AmateurRadio.com

Stories you’ll find in our June, 2020 issue:

Weather Satellite Image Reception: Part 2
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV

Among many radio enthusiasts, there is a certain fascination with being able to directly receive images from space—whether from polar orbiters in low earth orbit or geostationary satellites thousands of miles overhead. Years ago, a working weather satellite image downlink station required hard to find dedicated hardware that represented a serious investment. Today, such costs have dropped significantly and most of the items used can be easily purchased. Cory gives us a glimpse of this fascinating aspect of satellite monitoring.

Weather Watching and Radio: A Natural Fit
By Georg Wiessala

I think it is probably fair to say that most amateur radio operators and radio enthusiasts also have a healthy interest in the changing weather. Next to radios and accessories, weather stations are among the most popular radio shack accessories. In his own shack, Georg has long been the owner of the Davis Vantage Vue model, which sits on the roof and transmits to an indoor console. And, with his scanner, for local weather data and information; shortwave radio for weather facsimile and NAVTEX broadcasts and a receiver tuned to coded weather information on long wave, he has access to a wealth of valuable current weather data.

100 Years of Radio Series: Celebrating the Young Heroes of Early Wireless, and Beyond
By Richard Fisher KI6SN

You can always tell when a technology becomes a cultural phenomenon; it’s where all the young people want to be. There was no more interesting topic or career opportunity than radio in 1920. Richard takes a look at the popular literature of the time in books and magazines that feature “boy heroes” (and a few girl heroes, too) whose understanding of wireless technology saves the day.

Ham Radio on a Budget—Get great gear for less than you might expect!
By Robert Gulley K4PKM

Anyone who has priced the latest 160 through 6-meter HF rig might be put off by the “kilo-buck plus” price tag, especially if you are a licensee who has recently upgraded to General Class. Robert has good news for you—there are a great many such rigs on the used market that are excellent performers with modern features often at less than half the price of a brand-new model. He shows you which models to look for and why as well as what to look for in a reseller. This is also good news for shortwave listeners who want superior reception performance not found in portables.

TSM Reviews: Geochron Clock and Inrad W1 Amateur Radio Headphone/Mic
By Mark Haverstock K8MSH

Two great accessories for your shack that will add some joy and operating pleasure are under review this month: The Geochron Clock and Inrad W1 amateur radio headphone/boom mic. The Geochron Clock/World Map was once a high-ticket mechanical contraption, but today’s version is basically a small computer that displays a world map with call sign prefixes, greyline indicator and much more. Mark also tests the INRAD W1 amateur radio headphone/boom mic that features over-the-ear cushions and a long mic cord.

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Changes are Coming to the 900 MHz Band

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
More Stay at Home Projects

MilCom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
Monitoring the Navy P-8A Maritime Surveillance Aircraft

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman
German Weather RTTY: A Blast from the Past

Shortwave Utility Logs
Compiled by Hugh Stegman Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
VHF and Above Contest Season Starts

Digitally Speaking
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV
Xenia Stayvention 2020

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Six-Meter Minimalism

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
Whatever Happened to 10 Meters; WorkTunes Revisited

The World of Shortwave Listening
By Andrew Yoder
Pirate Shortwave Broadcast During the Covid Pandemic

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
WBCQ’s Big Broadcast of 2020; RNZI, RRI and BBC Programming Notes

Amateur Radio Satellites
By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
Amateur Radio Satellite Primer (Part VI)

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey N2AFX
What’s your Longwave “Thing”?

Adventures in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
A Tubeless Bargain: Hallicrafters S-40

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.

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