mardi 29 mars 2022

• Amateur radio in the news: WTWW broadcasting to Ukraine, ME couple listen to Ukrainian invasion on SW radio, Fillmore SkyWarn
  East Boothbay couple listening to Ukrainian invasion on shortwave radio [WISCASSET, ME] An East Boothbay couple is hearing about the Russian invasion of Ukraine a little sooner than most. For the past month, Al and Shirley Sirois have been glued to HF (high frequency) or shortwave radio (...)
  
  

lundi 28 mars 2022

• 2 product FAILs
  I recently purchased two items that I’ve been disappointed with. They not amateur radio products, fortunately, but they are radio-related, so I thought I’d blog about them. The first product to disappoint are the Amazon Echo Buds, 2nd Generation. I purchased these when they went on sale for $80. (...)
  
  

dimanche 27 mars 2022

• Amateur radio in the news: Hams tune into ionospheric waves, Australian radio hams help out after floods
  Ham Radio Operators Tune In to Giant Waves in the Earth’s Ionosphere The very upper layer of our atmosphere is electrically charged and sometimes the electrons up there clump up and form giant waves larger than Texas that zip around the Earth faster than a jet plane! A team of researchers from (...)
  
  

jeudi 24 mars 2022

• New amateur radio license fees going into effect April 19, 2022
  The $35 licensing fee that’s been talked about for more than a year now will finally be going into effect on April 19, 2022, according to Public Notice A-22-307A1, dated March 23, 2022. It says: This Public Notice announces that the new application fee rates for the Wireless Telecommunications (...)
  
  

mercredi 23 mars 2022

• ARRL actually starting to do things for clubs
  If any of you have read my blog over the years, you know that I’m often critical of the ARRL’s efforts to help affiliated clubs. Even so, hope springs eternal. Last year, they hired Mike Walters, W8YZ, and he’s actually started to do things to help clubs. For example, the ARRL has finally started (...)
  
  
• ARRL actually starting to do things for clubs
  If any of you have read my blog over the years, you know that I’m often critical of the ARRL’s efforts to help affiliated clubs. Even so, hope springs eternal. Last year, they hired Mike Walters, W8YZ, and he’s actually started to do things to help clubs. For example, the ARRL has finally started (...)
  
  

vendredi 18 mars 2022

• From my inbox: how transistors work, texting device, DEFCON talks
  Understanding Basic Electronics The Long Island CW Club has turned into much more than a place for hams to learn Morse Code. It really is an online amateur radio club. Their Zoom rooms host talks on a wide variety of topics, and their mailing list has become a forum for less experienced hams to (...)
  
  

jeudi 17 mars 2022

• Booklet outlines WRC 23 activities
  The International Telecommunication Union, ITU, has just released their WRC-23 booklet. Available in six different languages, It can be freely downloaded from https://www.itu.int/wrc-23/booklet-wrc-23/. The booklet lists 44 resolutions that WRC will be addressing during the conference, which (...)
  
  

mardi 15 mars 2022

• How diverse is your club? How diverse should it be?
  One of the knocks on amateur radio is that it’s not very diverse. While that’s not completely true, I do think that we could do a better job of being more inclusive. Being more diverse and inclusive could well be a way to strengthen already good clubs and help failing clubs stave off extinction. (...)
  
  

lundi 14 mars 2022

• QSLs: VU2LID, WB4IT
  Here are the latest QSLs received for my collection of QSLs from stations whose calls spell words. I love this QSL from Brian, WB4IT. The yellowhammer is the state bird of Alabama, and what a handsome bird it is. As the card says, Alabama is known as “The Yellowhammer State.” Brian also writes, (...)
  
  

mercredi 9 mars 2022

• Amateur radio in the news: Erie (PA) ham charged with making bomb threats, British hams urge Ukrainians to stay safe,
  Erie man charged with airing bomb threats, bogus weather reports waives misdemeanor counts An amateur radio operator in Erie accused by county authorities of using a radio emergency frequency to broadcast threats and false weather reports waived two misdemeanor charges to court on Thursday (...)
  
  

samedi 5 mars 2022

• FCC to start looking at receiver specs
  As hams, we are aware—or should be aware—of the spectral purity requirements spelled out in the Part 97 rules (§ 97.307). The purpose of these rules is to prevent unintentional interference. Well, as the recent brouhaha over the 5G rollout here in the United States has pointed out, it’s not just (...)
  
  

jeudi 3 mars 2022

• ARRL now accepting applications for the 2022 Teachers Institute
  Got this from the ARRL earlier today…. We are now accepting applications for the 2022 Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology! This program provides teachers with tools and strategies to introduce basic electronics, the science of radio, space technology and satellite communications, weather (...)
  
  

mercredi 2 mars 2022

• Amateur radio in the news: Ukrainians jam Russian military frequency, Columbiana HS students learn STEM skills with amateur radio, ham radio still connecting people
  Ukrainian, Russian radio enthusiasts battle over alleged Russian military frequency The frequency of a suspected Russian military shortwave radio broadcast, known as the “buzzer” for its recognizable repeating channel marker, has become the battleground for rival Russian and Ukrainian radio (...)
  
  

lundi 28 février 2022

• ICQPodcast #371: vintage radios, Greek stamps, Avro Lancaster special event
  In this episode, I joined Martin Butler (M1MRB), Edmund Spicer M0MNG, and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss: Enthusiast’s Radio Collection in the Press New Postage Stamps Feature Amateur Radio in Greece Amateur Radio – A Life-Long Technical Hobby Avro Lancaster 80th Anniversary of the 1st operational (...)
  
  

dimanche 27 février 2022

• Beta version of the 2022 No Nonsense Tech Study Guide now available for free download
  The beta version of my 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide is now available for download. I’ve made a few changes that I think might make the study guide even better: Each question now includes all the false answers at well as the correct answer. The correct answer is bolded to (...)
  
  

samedi 26 février 2022

• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: Rules and Regulations
  Part 97 definitions, interference, repeater frequency coordinators, and the ITU The Amateur Radio Service is a service regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC regulates and enforces the rules which govern the service in the United States T1A02 [97.1] Which agency (...)
  
  

lundi 21 février 2022

• Amateur radio in the news: Province supports ham club, radio romance, MN QSO Party
  Canadian hams should check out this source of funds for their club projects. Province supports the New Westminster Amateur Radio Club. The New Westminster Amateur Radio Club is among the 250-plus not-for-profit organizations across B.C. that are receiving community gaming grants to support (...)
  
  

dimanche 20 février 2022

• You never know what you’re going to find….
  I was puttering around the shack yesterday, putting some stuff away and throwing out stuff that I’ve either finished with or will probably never get back to. In doing so, I ran across this: It’s hard to read, but the date of the 15 wpm endorsement is “JUN 28, 1972, almost 50 years ago! I […] The (...)
  
  

vendredi 18 février 2022

• Amateur radio videos: (tr)uSDX
  So, a couple of days ago, a guy in our club posted to our mailing list that he was thinking of starting a group buy for the (tr)uSDX transceiver and included a link to the video below: Here’s a description of the little transceiver: The (tr)uSDX is a 5-Band / Mulitmode QRP Transceiver in Pocket (...)
  
  

mercredi 16 février 2022

• Ham radio was hot at HamCation 2022
  Last weekend, I got to attend the Orlando HamCation. I actually had been planning to go with my wife, Silvia, for several years, but Covid put my plans on hold. This year, my employer, ARDC, actually paid me to go! The first thing that I’ll note is that the weather was just perfect. Friday, the (...)
  
  

mercredi 9 février 2022

• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: Operating Practices
  FM Operation Most Technicians purchase a VHF/UHF FM transceiver as their first amateur radio. This type of radio allows them to use repeaters and participate in public-service events. T1F09 [97.3(a)(40)] What type of amateur station simultaneously retransmits the signal of another amateur (...)
  
  

dimanche 6 février 2022

• Amateur radio in the news: ham profiles
  This edition of “Amateur radio in the news” features profiles of hams just doing their thing. I like this. I think that news stories about amateur radio focus too much on emergency communications, which as we all know, is only a part of amateur radio……Dan Paul Brandt: The POTA guy STEUBENVILLE, OH (...)
  
  

samedi 5 février 2022

• QSLs: W0GAS, AE4AN
  Here are two more QSLs from stations whose call signs spell words. I worked both these stations in last week’s K1USN SST. GAS is an all-time, new one for me! The post QSLs: W0GAS, AE4AN appeared first on KB6NU's Ham Radio (...)
  
  
• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: Station equipment
  Receivers, transmitters, transceivers, and transverters In the early days of radio, radio amateurs used separate receivers and transmitter units. Nowadays, however, most use radios that combine function both as the transmitter and receiver. These unit are called transceivers. T7A02 What is a (...)
  
  

mercredi 2 février 2022

• From my inbox: State QSO parties in 2022, Japanese government supports amateur radio, FRN number suspicion
  I am on a lot of amateur radio email lists. Many of these contain tidbits that perhaps don’t warrant an entire blog post, but that I feel would be interesting to my readers. Here are three of them… State QSO parties starting up again This weekend, the Vermont and Minnesota QSO Parties will be the (...)
  
  
• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: Station Setup and Operating Controls
  Station setup When setting up an amateur radio station, choosing the radio is the most important consideration, but you must also choose a wide range of accessories, such as power supplies and microphones. In addition, how you connect all these pieces of equipment together is important for your (...)
  
  

lundi 31 janvier 2022

• Operating notes: blogging, Winter Field Day, tonight’s Slow Speed Test
  The other day I had a QSO with Glen, W1ND. We have worked before, but this time, he mentioned that he had started a blog: the W1ND QRP Blog. Check it out. He has some interesting posts on his end-fed, random wire antennas. He’s had much more success with these than I have. He also mentioned […] (...)
  
  

samedi 29 janvier 2022

• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: Amateur Radio Station Safety
  Electrical safety BE SAFE! When operating or working on amateur radio equipment, it’s possible to come into contact with dangerous voltages and currents. People have died working on high-voltage circuits. Because it would be a shame to lose a single person, it’s important to know how to be safe (...)
  
  

jeudi 27 janvier 2022

• FreeDV Day, February 19, 2022, 1700Z
  This was recently posted to /r/amateurradio. I’ve always wanted to try FreeDV, and it’s supposed to be relatively easy to do with my Flex 6400. This seems like a good opportunity for me to get this all working and make some contacts……..Dan If you’ve ever wanted to try out digital voice on HF, check (...)
  
  

mardi 25 janvier 2022

• More QSLS: W1ASP, KD2GUT
  I like this card because it spells a word two ways: ASP and WASP (if you ignore the number). Jason notes, I’m a new CW op. Thanks for sticking with me. I started to lose you to QSB, and I for to send your RST. I got a little nervous and botched your call. I’m […] The post More QSLS: W1ASP, KD2GUT (...)
  
  

dimanche 23 janvier 2022

• Amateur radio in the news: VOA museum a historical marvel,
  Voice heard ’round the world: Voice of America museum near Cincinnati a historical marvel WEST CHESTER, Ohio — Imagine, if you will, a voice so strong that it shakes the very foundations of global tyranny. In the early days of World War II, a group of Americans, including President Franklin (...)
  
  

samedi 22 janvier 2022

• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: Antennas and feed lines
  Antennas and feed lines Antenna types The most common, and perhaps the simplest, antenna is the half-wave dipole antenna. As the name suggests, it measures close to one half wavelength from one end of the antenna to the other. Because half-wave dipole antennas can be quite long—a 40m half-wave (...)
  
  
• Trade magazine articles: Op amps, microcontroller measures frequency and period, antenna basics
  All three articles in this post are from Electronic Design….Dan Op Amps for Linear Designs: Back to the Basics Op amps are the basic building blocks for much of linear circuit design. You probably learned about them in college and even designed some products containing an op amp. As an (...)
  
  

jeudi 20 janvier 2022

• It’s nice to have friends
  I got this card in the mail a couple of days ago. Bob is actually a high-school (and college) friend who I’ve kept in touch with over the years. It’s nice to have friends like Bob. I sent Bob one of my QSL cards noting that I owe a beer or a coffee next time […] The post It’s nice to have friends (...)
  
  

mercredi 19 janvier 2022

• Funny stuff from /r/amateurradio
  One of the reasons I like the subreddit /r/amateurradio are the funny things that are posted to it. Here are three of the latest. This was posted with the headline, “Those ReCaptcha’s are getting out of hand ;-).” I thought this one was really funny, too. I’m not a Baofeng hater, but you gotta (...)
  
  
• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: Radio wave characteristics
  Here’s the third chapter from the 2022 version of the No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide……….Dan Frequency, wavelength, and the electromagnetic spectrum Radio waves are what amateur radio is all about. Amateur radio operators generate them and send them off into space. Then, we capture (...)
  
  

lundi 17 janvier 2022

• Slow-Speed (CW) Tests: I’m a believer
  The CWops have this thing they call the CW Test, or CWT. CWTs are held every Wednesday/Thursday, and include four, one-hour sessions at times that favor different geographic areas. They’re not exactly contests, and some CWops think of them as practice sessions for the “real” contests, but people (...)
  
  

samedi 15 janvier 2022

• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: Electronic components and circuits
  Here’s the second chapter from the 2022 version of my No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide. Resistors Resistors are components that, as the name implies, oppose the flow of current. We use them to control how much current flows in a circuit. The higher the resistance, the lower the (...)
  
  

jeudi 13 janvier 2022

• You could be the next IARU Monitoring System coordinator
  I’ve written before about how seriously IARU Region 1 seems to be monitoring for intruders in our ham bands. I’ve also wondered why Region 2 didn’t have its own monitoring system. Well, now IARU R2 is getting serious about recruiting a Monitoring System Coordinator. Here’s the posting: IARU R2 is (...)
  
  

samedi 8 janvier 2022

• 2022 No Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide – Electrical Principles
  Units and terms: current, voltage, and resistance; alternating and direct current; conductors and insulators Figure 1 shows a simple electric circuit. It consists of a voltage source (in this case a battery, labeled V), a resistor (labeled R), and some wires to connect the battery to the (...)
  
  
• NCVEC makes big changes to Tech question pool
  The 2022 version of the Technician Class question pool is out. The National Council of Voluteer Examiner Coordinators have really made quite a few changes to the question pool this time. They removed 64 questions, added 51 new questions, and updated 136 questions. There are now a total of 412 (...)
  
  

vendredi 7 janvier 2022

• Want to learn antenna modeling? EZNEC is now free!
  This might be a good time to learn antenna modeling. EZNEC, the very popular antenna-modeling software written by Roy Lewallen, W7EL, is now FREE! The EZNEC website notes: EZNEC IS NO LONGER FOR SALE. IT IS FREE (see below) THERE WILL BE NO SUPPORT OR REFUNDS The introduction of EZNEC Pro/2+ v. (...)
  
  
• NASA features ARISS in 2021 recap
  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is featured on NASA’s recently published web page, Best Space Station Science Pictures of 2021. The first photo (see below) shows NASA astronaut Shannon Walker and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Soichi Noguchi pose for (...)
  
  

jeudi 6 janvier 2022

• ARRL surveying Field Day participants
  From ARRL… The ARRL Programs and Services Committee is seeking input from stations and groups that participated in ARRL Field Day 2020 and 2021 and has posted a survey. The committee said the survey results may help shape the development of Field Day rules for 2022 and beyond. The survey has (...)
  
  
• Fast cars and superheterodyne radios
  This isn’t strictly amateur radio, but I thought you’d find this amusing… In the evenings, when I’m not on the air or fooling around with some electronics project, I like to watch movies from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s on Amazon. They have a great selection. On New Year’s Eve, I watched The Mob (...)
  
  

mardi 4 janvier 2022

• ICQ Podcast Episode 367 – Ham Radio Tips and Tricks 2022
  In Episode #367, I joined Martin Butler (M1MRB), Edmund Spicer M0MNG, Ed Durrant DD5LP, and Leslie Butterfield G0CIB to discuss the following topics: Georgia Club Donates License Manuals to Local Schools This is a good story, but they donated ARRL license manuals, not my study guides! Norway is (...)
  
  

samedi 1er janvier 2022

• Hamvention accepting nominations
  It appears that Hamvention 2022 is a go, and it is time to get your awards nominations in. If you know an individual or club that deserves recognition for their efforts on behalf of amateur radio and want to nominate them for a 2022 Hamvention award don’t delay. Nominations for the Technical (...)