AmateurRadio.com

Did you know that the different colored USB ports on your computer aren’t just for decoration? That the colors actually mean something?

What? You’ve just been plugging USB cables into whichever port is most convenient? What a rookie mistake! 🙂

Well, some ports are a whole lot better than others, and some even do cool things that you probably didn’t know about.

Gray/Black USB Ports

These are your run-of-the-mill USB 1.0/2.0 ports. They have throughput ranging from 1.5 Mbit/s to 480 Mbit/s in later versions.

Blue USB Ports

These are newer USB 3.0 ports. They range from 5 Gbit/s (USB 3.0) to 10 Gbit/s (USB 3.1). These are the better choice for devices that require faster speeds.

Yellow (or Red) USB Ports

These are called “sleep-and-charge” ports, meaning that they continue to supply power even when the computer is sleeping. This makes it convenient to charge a phone or tablet from your laptop battery.

Just as a side note, I’ve had computers that required me to enable this feature in settings before it would work.

Note: Most of the time white USB ports are USB 1.0, but some manufacturers use them for USB 3.0 ports.

So, next time you go to plug in a USB device that requires fast throughput, double check that you’re using the fastest port available on your computer!

Date:            7 August 2016
Time:           Approx.    1500 UTC – 1800 UTC
Region:        CO-Front Range
Elevation:    3569 m / 11,709 ft – 6 Points
Call Sign:     KDØBIK
Frequencies:     14.342.5-ssb, 18.157.5-ssb, 28.327.5-ssb,  +/-  147.42-fm

Equipment: Elecraft KX3 / Buddipole versatee vertical & Yaesu VX-8 / Elk Log-Periodic Antenna

APRS Track: On Road / On Trail

Can you believe it?  It’s been almost four years since my last Summits on the Air activation.  I’ve really missed it.  The last SOTA activation was a multi-activation of both Chief Mountain (yes, I’m repeating) and the nearby Squaw Mountain (WØC/PR-082).

Of course the really big news is not the fact that I’m doing my first SOTA activation in almost four years, it truly is the fact that this year is the 25th Annual Colorado 14er Radio Event.  A few years ago the event was slightly modified to also include all the SOTA summits which of course are not always 14,000 foot summits. 

While band conditions in recent days have been really poor, the fact my operating position will be almost 12,000 feet in altitude is of course encouraging me to go ahead and pack all my gear.  So I do plan to setup for HF operations, but I will also spend more time (more time than usual) working hams on neighboring peaks on 2m and 70cm FM frequencies.

At the present time, 23 hams have posted their plans for operating over the two day weekend.   I’m sure over the next 24-36 hours even more will post their intentions. 

I’m really looking forward to combining my love of hiking, radio and even geocaching (there is a geocache on the summit of Chief).  Please point your antennas towards Colorado this weekend.  I hope to work you from the summit of Chief Mountain WØC/FR-030.

Until next time…

73 de KDØBIK (Jerry)

Date:            7 August 2016
Time:           Approx.    1500 UTC – 1800 UTC
Region:        CO-Front Range
Elevation:    3569 m / 11,709 ft – 6 Points
Call Sign:     KDØBIK
Frequencies:     14.342.5-ssb, 18.157.5-ssb, 28.327.5-ssb,  +/-  147.42-fm

Equipment: Elecraft KX3 / Buddipole versatee vertical & Yaesu VX-8 / Elk Log-Periodic Antenna

APRS Track: On Road / On Trail

Can you believe it?  It’s been almost four years since my last Summits on the Air activation.  I’ve really missed it.  The last SOTA activation was a multi-activation of both Chief Mountain (yes, I’m repeating) and the nearby Squaw Mountain (WØC/PR-082).

Of course the really big news is not the fact that I’m doing my first SOTA activation in almost four years, it truly is the fact that this year is the 25th Annual Colorado 14er Radio Event.  A few years ago the event was slightly modified to also include all the SOTA summits which of course are not always 14,000 foot summits. 

While band conditions in recent days have been really poor, the fact my operating position will be almost 12,000 feet in altitude is of course encouraging me to go ahead and pack all my gear.  So I do plan to setup for HF operations, but I will also spend more time (more time than usual) working hams on neighboring peaks on 2m and 70cm FM frequencies.

At the present time, 23 hams have posted their plans for operating over the two day weekend.   I’m sure over the next 24-36 hours even more will post their intentions. 

I’m really looking forward to combining my love of hiking, radio and even geocaching (there is a geocache on the summit of Chief).  Please point your antennas towards Colorado this weekend.  I hope to work you from the summit of Chief Mountain WØC/FR-030.

Until next time…

73 de KDØBIK (Jerry)

One of the most important documents for anyone who wants to know what makes a magnetic loop tick is Leigh Turner VK5KLT’s “An Overview of the Underestimated Magnetic Loop HF Antenna” which can be found on his club website.

Midway through building my version of Loftur Jónasson – TF3LJ / VE2LJX‘s Automatic Loop Controller, I came across Leigh Turner’s impassioned plea to consider this noise bridge antenna tuning design mentioned on page 32 of the “Overview”. As a concluding note VK5KLT states that he considers “The perceived need for a slick and salubrious auto-controller for properly tuning an MLA is oftentimes overrated and exaggerated, IMHO”.

He argued that elaborate microcontroller aided automatic loop tuning circuits are unnecessary and people should consider using this more covert and considerate approach. I think the bridge could be an excellent idea and a simpler way of staying in tune as you change frequency for all sorts of antennas. For a magnetic loop, it still requires a way to remotely adjust the tuning capacitor.

“The circuit goes inline between the rig and the antenna and sends a gated broadband noise signal to the antenna using a directional coupler and a noise bridge. You just listen on the desired operating frequency and watch your RX S-meter for a sharp dip whilst adjusting the loop tuning capacitor.

You simply remotely tune the loop with the aid of the receiver S-meter while you are on the wanted frequency without keying up and TX power output. This makes tuning a breeze without having to move off frequency and have the TX put out any RF power.”

VK5KLT mentioned the MFJ-212 Matchmaker that uses this same approach (and which is still on the MFJ catalog at US$99.95) and also referenced ZL3KB’s April 2001 RadCom article (pp17-21) as an easy and more economical way to replicate the same functionality.

“The distinguishing merit of the novel gated coupler/noise bridge loop tuning method is it’s completely passive and covert in operation; you don’t transmit any TX power whatsoever to attain an optimal loop tune setting. The technique makes for fast, QRM free, safe and easy QSY shifts and netting a frequency.” Leigh Turner adds that it’s even simpler if you use a pan adaptor or a modern SDR receiver as you can see the sharp null on the screen of the band scope display.

Kelvin Barnsdale ZL3KB’s RadCom article describes building and using the wide band noise bridge as a silent antenna tuning indicator. These four pages include circuit, PCB design and layout and full details of BOM and balun/transformer construction.

RadCom-200104-pp17-21

On 14 May 2001 ZL3KB published a 4-page follow-up pdf document “Instructions for Antenna tuning Noise Bridge” with info supplementary to the RadCom article about construction and operation. This article has an updated circuit and parts layout and refers to an issue B of the PCB. The new board includes places for the LED and dropping resistor R14, and pads for the two 100Ω load resistors and the two diodes D2 & D3.

This is the updated circuit with some updated values.

This indicates parts placement with the updated PCB.

Here is the foil side of the updated PCB

I contacted Kelvin Barnsdale and was lucky enough to obtain the PCB above.

More about Multi-mode transceivers and a few demonstrations.

1:03:27

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This afternoon Judy and I rode our bikes to the old railroad station at Potter Place. I operated about 20 minutes and worked 8 stations on 20 meters.

We started in Andover and rode about 2.5 miles to the northwest. It was a gorgeous day. We arrived after about 20 minutes and I tossed a wire over an oak tree above the picnic table. I set up the KX3. The CWT Sprint was in full swing and stations were strong. The exchange is simple: name and CWOPS number. Here’s my log transcribed from the paper notebook:

3 Aug-16 1908 14 N5DX CW 599 599 Kevin 1293
3 Aug-16 1913 14 K9MA CW 599 599 Scott 1385
3 Aug-16 1915 14 K1GU CW 599 599 Ned 884
3 Aug-16 1916 14 KC4D CW 599 599 Bill 419
3 Aug-16 1919 14 AD8J CW 599 599 John 1395
3 Aug-16 1920 14 K4OAQ CW 599 599 Fritz 1658
3 Aug-16 1925 14 K9WX CW 599 599 Tim 1462
3 Aug-16 1926 14 N4ZZ CW 599 599 Don 902

After 20 minutes I packed up and we rode back. The air was delightful. We stopped by the covered bridge across the Blackwater River and Judy took a quick photo.

If you live in the UK, here’s some great news!

A communications company is disposing of three Nissan Patrols outfitted with 10-meter pneumatic masts and backseat radio operating positions.

In addition to the mast and compressor, each of the three SUVs are fitted with storage and bench units in the back — but unfortunately, the radio gear shown in the photos is not included.

No word on pricing or terms.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER, 2016: All of the Nissan Patrols have been sold.