When I first set up my Amateur Radio Base Station I was a happy boy to say the least.
I had one radio, my FT-7800; it at the time was all I needed as I only held a technician license. Well, I also had my VX-7R HT-(Handy Talkie).
After pulling the radio in and out of the vehicle daily so I could participate in local nets and rag chewing in the house, I decided it was time to invest in another radio to keep in the house. At the time I was still only a Technician and really had not seen a use for any HF rigs so I went with the FT-8900. It had everything I needed and more considering I knew the FCC was going to allow Technicians privileges on 10 meters soon.
See more of my reasons for the FT-8900 here.
Then I became disabled, unable to work, drive or go very far from home.
With that I had no need to keep a second vehicle for my wife and me so I sold mine and brought the radio inside.
Shortly after that I had to sell my radios to pay medical bills.
Then I was a Ham with no radios.
A local ham felt for me and had a Radio Shack HTX 242 that was collecting dust and needed a home so he gave it to me. It was great to be back on the air. After a year of that happening the person who bought my original radios had not yet had the opportunity to take his amateur radio test and was moving his business out of state and had no need for my old radio gear so he, being a good friend gave me the gear back and told me not to worry about repaying him. He was glad it helped me and the family out.
A few months after that I decided it was time to upgrade to my General Class license and with that came the need for more radio equipment, i.e. my FT-897D. My wife told me that I should get the radio I wanted and get whatever accessories I needed. Well that was all I needed to hear so I went all out and not only bought the FT-897D but also purchased the Yaesu HRI-100, MFJ-1279M, MFJ-969 Deluxe Versa Tuner and the Yaesu FP-1030A power supply, followed with a couple of keys.
Yeeee Haaaaaa. I had it all.
Except the new Lap-Top and Desk Computer I now think I need.
So now I have all these new toys and only a 5 foot desk.
I now have 5 radios, 2 Police/Fire/Air Traffic scanners, Antenna Tuners, Sound Card Radio Interface, WiRES 2, Meters, Analzers and 2 power supplies.
That is plenty of room until I decided to re-arrange my room and desk.
I had a mess of power cords, wires and coax.
An Amateur Radio Station is not complete unless you have a computer, AM/FM Stereo with CD and Cassette decks.
I discovered that watching videos on You Tube sounded better if I had my computer connected to the stereo.
Desk lighting, I have 2 desk lights, very important. One is used more as a nite light so I can play around at night with-out causing my wife additional aggravation while trying to sleep. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the Lava Lamp, “Really”.
So now I am re-wiring everything and also trying to clean up the amount of wires. I have an electrician friend who will be running another couple of outlets to my room and I also decided it is time to have a ground bar instead of the 10 ground wires that come up from the basement to the equipment.
While looking for a ground bar I came across this, Ham Radio Grounding Kit by Storm Copper Components, Co.
I have not ordered it yet, I will this week and let you know how it works out along with a photo of it. Yes, I’m going with the one with my call sign.
In the mean time I guess I better continue to clean up this mess.
Before I go, I just remembered seeing High Current DC Multi-Outlet Strips in the MFJ catalog. Anyone have any experience with them? Are they worth getting? Hmmmmm~
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
FCC Split on 440 MHz Decision; Freq Still in Jeopardy
This is a follow -up on my Wednesday, April 20, 2011 post.
440 MHz Frequencies in Jeopardy??
FCC ISSUES SPLIT DECISION ON CHALLENGES TO RECON ROBOTICS USING 70 CM HAM BAND
Call this one a draw so far on for ham radio. This as the FCC has given radio amateurs a partial victory and a partial defeat in response to a challenge by members of the Amateur Radio Service and its national society. This, to an FCC waiver permitting ReconRobotics, Inc. to domestically operate its surveillance robot called the Recon Scout in the shared 70 centimeter amateur band. We have more in this report:
--
The FCC has denied several requests from the ham radio community, including an ARRL Petition for Reconsideration, of a rules waiver that permits the certification and licensing of the Recon Scout. This, to operate in the 430 to 448 MHz band.
In an Order on Reconsideration released on April 15, the FCC said that it found objections to use of 430 to 448 MHz as being unfounded. This based on the nature of the device, the way in which it must be sold and deployed, and that no other spectrum is as suitable for its operation.
In relation to the latter, the regulatory agency noted that operation of the Recon Scout in the 900 MHz band or high would require increased transmit power while still not guaranteeing the same quality of surveillance as afforded by operation on 70 centimeters. It also noted that the Recon Scout waiver states that these devices may not interfere with federal or non-federal stations operating from 420 to 450 MHz and those agencies using the Recon Scout must accept any interference received from all other spectrum users. In other words, as applied to ham radio operations, its users could not complain to the FCC if it received interference from any Amateur Service operations, but hams could complain if they were interfered with by operation of a Recon Scout.
On the plus side, the FCC did grant a request from the ARRL for changes in the labeling and instruction manual requirements of the Recon Scout. This, to insure that users of the device are aware of its limitations in regard to interference to its operation. As a result, Recon Scout transmitters delivered after April 15th are required to carry a warning on its product label and in its instruction manual basically stating that the Recon Scout must accept any interference received from federal or non-federal stations, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
The FCC Order also acknowledged that the ARRL was correct in arguing that the waiver was insufficient in that it did not waive applicable provisions of Section 2.106 of the Commission’s Rules, which contains the Table of Allocations of frequency bands to the various radio services. The Commission’s solution was to retroactively waive the Table of Allocations to the extent necessary to permit distribution and use of the Recon Scout.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW in Los Angeles
--
For those not aware, ReconRobotics bills itself as a world leader in tactical robotic systems. It claims that more than 1,200 of the company’s robots have been deployed world-wide by the U.S. military and international friendly forces, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, bomb squads and fire rescue teams. More about the company is on-line at www.reconrobotics.com. (FCC)
440 MHz Frequencies in Jeopardy??
FCC ISSUES SPLIT DECISION ON CHALLENGES TO RECON ROBOTICS USING 70 CM HAM BAND
Call this one a draw so far on for ham radio. This as the FCC has given radio amateurs a partial victory and a partial defeat in response to a challenge by members of the Amateur Radio Service and its national society. This, to an FCC waiver permitting ReconRobotics, Inc. to domestically operate its surveillance robot called the Recon Scout in the shared 70 centimeter amateur band. We have more in this report:
--
The FCC has denied several requests from the ham radio community, including an ARRL Petition for Reconsideration, of a rules waiver that permits the certification and licensing of the Recon Scout. This, to operate in the 430 to 448 MHz band.
In an Order on Reconsideration released on April 15, the FCC said that it found objections to use of 430 to 448 MHz as being unfounded. This based on the nature of the device, the way in which it must be sold and deployed, and that no other spectrum is as suitable for its operation.
In relation to the latter, the regulatory agency noted that operation of the Recon Scout in the 900 MHz band or high would require increased transmit power while still not guaranteeing the same quality of surveillance as afforded by operation on 70 centimeters. It also noted that the Recon Scout waiver states that these devices may not interfere with federal or non-federal stations operating from 420 to 450 MHz and those agencies using the Recon Scout must accept any interference received from all other spectrum users. In other words, as applied to ham radio operations, its users could not complain to the FCC if it received interference from any Amateur Service operations, but hams could complain if they were interfered with by operation of a Recon Scout.
On the plus side, the FCC did grant a request from the ARRL for changes in the labeling and instruction manual requirements of the Recon Scout. This, to insure that users of the device are aware of its limitations in regard to interference to its operation. As a result, Recon Scout transmitters delivered after April 15th are required to carry a warning on its product label and in its instruction manual basically stating that the Recon Scout must accept any interference received from federal or non-federal stations, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
The FCC Order also acknowledged that the ARRL was correct in arguing that the waiver was insufficient in that it did not waive applicable provisions of Section 2.106 of the Commission’s Rules, which contains the Table of Allocations of frequency bands to the various radio services. The Commission’s solution was to retroactively waive the Table of Allocations to the extent necessary to permit distribution and use of the Recon Scout.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW in Los Angeles
--
For those not aware, ReconRobotics bills itself as a world leader in tactical robotic systems. It claims that more than 1,200 of the company’s robots have been deployed world-wide by the U.S. military and international friendly forces, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, bomb squads and fire rescue teams. More about the company is on-line at www.reconrobotics.com. (FCC)
Friday, April 22, 2011
This Weekends Contest; April 21-25, 2011
This Weekends Contest;
| RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data | Apr 21 |
| NCCC Sprint Ladder | Apr 22 |
| 10-10 Int. Spring Contest, Digital | Apr 23-24 |
| SP DX RTTY Contest | Apr 23-24 |
| Helvetia Contest | Apr 23-24 |
| QRP to the Field | Apr 23-24 |
| South Dakota QSO Party | Apr 23-24 |
| Low Power Spring Sprint | Apr 25 |
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Global Positioning System (GPS) Under Attack
Representatives of a wide variety of industries and companies have joined the Coalition to Save Our GPS to resolve a serious threat to the reliability and viability of the Global Positioning System (GPS) - a national utility upon which millions of Americans rely every day.
To safeguard GPS, the Coalition seeks a number of remedies from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which recently granted a waiver to a company called LightSquared that allows them to repurpose the satellite spectrum immediately neighboring that of the GPS.
LightSquared plans to transmit ground-based radio signals that would be one billion or more times more powerful as received on earth than GPS's low-powered satellite-based signals, potentially causing severe interference impacting millions of GPS receivers - including those used by the federal agencies, state and local governments, first responders, airlines, mariners, civil engineering, construction and surveying, agriculture, and everyday consumers in their cars and on handheld devices.
For further information on this issue and to voice your concern please go to the Coalitions website: http://www.saveourgps.org/
To safeguard GPS, the Coalition seeks a number of remedies from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which recently granted a waiver to a company called LightSquared that allows them to repurpose the satellite spectrum immediately neighboring that of the GPS.
LightSquared plans to transmit ground-based radio signals that would be one billion or more times more powerful as received on earth than GPS's low-powered satellite-based signals, potentially causing severe interference impacting millions of GPS receivers - including those used by the federal agencies, state and local governments, first responders, airlines, mariners, civil engineering, construction and surveying, agriculture, and everyday consumers in their cars and on handheld devices.
For further information on this issue and to voice your concern please go to the Coalitions website: http://www.saveourgps.org/
D-STAR Infrastructure Promotion
Program Details:
From April 25, 2011 — May 9, 2011, your club can purchase directly from Icom America Inc, either a 2m or 70cm D-STAR repeater for US$3,000 (plus freight and applicable taxes).
| Repeater Components in this program for $3,000 | |
| Controller RF Module Gateway Software | ID-RP2C ID-RP2000V or ID-RP4000V RS-RP2 G2 |
Bonus: If you can meet the following requirements within 90-days from the date of purchase, Icom will refund the original purchase price (US$3000).
- Install in permanent location identified at the time of purchase
- Fully operational on the USROOT trust server with Icom G2 Gateway Software and within the requirements outlined by the USROOT Administration team
- Minimum of 10 users registered on the "Gateway"
- Guarantee system on air for minimum of 1 year from date of installation
This program is limited to the first 70 qualifying clubs located in priority areas listed below or not within an existing D-STAR Repeater (100 Aeronautical Mile Radius). Send a club biography and an outline of how D-STAR will be used in your community toDSTAR.Promo@icomamerica.com to see if your club qualifies.
Priority areas:
| Washington (Eastern) | Western Texas | Kentucky |
| Idaho | Nevada (North) | Illinois (Southern) |
| Montana | North Dakota | Indiana (Southern) |
| Wyoming | South Dakota | Arkansas |
| New Mexico | Minnesota (Northern) | Nebraska |
| New York (Up State) | Wisconsin (Northern) | Kansas |
Limitations:
This promotion is for U.S. residents only. Applicants cannot be affiliated with employees of Icom, Inc., including any parent, subsidiary or entity affiliated with Icom, Inc. or the distribution channels of Icom products.
For more information about the D-STAR Promotion: DSTAR.Promo@icomamerica.com
For more information on D-STAR:
www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/dstar/dstar/default.aspx
For more information on registering on the gateway:
Refer to the document "Joining the Network" on www.dstarusers.org
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
440 MHz Frequencies in Jeopardy??
I ran across this story this morning and thought I'd share it with you.
You can send it into buildings where hostages are being held, then move it from room to room as it transmits video via its miniature camera. Sleek and unobtrusive, the gadget can slip under furniture and roll down stairs. Only eight inches long and 1.2 pounds, it can be tossed through windows or onto burning roofs without sustaining damage.
On the other hand, the American Radio Relay League pretty much threw the book at Recon's request in its response to the request. The ARRL's opposition filing charged that the petition was vague, lacked appropriate technical specifications, and did not explore the possibility of using other frequencies for the gadget.
Read Full Story, Click Here
You can send it into buildings where hostages are being held, then move it from room to room as it transmits video via its miniature camera. Sleek and unobtrusive, the gadget can slip under furniture and roll down stairs. Only eight inches long and 1.2 pounds, it can be tossed through windows or onto burning roofs without sustaining damage.
On the other hand, the American Radio Relay League pretty much threw the book at Recon's request in its response to the request. The ARRL's opposition filing charged that the petition was vague, lacked appropriate technical specifications, and did not explore the possibility of using other frequencies for the gadget.
Read Full Story, Click Here
Monday, April 18, 2011
Articles of Interest w/ Archives
Hello All,
Today, Monday, April 18, is World Amateur Radio Day
I hope to hear you on the bands.
Articles of Interest
Fewer crackle over HAM in country today
Upcoming ARISS ham radio contact with primary school in Argentina
Big B to brush up his ham radio skills
World Amateur Radio Day April 18
Archives
Dec 15, 1961 Eugene Register-Guard Oscar's Picked Up .By Eugene Ham's Radio
Feb 8, 1958 St. Petersburg Times - Did Amateur Radio Signal Kill Atlas?
Aug 23, 1928 Toledo News-Bee- … Doubt Expressed To Authenticity .Amateur Radio Operator..
Today, Monday, April 18, is World Amateur Radio Day
I hope to hear you on the bands.
Articles of Interest
Fewer crackle over HAM in country today
Upcoming ARISS ham radio contact with primary school in Argentina
Big B to brush up his ham radio skills
World Amateur Radio Day April 18
Archives
Dec 15, 1961 Eugene Register-Guard Oscar's Picked Up .By Eugene Ham's Radio
Feb 8, 1958 St. Petersburg Times - Did Amateur Radio Signal Kill Atlas?
Aug 23, 1928 Toledo News-Bee- … Doubt Expressed To Authenticity .Amateur Radio Operator..
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Amateur Radio continuing to help in Japan
Towards the bottom of my post I have past info from Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL)
Here is an update obtained from several e-mails and SARC.
Here is an update obtained from several e-mails and SARC.
The amateur radio activity is continuing to help those mainly within the disaster recovery area struck by the worst earthquake in Japan in 140 years.
IARU Region 3 Secretary, Ken Yamamoto JA1CJP said “several stations are handling medium distance information exchange on 7.030/7.043 MHz.
“The operation in VHF and UHF bands becomes more active than in earlier days. About 250 transceivers with JARL licenses are used for communications between various refugee rest places and local government offices.
“Two sets of 430 MHz repeaters have also been delivered to the disaster area and they are operational now to enhance the existing repeaters coverage and provide easier communications between hand-held transceivers.”
The big earthquake, now graded at nine on the Ritcher scale, and followed by a tsunami hit north-eastern Japan on 11 March, and crippled a nuclear power facility. More than 13,500 have been killed.
The headquarters station of the Japan Amateur League (JARL) in Tokyo, JA1RL became a disaster communication centre in the days immediately after the disaster.
Ken JA1CJP said, “It should be noted that some towns are so heavily disrupted that the local government offices are also in the refugee centres and the residents are staying in multiple places.
“In such cases, amateur radio can contribute a lot to maintain the ties between the local government and residents.”
In the long haul the emergency communications to be provided through amateur radio, as the disruption to normal life will continue for some considerable time to come.
A presentation on the Japanese earthquake triple disaster will be made at the GAREC 2011 in Sun City, South Africa, in August this year.
Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee
WØGFQ; World Radio founder SK at 100
The Omaha native founded World Radio Laboratories in Council Bluffs in 1935 and it became one of the world's largest distributors of amateur radio equipment. Meyerson also established the World Radio electronics stores, a retail chain that operated in the Midlands from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Meyerson, known internationally by the radio call sign WØGFQ, died of complications from a stroke on Wednesday at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He had celebrated his 100th birthday on March 7.
WØGFQ, WØGFQ, WØGFQ;~This is KD8BIG
God Speed WØGFQ
Continue Reading; Click Here
Saturday, April 16, 2011
World Amateur Radio Day
Monday, April 18, is World Amateur Radio Day and the theme for this year is 'Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social network'.
Long before the Internet and smart phones, Amateur Radio operators have been talking, texting and sharing for decades. But unlike those commercial services, Amateur Radio continues to attract people world-wide by providing international communications for free. And because it does not need pre-established supporting infrastructure, these radio-savvy “amateurs” can reach out to friends in every corner of the world, as well as into space.
Amateur Radio operators have been the leaders in developing many of today’s modern electronic and communications marvels. Today, the citizens of Earth think of “wireless” as being the ubiquitous cellular phone. But this technology is only made possible due to the pioneering work in radio technologies first explored by these “amateurs.”
Many of our leading electrical engineers draw from their practical experiences as Amateur Radio operators as they continue to develop applications blending computers and radios. Ham radio operators may be “amateur” because they are unpaid volunteers, but their skills and contributions to the world are of the highest order.
World Amateur Radio Day celebrates the founding on April 18, 1925 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and hams around the world will be on the air.
World Amateur Radio Day
http://www.iaru-r2.org/world-amateur-radio-day/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=70269378675
Long before the Internet and smart phones, Amateur Radio operators have been talking, texting and sharing for decades. But unlike those commercial services, Amateur Radio continues to attract people world-wide by providing international communications for free. And because it does not need pre-established supporting infrastructure, these radio-savvy “amateurs” can reach out to friends in every corner of the world, as well as into space.
Amateur Radio operators have been the leaders in developing many of today’s modern electronic and communications marvels. Today, the citizens of Earth think of “wireless” as being the ubiquitous cellular phone. But this technology is only made possible due to the pioneering work in radio technologies first explored by these “amateurs.”
Many of our leading electrical engineers draw from their practical experiences as Amateur Radio operators as they continue to develop applications blending computers and radios. Ham radio operators may be “amateur” because they are unpaid volunteers, but their skills and contributions to the world are of the highest order.
World Amateur Radio Day celebrates the founding on April 18, 1925 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and hams around the world will be on the air.
World Amateur Radio Day
http://www.iaru-r2.org/world-amateur-radio-day/
https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=70269378675
Friday, April 15, 2011
Special Temporary Amateur Call Signs for Royal Wedding
RSGB has agreed with Ofcom arrangements for all UK Radio Amateurs to opt to use special call-signs for a period of eleven days beginning on the date of the marriage of H.R.H. Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton, 29th April 2011.
Use of the special prefix, which is "GR", "MR" or "2R" is conditional on allocation of a Notice of Variation to the License (NoV) which can be quickly obtained via a simple process on this RSGB web site, which also contains all relevant information.
The last date and time for application is 18:00 BST on Tuesday 26th April 2011. All NoVs which are approved by Ofcom will be provided by close of business on Thursday 28th April 2011. No postal applications will be accepted and all NoVs will be sent by Email to the address supplied as part of the application.
For more info, Click Here
Use of the special prefix, which is "GR", "MR" or "2R" is conditional on allocation of a Notice of Variation to the License (NoV) which can be quickly obtained via a simple process on this RSGB web site, which also contains all relevant information.
The last date and time for application is 18:00 BST on Tuesday 26th April 2011. All NoVs which are approved by Ofcom will be provided by close of business on Thursday 28th April 2011. No postal applications will be accepted and all NoVs will be sent by Email to the address supplied as part of the application.
For more info, Click Here
KD8BIG & Articles of Interest
Hello all, still dealing with health issues and hoping to feel more like sitting at the desk soon. I really hate using the lap-top while in the recliner or in bed.
I am hoping to write up a few reviews next week on the HEIL Pro Set Plus, Yaesu FTM 350 AR and the MFJ 1279M Deluxe Multimode Sound Card Interface. It has been a while since I have done a review, mine or someone else's.
This weekends contest.
Articles of Interest;
Contest;
Amateur Radio;
Big B to brush up his ham radio skills
ARNewsline Report 1757 -- April 15 2011:
ZM Amateur Radio prefix for Rugby World Cup
When Pig's Fly Special Event Stations
Amateur radio enthusiasts set to run Speyside special
Elementary School Students Make Contact with Astronauts
I am hoping to write up a few reviews next week on the HEIL Pro Set Plus, Yaesu FTM 350 AR and the MFJ 1279M Deluxe Multimode Sound Card Interface. It has been a while since I have done a review, mine or someone else's.
This weekends contest.
| NCCC Sprint Ladder | Apr 15 |
| Holyland DX Contest | Apr 15-16 |
| TARA Skirmish Digital Prefix Contest | Apr 16 |
| ARLHS Annual Spring Lites QSO Party | Apr 16-24 |
| ES Open HF Championship | Apr 16 |
| CQ Manchester Mineira DX Contest | Apr 16-17 |
| Feld Hell Sprint | Apr 16 |
| Michigan QSO Party | Apr 16-17 |
| EU Spring Sprint, SSB | Apr 16 |
| EA-QRP CW Contest | Apr 16-17 |
| Ontario QSO Party | Apr 16-17 |
| YU DX Contest | Apr 16-17 |
| ARRL Rookie Roundup, SSB | Apr 17 |
| Run for the Bacon QRP Contest | Apr 18 |
Articles of Interest;
Contest;
Amateur Radio;
Big B to brush up his ham radio skills
ARNewsline Report 1757 -- April 15 2011:
ZM Amateur Radio prefix for Rugby World Cup
When Pig's Fly Special Event Stations
Amateur radio enthusiasts set to run Speyside special
Elementary School Students Make Contact with Astronauts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Geomagnetic Storm
A geomagnetic storm that sparked auroras around the Arctic Circle and sent Northern Lights spilling over the Canadian border into the United States on April 12th is subsiding.
Geomagnetic Storm Update
A geomagnetic storm that sparked auroras around the Arctic Circle and sent Northern Lights spilling over the Canadian border into the United States on April 12th is subsiding.
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