AmateurRadio.com

Here are the featured stories from our September, 2014 issue:

An Inexpensive VHF/UHF Spectrum Analyzer Dongle
By Mario Filippi, N2HUN

Commercial spectrum analyzers can run upwards of several thousand dollars in price, but for those on a limited budget, who don’t require the sophisticated features of high-end analyzers, the RF spectrum analyzer by Nuts About Nets fits the hobbyist’s bill nicely. It has opened up a new world of interest in the types of signals that inhabit the VHF/UHF bands, what they look like and where they appear. Regular contributor to TSM, Mario Filippi N2HUN, takes this spectrum analyzer dongle to the VHF and UHF bands, looking for signals. He notes, “Unquestionably, this is one of the most useful pieces of radio gear I have encountered as a hobbyist in many years!”

The Slow and Unsteady Course of HD Radio™
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR

In the days before Wi-Fi radio, Pandora™, and the many ways people digitally stream audio to their mobile devices, HD Radio was created to combat the first digital threat to over-the-air radio: XM and Sirius Satellite Radio. Six years ago the market was awash in tabletop HD Radio sets ranging in price from $100-600. Now, there’s only one such set: a $52 FM-only radio from Insignia. In the 13 years since its inception, iBiquity, the broadcast consortium behind the HD Radio brand, has seen its product go from “The Next Great Idea” to the question: “Whatever happened to HD Radio?”

Going Mobile Digitally; Connect Systems CS700 Review, and Nifty! Mini-Manuals
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV

In this month’s look at digital amateur radio operating, Cory Sickles WA3UVV, reviews Connect Systems’ CS700 portable UHF digital amateur radio transceiver that boasts 4 watts output, a keypad and more, for a direct retail price of $180. That price is what created the initial buzz, as even a basic Digital Mobile Radio, without any display or keypad, can cost $360 or more. Factor in that the CS700 is supplied with a drop-in charger and free, downloadable, programming software, and you’ll discover why this radio has been such a game changer. We all know that price alone, however, does not guarantee a winner. But Cory found that, with the CS700, the quality and attention to detail was evident from the moment he opened the box and placed the radio in his hand.

TSM Review:

Hardrock 50 Amplifier Kit: Giving QRP a Boost
By Mark Haverstock K8MSH

QRP rigs are simple to build and fun to operate. But, as band conditions deteriorate over the next few years, you may find some need for a boost of power to get those contacts, especially if you’re chasing DX. The Hardrock 50 amp is an economical way to satisfy your urge to build, along with your need for a few dB of added signal strength on all the popular HF bands plus 6 meters. Regular TSM contributor, Mark Haverstock K8MSH, details his experience as he tackled the job of building this amp and putting it to the test on his Elecraft KX-3, a popular all-band, all-mode, low-power transceiver.

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 (12 issues, beginning with the January 2014 issue) is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

Icom 50th Anniversary Limited Edition IC-7850

In the days of phones and tables getting smaller Icom goes big! The limited edition IC-7850 has gold color dials, buttons and strips. The front panel is finished in a clear black and special machined aluminum black and gold tuning tile. It will also carry a special 50th Anniversary number plaque on the top with Mr. Inoue’s signature.

More information: http://nicktoday.com/icom-50th-anniversary-limited-edition-ic-7850/

Why do I need a Software Defined Radio?

You want to receive any kind of radio signals within a huge frequency range of 100 kHz up to 1.7 GHz?

You like to follow ships or airplanes operating around you?

You are an amateur radio operator who want to use SDR technology?

You even want to develop your own radio frequency applications?

You just want a plug-and-play solution?

The XiOne Software Defined Radio is the solution for you, extremely versatile and flexible in its possible applications because the magic happens completely in software.

http://nicktoday.com/xione-sdr-software-defined-radio/

Yaesu FT-991 KW/50/144/430 MHz Stations Transceiver

We are pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new product, The FT-991 HF/50MHz/VHF/UHF Base Station Transceiver. The Yaesu FT-991 Transceiver is capable of operating SSB, CW, AM, FM, Packet and System Fusion C4FMDigital. The legendary tradition of Yaesu design is a legacy of excellence-established decades ago, providing quality, stability and durability. The Yaesu FT-991 is designed for the most competitive operating situations, with a suite of new features to enhance the experience. Whether you primarily operate at home, mobile or in the field, the FT-991 will provide outstanding fundamental performance and an inviting expansion into a full featured base station.

http://nicktoday.com/yaesu-ft-991-kw50144430-mhz-stations-transceiver/

If you’re an avid CW buff like me, you have accumulated a collection of paddles, bugs, hand keys and keyers. You like to switch off keys and keyers when operating CW. However, it’s such a pain to pull gear off the shelf to plug-unplug keys and keylines.

Here’s a neat solution that only requires hooking everything up once. Using a stereo source selector box (about $30) you connect up four paddles, bugs, hand keys, and keyers to one or two rigs. You can connect one key at a time or all four at once. You can even patch one or all four keys to both rigs simultaneously.

You can appreciate the convenience this offers. Select one of four paddles, keys, or keyers and start sending CW. You can change from one to another just by moving your hand.

Here’s how it’s done. Phono Preamps offers the TCC TC-716 6-Way Stereo Source Selector:

TC-716 Front

TC-716 Back

The selector has a row of six push buttons on the front. On the rear are two mini 3.5mm (1/8″) stereo phone jacks and four pair of RCA phono jacks. Any combination of rigs and keys/keyers can be plugged in. I used simple 6-inch “Y” cables with 2x RCA male plugs to 1x 3.5mm stereo female jack for “Audio 3 through 6”. The selector box and y-cables are available here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001F347K/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I23TTE/

Locate the selector box centrally on your desk as you’ll use it often.

73 de Jim KM5M

We’ve talked a lot about the various Software Defined Radio (SDR) USB dongles that have popped up over the last couple of years. I own several and have often played around with them. They suffer a bit of a flaw in the fact that they connect directly to the computer via USB which isn’t ideal because my computer room isn’t the ideal RF environment.

The advantage of the XiOne is that it has the capability of connecting to your home network allowing you to use a computer/tablet/phone that network to operate it. You can locate it away from RF interference sources and either use the XiOne’s Wi-Fi or run ethernet to connect it back to your router. Very cool. That’s why I think the XiOne’s Indigogo campaign from a German company called XiVero is worth looking at.

As of this writing, they still have 35 out of 100 of their specially priced (US$139) slots left. If you’re interested, might be worth a look. If they can get enough funding momentum, this looks to possibly be a very popular little receiver.

Looks like we’re headed directly for a period of minimal solar activity:

And here’s a related article from the Helsinki Times:

http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/science-and-technology/11590-hundred-year-period-of-increased-solar-activity-coming-to-end.html

The video was brought to my attention by Don K2DSV.  IF the hypothesis of the video is correct, lower ionospheric activity would be the least of our worries.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!