In this episode, Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Martin Rothwell (M0SGL) and Matthew Nassau M0NJX to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episodes feature is A HF rig for £2.89 / $4 / €4

• New Ham Radio UK Promotional Video
• Ofcom to Revoke Unvalidated Amateur / Ham Radio Licences
• K for Kernow (Cornwall) Starts 2016
• 40m Access for Malaysian Class B (9W) Amateur / Ham Operators
• Electronic Learning Bricks
• Ofcom Auction of Former Amateur / Ham Radio Spectrum
• Antarctic Station DP1POL
• Rapid Deployment Amateur / Ham Radio (RaDAR)
• Radio Club Adds 100+ New Young Members

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

In this episode, Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Martin Rothwell (M0SGL) and Matthew Nassau M0NJX to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episodes feature is A HF rig for £2.89 / $4 / €4

• New Ham Radio UK Promotional Video
• Ofcom to Revoke Unvalidated Amateur / Ham Radio Licences
• K for Kernow (Cornwall) Starts 2016
• 40m Access for Malaysian Class B (9W) Amateur / Ham Operators
• Electronic Learning Bricks
• Ofcom Auction of Former Amateur / Ham Radio Spectrum
• Antarctic Station DP1POL
• Rapid Deployment Amateur / Ham Radio (RaDAR)
• Radio Club Adds 100+ New Young Members

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

Amateur Radio Weekly is curated by Cale Mooth K4HCK. Sign up free to receive ham radio's most relevant news, projects, technology and events by e-mail each week at http://www.hamweekly.com.

Ham College episode 10 is now available for download.

In episode 10 we talk about Joseph Henry and discuss inductors. More questions and answers from the Technical class question pool. Learn how you can win an Icom T-shirt and cap.

56:55

Download
YouTube (coming soon)

George Thomas, W5JDX, is co-host of AmateurLogic.TV, an original amateur radio video program hosted by George Thomas (W5JDX), Tommy Martin (N5ZNO), Peter Berrett (VK3PB), and Emile Diodene (KE5QKR). Contact him at [email protected].

• URGENCY AFTER EARTHQUAKE
• HAMS PREPPED FOR PATRICIA
• THE FOX RETURNS, SAREX MAKES AN EXIT
• PARADISE LOST?
• TEAMWORK FOR THE TRIBES
• CME: THIS IS ONLY A TEST BUT...
• AN OREGON CITY'S TOWERING ISSUE
• DICTIONARY WANTS TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS
• NAMES IN THE NEWS
• SPECTRUM SPECULATION
• THE WORLD OF DX
• HAMS AGAINST HALLOWEEN HUMBUG

SCRIPT

AUDIO

Not the best shot but it's an evening shot

I was able to get the loop on the air today after work and I was very much wanting to see if it was actually working on the air.........testing it and putting it on the air can be a whole different kettle of fish. I am happy to say the antenna works just fine if not better. It seems to tune to a better SWR and seems more smooth at arriving at a low SWR. In the past it seemed to have a very sharp tuning curve and if you did not pay attention the sweet spot was gone. So the bands were decent sounding well were I was on 30m that is. I called CQ and I had a come back from VE3HEU! Not exactly DX but it's a contact and from what I have been reading the bands at times have been rough shape......HI HI. Vic was so close we could had met for coffee in the local Starbucks for goodness sake.  He is a fellow condo ham that was using a mobile whip antenna and at 10 floors up using approx 90 watts. I am not that bold and my power is at a steady 5 watts as I don't want to have a knock at my door. This gave me a great opportunity some CW practice and boy when you don't use it for some time you really  have to think about what you are sending. It felt really great to get on the radio again as it has been go go go  here with work, out of town guests and just plan old stuff around the house that has to be done. I think I may stick with 30m's as it seems to be very much alive in the early evenings.
Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

Today I operated from the caboose of the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad as it traveled from Meredith to Lakeport. I worked Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Curacao, and San Marino. Who could ask for more?

I’ve been working on the railroad for 10 years, but have only operated from the caboose once before. There was one train today running at 1:00 pm. My friend Tim W3ATB was the conductor. So I decided to take the opportunity.

I set up an Outbacker antenna on a grab rail of the caboose and ran some coax through a back window to a table inside. I set the Outbacker to 15 meters and tuned up the KX3. Right away, I worked DL65DARC in Germany. A few minutes later I worked HA7ITU in Hungary. Signals were strong, and I received good reports, so I knew we’d have a successful trip.

As the train headed out of the yard and along Lake Winnipesaukee, I answered more than a dozen DX calls on 15 meters. The train left early at about 12:30 pm. My first contact from the moving train was with Tony T77C in San Marino, Italy. Then I worked DL1BUG, Red in Germany. Red wanted to know my power and antenna when I told him I was operating from a moving train.

There’s no missing the smile on my face as I worked Rune, SM5COP in Copenhagen, Sweden. Here’s my log for the trip:

28 Oct-15 1533 21.024 DL65DARC CW 599 599 Germany
28 Oct-15 1534 21.011 HA7ITU CW 599 599 Hungary
28 Oct-15 1610 21.015 DL2DX CW 569 599 Germany
28 Oct-15 1631 21.021 T77C CW 599 599 San Marino
28 Oct-15 1633 21.027 DL1BUG CW 579 599 Berlin
28 Oct-15 1638 21.028 SM5COP CW 569 599 Stockholm
28 Oct-15 1648 21.028 PJ2/W4VAB CW 599 599 Curacao
28 Oct-15 1650 21.032 K5WE CW 599 599 OK
28 Oct-15 1654 21.026 DF3VM CW 579 599 Germany
28 Oct-15 1701 21.033 OK1FPS CW 579 599 Czech Rep
28 Oct-15 1712 21.030 LZ1WR CW 599 599 Bulgaria

Mike DF3VM was also curious about my antenna and power when I told him I was operating from a train. “UR doing a great job,” Mike sent. “Enjoy the ride on the train.”

You can bet I did… what a thrill to work across the big Pond from the edge of the little pond! Thanks all for the QSOs.

Tim… W3ATB has made a beautiful video of the operation. Hope you enjoy it:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R9OiqxWRaQ&w=560&h=315]

Jim Cluett, W1PID, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Hampshire, USA. Contact him at [email protected].