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ICQ Podcast Episode 240 – Repair and Safety
25 June 2017 | by In this episode, Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Bill Barnes N3JX to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episode’s feature is Repair and Safety
We would like to thank Kevin Strishock (N3LGA) and our monthly and annual donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate
Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].
» Leave a Comment (0)
ICQ Podcast Episode 240 – Repair and Safety
In this episode, Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Bill Barnes N3JX to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episode’s feature is Repair and Safety
We would like to thank Kevin Strishock (N3LGA) and our monthly and annual donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate
Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].
» Leave a Comment (0)
Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 162
Field Day event locator
See public Field Day sites that members of the public and media can attend.
ARRL
Complete 2017 Field Day rules and information packet [PDF]
Field Day is always the fourth full weekend, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and ending at 2100 UTC Sunday.
ARRL
W1AW Field Day Bulletin schedule
The Maritime Radio Historical Society station K6KPH will transmit the W1AW Field Day 2017 bulletin for the benefit of West Coast stations.
ARRL
2017 AMSAT Field Day Rules
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own version of Field Day for operation via the amateur satellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event.
Southgate
Field Day 2017: Final Plans
I remember the local club dropped off a generator and left Field Day to four of us teenage hams.
N4KGL
Answers to Top 10 Field Day Questions
Answers to the top 10 questions at Field Day, with questions omitted (and with 5 bonus answers).
AmateurRadio.com
Field Day 2017 is not about one day
The amateur who only has a $30 Chinese handheld radio but knows how to use it forward, backwards, and inside out is better off than the amateur who has a room full of high dollar equipment but can barely do more than turn the stuff on.
Off Grid Ham
How to make Field Day (or any remote operation) a success
An opportunity to promote our essential avocation, here’s my recipe for excellent execution.
KB6NU
Computer logging specifically for Field Day
If you’re still in the dark about how to use the logging software that your club or group will employ this weekend, these videos may help.
ARRL
Video
Solar powered Ham Radio station for Field Day
A solar powered station for portable use. HF/VHF/UHF and satellite ready.
Dan Cui
The Sun takes a breather for Field Day
Overall conditions should remain reasonably quiet, just in time for amateur radio operators participating in Field Day this weekend.
Tamitha Skov
Amateur Radio Weekly is curated by Cale Mooth K4HCK. Sign up free to receive ham radio's most relevant news, projects, technology and events by e-mail each week at http://www.hamweekly.com.
» Leave a Comment (0)
ETH074 – 13 Colonies Special Event with Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO
It is hard to believe that June is almost over and Independence day will be here in less that ten days! It is time for that long weekend off, where families and friends get together to have a bar-b-que and “party” together. While celebrating the day is good, celebrating the week is even better, and that is exactly what we talk about in this interview.
This special event started back in 2009 and has grown every year since. Operators from each of the original 13 colonies will be on the air from Jul 1 through Jul 7 at different times. You can be part of this special event by making contact with any or all of the 13 colony stations or the two bonus stations.
Check out the show notes and listen to the episode for more information
Curtis Mohr, K5CLM, is the author/owner of Everything Ham Radio Blog and Youtube channel. Contact him at [email protected].
» Leave a Comment (0)
Hunting For Daytime NDBs In CLE 220
 |
| AP-378 Mayne Island, BC |
It's hard to believe but this coming weekend will see another CLE challenge!
No need however, to stay up until the wee hours for this one, as CLE220 is a mid-day affair ... just log what you are able to hear during the day from your location. The entire band is fair-game as well, from 190 - 1740kHz.
Everyone is encouraged to send their logs (see below) so the RNA / REU NDB databases can be kept as up-to-date as possible.
I know that I won't have any trouble hearing AP-378 shown above since it's only about 3/4 mile from my antenna! I'm always curious just how far it can be heard during the day and would encourage listeners on the west coast to have a good listen for it and please let me know if you can hear it.
For those unfamiliar with this monthly activity, a 'CLE' is a 'Co-ordinated Listening Event', as NDB DXers around the world focus their listening time usually on one small slice of the NDB spectrum.
When tuning for NDBs, put your receiver in the CW mode and listen for the NDB's CW identifier, repeated every few seconds. With your receiver in the CW mode, listen for U.S. NDB identifiers approximately 1 kHz higher or lower than the published transmitted frequency since these beacons are tone-modulated with a 1020 Hz tone approximately.
For example, 'AA' near Fargo, ND, transmits on 365 kHz and its upper sideband CW identifier is tuned at 366.025 kHz while its lower sideband CW ident can be tuned at 363.946 kHz. Its USB tone is actually 1025 Hz while its LSB tone is 1054 Hz.
Often, one sideband will be much stronger than the other so if you don't hear the first one, try listening on the other sideband.
Canadian NDBs normally have an USB tone only, usually very close to 400 Hz. They also have a long dash (keydown) following the CW identifier.
All NDBs heard in North America will be listed in the RNA database (updated daily) while those heard in Europe may be found in the REU database. Beacons heard outside of these regions will be found in the RWW database.
From CLE organizer Brian Keyte, G3SIA, comes the usual 'heads-up':
Hi all
SUMMER MIDDAY EVENT
How many normal NDBs can you log around midday?
In this event we can probably cheat the QRN and hardly hear any (but if
you do have a midday storm coming overhead, disconnect and switch off
immediately of course)
Listening around midday is a good way to check our listening stations and
to find out if changes really have made improvements in reception.
Or maybe you could try the CLE listening from a 'field' location instead of
(please, NOT as well as) from home?
Days: Fri. 23 June - Mon. 26 June
Times: Within 2 hours of ‘real’ Midday (see below)
QRG: 190 - 1740 kHz
NDBs Normal NDBs only, plus any UNIDs
(not DGPS, NAVTEX or Amateur)
### IMPORTANT ## If your house clocks have moved one hour
forward for 'summer time' (or 'daylight saving'), your listening
times each day will be BETWEEN 11 IN THE MORNING
and 3 IN THE AFTERNOON (15:00) on your LOCAL clocks.
If your clocks were NOT changed, maybe in Arizona (?), or
in the Southern Hemisphere where it is now mid-winter,
your times each day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. LOCAL.
(The above matches our agreed definition for daytime listening)
Of course, all our logs will show UTC times, as always.
Our usual simple log-making 'rules' apply:
Post your CLE log to the List in a plain text email if possible please,
with CLE220 at the start of its title, showing on each log line:
# The Day No.(e.g. ‘23’) or the full date (e.g. ‘2017-06-23’)
and UTC (the day changes at 00:00 UTC).
# kHz - the nominal published frequency, if known.
# The Call Ident.
Please show those main log items FIRST, with any other details such as
location and distance LATER in the same line.
Don't forget to give your own location and brief details of your equipment.
It also makes good reading if you add your thoughts on the CLE and any
amusing events that happened during it.
I will send the usual 'Any More Logs?' email at about 17:00 UTC on Tuesday
so you can check that your log has been found OK. Do make sure that your
log has arrived on the list by 08:00 UTC on Wednesday 28th June at the
very latest.
I’m so grateful to Joachim who will again be making the combined results for
us.
As usual, you can get further helpful information about this and past CLEs
via Alan's CLE Information Section, http://www.ndblist.info/cle.htm
CLE107 was our last CLE rather like this one - way back in July 2008!
Good listening
Brian
----------------------------------------------------------
From: Brian Keyte G3SIA [email protected]
Location: Surrey, SE England (CLE coordinator)
----------------------------------------------------------
(Reminder: If you wish you can use a remote receiver for your loggings,
stating its location and owner - with their permission if required.
NB: THAT RECEIVER must be located within 2 hours of ‘real’ midday.
A remote listener may NOT also use another receiver, whether local or
remote, to obtain further loggings for the same CLE).
SUMMER MIDDAY EVENT
How many normal NDBs can you log around midday?
In this event we can probably cheat the QRN and hardly hear any (but if
you do have a midday storm coming overhead, disconnect and switch off
immediately of course)
Listening around midday is a good way to check our listening stations and
to find out if changes really have made improvements in reception.
Or maybe you could try the CLE listening from a 'field' location instead of
(please, NOT as well as) from home?
Days: Fri. 23 June - Mon. 26 June
Times: Within 2 hours of ‘real’ Midday (see below)
QRG: 190 - 1740 kHz
NDBs Normal NDBs only, plus any UNIDs
(not DGPS, NAVTEX or Amateur)
### IMPORTANT ## If your house clocks have moved one hour
forward for 'summer time' (or 'daylight saving'), your listening
times each day will be BETWEEN 11 IN THE MORNING
and 3 IN THE AFTERNOON (15:00) on your LOCAL clocks.
If your clocks were NOT changed, maybe in Arizona (?), or
in the Southern Hemisphere where it is now mid-winter,
your times each day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. LOCAL.
(The above matches our agreed definition for daytime listening)
Of course, all our logs will show UTC times, as always.
Our usual simple log-making 'rules' apply:
Post your CLE log to the List in a plain text email if possible please,
with CLE220 at the start of its title, showing on each log line:
# The Day No.(e.g. ‘23’) or the full date (e.g. ‘2017-06-23’)
and UTC (the day changes at 00:00 UTC).
# kHz - the nominal published frequency, if known.
# The Call Ident.
Please show those main log items FIRST, with any other details such as
location and distance LATER in the same line.
Don't forget to give your own location and brief details of your equipment.
It also makes good reading if you add your thoughts on the CLE and any
amusing events that happened during it.
I will send the usual 'Any More Logs?' email at about 17:00 UTC on Tuesday
so you can check that your log has been found OK. Do make sure that your
log has arrived on the list by 08:00 UTC on Wednesday 28th June at the
very latest.
I’m so grateful to Joachim who will again be making the combined results for
us.
As usual, you can get further helpful information about this and past CLEs
via Alan's CLE Information Section, http://www.ndblist.info/cle.htm
CLE107 was our last CLE rather like this one - way back in July 2008!
Good listening
Brian
----------------------------------------------------------
From: Brian Keyte G3SIA [email protected]
Location: Surrey, SE England (CLE coordinator)
----------------------------------------------------------
(Reminder: If you wish you can use a remote receiver for your loggings,
stating its location and owner - with their permission if required.
NB: THAT RECEIVER must be located within 2 hours of ‘real’ midday.
A remote listener may NOT also use another receiver, whether local or
remote, to obtain further loggings for the same CLE).
These listening events serve several purposes. They:
- determine, worldwide, which beacons are actually in service and on-the-air so the online database can be kept up-to-date
- determine, worldwide, which beacons are out-of-service or have gone silent since the last CLE covering this range
- will indicate the state of propagation conditions at the various participant locations
- will give you an indication of how well your LF/MF receiving system is working
- give participants a fun yet challenging activity to keep their listening skills honed
Final details can be found at the NDB List website, and worldwide results, for every participant, will be posted there a few days after the event. If you are a member of the ndblist Group, results will also be e-mailed and posted there.
The very active Yahoo ndblist Group is a great place to learn more about the 'Art of NDB DXing' or to meet other listeners in your region. It's also a good place to submit your CLE log! There is a lot of good information available there and new members are always very welcome. As well, you can follow the results of other CLE participants from night to night as propagation is always an active topic of discussion.
If you are contemplating getting started on 630m, listening for NDBs is an excellent way to test out your receive capabilities as there are several NDBs located near this part of the spectrum.
You need not be an ndblist member to participate in the CLEs and all reports, no matter how small, are of much value to the organizers.
'First-time' logs are always VERY welcome!
Reports may be sent to the ndblist or e-mailed to either myself or CLE co-ordinator, Brian Keyte (G3SIA), whose address appears above.
Please ... give the CLE a try ... then let us know what NDB's can be heard from your location! Your report can then be added to the worldwide database to help keep it up-to-date.
Good hunting!
Steve McDonald, VE7SL, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from British Columbia, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].
» Leave a Comment (0)
Hunting For Daytime NDBs In CLE 220
|
| AP-378 Mayne Island, BC |
It's hard to believe but this coming weekend will see another CLE challenge!
No need however, to stay up until the wee hours for this one, as CLE220 is a mid-day affair ... just log what you are able to hear during the day from your location. The entire band is fair-game as well, from 190 - 1740kHz.
Everyone is encouraged to send their logs (see below) so the RNA / REU NDB databases can be kept as up-to-date as possible.
I know that I won't have any trouble hearing AP-378 shown above since it's only about 3/4 mile from my antenna! I'm always curious just how far it can be heard during the day and would encourage listeners on the west coast to have a good listen for it and please let me know if you can hear it.
For those unfamiliar with this monthly activity, a 'CLE' is a 'Co-ordinated Listening Event', as NDB DXers around the world focus their listening time usually on one small slice of the NDB spectrum.
When tuning for NDBs, put your receiver in the CW mode and listen for the NDB's CW identifier, repeated every few seconds. With your receiver in the CW mode, listen for U.S. NDB identifiers approximately 1 kHz higher or lower than the published transmitted frequency since these beacons are tone-modulated with a 1020 Hz tone approximately.
For example, 'AA' near Fargo, ND, transmits on 365 kHz and its upper sideband CW identifier is tuned at 366.025 kHz while its lower sideband CW ident can be tuned at 363.946 kHz. Its USB tone is actually 1025 Hz while its LSB tone is 1054 Hz.
Often, one sideband will be much stronger than the other so if you don't hear the first one, try listening on the other sideband.
Canadian NDBs normally have an USB tone only, usually very close to 400 Hz. They also have a long dash (keydown) following the CW identifier.
All NDBs heard in North America will be listed in the RNA database (updated daily) while those heard in Europe may be found in the REU database. Beacons heard outside of these regions will be found in the RWW database.
From CLE organizer Brian Keyte, G3SIA, comes the usual 'heads-up':
Hi all
SUMMER MIDDAY EVENT
How many normal NDBs can you log around midday?
In this event we can probably cheat the QRN and hardly hear any (but if
you do have a midday storm coming overhead, disconnect and switch off
immediately of course)
Listening around midday is a good way to check our listening stations and
to find out if changes really have made improvements in reception.
Or maybe you could try the CLE listening from a 'field' location instead of
(please, NOT as well as) from home?
Days: Fri. 23 June - Mon. 26 June
Times: Within 2 hours of ‘real’ Midday (see below)
QRG: 190 - 1740 kHz
NDBs Normal NDBs only, plus any UNIDs
(not DGPS, NAVTEX or Amateur)
### IMPORTANT ## If your house clocks have moved one hour
forward for 'summer time' (or 'daylight saving'), your listening
times each day will be BETWEEN 11 IN THE MORNING
and 3 IN THE AFTERNOON (15:00) on your LOCAL clocks.
If your clocks were NOT changed, maybe in Arizona (?), or
in the Southern Hemisphere where it is now mid-winter,
your times each day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. LOCAL.
(The above matches our agreed definition for daytime listening)
Of course, all our logs will show UTC times, as always.
Our usual simple log-making 'rules' apply:
Post your CLE log to the List in a plain text email if possible please,
with CLE220 at the start of its title, showing on each log line:
# The Day No.(e.g. ‘23’) or the full date (e.g. ‘2017-06-23’)
and UTC (the day changes at 00:00 UTC).
# kHz - the nominal published frequency, if known.
# The Call Ident.
Please show those main log items FIRST, with any other details such as
location and distance LATER in the same line.
Don't forget to give your own location and brief details of your equipment.
It also makes good reading if you add your thoughts on the CLE and any
amusing events that happened during it.
I will send the usual 'Any More Logs?' email at about 17:00 UTC on Tuesday
so you can check that your log has been found OK. Do make sure that your
log has arrived on the list by 08:00 UTC on Wednesday 28th June at the
very latest.
I’m so grateful to Joachim who will again be making the combined results for
us.
As usual, you can get further helpful information about this and past CLEs
via Alan's CLE Information Section, http://www.ndblist.info/cle.htm
CLE107 was our last CLE rather like this one - way back in July 2008!
Good listening
Brian
----------------------------------------------------------
From: Brian Keyte G3SIA [email protected]
Location: Surrey, SE England (CLE coordinator)
----------------------------------------------------------
(Reminder: If you wish you can use a remote receiver for your loggings,
stating its location and owner - with their permission if required.
NB: THAT RECEIVER must be located within 2 hours of ‘real’ midday.
A remote listener may NOT also use another receiver, whether local or
remote, to obtain further loggings for the same CLE).
SUMMER MIDDAY EVENT
How many normal NDBs can you log around midday?
In this event we can probably cheat the QRN and hardly hear any (but if
you do have a midday storm coming overhead, disconnect and switch off
immediately of course)
Listening around midday is a good way to check our listening stations and
to find out if changes really have made improvements in reception.
Or maybe you could try the CLE listening from a 'field' location instead of
(please, NOT as well as) from home?
Days: Fri. 23 June - Mon. 26 June
Times: Within 2 hours of ‘real’ Midday (see below)
QRG: 190 - 1740 kHz
NDBs Normal NDBs only, plus any UNIDs
(not DGPS, NAVTEX or Amateur)
### IMPORTANT ## If your house clocks have moved one hour
forward for 'summer time' (or 'daylight saving'), your listening
times each day will be BETWEEN 11 IN THE MORNING
and 3 IN THE AFTERNOON (15:00) on your LOCAL clocks.
If your clocks were NOT changed, maybe in Arizona (?), or
in the Southern Hemisphere where it is now mid-winter,
your times each day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. LOCAL.
(The above matches our agreed definition for daytime listening)
Of course, all our logs will show UTC times, as always.
Our usual simple log-making 'rules' apply:
Post your CLE log to the List in a plain text email if possible please,
with CLE220 at the start of its title, showing on each log line:
# The Day No.(e.g. ‘23’) or the full date (e.g. ‘2017-06-23’)
and UTC (the day changes at 00:00 UTC).
# kHz - the nominal published frequency, if known.
# The Call Ident.
Please show those main log items FIRST, with any other details such as
location and distance LATER in the same line.
Don't forget to give your own location and brief details of your equipment.
It also makes good reading if you add your thoughts on the CLE and any
amusing events that happened during it.
I will send the usual 'Any More Logs?' email at about 17:00 UTC on Tuesday
so you can check that your log has been found OK. Do make sure that your
log has arrived on the list by 08:00 UTC on Wednesday 28th June at the
very latest.
I’m so grateful to Joachim who will again be making the combined results for
us.
As usual, you can get further helpful information about this and past CLEs
via Alan's CLE Information Section, http://www.ndblist.info/cle.htm
CLE107 was our last CLE rather like this one - way back in July 2008!
Good listening
Brian
----------------------------------------------------------
From: Brian Keyte G3SIA [email protected]
Location: Surrey, SE England (CLE coordinator)
----------------------------------------------------------
(Reminder: If you wish you can use a remote receiver for your loggings,
stating its location and owner - with their permission if required.
NB: THAT RECEIVER must be located within 2 hours of ‘real’ midday.
A remote listener may NOT also use another receiver, whether local or
remote, to obtain further loggings for the same CLE).
These listening events serve several purposes. They:
- determine, worldwide, which beacons are actually in service and on-the-air so the online database can be kept up-to-date
- determine, worldwide, which beacons are out-of-service or have gone silent since the last CLE covering this range
- will indicate the state of propagation conditions at the various participant locations
- will give you an indication of how well your LF/MF receiving system is working
- give participants a fun yet challenging activity to keep their listening skills honed
Final details can be found at the NDB List website, and worldwide results, for every participant, will be posted there a few days after the event. If you are a member of the ndblist Group, results will also be e-mailed and posted there.
The very active Yahoo ndblist Group is a great place to learn more about the 'Art of NDB DXing' or to meet other listeners in your region. It's also a good place to submit your CLE log! There is a lot of good information available there and new members are always very welcome. As well, you can follow the results of other CLE participants from night to night as propagation is always an active topic of discussion.
If you are contemplating getting started on 630m, listening for NDBs is an excellent way to test out your receive capabilities as there are several NDBs located near this part of the spectrum.
You need not be an ndblist member to participate in the CLEs and all reports, no matter how small, are of much value to the organizers.
'First-time' logs are always VERY welcome!
Reports may be sent to the ndblist or e-mailed to either myself or CLE co-ordinator, Brian Keyte (G3SIA), whose address appears above.
Please ... give the CLE a try ... then let us know what NDB's can be heard from your location! Your report can then be added to the worldwide database to help keep it up-to-date.
Good hunting!
Steve McDonald, VE7SL, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from British Columbia, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].
» Leave a Comment (2)
LHS Episode #192: Getting High
This is the 192nd installment of Linux in the Ham Shack. We thank you for tuning in. In this episode, your hosts cover Jamboree on the Air, Linux infotainment systems, Morse code in Jamaica, Bitcoin-mining malware, a security based Linux OS, several handy Linux command-line utilities and much more.
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].
» Leave a Comment (1)
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