Nice combination!
And, we all know that Altoids tins have been used for Morse (CW) transmitters for quite some time......seems like Altoids know now too. Enjoy!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Like Father Like Son
In 1983 W5LFL, Owen Garriott, the first ham to call from Space, pioneered the way for an increasingly well developed amateur radio space program.
"It was my good fortune to take the first amateur radio into space on STS-9 in November 1983," Garriott said. "In my spare time only, I managed to hold up an antenna to the window and to talk to amateurs on Earth.
On October 16th and 17th, Owen's son, computer game designer Richard Garriott, aka Lord Britain from the computer game series Ultima, a civilian who paid $30 Million to travel aboard the Russian Soyuz to the International Space Station, repeated his fathers steps, by communicating with schoolchildren using Ham Radio.
Congratulations to Richard on a successful flight and re-entry, and for once again, helping to bring recognition to the wonderful hobby of radio.
"It was my good fortune to take the first amateur radio into space on STS-9 in November 1983," Garriott said. "In my spare time only, I managed to hold up an antenna to the window and to talk to amateurs on Earth.
On October 16th and 17th, Owen's son, computer game designer Richard Garriott, aka Lord Britain from the computer game series Ultima, a civilian who paid $30 Million to travel aboard the Russian Soyuz to the International Space Station, repeated his fathers steps, by communicating with schoolchildren using Ham Radio.
Congratulations to Richard on a successful flight and re-entry, and for once again, helping to bring recognition to the wonderful hobby of radio.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Finally happened, the nuclear explosion we've all been waiting for!
Well, after double the normal solar minimum period, we FINALLY had a new sunspot this week, heralding Solar Cycle 24!
We also have a coronal hole which will possibly be giving us a lot of noise and propagation issues over the next few days from the resulting geomagnetic storm.
Once the storm is over, and when more sunspots occur, this should mean the start of better conditions on HF, and the start of the DX season. Of course, it will also mean that you will have to install some filters if you don't have good filters already, as with the increased sunspots comes QRN, especially on the lower bands.
Makes me want to sing.....maybe a Beatles tune...how about Here comes the sun???
We also have a coronal hole which will possibly be giving us a lot of noise and propagation issues over the next few days from the resulting geomagnetic storm.
Once the storm is over, and when more sunspots occur, this should mean the start of better conditions on HF, and the start of the DX season. Of course, it will also mean that you will have to install some filters if you don't have good filters already, as with the increased sunspots comes QRN, especially on the lower bands.
Makes me want to sing.....maybe a Beatles tune...how about Here comes the sun???
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Man saved using Ham Radio
People being saved by radio isn't a thing from the past, even now there are cellphones.
A hiker in Washington state, at Buck Creek Pass, which is a remote spot in one of the lesser populated counties, Snohomish County, slipped and fell onto rocks.
The hiker, W7AU, had a small QRP rig and hammed out a CW call on 40m. 600 miles away, another ham in Bozeman, Montana, heard the call and contacted authorities. Search and rescue reached the distressed ham by HORSEBACK and carried him to an ambulance from where he was taken to hospital with a broken leg.
Way to go Mr Williams, and hope you get well soon W7AU. So, in 2008, a man was saved by amateur radio, using morse code. Got to love the naysayers who say "code is dead".
Remember, without CW it's just CB ;)
A hiker in Washington state, at Buck Creek Pass, which is a remote spot in one of the lesser populated counties, Snohomish County, slipped and fell onto rocks.
The hiker, W7AU, had a small QRP rig and hammed out a CW call on 40m. 600 miles away, another ham in Bozeman, Montana, heard the call and contacted authorities. Search and rescue reached the distressed ham by HORSEBACK and carried him to an ambulance from where he was taken to hospital with a broken leg.
Way to go Mr Williams, and hope you get well soon W7AU. So, in 2008, a man was saved by amateur radio, using morse code. Got to love the naysayers who say "code is dead".
Remember, without CW it's just CB ;)
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
New Ham Joins Us
Yesterday, a new ham joined us. No call as of yet, but went from nothing to General on the same day. Both myself and the VE team thought he was going to go "All The Way", but he missed the Extra by *ONE* question.
After securing his CSCE, and being the new owner of a bulletproof Yaesu FT101ZD, I'm sure we will see Jim on the air with us shortly.
Here's Jim, right after the VE testing session, picking up a 56 ft tower that was surplus to my radio club
Congrats, Jim, from myself, your sister, Tony and the KCARC VE Team.
After securing his CSCE, and being the new owner of a bulletproof Yaesu FT101ZD, I'm sure we will see Jim on the air with us shortly.
Here's Jim, right after the VE testing session, picking up a 56 ft tower that was surplus to my radio club
Congrats, Jim, from myself, your sister, Tony and the KCARC VE Team.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Meanderings
Sitting here beside my TS-430S, it struck me that Kenwood made a fine radio that still holds up pretty well. I got thinking about TenTec - another well made radio. I passed up on a Triton II at a hamfest recently that was DOA for $50 and wish I hadn't.
But there's something clinical about a solid state radio.....the audio doesn't hold a candle to the Hi-Fi quailty audio from my Hallicrafters sitting the other side of me.
My ideal new rig would be solid state throughout except for audio amplifier, which should be tube based for rich warm audio.
But there's something clinical about a solid state radio.....the audio doesn't hold a candle to the Hi-Fi quailty audio from my Hallicrafters sitting the other side of me.
My ideal new rig would be solid state throughout except for audio amplifier, which should be tube based for rich warm audio.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Two Shortwave Broadcast Giants Do Battle
In a rematch of the Cold War, VoA South America Service, and Radio Habana Cuba, appear to have battled over the 6180 khz frequency. While the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) acknowledge the rights of Radio Habana Cuba to the frequency, the esteemed Voice of America/Radio Marti, who broadcast nearer and nearer to the RHC assigned frequency, seem to have caused so much interference that RHC has had to move it's English language service to a higher portion of the spectrum.
Glenn Hauser, who has for many years performed a great service for Shortwave Listeners by publishing guides to what can and has been heard from which part of the world and at what frequency and time, weighed in on the subject on many internet mailing lists. Glenn, although appearing to be right, launched a personal attack on Prof. Arnie Coro, of Radio Habana Cuba, who, regardless of politics, has proven to be a great ambassador for the radio hobby.
It's obvious that RHC migrated it's service due to VoA/Radio Marti - but the radio hobby doesn't need someone like Glenn Hauser to hit people over the head with the U.S. flag, especially when we have no idea what Prof. Coro's true political feelings are since he's living and working in a regime where opinions HAVE to be stifled. We are supposed to be about EFFECTING change, not ENFORCING it.
My hat's off to Prof. Coro, for not getting baited into Mr Hauser's attempt at starting a flame war. As a hobby, radio doesn't need this type of thing. Leave that to the internet chatrooms, people.
If you want to help make a change, Mr Hauser, may I suggest that you support:
Foundation for Free Cuba and keep your comments to yourself.
Glenn Hauser, who has for many years performed a great service for Shortwave Listeners by publishing guides to what can and has been heard from which part of the world and at what frequency and time, weighed in on the subject on many internet mailing lists. Glenn, although appearing to be right, launched a personal attack on Prof. Arnie Coro, of Radio Habana Cuba, who, regardless of politics, has proven to be a great ambassador for the radio hobby.
It's obvious that RHC migrated it's service due to VoA/Radio Marti - but the radio hobby doesn't need someone like Glenn Hauser to hit people over the head with the U.S. flag, especially when we have no idea what Prof. Coro's true political feelings are since he's living and working in a regime where opinions HAVE to be stifled. We are supposed to be about EFFECTING change, not ENFORCING it.
My hat's off to Prof. Coro, for not getting baited into Mr Hauser's attempt at starting a flame war. As a hobby, radio doesn't need this type of thing. Leave that to the internet chatrooms, people.
If you want to help make a change, Mr Hauser, may I suggest that you support:
Foundation for Free Cuba and keep your comments to yourself.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Berkley make the worlds smallest receiver
......from a single NANOTUBE!
A nanotube is a carbon nanostructure that can have a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 1,000,000. These cylindrical carbon molecules have novel properties that make them potentially useful in many applications in nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of materials science, as well as extensive use in arcology and other architectural fields. They exhibit extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, and are efficient conductors of heat. Inorganic nanotubes have also been synthesized.
From Berkley's announcement:
"We have constructed a fully functional, fully integrated radio receiver, orders-of-magnitude smaller than any previous radio, from a single carbon nanotube. The single nanotube serves, at once, as all major components of a radio: antenna, tuner, amplifier, and demodulator. Moreover, the antenna and tuner are implemented in a radically different manner than traditional radios, receiving signals via high frequency mechanical vibrations of the nanotube rather than through traditional electrical means. We have already used the nanotube radio to receive and play music from FM radio transmissions such as Layla by Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominos) and the Beach Boy's Good Vibrations. The nanotube radio's extremely small size could enable radical new applications such as radio controlled devices small enough to exist in the human bloodstream, or simply smaller, cheaper, and more efficient wireless devices such as cellular phones."
More information can be seen here:
Berkley.edu
A nanotube is a carbon nanostructure that can have a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 1,000,000. These cylindrical carbon molecules have novel properties that make them potentially useful in many applications in nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of materials science, as well as extensive use in arcology and other architectural fields. They exhibit extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, and are efficient conductors of heat. Inorganic nanotubes have also been synthesized.
From Berkley's announcement:
"We have constructed a fully functional, fully integrated radio receiver, orders-of-magnitude smaller than any previous radio, from a single carbon nanotube. The single nanotube serves, at once, as all major components of a radio: antenna, tuner, amplifier, and demodulator. Moreover, the antenna and tuner are implemented in a radically different manner than traditional radios, receiving signals via high frequency mechanical vibrations of the nanotube rather than through traditional electrical means. We have already used the nanotube radio to receive and play music from FM radio transmissions such as Layla by Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominos) and the Beach Boy's Good Vibrations. The nanotube radio's extremely small size could enable radical new applications such as radio controlled devices small enough to exist in the human bloodstream, or simply smaller, cheaper, and more efficient wireless devices such as cellular phones."
More information can be seen here:
Berkley.edu
Friday, July 4, 2008
Not just for old men........
The epitome of a ham is the Old Man . Whenever I have a conversation about the "scanner" I sometimes have with me (2m HT, hi hi!) with someone where I work, I keep getting. "I thought ham radio was for fat old men with nothing better to do".
Not so, people, not so. Although, you could be forgiven for thinking that, if you've only ever seen middle-aged men on TV news programs where the neighbors bitch about the size of the tower next door, or how the "lines" on their TV spoil the O'Reiley Fact(fiction)or on Foxed Noose every night. If a youngster has ever been to a Ham and Computer Fest for the computers, they're usually sorely disappointed at the general age of the people there and the computer gear. No uber Pentiums or Intel beasts running multiple cores on multiple CPU's, no cool cyber-chicks or hax0r bA8eZ, but only 286's and 386's, with the ubiquitous 640x480 VGA graphics. Not only are the fest-ers old, but their computers are just as out of date to the non-ham or the fashion geek.
While ham radio is predominantly a male sport (come on, contesting *is* a sport!), there are some YL's out there too. Not just the YL's from the Russian YL Society, looking for green cards or an all-expenses-paid trip to the land of Uncle Sam (sorry Russian YL's, I know not *all* of you fall into that category), but there are also normal (if anyone who plays radio can be considered "normal", myself included) young ladies out there too, who even hold influential positions within our very own national organization, the ARRL. Take Katie, W1KRB, for example. A YL on a mission - to drive up new members, and apparently an HF amplifier or two ;)
Not only isn't she an old grey haired overweight male, but she's a General in the hobby (so she's apparently pretty smart - watch out Russian girls). Apparently though, according to her vlog, she wears pink slippers when she runs the station overnight, but we can forgive her that slip of femininity. Can't we????? I myself have a pink shirt, I could deal with it.... ;)
So, if you're a boy scout of 10, a retiree of 70, a banker, the best player on your high school football team, a lawyer, doctor, or professional geek, watch out - because the next person to answer your CQ might be a nurse, a cheerleader, a beautician, or someone who does other "womens" jobs. Yes OM, your QSO might, just might, if you're very lucky, be a WOMAN young enough to be your granddaughter. If you're fortunate enough to run into this situation, remember to put your masculinity aside for a while, and just show some respect. No one cares about the size of your mast.
Not so, people, not so. Although, you could be forgiven for thinking that, if you've only ever seen middle-aged men on TV news programs where the neighbors bitch about the size of the tower next door, or how the "lines" on their TV spoil the O'Reiley Fact(fiction)or on Foxed Noose every night. If a youngster has ever been to a Ham and Computer Fest for the computers, they're usually sorely disappointed at the general age of the people there and the computer gear. No uber Pentiums or Intel beasts running multiple cores on multiple CPU's, no cool cyber-chicks or hax0r bA8eZ, but only 286's and 386's, with the ubiquitous 640x480 VGA graphics. Not only are the fest-ers old, but their computers are just as out of date to the non-ham or the fashion geek.
While ham radio is predominantly a male sport (come on, contesting *is* a sport!), there are some YL's out there too. Not just the YL's from the Russian YL Society, looking for green cards or an all-expenses-paid trip to the land of Uncle Sam (sorry Russian YL's, I know not *all* of you fall into that category), but there are also normal (if anyone who plays radio can be considered "normal", myself included) young ladies out there too, who even hold influential positions within our very own national organization, the ARRL. Take Katie, W1KRB, for example. A YL on a mission - to drive up new members, and apparently an HF amplifier or two ;)
Not only isn't she an old grey haired overweight male, but she's a General in the hobby (so she's apparently pretty smart - watch out Russian girls). Apparently though, according to her vlog, she wears pink slippers when she runs the station overnight, but we can forgive her that slip of femininity. Can't we????? I myself have a pink shirt, I could deal with it.... ;)
So, if you're a boy scout of 10, a retiree of 70, a banker, the best player on your high school football team, a lawyer, doctor, or professional geek, watch out - because the next person to answer your CQ might be a nurse, a cheerleader, a beautician, or someone who does other "womens" jobs. Yes OM, your QSO might, just might, if you're very lucky, be a WOMAN young enough to be your granddaughter. If you're fortunate enough to run into this situation, remember to put your masculinity aside for a while, and just show some respect. No one cares about the size of your mast.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
You never know......
After telling his contacts to look him up if they were ever in England, THIS happened:
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Simple "foxhole" radio made from junk that you can find around your home
I built several "foxhole" type radios, but this one is probably the simplest I've seen, and works fairly well in the middle of the AM broadcast band. This guy does a good job at explaining it, so first time kit builders should be able to make one in about 10 minutes:
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Build your own Transceiver designed for PSK31
Amazing small PSK31 Transceiver for use with a PDA or laptop. A really great explanation of PSK31, I learned a lot from the article. Loaded with circuit diagrams and really useful information on the digital mode.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Rest In Peace, Heathkit. Long Live DZ Kits!
After 20 + years of waiting, there is finally a kit company to rival Heathkit. No, I'm not talking about Elecraft, even though they make nice kits, they're not really comparible with Heathkit in it's heyday. But then, along came DZ Kits only days ago apparently, when they announced the DZ Sienna.
The chassis is modelled after classic Heathkit construction methods, and the claim is that the build Instructions and step-by-step construction diagrams are a rival to the gold standard that Heathkit set in the great beyond.
I won't go into the price, but let's just say that for what you get, it's comparable to the Elecraft pricing scheme. Although definitely not a Boatanchor, its reminiscent enough to make me want to buy and build one.
More info for those brave enough (and rich enough) to buy one, can be found HERE
Vintage rack
Ok, not my entire vintage shack, just the National rack I picked up in the summer, all painted up with semi-restored Hallicrafters SX-24, restored Gonset GSB-100. and Homebrew way-beyond-legal-limits roller inductor tuner. The round thing mounted to the left hand side (that you can barely see) is a hard-to-find 52 ohm Ohmite Antenna Resistor (dummy load) rated at 100W. For those interested, the headphones are 1929 General Electric high Z and work great with the receiver.
The black box you can see underneath, is the dual P3 1000 Pentium rackmount server that performs the digital modes at the shack by way of a Homebrew "rigblaster" that I can't take credit for, as it was purchased from another Ham, N8ST, - website here. The gentleman concerned can custom manufacture an isolation box/matching circuit for high Z applications, and does a smashing job.
What you can't see: 2KW Copper Drake low-pass filter, Johnson 3KW T/R switch, at the back of the setup.
Still to come: Heathkit station, Kenwood station, and other various Homebrew items. Enjoy
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Winter Field Day
After being made aware of SPAR and Winter Field Day 2008, I was anxious to take part. However, life has an annoying habit of getting in the way whenever I try to do something on one of my 2 days off each week, and nothing gets done. Same with Winter Field Day. Didn't get my car back from the shop before it got dark, and didn't get my newly constructed 2 meter beam up on the side of the house, so wasn't able to contribute "remotely" from my field - ie, my back yard, as an O operator.
I hope everyone who worked to make Winter Field Day a success, will take great pride in the fact that they're keeping our hobby alive.
GL OM'S ES 73 DE W3DBJ E E
I hope everyone who worked to make Winter Field Day a success, will take great pride in the fact that they're keeping our hobby alive.
GL OM'S ES 73 DE W3DBJ E E
Monday, January 7, 2008
Homebrew God
We've all heard and I'm sure tried homebrewing at some point (not the type of homebrew that rots your teeth, or makes you blind), but making your own gear from kit or from scratch like a good friend of mine (take a bow, Tony), who I hate for his circuit design skills. While I'm no fan of transistors *hiss* I want to have the same skill where I can look at an IC other than a 555 and immediately think of a use for it!
Anyway, this guy here is more along the lines of an artist. If he was homebrewing, it would be 100 proof. If he made wine, he would use only use the finest grapes, and you'd have to mortgage your house to buy a case. In short, this man is GOD.
In a pitiful attempt at worship, I'll let the video speak for itself:
Now humbly bow before his presence.....
Thank you
Anyway, this guy here is more along the lines of an artist. If he was homebrewing, it would be 100 proof. If he made wine, he would use only use the finest grapes, and you'd have to mortgage your house to buy a case. In short, this man is GOD.
In a pitiful attempt at worship, I'll let the video speak for itself:
Now humbly bow before his presence.....
Thank you
Sunday, December 30, 2007
A word on Boatanchors
I love boatanchors and boatanchor collectors. Recently though, it has come to my attention that some early 80's rigs are now being called "boatanchors". Sorry to say people, unless you can literally stop your boat from moving by throwing the Japanese transistorized box over your hull, it ain't a BOATANCHOR. Last time I checked, a real boatanchor weighs in at almost the size of a small cow, and has the same propensity for gravity to act on it when you try to pick it up.
Unless you get a hernia just looking at it (like a BC-610 mammoth transmitter) then it's not a boatanchor. It's just another KenYaeIcoWood.
'Nuff said.
*Hallicrafters, Gonset, early Heath gear are all boatanchors. Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, are not. If that made you cry, go away :D
Unless you get a hernia just looking at it (like a BC-610 mammoth transmitter) then it's not a boatanchor. It's just another KenYaeIcoWood.
'Nuff said.
*Hallicrafters, Gonset, early Heath gear are all boatanchors. Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, are not. If that made you cry, go away :D
A big WTF to ARRL
Ok ARRL, as a member who has been reading the QRZ Forums WTF is up with the latest bandwidth limitation proposal, and why, after fighting against it for years, are you trying to shove it up the FCC's nose????
1) WTF makes ARRL think this is a good idea?
2) WTF would happen to AM'ers on the lower bands?
3) WTF would happen regarding experimentation of modes yet undiscovered?
Come on ARRL......WTF?!?!?!?!?!?
1) WTF makes ARRL think this is a good idea?
2) WTF would happen to AM'ers on the lower bands?
3) WTF would happen regarding experimentation of modes yet undiscovered?
Come on ARRL......WTF?!?!?!?!?!?
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