I-com Scraps D-Star Forums

One day I will purchase a D-Star rig. We only have a few repeaters in my area that are D-Star and only a couple of operators that have a D-Star rig.
I know that the local emergency communications groups are investing into this technology via grants from HLS. Anyway, It looks like Yahoo Groups hold more credibility than most realize.

Icom America scraps D-STAR forums

Icom America have announced the closing of their D-STAR forums due to the popularity of email reflectors

They have posted this message at http://www.icomamerica.com/support/forums/

"Due to the popularity of the YAHOO! D-STAR Groups and the low activity levels within the Icom America D-STAR forums, it has been made to close the Icom America D-STAR forums".

Modern web tools make forums easy to set up and many Radio Amateurs have done so, unfortunately most of them are rarely used.

Postings on email reflectors such as Yahoo and Google groups go directly into peoples Inbox and so are read by many more people which in turn generates more postings in reply.

These are a few of the D-STAR email reflectors that are available:

dstarsoftware
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dstarsoftware

gmsk_dv_node
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gmsk_dv_node

dstar_digital
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dstar_digital

DVDongle
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DVDongle

D-STAR_23cm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/D-STAR_23cm

dstar_development
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dstar_development

dstar-uk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dstar-uk

The SDR Cube

I posted back in August (Tmate (what your SDR always wanted) I was told by several that SDR is not a popular thing here in the U.S. Looks like they maybe wrong.
While browsing around the ARRL web site I notice an article in which it mention SDR Dominating the 2010 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference.
While reading the article I was led to the web-page by George Heron, N2APB and Juha Niinikoski, OH2NLT, where they introduced the SDR Cube project.
This definitely looks cool to me.

For more on the SDR Cube;
click here
They also have a yahoo group;
click here

George N2APB and Juha OH2NLT have also added videos demonstrating the SDR Cube in action. The video segments include:- Overview- Tuning a CW station (two clips)- Tuning SSB stations- CW QSO with YL2QT- Tuning an RTTY station
These videos can be seen; click here

High Efficiency Plate Caps for the Eimac 3-500Z Tubes

While chatting with some friends this morning, The topic came up in regards to aluminum plate caps. So this is what I was taught;
These Precision machined 6061 aluminum Plate Caps remove an incredible amount of heat from the plate pin of the Eimac 3-500Z tube as compared with the original style Plate Cap (Anode Cap for our friends in the UK). This gives the operator a comfortable margin of safety regarding the Plate Pin Seal Temperature when operating his amplifier at elevated continuous duty output.
These plate caps are not intended to increase the original ratings of the tube or amplifier, always use good engineering practices and follow the recommendations of the tube and amplifier manufacture when in use.






source

Yaesu FT-8900

I have been asked several times by new and old hams, what is my favorite rig?
My answer is always my FT-8900.
Yes, it is a mobile rig yet it makes for a nice base station also. Mine is in the shack mounted just above my FT-897D.
The FT-8900 has many features that I enjoy such as the separation kit, dual receive, operating FM Satellites and Cross Band Repeat.
The Cross Band Repeat is helpful when I am rag-chewing while sitting around the fire pit in the back yard or in other areas of the house.
My HT is unable to make the trip to many distant stations, but it will receive them well, so I set up the cross band on the FT-8900, grab the HT and take my friends with me.
The other nice feature about the FT-8900 is that it is a Quad Band FM transceiver, able to work 70cm, 2m, 6m and 10 meter bands. If you hold only a Technician Licensee the great thing about this rig is you can operate on all bands.
Did I mention the Hyper Memory? Another great feature.

Check out the Yaesu FT-8900.

ANTENNA ROMANCE

Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married.
The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.
Since they were a perfect match, soon they generated harmonics.
Wrapped the harmonics in dipoles.
But later the harmonics turned out to be parasitic elements.

The true story -- she was a tri-bander and he felt trapped, so they went on separate beam headings

Contest Opportunities this Weekend

We have a few contest to chose from this weekend. I do not plan on taking part in any of these however I do plan on listening to them. Many different web-sites to choose from to get info on these contest. The site I used today is here.

* NCCC Sprint Ladder 0230Z-0300Z, Sep 24
* CQ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY 0000Z, Sep 25 to 2400Z, Sep 26
* AGCW VHF/UHF Contest 1400Z-1659Z, Sep 25 (144) and
1700Z-1759Z, Sep 25 (432)
* Texas QSO Party 1400Z, Sep 25 to 0200Z, Sep 26 and
1400Z-2000Z, Sep 26
* UBA ON Contest, 6m 0600Z-1000Z, Sep 26

An Electrifying Job

The tower climb to heaven was seen by many last week and the week before. I posted the video in late August. I am still seeing it come across on twitter and e-mails. I do not think the Tower Climb is scary. What would make me nervous is this guys job, watch the video. It has been around for a while but is still cool.

Getting Old

My friend Todd sent me this. Thanks for the laugh Todd
-------------------------------------------------
An elderly ham driver was going down the highway when suddenly his 2 meter rig crackled his call...Answering...he heard a fellow ham's urgent warning.....
"Hey Mark, just heard on the news that there's a car going down US-31 the wrong way, please be careful"!!

Mark replied, "Well I'll declare, it's not just one.......
there's hundreds of them'!!!!!!!!!

Fall is in the Air

I have a few trees starting to change color. Wow, hard to believe that fall starts tonight at 11:09pm.
I am so happy that summer has come to an end. Don't get me wrong, I like summer, hate the heat and humidity and we had lots of that this summer here in Michigan.
In the next few weeks the color tours will begin, my wife and I are looking forward to a small getaway.

Graph obtained from The Fall Foliage Network
http://www.foliagenetwork.com/
A great site with lots of info so you can plan your color tours.

"New" ~ Elecraft Custom K3

Now this is a nice looking rig. I have never operated a Elecraft, heck, I have never seen one. I guess I should try and get out more. This is a beauty and would look nice in my shack. If anyone out there wants to donate one to me that would be awesome. hi hi.
BTW, although this rig is not new, to me the addition of the knobs makes it a new rig. Maybe I should had said the Custom K3 for a title.
--------------------------------------------

Now available: A New Weighted dimple type VFO Knob made just for the Elecraft K3

The original K3 knob weighs in around 3.5 ounces. These premium USA made knobs weigh 14 ounces and they tune just wonderful. This knob is made from solid high strength Bronze. There is something about this bearing grade material that feels ultra slick in the hand. It has to be felt in person to appreciate. Smooth as glass is a good description and the color while being quite different from stock, really grows on you the more you use it.

Installation is easy and all hardware is Stainless Steel. Everything is CNC Machined from billet stock right here in the USA. The set screw that holds the knob in place is a flat tip style (no marring of your VFO shaft). Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed 30 days or you may return it for a full refund.

LINK

Kenwood TS-590

I'm a major fan of Yaesu, however this looks to be a Gem....

The new Kenwood TS-590 that created a buzz at Dayton this year is finally being released WW in October 2010.

Kenwood in Japan has released the final specifications. It looks like it’s going to be a superb receiver but the pricing looks to be well over 2K USD. Kenwood’s Japan site lists it at 228,900.00 JPY=2,679.41 USD.

Related links at Kenwood Japan:

LINK (1)

LINK (2) Versions of New KENWOOD: “TS590S” “TS590V” and “TS590D”

2 Meter Fall Sprint Tonight

I'm a day off today. Was laid up yesterday and spent today getting things on track.
Got this e-mail from Todd KC9BQA in regards to the 2 meter sprint tonight.
I might get into it, then again, might not~not feeling to good yet.
--------------------------------------

2 Meter Fall Sprint Tonight -- Monday -- 7-11pm

If you enjoy activity on 2m SSB, then tonight's your night.
There will be multiple stations on from WI and N ILL and I'm sure
from MI, too.

80-90% of VHF/UHF contesting activity takes place on the SSB portions of the bands (talking 144.160-144.240, with more activity centered closer to 144.200 MHz) using horizontally-polarized
antennas -- typically directional yagis for maximum gain. If contesting interests you, that's where you want to go with your station. Well -- not just contesting, but for general ragchewing
and working band openings. On Sat. morning, TN stations were working 1000-mile paths into the Northeast on/near 144.200 MHz.

If you're FM-only, then you want to use 146.550 tonight. I'm sure if you CQ for a while, it'll get the ball rolling.

If you want more info about the fall sprints, all the relevant
info is easily found at kc9bqa.com.

I also will try to help anyone with questions via email.

73,
Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee
www.kc9bqa.com For Frequent VHF/UHF Updates
www.wivuch.com WI VHF/UHF County Hunters Award

TechNet Report

We had the 3rd MAARC TechNet today, 09-18-10.
We had 8 check-ins
The net lasted 72 minutes. Wow.
Topics discussed; J-Poles;
*How to mount them
*How high is to high
*Should the be painted or not? Paint prevents corrosion.
* Stacked J-Poles
*Dose a J-Pole require a Balun?
We talked briefly about PSK and QPSK.

The TechNet Topic was about the K-Index.

K index [ LOW is GOOD ]
* 0 or 1 is BEST
* 2 is OK
* 3 or more is BAD
* 5 is VERY VERY BAD

The overall geomagnetic condition of the ionosphere ("Kp" if averaged over the planet) over the past 3 hours, measured by 13 magnetometers between 46 & 63 degrees of latitude, and ranging quasi-logarithmically from 0-9. Designed to detect solar particle radiation by its magnetic effect. A higher K-index generally means worse HF conditions.

A lower K-Index generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; a low & steady Kp-Index generally suggest good propagation on the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

W8ZHO/ MAARC TechNet

The MAARC 146.94 repeater is gaining another net! Called the TechNet, participants will focus on issues that relate to digital modes of communication and many other topics.
These might involve rockets, satellites, computer hardware and programming, astronomy events, contacting the International Space Station, working Amateur Radio Satellites, EME (Moonbounce) and how to use Orbital Plotting software.
Outside of Space topics we will also discuss;
How to use your radio, Radio Orienteering, building mini transmitters for ROCA, Antenna Construction, Sound Card-to-Rig Interfaces, Cables and Connectors, DSP Manufacturers, Interfaces Manufacturers, Radio Manufacturers, Packet Radio, PSK31, Radio Programming Cables, RTTY, Ham Radio Software, Networking issues, Operating System issues and many other High Tech Radio-Computer related issues and the list goes on. Check in Saturdays at 11:00 AM on 146.940 (-) (94.8PL)
Hope to hear you.

A Busy Day

I do not have anything exciting to post today. I wanted to work some DX but that fell through.
I managed to get in a very nice nap from mid morning to about 1pm, yep, the most important part of the day.
I did have an offer to swap some amateur radio gear for 2 autographed footballs and some stamps. I think I may do trade.
I’m looking to acquire a DR-235T MKII (220MHz) rig with a Comet CX-333.

Saturday is loaded with a lot of DX contest and Special Event Stations on HF, so the bands will be busy.

I am NCS for the MAARC TechNet is on Saturday, at 11:00 AM on 146.940 (-) (94.8PL) I am hoping for several check-ins.
Sorry for the late post. Feel free to look me up on Twitter. I am there often through-out the day.
73,
De KD8BIG

2 Meter Fall Sprint

E-mailed to me from Todd KC9BQA
I might jump into this one. Monday is a long way away at the moment.
___________________________________________

The 2m Fall Sprint is on Monday, Sept. 20th, from 7-11pm.
http://www.svhfs.org/2010fallsprintrules.pdf These sprints get
pretty good participation in our part of the world. (HINT: you
gotta talk them up ahead of time so guys will know to get on.)
I have more Sprint info at kc9bqa.com -- post dated Sept 12.
Or go here: http://kc9bqa.com/?p=3470 If you have questions,
email me.
Another link gives 6 reasons why the Sprints are enjoyable --
those 6 reasons are at: http://kc9bqa.com/?p=953

Make plans to get on, and start working toward your WIVUCH
award. Work at least 20 WI counties on any/all VHF/UHF bands
and you receive a nice certificate. This is an ongoing program that
started Jan 1, 2010. All amateurs are welcome, and we need more
counties to work so get on and join in the fun. Out-of-state hams are definitely welcome. I hope other states will start up VHF/UHF county award programs in time.

Click on the WIVUCH link below for more info.

73,
Todd KC9BQA EN63ao 40 N of Milwaukee
www.kc9bqa.com For Frequent VHF/UHF Updates
www.wivuch.com WI VHF/UHF County Hunters Award

New Sun Spot

A new sunspot is emerging over the sun's southeastern limb, and its magnetic canopy is seething with activity. Click on the image to watch 90 minutes of action recorded during the late hours of Sept. 15th by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:

movie formats: 2.5 MB mpeg, 1.0 MB iPad, 2.2 MB avi

Because the sunspot's dark core is visible only in profile, its characteristics are a matter of guesswork. NOAA forecasters say that "C-class events are likely." If so, the eruptions will blow into space over the sun's limb--a nice photo-op for readers with solar telescopes. Stay tuned for updates and better views as the sunspot turns toward Earth
source

Citizens Band vs Amateur Radio Equipment

I heard this on the ARRL Audio News.
The story brought me back to the days of my youth when CB Radio was cool.
I remember the days we spent modifying our radios, buying power mics, and shooting skip. That is the equivalent to working DX.
I'm happy to say I am far beyond those days. I have a CB radio but it no longer works. I have a few Hand Held CB radios I bought several years ago to keep in touch with my wife while camping and taking walks on our 100 acre property.
--------------------

ARRL Comments in FCC Review of CB Rules

In June the FCC opened a proceeding -- WT Docket No. 10-119 -- “to simplify, streamline, and update the Part 95 rules to reflect technological advances and changes in the way the American public uses the various Personal Radio Services.” The Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service is one of several Personal Radio Services regulated by Part 95. Three of the CB-related issues raised in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) are of interest to the Amateur Radio Service. On September 3, the ARRL filed comments limited to these issues.

Citizens Band vs Amateur Radio Equipment

In the NPRM, the FCC sought to consolidate the rules pertaining to the modification of certificated CB equipment. The Commission noted that CB equipment that has been modified by the CB operator -- or persons other than the manufacturer -- to operate on unauthorized frequencies or to operate with higher power than authorized often causes interference to other radio services. “Indeed, there are many recent instances of the operation of modified CB equipment (or equipment imported or manufactured domestically with the inherent capability of operating outside the HF CB channels) by unlicensed individuals in the Amateur Radio Service bands,” the ARRL agreed, saying that this interference most often occurs in the 28.000-28.500 MHz segment of the amateur 10 meter band.

Long Distance CB Communication

In the NPRM, the Commission discussed the current prohibition on CB communications between two stations located more than 250 kilometers apart. The rule, Section 95.413(a)(9), is intended to discourage CB skywave communications. This rule, the NPRM states, is necessary because of the need for frequency reuse (what the Commission refers to as a “commons” band regulatory structure). The ARRL supports the existing Part 95 rule against long-distance CB communication.

Click Here to read full Article

Amateur Radio in China

This is a bunch of pooooo……..
I hope this dose not give the Democrats and Liberals any ideas.
Although I am not a member of the ARRL, I am thankful for them. They do help maintain the privileges we as Amateurs do have.
---------
The city's fast-growing number of radio hams has been told to register ahead of a new national regulation aimed at tightening control over amateur radio stations.

Beijing Radio Administration Bureau sent a message to ham radio operators on Saturday calling on them to register.

Any ham radio stronger than 0.5 watts must be registered.

read more here

REMEMBERING 9-11-01

Ham Radio's Technical Culture

Wow, what a cool read. I got this book the other day from a friend who found it while hitting the yard sales. This book is available on E-Bay and at Amazon.com.

Author; Kristen Haring

Table of Contents and Sample Chapters

Decades before the Internet, ham radio provided instantaneous, global, person-to-person communication. Hundreds of thousands of amateur radio operators—a predominantly male, middle- and upper-class group known as "hams"—built and operated two-way radios for recreation in mid twentieth century America. In Ham Radio's Technical Culture, Kristen Haring examines why so many men adopted the technical hobby of ham radio from the 1930s through 1970s and how the pastime helped them form identity and community.

Ham radio required solitary tinkering with sophisticated electronics equipment, often isolated from domestic activities in a "radio shack," yet the hobby thrived on fraternal interaction. Conversations on the air grew into friendships, and hams gathered in clubs or met informally for "eyeball contacts." Within this community, hobbyists developed distinct values and practices with regard to radio, creating a particular "technical culture." Outsiders viewed amateur radio operators with a mixture of awe and suspicion, impressed by hams' mastery of powerful technology but uneasy about their contact with foreigners, especially during periods of political tension.

Drawing on a wealth of personal accounts found in radio magazines and newsletters and from technical manuals, trade journals, and government documents, Haring describes how ham radio culture rippled through hobbyists' lives. She explains why hi-tech employers recruited hams and why electronics manufacturers catered to these specialty customers. She discusses hams' position within the military and civil defense during World War II and the Cold War as well as the effect of the hobby on family dynamics. By considering ham radio in the context of other technical hobbies—model building, photography, high-fidelity audio, and similar leisure pursuits—Haring highlights the shared experiences of technical hobbyists. She shows that tinkerers influenced attitudes toward technology beyond hobby communities, enriching the general technical culture by posing a vital counterpoint.

School of Soldering

I (KD8BIG) am an...
Alfred E. Neuman's School of Soldering
DROPOUT, and proud of it!!! :o)

Update; SOLAR FLARE:

A little more than an hour ago, magnetic fields above sunspot 1105 reconnected, producing a brief but explosive C1-class solar flare. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a bright flash of extreme UV radiation from the blast site: 0.7 MB movie. Sunspot 1105 is growing rapidly and seems poised to produce more flares in the hours ahead.

It looks like the sun has developed rash. Sunspot group 1105 consists of more than 25 tiny spots scattered across an area some 40,000 km wide. Sascha Somodji sends this picture of the busy active region from his backyard observatory in Krefeld, Germany:

Sunspot group 1105 stands in marked contrast to nearby sunspot 1101, which consists of a single dark core. (Click here to see the two side by side.) If sunspot 1101 looks boring, that's because it is. The sunspot's magnetic underpinnings resemble a simple dipole, and the spot is correspondingly quiet. Sunspot group 1105, on the other hand, is much more complicated with a profusion of opposite magnetic polarities popping up and bumping together. Magnetic reconnection is happening there almost non-stop, causing sunspot 1105 to crackle with B-class solar flares. It is, indeed, a "rash sunspot."

more images: from Steve Rismiller of Milford, Ohio; from John Stetson of Portland, Maine; from Rolf Girssmann of Boostedt, Germany; from Cai-Uso Wohler of Bispingen, Germany;

source

I remember the first time I read this. I had my ticket for about 2-3 weeks. I have it in a frame here in the shack. It was on the wall at one time.
Sometimes these rules are forgotten. So I figured it was a good time to post.

The Amateur's Code

The Radio Amateur is CONSIDERATE...never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.

LOYAL...offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, and the American Radio Relay League, through which Amateur Radio in the United States is represented nationally and internationally.

PROGRESSIVE...with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station and operation above reproach.

FRIENDLY...slow and patient operating when requested; friendly advice and counsel to the beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.

BALANCED...radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.

PATRIOTIC...station and skill always ready for service to country and community.

Uniden HomePatrol

OMG, I got to get me one of these. When I saw the price I was shocked. Then after doing some research I have discovered that some of these units are all ready in the public.
I could not believe how technologically advanced this scanner is.
When I get this unit I will write a review.

Here are a couple of videos along with a couple of links.




HomePatrol web-site

HomePatrol Demo

What You will Receive; enter your zip code

Sun - Diferentional rotation of plasma

A question was asked; Dose the Sun Rotate?
This is a great video with the answer.

M.A.A.R.C. 2 Meter Net

I'm NCS tonight on the M.A.A.R.C. 2 meter net. Due to the current Hurricane and other Tropical Storms in the Atlantic I think I will talk about the Hurricane Watch Net.
The Hurricane Watch Net was established in 1965 for the purpose of providing support to the National Hurricane Center during times of tropical storm emergencies. Through our associated network of Amateur Radio Operators, emergency communications support to the NHC is of primary interest.
The Hurricane Watch Net and the operation at WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami are manned entirely by volunteers. We activate whenever a system has achieved hurricane status and is within 300 miles of populated land mass or at the request of the National Hurricane Center.

Net operations are conducted on 14.325 MHz.

The Hurricane Watch Net serves two purposes:

1. To disseminate the latest National Weather Service advisories on active hurricanes in both the Atlantic and Pacific side of the Americas. This includes transmissions to any maritime amateur radio operators that may be in the affected area.
   
2. To gather real-time ground level weather conditions from amateurs in the affected areas and to get these reports to the National Hurricane Center via WX4NHC in a timely and accurate fashion.
   

Along with these weather reports, often come reports on damaged roads power outages, structural damage, phone and communications links, and of course reports on injuries and deaths. These non-weather report items are usually relayed to other nets in operation on 20, 40, and 80 who are focusing on Health & Welfare, or by the crew at WX4NHC to the appropriate agencies that stay in touch with the National Hurricane Center.
For more info on the Hurricane Watch Net visit their web-site; http://www.hwn.org/