Topics

31

Amateur Radio / Winter, of Amateur Radio stuff to look forward to? Uh-huh....

« on: January 02, 2024, 2016 UTC »

Already, looking FWR to The ARRL VHF Sweepsteaks.  https://www.arrl.org/january-vhf    Then, Winter Field Day, which seems to be growing.https://winterfieldday.org/    And then, the always fun AM Rally!!!  http://www.amrally.com/   This year, that could be much more fun on 20M, 17M, 12M, 15M, and especially 10M, AM. However, 6M and 2M AM can also be fun as well, albeit more local. So, if Southern thunderstorms rear their ugly, noisy, heads this AM Rally, chances are, this year, moving to the higher bands will be a nice escape from that. And, when F2 is open from 20M, on up, barefoot power, even QRP, is all it takes. 

32

Equipment / SWL'ing mentions Radio Jay Qodosen SR-286. And, the review.

« on: December 30, 2023, 1905 UTC »

https://swling.com/blog/2023/12/tef6686-dsp-chip-and-the-qodosen-sr-286/#     And, the Radio Jay review,   https://radiojayallen.com/qodosen-sr-286-am-fm-sw-high-performance-portable/    INFO on a new type of DSP chip used.

33

The RF Workbench / Radio World's article on Crystals!

« on: December 27, 2023, 1959 UTC »

We all use them, in one form, or another.   https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/roots-of-radio/crystals-whats-going-on-in-there    Boomer, FWR that to me.

34

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Pacifica Network welcomes & interviews Part 15 AM'er in Fairmont, WV! And???

« on: December 23, 2023, 1930 UTC »

https://pacificanetwork.org/pacifica-network-welcomes-am-station-wefr-in-fairmont-wv/      Good, to see others running with this.

UPDATE 1/1/2024:  Geez... I just hope that I didn't add to this op's on / off arguments on Part 15 station publicity and operations. But, goto https://part15.org/   , check-out the POSTS, and there's back & forth controversy upon the legits of a Part 15 op. What I don't like is when others insist to tell you how to run your station. People could suggest, but don't tell me what I can and can not do. There's a reason that I've not been a member of Part15.org, and that's certainly one of them. 

35

Amateur Radio / It pays to listen to HAM's? It was this time.

« on: December 19, 2023, 0325 UTC »

I go to bed at night with a Sangean ATS-803A. When I think that C2C AM has a guest that sucks, I'll plug-in the W.O.G. antenna and fall asleep listening to HAM's on 75M and 160M. I tuned-in to the 3878kHz group, late Thursday night, and heard them talk about this big flu epidemic going around. Whelp... A day later my household was sick, very sick, and incredibly fast oncoming. Now, has anyone in the mainstream news media picked-up on this? We've heard zilch here.
UPDATE 12/21/2023 :  Actually, FOX News had the new COVID strain in the news late, late, Monday night. Then, CBS News that day afterwards.

36

Huh? / “Attempt to Pass AM for Every Vehicle Act in Senate Falls Short”

« on: December 09, 2023, 2146 UTC »

https://swling.com/blog/2023/12/attempt-to-pass-am-for-every-vehicle-act-in-senate-falls-short/      Really??? Actually, and even a bit reluctantly, I see Rand's point that we shouldn't force manufacturers to do this, but should be a consumer-based demand decision. Suggest, but not force.

37

Huh? / Another neat link on broadcasting, and more.

« on: December 05, 2023, 2059 UTC »

Anyone, ever heard of this site before?    https://commonfrequency.org/     Ran into that at    https://www.radiosurvivor.com/   .

38

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / A temporary repeater on 151.625MHz, VHF DOT FREQ? It was...

« on: December 04, 2023, 2145 UTC »

Thursday afternoon, 11/30/2023, I was again hearing chatter on that VHF Licensed DOT Colored FREQ of 151.625MHz, over a scanner. Usually, it's the tower workers using that to communication when climbing that American Tower, 600ft TV tower, that's 1 mile North of me. However, I was hearing a +1 sec repeater tail on this, this time. A portable / mobile flat-pack repeater? Must have been, since I didn't hear that the next day. That, and I was getting ready for work Thursday afternoon. That, was different.

39

The RF Workbench / What to Know About Three-Terminal Voltage Regulators. Radio World rip...

« on: December 04, 2023, 2138 UTC »

https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/tech-tips/what-to-know-about-three-terminal-voltage-regulators    Boomer, FWR me this link. Always, good INFO to know. I use those LM? Voltage Regulators a lot.

40

Propagation / Multiple CMEs and “Almost” X-Class Flare Incoming! SWL'ing rip.

« on: November 30, 2023, 2031 UTC »

https://swling.com/blog/2023/11/multiple-cmes-and-almost-x-class-flare-incoming/   Uh... Figures... I have someone, out by Spokane, WA, wanting to have a sched with me on 10M. Well, probably not this weekend. Then again, listen for buzzy sounding QSO's of Aurora on 10M and espscially 6M.

41

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / 462.575MHz+/R GMRS Repeater finally ID'ed. Will try and work it. And, did!

« on: November 29, 2023, 2005 UTC »

Keeping one of those Midland FRS / GMRS bubble-pack HT's as a continuous scanner, I was hearing a fast ID on CH16, or 462.575MHz GMRS FREQ. This super cold-snap really must have brought foliage absorption to nil, since I hear the WRDM641+/R, Eastside System 641, GMRS repeater. I got more INFO by logging back on to MY-GMRS page at   https://www.mygmrs.com/   I've sent a repeater-access request, and we'll see if I get one. I've also sent INFO on my GMRS machine to them as well. So, neat catch, from my worst RF direction at +20 miles away. NEAT!!!!
UPDATE 12/5/2023 : I've got permission to access that GMRS repeater, and plan to hit that after work, tonight. I've had to reprogram a commercial Icom IC-F6160 UHF rig, and tested the match on a Laird 1/2-wave UHF MAG Mount. Should be neat!
UPDATE 12/8/2023 : Did it!!! I actually tripped the GMRS repeater from the work QTH, then drove closer to it, where I caught-up with the owner, Charles, still at his work place, but with an HT. I pulled-in a parking lot to be between him, and his operating-at-his-home GMRS repeater, just 20ft AGL. So, did Simplex and through his repeater. Unfortunately, the weather really sucked, and a hard rain came down. Charles, had to catch a bus, and I wanted to get back home at stupid o'clock. Still, neat to QSO on a GMRS repeater for the 1st time since 2010.

42

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Any X-mas light display stations up, yet? Sort of? Nope...

« on: November 24, 2023, 1933 UTC »

So, has anyone heard any Part 15 Christmas Display stations on-air yet? The usual dude, about a mile away from me, doesn't have his FM station up, yet. And, definitely Part 15. Five houses away, ya lose it.

UPDATE 11/28/2023 :  Actually, that dude that does the fully all-out X-mas display about a mile from me, had his FM TX on 101.3FM, STEREO pilot detected, but just dead-air. So, he hasn't put up the huge light display, yet, but the Part 15 FM TX is on. So, he must be getting ready for warmer weather.

UPDATE 1/2/2024:   Well, that dude, that usually does the light-show-blow-out, didn't do it this year, and his Part 15 FM, at 101.3FM, was just dead-air. I don't know if St. Albans, WV did a Part 15 X-mas Music station for their Annual Park Lights display. So, the only Part 15 stuff, of Christmas stuff, was just my AM stations, I guess.

43

Huh? / An interview with Glenn Hauser?

« on: November 24, 2023, 1925 UTC »

SWL'ing rip. No telling if this includes the 'standard disclaimer'. (Hi-hi...)  https://swling.com/blog/2023/11/an-interview-with-glenn-hauser/#respond

44

The RF Workbench / Dipole vs Vertical: Which Antenna is Better?

« on: November 16, 2023, 2009 UTC »

I guess that this can go here.   https://www.onallbands.com/dipole-vs-vertical%EF%BB%BF-which-antenna-is-better/   Tim, K8RRT shared that. Me??? I've done the best of both worlds, Vertical Dipoles.

45

Equipment / Radio Jay Allen review the Sangean WR-55 MONO, high-powered, Table Radio.

« on: November 16, 2023, 1959 UTC »

https://radiojayallen.com/sangean-wr-55-am-fm-table-radio/     Neat!!! Ya know, I do miss those 1970's, and early 80's, analog, high-powered, table radios from Sony, Panasonic, Realistic, and I had one from RCA, that mysteriously just disappeared on me. (Huh???) Not the best DX'ers, but I did like the warm, rockin', audio from those.