can and get it at http://twitter.com/arrl.

Ham Radio Shacks

Product Discontinuation: Ni-Cd Batteries

On the 26th September 2008, a new EU directive comes into force preventing the importation of Ni-Cd and other batteries into Europe.

Ni-Cd batteries will only be available until our UK stocks are exhausted. alternative types of battery for current equipment has been available for some time, so there should be no problem in finding an subsitute. For older equipment where Ni-Cd was the only type of battery available, replacments may not be available.

Care should be taken to ensure you have the appropriate charger for alternative battery technology that is used for your equipment.

Please dispose of your Ni-Cds safely. Most municipal recycling centres have facilities for the disposal of batteries, and you may also be able to leave the defective batteries with your replacement supplier for disposal.

Should you require any further advice please email us at the address below.
Icom: info@icomuk.co.uk

Is the U.S. next?

The Tick

Word on the street is that the National Institue of Standards and Technology is close to signing a Lease Management Agreement with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. for its flagship Time and Frequency station WWV, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Clear Channel Radio's consultants have demanded some changes to the sound of the station, which broadcasts time of day, standard frequency, and other information 24 hours per day, saying that the old format is "dull and predictable."

Additionally, WWV's traditional modulation level of 50 percent for the steady tones, 50 percent for the BCD time code and 75 percent for the voice announcements was deemed "not loud enough." The station will reformulate itself as "The Tick."

WWV's program director Hickory Zeitgeist says that the station has already added some snappy new announcements to the rotation, which can be heard by clicking the clock.

Hear the new WWV, at "The Tick"

DailyTech: Sun Makes History: First Spotless Month in a Century

Drop in solar activity has potential effect for climate on earth.

The sun has reached a milestone not seen for nearly 100 years: an entire month has passed without a single visible sunspot being noted.

The event is significant as many climatologists now believe solar magnetic activity – which determines the number of sunspots -- is an influencing factor for climate on earth.

According to data from Mount Wilson Observatory, UCLA, more than an entire month has passed without a spot. The last time such an event occurred was June of 1913. Sunspot data has been collected since 1749.

More at http://www.dailytech.com/Sun+Makes+History+First+Spotless+Month+in+a+Century/article12823.htm

WVDXA: A Month Without Sunspots

The sun has reached a milestone not seen for nearly 100 years: an entire month has passed without a single visible sunspot being noted.

The event is significant as many climatologists now believe solar magnetic activity – which determines the number of sunspots -- is an influencing factor for climate on earth.

ARRL: Hurricane Watch Net Activates

The National Hurricane Center's Hurricane Watch Net posted this information on August 31:

"Sunday, August 31 the net plans to activate at 1500EDT (1900UTC) for the purpose of establishing a list of available reporting stations along the northern Gulf Of Mexico shores beginning Monday morning as extremely dangerous hurricane Gustav is forecast to make landfall in that area. At this moment it seems for sure that we will activate again at first band opening on Monday morning (0800 EDT, 1200 UTC)."

The Hurricane Watch Net is using these frequencies during the Hurricane Gustav emergency:

* 20 meters: 14.325 MHz USB
* Main frequency during Hurricanes -- 40 meters: 7.268 MHz LSB
* Water Way Net (secondary frequency) Maritime Mobiles Net -- 80 meters: 3.815 MHz
* Caribbean Net (alternates: 3.950 North Florida / 3.940 South Florida)

Amateur Radio EchoLink/IRLP

* EchoLink Conference "WX-TALK" Node 7203
* IRLP Node 9219
* West Gulf Emergency Health and Welfare Net: 7.290 LSB Day, 3.395 LSB Night

Please respect the Nets and do not transmit if you have nothing truly important to contribute. There is a 72 hour moratorium on inbound Health and Welfare traffic.

Hurricane Gustav - Emergency Frequencies

Hurricane Gustav - Emergency Frequencies
Mark Lacy, W5TXR asked us to post the following bulletin:


Could you post on your front page for folks to stay off of 7.285, 7.248, 3.873 & 3.975 For the duration of Gustov
These are the Texas ARES & RACES Frequencies.

The State of Texas RACES will commence operations on 01 SEP 09 at 12:00 Z


Thanks - Mark A. Lacy


W5TXR
Mark A. Lacy
ARRL Official Emergency Station
ARRL Technical Specialist NTX
Texas ARES/RACES/Skywarn

eHma.net: It's Not Your Microphone, It's You!

Those of us who foray into the “phone” bands have all heard some G-dawful modulation.

There are the “wi-fi audio guys” who, to me, sound like fingernails scratching a chalkboard, but I'll admit some like the way that stuff sounds. I don't, but that's neither here nor there.

There are the overprocessed guys who have fallen victim to AKTR* Syndrome, and as long as they believe what they do, will never, ever sound good.

(*AKTR = All Knobs To Right. This is a method where the operator simply turns all the knobs on his transmitter fully clockwise, keeping adjustments very simple.)

more at http://www.eham.net/articles/19996

M0KHZ’s Blog: Cartoon time : Hertz

Engineering content can be a little dry sometimes. To add some spice to this world of precision, Agilent commissioned Rand Kruback to create his artistic view of some common EE terms and phrases. These cartoons should lighten your day!

Brought to you every few days while I’m downunder, remember normal homebrew activities resume mid October.

End of update.

eHam.net: Learn CW Online!

Welcome to LCWO.net - Learn CW Online!

At LCWO you can learn Morse telegraphy (CW) online in your browser. You don't need to install a program on your computer, and you always have your personal settings available, from any computer on the globe with an internet connection. You can also easily track your progress by means of different statistical functions.

Sign up for a free account (or use username "test", password "test" to play around) and start learning or improving your CW today
Features

More at http://lcwo.net/

ARRL: Ohio State Parks on the Air

Have you ever looked at contest schedules and thought it seemed like every format had already been tried and that the good ideas had already been used? That if your club wanted to sponsor a new contest, there just wasn't any room for something original?

The board of the Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS) had the chance to ponder those questions recently. We wanted to create a contest that would have particular appeal to hams in the Ohio Section. The contest would have a unique format that had not been tried before yet still be relatively simple to score and have low hurdles for participation. That is, almost anyone could take a shot at it.

What we came up with is a contest that not only met those requirements but combines some of the best elements of Field Day and a state QSO party, provides public demonstrations of in-the-field communication abilities and rewards the ability to make contacts within your own section/state. Even better, it is a template that can easily be adopted in any other state or section or even used for a nationwide event.

More at http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2008/08/25/10281/

W0VB - 2 Meter Weak Signal Station, Part 2

W0VB - 2 Meter Weak Signal Station, Part 1

W3JK-Flexradio

W3JK-Flex-Radio Remote Demo Part 2

W3JK-Flex-Radio Remote Demo Part 1

How and WHY to Solder Correctly

Soldering Iron Wattage vs. Temperature

Soldering Tutorial

Surface Mount Soldering 101

Basic Soldering

WA7BNM: 8-Day Contest Calendar

SARTG WW RTTY Contest: 0000Z-0800Z, Aug 16 and 1600Z-2400Z, Aug 16 and 0800Z-1600Z, Aug 17

ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest: 0600 local, Aug 16 to 2400 local, Aug 17

Russian District Award Contest: 0800Z, Aug 16 to 0800Z, Aug 17

Keyman's Club of Japan Contest: 1200Z, Aug 16 to 1200Z, Aug 17

North American QSO Party, SSB: 1800Z, Aug 16 to 0600Z, Aug 17

New Jersey QSO Party: 2000Z, Aug 16 to 0700Z, Aug 17 and 1300Z, Aug 17 to 0200Z, Aug 18

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest: 0100Z-0300Z, Aug 18

NCCC Sprint: 0230Z-0300Z, Aug 22

Hawaii QSO Party: 0700Z, Aug 23 to 2200Z, Aug 24

Ohio QSO Party: 1600Z, Aug 23 to 0400Z, Aug 24

Get the complete calender at http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/weeklycont.php

Radio_Sport: CQWW Puts CW Skimmer In Assisted Category

By Jamie Dupree NS3T radio-sport.net
Posted August 18, 2008

After months of very public battling over new rules for the controversial CW Skimmer program, the final decision by the CQ WW DX Contest Committee to allow its use in the Assisted category generated only a few negative reviews.

"The new rules for the basic single operator category are crystal clear," said Stan Stockton K5GO, who led an internet petition drive to completely outlaw the Skimmer from all contest categories.

"What is allowed and what is not allowed in using a remote Skimmer is not so clear, and the rules are subject to interpretation," Stockton told radio-sport.net

The new rule, which can be found at the CQ WW website, is fairly succinct:

"QSO alerting assistance of any kind (this includes, but is not limited to, packet, local or remote Skimmer and/or Skimmer-like technology, Internet) places the entrant in the Single Operator Assisted category."

"I think it is the right decision," said Pete Smith N4ZR, who has done beta testing of the software program for developer VE3NEA.

Now that CQ WW has made its decision, other contests are expected to follow suit. For now, the ARRL has only made a short term decision on Skimmer usage.

"Skimmer will be allowed for use in the Single Operator Unlimited category in the 2008 CW Sweepstakes," said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, who announced that plan at the W0DXCC Convention earlier this month.

"As with the 2008 IARU HF Championships, the use of Skimmer in Sweepstakes should be viewed as an isolated incident and NOT a reflection of general policy towards Skimmer," Kutzko told radio-sport.net

The long term decision of what to do with the Skimmer rules-wise for ARRL contests is for now still in the hands of the Contest Advisory Committee.

In recent days, CAC Chair Dick Green WC1M was asking questions about Skimmer use again on the Skimmertalk reflector.

"I'm going to avoid expressing any public opinions until after the CAC has competed its study of CW Skimmer," wrote Green.

As for other CQ Magazine contests, no one was ready to say that they would accept the final version of the CQ WW rules as yet.

"I think the story for now is the CQWW contest rules announcement," said CQ WPX Contest Director Randy Thompson K5ZD.

"WPX will announce any rules changes later this year," he added.

Also looking to possibly embrace the Skimmer change is the CQ 160 Contest. Updated rules for 2009 for that contest are currently under review as well.

You can read previous stories about the CW Skimmer:

more at http://www.radio-sport.net/skimmer_cqww.htm

SolderSmoke #90

http://www.soldersmoke.com

August 17, 2008

August in Rome, Italian beaches, Circeo
Hardrock Cafe, My Sharona, The Knack
The Planet Mechanics
VK6DI on QRSS
Listen to me talking to Jean Shepherd (1976)
SolderSmoke (sort of) in Australia in 1944
Herman Munster is not an appliance op...
Book Review: "The Science of Radio"
August QST: KD1JV's rig, pneumatic switching, QRP WAS
Conrad's Garage, KDKA, K4HU (SK)
Kits and Parts by W8DIZ
Working on 80 meter DSB rig
Computer fixed, counter still dead
MAILBAG:
7J1AWL in Vietnam
Jerry, NR5A, gets a Drake 2A
KB1DRK recommends Spitfish
SM5QU on Apollo Backpack Radios (AM!)
AC7ZN reports WB8LZG has aerielitis
W8NF on Dorkbot (Knack? or no Knack?)
G0FUW to speak at Basingstoke 1 September
M0JRQ on the meanings of "knackered"

SolderSmoke: Conrad's Garage -- Birth of KDKA -- K4HU, SK

Harry Mills, K4HU, passed away recently. Harry was 100 years old and was active on the ham bands right up until the end. National Public Radio featured Harry and his ham station in an "All Things Considered" segment about early radio. It came out in 2001. I don't know how I missed this one -- it is really great. Have a listen: NPR program on KDKA, K4HU

ARVN: D-STAR and Digital Voice for Amateur Radio (PREVIEW)