jeudi 18 avril 2024

• Automatic Roger Beep for VHF/UHF Contests
  Technical Reference/Homebrew This project details an automatic roger beep circuit for VHF/UHF contests. Built around a Microchip PIC microcontroller, the design detects PTT (Push-To-Talk) activation and generates a brief tone upon release, mimicking a "roger beep" to signal the end of (...)
  
  

mercredi 17 avril 2024

• Mini Whip - Active HF Antenna
  Antennas/Active The author investigated electric field antennas and achieved promising results with a shortened active whip antenna (30 cm). The findings suggest that at LF, active whips function primarily through electric field capacitance (...)
  
  
• CCXD Award
  Operating Aids/Awards The CCXD Award (The Century Club of eXtreme difficulty is one of the most difficult awards to achieve. You are required to operate your home country from 100 DXCC countries. Founded in 2013, awards certificate is still awaiting (...)
  
  

lundi 15 avril 2024

• Vertical Dipole Array for 20-17-15 Meters
  Antennas/Portable This article explores the evolution of antenna choices for DXpeditions, focusing on the shift from mono-band VDAs to a multi-band solution. It details the design and construction of a lightweight, versatile 20-17-15m VDA, utilizing readily available materials like fishing rods (...)
  
  

dimanche 14 avril 2024

• Top Amateur Radio Websites - Issue 2415
  Telescopic Fiberglass Antenna Pole Support Method, Full size 80m End Fed Half Wave Antenna, 4m Tall Vertical Dipole for 20m , ShortwaveDB Map, MorsePractice, LogConv, FISTS Log Converter,
  
  
• TX7W Raivavae, Austral Islands
  DX Resources/DX Peditions/2024 DXpeditions DX Pedition Austral Islands by Jeff Martin – K5WE, Craig Boyer – W5CCP April 2024
  
  

samedi 13 avril 2024

• VDA Antenna for 30m
  Antennas/30M This project documents the construction and enhancement of a 30m Vertical Dipole Array (VDA) antenna inspired by Remco 7QNL article. Initial design utilized an 18m Spiderbeam pole and a 4m boom. Improvements included a lighter boom structure using fishing rods and a revised coaxial (...)
  
  

vendredi 12 avril 2024

• A portable 3 element 6m Yagi
  Antennas/6M/6 meter Yagi Antennas A small Yagi antenna for camper van. It is made of aluminum tubing, breaks down for storage, and works well for communicating with others. He built it in an afternoon and it gets good signal. The antenna is lightweight and can be packed up to fit inside his van (...)
  
  

jeudi 11 avril 2024

• QRP Cluster
  DX Resources/Clusters QRP self spotting Cluster, where every QRP broadcasting enthusiast can announce on which frequency they are working, in which mode, or with what equipment and power they are working.
  
  

mercredi 10 avril 2024

• QSL Card creator
  Software/QSL This webpage allows you to create custom QSL cards (confirmation of radio contact) as PDFs for printing. You can personalize them with images and information. The cards are standard size (5.5" x 3.5") but can be adjusted slightly for easier printing on regular paper. You'll need (...)
  
  

mardi 9 avril 2024

• K4SWL Antenna Plus
  Antennas/Portable This project details building a multi-band antenna for park activations. The author constructs a random wire antenna with a 9:1 UnUn for improved performance. Winding the toroid core proved challenging, but the completed antenna shows promising results in initial tests with an (...)
  
  

lundi 8 avril 2024

• Beverage Remote Switch
  Technical Reference/Antenna Switch The author describes building a remote switch box to control the direction of two reversible Beverage antennas. The switch uses a buried cable and relays to select the desired antenna direction from the shack. The design is simple and uses common (...)
  
  

dimanche 7 avril 2024

• Top Amateur Radio Websites - Issue 2414
  DIY EMC/RFI Mains Filter for a Clean Shack, G4WIF End Fed Half Wave Antenna , Antennas for QRP Operation, Innovative 2m to HF Converter, Exploring the Spectrum From HF to UHF Frequencies, Boondock Echo 2 way ham radio recorder, Building an Enhanced APRS IGate with Debian 12 and Raspberry Pi, (...)
  
  
• An Overview of Beverage Receiving Antennas
  Antennas/Beverage This article explores Beverage antennas, a type used for low-frequency radio reception. Despite the mystique, they are relatively simple wire antennas placed near the ground. Their key benefit is improved signal-to-noise ratio by rejecting unwanted signals. While lengthier (...)
  
  

samedi 6 avril 2024

• Repairing a dead Kenwood TS-850S
  Radio Equipment/HF Transceivers/Kenwood TS-850 The author fixed a friend's Kenwood TS-850S radio, which suffered from Capacitor Plague, a common problem in 1990s electronics where capacitors leak and damage circuit boards. The CAR board, responsible for generating signals, was especially (...)
  
  

vendredi 5 avril 2024

• Multi-Band End-Fed Antenna Design for Limited Space
  Antennas/End-Fed This document details the construction of a multi-band end-fed antenna, suitable for situations with limited space for larger antennas. The design utilizes a 1:49 to 1:60 impedance transformer to match a half-wave wire antenna fed at one end. Compared to a traditional dipole, (...)
  
  

mercredi 3 avril 2024

• Reversible 40 Meter Moxon
  Antennas/40M The author wants a compact, switchable antenna for 40-meter ham radio. They compare 3 designs: rectangle, short-tipped W6NL, and T-hat. All work well electrically, but mechanics matter for a large antenna. The rectangle needs strong support, while the T-hat is sturdier with (...)
  
  

mardi 2 avril 2024

• Beverage Transformers for HF Receiving Antennas
  Antennas/Beverage This FAQ covers building and buying transformers for loop-on-ground and Beverage antennas. Building one uses ferrite cores and thin wire. Buying is an option, with the DX Engineering BFS-1 being recommended. These transformers isolate the antenna from the cable to prevent (...)
  
  
• 40 meters band beverage antenna
  Antennas/Beverage The author describes his experience building and using a Beverage antenna for the 40-meter band. Despite encountering some challenges, the antenna offered some improvements in receiving stations compared to a 3-element inverted Vee antenna. The Beverage antenna showed a (...)
  
  
• The Reversible BOGs
  Antennas/Beverage The author struggled with receiving antennas on his property. After a standard Beverage on Ground (BOG) antenna failed, he built a Reverse Beverage on Ground (RBOG) using telephone cable. He details construction and testing, finding the RBOG outperformed other antennas in (...)
  
  
• Reversible RG6 Beverage Antenna
  Antennas/Beverage The author describes building a reversible Beverage antenna for low-band receive applications. He details the construction process, challenges faced, and initial performance testing. The antenna uses coaxial cable and transformers for switching direction. Overall, the author (...)
  
  
• Beverage Lightning Protection
  Antennas/Beverage The article describes adding lightning protection to Beverage antennas, which are long wires susceptible to lightning strikes. The author reviews common lightning protection circuits and discusses their components. They then detail their design based on existing methods, (...)
  
  
• Reducing RFI from PoE Devices
  Technical Reference/Radio Frequency Interference/Noise Reduction Hams can be annoyed by noise from PoE cameras and access points. These devices and their long cables act like antennas, picking up and spreading unwanted radio signals. By wrapping ferrites around the cable will reduce this noise. (...)
  
  

lundi 1er avril 2024

• FunCube Dongle HF Upconverter: Expanding Reception Range
  Operating Modes/Satellites/CubeSats This article describes an HF upconverter for the FunCube Dongle Pro. Designed for radio amateurs, the converter extends reception capabilities to lower frequencies (0 Hz to 30 MHz) by mixing them with a higher oscillator frequency (100 MHz). This translates (...)
  
  

dimanche 31 mars 2024

• Creating a Custom IC-705 Paddle Mount
  Radio Equipment/HF Transceivers/Icom IC-705 This article describes a DIY paddle mount for the Icom IC-705 radio. Dissatisfied with the high cost of commercial options, the author builds a mount from sheet metal and scrap materials. Construction utilizes hand tools and readily available (...)
  
  

samedi 30 mars 2024

• Top Amateur Radio Websites - Issue 2413
  Budget-Friendly 5-Element Quad Antenna Design, Budget-Friendly QRP T-Tuner and SWR Bridge, A Guide for Seamless FT8 Operation - Time Sync, Building a Robust PL519 Tube HF Amplifier, GMA Maps, Adapting Standard Headset Mic for Yaesu FT-8900, Portable Efficiency: Building a KX3 (...)
  
  
• QLog
  Software/Logging QLog is a free log book program for Amateur Radio users that works on Linux, Windows, and Mac OS. It's made with the Qt framework and uses SQLite for storing data. QLog tries to keep things easy to use while offering all the features you'd need in a logbook. It's not meant (...)
  
  

vendredi 29 mars 2024

• QSL Card Generator Online
  Software/QSL This app will generate a QSL card design based on the input paramters as a PDF. Fields marked by a * are required, but the rest are optional. The options at the bottom allow you to customise the look and feel of the QSL card. If you would like, you can also download the LaTeX (...)
  
  

jeudi 28 mars 2024

• UniBalun: Lightweight Balun/UnUn PCB for QRP Radios (1:1, 1:4, 1:49)
  Antennas/Baluns The UniBalun is a PCB for building a lightweight antenna transformer (Balun) or impedance converter (UnUn) for low power radios. By soldering jumpers and a toroid core, you can create a 1:1, 1:4 Balun or 1:49, 1:9 UnUn. The latest revision (1.2) includes improved pads and (...)
  
  

mercredi 27 mars 2024

• Build a Lightweight 15m Yagi Antenna: Simple Design for Impressive Performance
  Antennas/15M In this article, Steve G0UIH presents a straightforward guide for constructing a lightweight 15m 3 Element Yagi antenna with impressive performance metrics. With a focus on ease of construction and efficiency, the design boasts a nearly 8.2dbi forward gain and 30db front to back (...)
  
  

mardi 26 mars 2024

• ARJAN-5 5 band SDR
  Technical Reference/Software Defined Radio This project enhances Arjan te Marvelde's uSDR-pico by integrating a waterfall display feature. By adding an ILI9341 240x320 2.4" TFT display and modifying the software, the goal is to provide a panadapter to the existing transceiver. Initially (...)
  
  

lundi 25 mars 2024

• Icom 706MK2G Repair
  Radio Equipment/HF Transceivers/Icom IC-706 After years of reliable performance, a 26-year-old Icom 706MK2G exhibited an unusual deviation during FM transmission, with the actual frequency being 10kHz off from the displayed frequency. Additionally, the power meter showed a sharp dip during (...)
  
  

dimanche 24 mars 2024

• Top Amateur Radio Websites - Issue 2412
  Space-Efficient Excellence: Inverted L Multi-Band HF Antenna, WSJT-X Controller, Introduction to HF Packeteering in the Modern Age, Emergency ham radio frequencies, AI Projections for Ham Radio Modes in 2023-2025, Yaesu ATAS-120A Portable Tripod: Enhancing Efficiency, Mapping the Australian (...)
  
  
• 3 Element Quad for 50 MHz
  Antennas/6M A 14.12 dBi gain three elements cubical quad antenna for the six meters band. This Quad Antenna design page include a MMA model available to download and dimensions for each element.
  
  

samedi 23 mars 2024

• Mastering HF Communication: Decoding Space Weather Data
  Propagation/Beginner's Guide The article enlightens radio amateurs on utilizing real-time space weather data to optimize HF communication. Navigating through Hp30 index, MUF, f0F2, and eSFI metrics, it explains their significance in band selection and propagation forecasting. With essential (...)
  
  

vendredi 22 mars 2024

• Build a Simple VHF Dipole Antenna for 2 Meters: A Beginner's Guide
  Antennas/2M This article serves as a beginner-friendly guide to constructing a simple VHF dipole antenna for 2 meters, perfect for novices in the hobby. With an emphasis on affordability and simplicity, it explains the basics without overwhelming technical details. Recommendations for coaxial (...)
  
  

jeudi 21 mars 2024

• Homebrew uSDX TRX
  Technical Reference/Software Defined Radio The Homebrew uSDX SDR TRX is an experimental transceiver primarily designed for CW and Digital modes due to limitations in meeting FCC requirements for SSB. Developed from the QRP Labs QCX, it incorporates advanced SDR features while utilizing an 8-bit (...)
  
  

mercredi 20 mars 2024

• Prevention and Suppression of RF Interference to Audio Systems
  Technical Reference/Radio Frequency Interference In this study, the author builds upon Muncy's research, demonstrating that radio-frequency current on cable shields affects audio systems through the "pin 1 problem" and shield-current-induced noise (SCIN). An enhanced equivalent circuit for (...)
  
  

mardi 19 mars 2024

• Chokes and Isolation Transformers for Receiving Antennas
  Antennas/Receiving Chokes and isolation transformers are essential for receiving antennas to mitigate common mode current, which induces noise and interferes with signal quality. Common mode chokes, formed by winding feedline through ferrite cores, block unwanted current effectively. Proper (...)
  
  

lundi 18 mars 2024

• Measured Data For HF Ferrite Chokes
  Technical Reference/Components/Toroids FT-240 toroids measurements. The data was measured using well-calibrated HP instrumentation. All plots have been adjusted to a frequency range of 1-100 MHz on the horizontal axis and a resistance/impedance range of 10-1,000 ohms on the vertical axis. This (...)
  
  

dimanche 17 mars 2024

• A52CI A52P Bhutan DX Pedition
  DX Resources/DX Peditions/2024 DXpeditions SP9FIH as A52P and SP6CIK as A52CI fm Dochula Bhutan ; 40-6m; SSB CW + digital 19th April till 4th May 2024
  
  
• 6O3T Somaliland 2024
  DX Resources/DX Peditions/2024 DXpeditions DX Pedition to Federal Republic of Somalia 2024
  
  

samedi 16 mars 2024

• Top Amateur Radio Websites - Issue 2411
  Portable Half-Square Antenna, The Squid Pole Wire Antenna Re-visited, 50 MHz 300W Power Amplifier, TX5S Clipperton 2024, TX5S Log Online, Efficient 2-Element Quad Antenna for 2m, Propagation on 630 Meters and 2200 Meters, N1FD Nashua Area Radio (...)
  
  
• Vertical bazooka antenna for the 40m
  Antennas/40M/40 meter Vertical Antennas A quarter wave vertical omni-directional antenna for 7 MHz. Formulas for dimensions in feet and meters are provided. Ideal radial angle is between 35° and 45°. Velocity factor (Vf) varies based on coax (...)
  
  

vendredi 15 mars 2024

• T32EU Online Log
  DX Resources/Logs On-Line log for T32EU DX Pedition to East Kiribati OC 024
  
  

jeudi 14 mars 2024

• A Simple Morse Code Project: The Tiny Keyer
  Technical Reference/Arduino/Morse Code In his journey to improve Morse code skills, the author developed a straightforward device named the Tiny Keyer using Arduino. Tailored for Morse code enthusiasts and ham radio operators, this project utilized the budget-friendly Arduino ATTiny 85 (...)
  
  

mercredi 13 mars 2024

• Ham Radio Frequencies
  Ham Radio/Band Plans This guide explores different radio bands that hobbyists use to talk to each other worldwide. It explains how these bands work and what they're used for. From low-frequency to high-frequency bands, each has its own unique features for people who enjoy communicating through (...)
  
  

mardi 12 mars 2024

• WSJT-X 2.7.0 Release Candidate 4 available
  WSJT-X 2.7.0 Release Candidate 4 has been officially made available to the public. This RC version brings improvements primarily aimed at Fox-mode operators and enhancements to the QMAP companion program.
  
  
• Spectrogram
  Software/Spectrum analyzers Spectrogram, a PC-based audio frequency spectrum analyzer available from Visualization Software, aids ham radio enthusiasts in aligning receivers like Elecraft K2. Versions are downloadable, with an intuitive interface and customizable parameters. Tutorials by (...)
  
  

lundi 11 mars 2024

• T32EU East Kiribati
  DX Resources/DX Peditions/2024 DXpeditions 13th until 27th March 2024, Kiritimati OC 024, CW and SSB and RTTY and FT8 DX Pedition