During my ongoing apprenticeship in D-Star, I continue to make mistakes and, mostly learn from them.

My latest: To “simplify” use of the DR feature of Icom ID-51A+, instead of loading all 750 repeaters the machine can hold, I loaded only those from areas where I expected to travel; i.e., Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and the Carolinas. Then, I promptly forgot having done that. Consequently, when I went to New York last weekend, I was dumbstruck that there were “no” D-Star repeaters in all of New York City or its environs. Flabbergasted, I was. When I saw the closest showing on my radio was in Ohio, I recollected what I’d done. So, what to do?

I traveled without my handy-dandy RTS programming cable and also sans computer; bringing only a tablet on this short trip. But, there is a micro SD card in the ID-51 and one in my tablet, so maybe I download the complete North America repeatercropped-id-51a info from http://www.dstarinfo.com to the tablet, format the tablet’s SD card in the radio, put it back in the tablet, copy the list to the card, put card back in radio and Bob’s Your Uncle I’ll be in business. I had several hours to kill and was situated in a warm and pleasant Italian restaurant in Briarcliff Manor at lunchtime with no crowd, so I could immerse myself in pizza, beer and ham radio fiddling with no pressure – perfect!

Well, actually maybe not so perfect; first, getting the SD card out of the tablet was tricky and ultimately required the use of a borrowed lady’s earring post to release the little door (we hams are resourceful!); then, I find out the repeater list will not download to an Android tablet and neither will the needed CS-51 program. But wait, there’s still hope: the repeater list can be downloaded as a csv spreadsheet file so let’s try that. By golly, that appeared to work as a download but alas, not as an upload. Nothing is as simple as it ought to be. Threw my hands up, downed my beer, and called it a day.

Days later, back home with computer I learned that the CS-51 (or the RTS equivalent) is totally necessary, and also that naming a new icf file has to follow the awkward format exactly, i.e., Set20180114_01 and not a more user-friendly “Jan 14 2018 settings,” even though the Nifty! Mini-Manual says you can. I did, however, learn how to program the radio using the SD card and not relying on the RTS cable which could be handy next time I’m in survival mode.

So now I have 750 repeaters loaded from all over the United States and Canada in my radio so I can’t run out unless I travel further abroad, and guess what, my HT is barely heavier than it was before!

Is Alexa your ham shack assistant? She has certainly become an indispensable addition to my shack.

Alexa is Amazon’s AI voice assistant. Alexa’s voice emanates from the several Amazon Echo products, like the Echo Dot, Echo Spot, Echo Show, Echo Plus, and Fire TV, among others to be announced.

Here are several Alexa related activated skills and applications that I have found especially useful in my ham shack, and you may find useful and fun to use in your shack, too. Some of these I use several times a day, while others I rarely use, and frankly, some of these applications are a bit of a challenge to get to work the way they should. So, you will discover that you have to ask Alexa just the right way; otherwise, she can get pretty uncooperative and frustrating!

Also, many of these services must be enabled before you can use them; for example, before you can use the Call Sign Skill, you need to say:

Alexa, enable Call Sign

Then, it should work just fine for you.

Now, here is a list of Alexa skills and applications you may find very helpful to use in your ham shack:

Alexa, what Time is it or simply: Alexa time

Alexa, what time is it in Mexico City — or any location of which you want the time

Alexa, what is the weather or simply Alexa weather

Alexa, what is the weather in Brisbane Australia — or any other QTH in which you want the weather

Alexa, what is the temperature or simply Alexa temperature

Alexa, what is the temperature in Key West — or any other QTH you request

Alexa, what is xx Fahrenheit in Celsius
(Note: great when in a QSO with stations using the metric system and you want to give them your temperature in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit)

Alexa, what is the 7 day forecast

Alexa, what is the 7 day forecast for Montpelier Vermont — or any other QTH you request

Alexa, open Weather Sky
(Note: this will give you a very in-depth weather report and forecast for your area, more than just asking for the weather in the previous commands)

Alexa open Weather Sky for Key West, Florida — or for any other QTH for which you want an in-dept weather report and forecast

Alexa, set a 10 minute timer
(Note: this is good for creating a station ID reminder)

Alexa, how many dollars are in 85 pounds
(Note: want to purchase an antenna from the UK where the price is in pounds? Use this quick conversion! This conversion works for many other currencies as well)

Alexa, what is xxx divided by yyy
(e.g. what is 468 divided by 3.8 to determine the length of a 75 m dipole)

Alexa, what is the distance between Bowling Green Kentucky and Quito Ecuador — or whatever qth you ask for

Alexa, how do you spell heterodyne — or whatever word you ask for
(Note: even though I am a Ph.D., I am a terrible speller and use this skill frequently)

Alexa, ask call sign who is K8HSY — or whatever call you want to know
(Note: often you have to use phonetics; I suggest using proper phonetics, e.g. kilo 8 Hotel Sierra Yankee)

Alexa, ask QRZ who is W7GPF — or whatever call you want
(Note: often you have to use phonetics; I suggest using proper phonetics, e.g. Whiskey 7 Golf Papa Foxtrot)

Alexa, ask ham look-up who is K8OEY — or whatever call you want
(Note: often you have to use phonetics; I suggest using proper phonetics, e.g. Kilo 8 Oscar Echo Yankee)

Alexa, Propagation report

Alexa, ask our ionosphere what are the current band conditions

Alexa, open space weather

Alexa, what time will the sun sit tomorrow

Note: great for gray line anticipation for DX

Alexa, what time will the sun rise tomorrow

Note: great for gray line anticipation for DX

Alexa, create a reminder to meet Tom for a schedule at 9 am Saturday morning — or any other reminder you need

Alexa, create a reminder to get on the Kentucky Phone Net every day at 5 pm in the afternoon — or any other everyday reminder you might need

Alexa, play the latest Ham Nation podcast — or any number of other ham-related podcasts

Alexa, use APRS and locate kilo 4 uniform lima echo

Note; works only for stations using the APRS system when you ask

Alexa, start extra ham cram

Note: gives you 7 different questions from the extra class pool to answer each time you execute the skill; good for exam prep. See how well you do!

Alexa, Open Amateur Radio test

Note: gives you several questions from the test pool to answer for fun or as a test prep

Alexa, Open Amateur Radio General Class Study

Alexa, Ask Ham Exam for a Question

Alexa, Open Ham Radio Facts

Note: gives you a different ham related fact each time you open it

Alexa, Open Q-code

Note: gives you a different Q-code each time you open it

Undoubtedly, I left a few out. There are new skills and applications becoming available about everyday; so many that it is impossible to keep up. If you know of any I left out that you use in your ham shack, please let me know. I am trying to maintain a reasonably complete file of ham shack useful skills and applications.

Welcome to our 20th episode! In this revamped show we conclude our look at innovative amateur radio products from UK National Hamfest 2017, and Bob goes back to basics with an overview of setting up an inexpensive SDR dongle. We have two great prizes to give away in our free-to-enter draw. An RSP1A SDR receiver from SDRplay and a copy of the best-selling book ‘SDR’ from the RSGB. Plus we look back at the past four years of topics covered by the TX Factor team. We hope you enjoy it!

twww.xfactor.co.uk

Stories you’ll find in our January, 2018 issue:

TSM Reviews: Whistler TRX-1 Scanner
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW

With a lineage that extends back to three generations of Whistler/GRE scanners, this new generation of handhelds continues to build on a proven technology. Despite the steep learning curve getting the hang of operating the TRX-1, Larry notes, “Overall, I have been very impressed with the Whistler TRX-1. It will now be my new travel scanner…If you want to monitor many of the major digital scanner systems used in the U.S, and Canada, then you should seriously consider purchasing the Whistler TRX-1.”

TSM Reviews: Whistler TRX-2 Mobile/Base Scanner
By Bob Grove W8JHD

Operational capabilities of the TRX-2 mobile/base version of the TRX-1 handheld scanner are essentially the same. Bob takes a quick look at the main differences, including peculiarities in programming the TRX-2, which could help you decide which scanner is right for you.

TSM Reviews: Airspy HF+ Software Defined Radio
By Bob Grove W8JHD

Primarily directed toward shortwave and two-meter amateur radio applications, the HF+ offers wide dynamic range, superior sensitivity, low digital noise, suppressed background noise, and good image rejection. Bob is impressed. “Airspy’s noise reduction design is outstanding. Suppression of hiss enhances weak-signal reception on all modes. While noise suppression and clipping methods on competitive products often result in distorted audio, the HF+’s recovered audio remains crisp and clean of such artifacts on all demodulation modes.” Find out why Bob says, “Price vs. performance pushes the HF+ to the top.”

TSM Reviews: Fox Delta 1–60 MHz Antenna Analyzer Kit
By Robert Gulley AK3Q

Robert was intrigued by the Delta AAZ-0217MX antenna analyzer kit as a project not only for himself, but also as a possible club build for his local amateur radio group. It’s an intermediate level ability kit and, while it’s not expected to be as accurate as professional analyzers, Robert notes, “I would say it is doing a good job, and is certainly capable of telling you when there is a problem. In addition to being an interesting kit to build, for around $60 U.S. shipped, it is also a useful piece of test equipment for the shack.”

TSM Reviews: C.Crane Skywave SSB
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL

Always on the lookout for a capable, small, inexpensive, portable shortwave radio, Thomas was keen to put the new Skywave SSB from C.Crane through his real-world tests. It’s certainly got a lot going for it: AM/FM, shortwave, Weather Radio and a scanning Air Band. While, as with any new product, the Skywave SSB had some initial issues, and a higher price tag that other radios in its class, Thomas has a verdict: “It’s going to be my travel radio of choice going forward––it’s essentially a Swiss Army Knife of a travel radio.”

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Long Beach (CA); Tennessee and Miami (FL)

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Back to Basics: A Federal Monitoring Primer

Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
DoD’s VHF High-Band 138-150 MHz: The Hidden Military Aircraft Band

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman NV6H
Winter Fun with European Aero Beacons

Shortwave Utility Logs
Compiled by Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
Sporadic-E: Separating Fiction from Speculation from Fact

Digitally Speaking
By Cory Sickles WA3UVV
Ready – Fire – Aim

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
A Vertical Redeemed!

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
SWLing like it’s 1989!

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
New Year’s Resolutions

World of Shortwave Listening
By Jeff White
Shortwave in Africa – Still Very Much Alive

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
Old Shortwave Voice Still Heard

Maritime Monitoring
By Ron Walsh VE3GO
Remembering Halifax Harbor; Marine Frequency Changes

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
New Year’s Resolutions

Adventures in Radio Restorations
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Harman-Kardon A-260 “Chorale” Stereo Amp

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Wire Antennas Part One: The Dipole

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

What got you interested in radio? What hooked you?

I’ve been asked, “What got you interested in radio, space weather, and the science of radio-wave propagation?”

Here’s a short answer as to why (and when) I became a radio enthusiast. It all started…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XBth62JgwA

The following picture is of my first shortwave radio, discovered in my home sometime between 1971 and 1973: a Sony portable transistorized four-band radio receiver. This was my very first shortwave radio (well, truthfully, it was my dad’s). This radio is responsible for my love of radio, electronics, and communications.

Sony Portable 4-Band Radio – the model 7F-74DL (my First Radio)

I still use this, sometimes, when listening to late-night AM-broadcast-band-radio DX. It is horrible for shortwave radio listening, as it has no noise blanker. For MW (Medium-wave) AM Broadcast DXing at night, it is excellent. The internal bar antenna is very directional so I can rotate the radio around until I get the best reception of some station. Back when I was a child, that made the radio very fun to use.

This next radio is a really capable military surplus radio circa WWII or shortly after (the late 1940s, early 1950s). This radio was my world starting around 1975. From Medium-wave to Shortwave, this radio could hear a pin drop around the world! Many late nights when I was supposed to be sleeping, I was up with the light dimmed and the tubes singing signals from exotic places.

Espey R366 Tube Receiver (my Second Radio)

What is your story?73 de NW7US

Addendum:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8bBM9Dy38o