In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH),  Frank Howell (K4FMH), and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief and the episode's feature is Little Amateur Radio Book Review.

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• ARRL Defends 902-928 Amateur Radio Band
• FT8 - SUPERFOX Cracked
• National Preparedness Month: Ensuring Family Safety
• Canadian Teens Gain Licenses After Ham Radio Coursework
• Sri Lankan Girl Guides Find Power in Ham Radio
• New ACMA Licensing Fees
• UK Paper Amateur Radio Exams to End

Hello and welcome to the 556th installment of Linux in the Ham Shack. In this short topics episode, the hosts discuss National Preparedness Month, the AMSAT Space Symposium for 2024, Jamboree on the Air, new versions of Pop!_OS and Haiku, Gnome 47 and much more. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

73 de The LHS Crew

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This is the final installment on my analysis of the RAC Survey 2021 on Canadian amateur operators. The previous article examined RF power reported by this national sample of ham operators. The other shoe on power use is the prospect of gain residing in the antenna used for transmitting. I begin with the HF through six-meter results for the basic antenna type used by Canadian hams. Figure 1 contains these results.

Just shy of two-thirds (62%) report a single-element antenna. The common dipole is an example of such an antenna. This is not a surprising result per se. The dipole antenna is often the first antenna described in license examination material. It is also the most frequent first-time build antenna for most new ham licensees. These results illustrate how the single element antenna serves the HF and six-meter frequencies well even today.

Multi-element arrays, most always having both gain and direction, are used by almost one-third (31%). For this frequency region, most are of the Yagi-Uda type, although there are wire beams as well as phased verticals, too. In results not shown, I examined whether multi-element array antennas on these bands are related to DXing or Contesting activities. They are in both. DXers and contest operators about about twice as likely to report typical use of multiple-element arrays than those who do not participate in these activities.

The magnetic loop is reported in use on HF by about 8 percent in this survey. This antenna design for the HF and six-meter bands is available for homebrew construction with many plans available. But it is also readily available from several commercial manufacturers. Putting a number on the share of hams reporting they use it for transmitting and receiving on HF tells us something about this type of design, which is known to have a high Q coefficient as well as lower noise than the single wire antenna. I examined the results by province, age group, and whether DXers or contest ops were more or less likely to use magnetic loops but do not present the results here. There were no appreciable differences regarding magnetic loop use in those groups of respondents.

Turning now to antennas used in the VHF and UHF bands, Figure 2 shows that the vertical antenna is almost ubiquitous. Three-fourths (77%) use a vertical antenna on these bands. About one-fifth (19%) use a multi-element array, with either a horizontal or vertical polarization. This is likely a Yagi beam design but others are possible. Only a handful say they use a single-element horizontal antenna on these bands.

It is reasonable to assume that most of the multi-element array designs are used for DXing or Contesting or both. As was the case with the HF bands, the use of multi-element arrays for the VHF and UHF bands were about twice as high (40% or so vs 20% or so) as for hams who say they do not do those activities.
Only a small fraction of hams operating in the VHF or UHF frequencies say they use a horizontal single-element antenna. It is likely that the mobile use of these bands may deter an alternative polarization if the operator is at a fixed location.

Heading now to the microwave bands, we noted in a previous article on this blog a small group using higher power levels for transmission. But power in watts is not readily necessary on these bands due to the higher gain often realized in the antennas used. Figure 3 illustrates the distribution of antenna gain (dBi) reported by amateur operators. While a small portion use antennas with less than 5 dBi gain, the median figure is about 22 dBi. Some say they have very high gain of over 40 dBi which makes even small power in watts effectively “high power” on the bands.

These antennas are typically designed to be much physically smaller than those used on lower frequencies. This provides a potential for more accessible use. However, the dangers of a very high effective power rating (power in watts plus antenna gain) can actually work against this flexibility. As manufacturers release more commercial equipment for these varying microwave frequency bands, it is likely that the numbers of amateur operators will dip their toes into the microwave bands. This survey only captures a small number of them because their relative share of the population is small.

This concludes this article series. The full report is available in PDF format at my FoxMikeHotel.com website here.

 Now and then I hit the sweet spot regarding my CW progress. For a while now I have jumped up to 38wpm contesting style CW. At this point in my practice time, I make around 2-4 mistakes per 10-minute session but then a perfect score happens and I am thrilled. I agree that in an actual contest sending CQ contest at 38wpm may hamper more than help as some folks come across this speed and move right along. If you are spotted the station will know your call and if it's a generic exchange  (CQ zone or ITU zone) you may get a hit from more stations. If you are sending a progressive serial number you may get pasted up more than contacted. In CW contests when calling CQ contest my speed varies from 30-34wpm and depending on the contest down to 28wpm. As always if a station comes back to me at a slower speed than I am sending I tap my page down key and that drops my CW speed in N1MM+ contest software. 

So why you ask am I practising at 38wpm? For me, it's all about keeping the mind sharp and working the grey matter with high-speed CW does the trick for me. Today's results put a big smile on my face....until I go at it again and reality sinks in with a few mistakes.

As amateur radio operators, we’re always prepared for the unexpected—whether it’s a natural disaster, a power outage, family pets getting eaten, or an emergency communication scenario. This September, as we observe National Preparedness Month, it’s the perfect time to ensure that all aspects of our emergency readiness are covered. One often overlooked but vital aspect of preparedness is securing the data on our computers through regular backups.

Whether you’re logging contacts, managing digital modes, or maintaining software-defined radios, your computer is a critical part of your station. Losing data due to hardware failure, ransomware, or a natural disaster can set you back significantly. Here’s how you can make sure your valuable data is safe and sound.

Why Regular Backups Are Essential

1. Protect Your Logs and Records: As radio enthusiasts, we accumulate a lot of data—contact logs, QSL card scans, configuration files for digital modes, software settings, and more. Losing these records can mean losing years of hard work.
2. Preserve Software and Settings: Many of us use specialized software to run our radios and interfaces. Setting everything up again from scratch after a computer crash can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience.
3. Guard Against Ransomware and Malware: Cyber threats are on the rise, and radio operators are not immune. Backing up your data can ensure you have a clean version to restore, even if you become a victim of ransomware or another attack.
4. Plan for Natural Disasters: If your area is prone to flooding, hurricanes, or other disasters, having off-site or cloud backups can help ensure your data survives even if your equipment does not.

Types of Backups: Which One Is Right for You?

There are several types of backups you can consider, each with its own benefits:

• Local Backups: These involve copying data to an external hard drive or a network-attached storage (NAS) device. They are quick, reliable, and allow for rapid recovery, but they can be vulnerable to theft, damage, or the same disasters affecting your computer.
• Cloud Backups: Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or dedicated backup services like Backblaze or Carbonite provide remote storage for your data. These backups are accessible from anywhere and are protected against local disasters, but they depend on a reliable internet connection and can come with ongoing subscription costs.
• Hybrid Approach: Combining local and cloud backups offers the best of both worlds. Local backups allow for quick recovery, while cloud backups provide an off-site option that ensures data safety even if your entire station is compromised.

How to Create a Backup Plan

1. Identify Critical Data: Make a list of files and directories that are essential to your operations. This might include your logging software database, configuration files, QSL card images, and any custom scripts you’ve created.
2. Choose a Backup Method: Decide whether a local, cloud, or hybrid approach works best for you. Consider your internet speed, the amount of data you need to back up, and your budget.
3. Set a Schedule: Regularity is key to effective backups. Daily or weekly backups are ideal for most operators. Make sure you automate the process as much as possible to avoid human error or forgetfulness.
4. Test Your Backups: A backup is only useful if it works! Periodically test your backups by restoring a file or directory to ensure everything is functioning as expected.
5. Keep an Off-Site Copy: If you’re relying on local backups, consider keeping a copy off-site, perhaps at a friend’s house or in a safety deposit box, for added protection against physical damage or theft.

Practical Steps for Backing Up Your Data

1. Use Backup Software: Windows and macOS both come with built-in backup tools (like Windows Backup and Time Machine). For Linux, tools like rsync can automate backups.
2. Automate the Process: Set your backup software to run automatically at regular intervals. This ensures you always have a recent backup without needing to remember to do it manually.
3. Use Strong Encryption: If you’re storing sensitive data or using cloud storage, make sure your backups are encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.
4. Check Your Backup Integrity: Regularly review your backup logs and run integrity checks to ensure your data is being backed up correctly.
5. Keep Multiple Versions: If possible, keep multiple versions of your backups to protect against data corruption or accidental deletion. This can be particularly important if you need to restore a specific version of a file or recover from a mistake.

Conclusion

This National Preparedness Month, take the time to review your data backup strategy. Protecting your data is just as important as maintaining your radio equipment—especially in emergencies. By having a solid backup plan in place, you can ensure that no matter what happens, you’ll be back on the airwaves with minimal disruption.

Remember, being prepared means being ready for anything—don’t let a data loss incident catch you off guard!

This article was originally posted at Radio Artisan.