What a difference
-
a week makes!
I'm talking of propagation and the 40 Meter Fox Hunt which occurred last
night. I was tired after a long day at work, and I wasn't going to...
10 hours ago
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Overland Telegraph - 140 years ago, yesterday!
An ABC News story today tells of the celebrations in Darwin this week marking the start of the Overland Telegraph on 20th June 1870 when the South Australian parliament voted to dedicate about half its annual budget to building the telegraph line!
Barrie Barnes of the SA & NT Morsecodians and others appear in the video accompanying the story explaining the history.
Barrie Barnes of the SA & NT Morsecodians and others appear in the video accompanying the story explaining the history.
Friday, June 18, 2010
CW resources
Via a link to a Facebook page I found two morse related application (for Windows) here. This page is interesting not just for the RSS Morse and Morse Keyer programs, but also some handy morse related links.
I discovered a free pdf book 'Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy' by Carlo Consoli, IK0YGJ. Interestingly Carlo wrote the book in Italian, translated it into English himself and then got Ulrich Steinberg, N2DE to revise the book. Net result: Very readable! When you think about it the first thoughts behind the first morse signals to hit the ether would have been in Italian! Carlo also salutes craftsmen such as craftsmen like Piero Begali I2RTF, Salvatore Canzoneri IK1OJM and Alberto Frattini I1QOD.
This site is the distributon site for current and historical versions
of A Fully Automatic Morse Code Teaching Machine first described in a
I discovered a free pdf book 'Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy' by Carlo Consoli, IK0YGJ. Interestingly Carlo wrote the book in Italian, translated it into English himself and then got Ulrich Steinberg, N2DE to revise the book. Net result: Very readable! When you think about it the first thoughts behind the first morse signals to hit the ether would have been in Italian! Carlo also salutes craftsmen such as craftsmen like Piero Begali I2RTF, Salvatore Canzoneri IK1OJM and Alberto Frattini I1QOD.
There are also links to versions of The Art and Skill of Radiotelegraphy by William G. Pierpont N0HFF (3rd edition - 20 April 2002) and Using an Iambic Paddle by Chuck Adams, K7QO.
Also via a post to the CW email group a link to K6DBG's page on 'Some things I've discovered about learning and operating CW' and a link to a "a cross-platform Morse program http://c2.com/morse/.
This site is the distributon site for current and historical versions
of A Fully Automatic Morse Code Teaching Machine first described in a
May 1977 QST article of the same name by Ward Cunningham.".
Ward Cunningham of course is the ham who also developed one of the earliest wikis at http://c2.com/cgi/wiki.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Call that a morse key!
Received the club key from SKCC today.
A very solid piece of work that you can tell immediately was designed by an operator. It's beautifully finished with adjustment knobs that instill confidence.
And it certainly makes some in my small collection look tiny!
A very solid piece of work that you can tell immediately was designed by an operator. It's beautifully finished with adjustment knobs that instill confidence.
And it certainly makes some in my small collection look tiny!
Friday, May 28, 2010
USB morse key
Via Julian G3ILO news of an Arduino based project to build an inteface to enable direct input to a computer with a morse key. Lots of information can be found here.
It looks like a neat little project. I don't get the feeling it's going to be offered as a kit or anything. Most of what you'd need to know to make one is on the site including a schematic and the code that decodes the morse code!
This is similar - in concept at least - to those iPhone morse apps where you can tape the screen in the same way you would a straight key, and the app gives you feedback on your morse - at the most basic level by translating it back to what you hopefully intended to say.
What would be even more exciting would be an interface that could also handle paddle input to PCs ... a bit like the $1.99 iPhone app iDitDahText by Marc Vaillant. You can only load this one on to jailbroken iPhones. It's available via the Cydia Store. It enables you to enter text in all iPhone apps using the equivalent of an iambic keypad on the screen up to 50 wpm. Great party trick!
Or better still isn't there a way to connect the output of the iPhone or even the iPad - electrical not audio - to control a keyer and a transmitter. Throw in PTT control while you're at it!
It looks like a neat little project. I don't get the feeling it's going to be offered as a kit or anything. Most of what you'd need to know to make one is on the site including a schematic and the code that decodes the morse code!
This is similar - in concept at least - to those iPhone morse apps where you can tape the screen in the same way you would a straight key, and the app gives you feedback on your morse - at the most basic level by translating it back to what you hopefully intended to say.
What would be even more exciting would be an interface that could also handle paddle input to PCs ... a bit like the $1.99 iPhone app iDitDahText by Marc Vaillant. You can only load this one on to jailbroken iPhones. It's available via the Cydia Store. It enables you to enter text in all iPhone apps using the equivalent of an iambic keypad on the screen up to 50 wpm. Great party trick!
Or better still isn't there a way to connect the output of the iPhone or even the iPad - electrical not audio - to control a keyer and a transmitter. Throw in PTT control while you're at it!
Digital radio speed bump
Lead story on Southgate News is latest stage of mounting concern over radio "scrappage" plans that are part of the switchover to digital radio in the UK. One UK radio network group UKRD is refusing to broadcast the radio scrappage advertising campaign and they describe it as "morally and ethically suspect."
And apparently they're not alone. Rob Mannion G3XFD, editor of the UK radio magazine Practical Wireless also has grave doubts about the rush to digital radio in the UK. He's launched a national campaign aimed at maintaining essential traditional analogue broadcast radio for everyday listening and for use in times of national emergencies.
Also see the earlier Southgate news item about concerns that DAB is twenty-year-old technology.
And apparently they're not alone. Rob Mannion G3XFD, editor of the UK radio magazine Practical Wireless also has grave doubts about the rush to digital radio in the UK. He's launched a national campaign aimed at maintaining essential traditional analogue broadcast radio for everyday listening and for use in times of national emergencies.
Also see the earlier Southgate news item about concerns that DAB is twenty-year-old technology.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
QST for June 2010 arrived in Sydney today
Now I can see the article by Tony K2MO that was being talked about on the digitalmodes email list and that generated a flurry of activity with the ALE 400 mode. It explains how to use MultiPSK by Patrick F6CTE to use ALE 400 to have error-free two way keyboard chats.
Other articles this month include:
Homebrew Challenge II Winner #1 — The Lowest Cost Entry - Donald W. Huff, W6JL
For less than $30, you can build this 40 meter band 50 W linear amplifier for your QRP rig.
HF Yagi Triplexer Especially for ARRL Field Day - Gary Gordon, K6KV
Put three transceivers on one antenna using a decoupling network in conjunction with band-pass filters.
A Fan Dipole for 80 through 6 Meters - Richard P. Clem, WØIS
Parallel dipoles can be easy to build and are quite effective — once you know the rules.
Receiver Sensitivity — Can You Have Too Much? - Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR
With modern receivers, hams are not as concerned with sensitivity as they once were. But if you want top performance from your rig, here are some tips to keep in mind.
A Vehicle Mounted Mast for Field Operating - Geoff Haines, N1GY
This easy-to-deploy portable mast will get your Field Day antenna up fast.
Product Review includes the second part of the wrap on popular dual-lever keyer paddles — Vibroplex Iambic Standard, Elecraft's HexKey, K8RA's P-2 & W5JH's Black Widow Kit.
Other articles this month include:
Homebrew Challenge II Winner #1 — The Lowest Cost Entry - Donald W. Huff, W6JL
For less than $30, you can build this 40 meter band 50 W linear amplifier for your QRP rig.
HF Yagi Triplexer Especially for ARRL Field Day - Gary Gordon, K6KV
Put three transceivers on one antenna using a decoupling network in conjunction with band-pass filters.
A Fan Dipole for 80 through 6 Meters - Richard P. Clem, WØIS
Parallel dipoles can be easy to build and are quite effective — once you know the rules.
Receiver Sensitivity — Can You Have Too Much? - Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR
With modern receivers, hams are not as concerned with sensitivity as they once were. But if you want top performance from your rig, here are some tips to keep in mind.
A Vehicle Mounted Mast for Field Operating - Geoff Haines, N1GY
This easy-to-deploy portable mast will get your Field Day antenna up fast.
Product Review includes the second part of the wrap on popular dual-lever keyer paddles — Vibroplex Iambic Standard, Elecraft's HexKey, K8RA's P-2 & W5JH's Black Widow Kit.
Three new keys
As the aussie dollar dies and the exchange rate plummets (down > 11% in less than a week!), I can sense the appeal of eBay waning. And soon the pleasant flow of small and not so small packets from overseas may dry up. (Even now - with slight recovery - the aussie is just at US 83 cents compared to 93c last week.)
This week I've received three keys - from the UK, the US and Victoria - all of them neat and smaller than your average morse key.
Arriving from the UK was a key made by New York firm J H Bunnell - similar to the very first key I ever had in my teens. It was billed as a WWII key.
Coincidentally in the same delivery there was a key I'd ordered from the J H Bunnell company in the states. I was responding to an (out-of-date as it turned out to be) note about a stash of NOS (new old stock) Bunnell Navy Flameproof keys. They wrote back promptly to let me know these keys were out of stock but they did have NOS supplies of the same MIL STD CMI-26003A keys manufactured as the prefix indicates by Molded Insulator. A very neat key, as new in what looks like the original labelled cardboard box.
The last of this trio of keys to arrive was an as new Hi Mound HK-705 which Morse Express describes as the little brother to my HK-708.
All of these keys are compact enough to literally fit in your pocket, but still not as small as - or perhaps as practical for portable ops - as the tiny Palm Paddle!
This week I've received three keys - from the UK, the US and Victoria - all of them neat and smaller than your average morse key.
Arriving from the UK was a key made by New York firm J H Bunnell - similar to the very first key I ever had in my teens. It was billed as a WWII key.
Coincidentally in the same delivery there was a key I'd ordered from the J H Bunnell company in the states. I was responding to an (out-of-date as it turned out to be) note about a stash of NOS (new old stock) Bunnell Navy Flameproof keys. They wrote back promptly to let me know these keys were out of stock but they did have NOS supplies of the same MIL STD CMI-26003A keys manufactured as the prefix indicates by Molded Insulator. A very neat key, as new in what looks like the original labelled cardboard box.
The last of this trio of keys to arrive was an as new Hi Mound HK-705 which Morse Express describes as the little brother to my HK-708.
All of these keys are compact enough to literally fit in your pocket, but still not as small as - or perhaps as practical for portable ops - as the tiny Palm Paddle!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Fuchs antenna
Received the kit for the Multiband Fuchs antenna from QRP porjects in Germany. The English manual explains how it tunes a half wavelength at the lowest band to operate effectively on higher bands. So a 41m length of wire can be used from 80 - 10 metres.
"Tuning is very easy. The first step is, to find the point of maximum noise / loudest signal in receive. Now with a small transmitter signal, the link is switched to lowest SWR. Ready. The FUCHS is equipped with an output indicator. Only at the point of resonance, the LED glows."
"Tuning is very easy. The first step is, to find the point of maximum noise / loudest signal in receive. Now with a small transmitter signal, the link is switched to lowest SWR. Ready. The FUCHS is equipped with an output indicator. Only at the point of resonance, the LED glows."
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Handy K3 resource
Via the Elecraft email list a pointer to a comprehensive looking listing of settings for the K3 compiled by K8DD. There's also a document detailing calibration procedures for the K3.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
June World Radio Online available now
The June edition of WorldRadio Online is here.
Cover story is of Steve WG0AT and taking on the ARRL Field Day alone. Well the two goats Rooster and Peanut aren't too far away, but they don't look very interested in helping log contacts or make the odd cup of coffee.
Cover story is of Steve WG0AT and taking on the ARRL Field Day alone. Well the two goats Rooster and Peanut aren't too far away, but they don't look very interested in helping log contacts or make the odd cup of coffee.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
B&W coils
I was surprised to see that one longtime brand I associate with my earliest days playing around with radio, Barker and Williamson, is still thriving - and even better, still providing the product I associate them most closely with, air wound coils, specifically the Miniductors.
There's a list of the types they have available here. They're not cheap, but they are convenient. They don't appear to have a local Australian distributor. They do sell an attractive looking 13-42pF butterfly variable capacitor for US$25.
There's a list of the types they have available here. They're not cheap, but they are convenient. They don't appear to have a local Australian distributor. They do sell an attractive looking 13-42pF butterfly variable capacitor for US$25.
Monday, May 17, 2010
QST for May 2010 arrived in Sydney today
Articles this month include
- a report on the second Homebrew Challenge featuring inexpensive designs (think around $30) for a 50 W amplifier.
- circularly polarized Yagi antennas for satellite communications
- a homebrew a window feed through panel
- explaining the differences bewteen a duplexer and a diplexer
- a six band - 20 - 6 metres log periodic dipole array using a phasing line.
- an Amp-Hour meter for portable ops to monitor battery discharge rate.
- there's also a review of some popular dual-lever keyer paddles and a couple of noise canceling headphones, and the Yaesu FT-1900R 2 meter transceiver.
K1 arrived
The K1 I purchased recently arrived today. I'm looking forward to exploring it.
It has all options including both interchangeable 4 band and 2 band modules, KAT1 - ATU, KNB1 - noise blanker, KBT1 - internal battery holder, K1BKLT - dial backlight and KTS1 - the wide range tilt stand.
I was lucky enought to get a Palm Paddle included in the deal and the paddle base is neatly stowed on the stand. This compact little radio just needs an antenna and it's ready to go.
I was lucky enought to get a Palm Paddle included in the deal and the paddle base is neatly stowed on the stand. This compact little radio just needs an antenna and it's ready to go.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Iambic keying: How to?
Stumbled across interesting YouTube video on "Iambic Keyer and Technique" attempting to teach how to use an Iambic keyer. It's about 5 1/2 mins long. Another video from IK0YGJ simply shows the sender using a beautiful Begali Sculpture and sending at 50wpm.
While I'm at it I should include the link to the 9mins plus video explaining how to use iDitDahText on the iphone.
While I'm at it I should include the link to the 9mins plus video explaining how to use iDitDahText on the iphone.
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