LHS Episode #579: Commodore OS Vision Deep Dive
Hello and welcome to the 579th installment of Linux in the Ham Shack. In this episode, the hosts take a look at the gaming-focused Commodore OS Vision Linux distribution. Topics include installation, configuration, features, software focus, included emulators, ham shack readiness and much more. Thanks for listening and have a great week.
73 de The LHS Crew
Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].
Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 381
Meshtastic Event firmware for Dayton Hamvention 2025
Last year’s mesh chaos? We remember 😅 This year, we’re ready for it.
Meshtastic
Zero Retries Digital Conference 2025 call For papers
Technical papers are sought for the in-person inaugural Zero Retries Digital Conference (ZRDC).
Zero Retries
Announcing 2025 award recipient: Sebastian Delmont (KI2D)
Ham2K Portable Logger, a groundbreaking project, has been selected as the winner of the 2025 annual Amateur Radio Software Award.
Amateur Radio Software Award
The sun’s 100-year “Gleissberg Cycle” is waking up
The next few solar cycles could be even more intense.
spaceweather.com
How to process an Earth-Venus-Earth radar return signal
Each transmission was 278 seconds long. This time span was selected because it equaled the expected round-trip time from Earth to Venus and back.
Open Research Institute
What is M17?
Open Source gives you freedom: freedom to enjoy, freedom to innovate, and freedom to use the M17 protocol.
Random Wire
Tornado siren test net
Tracking down maintenance issues during these tests is a small but essential part of emergency preparedness.
W8EMV
Fixing an antenna at the top of a 35-foot tower
The problem: Jim’s antenna wasn’t performing well.
Ham Radio Prep
Ham Radio Day ignites STEM curiosity in Northwest Ohio
Amateur Radio is full of career choices! It can lead you in so many directions.
The Village Reporter
Islanders say they cannot escape the mysterious humming
Islanders in the Outer Hebrides say their lives are being disrupted by a mysterious low frequency humming sound that can be heard day and night.
ICQ Podcast
Video
Inside ARDC: Bdale KB0G on funding the future of Ham Radio
The private foundation quietly reshaping the future of Ham Radio.
Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio
Mobile antenna lift using a linear actuator
For about 50 bucks and a little time, raising and lowering mobile antennas is a breeze.
WB6JWB
10 keys to selling used Ham Radio gear
How to sell used Amateur Radio gear safely and successfully.
Ham Radio Perspectives
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Amateur Radio Weekly is curated by Cale Mooth K4HCK. Sign up free to receive ham radio's most relevant news, projects, technology and events by e-mail each week at http://www.hamweekly.com.
ICQPodcast Episode 455 – Choose the Right Microphone
In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), Martin Rothwell (M0SGL), Frank Howell (K4FMH), Bill Barnes (WC3B) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief and the episode's feature is Choose the Right Microphone.
We would like to thank our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate
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Italian Radio Amateurs can use the 70 MHz (4m) Band until the end of 2025
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New Book Featuring 15 Portable Antennas, Beautifully Rendered
Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].
The “George Batterson 1935 CW QSO Party” – Summary
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The first George Batterson CW QSO Party has concluded and the results are in! The "GB" was introduced to honor George Batterson (W2GB), who along with Bruce Kelley and Linc Cundall formed the Antique Wireless Association (AWA) in 1952.
For those familiar with the AWA's popular '29 Bruce Kelley QSO Party (BK), the GB differs only by the style of transmitters permitted. Transmitter designs as well as the tubes used must have been available in 1935 or earlier and, unlike the BK, the use of crystal-controlled transmitters is not only permitted but encouraged! There are no restrictions on the type of receiver used.
It is anticipated that activity in the GB will continue to grow as more amateurs become aware of it. In spite of terribly poor propagation, the initial GB found 20 participants from both Canada and the USA, making trans-continental contacts on 20m and below. Some of the results and participant's comments are shown below.
One of the most enthusiastic operators was Jake, KC7WXD, near Reno, Nevada. Jake did not let having an output power of just 3 watts spoil his fun!
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Jake, KC7WXD |
A new convert to vintage radio activity, Jake constructed a beautiful Tri-Tet oscillator using an 802 and homebrew plug-in coil forms made on his 3D printer.
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Transmitter details here |
"I had a great time with the inaugural George Batterson 1935 QSO Party! One of the most enjoyable parts of these events is getting to research, plan, and build a vintage transmitter. It's a great opportunity to learn and connect with history. For the GB 1935 event I chose to build a 59 tube powered Tri-Tet transmitter from the 1935 ARRL Handbook. I later switched to the 802 tube (after some minor rewiring) as it was easier on my crystals. For the event, I made QSOs on 80, 40, and 20m. Despite the poor band condx, I had a great time with the new event this year! I got a total of 6 contacts:
80m: WB2AWQ
40m: VE7SL and WB2AWQ
20m: VE7SL, VA7MM, and VE7CNF
I am definitely looking forward to the next event!"
Have a listen to how Jake's 3W on 20m sounded here in VE7 land (the frequency changes are by me tuning the receiver).
Also down near Jake, was Howie, WB2AWQ in Reno, making 5 contacts on 80 / 40 with a MOPA, Hartley and a TNT GB combo. As much as I hunted for Howie, I never managed to catch him on either weekend.
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211B '29 Hartley at 25W - 40m |
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Original 1921 Hartley (80m) with 10s at 25W |
Back in eastern Canada, Lou, VE3AWA held down the fort on 80 and 40, making 11 QSOs with his widely-admired TPTG P-P 210 transmitter as well as a TNT at 10W.
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VE3AWA P-P 210s TPTG |
Although the GB is not presently a 'contest', if it were, W8PU would have to be the top-dog when it came to QSO totals. Gary in Ohio made an impressive 18 contacts, working 90% of the active participants, in spite of the terrible propagation. Gary managed all 3 VE7s on 20m as well as snagging a rare 20m QSO with NE1S!
W8PU's GB arsenal consisted of a MOPA (20W), Hartley (6W), Tri-Tet (10W) and a P-P 59 Jones Oscillator (12W).
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W8PU's P-P 59 Jones |
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W8PU's 20m Hartley uses a 27. It sounds like a Collins! |
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NE1S 160-20m Tri-Tet |
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Larry's beautiful 'Old Buzzard' operating bench |
Tom, WA9CW in WI, had great success with his 80m 6a6 P-P Jones crystal oscillator at 5W out. Working Ohio, Rhode Island, and North Carolina shows that nothing too elaborate is needed to have fun. It seems like the P-P Jones circuit was as popular in the GB as it was back in the 30s!
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WA9CW - 6A6 Jones P-P 80m xtal control |
I think it is time to "create" another TX, one for 20m. It would be great to get some east coast action for the west coast ops."
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WK3A - Jones P-P using a 53 on 80 / 40m |
"I'm attaching my log for the recent George Batterson 1935 QSO Party - with all of one contact. I spent several hours on the air both weekends, and the only contact I managed was with Steve, VE7SL on 20 meters on 4/13. There were plenty of signals on both 20 and 40, but I heard only Steve working the GB.
Honestly, this seems like just one more AWA-style event where contestants are limited to such low power that their signals just don't make it out west to New Mexico and beyond. And limiting transmitters to 1935 or earlier and to 25 watts max of course cuts out rigs using slightly newer 6L6s and 807s which could easily generate at least 5 dB more output.
For me, AWA events generate so few contacts that they really aren't worth the effort. In this GB and the recent JR I made all of one contact each. By contrast, in the last Classic Exchange I logged 49 contacts."Please don't give up on the GB Jim. Conditions were particularly poor out west and hopefully there will be even more activity next time out.
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More details here |
KD8TUR, Dave in OH, made 3 QSOs with his Hartley.
• TX: 1929 TNT Transmitter, Type 10-Y triode, 10W input, 3W RF output, regulated power supply.
• RX: Modern, Yaesu FT-817 portable.
• Peripherals: Power/SWR meter, antenna tuner, band filters, T/R switch, keying interface, straight and electronic keying.
• Antenna: multi-band dipole at 100 feet above ground level.
It was exciting to start off the GB with a QSO on 20m with W8PU at the outset, thank you for the QSO.
Jake, KC7WXD, with his crystal controlled 1935 TriTet was an easy QSO on 20m. Near the end of the first weekend, I squeaked in a 40m QSO with Howie, WB2AWQ, during rapidly declining band conditions.
Locally, QSOs with VE7CNF and VE7SL added to my log on the 160, 80, 40 and 20m bands. VA7MM wrapped up the GB with a total of eleven QSOs of which ten were on the first weekend and one on the second weekend.
Thank you for organizing this first event in memory of George Batterson, W2GB."
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VA7MM's GB setup |
Toby, VE7CNF, also managed 11 contacts on 160 through 20m using his unique MOPA. It's a Colpitt's Oscillator with P-P 45s putting about 4W into a P-P 45s power amplifier. DC input to the amplifier is 25W. It really sounds wonderful on all bands!
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KB0ROB, Harold in MN had 3 QSOs on 80m using his Colpitss MOPA. Although he managed contacts with NC and MD, I never did hear Harold or anyone else on 80 other than locals as conditions here were truly awful.
VE7SL's GB efforts were split into a weekend of crystal control and a weekend of the Hull Hartley. A total of 14 QSOs were made, 9 being on crystal control.The highlight for me was working recent arrival KC7WXD in NV on both 20 and 40, with his newly minted Tri-Tet and working Bruce, WK3A in MD with his little 53 Push Pull Jones on 40m.
For the crystal controlled weekend I used a P-P Jones with 6F6s at about 8W out on 80 and 40m. On 20m I used a Tri-Tet, also with a 6F6, at about 4W out. On weekend two, the Hull Hartley was used on 160-20m.
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P-P Jones used 6F6s |
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Tri-Tet used a single 6F6 on 20m |
Steve McDonald, VE7SL, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from British Columbia, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].
Activating Kaufman Ridge (W0C/SP-081)

Today, Joyce/K0JJW and I activated Kaufman Ridge (W0C/SP-081). This was my 10th activation of this summit and the 8th for Joyce. Kaufman is an easy summit near our cabin, so it is a favorite when we want to do a Summits On The Air (SOTA) activation. I’ve posted about how to activate this summit in the past, but a few things have changed over the years, so this update seems appropriate. Because of the off-trail hiking, we always seem to take a different route each time, but the specific route is not critical. We have learned a few things to avoid on the hike, which are reflected in this post. The one-way hiking distance is about 1.4 miles with 1000 vertical feet.
Getting There
There is no trail and no trailhead. To reach the recommended parking spot, turn south at the top of Trout Creek Pass and follow Windmill Drive (also marked as County Road 318) southeast to San Isabel National Forest. As you enter the forest, you will be on FS318, which has a gate normally closed from Dec 1 to Apr 30. You can still activate the summit when the gate is closed, but you’ll have to hike in on the road.

Pass through the gate going south on FS318 and take a sharp left (almost a U turn) onto FS308. Later, turn right onto a side road, FS308B, which should be marked. Drive a short distance on FS308B until the road is closed to motor vehicles. These roads are easy 4WD and high clearance 2WD will probably work fine. The FS road continues but is closed to motor vehicles at this point. There is a dispersed campsite here, so you may encounter campers. Park here at 38.85979, -105.93318.

The Hike
The hike up Kaufman starts on the old Jeep road, which is easy to follow. Later, this road ends, and the off-trail hiking begins. In the past, we’ve tried just heading straight for the summit (which works), but it can take you into significant downed timber and difficult rocky areas. It is better to head due south, hook around to the west and approach the summit from the east/southeast as shown on the map. This avoids the large aspen grove directly NE of the summit, with lots of downed timber.

There is a medium-sized rock (maybe 2 by 2 by 3 feet) sitting in the open that is a useful landmark to aim for. This waypoint (The Rock) is particularly useful for orienting yourself on the descent. Keep heading south past The Rock and turn slightly southwest toward a ridge that runs NW/SE from the summit. A good place to intersect this ridge is marked as the waypoint Trail on Ridge. Here you will intersect a game trail that runs along the ridge, which you should follow to the summit. This waypoint is also useful on the descent, to let you know when you need to leave the game trail (which continues on SE for a while).
Once you get onto the ridge, you will have a fantastic view of the Collegiate Peaks to the west. A cairn is at the summit with the typical summit register in a jar.
We had a fantastic time today on the summit. Great spring weather, blue sky with a few clouds. We worked a number of stations on 2m and 70 cm: KF0RIG (On Spinney Mountain, W0C/SP-118), KD0MRC, K8QWR, W0XC, K0MGL, K0LTH, W5PYB (mobile), W0BV, K0PF (mobile), and KD0RRD (mobile).
73 Bob K0NR
Waypoints
End of Old Jeep Trail (38.85545, -105.93519)
The Rock (38.85545, -105.93519)
Trail on Ridge (38.84937, -105.94055)
Summit (38.85050, -105.94280)
The post Activating Kaufman Ridge (W0C/SP-081) appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.
Bob Witte, KØNR, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Colorado, USA. Contact him at [email protected].
Ham College 124
Ham College episode 124 is now available for download.
Technician Exam Questions Part 11.
T3B – Electromagnetic wave properties: wavelength vs frequency, nature and velocity of electromagnetic waves, relationship of wavelength and frequency; Electromagnetic spectrum definitions: UHF, VHF, HF.
George Thomas, W5JDX, is co-host of AmateurLogic.TV, an original amateur radio video program hosted by George Thomas (W5JDX), Tommy Martin (N5ZNO), Peter Berrett (VK3PB), and Emile Diodene (KE5QKR). Contact him at [email protected].
Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 380
Yaesu releases FTX-1 series radios [PDF]
HF/50/144/430MHz all mode field and base station transceivers.
Yaesu
IP400 Ichiban – The Big Reveal
An initial production run of 25 IP400 Ichiban units, paired with Raspberry Pi Zero 2 Ws, with the latest software on a MicroSD card, are in production.
Zero Retries
QSO specific F2 visualization
We know the F2 heights all over the world at the time of each QSO.
Copasetic Flow
NOAA 15, 18, 19 end of life announcement
Transmissions will continue for hobbyists.
RTL-SDR
Build a single transistor amplitude modulation & demodulation circuit
With explanation of how it all works.
KM1NDY
What does your contesting keyboard look like?
With most contesting programs the F keys on your keyboard are used for sending specific macros.
VE9KK
Put an old-school BBS on Meshtastic radio
Microsocial media comes to LoRa.
IEEE Spectrum
Are multi-carrier data modes illegal in Amateur Radio?
Organizer of the Amateur Cellular project has a concern about Ham LTE.
Open Research Institute
JARL commemorative station 8K3EXPO at Expo 2025
JARL will promote the event across Japan and the world.
Amateur Radio Daily
Tunnel radio: How signals reach drivers underground
With leaky cables, a look at how motorists stay tuned in during tunnel trips.
RadioWorld
Video
Mount your Ham Radio beam on top of a tree
A fabulous Amateur Radio story 60-feet up.
Ham Radio Perspectives
Understanding HF direction finding
A technical introduction to the three most common methods used in HF direction finding.
Rohde & Schwarz
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