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All month long, during January 2015, a group of volunteers using the special event callsign, “K3Y” with a slant-region number (i.e., “K3Y/3” or “K3Y/0”), were on the amateur radio HF bands (and some, on six meters).  I was one of these volunteers, operating nearly every day of the month for at least one hour, but some times a few hours per day.

“K3Y,” the Straight Key Century Club’s annual January celebration, commemorates the club’s founding in 2006 following the American Radio Relay League’s Straight Key Night. A small group of participants wanted to extend the fun of SKN throughout the year. The SKCC is the result.

For the first three years, the club’s founders used K1Y, K2A, and K3Y as the celebration’s special-event calls. But someone cleverly noticed that a 3 is nothing more than a backwards, curvaceous E. This “KEY” event has operated under the K3Y call ever since.

The on-air party is open to members and non-members alike. It runs from 0000 UTC Jan. 2 through 2359 UTC Jan. 31. It’s a great time to introduce others to the joys of hand-crafted Morse code using straight keys, bugs, and side swipers.

In this video, you can see this operation at my ham radio shack, as I am the control operator of the special event station, “K3Y/0”, during one of the many shifts. “K3Y” is the special event callsign of the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC). The special event operates each January.

In the following video, you can see some of the QSL cards associated with this year’s operation, and then some other QSL cards in my collection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOsNjT7OCyc

+ The SKCC website is at http://skccgroup.com

+ The “K3Y” special event page is http://www.skccgroup.com/k3y/index.php

+ My page is at http://NW7US.us

+ My Morse code page is http://cw.hfradio.org

 

Visit, subscribe: NW7US Radio Communications and Propagation YouTube Channel

AnyTone Tech announced that their new lineup of HTs is now available via Amazon.

Here is the price list (includes free shipping in the US):

• AnyTone Tech TERMN-8R – $138.89
• AnyTone Tech OBLTR-8R – $98.89
• AnyTone Tech NSTIG-8R – $68.89
• AnyTone Tech ANILE-8R – $46.89

Here is sales copy from their flagship radio, the TERMN-8R:

The First Licensed Radio for Amateur, Commercial, and Public Use
The most versatile two way radio on the market, certified for use for commercial, public, and amateur frequencies. The TERMN-8R includes built-in modes with 23 GMRS channels and 5 MURS Channels. The TERMN-8R is FCC Certified for Part 90 and Part 95 usage.

Receive Transmissions on Six Different Bands

Customize Your Operation with Channels, Programmable Buttons, and more!
You can program your TERMN-8R exactly how you want it. There are 200 programmable memory channels. The side keys are programmable to multiple options. You can give channels alphanumeric names, without using a computer. The TERMN-8R has 2 VFO banks, and allows you to be in both VFO and channel modes at the same time. You can easily program from a PC to set-up the radio to operate exactly as needed.

What’s In the Box?
TERMN-8R Radio Body
2200mAh Battery
High Gain Antenna
Earpiece with Remote Mic
Desktop Charger
120v AC Adapter
Belt Clip
Wrist Strap

TERMN-8R SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency range:
[TX] 136 – 174MHz, 400 – 520MHz
[RX] 136 – 174MHz, 400 – 520MHz, 520-1710kHz (AM Broadcast), 2.3-30MHz (Shortwave), 68-108MHz (FM Broadcast), 108-136MHz (Aviation Band)
Channel Capacity: 200 Channels
Channel Spacing: 25KHz (wide band)12.5KHz (narrow band)
Sensitivity: ≤0.25μV (wide band)  ≤0.3μV (narrow band)
Operation Voltage: 7.4V DC ±20%
Battery: 2200mAh
Antenna Connector: SMA-Female / Antenna Impedance: 50Ω
Accessory Connector: Kenwood 2 Pin Standard
Stability: ±2.5ppm
Output power: 5W / 2W / 1W (Max 6W)
Audio Power Output: 1000mW/10% (1 WATT)

When someone gets a chance to try one out, please comment here so we can get an idea of how well they perform. I haven’t used any of them personally.

In addition to being marketed for amateur radio user, I think it’s interesting that the radio is both Part 90 (commercial/public safety) and Part 95 certified (MURS/GMRS). It appears to share its Part 90 grant with Anytone’s AT-3318UV-A/E.

Are the features worth the price? What are your thoughts?

Matt Thomas, W1MST, is the managing editor of AmateurRadio.com. Contact him at [email protected].

Normally, 1660 KHz is dominated here by Spanish format KTIQ in Merced, California. I was surprised to tune past 1660 early on Saturday evening to hear Country & Western music. The top-of-hour ID was "Willie 1660 AM" who turned out to be KQWB in Fargo, North Dakota ... state #29 for me on the broadcast band! Not only was it dominating the frequency with an S9 +10db carrier, there were no other stations to be heard ... not even a whisper of KTIQ, normally heard weakly, even when looping to the east.

courtesy: https://www.google.com/maps/

Their 5 tower array is evidently doing a good job, when  propagation favors the eastern path as the antenna pattern has a strong western component while nulling the east.

courtesy: http://radio-locator.com

"... all country legends. This is a Taylor Swift-free zone, Willie at 1660 AM".

KQWB was logged at 0300Z (7 PM local time) using the 10' x 20' loop and Perseus SDR.



Steve McDonald, VE7SL, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from British Columbia, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

So the site went down again and it managed to destroy a bunch of boring old posts and a few photos. No big deal as its all back together again

Alex Hill, G7KSE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Cumbria, UK. Contact him at [email protected].

Remember that album from Mike Oldfield? A user on YouTube found out that this album contains a hidden and unintentional CW message.

This was caused by a powerful VLF station located next to the recording studio, which interfered with the recording equipment. Because the signal is very weak nobody ever noticed it — until now.

The video below shows you how to receive VLF signals with nothing else than an antenna plugged into the microphone input of your sound card and SDRSharp to make it visible and audible.

The decoding of the the Tubular Bells signal is shown at 9:54.

(via Reddit)

Hans, PD0AC, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Almere, The Netherlands. Contact him at [email protected].

Today, March 8, 2015 at 1732z, I made my fourth QSO from Peak 9431, W5N/PW-019 with N4EX. That QSO qualified the activation and thus earned me my SOTA Mountain Goat award. After 2 years and 2 days my point total is now 1,007, hallelujah!!

Peak 9431 was also  the second activation I ever made and I activated it with Fred, KT5X and John K1JD, both of which were with me today. Also this was my first activation using snow shoes the entire way, which actually was sort of fun. I made 37 QSO's and had a nice run of Europeans on 15m. It was a great day. Below is a video and a couple of pictures of today's activation.




Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Today, March 8, 2015 at 1732z, I made my fourth QSO from Peak 9431, W5N/PW-019 with N4EX. That QSO qualified the activation and thus earned me my SOTA Mountain Goat award. After 2 years and 2 days my point total is now 1,007, hallelujah!!

Peak 9431 was also  the second activation I ever made and I activated it with Fred, KT5X and John K1JD, both of which were with me today. Also this was my first activation using snow shoes the entire way, which actually was sort of fun. I made 37 QSO's and had a nice run of Europeans on 15m. It was a great day. Below is a video and a couple of pictures of today's activation.




Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].