ICQ Podcast S06 E19 – RSGB SSB Field Day 2013 (22 September 2013)

Series Six Episode Nineteen of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast has been released. The latest news, North American report form Frank Howell (K4FMH) and Martin Butler (M1MRB) reviews the RSGB SSB Field Day 2013.

  • Etherkit releases CRX1 - A new 40 meter receiver kit
  • Radio hams to say 'HI' to Juno on 10m
  • Are UK amateur radio licences really on the increase?
  • Ham radio involvement in Colorado floods
  • Ham radio operators lobby Poway council for changes
  • Reciprocal licensing – Japan and New Zealand
  • Inflatable antenna could give CubeSats greater reach
  • Portugal takes action against illegal radio communications
  • New UK 76GHz distance record
  • Space Station Slow Scan TV active

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

ICQ Podcast S06 E19 – RSGB SSB Field Day 2013 (22 September 2013)

Series Six Episode Nineteen of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast has been released. The latest news, North American report form Frank Howell (K4FMH) and Martin Butler (M1MRB) reviews the RSGB SSB Field Day 2013.

  • Etherkit releases CRX1 - A new 40 meter receiver kit
  • Radio hams to say 'HI' to Juno on 10m
  • Are UK amateur radio licences really on the increase?
  • Ham radio involvement in Colorado floods
  • Ham radio operators lobby Poway council for changes
  • Reciprocal licensing – Japan and New Zealand
  • Inflatable antenna could give CubeSats greater reach
  • Portugal takes action against illegal radio communications
  • New UK 76GHz distance record
  • Space Station Slow Scan TV active

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

Series Six Episode Nineteen – RSGB SSB Field Day 2013

Series Six Episode Nineteen of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast has
been released. The latest news, North American report form Frank Howell
(K4FMH) and Martin Butler (M1MRB) reviews the RSGB SSB Field Day 2013.

ICQ-Download-Banner.png


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

The 50th State!

I finally worked my 50th state (KL7J) early this morning in Soldotna Alaska!

I had all but given up on my WAS award because of the “odd” distance Alaska seems to be from me here in the valley of West Virginia. My nearest contact, for many years, was a brief encounter with KL8DX on twenty meters, but although I could hear him clearly, he could not hear me well enough to repeat my entire call correctly.
Phil (KL8DX) and I have exchanged several e-mails over the years, and always listened for each other, but conditions were never exactly right for the contact. Unfortunately he moved recently and I thought all hope was gone. 
On the West coast, I imagine Alaska and Hawaii are easy catches, but not so here in the East coast. 
In May of this year I was able to work my 49th state with a contact on twenty meters to KH6LC in Hawaii. That contact left me with the “lone” contact to Alaska. Although I’ve heard stations in Alaska several times this year, they were not strong enough to work with a QRP signal. 
I woke up last night with back pain (just enough to wake me for an hour or so) and wandered into the radio room and turned on the radio to scan around for an occasional DX station. I’ve done this many times this year because of problems with my back, and I’ve worked a lot of DX while doing so….
When I tuned up on 30 meters, I heard the distinct KL7 call and double checked the cluster to make sure he was in Alaska. To my astonishing surprise, he responded on my first attempt. Also to my surprise, there was a quietness on the band and he was working VERY few stations despite all his efforts. 
My first contact was at 04:44 Z and just for fun, I made a second contact at 04:51Z and added “QRP @ 3 watts. (would not have done this in a big pile up). He repeated it back to me with a QSL VRY GUD. 
I’ll soon be putting my log book together for my Worked All States Award from my favorite QRP club. I’ll have some other comments concerning the North American QRP CW Club shortly. 
I’ve had SO much enjoyment with this group, it’s time to start giving back, and sharing with others this great low power radio mode. I’ve been a Ham now for nearly 25 years, always operated QRP, and always in the stealth mode. 
Persistence pays off and the joy of portable operations is something which should not be missed because of antenna restrictions. There’s tons of fun to be had with 5 watts of power and a simple wire antenna. 

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

Malware

I recently found out that this site has had ‘malware’ on it. Kindly Google informed me that there was something there. After a frantic search I found what looked like some odd code in the header and immediately removed it. What the code did or does do to other peoples computers is a mystery to me but it’s safe to say it isn’t going to be giving out winning lottery tickets or anything nice. So, apologies to whoever it has affected and I’d love to say it won’t happen again but this is now the second site I know of that has been given some hooky code by some nefarious individuals for their own gain. Might be worth considering a change in platform.

 


Alex Hill, G7KSE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Cumbria, UK. Contact him at [email protected].

Italy & QRPer with a Mag Loop

I thought I might get skunked today!  The bands seemed pretty dead – and the wind was blowing 20-25 mph!

I finally did have two QSO’s….

IK2CIO – Vini was calling CQ from Italy.  Tried several times and got a 599 report from him – which I suspect was more of a contest style report – but still fun none the less!  I worked Vini on 17 meters.

I didn’t hear any other action, so I called CQ on 20 meters at 14.061.  A very weak station replied….

AJ8P – Jeff returned my CQ from Sherrodsville, OH.  He was very weak, and then someone started calling CQ really close to us.  If I cranked up the filter, I would lose him – so just had to suffer through it.  Jeff said he was running 2 watts.

After I got back to work, I had an email from Jeff.  He sent me this picture and said he was using the Mag Loop inside!  This just makes me want to get one of my loops working so I can start having some radio fun from the comfort of my home.

From checking out Jeff’s QRZ page, he has a couple nice QRP rigs on his page – worth a visit.

After working Jeff, it was time to head back to the office – another fun day with the radio!


Burke Jones, NØHYD, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Kansas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Show Notes #111

Episode #111 Audio (Listen now!):

Introduction:

In this episode: Russ (K5TUX) and Pete (VE2XPL) are at it again after a long hiatus and Harrison (VE2HKW) pops in in the middle of the episode to discuss CrunchBang and if Open source can cause Malaise.

Topics:

  • Petr, OK2CQR (Check Republic), is starting a new project called CQRTest, which will be a contest logger.
  • First solar-powered Linux laptop
  • Does Open Source use cause malaise?

Announcements & Feedback:

  • Voicemail from Jonathan Nadeau.

Social Media Roundup:

  • Twitter new follower
    • @doomtroll
  • Facebook
    • Edward Cole likes Linux in the Ham Shack Podcast.
    • Jason Matthew Ford I likes Linux in the Ham Shack Podcast
  • Subscribers and Donations
    • Jonas R. – Yearly Subscription
    • Doug J. – Yearly Subscription
    • Tom L. – Donation
    • Steve C. – Monthly Subscription
    • Mike K. – Yearly Subscription
  • Feedback
    • E-mail from Michael Aiello [n2htt] & David Aiello

Credits:

  • Thank you to our monthly and yearly subscribers.
  • Thank you to all of our listeners, live and quasi-live.
  • You can reach us at [email protected].  You can leave us voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (547-7469).
  • Please subscribe to the mailing list.  A link is on the Web site.
  • Go to CafePress and Printfection and buy some of our show merchandise.  Each purchase helps out the show.
  • Listen live every every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central.  Our recording schedule is on the Web site.

Music:

  • “Suzanne” by Gamma Leonis, courtesy of Reverbnation.
  • “It Didn’t Matter” by The Crawls from their second EP, courtesy of Jamendo.

Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

Subscribe FREE to AmateurRadio.com's
Amateur Radio Newsletter

 
We never share your e-mail address.


Do you like to write?
Interesting project to share?
Helpful tips and ideas for other hams?

Submit an article and we will review it for publication on AmateurRadio.com!

Have a ham radio product or service?
Consider advertising on our site.

Are you a reporter covering ham radio?
Find ham radio experts for your story.

How to Set Up a Ham Radio Blog
Get started in less than 15 minutes!


  • Matt W1MST, Managing Editor