During the 2023 Canada Winter contest I had an odd thing happen twice with the Reverse Beacon Network website. But before I go into that let's talk about what I use the Reverse Beacon Network for in contests. This site has a huge amount of stations that just listen for stations calling CQ. If you are heard then you are shown on a world map along with your signal strength to that location. This is a great tool during a contest for me as it shows where and how strong my signal is. I have used this site for years but in the last contest, something happened that never has and it happened twice.

I was calling for some time on 40m CQ contest and I was getting Reverse Beacon Network feedback from my signal. The reporting station MM0ZBH reported me but on 20m? Informing me my signal was 6dB and on 14036 and not 7.030 where I was calling CQ contest this was at 2337UTC.

 Earlier at 2212UTC the same station had reported me again on 20m this time at 14030 when I was calling CQ on 7030 and my signal strength this time was 28dB. This was odd and even more so when it happened twice in the contest. Any ideas out there and has anyone had the same issue happen to them?

MM0ZBH is the 6th station down on the list

Ham College episode 108 is now available for download.

Extra Class Exam Questions – Part 46
E9D Yagi antennas, parabolic reflectors, circular polarization, loading coils, top loading, feed point impedance of electrically short antennas, antenna Q, RF grounding.

Download
YouTube

Amplitude Modulation has been used for voice transmission between Radio Amateurs for more than a century. A new voice mode appeared in 1947, when Wes Schum, W9DYV introduced the first Amateur Radio SSB transmitter, the Central Electronics 10A. By the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, competition for dial space began to “heat up” between the ‘died in the wool’ AM operators and the new, hard to tune in, Single Sideband operators. Eventually, there was a sit-down, face to face meeting, between some “Big Gun” SSB operators and long time, AM operators. Together, both groups decided on a ‘Gentlemen’s Agreement’, for AM dial space. For example, on 75 meters, they choose 3.870MHz to 3.890MHz as the “AM Window”. On 40 meters, AM around 7.290MHz. 20 meters, 14.268MHz; etc. These “windows’ were promoted by the ARRL and strongly observed by AM operators for a couple of decades.

During the 1980’s and 1990’s AM operations had declined, and many newly licensed SSB operators came to be. Many of them didn’t know AM even existed on the Amateur bands, as the AM Window concept was no longer promoted well, or not acknowledged. However, AM has seen a recent resurgence of popularity, in part due to the introduction of Software Defined Radio Transceivers, such as FlexRadio Systems lineup, the ICOM IC7300, Yaesu FT101DX, Kenwood TS890, Apache Labs Anan 80000DLE, etc. New and old AM enthusiasts have homebrewed Class E modulated solid state AM transmitters. In 2018, QST tested and reviewed the K7DYY AM (only) solid state, Class D transmitter, a near legal limit, AM only transmitter, with built in power supply, that weighs only 8 pounds!

With increased activity, some cross mode interference is sometimes unavoidable. It is always best to remember, NO ONE owns a frequency, regardless of mode. It is good practice to always check the tuned frequency, to make sure it is not already in use, by one, or more stations. Some AM Operators are crystal controlled and cannot easily change frequency. 3.885 MHz for example, is a popular crystal frequency used within the US phone band. With almost all SSB transmitters being frequency agile, would you give the 3885 kHz crystal controlled AM station a little leeway and move a few kHz, if he was there, first?

With the increased number of AM stations, there are now are a few other spots on the dial that AM operation can be found. Both SSB and AM mode users can avoid misunderstanding, or disagreement, if each party observes the AMATEUR’s CODE:

1. AMATEUR IS CONSIDERATE
   The Amateur is considerate, never knowingly operates in such a way to lessen the pleasure of others.
2. AMATEUR IS LOYAL
   He offers his loyalty and encouragement to fellow amateurs.
3. AMATEUR IS PROGRESSIVE
   Keeps his station efficient and well maintained. His operating practice is above reproach.
4. AMATEUR IS FRIENDLY
   Offers kind assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interest of others.
5. AMATEUR IS BALANCED
   Radio is his hobby. He never allows it to interfere with duties to his home or family.
6. AMATEUR IS PATRIOTIC
   His station is always ready for service of his country.

Adapted from the original Amateur’s Code, written by Paul M. Segal in 1928.

In addition, please ask, “Is the frequency In Use?”

As always, with any mode, asking if the frequency is in use, first, will alleviate an initial misunderstanding. Please remember that the ham bands can change quickly, causing new interference. Acknowledge the changing band, and be friendly about it. I encourage everyone to join AMI: www.aminternational.club. Learn, appreciate, and enjoy AM operation. Lets all be courteous to each other and share our frequencies.

The Technician license is your gateway to the worldwide excitement of Amateur Radio, and the very best emergency communications capability available! This is the entry-level class for people who do not currently have an amateur (ham) radio license.

The Tri-Lakes Monument Radio Association (Monument, CO) is introducing a new approach to teaching the Technician Level ham radio license class. We have completely overhauled the delivery format of our Tech Class to make good use of both in-person and online training methods. The biggest change is that most of the core material will be delivered to the student via bite-sized online videos, ebook sections, and additional content from Ham Radio School. This dramatically increases the flexibility on how and when the student views this material, eliminating long, all-day classroom sessions. We will have three live Zoom sessions along the way to review the material and answer any questions you might have.

We understand that in-person training is extremely valuable for certain types of activities. Accordingly, we will have an in-person kickoff session (Feb 17) for the instructors to meet the students and show them how ham radio equipment is used. The licensing exam session (Mar 9) is another in-person event. Finally, after you receive your new license, we will have an in-person Get On The Air event (Mar 16) where you will make your first radio contact. To help guide you through this process, an experienced radio ham will connect with you, monitor your progress, and help you through the class.

The cost of the class is $50 ($40 for anyone under 18 years old), which includes everything you need for the class. A non-expiring subscription to the Ham Radio School Technician resources is included. We used to require you to have a printed copy of the Ham Radio School Technician book, but that same material will be delivered to you online as an ebook. Proceeds from this class go to support the Tri-Lakes Monument Radio Association, a non-profit organization.

You still need to pay a $35 license fee directly to the FCC after passing the license exam.

More details are in the attached flyer.

To register, go here:
https://w0tlm.com/radio-classes/tech-registration

You can probably tell I am excited about the new format for this class. It will make it easier on the instructors to deliver the material AND easier for the students to learn it. If you have questions, let me know!

Bob K0NR
[email protected]

The post All New Technician License Class – Monument, CO appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.

Final score

 I am a bit behind with my posting about the Canada Winter contest that happened last weekend. I have been occupied with looking back on 2023 and my New Year's post. As said last weekend was the Canada Winter Contest I took part in the CW-only category and had a blast. The contest covers from 2m to 160m (excluding WARC bands) SSB and CW in which you can do either of both. The conditions were great in this part of the world and the bands were busy with contesters. I called CQ contest (running) for over 90% of the contest which helped me greatly to improve on working pileups. 

Some of the contact highlights were contact into the Yukon, South Africa and Australia. My average QSO's per hour was 66 and my highest was 90 per hour. The antenna I was using was the Hustler 4BTV (10m-40m) this limited me from 80 and 160 therefore on Friday evening I had to pull the plug at about 0120 UTC as 40m was closing down for me. The contest finished at 2359UTC on Saturday but I was getting tired and pulled the plug at 2330UTC. 

During the day on Friday here in New Brunswick, we did have some freezing rain and that affected some radio ops down this way. Fortunately, I can tilt my antenna over which I did and cleaned the ice off and put it upright again. I did this just before the start of the contest and had no issues. 

I loaded my log in ADIF format into Log Analyzer which gave me a map representation of my contacts. You can see my two distant contacts in South Africa and Australia. This software uses the station's grid square for map location. The issue with this is incorrect grid squares give you some odd results. In my case, the map shows one station in Saudi Arabia and another in the middle of the ocean. Both are a result of an incorrect grid square. But overall the program works great and gives you a nice visual of your contest contacts. The Log Analyzer software does have a workaround for when this happens details are found in a link in red at the top of the website page.

Almost worked all provinces.

The plans for the new year are to start more often to run in the CWops mini contests. This would help my running skills to improve a lot. You can practice running with software all you want but there is nothing like the real thing. The 1 hour CWops mini tests would give me live practice twice a week. 

I would like to move a bit more away from all computer code sending during contests and try to add more of me sending exchanges, repeats and sending the station call with my amazing Begali key. The difficult part for me is switching over to the key and then back to the keyboard to juggle N1MM+ logger. 

Now here is a stretch...in contesting there is what is known as single op 2 radio! You have one radio in one ear and the other radio in the other. I don't know how they do it but then again just over a year ago I just could not understand how op's hear one station in a mess of a pile-up. I practiced and low and behold your ears get used to how to hear a call or part of a call. I digress.....My Icom 7610 has two independent receivers and I believe I could start to practice that and who knows! 

As you all know I am retired and I want to keep up with my daily walks (weather permitting) and my 1 hour of stretching that I do each day. I never want to forget how important our health and well-being is.
Well, that's about it for the plans for 2024 but no rule says I can't build and add to the goals I have.