AmateurRadio.com

Stories you’ll find in our January, 2018 issue:

TSM Reviews: Whistler TRX-1 Scanner
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW

With a lineage that extends back to three generations of Whistler/GRE scanners, this new generation of handhelds continues to build on a proven technology. Despite the steep learning curve getting the hang of operating the TRX-1, Larry notes, “Overall, I have been very impressed with the Whistler TRX-1. It will now be my new travel scanner…If you want to monitor many of the major digital scanner systems used in the U.S, and Canada, then you should seriously consider purchasing the Whistler TRX-1.”

TSM Reviews: Whistler TRX-2 Mobile/Base Scanner
By Bob Grove W8JHD

Operational capabilities of the TRX-2 mobile/base version of the TRX-1 handheld scanner are essentially the same. Bob takes a quick look at the main differences, including peculiarities in programming the TRX-2, which could help you decide which scanner is right for you.

TSM Reviews: Airspy HF+ Software Defined Radio
By Bob Grove W8JHD

Primarily directed toward shortwave and two-meter amateur radio applications, the HF+ offers wide dynamic range, superior sensitivity, low digital noise, suppressed background noise, and good image rejection. Bob is impressed. “Airspy’s noise reduction design is outstanding. Suppression of hiss enhances weak-signal reception on all modes. While noise suppression and clipping methods on competitive products often result in distorted audio, the HF+’s recovered audio remains crisp and clean of such artifacts on all demodulation modes.” Find out why Bob says, “Price vs. performance pushes the HF+ to the top.”

TSM Reviews: Fox Delta 1–60 MHz Antenna Analyzer Kit
By Robert Gulley AK3Q

Robert was intrigued by the Delta AAZ-0217MX antenna analyzer kit as a project not only for himself, but also as a possible club build for his local amateur radio group. It’s an intermediate level ability kit and, while it’s not expected to be as accurate as professional analyzers, Robert notes, “I would say it is doing a good job, and is certainly capable of telling you when there is a problem. In addition to being an interesting kit to build, for around $60 U.S. shipped, it is also a useful piece of test equipment for the shack.”

TSM Reviews: C.Crane Skywave SSB
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL

Always on the lookout for a capable, small, inexpensive, portable shortwave radio, Thomas was keen to put the new Skywave SSB from C.Crane through his real-world tests. It’s certainly got a lot going for it: AM/FM, shortwave, Weather Radio and a scanning Air Band. While, as with any new product, the Skywave SSB had some initial issues, and a higher price tag that other radios in its class, Thomas has a verdict: “It’s going to be my travel radio of choice going forward––it’s essentially a Swiss Army Knife of a travel radio.”

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Long Beach (CA); Tennessee and Miami (FL)

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Back to Basics: A Federal Monitoring Primer

Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
DoD’s VHF High-Band 138-150 MHz: The Hidden Military Aircraft Band

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman NV6H
Winter Fun with European Aero Beacons

Shortwave Utility Logs
Compiled by Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
Sporadic-E: Separating Fiction from Speculation from Fact

Digitally Speaking
By Cory Sickles WA3UVV
Ready – Fire – Aim

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
A Vertical Redeemed!

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
SWLing like it’s 1989!

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
New Year’s Resolutions

World of Shortwave Listening
By Jeff White
Shortwave in Africa – Still Very Much Alive

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
Old Shortwave Voice Still Heard

Maritime Monitoring
By Ron Walsh VE3GO
Remembering Halifax Harbor; Marine Frequency Changes

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
New Year’s Resolutions

Adventures in Radio Restorations
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Harman-Kardon A-260 “Chorale” Stereo Amp

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Wire Antennas Part One: The Dipole

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

Stories you’ll find in our December, 2017 issue:

The Beginning of Sports Broadcasting and Radio’s First Sportscasters
By John Schneider W9FGH

Despite its great advantage of immediacy, radio did not become a dominant news medium until the start of World War II. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, newspaper owners were successful in keeping the press news agencies from selling their services to broadcasters, and radio remained a secondary source for news. But, the reporting of sporting events was another story. Sports and radio were a made for each other like ball in glove, and the country’s broadcasters were quick to capitalize on that advantage from the industry’s earliest years. John charts the rise of sports on American radio.

The Brief and Colorful History of Private US Shortwave Giants
By Richard Fisher KI6SN

In AM radio’s ever-evolving place in broadcasting history, there was a time when U.S.-based AM stations took to the shortwaves, either as standalone broadcasters or as an extension of their AM broadcast band partners. While their popularity soared in the 1970s and ’80s, many have vanished as others carry on.

Powerhouse American shortwave stations, including WRNO, WNYW, WBCQ, KUSW and KNLS, profiled here, had (or have) a substantial worldwide following on the high frequencies. In this 21st Century, many are gone or have changed formats from, say, popular music and news to Christian oratory or other programming. Richard looks back at some of these stations.

Meter Matters: Modern vs. Vintage Meters in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD

What happens when you calibrate that Hickok tube tester at those 150 and 130 voltage specifications or the bias voltages ignoring the line that calls for that ancient 1000 ohms-per-volt meter and just use a digital meter like my very-expensive-when-new Fluke 87 or that bargain Harbor Freight CenTech P37772 instead? Well, the calibration for your Hickok will be off. Those modern meters have a specified sensitivity of 10 megohms. Rich warns that not all that will be off as he examines the use of various meters in vintage radio technology.

TSM Reviews: Yaesu FT-70DR
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV

When an item is released that offers breakthrough technology or more features and benefits than previous models, the price is typically higher. When the price of an item is higher, many tend to hesitate in buying it. Further, economy of scale eventually kicks in, allowing a manufacturer to lower prices a bit, or produce and release additional models with many of the features of the premier version. The FT-70DR (FT-70DE in Europe) is the latest dual-band portable and takes its place in the market with a substantial entry-level feature set, as well as being the most inexpensive portable produced by the “traditional” amateur radio manufacturers—all for a street price of just under $200.

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Interoperability Update; Orange County, Virginia

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)

Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
Introduction to Military Monitoring: VHF Low Band—the Forgotten Military Band

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman NV6H
North Korea Resumes HF “Numbers” Broadcasts

Shortwave Utility Logs
Compiled by Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
The Geminids and Ursids Meteor Showers

Digitally Speaking
Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV
System Fusion II

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
A Vertical in Hospice!

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
AM Band DXing Circa 1964 and Now

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
Heliophysics Research Reveals More About Substorm Mysteries

World of Shortwave Listening
By Rob Wagner VK3BVW
Making Shortwave Audio More Listenable

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
2017 SW Review and New Programming

Amateur Radio Satellites
By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
A Wealth of New Amateur Radio Satellites

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
Primetime Arrives!

Adventures is Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
What’s an “Acoustic Labyrinth?” The Stromberg Carlson 240M

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

Stories you’ll find in our November, 2017 issue:

TSM Reviews: Yaesu FT-891 All-Mode HF+6 100-Watt Transceiver
By Mark Haverstock K8MSH

This month Mark takes a look at the Yaesu FT-891, one of the least expensive 100-watt, all-mode HF+6-meter radios on the market today. Mark finds that, “Its small size and remote head make it perfect for mobile/portable use, and its small footprint fits even on crowded desktops. The larger display is a welcome change, considerably more readable than the tiny ones on the FT-857D and FT-897D.” Mark also notes, “Those who own or have owned Yaesu radios will be used to the menu system, and will appreciate the attempts to provide easier access to some functions.” But that’s not all the 891 has going for it, as you’ll learn when Mark puts his 891on the air.

TSM Reviews: SpyVerter V2
By Bob Grove W8JHD

The earlier version of SpyVerter got a nod of approval from Bob Grove two years ago. But what would he say about this latest version? Spoiler alert! Bob says, “I’ve never changed my mind about the superiority of the Airspy spectrum-displaying receiver to its competitors. Now, with the addition of the previously-missing lower spectrum—virtually down to zero—this is a current leader in computer accessories for radio hobbyists.” In this month’s review he even tells how to use this device to monitor birds, animals and insects in the audio spectrum as well as the sounds of fish in the sea!

TSM’s Annual Scanner Buyer’s Guide
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW

The radio scanner world has been in flux since it began decades ago. And, while the number of manufacturers has shrunk over the years, the capabilities of these electronic marvels have kept pace with the changes. In this survey of all available scanners, Larry writes that, “bare bones, conventional analog-only scanners will run from just under $100. A good analog-only trunk-tracking scanner can be purchased for less than $200 (street price); however, if you need to monitor an APCO P25 Phase I digital trunked radio system, that price quickly jumps to around $400. Add in additional digital modes such as DMR and/or NXDN and APCO P25 Phase II systems and now you are looking at a sticker price north of $500 in most cases.” But, you may not need the latest technology where you live. Find out which scanner is best for your particular location.

Entry Level HF Transceiver Comparison
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV

Are you a Technician class amateur radio licensee, looking to explore what is available in HF transceivers in a price range that won’t break the bank? HF operation requires a little more commitment than VHF/UHF FM gear and, while you can easily pick up a high-quality monoband mobile for under $200 or a dual-band portable in the same price range, HF gear is going to run you a bit more. Considering all that you get in the deal though, it’s still reasonably priced. Cory takes a comparative look at what Alinco, Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu have in the way of 100-watt, entry-level offerings, with a street price of less than $800. With the need for a 20A power supply and simple antenna, a “Kilobuck” budget should certainly get you on the air or perhaps even less.

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Scanning Midwest Utilities’ DMR Services

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
New Kennedy Space Center Trunked System

Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
Who’s Who in the Milcom Radio Spectrum: Monitoring the HF OR Frequencies

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman NV6H
Rethinking HF Emergency Communications

Shortwave Utility Logs
Compiled by Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
The Leonids Meteor Shower

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Antenna Tuner Secrets

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
Cruising the FM Band with a Little Help from the Web

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
The Sun Blasts a Hole in Earth’s Magnetic Shield

World of Shortwave Listening
By Keith Perron
Rich O’Shea: An American DJ in Asia

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
BBC Broadcasts to North Korea; Reach Beyond Australia and Religion on Shortwave

Amateur Radio Astronomy
By Stan Nelson KB5VL
Solar Eclipse VLF Effects

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Cary WB2QMY
2200m/630m: Are You Registered Yet?

Adventures is Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Putting the Spark back into a Sparks-Withington (Sparton 141X)

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Transformations: Getting From X to 50

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

Stories you’ll find in our October, 2017 issue:

October 4, 1957: The Beep Heard Around the World
By Richard Fisher KI6SN

Listening and peering into the night sky on October 4, 1957, hams, shortwave listeners, scientists, military personnel and ordinary citizens became eye and ear-witnesses to an epic moment in human existence—the dawn of the Space Age. Richard has collected the thoughts and memories of those who were among the first to hear and see the original man-made moon, known as “Sputnik-1.” The historic event not only changed the course of human history, but also changed the lives of many of the individuals who heard those first beeps from space.

A Visual Tour of the Tokyo Ham Fair
By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF

In early September, Keith had the distinct honor of being an ambassador for the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) at the big Tokyo Ham Radio Fair in Tokyo, Japan. He writes, “Our mission was to personally invite Japanese hams to join us in Dayton, Ohio, for next year’s big Dayton Hamvention. However, unlike the Dayton Hamvention, which is sponsored by a local (albeit large!) amateur radio club (DARA), the Japan Amateur Radio League (JRRL), the Japanese equivalent of our American Radio Relay League (ARRL), conducts the Tokyo Ham Fair each year.” Keith also visits the Akihabara section of Tokyo known as “Electric Town” and presents a visual tour of both.

TSM Reviews: Digitech AR1780
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL

Regular contributor, Thomas Witherspoon, is always on the lookout for interesting, unheralded shortwave radios. This month he takes a look at the Digitech AR1780, a relatively unknown, inexpensive portable shortwave radio that covers longwave through shortwave, FM and even the Air-band and, while it has some quirks, it has more than a few features in its favor. Find out why Thomas says, “For $129.00 AUD (roughly $103 USD), you’re getting a full-featured radio that is, by and large, a pleasure to operate.”

The European DX Council at 50
By Chrissy Brand

It was 50 years ago, in 1967, that the first conference of the European DX Council was held. The EDXC, an organization of leading DXers, is still going strong after all these decades. This is testified by the continued success of its annual conference and through the projects and information sharing that it still carries out. Chrissy reports on this year’s conference held in August in the Finnish city of Tampere.

Tran-Equatorial Propagation: Pillows in the Sky
By John Piliounis SV1OCS

Most radio communications at VHF frequencies happens between different locations in line-of-sight propagation and, more rarely, either through the E or F2 layers’ ionospheric refraction during periods of intense sunspots, or through tropospheric ducting. But Mother Nature has provided VHF communication links that also happen between symmetrical locations to the geomagnetic equator. Propagation of this type has been named Trans-Equatorial Propagation (TEP). John looks at the theory behind this phenomenon and the historic experiments to prove its existence to skeptics.

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Post Falls and Kootenai County, Idaho

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Eclipse, Weather Provide Scanner Action

Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
Introduction to Military Monitoring:
What Equipment do you need to Monitor HF MilComms?

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman NV6H
Summer 2017: Nature Gets the Last Word

Shortwave Utility Logs
Compiled by Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
A DIY Hardware Store 2-Meter GOTA/EMMCOM Antenna

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
The Twists and Turns of Amateur Radio Rotators

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
Monitoring Emergencies via FTA Satellite

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
A Last Hoorah?

World of Shortwave Listening
By Andrew Yoder
AM and SW Pirates: Then and Now, Plus: Global HF Pirate Weekend

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
BBC Program Notes for October and More

Maritime Monitoring
By Ron Walsh VE3GO
Nothing Remains the Same Except Change!

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern and Cary WB2QMY
Get it in the Log!

Adventures is Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Re-converting a Radio for the Summer of ’42 (Motorola 50P for Pontiac)

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Getting High: Antenna Effects and Oddities at UHF and Up

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

Stories you’ll find in our September, 2017 issue:

Icom IC-R8600 All-Band All-Mode Software Defined Receiver
By Bob Grove W8JHD

To say that Bob Grove, a longtime radio reviewer, is impressed with this new offering from Icom, is a severe understatement. Bob writes, “With the release of this Software Defined Receiver, analog receiver design is relegated to history. Never before have so many features and options been offered in one general-coverage receiver. No wonder it comes with a 93-page, 8 x 10-inch instruction manual!”

Electrical Pioneers: The Life and Times of Guglielmo Marconi and Ernst Alexanderson
By Georg Wiessala

Regular TSM contributor, Georg Wiessala, explores the lives of two of radio’s legendary pioneers. He notes, “It is hard to imagine in our own age just how groundbreaking, confusing and inspirational the work of the early radio pioneers was in theirs, at a time when even the Eiffel Tower became a radio mast. However, our era of borderless communication and technological advance carries with it echoes of the ‘globalization’ of earlier times, as the 19th Century turned into the 20th.”

Rocky Mountain Ham Radio Inc., the Dayton Hamvention 2016 Club of the Year
By Wayne Heinen N0POH

RM Ham, as Rocky Mountain Ham Radio, Inc., is known, is a different kind of amateur radio group—it’s not a club where you fill out an application, pay your dues and join. You can only become a member by participating with the group and over time, if you pitch in on a regular basis, you get an invitation to have your name added to the roster. The exclusive nature of this club is actually its greatest strength. Wayne explains the incredible things this group of hams have accomplished and how your club can benefit from their organizational skills.

Impact of the FCC’s TV-Band Repack
By Mike Kohl

Despite the reported $1.75 billion set aside by Congress to pay winners in the spectrum auction, there are many surprises awaiting the FCC that perhaps should have been expected in advance. Not the least of which forces the FCC to go back to congress to ask for enough money to affect band repack changes. Radio stations, low-power TV translators, even amateur radio clubs will be affected by changes mandated by the FCC. Mike explains the process currently changing the landscape of America’s TV band that will continue taking place over the next three years.

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Dubuque, Iowa, and RACOM

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Portable WHCA Trunked Systems

Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
Twentieth-Century Military Monitoring—This isn’t Your Daddy’s Milcom Anymore

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman NV6H
Tracking the Buzzer: The World’s Most Popular Radio Station?

Shortwave Utility Logs
Compiled by Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
Honey, I Repurposed the Loop!

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Are Hams Well-meaning Scofflaws?

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
The Ups and Downs of Antenna Installations

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
Historic Event in Cycle 24: the GLE

World of Shortwave Listening
By Jeff White
Shortwave Broadcasters Meet on the West Coast of North America for the First Time

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
North vs. South Korea on Shortwave; CFRX, BBC Programming and More!

Amateur Radio Satellites
By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
Spotlight on Chinese Amateur Radio Satellites

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Cary WB2QMY
Gear up for a New Season!

Adventures is Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
The “Moving Coil” Radio: National NC-100 (RCK Version)

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Antenna 101: A Nuts and Bolts Review

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

Stories you’ll find in our August, 2017 issue:

Rocky Mountain Ham Radio Microwave Backbone and DMR Repeater Network
By Wayne Heinen N0POH

The Rocky Mountain Ham Radio deployed analog repeater sites all along the Front Range of Colorado and had been linking them via the Internet for years. Due to the cost and reliability factors of commercial Internet, the club had been looking for a ham radio spectrum-based transport method for their IP needs which have been steadily growing over the years. What was needed was a digital link that could be created between the various mountain top sites, an IP based network of their own design that would be controlled by the club. Wayne explains how they did it.

Intro to Scanning Today
By Bob Grove W8JHD

The requirements of scanner listeners have been changing since the very first radios capable of tuning the public service bands were manufactured. While some analog scanners available today are still useful, many listener in more urban areas need significant upgrades to their listening posts to continue listening. Bob explains which radios are best for each technology today.

TSM Reviews: W4OP Loop Antenna
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL

Last year Thomas caught a bug: the National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) bug. He found NPOTA the perfect excuse to play radio outdoors. From August to December 2016, he activated ninety-one NPOTA National Parks running QRP (low power). To do so he needed a stand-alone antenna small enough to set up easily, rugged enough to do so many times and capable enough to make contacts from some very remote spots. The W4OP loop filled the bill.

Using Weak Signal Modes for Propagation, RFI, and Antenna Analysis
By Robert Gulley AK3Q

Digital mode operating has changed everything for many hams looking for a way around the disappearing solar cycle. WSJT-X weak-signal software, which includes JT65, JT9, MSK144, JT8 and other specialized transmission modes for moonbounce, meteor scatter and aircraft scatter has extended two-way amateur communications on bands that otherwise might not be used. Robert has also discovered that these programs are an excellent resource for identifying and studying propagation, Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and antenna characteristics.

US TV Channel Assignments: Part 3
By Mike Kohl

This third installment in the series on the repacking of the TV band continues with the identification of significant communities within each designated marketing area (DMA). Markets numbering from 151 to 248 are covered this month.

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Winnebago County (IL), Broward County (FL)

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman
Watching the Eclipse with a Radio

Shortwave Utility Logs
By Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
Honey, I Shrunk the Loop

Digital Voice
By Cory Sickles WA3UVV
Feels Like the First Time

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
RG-6: It’s Still a Steel

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
Connection Complications: Troubleshooting 101

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
Coronal Mass Ejection Science

World of Shortwave Listening
By Rob Wagner VK3BVW
The Use and Abuse of SINPO

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
Radio from Four Continents via Shortwave and Internet

Amateur Radio Astronomy
By Stan Nelson KB5VL
New Callisto Devices

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
630-Meter Band Plan Takes Shape

Adventures in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Heathkit HG-10B VFO

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Stealth: A Philosophy and a Methodology

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

Stories you’ll find in our June, 2017 issue:

TSM Reviews: Yaesu FTM-100 DR: Amateur Friendly Digital Operating
By Mark Haverstock K8MSH

In 2013, Yaesu developed System Fusion, a format that retains backwards compatibility for analog along with FDMA-based digital communications. With the FTM-100DR, Yaesu has managed to create an affordable radio that integrates both analog FM and their C4FM digital modes into one package that accommodates digital users, while still keeping the analog FM crowd connected.

Early Radio Broadcasting: Publicity Stunts and Unusual Broadcasts
By John Schneider W9FGH

In the early years of radio, broadcasters were eager to explore the frontiers of the medium and found themselves in a continual series of “radio firsts,” similar to modern attempts to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. To attract listeners, early stations sought new ways to make “radio history” by transmitting something that had never been heard before—weddings, broadcasts at sea, in the air, even under the water. In many cases such broadcasts served no purpose but to entertain and fascinate.

Using Weak Signals Software to Reach for the Sky
By Robert Gulley AK3Q

Many have no doubt heard of renowned physicist Joe Taylor K1JT, or at least JT65 or JT9 software. But weak signal mode software has progressed leaps and bounds since the introduction of these modes only a few short years ago, thanks in part to some great contributions from people around the world. The WSJT-X suite of software represents the outgrowth of these modes, and its latest incarnation, v. 1.70, has added even greater capabilities.

FCC Rewrites some Rules for CB/FRS/GMRS/MURS and Amateur Radio
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR

The FCC has recently released its Report and Order (R&O) regarding amendments to Parts 2, 15, 80, 90, 97 and 101 of the Commissions rules concerning, in part, CB, FRS/GMRS and amateur radio. We take a look at how these rules might affect your operating (spoiler alert: there’s still no sound effects or music allowed on CB!).

TV Band Re-packing Report: New Channel Assignments by TV Market
By Mike Kohl

Information has continued to be released by the FCC on the repacking of TV channel frequencies across the US. This has given Mike the opportunity to create some listings by TV market on what the local spectrum should look like at the end of the process. In this installment, TV markets are listed starting with the largest number of viewers in each market. New York, Los Angeles and Chicago top the listings, and this month we cover from Market #1 to #57 (Richmond, Virginia).

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Details on Whistler’s Legacy Scanner Upgrade Offer

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Federal Use of Wireless VoIP

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman
Historic NSS Call Sign Returns to the Air

Shortwave Utility Logs
By Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

Digitally Speaking
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV
The DV Landscape in Xenia, Ohio

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
TW Antennas and 6-Meters: Part Two

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Six-Meter Success: You Don’t Need Much!

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
Over-the-Top and Cord-Cutting: Part 2

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
Summer Tropospheric Propagation and VHF DX

World of Shortwave Listening
By Andrew Yoder
Pirate Shortwave Radio Mysteries

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
Changes in International Shortwave Broadcasting

Amateur Radio Satellites
By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
Portable Amateur Radio Satellite Antennas in Action

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
Next Up: 2200-Meters

Adventures in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Restoring a Heathkit DX-60 Transmitter

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Closer to Daylight: Antennas at VHF and UHF

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.