AmateurRadio.com

In addition to my amateur radio blogging, I also host an amateur radio podcast titled the practical amateur radio podcast (PARP).   I began podcasting about amateur radio in 2008.  PARP is currently in its 5th season and I’m looking forward to many more. 

When I was in the final stages of preparing for both my technician and general class exams, I used a set of flash cards from Flash and Pass.  I would ask my wife to read the questions to me and I would try to answer.  This was especially handy when I wasn’t near a computer and couldn’t take the online sample tests.  This process actually worked well for me and helped me polish my knowledge.

In the summer of 2010 when the new US Technician question pool became active, I decided I would create an audio only version of the flash card process.   I used the ARRL version of the study guide and the question pool which accompanies that book to record the question, the four possible answers, followed by the question again and then finally announce the correct answer. 

I believe the basis for success in using this method depends on first reading the study guide.  Second, the use of online sample test sites (many different ones are available), I recommend a site some friends of mine maintain called Ham Tests.  However, I really believe it is important for the student to READ THE BOOK!!!  Then (and only then) download my twenty audio sessions.

Each audio session is anywhere from 12 to 30 minutes in length (perfect for commute to work or school) and contain every question in the current question pool unless that question relates to a visual diagram.  The tech and general pools do have some questions that ask you to reference a diagram.  I mention these during the appropriate audio session only as a reminder to study the question directly from the book.

As of today, I have the Become A Ham US Technician (2010 – 2014) and US General (2011 – 2015) sessions available.  These sessions are available free of charge.  I will record the US Extra (2012 – 2016) audio sessions sometime late Spring or early summer to coincide with the new extra class question pool which starts 1 July 2012. 

You can download/stream these audio sessions direct from MyAmateurRadio.com by clicking on the Become A Ham tab.  Alternatively, you can also download these sessions via RSS.  The RSS links to the Become A Ham US Tech and US General can be found on MyAmateurRadio.com on the Become A Ham tab. 

I’ve received many positive comments on both the technician and general audio programs and I’m truly pleased to know many have experienced benefit from the audio programs.  If you are preparing for either the US Technician or the US General amateur radio exam, please visit MyAmateurRadio.com.  Good Luck!!!

Until next time…

73 de KD0BIK

Yesterday I made a secong attempt to activate Scafell Pike. Usually I got up to summits alone or with the dog bit this time was with a bunch who were training for the 3 peak challenge. Needless to say the summit was in cloud, it snowed then hailed then rained on me as I came down. Still this time I had a whole load more qso’s and a much more satisfying activation. Wast water (in the photo) is a beautiful lake that is surrounded by some impressive fells. Not as nice a Ennerdale but then again I am a bit biased.

There’s a rumor afloat that Wouxun may be getting closer to releasing their much-anticipated dual band mobile rig.

My source says he’s actually operated a final prototype of the radio (in China) and that it has all the bells and whistles you’d expect in a serious competitor.

The big question mark at this point is how much it’s going to cost. I think that it has to be well under $325 (the approximate street price of a Yaesu FT-7900R). By well under, I’m talking at least $50 cheaper.

My prediction is the price will be $250 and they’ll sell like hotcakes.

What’s your guess?

Exultate Festival Choir and Orchestra Performing Handel’s Messiah at Benson Great Hall, Arden Hills, MN on 03/11/12.

What a week and a half it’s been! Last weekend we sang three performances of Handel’s Messiah. The last one, pictured here, was the best — truly out of this world.

NØIP walking near the Duluth Lift Bridge, 03/13/12.

Afterward, without even changing out of my suit, I drove to Duluth with my wife to stay in a bed and breakfast for a couple nights. It wasn’t purely vacation; since this is a busy week for me, I did have to get some work done on this trip. Still, it was sufficient to give me newfound vigor upon my return. A day and a half back in Granite Falls allowed me to do some calling and get some other work done, and then it was back to the Twin Cities for two recording sessions to make a 3-CD set of Handel’s Messiah.

Wouxun KG-UV6D Dual-Band Radio

During this time I tested out my new handheld, which arrived just a couple days before it all began. I went with the dual-band (2m/70cm) Wouxun KG-UV6D (ham radio version), available here. If you buy one of these you’ll want to purchase the USB programming cable to set up your Wouxun using your computer. You may also want to buy an adapter or two to connect antennas to it. I’ve included some photographs in the slideshow below showing two such adapters — one for BNC, the other for PL-259. (By the way, you may click here to learn how you pronounce “Wouxun.”)

This radio is working great! Setting up channels using my laptop was a snap, and the controls on the radio itself are pretty simple, too. Using a larger “rubber duckie” antenna I’m able to hit the repeater 12 miles away in Montevideo (though I’m not sure yet how I sound “You sound like you’re sitting right next to me,” I’ve just been told.). Using the car-top antenna I’m full-quieting on the repeater 30 miles away in Marshall, and I can hit the repeaters a little farther away in Willmar, too (though I’m not sure yet how I sound on them). I made a few contacts in Duluth and the Twin Cities this week, and heard good reports each time. So far all I’ve used is 2m, and I’m looking forward to a 70cm contact. While I’m still a confirmed HF CW man, I’m glad to finally have a VHF/UHF handheld that works! If and when my son gets his Technician license, I’ve promised him that I’ll buy him a matching Wouxun KG-UV6D. It would really come in handy around here for him and I to each have one of these.

Click to view slideshow.
All photographs taken by my faithful beloved XYL, Monica, except for the stock photo of the KG-UV6D.

Ron Soyland is at it again and creating a Type C Triode vacuum tube. For a look at other creations click on Making a Spherical Audion Tube by Ron Soyland

A general purpose triode originally made for use by the Royal Air Force (Great Britain) in 1918 and designed by Captain H. Round of the British Marconi Co. around 1913. It is a triode that was meant for high gain high frequency use and has a 3 volt directly heated cathode.

A month or so ago I solicited the advice of my readers on the selection of a device for reading e-publications. I learned that the Kindle – my original choice – would not meet all of my needs, but I received some strong endorsements for the Apple iPad.

As someone who pays full price for SIM-free mobile phones just so as not to be tied to one provider, the idea of a device that only let you use what Apple approves and insists on being tethered to iTunes did not, unfortunately, appeal to me. My online activities are very Google-centric, I’m a fan of open source and I already have an Android smartphone so inevitably my thoughts turned to Android tablets. Someone mentioned that Maplin had some cheap tablet computers in their sale – the Archos Arnova 10 G2. Maplin is rarely the cheapest source of anything even in a sale so I visited a price comparison site and found that Carphone Warehouse had the Arnova for £10 cheaper and with free shipping. I checked some reviews and the majority were very positive, even though many qualified their comments with “for the price.” The tablet was in my hands 24 hours and £139 later.

Archos Arnova 10 G2

As a tablet virgin my impressions probably aren’t worth much but even I can tell that the Archos is not Apple build quality. The plastic case is more reminiscent of something that came out of a Christmas cracker. £11 on eBay got me a leatherette case/stand for the tablet so I don’t see the case anyway. But as many reviewers said, it’s a lot of tablet for the money. I haven’t got around to trying any e-book readers yet but I’ve used it for email and web surfing and I love it already. Battery life is great, the tablet is silent as there is no fan inside and no Intel Pentium giving you a hot lap so it’s a much better laptop device than a laptop.

One problem was that there was no Gmail app as I use on my smartphone. The Arnova doesn’t come with the standard Android Market so the choice of apps is rather limited. I found some instructions for installing Android Market on the Arnova but as usual whenever I attempt something technical with computers I got error messages that aren’t mentioned in the description. After trying a few things at random and on the point of giving up I noticed that Gmail had been installed and I had the full Market, except that it has been renamed Google Play. That probably confused me into thinking it was something to do with games, which I have no interest in.

The one thing I haven’t managed to do yet is find an app for my blogging activities. On the PC I use Blogger Dashboard in a browser (Firefox, of course) but on Android Dashboard is no good for keeping up with the blogs I follow because the list of posts is in an iframe and the Android browser doesn’t support scrolling in an iframe. Nor does the Dolphin browser, which I was led to believe would be the solution. I’ll probably have to use gReader, as I do on the smartphone, but I’d hoped the tablet would let me use something a bit more sophisticated.

We watched a TV show on the Arnova using the BBC iPlayer and I was impressed by the quality. Until then I could never understand why anyone would want to watch TV on a computer but in fact the angular size of the Arnova screen in my lap is larger than that of the TV when I’m sitting in my armchair, so it’s actually better. As you may gather, I’m pleased with my new gadget!