AmateurRadio.com

Follow up video for the MFJ Crystal Radio kit from AmateurLogic Shorts 13. George talks a little about crystal radios, tests the set and makes some mods.
You can find the kit here:
https://mfjenterprises.com/products/vec-121k?_pos=1&_sid=f9e4f44b2&_ss=r

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Note AmateurLogic Shorts are only available on YouTube.

George Thomas, W5JDX, is co-host of AmateurLogic.TV, an original amateur radio video program hosted by George Thomas (W5JDX), Tommy Martin (N5ZNO), Peter Berrett (VK3PB), and Emile Diodene (KE5QKR). Contact him at [email protected].

This week’s AmateurLogic Short is a W5JDX Classic. Building the MFJ/Vectronics VEC-121K Crystal Radio kit.

You can find the kit here:
https://mfjenterprises.com/products/vec-121k?_pos=1&_sid=f9e4f44b2&_ss=r

Please Subscribe and click the Like and Share buttons if you enjoy our content.
Note AmateurLogic Shorts are only available on YouTube.

George Thomas, W5JDX, is co-host of AmateurLogic.TV, an original amateur radio video program hosted by George Thomas (W5JDX), Tommy Martin (N5ZNO), Peter Berrett (VK3PB), and Emile Diodene (KE5QKR). Contact him at [email protected].

Emile covers Artemis and SigIDWiki. Signal hunter software and useful aids for radio listeners.
https://aresvalley.com/
https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide
https://aresvalley.com/community/

Please Subscribe and click the Like and Share buttons if you enjoy our content.
Note AmateurLogic Shorts are only available on YouTube.

George Thomas, W5JDX, is co-host of AmateurLogic.TV, an original amateur radio video program hosted by George Thomas (W5JDX), Tommy Martin (N5ZNO), Peter Berrett (VK3PB), and Emile Diodene (KE5QKR). Contact him at [email protected].

Now you can Program Raspberry Pi Pico with the Arduino IDE. Learn How.

Please Subscribe and click the Like and Share buttons if you enjoy our content.
Note AmateurLogic Shorts are only available on YouTube.

George Thomas, W5JDX, is co-host of AmateurLogic.TV, an original amateur radio video program hosted by George Thomas (W5JDX), Tommy Martin (N5ZNO), Peter Berrett (VK3PB), and Emile Diodene (KE5QKR). Contact him at [email protected].

It's time once again for The Weekender. This is our bi-weekly departure into the world of amateur radio contests, open source conventions, special events, listener challenges, hedonism and just plain fun. Thanks for listening and, if you happen to get a chance, feel free to call us or e-mail and send us some feedback. Tell us how we're doing. We'd love to hear from you.

73 de The LHS Crew

Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

 

Web SDRs are nothing new to shortwave listeners or amateur radios op's alike. Internet SDR's provide a portal for many to access a wide variety of listening pleasures. No longer does one need a shortwave receiver to access the air waves.  I was shocked to learn how many countries are still broadcasting on shortwave. If Shortwave is not your cup of tea, many Web SDR's offer a very wide frequency spectrum for most, if not all, interests. As for me, I like to tune into the ham bands to see what action is on the airwaves.  Also, while reading blogs, writing a post or just surfing the net I tune in some nice jazz piano tunes via Web SDR's. A few months ago I stumbled across a Web SDR that for me is a real gem! NA5B WebSDR receiver system   Among the great shortwave and amateur bands offered NA5B also has a 100 mW  medium wave radio station (FCC part 15 permits this). I found GREAT jazz piano listening, so it's my go-to place when I am doing what I am doing right now, writing a post. (1700 kHz) Last evening I shared this gem with my wife Julie, and she had a listen. (she too is a big fan of jazz piano) Right away she told me of some now and then static and hiss and asking why I just don't look up jazz piano music on the web, and it would be without the static and hiss. I informed her it adds to the shortwave listening experience. 

There are many Web SDR's on the internet, but my go-to place is websdr.org. The site has a vast bibliography of Web SDR's, and it offers band and region filters. The listed SDR site offers location, antenna and frequency information, and you have a handy link to their SDR site. One thing I have tried calling up a WebSDR in a certain country from there venture over to a ham band in the CW portion, I then transmit and find out if I can hear my signal. There is a bit of a delay, but it's cool when you hear your own signal. 

If you haven't already discovered the world of WebSDR give it a go and if you are a veteran please share what you do and where you listen.  

Having enjoyable music in the background helps me concentrate and feel relaxed, thank you NA5B for your great 100mW jazz broadcast. 

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

Stories you’ll find in our October, 2021 issue:

Amateur Radio’s Lost Tribe: The ‘Blue-Collar Scholars’ Who Started It All
By Frank M. Howell PhD K4FMH

We all know the history of US amateur radio: Hiram Percy Maxim founded the American Radio Relay League, and the rest is history, right? Not quite, says Frank Howell, who takes a closer look at the origins of what he calls amateur radio’s ‘lost tribe of blue-collar scholars,’ the thousands of unlicensed wireless experimenters who learned radio science through the pages of Hugo Gernsback’s prolific wireless publications years before there was an ARRL or QST magazine.

AM Band DXing Today
By David Yocis

With over one hundred years of listening to the AM band, you might think there’s nothing new to learn, but David shows that Twenty-first Century technology has brought new life to the oldest radio hobby. From software defined radios to remote-controlled receivers to advances in antenna technology, there is almost no limit to what an average listener can hear today.

Ultralight MW DXing with Ferrite Sleeve Loop Antennas
By Jock Elliot KB2GOM

Taking small, inexpensive portable radios outdoors and turning them into DX machines is what ultralight medium wave DXing is all about. And, thanks to DIY ferrite sleeve loop antennas, you can try your hand at the action. But it will be tough to top those already in the game who have logged medium wattage stations at 8,000 miles. Jock explains how it’s done and who’s doing it.

Feeling the Geomagnetic Pulse: Antennas for the ELF and VLF Bands
By Georg Wiessala

There was a time when listening to Extremely Low Frequencies (3-30 Hz) and Very Low Frequencies (30 Hz to 30 kHz) required expensive laboratory equipment and acres of antenna installations. Georg reports that’s no longer the case as he dives deep into the receivers, antennas, and software you’ll need to explore this radio territory.

CB Radio: Six Decades of Utility and Fun
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV

Citizens Band radio has the distinction of once being the leader as an American popular culture icon in its first three decades. From Top 40 records to network TV shows to feature films, millions of everyday Americans were ‘ratchet-jawing’ on their CB sets. But never count CB as dead—Cory reports that it’s still alive and now with FM modulation!

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
A Tale of Two Counties: Branch and Hillsdale (MI)

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
TSA UHF Update

Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
More Government Master File Diving

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman
KiwiSDR Ale Scanner Goes Live Online

Shortwave Utility Logs
By Mike Chace-Ortiz and Hugh Stegman

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
ARISS Space Station Contact Opportunity

Digitally Speaking
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV
VHF AM: The Rediscovered Country

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Shack Screens: Big is Beautiful!

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
OTA-TV and FTA-TV Update

The World of Shortwave Listening
By Andrew Yoder
HF Pirates Sail on the Shortwaves

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
Fall Shortwave Programming

Adventures in Radio Restorations
By Rich Post KB8TAD
That Jukebox Sound: Wurlitzer 530 Audio Amp

Antenna Connections
By Robert Gulley K4PKM
An Ounce of Prevention

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.

Ken Reitz, KS4ZR, is publisher and managing editor of The Spectrum Monitor. Contact him at [email protected].