Messages

76

Amateur Radio / Re: 2M SSB

« on: July 21, 2019, 1828 UTC »

"Hey, Dood",
There's some kind of V/UHF contest on this weekend and that
always seems to bring people out of the woodwork. Unfortunately,
some ops believe that contest mode means all knobs to the right!

Six has been open most of the weekend here; including a lot of SSB and
even some CW. I checked ~144.200 yesterday and heard some sigs
but I have some wide RFI ~144.198 and that plays havoc up to almost 144.210
so didn't make out much in the way of calls.

77

General Radio Discussion / Re: Apollo in Real Time Comms and more...

« on: July 21, 2019, 0100 UTC »

Sigma,
That's so cool. Thanks for posting and yes, I'm old enough that I remember exactly
where I was and what I was doing 50 years ago.

78

Amateur Radio / Re: Huntsville Hamfest 2019

« on: July 18, 2019, 0101 UTC »

RH,
I've never been to Gibson's on south Parkway but back in the day, we would sometimes
go to a BBQ place, I *think* it was a Gibson's, on either Athens Highway or maybe Wall-Triana;
I was working in Research Park at the time and the area was NOTHING like it is now so that
was reasonably cquick. Of course, I also used to go for Saturday morning bicycle rides "out in the country"
which is now the burbs.

Not much response to this as yet but we are still a month out from the hamfest.

79

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: KiWiSDR fan problem

« on: July 18, 2019, 0052 UTC »

Thanks Chris, I'll see if giving it a wedgie will help. I do know that picking it up and moving it
around does not do anything. Early on, I also tried giving it a couple of low distance "techno-drops"
and that didn't help the noise either.

80

SDR - Software Defined Radio / KiWiSDR fan problem

« on: July 17, 2019, 1457 UTC »

Late last year I bought a KiWiSDR and also ordered the metal case. The case included a small (5 vdc, ~30mm box type) fan.
After just a few months, the fan became very noisy. I removed it, cleaned it (nothing like sharing a house with a long haired cat
even thought the SDR is up on a desktop), and even carefully peeled back the label and lightly oiled the fan bearing. That
helped for a short while and now the noise is back.

Has anyone else run into this and how did you fix it? I e-mailed seeedco asking about getting a replacement and also a spare;
I have not received a response as of this morning.
Thankis

81

Software / Re: SDR Console release

« on: July 13, 2019, 1254 UTC »

FYI:
Before upgrading to this version, be sure to save the folder
c:/users/(your username)/AppData/Roaming/SDR-RADIO.com/Console/Ident0 (assuming you are using the default)
The file SDR-Favourites_000.xml contains (surprise!) your Favourites list.
I didn't save that before upgrading and lost all my Favourites because the file was overwritten and I spent a lot of time rebuilding it.
I now have a copy in a safe place.

However, SDR Console is still my preferred SDR program; it's so easy to switch between the
SDR-IQ and the V/UHF dongle, with which I've been able to copy the CW beacon from Lightsail-2 satellite.

82

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Re: Solar Sail Satellite Lightsail-2 Now Transmitting Morse Code Beacon

« on: July 11, 2019, 1421 UTC »

Thanks, Josh. I'm gonna give it a listen after I check the orbital predictions.

83

Amateur Radio / Re: Huntsville Hamfest 2019

« on: July 11, 2019, 1356 UTC »

Any interest in an impromptu HFU gathering during the hamfest? I see several HFU members
who seem to live in the Huntsville / North AL area and the hamfest draws people from
all around. I haven't lived in "Huntspatch" since '83 but did maintain my HARC membership
for several years after.

Perhaps we could try to commandeer one of the tables in the main hall outside the hamfest entrance?

Any interest? Preferred time? Location? Suggestions? Whatever?

84

Equipment / Re: Project 7000

« on: July 03, 2019, 1905 UTC »

Ah, yes, a fine piece of equipment. Mine is sitting on my desk, across from my good ol' R-70
FYI, Josh, Chris, and probably others: Here's links to manuals for the R-7000:

Owners manual: https://www.icom.co.jp/world/support/download/manual/disp_down.php?SWT=&ID=20010101083&GNR=Receiver&TYPE=Base%20Station&PDNM=IC-R7000&INQWORDSWT=No&INQWORD=

Service manual: http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/ICOM_RX/IC-R7000_serv.pdf

Enjoy!

85

Amateur Radio / Re: ARRL June VHF Contest this weekend, 6/8 - 6/10/2019.

« on: June 09, 2019, 0020 UTC »

Yeah, Josh, I remember the IC-502 but never had one. That's the fun thing about six - when
the band is open (like it is now, into New England) you can get out using a wet shoestring. Six
was the first band I operated after I got my Tech ticket, using a homebrew rig with
"Advanced Modulation"   A 6146 modulated with a pair of 6L6s, as I recall.

86

Amateur Radio / Re: ARRL June VHF Contest this weekend, 6/8 - 6/10/2019.

« on: June 08, 2019, 0132 UTC »

FYI: Six meters has been open here at least part of every day for the past week.
I hope it holds up through this weekend. Only problem is everyone seems to
hang out on 50.313 FT8. When I go down to ~50,125 or even 52.525 nobody's
at home there! If I'm seeing lots of strong FT8 sigs then the other freqs should
also be active - if anyone would give them a try.

I did work my first Cuban last weekend. First on USB then later saw and worked
him on FT8. Personally, I don't get much thrill out of the automated FT8 exchanges
but it should be a good indicator of the band being open.

87

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6950 USB 2258 UTC 26 April 2019

« on: April 27, 2019, 0035 UTC »

Can't even begin to read the small print.
And the 2318z image.

Hey MyT, and maybe others,
You got my curiosity fired up and I saved my copy of the SSTV image,
tweaked on it a bit and was able to make out most of the bottom line.
I did a Google search on what I had and found the original image.
Now you can read the fine print.
Enjoy

https://www.google.com/search?sa=X&q=electrifying+picture+of+Black+Raven+engulfed+by+St.+Elmo%27s+Fire&tbm=isch&source=univ&ved=2ahUKEwiukda7_-7hAhUshuAKHdWVD-QQsAR6BAgFEAE&biw=1920&bih=987#imgrc=DeadZdLSgzHAYM:


 

88

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Gaga 6925 USB 2120 UTC 20 Apr 2019

« on: April 20, 2019, 2354 UTC »

Today, 4/20, is observed as National Pot Day, so it might be
reasonable to expect a high level of pirate activity... 

89

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6950 USB 0154 UTC 20 Apr 2019

« on: April 20, 2019, 0208 UTC »

0205 - SSTV - looks like "The real unid radio"
Previous "Sounds of Silence" & "When a Man Loves a Woman"
0207 - "Paint It Black"

Very good S9+ sig and great audio! Thanks for the program.

90

Utility / Re: UNID 6900 AM 0255 27mar2019 UTC

« on: March 28, 2019, 0429 UTC »

Thanks for the info TW. I just now saw the announcement by
The Relay Station about this. I'm going to set up the SDR to
record the Friday UTC xmission. I had the pleasure to meet
Ms. Christie and take in her presentation at the 2018
Winter SWLfest.