The ever Active Sun

A global eruption on the sun has shattered old ideas about solar activity. Researchers presented their surprising findings at a press conference Monday at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. Get the full story from Science@NASA.
Hoping it will make the DX better.

A Great Book about Amateur Radio

I got a book from a friend a few months ago and I just finished reading it. I am a discouraged with myself for letting this incredible book sit on my desk untouched for so long.
The book,
The World of Ham Radio, 1901-1950: A Social History
by Richard A. Barlett

During the first fifty years of the twentieth century, ham radio went from being an experiment to virtually an art form. Because of the few government restrictions and the low monetary investment required, the concept of ham radio appealed to various people. More than just a simple hobby, however, ham radio required its operators to understand radio theory, be able to trace a schematic and know how to build a transmitter and receiver with whatever material they might have available. With the advent of World War II and the increased need for cutting-edge communications, the United States government drew upon the considerable knowledge and skill of these amateur ham radio operators, validating the fact that ham radio was here to stay.

This book explores the history of ham radio operators, emphasizing their social history and their many contributions to the technological development of worldwide communications. It traces the concept of relays, including the American Radio Relay League, from contacts as close as 25 miles apart to operators anywhere in the world. The book highlights the part played by ham radio in many of the headlined events of the half century, especially exploration and aviation "firsts". The ways in which these primarily amateur operators assisted in times of disaster including such events as the sinking of the Titanic and the 1937 Ohio River flood, are also examined.

A CW Story.

Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist's counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.

The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn't heard any summons yet.

They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified. Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled." The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"

The employer said, "I'm sorry, but the last several minutes while you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours." None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his.

Snow Collapse of Minneapolis Metrodome

Wow, what a mess for Brett and the boys.

Distracted Driving Legislation

I have heard of laws being passed throughout the world and it seems they are getting ever close to reality here in the U.S.A. at times. Well this is what is going on with our northern neighbor.

Distracted Driving Legislation Continues to be on Provincial Agendas; New Brunswick introduces Legislation Banning Cell Phone and Two Way Radio Use

Most provinces [eg. Nova Scotia, Manitoba, BC, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador to name five] have chosen not to restrict the operation of mobile amateur radio equipment during driving. These governments have recognized the value of amateur radio to their citizens. Amateur radio has served the citizens of Canada during such emergencies such as floods, dangerous weather and ice storms, in support of public events such as Marathons and in support of agencies such as the Red Cross and a variety of provincial and municipal agencies across Canada. The support provided by amateur radio is frequent, freely given and in the highest standard of public service.
continue reading

Rare Lunar Eclipse of Dec. 21st , 2010

Rare Lunar Eclipse of Dec. 21st , 2010
This eclipse is rare, only one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is Dec. 21, 1638, the next one will be on Dec. 21, 2094, 84 years from now.
The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST (Monday, Dec. 20th, at 10:33 pm PST).

More info; click here
and; click here

I will Re-post this on the 20th as a reminder for those of you who RSS

A Ham's Night Before Christmas

A pleasant video to share with your amateur radio friends. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

How to Use MUF

Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) describes, in radio transmission, using reflection from the regular ionized layers of the ionosphere, the upper frequency limit that can be used for transmission between two points at a specified time. This index is especially useful in regards to shortwave transmissions.

Note: MUF is a median frequency applicable to 50% of the days of a month, as opposed to 90% cited for the lowest usable high frequency (LUF) and the optimum traffic frequency (FOT).

Operating near the MUF often gives excellent results because of absorption is lowest just below the MUF. Low takeoff angles also raise the MUF because the signals will need less bending to complete a hop. Here are two examples;
*If the MUF over a certain path is 19MHz, the best band for that path is 17 meters.
*If the MUF over a certain path is 25MHz, the best band for that path is 12 meters.

source used; Federal Standard 1037C, titled Telecommunications

Amateur Radio Vendors & Sales

I have updated my Amateur Radio Vendors and Sales section at the bottom this page. Feel free to contact me if a site is not linking or out of business.
If you have a link you wish to be added please send me an e-mail. I will check out the site and if it meets my status I will post a link there.

Thanks for the e-mails and visits.
73,
de KD8BIG

CW TOUCH KEYER

A few of us were rag chewing about Keyers over the weekend and one of my friends suggested I look at these keys.CW TOUCH KEYER. He owns 2 and loves them.
I do not know if I will purchase one of these, the price seems to be consumer friendly with the economy like it is.
Here is a video of one of there products.

The Alinco DR-235 TMK III

I’m hoping to purchase an Alinco DR-235 TMK III in 2011. Why you may ask? Just because it is the only mobile rig that dose the 1.25 meter band (220 MHz). The 220 MHz is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum allocated for amateur radio use in ITU Region 2, comprising frequencies from 222 MHz to 225 MHz in the United States (with the addition of 219–220 MHz on a limited, secondary basis) I’m still needing to research the meaning of that.
It just seems to me that 2 meters is very crowded and 440 gives me heartburn, so I am gonna try 220MHz.

The Alinco DR-235 TMK III features;

Frequency range RX; 216-278 MHz (after modification: RX/TX 200-299.995 MHz depending on VCO alignment)

TX; 222-225 MHz

Modulations;
RX FM / N-FM
TX FM / N-FM

Sensitivity;0.25 µV (12 dB SINAD)

Selectivity;
FM: 12 kHz (-6 dB), 28 kHz (-60 dB)
N-FM: 6 kHz (-6 dB), 14 kHz (-60 dB)

Aerial; 50 Ω, SO-239

RF-Output; High: 25 W, Medium: 10 W, Low: 5 W

Memories;101 channels in 1 banks

Power requirements;13.8V DC

Current drain RX; Max 600 mA

TX; Max 8 A

Dimensions (w×h×d); 142 × 40 × 174 mm (5.59 × 1.57 × 6.85 in)

Weight; 1000 gr (2.2 lbs)

Features;
CTCSS, DCS and DTMF. 1K2/9K6 TNC option. Theft alarm Digital voice board option (requires at least two similarly equipped radios)

Amateur Radio Antennas and Radiation

My neighbors’ family members asked me about my antennas. After I explained that they are Amateur Radio Antennas I could see the fear in their eyes.
The very first question I was asked about was, “Will the antennas cause cancer and our hair to fall out?”

If there is a word guaranteed to cause apprehension, it is “radiation”. Amateur Radio uses the word in a much broader sense--radiation pattern, feed line radiation, antennas radiate--and that can be confusing to the layman. It is true that radio frequency energy is a form of radiation, but it is far different from the radiation used for cancer treatment or emitted by radio active materials.
Radiation from antennas is not the same as ionizing radiation from radioactivity. Radio frequencies are not nearly high enough for a photon of radio energy to cause an electron to leave the atom (ionize) as discussed when talking about ionospheric propagation. That is the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation of which radios waves are the latter type.
Before radio ways can be considered ionizing, their frequency would have to be increased far beyond microwaves, through visible light and on the upper reaches of the ultraviolet and x-ray spectrum. The radiation from radioactivity is carried by atomic particles such as the nucleus of a helium atom (alpha radiation), an electron (beta radiation), neutrons, or gamma-ray photons with frequencies even higher than ex-rays. These are billions of time more energetic than the radio waves cause by Amateur Radio Operators.
Biologic (athermal) effects such as genetic damage have never been observed at amateur frequencies and power levels. That requires the energy of ionizing radiation. The only demonstrating hazard from exposure to RF energy is heating (thermal effects) and that occurs only in very strong fields. RF “burns” are caused by touching conducting surfaces that have a high RF voltage present and are a very localized instance of heating that carries no more risk than thermal burns from hot objects.

So, if you are ever approached by a neighbor or some local authority this would be your best explanation to give.
Not only is it true but they will walk away scratching their heads.

Busy Time of Year

Busy day for me today and yesterday.
Yesterday I was hoping to work some DX and spend to time doing everything Ham Related.
Well, that did not happen.
Today was spent Christmas shopping. Got it all done, except for me.
I just wrote a short review on the FT-897-D this afternoon on the Radio Reference web.site.
I also joined the North American QRP CW Club last week, I'm NAQCC # 5102.

I'm hoping to get some radio time this weekend. Hope to hear you on the bands.
Remember, you can follow me on twitter.

My Week So Far

Wow, the week is flying by. We got about 4 inches of snow today. I was hoping to spend time working DX and time on the computer. Neither has happen. I got my Vibroplex Iambic Deluxe today. I have not done anything with it other than look at it and show the wife and kids.
I imagine that I will make the adjustments and get it on the air tomorrow.

Stay tuned for updates and photos.

Sunday Football

A guy took his blond girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team's bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience.

'Oh, I really liked it,' she replied, 'especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents.'

Dumbfounded, her date asked, 'What do you mean?'

'Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: 'Get the quarterback! Get the quarterback!' I'm like...Helloooooo? It's only 25 cents!!!!