Show Notes

Featured Topic

• Feedback from Jonathan Rhoades KD2HBV
  • I’m trying to figure out how to tune a homebrew dipole antenna using the swr readout on my qrp rig (zBitx).  Thought if I’m interested in this, perhaps others are, and maybe it would fit into your short topic list.
• What Is a Dipole?
  • A dipole is simply a wire antenna fed at its center, with two equal-length halves extending in opposite directions. It’s a balanced antenna — symmetrical around the feedpoint. To be resonant, it needs to be a half-wavelength long at its operating frequency. The formula: length (feet) = 468 ÷ frequency (MHz). That gives you sizes ranging from about 16 feet on 10 meters all the way to 260 feet on 160 meters.
  • Resonance matters because it puts the antenna’s impedance in a range compatible with common coax feed lines — but resonance isn’t strictly required; an antenna tuner can compensate for dipoles that are longer or shorter.
• What is SWR?
  • Standing Wave Ratio (SWR)
  • When RF power travels down a feed line toward an antenna, some of it gets radiated — but if the antenna’s impedance doesn’t match the feed line’s impedance, some power bounces back toward the transmitter. That reflected wave and the forward wave interact, creating a pattern of high and low voltage/current points along the feed line called standing waves.
  • SWR is simply the ratio of the peak voltage to the minimum voltage of that standing wave pattern. A perfect match = 1:1 SWR (no reflected power). Higher ratios mean more mismatch and more reflected power.
• What is zBitx?
  • The zBitx is a highly compact, all-mode, all-band Software Defined Radio (SDR) transceiver designed for portable and QRP (low-power) amateur radio. Very compact in size, it measures 5.5 inches x 3 inches x 1.25 inches, and weighs 250 gms/9 ounces!
  • It covers the 80M to 10M bands, and runs digital modes like FT8 natively.
  • The zBitx is built by HF Signals and powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero, running open-source sBitx software that allows for future software upgrades.

Announcements & Feedback:

• Announcements:
  • Support the show!  
    • Support us via Patreon, Paypal, Merch, Sharing the Podcast via Social Media, and Rating Us in your Podcast Application!
  • Taking a break from recording for a few weeks!
    • Due to Bill doing that whole Boy Scout Jamboree thing, we’re going to skip recording for a few weeks.  Mark your calendars - July 19th and 26th are definitely out, and likely August 2nd.  Don’t panic… we’re still around, and Bill will tell us about his Jamboree adventures on the next episode (which will be #124 - typically our “featured topic” episode) after he gets home!  NOTE:  Bill MAY decide to record a podcast from Jamboree… only time will tell.
  • Memorial Service for Russ, K5TUX
    • There will be a memorial service held for Russ at our home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri on November 1, 2026.  Everyone is welcome!  If you’d like to join us, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll send you more info!
    • Facebook event page: https://lhs.fyi/mem
    • Comments, questions, etc: [email protected]
  • Special Note for this episode:
    • Bill will be gone for the next few weeks to the Scouting National Jamboree, and they are always needing folks to interact with the kids through the K2BSA.  They will be operating HF on 40M – 10M, D-Star on REF033A, EchoLink on JOTA-365, and more as time, conditions, and staffing allowed.  SO, if you hear them on the air… please take a minute to chat with the lucky camper!  Bill has posted a great list of questions to ask the campers on the K2BSA website https://lhs.fyi/M1
• Feedback:
  • Email from Ray Franz, WB0SMZ
  • I just listened to a podcast of yours from a few years ago.  Podcast 537 for Qlog ham logging software.  I have it installed on Linux Mint and enjoy the software a lot. But I have noticed an issue with my installation.  The time shown for a qso is incorrect and I cannot find a solution.  I have a digital clock in UTC on my desktop so I can reference UTC time at any time.  What I found is this example:
    • Linux local time in the lower right corner is 05:34.
    • UTC TIME on my digital clock is 00:34.
    • Qlog time for current qso is 12:35 AM
  • Would you have any ideas for how I could get Qlog to log qsos is UTC time? Windows programs like Genlog, Dxlog and others default to UTC. Otherwise I love Qlog for general purpose logging. I installed from Software app on Linux Mint.

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In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT and Ed Durrant DD5LP to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief, and the episode's feature is a Taste of Ham Radio Friedrichshafen.

We would like to thank Frank Westphal (K6FW), Ken Delap (KX9U), Reggie Waller (G6YAJ) and Pete Weston (2E0DED) and our and monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

• Germany Likely to Get Full 4 Metres Band Back
• Eyeball-to-Eyeball Off-the-Air QSO Party
• Canada Reviewing Policy on Antennas, Towers
• Researchers Create Space 'Wall' to Weaken Solar Storms
• YOTA CAMP Region 1 - Austria July 2026
• RSGB Offers RFI Workshop Using SDRPlay at This Year's Convention
• OSCAR LOCATOR Web Generator Turns Live Elements Into Printable Tracking Sheets

Ham College episode 141 is now available for download.

General Exam Questions Part 2.
G1B – Antenna structure limitations, good engineering and good amateur practice, beacon operation, prohibited transmissions, retransmitting radio
https://hamcollege.tv

Download
YouTube

Key Topics Covered:
Antenna Structure Limitations: Discussion of FAA/FCC registration requirements for towers, with a focus on height (3:40–6:00).
Beacon Operations: Explanation of beacon purposes, such as observing propagation (8:09–10:18), power limits (typically 100 watts PEP), and frequency allocations (e.g., 28.2–28.3 MHz on 10 meters) (22:48–26:48).
Transmission Rules: Rules regarding one-way transmissions, the prohibition of encryption (with specific exceptions for control signals), and the use of procedural signals like Q-codes (10:18–14:28, 18:57–20:00).
Legal & Operational Standards: Guidelines for state and local government regulation of antenna structures (15:26–16:56) and the definition of good engineering/amateur practice, which falls under FCC oversight (26:51–28:43).
International Communication: Rules regarding contacting amateurs outside of FCC jurisdiction (20:17–22:45).

Looking at this historic photograph brings back a flood of memories from my own time in the Signal Corps. It shows WAVE operator Virginia L. Scott in March 1943, sitting in the Code Room of the U.S. Navy Radio School in Madison, Wisconsin.

WAVE operator Virginia L. Scott in March 1943, sitting in the Code Room of the U.S. Navy Radio School in Madison, Wisconsin.

The photograph, catalogued in the National Archives as 80-G-431533, captures an ordinary phase of the highly technical work carried out by the WAVES during the Second World War. Seeing her at that workstation with her telegraph key, headphones, and operating table under the glare of direct lighting, I can almost hear the familiar rhythm of CW ringing in my own ears. It is a language of its own, and as an amateur radio operator who loves sending and receiving Morse code, I know exactly the kind of deep focus she is holding in that frame.

During World War II, the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service stepped up to fill critical roles so that men could be sent to combat zones. Virginia Scott was part of that groundbreaking wave of female personnel who took on demanding technical jobs in the Navy. As someone who has served in military communications, I have immense respect for the structured training and standardized procedures these women had to master.

Radiotelegraphy was the primary transmission tool of the era, the absolute lifeline of naval operations across vast and unforgiving oceans. Long before digital uplinks, it was the sheer skill of the operator that pushed the message through the static.

Her hand rests on that bug key in a way any seasoned Morse code operator would recognize immediately. Sending messages via CW is an art form that requires strict physical and mental discipline. You have to maintain a fluid, consistent rhythm so the operator on the other end, perhaps dealing with heavy interference on a ship thousands of miles away, can copy the signal without error. Scott is entirely focused on executing her message while maintaining the standard posture required by her training. It reminds me so much of the pride we took in the Signal Corps, ensuring every dit and dah was sent with perfect clarity. Dealing with secure information meant there was absolutely no room for sloppy sending.

This specific photograph was originally taken by the U.S. Navy for internal use, but it captured something so profound that painter John Philip Falter used it as a direct reference for a Navy recruitment poster. His painting faithfully reproduced the layout of the scene, turning a moment of routine operational work into a powerful piece of public communication. For anyone involved in the history of communications, and certainly for a fellow CW enthusiast like me, this photo represents a concrete example of how vital these women were. They kept the frequencies alive and proved that the steady hand of a skilled operator was an essential weapon in winning the war.

Here is one of the paintings based on this photograph, and served as a recruitment poster for the WAVES program.

This “It’s a Woman’s War Too! Join the WAVES” poster by John Falter was produced around 1942 as a World War II recruitment tool for the United States Naval Reserve.

This “It’s a Woman’s War Too! Join the WAVES” poster by John Falter was produced around 1942 as a World War II recruitment tool for the United States Naval Reserve. The WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) was established in July 1942, allowing women to serve in the Navy in non-combat roles, such as radio operators and clerical staff. Artist John Philip Falter was a well-known American painter who created numerous propaganda posters and Saturday Evening Post covers, often featuring realistic portraits.

Show Notes

Topic Wheel

• Musical Instruments
  • (the Haygood’s harp thing I mentioned can be seen here: https://lhs.fyi/LU (YouTube) 

This Weekend in Hedonism

• Cheryl’s Recipe Corner
  • Mom’s Macaroni Salad
  • Description:
    • My mother made this macaroni salad for any BBQ, outdoor holiday (like Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day) and since yesterday was the 4th of July in the US, it seemed like the perfect time to drag out this recipe and dust it off.  Everyone loved this salad, except for me because of being a super picky eater growing up.  BUT, when I got older, I discovered it was very tasty, and now folks request that I make it for get-togethers.
  • Ingredients
    • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
    • 4 large hard boiled eggs, (3 chopped; 1 sliced for garnish)
    • 1 cup finely diced onion (any type of onion is fine, red adds color, though!)
    • 3 stalks celery, finely chopped
    • 1 cup diced red bell pepper (optional)
    • 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish (or chopped sweet pickles)
    • 2 cups creamy salad dressing (Miracle Whip or mayonnaise; I grew up with mom using Miracle Whip, but it’s still very good just using Mayo)
    • 3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
    • ¾ cup white sugar (less if you’re using Miracle Whip, which is already very sweet)
    • 2 ¼ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ teaspoon celery seed
    • Paprika
  • Directions
    • Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
    • Add elbow macaroni and cook for 8 minutes, until al dente. Drain, and set aside to cool. (do not rinse!)
    • In a large bowl, combine macaroni, eggs, onion, celery and red bell pepper.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the salad dressing, pickle relish, mustard, white sugar, vinegar, salt and celery seed. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
    • Cover and chill for at least 1 hour (overnight is better).  Lay egg slices on top and sprinkle with Paprika before serving
  • Notes:
    • If you’re not a fan of fresh celery, leave it out… but definitely use celery seed to give it that celery boost (it makes the salad).
    • The diced red peppers are optional as well, but it does add color and texture.  I don’t typically use them… but green will work just as well, if you want to have peppers in the salad.
    • I always add a splash of sweet pickle juice to my salad, and typically leave out the sugar (I do taste-test as I’m making the dressing, to make sure that the sugar level is appropriate; you want it sweet, but not “candy sweet”)
    • Dijon mustard can also be used, but I like using the bright yellow mustard.
    • If you’re not familiar with Miracle Whip, it’s a sweet version of Mayo.  Russ hated Miracle Whip (and I have grown out of wanting it on sandwiches and such, partially because I didn’t buy it due to Russ’s dislike), so mayo is perfectly fine to use.  BUT, you will want to add a bit of sugar to the mayo to help get the dressing to an appropriate sweetness.
• Cheryl’s Mixed Drink Corner
  • Blueberry Mojito
  • Description:
    • Summer calls for refreshing drinks, and this is one of my favorites!
  • Ingredients
    • 1 1/4 cups blueberries (about 8 ounces) 
    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 1/4 cup mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
    • 2 limes, quartered
    • 1 cup silver rum
    • 1 cup sparkling water 
  • Directions
    • In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of the blueberries, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, and 2 tablespoons water to a simmer over medium-low heat. Cook, breaking up the blueberries with a potato masher or wooden spoon and stirring occasionally, until syrupy, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and press through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl. Let cool at room temperature for 15 minutes or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
    • In a large pitcher, muddle the mint leaves and the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar with a muddler or wooden spoon until the mint is bruised and fragrant and the sugar starts to dissolve. Add the lime wedges and continue muddling until the limes are juiced. Stir in the blueberry syrup, rum, and sparkling water. 
    • Divide the remaining blueberries among 4 tall glasses. Fill them with ice and pour in the blueberry mojitos. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint.
  • Notes:
    • You can use fresh or frozen blueberries for this.  Or substitute any berry (Blackberry, Strawberry, Raspberry… or a mix of berries) you’d like.  No need to defrost the frozen berries, just toss them in the saucepan with the sugar and water and simmer as directed.
    • If you’d like a non-alcoholic version, leave out the rum and add more sparkling water or a lemon-lime soda (like Sprite, Starry, etc)
    • If you’re not a mint fan, you can swap with basil or lemon balm. Just don’t skip the muddling step to release all that fresh flavor.
    • If you’ve not heard the term “Silver Rum” before, it’s the clear rum you find on the shelves in the liquor store.
    • The syrup is useful for things beyond alcoholic beverages. Drizzle it over pancakes or waffles, stir it into lemonade or iced tea, or spoon it over vanilla ice cream. It also mixes nicely into yogurt or sparkling water for a fruity treat.
• Russ’s Drink Corner (now hijacked by Cheryl - and probably occasionally by Bill!)
  • Item: Ironroot Harbinger
  • Description: The Ironroot Republic Distillery (aka Likarish Family Distillery - started by mother Marsha and sons Robert and Jonathan) first opened to the public in 2014. One of 27 distilleries (and growing) on the Texas Whiskey Trail, Ironroot utilizes heirloom corn varietals from local farms to add a unique Texas flavor to their spirits.  Harbinger is their flagship bourbon which is a cask-strength, non-chill filtered, over-proof sipping bourbon that, as their first release, was the herald of things to come at Ironroot.
  • Details:
    • Region: Distilled at Ironroot Republic/Likarish Enterprises - Denison, Texas; 
    • Info: 2018 Edition; 27 Months Aged
    • Mashbill: A mix of 90% Heirloom Texas Corns: Purple Corn, Bloody Butcher Corn, Flint Corn, non-GMO Yellow Dent Corn.  10% Texas Rye
    • ABV: 57.5% ABV/115 proof
    • Color: Dark Amber
    • Nose: Vanilla. Cooked brown sugar with a hint of Maple Syrup. Texas Corn – it’s odd, sweet/sour twang. Orange marmalade, and cherry
    • Taste: Extremely oaky.  Weird pie crust taste (bitter, almost).  Light cherry taste. Baking spices, cinnamon, cloves.  Bitter coffee (which could be affecting the pie crust taste, adding to the bitter).  Mild Rye heat, but not overwhelming.  In an odd way, it really tastes like a poorly made cherry pie (light on the cherries) with a cup of old, extremely strong coffee.  BUT, it works.
    • Finish: Short to medium length. Lingering Texas Corn. Brown sugar. Light cherry. Very slight hint of orange. Toasted Oak. Oily (the mouthfeel on this specific Bourbon is unlike others I have tried that have had an oily complexity).
    • Cost: $65 (only available in Texas, AFAIK, because they have some weird liquor laws)
    • Score: 91 - The bottle is a fair price; the taste (although odd, and not terribly smooth) is interesting - in a good way.  A drop of water did seem to cut the “funk” a bit and changed the taste profile (brought out a touch more of the orange).
    • Note: IMO, Texas is far too hot for a smooth bourbon; all of them we have tried have been “eh” to “okay” to “good”… but none have been great.  All the extreme heat does is make the whiskey over-oak far too fast before the ethanol can be tamed and the more subtle flavors of the wood and distillate can come together.  The day we visited Ironroot (July 2018) and toured the rickhouse (which was in a metal warehouse) it was UNBEARABLY hot (I think the themometer on the wall said 120 degrees).  We were only in that area about 5 minutes because it was so overwhelming.  But if the whiskey is baking in temps like that for several months out of the year (I used to live in Dallas, which is 75ish miles from Denison - Texas weather is not for the weak!), it’s going to end up producing a whiskey that has some “funk” to it.  Places like Tennessee and Kentucky have more distinct seasons… cold winters, hot summers, mild spring and fall.  Texas just tends to have varying degrees of heat… with the occasional ice storm thrown in for good measure.
• Bill’s Whatever Corner
  • Item: Jowler Creek Beaver Blend 2020 - Red Wine

Announcements & Feedback:

• Announcements:
  • Support the show!  
    • Support us via Patreon, Paypal, Merch, Sharing the Podcast via Social Media, and Rating Us in your Podcast Application!
  • Memorial Service for Russ, K5TUX
    • There will be a memorial service held for Russ at our home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri on November 1, 2026.  Everyone is welcome!  If you’d like to join us, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll send you more info!
    • Facebook event page: https://lhs.fyi/mem
• Feedback:
  • @PaulGriffith on YouTube Episode 620 Comments:
    • I like Avocado Bacon Lettuce Tomato on whole wheat, and sometimes as a wrap.
  • Patrick Barkey N9RV Shared WRTC from Lee G0MTN
    • The special callsigns to be used in WRTC 2026 will be revealed near the end of the Opening Ceremony around 18.00 UTC on Thursday 9th July. They will be published on the home page of https://www.wrtc2026.org immediately afterwards. With thanks to Bill W9KKN, an update to the SuperCheckPartial files to include these callsigns will also be made available at that time. https://www.supercheckpartial.com/
    • Site builds have commenced. A team of volunteer site builders met for training on Saturday to build the first site, and then split into groups to complete the 50 site builds in the coming days. This is progressing well - great work. See more at: https://www.wrtc2026.org/2026/07/05/site-builds-commence/
    • The World Radio League (WRL) online scoreboard dedicated page is available at https://worldradioleague.com/wrtc  During the contest the YouTube commentary feed will be visible on this page, but in its place now is an explainer video showing how to get best use of the available data.
    • Reminders: There will be daily YouTube TV shows starting Wednesday 8th July at 16.30 UTC, as well as the contest livestream itself which can be viewed separately from WRL. Go to YouTube here to subscribe and be notified of these  https://www.youtube.com/@WRTC2026/streams
    • Please get on the air to support the event. Submit IARU HF Championship logs as normal https://contest-log-submission.arrl.org/ which will support the adjudication process. Chaser awards will be available from https://www.wrtc2026.org/wrtc-2026-competition-awards/
    • WRTC Information: https://lhs.fyi/LT (WRTC 2026 Main Page)
  • Updates since 621 our featured topic of OscarWatch.

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Once again, I am in the middle of teaching a Technician license class and I notice that some of the exam questions seem off target. I look at the exam through the lens of “what does a licensee need to know to get started at the Technician level?” My approach is more pragmatic than purist. ... Read more

The post How to Fix the Technician License appeared first on Above Average Terrain.