Deluxe CB Radio

You have to love it when you are out hitting garage sales and flea markets.
I have come across many kinds of sellers. 
Today I met an arrogant SOB to say the least.
I was looking at an old phonograph player/stereo made by Zenith.  He gave me the idiot speech, telling me it was an antique worth a thousand dollars and was willing to let it go for half, 500 bucks FIRM!!
As I was shaking my head and leaving something had caught my eye, a Kenwood TS-530S.
I walked over to it, picked it up and the guy told me it was a Kenwood Deluxe CB radio. LOL
I asked him what he wanted for it and he said 50 bucks! He also said, “I do not know if it works because his police scanner antenna would not work with it”.
I thought about how he treated me on the Zenith and said, bummer, I only have ten dollars.
He said……..SOLD!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!!!
 Now to hook it up and see what I have.

Emergency Communications on Twitter

Amateur Radio Ecomms
@AmateurRadioEco

In times of crisis and natural disasters, amateur radio is often used as a means of emergency communication when other conventional means of communications fail~

Follow us on Twitter;
https://twitter.com/AmateurRadioEco

In the DX world

In the DX world;

If you are DXCC hunting and has a card for E51WL for North Cook Island rejected, here’s some good news. According to Bill Moore at the ARRL DXCC Desk, it turns out that the operator is a native of the island and that his previous ZK1WL had previously been approved. The bottom line is that this is just a callsign change, so if you had E51WL rejected in a recent submission send an e-mail to bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org for an update to your record. (NC1L)
In DX, W5JON will be operating as V47JA from his Calypso Bay, St. Kitts, West Indies vacation home from July 9th until August 10th. Listen out for John on 160 through 6 meters using SSB, RTTY and several digital modes. He will also be using his newly issued contest call V49J in the IARU and Islands on the Air contests on SSB. Johns wife Cathy, W5HAM, may get on the air occasionally operating as V47HAM. All QSL's go direct or via Logbook of the World to W5JON.
PA3A, PD1AEG, PA8AD and PA8AN will be active from Congo September 28th to October 11th as TN5MS. They will be active on H-F Bands. QSL via PA3AWW, either direct, or Logbook of the World.
ZL2JU is currently active from Rarotonga in the South Cook Islands as E51JJU. He is operational on most of the High Frequency bands but no exact schedule of operating times is mentioned. QSL via home call.
OO9O will be on the air portable LX from Luxembourg from June 17th to the 20th. He plans to focus on 30 meter CW and PSK. QSL via home call, or electronically using eQSL or Logbook of the World.
Five operators will be active using the call will be active from Ustica Island from July 24th to the 29th signing IE9 stroke IK6JRI. They also plan to take part in the RSGB sponsored Islands on the Air contest that takes place during their stay. If you make contact please QSL via IK6JRI
Lastly, G0MGX is currently working in Qatar and has obtained a permit to operate stroke A7. He says to listen out for him during evenings and some weekends primarily using RTTY and JT65. He adds that the Qatar Amateur Radio Society has made him feel very welcome and that he is very grateful to them for the support and help they have given to him. He adds that he has provided the ARRL with the necessary documents of licensing for all his callsigns and uploads to Logbook of the World regularly. QSL as directed on the air.

Two Hams Rescued from Flooded Campground

Two hams have been rescued from a flooded campground thanks to their hobby. Sunday morning, May 19th at about 4:40 a.m. Eric Heaton, KF4LJN, and Henry Miller N4VG, were awakened by a flooding situation at Lake Chinabee in Munford, Alabama east of Birmingham. The two had been camping when Miller noticed water getting into his tent.

Miller and Heaton moved their cars several times to stay above the flooding line. They soon realized that the only road out of the area was submerged in 2 to 3 feet of water and impassable. So Miller made contact with a ham in Talladega, Alabama, over the Mt. Cheaha 147.69/ .09 repeater. That ham in turn notified authorities of the two trapped radio amateurs.

The Cleburne County Sheriff’s Rescue Squad was dispatched and both Heaton and Miller were soon brought to safety by boat. There was very poor cellphone coverage in the area but thanks to ham radio everyone is safe. (KB4KCH)

Louisiana will use ALERT FM

The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has announced that the it has completed the implementation of the ALERT FM and GSSNet systems. This as a way of improving the method used to deliver voice and text emergency notifications to the public.

Louisiana will use ALERT FM to send out its emergency alerts, as will emergency managers from all 64 parishes and 42 colleges and universities across the state. ALERT FM is an FM radio-based emergency notification system that will help Louisiana better keep citizens, schools, businesses, and first responders informed of critical information during natural or man-made disasters.

ALERT FM delivers emergency messages using the data sub-carrier of local FM radio stations. The use of this preexisting network of FM broadcasters provides overlapping and redundant signal coverage for the state.

Around 90 FM stations will participate in the Louisiana ALERT FM network. This overlapping coverage will ensure message distribution over a large footprint and gives emergency managers the ability to reach their intended recipients.

More on this Louisiana state wide implementation of ALERT FM is on line at http://rbr.com/louisiana-takes-alert-fm-and-gssnet-statewide/

KD8BIG "Places to Visit"

Being an Amateur Radio Operator I have experienced meeting so many people on-line.

I'm referring to sites like Twitter, Facebook, Skype, Ham Radio Nation, CQ Friends etc.

One of the cool things about being on the internet is the photos that are sent to me.

So, I decided to add a new Label on my Amateur Radio Blog (http://kd8big.blogspot.com/ )

titled "Places to Visit"

Many of the photos are sent to me via
Twitter, Facebook, Skype, Ham Radio Nation, CQ Friends etc. (KD8BIG)

If I post a photo that is copyrighted by you and you do not want me to post it please let me know

and I will remove it.

Enjoy the blog~

73 de KD8BIG Mark Strait.

Monument Valley

Sunrise at Monument Valley 

Swallows Nest Sea Castle near Crimea, Ukraine

RemoteQTH Server

This Open source project offers a solution to remote control of your Amateur radio station. Base for connecting other components and their remote control. The main advantage is low cost and adaptability (open source code).

Base for connecting other components on your remote station.

Main functions:

• System is configured via web interface, with password protection.
• Remote control are also possible with a smartphone.
• Control up to 8 arduino (K3NG code) rotators modules.
• Azimuth maps of rotators show actual grayline with position of the sun.
• Web control for 8 relays.
• Up to 8 temperature sensors.
• Up to 2 A/D sensors with four voltage inputs.
• LCD display shows actual IP adress and other informations.
• One click server update.
• Access without public IP addresses.
• CW daemon - send cw from web interface, also listen on TCP port.
• Export up to 8 serial ports to IP nework.
• SSH access allows you to run applications directly on the server (Tucnak log).
• QRcode generator for simply mobile acess.
• Backup server configuration.
• Based on RaspberryPI with consumption 2 watt only.
• Any linux system possible.

download →

Hardware requirements:

• Raspberry Pi single-board computer (or else linux compatible pc).
• SD memory card (min 2GB).
• Server main board.
• Eight relay board.
• Arduino rotor control with USB/UART converter (up to eight).
• LCD display with I2C controller and 3.3/5V level converter.
• I2C A/D converter with four voltage inputs (one or two).
• I2C temperature sensor (up to eight).
• USB/UART CW interface.
• 5V power supply.
• Power hub.
• USB hub with external power supply.

How to order →

Explore web interface

Arduino Band decoder - independent module kit

Main functions:

• Independent hardware.
• Open code (by OK1CDJ) - you can modify.
• Arduino mini module compatible.
• Hardware input for:
  • Kenwood/Icom CAT.
  • Icom Band voltage output.
  • Yaesu BCD.
• Optocoupler isolated output.
• 5V power voltage.
• Twelve open colector output.
• Twelve LED diode indicated.
• 70 x 80 mm PCB board.

More info at Remote QTH; Click Here
http://remoteqth.com/

STL-40 / STL40-PTT Lightweight Tactical Headset

Lightweight Tactical Headset
This lightweight tactical-style monitoring headset incorporates a flexible contoured ear hanger which can be easily adjusted for fit. Includes a quick-disconnect acoustic tube with multiple ear insert options and right or left ear compatibility. The swivel boom microphone adjusts for left or right positioning. Combine with a Sonetics SON231 Belt Pack for wireless system.

More info; Click Here
http://www.soneticscorp.com/products/stealth-headsets/stl-40-stl40-ptt-lightweight-tactical-headset/

Sonetics Communication Solution Home Page

http://www.soneticscorp.com/  

 

W4HM "Free" Daily MF/HF/6M Radio Wave Propagation Forecast

W4HM has decided to make his W4HM Daily MF/HF/6M Radio Wave Propagation Forecast free of charge to all of his fellow amateur radio operators and SWL's around the world.
It can be found at http://www.solarcycle24.org and http://www.wcflunatall.com/propagation.htm .

Thomas F. Giella, W4HM
Lakeland, FL, USA w4hm@tampabay.rr.com
W4HM Daily MF/HF/6M Radio Wave Propagation Forecast Subscription Service: http://www.solarcycle24.org

W4HM Solar Space & Geomagnetic Weather Data Dashboard: http://www.wcflunatall.com/nz4o2.htm

W4HM Solar Cycle 24 Forecast Discussion & Archive:
http://www.wcflunatall.com/nz4o4.htm

W4HM 160 Meter Radio Propagation Theory Notes: 
 http://www.wcflunatall.com/nz4o5.htm

W4HM Solar Space Weather & Geomagnetic Raw Forecast Data Links: http://www.wcflunatall.com/nz4o6.htm

Solar Cycle 24 Dot Org on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Solar...39198369462931

Marshall Hamfest and Radio Swap

 The 53rd Annual Marshall Hamfest and Radio Swap meet will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the Marshall Activity Center (MAC), 15325 W. Michigan Avenue in Marshall, Michigan. The doors will open at 8:00AM and the event will run until 12:00PM. Admission is $5.00 and parking is free. Table-space is available for vendors or those who have items they wish to sell, priced at $10.00 per 8’. Amateur radio license testing will begin at 10:00AM. All are welcome to join us! For registration materials and additional information, please visit our website www.w8df.com, contact Dave “Doc” Ashbolt K8OLY or Mike Schmieder KD8NJA at (269) 223-7141 or email us at crossroadshamfest@gmail.com.


More Info; Click Here 
http://www.w8df.com/index.php?content=hamfest

 

Sunday Voice Net – Topic: TAPRN Winlink BBS

Hello TAPRN, Hope everyone had a great week.  We will be having our weekly Voice Net this Sunday, 3/10/13, at 9pm EST, God willing.  As always, we’ll do our best to be at 3.818, but history is proving 3.819 or higher due to QRM is needed. For this week’s topic, W0ECM has offered to discuss the TAPRN
More info; Click Here
 

APOCALYPSE 101 - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

APOCALYPSE 101:  If the flood waters rise, if the virus spreads, if the bombs go off -- the guys who run Forge Survival Supply are ready. Meet four former Marines who believe that they have what it takes to survive almost any doomsday scenario. Joel, Mark, Mike and Jimmy own Forge Survival Supply; their mission is to use what they have on hand to teach and test their clients' survival skills.  Set your DVR!!!!

MOUSER ELECTRONICS

Mouser Electronics, a name well known in the ham radio do it
yourself movement, has  announced the signing of a new
international distribution agreement with Coilcraft, a
leading magnetic component manufacturer, across the regions
of Europe, Asia, Mexico and South America.  Through this
partnership, announced at Embedded World in Germany, Mouser
is now stocking a wide range of Coilcraft's magnetic and
inductive products for immediate shipment.

Coilcraft provides magnetic components including high-
performance RF chip inductors, power magnetics and filters
in a variety of packages and a wide range of values.
Designer's kits are offered to help engineers learn the
capabilities of these high-performance inductors.

According to Mouser President and CEO Glenn Smith, this
agreement with Coilcraft helps further his company's
commitment to providing the newest products and technologies
for design engineers from industry-leading suppliers.  Smith
adds that Mouser and Coilcraft are looking forward to a long-
standing and successful partnership together.