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Still going QRP

30 June 2013 | by Paul PC4T | Leave a Comment (2)

Even with SSB there is a possibility to make DX QSO's. This video is a nice example. Today I worked IW2NOH and SQ9JXB with 1 watt JT9-1 on 20 meter this morning. I was calling LA3LJA but he did not come back for me, so I walked away from the rig to get a cup of coffee, and then I saw he was returning for me. So I missed the QSO here. Sorry.

Paul Stam, PC4T, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from the Netherlands. Contact him at [email protected].

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Series Six Episode Thirteen – Radio Safety

30 June 2013 | by Colin M6BOY | Leave a Comment (0)

Series Six Episode Thirteen of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast has been released. The latest news, your feedback and Martin Butler (M1MRB & W9ICQ) discusses Radio Safety.

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

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Radials done!

29 June 2013 | by Larry W2LJ | Leave a Comment (3)

For now at least! 😉

After mowing the lawn early this afternoon, I finished the job that I had started the other evening. I finished getting my new set of radial wires down for my Butternut vertical.

My first set, put down so many years ago, consisted of a set of 25 foot (8 Meter) long wires, fanned out from the base of the Butternut. If memory serves me correctly, I originally put 25 radials down. They have long since disappeared under the lawn, but I know for a fact that two were damaged over the course of the years. One by me, and one by our dog.

Today, I put another dozen wires down, but these were not 25 footers. Today, I laid down wires as long as I could to the opposite end of the back lawn. In all, I put down approximately 650 feet (198 Meters) worth of wire. I used up what I had leftover from last time and entirely used up a brand new 500 foot spool of 14 gauge wire.

I still need to buy another bag of landscaping pins, so that I can secure the wires to the ground s little more securely in several areas. There are a few spots where I believe the lawn mower wheels might push the wire around, unless it’s secured a little better.

So that makes a total of 37 radials down around my Butternut. Someday, I’d like to get that total closer to 60. I have read in several articles that 60 is the magic number, where adding more than that causes no significant increase in benefit.

73 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].

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SOTA Sloth

29 June 2013 | by Mike AD5A | Leave a Comment (0)

It is always interesting to me what motivates people. Usually it's the simplest things. Challenge a man to task, for the sake of the task and you get few takers, but offer him a patch or plaque and you get stampeded. Such is life and I'm no exception to the rule.

So, I was very pleased to come home yesterday and my SOTA Sloth award was in the mail box. As I have written, I am having a lot of fun with the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program both chasing summits and activating them as well. The SOTA Sloth award is for getting 1,000 chaser points. Summits are assigned a point value from 1 to 10,so for each summit contact made, the chaser gets credit for the points assigned to the summit..

The awards are very nice and each is a little unique. They are made of glass are called Ice Blocks. The certificate if authenticity that comes with the award reads:

Your Ice Block was made entirely by hand in Dingwal,

an Ancient Capital of the beautiful Scottish Highlands.

Using a secret technique, the craftsman create a unique

"running scallop' along each edge of the raw glass.

All corners & edges are then ground to a

matt white finish.

No other Ice Block will ever be the same!

Epitomising the surroundings of their Birthplace,

Ice Blocks emulate the rugged mountains & wild,

rough terrain of the Highlands.

Combined with specialist engraving, your Ice Block

is a Presentation Piece to be proud of.

SOTA Sloth Award - AD5A

Very nice indeed. The next Ice Block Award is called the SOTA Goat Award, for earning 1,000 Activator points.

I am sufficiently motivated.

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

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1 watt WSPR

29 June 2013 | by Paul PC4T | Leave a Comment (0)

I tried 1 watt WSPR on 20 meter. I know that Bas, PE4BAS uses most of the time 1 watt with WSPR. It's a good method to see how propagation is. Here are the results of yesterday evening. It's a challenge to work with QRPp power how far we can go under poor propagation conditions.

Conditions were fair to poor last night due to another CME yesterday.

With JT9-1 I worked F8RZ and IZ0MIO also with 1 watt. I will do more transmissions with 1 watt and 0,5 W
Does anybody know what that bizarre tracks are on the screen?

Paul Stam, PC4T, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from the Netherlands. Contact him at [email protected].

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Show Notes #108

28 June 2013 | by Russ K5TUX | Leave a Comment (0)

Episode #108 Audio (Listen now!):

Introduction:

The show starts off well with Pete being in 17.7C (63F) weather, and the guys talk about Russ’ beverage for the evening.

Announcements:

Linux in the Ham Shack is having a contest! We will be giving away a Beaglebone Black. (http://www.digikey.com/product-highlights/us/en/texas-instruments-beagleboard/685#beagleboneNext) If you are currently a subscriber at the monthly or yearly levels, you are already entered and need not do a thing. If you are not a subscriber, you have 2 choices: #1 is you become a subscriber at the monthly or yearly rate or, #2 is you can call the LHS voice line (1-909-547-7469) and complete this thought: “I deserve a Beaglebone Black because…” Your answers can be as serious or ludicrous as you like. Please include a call sign, if you have one, and an e-mail address or phone number in your voice mail so we can let you know if you’ve won and find out where to ship your snazzy new Beaglebone Black. All entries must be received by 10:00pm Central Time on June 16th. The drawing will be done during the live recording of episode #109 on June 18th. Good luck!

The annual WX4NHC On-the-Air Station Test from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami took place this past Saturday, June 1, 1300-2100 UTC (9AM-5PM EDT). “The purpose of this annual station test was to test all of our radio equipment, computers and antennas using as many modes and frequencies as possible in preparation for this year’s hurricane season.”

The spring and summer severe weather season is here once again; are you prepared to take care of yourselves for up to 10 days?
Don’t forget to use your favorite search engine, and look up your county’s emergency management site, and your state’s for more localized information.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/an9s4e7

Arch Linux 2013.06.01 is now available for download on mirrors worldwide, and it is powered by the latest stable Linux kernel, version 3.9.4. This monthly updated ISO image also contains all the updated packages from the last release. The ISO is for new installations only. Existing users can just run sudo pacman -Syu
- Source: Linux Today: Jun 03, 2013, 15:00

Topics:

Mumble 1.2.4, the successor of 1.2.3 has been released on June 1st 2013. It comes with a new audio codec called the Opus codec. “The Opus codec is designed to handle a wide range of interactive audio applications, including Voice over IP, videoconferencing, in-game chat, and even remote live music performances. It can scale from low bit-rate narrowband speech to very high quality stereo music.”
- Source: Linux Today: Jun 03, 2013, 15:00

Mini-topics:

The Future of Ham Radio
- http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?392495-The-Future-of-Ham-Radio

Reasons Linux Doesn’t Star In U.S. Schools
- Sources:
  - http://www.LinuxToday.com
  - http://www.informationweek.com/education/campus-infrastructure/3-reasons-linux-doesnt-star-in-us-school/240155736

Feedback:

Voicemail from Lord Drachenblut re: Episode #101

New members and social media folk:

LHS Members:
- None
Twitter Followers:
- Paul Shirey – KC9QYB – @uDaeth
  - Blog: http://paulshireytech.com/
- Peter W. – @ochotona_p
Facebook followers/likes:
- None

Contact Info:

Contact Russ at [email protected] or [email protected].
Listen to the live stream every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central time. Check the LHS web site for dates.
Leave us a voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (547-7469), or record an introduction to the podcast.
Sign up for the LHS mailing list.
LHS merchandise is available at the Merch link on Web site. Check out the Badgerwear or buy one of the other LHS-branded items at PrintFection or CafePress. Thanks!
Thanks to Dave from Gamma Leonis for the theme music.

Music:

“Shot Down” by Josh Woodward, courtesy of Jamendo.
“Breath Away” by Meat the Machine from the album Songs from the Gutter, 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].

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The K2 was shipped

28 June 2013 | by Mike VE9KK | Leave a Comment (1)

The K2 ready in it's Pelican case to be shipped

For some time now I have been looking at my Elecraft K2 sitting on my radio desk doing nothing. A conversation has been going on for some time within me to keep the rig...I built it and it's a fantastic radio. Again I had been looking at the radio just sitting on the desk doing nothing. There may be a time when I need a QRO radio...again I had been looking at the radio just sitting on my desk. It then came time for me to realize the K2 has to go to a ham who is going to run it through the paces. Give the rig the exercise it was

All is packed and ready

meant to have. I put the radio up on the market last week and it was sold within 24 hours and as I write this post is on it's way down to Nova Scotia. Thomas had a K2 at one time along with the antenna tuner and 100 watt amp. He sold it and has been wanting one.... so serial number 6613 K2 is on it's way down to him. Sound kinda funny to miss a rig like this but this rig was built with my own hands and I was very very proud of the work and the performance of the radio. In the box is the rig, combo ATU and 100 watt amp, dust cover from Rose, Pelican carry case, A & A engineering charger for the internal K2 battery and a load of internal upgrades in the K2. At the home station there is a hole were once the K2 called home and soon my KX3 will move in. This is begining to sound like a sad soap opera....lets turn things about 360 degrees.......the rig is gone and there are some extra ham bucks to spend. Not sure what is going to be added to the shack.....I do have some ideas.

Where the K2 used to be now a bare spot

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

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