Stories you’ll find in our June, 2016 issue:

TSM Reviews: Finally, a Mobile Shortwave Radio that Works
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL

Every scheme to receive shortwave radio inside the typical sedan or minivan has its shortfalls, some far greater than others. Now there is a product on the market that not only makes listening to shortwave in the car possible, but actually easy. Shortwave listening guru, Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL, literally takes the new BST-1 mobile shortwave receiver for a spin.

Monitoring Russian HF Military Networks
By Tony Roper

This month, military monitoring specialist, Tony Roper, is sticking with the current theme of monitoring the Russian military networks, starting with yet another mission by the Russian Air Force with a pair of their Tu-160 Blackjacks circumnavigating the UK, down into the English Channel between England and France. Then he follows elements of the Russian navy, tracking them as far as Antarctica, all from the comfort of his home listening post in Scotland.

Wi-Fi Radio Primer Part 3: Two Wi-Fi Radios
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL

In April Thomas discussed what makes Wi-Fi radios “tick”––their ability to find radio stations via radio station aggregators. In May he took a quick look at various Wi-Fi radio manufacturers whose models use proper aggregators with market longevity, with reviews of the C.Crane Wi-Fi and Sangean WFR-28 Wi-Fi radios. In the finale, he looks at two completely different Wi-Fi radios—the Grace Digital Mondo and the Amazon Echo.

Your TV System is Changing – Again!
By Mike Kohl

Remember the Great ATSC digital TV conversion of 2009? Now, it’s about to happen again, this time with ATSC 3, a new digital TV scheme that will also require “repacking” the Over-the-Air TV band—all for the benefit of Internet delivery over wireless devices. Mike tells us how this will affect us all.

TSM Reviews: Icom IC-7300 Button and Knob SDR Transceiver
By Mark Haverstock K8MSH

In a world of increasing noise, requiring even better filtering and signal processing than ever before, Software Defined Radio (SDR) is rapidly becoming the logical way to go. Icom’s introduction of the new IC-7300 is shaking up an HF transceiver market that has been complacent for the last 15 years or so. Mark notes, “With the 7300, you get the benefits of direct conversion SDR without the rig being tethered to a computer. This makes it easier for portable and field use.”

Your New CB “Good Buddy,” the SDR Dongle
By Mario Filippi N2HUN

TSM regular contributor, Mario Filippi N2HUN, is always finding new uses for the inexpensive SDR dongle. This time he has turned his attention to the world of Citizens Band radio. He recalls the colorful history of CB in the US and listens in to stalwart CB operators today from around the country and across the Atlantic, undeterred by propagation and the declining solar cycle.

Scanning America
By Dan Veenaman
New Scanner News; Ocean City, Maryland

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
More Summer Vacation Scanning

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman NV6H
Spring 2016 “Numbers” Update

Digital HF: Intercept and Analyze
By Mike Chace-Ortiz AB1TZ/G6DHU
Reader’s Questions and an Update on US SHARES NCS PacTOR Network

HF Utility Logs
By Mike Chace-Ortiz and Hugh Stegman

Digitally Speaking
By Cory Sickles WA3UVV
Beer-Budget Digital Repeater Project

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
June: The Month of VHF and Above Contesting

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Tales of Junk Boxes and Counterfeit Parts

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
FM Radio Reception Part 1: Stalking the FM Band in a Time of Excessive Translators and Boosters

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
Propagation and Field Day 2016

The World of Shortwave Listening
By Andrew Yoder
NYC FM Pirates; Atlantis Radio on MW and FM Pirates in China

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
New SW Programs and Korea: North vs. South

Amateur Radio Satellites
By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
Yet More AMSAT History

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
Summer Strategies for LW DX

Adventures in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Another Heavy Hammarlund HQ-129X Part 2: Voltage and Alignment

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Antenna Improv: Portable and Temporary Antennas

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.

Tim W3ATB and I went up to Livermore Falls in Plymouth today. I worked North Carolina, Austria, Scotland, Lithuania, and Germany.

I setup the KX3 and a 29 foot vertical wire with a 9:1 unun above the railroad track overlooking the falls. As soon as I turned on the rig, I heard Joe W2KJ working another station on 14.060. When he was done I called him. He was running 4 watts with a KX3. We had a really nice chat. There were a few dips with QSB, but solid copy both ways. Joe was a strong 599 at the beginning and faded a bit toward the end.

I moved down the band and heard GS3PYE/P in Scotland working stations. We exchanged 599s and when I was finished, I heard Tim work him. Tim was about 100 yards to my north sitting on the hillside right near the track.

A little further down the band LY/ES5ZF was working stations. We exchanged 599s, then I went briefly to 17 meters to see if the band was open. To my surprise there was GS3PYE/P operating again. We had a second QSO on 17 meters. Then I packed up and walked down to Tim’s operating position. He was running a setup just like mine… KX3 and 29 foot vertical wire with a 9:1 unun.

We had a picnic lunch and then tuned around the band a final time. There was DP65HSC calling CQ and working stations. Both Tim and I had trouble sorting out his call sign, partly because he was going so fast, but also because the call is a bit of a CW tongue twister in itself. Turns out it was a special event station celebrating the 65th anniversary of the High Speed Club in Germany. Tim worked him after I did.

It was an absolutely gorgeous morning and the bands were in pretty good shape. After a fantastic time operating, Tim and I packed up and headed back to the car.

Judy and I went to Hawaii for 10 days for our daughter’s wedding. The wedding was fantastic… and there was even a little ham radio. I brought the HB-1B and worked PA, Mexico, AR and AZ. Conditions were pretty awful… but the view was the best!

The HB-1B was powered by 8 AA cells. I used the little QRP Par End Fed trail model antenna. 40 meters was just noise every time I tried. 20 meters was only barely better. I set up a few times at our daughter’s house in the hills. I only made one QSO… with N3RS, Ron in Pennsylvania. He was booming in, but he could just copy my callsign and RST. He gave me a 349. I was discouraged.

For the wedding we moved down to a cottage on Kepuhi Beach on the west end of the island. I only operated once because of the busy schedule. I made more QSOs from the beach, but still didn’t get any good signal reports. I strung the End Fed to a near by sea grape tree (I think) and ran it as a sloper from the porch of the cottage. Myna birds called out from the branches and the waves and wind provided plenty of background noise.

From here I worked Mexico, Arkansas and Arizona. Here’s my log:

16 May-16 0234 14.005 XE2MVY CW 559 599 Mexico
16 May-16 0243 14.060 K5EDM CW 229 579 AR Greg
16 May-16 0303 14.024 K7HP CW 449 599 AZ Hank

After the QSO with Greg K5EDM, I sent him an email to let him know I was in Hawaii. He sent back that he’d never worked Hawaii before. “Your signal was right in my noise. I copied your call sign but only because you sent it several times. ” He was running 25 watts with a dipole at 35 feet.

Operating from Hawaii with QRP is really challenging. It’s thousands of miles to the nearest land mass, and the propagation is often fickle. The timing and conditions have to be just right. I had the best luck late in the afternoon Hawaii time.

While I was there I worked the EARCHI net (on Oahu) on VHF with a handie talkie. From the west end, I could see Oahu rising above the water in the distance. So it was fun to work them on 2 meters. I told them I use the 9:1 unun all the time from home and thanked them for that successful project.