AmateurRadio.com

So this afternoon I was playing with the YouKits TJ5A Hf Transceiver running 5 watts and using my Chameleon Hy-Brid up on a 15′ pole feeding coax to my shack and running about 135′ of wire across the yard with far end up 20′ in the air. The base of the Hy-Brid and pole are grounded with a ground rod.
I called cq on 21.050 after watching the RBN to see where I was being heard, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Ted in Stockton,ME SKCC#1312 call me, he gave me a 579 with my 5 watts. QSB came in as we finished our exchange.
Then out of the blue I heard KZ5OM Jerry SKCC#10415S in California, Jerry was a 339 and he gave me a 569 and then QSB took us both down.
I then went to 20 meters and tuned the antenna and was called by Rich K4DJ in N.C., he is SKCC#11060S, he was a 569 and I was a 459 so not too bad at all..

The Hy-Brid tunes super for me and I use this set up on 160 meters as well.
Giving the new TJ5A a workout and I can say that the power stays solid and does not move and it receives very well without the filter, will be a great test when filter is installed.
Thanks to the 3 operators, Ted, Jerry and Rich for a great hour on the air.

Fred
VE3FAL
SKCC#50

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Thanks (again) to Steve G1KQH, these are Android apps for WSPR. I see they now include a TX beacon.

Two new WSPR Apps for Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glandorf1.joe.wsprnetviewer.app&hl=en

WSPR Beacon

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iu4apc.wsprbeacon&hl=en_GB

and another I have just found:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xxx.wspr.g4swy&hl=en_GB

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

A co-worker of mine got his GMail hacked. I doubt anyone guessed the password — it was not easily “guessable.” There was probably some malware running on a machine he used to log in at some point. Who knows?

Why is a hacked GMail or Yahoo Mail account a big deal? Because once they get into your e-mail account, they have access to EVERYTHING.

Think about it… if someone has access to your e-mail account, they can launch any number of frauds against you. They can read through your email and see that you’re on vacation in Hawaii. Then, when you’re asleep, they can email your contacts asking them to send money via PayPal using credible details about your travel (“I twisted my ankle on the beach — please send cash!”). They can also reset the passwords on your bank accounts, Facebook, etc. Access to your e-mail account is, to a hacker, like a kid in a candy store.

For a number of years I’ve been using Two-Factor Authentication on my GMail account. Each time I log in, you can set it up to send you a text with an additional code that’s only valid for a short period of time. Alternatively, they make an app (called Google Authenticator) that gives you the code even if you aren’t in wireless range. Using two-factor authentication makes it MUCH harder for someone (other than you) to access your GMail account.

If you don’t always (or ever?) carry around a smartphone and would rather have a physical device, you can use an “electronic key” that you plug into your computer. I’ve used a Yubico security key (the cheap one — there are more expensive versions) and can recommend it. It’s a little device that hooks to your keychain. It almost looks like a USB thumb drive, and while it does get inserted in a USB port, it is much more rugged that a standard thumb drive. You can set it up so that the key has to be plugged into your computer in order to log in to your account.

I found the security key to be easy to carry around, it’s cheap ($18 on Amazon – not an affiliate link), and waterproof. The key can be used to provide an extra layer of security not only for GMail, but also WordPress (via 3rd party plugin), Lastpass, and more. One downside, however, is that it only works with the Google Chrome browser at the moment. I would imagine as more browsers adopt the FIDO U2F standard specification, more options will be available.

Whether you choose to use one of the two free options, or pony up for a physical device like the security key, the only thing that matters is that you do SOMETHING. If you use GMail, watch the video above to learn step-by-step how to do it. Please do it now and avoid waking up some morning to find that you’ve been hacked. It’s not a good feeling.

One of the great things about amateur radio is the number of different ways in which the hobby can be enjoyed.

For over a year now my health has been poor because a brain bleed in September 2013. Before then, I enjoyed QRP QSOs (mainly SSB), construction and field experiments from VLF to optical. Since my stroke I have been clumsy and (until recently) not allowed to drive. Very very slowly, normality is returning but I think it will be way into 2015 before I can call myself well.

In the meantime, I still manage WSPR and other digital modes from home. I can even, albeit briefly, manage our local 2m FM net and the occasional VHF/UHF contest. Some people enjoy satellites, MS or moonbounce. Others just like to ragchew on 80m.

We must rejoice that there are so many different, yet equally valid, ways of enjoying ourselves. We have a great hobby.

See www.qrpme.com .

http://www.qrpme.com/images/MeSquares.jpg

Always on the look out for interesting QRP projects, the QRPme website has lots of interesting and low cost projects. They also sell crystals for QRP frequencies and MePads and MeSquares, which are very useful. In all, a useful resource for keen QRP enthusiasts.

I have not had a chance to wade through the report(s) from this ITU meeting in Korea ahead of WRC2015 to see if a contiguous 60m band amateur allocation is any more probable. The few bits I did read were talking about budgets! We certainly will need a contiguous 60m band in the quiet years ahead. A nice new worldwide amateur band there would be very welcome.