AmateurRadio.com

I’ve got the luxury of two weeks off work for the holidays – having not managed to take much holiday earlier in the year. It’s been fun, over the last few weeks, looking forward to some of the radio projects that I want to do over the time. More on that in some upcoming posts.

One of them, though, was to have a go at receiving the packet radio signals from the International Space Station, and perhaps, trying to send some signals through its’ digipeater.

Both Andrew, M6GTG and Berend PA3ARK had both mentioned it recently on Twitter and it seemed like a fun thing to do.

My last experience of packet radio was probably 20 years ago when I used the PK-232 TNC! Although it’s still around somewhere, I was keen not to go there. I started off thinking that I would use SV2AGW’s AGWPE (AGW Packet Engine) software, but in conversation with Pete, 2E0SQL, he suggested using UZ7HO’s Packet Soundmodem software which he felt worked better and was simpler to setup for this purpose.

I downloaded the software and hooked up the FT8900 to the G4ZLP interface (fortunately it uses the same interface lead as the FT817). With an absolute minimum of effort, I ran the software up and changed the VFO on the rig to 144.800 the APRS frequency. Instantly I was seeing lots of packets being decoded. Good news!

The software that I had seen Berend PA3ARK use was UISS by ON6MU. It looked simple to use, had a nice map and most of all, seemed fun! I downloaded this and installed it – all good – but it complained that AGWPE was not installed. Hmmm – I don’t want to use it, I want to use UZ7HO….

After a little digging, I discovered that the way around this is to go into Setup/Section/LAN Internet in UISS and enable the LAN setup. Point it at the local IP address (127.0.0.1) and port 8000, remembering to click ‘Enable LAN Mode’

That did the trick – then – all the stations that I was hearing on 144.800 displayed in the packet window on UISS and those with a position, were plotted on the map.

All good!

I have listened for 2 or 3 passes of the ISS and have received some frames from PE1NLZ and ON7KEI – but it was all running in unattended mode, so was not able to bounce any signals through the digipeater. I hope to try this over the holiday period.

The antenna I am using for this is the V2000 vertical on the roof. Signals, so far, have not been great from the ISS digi. I may resort to taking it all outside and using the Elk yagi! However, we will have to wait for the weather to get better.

This looks a fun thing to try! Fingers crossed I can hear some more signals through the digi and perhaps get my signals through it as well.

Tim Kirby, G4VXE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Oxfordshire, England. Contact him at [email protected].

I’ve always believed music is the universal language of the world. It comes in many shapes and sizes and at many different places in the world. Today when I worked EI13CLAN in Northern Ireland, and saw their QSL card on the web, made me think of the times I’ve showed up to “pick and grin” at different Irish bars.
“The Irish Radio Transmitters Society” was celebrating with this “special event station” today on 12 meters, and fortunately, I was able to easily break the pile up with only a few attempts.

I also logged GI100RSGB in Northern Ireland today celebrating a “century” of radio in their country.

The picture above (not a very good one) is me playing the guitar in an Irish bar in New York. We had a great time that night with a mandolin, a fiddle, and a drummer.

Today was another great DX day for me. I had a nice chat with F5JWH in France and DF3CB in Germany. This afternoon I also worked HC2IMP in Ecuador again. This station is a puzzle for me. I’ve heard a nice “crisp chirp” at times from him but today, it was back to a dull buzz. I’m thinking voltage is playing a part in this signal. South America isn’t known for real stable electricity in that part of the world ?

I totally forget I’m running QRP when I start chasing DX on the bands, and with good reason. Most of the the stations I worked today were using quite a bit of power, with good “gain” antennas, which meant close to a KW of effective radiated power.

Two of the stations I worked today were running 400 and 500 watts , respectively, into those gain antennas.

I’ll be the first to admit all the “work” is on their part, but I sure love placing “QRP @ 3W and Indoor Random Wire” in the remarks sections of those DX Clusters.

It makes me feel pretty good….

John Smithson, Jr., N8ZYA, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from West Virginia, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

This is the season for reflection. The are many facets to our lives that impact our daily living and that influence who we are, but the thing that brings the readers of this blog together is ham radio, literally. We are a community of communicators and are members of a great hobby that brings people together. You will not find a more diverse hobby.

Ham radio has been used in every country in the world, covering all the worlds religions, languages, cultures and governments. And we are always able to find common ground, joy, happiness and satisfaction in a hobby so basic as communication. Maybe the world leaders could take a lesson or two from us about how to get along. We have good friends around the world who we would not have known, except for ham radio.

So my wish for the holiday season is that ham radio continue to grow, prosper and add satisfaction to our lives. I wish not for new equipment, but the time to use what I have. I wish for the continued freedom that we enjoy that allows our conversations to cross borders. I wish to make new friendships with people different than me so that I can learn more about the world I live in. I also wish that, just like the magic of Santa Claus, the magic of ham radio never disappears.

So however you say it or however you mean it I wish you Happy Holidays. The way I say it is Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.


Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

 

I had no idea Santa had a CW station near the Arctic Circle. Much to my surprise, I heard him transmitting on the 10 meter band this morning. His helper was OF9X in Muonia Lapland Finland, who, by the way, was a courteous ‘ol fellow who actually adjusted the jolly ‘ol beam a bit to pick out my 3 watt signal from West Virginia.

What a nice Christmas gift for me!

This “Official Santa Claus HQ Station” was a joy to work, and at 4,159 miles, with 3 watts of power, qualifies for a jolly ‘ol “1000 miles per watt” contact.

Here’s a link to the “Official Radio Station”:

Official Santa Radio

BTW/ He’s a good CW operator!

John Smithson, Jr., N8ZYA, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from West Virginia, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

A recent edition of the ARRL Contest Update highlighted the availability of this shirt with the number 73 on it. Since this shirt is offered by Think Geek, I figured it had to be ham radio related. After all, we own the number 73! See my previous posting on the topic.

Well, it turns out that this shirt is actually derived from The Big Bang Theory television show, when Sheldon explains that 73 is The Best Number.

Check out this video clip:

Well, it doesn’t stop there. Using my friend Google, I found a number of web pages on the topic of the number 73. Wikipedia even has a page dedicated to it. (Who edits a Wikipedia page about a number anyway?)

Here are some fun facts about 73:

• 73 is the 21st prime number
• Reversing the digits of 73, produces another prime number, 37, which means 73 is an Emirp
• The PT boat in the television show McHale’s Navy was PT-73.
• In Morse code, 73 is a palindrome

But to me, 73 is still just Best Regards.

73, Bob K0NR

Bob Witte, KØNR, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Colorado, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

As you all know, I am a big Elecraft fan. I’ve built and used a K1, a K2, and a K3.  I now own two KX3s. That said, I don’t consider myself to be an Elecraft sycophant.  Heck, I’ll be the first to admit that I did my share of public grousing and fuming back when I was waiting for my beloved KX3 to arrive!  And I am anxiously, but patiently awaiting the arrival of my KXPA100 – this time minus the grousing and fuming. No company is perfect, including the one owned by Eric and Wayne.  They’ve made their share of missteps regarding announced shipping dates of new product. The fact that we Hams are a tough audience at times, also makes things difficult.  They want to satisfy us, and one could be generous and posit that they’ve been guilty of being overly optimistic at times.

However, when it comes to customer service, Elecraft stands head and shoulders among the pack.  Get a load of this sequence of e-mails that appeared on the Elecraft e-mail reflector yesterday. This floored me when I first saw it:

First, from Mitch KD5EYN:

Hi All, 

Love the KX3, and I did not think I had a problem before, but now realize that I do. I increased the height of my dipole and lengthened the feedline to locate the KX3 into my shack. Now the AM broadcast station KOMA 1520 5 miles from my QTH comes through on virtually all bands. I have tried most settings, it is minimal with the preamps all off, but that renders some of the functionality much reduced. A friend has loaned me his IC-756 and it works flawlessly. I realize two different intended radio uses; however the KX3 is my only rig. Therefore I am considering selling it so I can purchase a non-QRP rig to function better for the bulk of my use. 

I have the ATU & battery charger as well as very nice Samsung NiMh cells in the radio. It would come with the PC cable kit and the headphone/mic that was purchased off ebay. I have worked stations all over the world and received great reports. It is just not going to work as my only radio given the RF situation. So if anyone is interested, let me know. Contact me direct through KD5EYN@gmail, I love the SDR and the features as well as the small size. I am not willing on taking a big hit on the sale, but if you want a great radio at a reasonable price, lets talk. 


Mitch 
KD5EYN 

Here is Wayne’s response – one of the owners of the company, mind you!  An owner who actually keeps an eye on, and reads messages posted in just one of the various Elecraft e-mail reflectors.

Mitch,

Sorry to hear about the AM station so close to home. Ouch. 

Two things you may not have tried: (1) RX SHFT = 8.0, and (2) a broadcast-band filter external to the radio. We could easily design a notch filter for you that would take it out. If you’re interested, let me know. (No charge.)

73,
Wayne
N6KR

Now in turn, a little bit more detail from Mitch:

Hi Wayne, 


I have tried the shift and it helps a bit, but the signals are still present; with the preamp at 30db the audio is as if I am tuned to the station. On lower preamp settings it sounds a lot like loud static crashes. I finally realized the problem to its fullest extent when I set an AM radio at low volume where I could hear the programming relative to the noise on the KX3 audio – and BINGO. I have considered a filter, and have not completely ruled it out. But without trying one, I don’t know how much it might effect the receive capability. So sure, I’d love to have one to try and will gladly return it if it does not work. Also, I have really enjoyed the dual receive in split operations, and as I understand the shift negates that function at the moment. But I’m sure open to the filter. What more info do you need? Should I submit a support request? 


Thanks, 
Mitch 
KD5EYN 

Answer from Wayne:

Hi Mitch,

We’ll have the filter designed by tomorrow and enroute by Christmas. It’ll actually be a high-pass with a cutoff of 1750 kHz, built into a W2 sensor box.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

Oh my!  And for those of you in this hobby long enough, do you remember Heathkit’s famous tag line? “We will not let you fail.”? THIS is that philosophy brought to new heights.  You have to consider that sometimes, when a company makes a mistake, it can be due to unforeseen problems with suppliers, unforeseen problems with other 3rd party vendors, and sometimes problems of their own making. But when an owner of a company can and does make a difference for one of their customers?

Wow, Elecraft, wow!

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

Larry Makoski, W2LJ, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Jersey, USA. Contact him at [email protected].