The Spectrum Monitor — June, 2015

June2015cover

Stories you’ll find in our June, 2015 issue:

Keeping the Ships Moving on Canada’s Welland Canal
By Ron Walsh VE3GO
Radio communications plays a vital role as up to 32 vessels each day navigate Canada’s Welland Canal. And, with over 24 miles of locks, routing each one through in 11 hours is a study in efficiency. That is particularly important in December when cold weather and the closing of navigation for the winter can make such transits urgent. TSM Maritime Monitoring columnist, Ron Walsh, get a rare inside view.

The Challenge of Over-the-Air TV DX
By Danny Oglethorpe
With the FCC’s spectrum auction and TV-band repacking looming, is Over-the-Air TV DX still possible? The answer is, “Yes!” according to long-time TV and FM DXer, Danny Oglethorpe, who has logged more than 1,100 TV stations since the 1960s. Danny explains the differences between Tropospheric Bending and Sporadic E-skip; the two paths for TVDX to your antenna.

Add CW and SSB to Your Portable SW Receiver the Easy Way
By Richard Fisher KI6SN
One of the serious shortcomings of a large portion of portable, multi-band shortwave receivers and many vintage shortwave radios is their inability to decipher SSB or CW signals. For some SWLers it isn’t that big of a deal. For others, it can put a real damper on the enjoyment of the full spectrum the radio covers. But, there’s a way to add an outboard BFO to any radio on which you would like to copy CW or SSB signals. Richards shows us how.

Digitally Speaking: System Fusion – “The Roar of the Crowd”
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV
After using digital voice for an extended period of time, most find analog FM to be “muddy,” “noisy,” and of a lower quality than they previously thought. And, whether you find favor with DMR, D-STAR, NXDN, P25 or System Fusion, Cory urges you to try digital voice for yourself and see what you think, after using it regularly for a few weeks. He believes you’ll be amazed at how your perceptions change. Cory also takes a peek at Yaesu’s new digital 2-meter/70-cm 50-watt mobile transceiver and scanning receiver.

SDRplay RSP Shortwave Receiver
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL
He’s back! And, with yet another software defined shortwave receiver; this time it’s the UK-based SDRplay. But, at a fraction of the price of his previously reviewed SDR, could the SDRplay come even close in operation? Find out why Thomas is so impressed by this new SDR.

Scanning America By Dan Veenaman
Scanner Update from Dayton

Federal Wavelengths By Chris Parris
Washington, DC—Scanner Dreamland or Nightmare?

Utility Planet By Hugh Stegman NV6H
US Coast Guard Plans Big HF Comm Changes

Digital HF: Intercept and Analyze By Mike Chace-Ortiz AB1TZ/G6DHU
Decoding the MIL-STD 188-110B 2400 bd HF Modem

HF Utility Logs By Mike Chace-Ortiz and Hugh Stegman

Amateur Radio Insights By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Two Meters: The “No Magic” Band?

Radio 101 By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
Meet the New 20-Meter Band (Hint: it’s on VHF)

Radio Propagation By Tomas Hood NW7US
The 10.7-cm Radio Flux

The World of Shortwave Listening By Andrew Yoder
Corsette-Building Project

The Shortwave Listener By Fred Waterer
Shortwave’s Continuing Impact

Amateur Radio Satellites By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
From Famine to Feast

The Longwave Zone By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
An Easy-to-Build Natural Radio Receiver

Adventures in Radio Restoration By Rich Post KB8TAD
First Look at a Zenith 5K037 “Farm” Set

The Broadcast Tower By Doug Smith W9WI
FCC Fines, Interference and Pot-Talk Flop

Antenna Connections By Dan Farber AC0LW
Round and Round: Loop Antennas

Radio Horizons
International Shortwave Broadcast Guide Summer 2015

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription (12 issues, beginning with the January 2015 issue) is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

Ken Reitz, KS4ZR, is publisher and managing editor of The Spectrum Monitor. Contact him at [email protected].

Leave a Comment

Subscribe FREE to AmateurRadio.com's
Amateur Radio Newsletter
News, Opinion, Giveaways & More!

E-mail 
Join over 7,000 subscribers!
We never share your e-mail address.



Also available via RSS feed, Twitter, and Facebook.


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




Sign up for our free
Amateur Radio Newsletter

Enter your e-mail address: