Author Archive
An SDR receiver for $20? Yes!
March 30th, 2012 | 
Author: This looks like a lot of fun, and the price is certainly right! It uses the popular (and cheap!) DVB-T Digital TV USB Dongle Stick.
From the video description:
Download it here: http://spench.net/r/USRP_Interfaces
http://twitter.com/spenchdotnetCompatible devices should be: ezcap, Hama nano & Terratec NOXON (get the first two as it has a better tuner – the Elonics 4000, same as FUNcube Dongle, broadest frequency range: 64-1700 MHz).
This all started here (info & code): http://sdr.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/rtl-sdr
My ExtIO plugin also supports all USRPs, the FUNcube Dongle and network streaming using BorIP (see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2PaSeR-4Ck). You can also send the received baseband data over the network to GNU Radio using the UDP Source block.
And the winner of the Baofeng UV-5R is…
Well, it’s been a week and that means our March giveaway has come to an end. The good news: we get to announce a winner!
Win a Baofeng UV-5R
AmateurRadio.com is offering a free prize drawing!
With the help of our very generous sponsor,
Import Communications (formerly Wouxun.us),
we’re giving away a
Baofeng UV-5R Dual-Band HT
+ a Free USB Programming Cable!
(144/440 MHz)
This is a nearly US$85 value.
Enter now to win!
All licensed hams in the U.S. and Canada are eligible to enter
Shipping to US and Canada included. Canadian winners responsible for any duties and taxes.
Wouxun Dual Band Mobile
There’s a rumor afloat that Wouxun may be getting closer to releasing their much-anticipated dual band mobile rig.
My source says he’s actually operated a final prototype of the radio (in China) and that it has all the bells and whistles you’d expect in a serious competitor.
The big question mark at this point is how much it’s going to cost. I think that it has to be well under $325 (the approximate street price of a Yaesu FT-7900R). By well under, I’m talking at least $50 cheaper.
My prediction is the price will be $250 and they’ll sell like hotcakes.
What’s your guess?
Using CircuitLab to Design Projects
I ran into this online circuit design program, called CircuitLab, on a few blogs and forums, and have been playing around with it myself. There are many who are more technically-minded than myself (Fred W0FMS comes to mind), but I’ve had some initial luck playing around with it. It’s very visual and easy to use (on Firefox, at least). I’m curious if others have tried it and what your reactions are? I know that this isn’t the first circuit simulation program out there, but it seems ridiculously easy to use.
Baofeng UV-5R spotted on Ed Griffin’s website
Some exciting news! It looks like the new Baofeng UV-5R has arrived stateside. Browsing Ed Griffin’s Wouxun.us, I’ve found a page indicating that it’s coming soon and the scrolling banner lists the price at $65 shipped (USA). Brick O’Lore has a great post showing some of the exciting new features:
BAOFENG UV-5R 4W
136-174/400-480MhzBAOFENG UV-5R The transcevier is a micro-miniature multiband FM transceiver with extensive receive frequency coverage,providing local-area two-way amateur communications along with unmatched monitoring capability
VHF/ UHF DUAL-BAND TWO WAY RADIO
Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-480MHz
Dual-Band Display, Dual Freq. Display, Dual-Standby
Output Power: 4 /1Watts
128 Channels
50 CTCSS and 104 CDCSS
Built-in VOX Function
1750Hz Brust Tone
FM Radio (65.0MHz-108.0MHz)
LED Flashlight
Large LCD Display
Hight /Low RF Power Switchable
25KHz/12.5KHz Switchable
Emergency Alert
Low Battery Alert
Battery Saver
Time-out Timer
Keypad Lock
Monitor Channel
Channel Step: 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25KHz
Roger Set
Johnny Cash Birthday Special Event Station
The Northeast Arkansas Radio Club is sponsoring a special event station in honor of Johnny Cash’s birthday.
All licensed amateur operators are welcome to contact N5C on Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 12:00pm CST (1800 UTC) to 8:00pm CST (0200 Feb. 27, 2012 UTC).
Stations making a confirmed contact with N5C will receive a commemorative certificate.
They are planning on operating at least one station in Johnny’s boyhood hometown of Dyess Colony, AR. Stations making contact with the Dyess Colony station will receive a special designation on their certificate.
Planned operating frequencies will be: 3.835, 7.260, 14.260 and 28.330 mHz (+/-3 kHz).
“He ‘walked the line,’ now let us ‘talk the line!'”
