Search results

The _National Contest Journal_ (NCJ) serves as a dedicated resource for amateur radio contesters, providing in-depth articles, operational strategies, and technical insights. Published bimonthly by the ARRL, it covers a wide array of contesting topics, including antenna systems, station optimization, operating techniques, and rule interpretations for major events like the NA Sprint and various QSO Parties. The journal aims to enhance the competitive edge of participants across all skill levels, from casual operators to serious multi-operator teams, by sharing experiences and data from high-scoring stations. NCJ content frequently includes detailed analyses of contest results, offering breakdowns of scores, participant statistics, and comparisons of operating strategies. Readers can find practical advice on improving their contest performance, such as optimizing logging software usage or maximizing **run rates**. The journal also features columns on specific contest modes like RTTY and provides updates on rule changes and upcoming events, helping contesters prepare for future competitions and achieve better results, often leading to **top 10** finishes in their respective categories.

WB4WOR Propagation Beacon on 6 and 10 meters Jointly Owned and Operated by the Broadcast Packet and Repeater Group and Piedmont Amateur Radio GroupRandleman, NC USA

This publications page lists articles on surface mount devices, amateur radio, soldering, shunts, and measuring large direct currents.

TurboLog is a station management and logging program designed for amateur radio operators, providing robust database and logging functionalities. It features fully integrated support for controlling typical radio station equipment, including transceivers, packet radio TNCs, Morse and voice keyers, and digital mode terminals. The software also incorporates antenna switching capabilities and acoustic alerting, streamlining station operations for DXing and contesting. The program's utility extends to award tracking for entities like DXCC and IOTA, alongside comprehensive callbook and ham database integration. It supports log import and export, QSL label generation, and includes TNC drivers for packet radio. The trial version allows users to evaluate its extensive features before commitment, making it a versatile tool for managing complex amateur radio station configurations and operational data.

Unlocking the full multiband potential of the 225 Ohm elementary radiator in a folded monopole, dipole-like or turnstile layout, by Francesco Errante

EUDXF European DX Foundation

Demonstrates the construction of a 144 MHz turnstile antenna, detailing its design for omnidirectional, horizontally polarized VHF operation. The resource outlines the physical dimensions and materials required, including specific lengths for the radiating elements and the use of _RG-58_ coaxial cable for phasing. It covers the assembly process, emphasizing the critical spacing and connection points to achieve the desired radiation pattern and impedance matching for the _2-meter band_. The article presents measured _SWR_ performance across the 144-146 MHz segment, showing a low SWR of 1.2:1 at 144.5 MHz, which is suitable for general VHF use. It compares the turnstile's performance to a 9-element Yagi, noting the turnstile's advantage in providing consistent signal strength from all directions without requiring a rotator. Practical application for local FM simplex and repeater operations is implied, offering a simple yet effective antenna solution for fixed or portable stations.

SMIRK club news, DX information, content details, and forum for 6 meter operation enthusiasts.

Electronic communication museum Bloomfield, NY USA

A guide on writing reports to broadcasting stations and obtaining QSL cards

Deploying robust antenna infrastructure for both fixed and portable operations often requires specialized support structures capable of withstanding environmental stresses while providing optimal radiating element placement. SMC offers a range of solutions, including pneumatic masts and push-up masts, designed to facilitate rapid deployment and reliable long-term support for various antenna types. Their product line encompasses antenna mounts, poles, and complete antenna systems, addressing the critical need for stable and efficient RF communication. The company's offerings extend to HF antennas, including dipoles and _NVIS_ (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) antennas, which are crucial for short-range regional communications on bands like 80m and 40m. These systems are engineered for durability and performance, ensuring signal integrity across diverse operating conditions. With over **65 years** of experience, SMC has established itself as a global manufacturer in this niche. Their product portfolio also includes antenna support towers, catering to more permanent installations requiring significant height and load capacity for multiple arrays.

Thierry LOMBRY, ON4SKY, develops in several long articles the bascis of propagation. His website includes also a French section dealing with auroras.

Definition of radio frequency bands, hf vhf uhf etc.

A novel approach to contruction of a gamma match.

Yaesu FT857D No TX Audio, video on reparing and yaesu Mic modification, with audio improvements for SSB and FM

The resource presents a detailed schematic for constructing a dual-band vertical antenna, specifically designed for operation on the 2-meter and 70-centimeter amateur radio bands. It illustrates the physical layout, critical dimensions, and component placement necessary for successful replication. Key elements such as the radiating elements, phasing sections, and feed point are clearly depicted, providing a visual guide for radio amateurs undertaking a homebrew antenna project. The diagram specifies the lengths for the VHF and UHF sections, indicating how these elements are integrated to achieve dual-band functionality from a single coaxial feedline. It also implies the use of common materials readily available to most experimenters, focusing on simplicity and effectiveness in its design. The visual format of a GIF image ensures direct access to the construction details without requiring extensive textual interpretation. This schematic serves as a practical reference for hams interested in building a compact, efficient vertical antenna for local and regional FM communications, offering a proven design for immediate implementation.

Minnesota's DX Connection

Optimizing the ZS6BKW antenna for full HF band coverage often requires specific modifications beyond its standard configuration. This resource details several enhancements, beginning with a simple series capacitor to improve 80m SWR, a technique W5DXP found effective for permanent installation due to its minimal impact on higher bands. Further improvements include a 10-inch parallel open stub for 10m resonance, shifting the frequency to 28.4 MHz with an SWR of approximately 1.8:1, a practical solution for Technician class operators. The document then explores a switchable matching section, adding or subtracting one foot of ladder line at the 1:1 choke-balun, which significantly impacts higher frequency bands and eliminates the need for a tuner on 17m. W5DXP's _AIM-4170D_ antenna analyzer measurements confirm these effects. More advanced modifications involve a parallel capacitor for further 80m SWR reduction, requiring remote switching for multi-band operation, and relay-switched parallel capacitors at specific points on the 450-ohm matching section to achieve low SWR on 60m, 30m, and 15m. These detailed steps, including _Smith chart_ analyses for the challenging bands, aim to transform the ZS6BKW into a truly all-HF-band antenna, reflecting W5DXP's practical experience in antenna tuning.

Amateur Radio operator interested in mobile & emergency operations, with some portable QRP operations.

Article showing how I've made a mains filter to reduce EMC in the electricity supplying my shack. I've used a type 31 Fair-Rite ferrite core and the video shows how this performs on 160m through to 40m.

Distributor of Sovtek, other current production vacuum tubes, and NOS tubes. Distributor of electronic parts for audio and musical instrument amplifiers. Manufacturer/ Distributor of Electro-harmonix effects.

This FAQ is made from the archives of the FT100 mailing list based on the OneList service.

Maps and propagation indices

The **United States Islands (USI) Awards Program** is an amateur radio operating activity centered on activating and chasing islands located within the fifty states of the United States, its territories, and protectorates. These islands encompass coastal shores, lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams, offering a diverse range of operating environments. The program provides numerous achievement awards for both island activators and island chasers, encouraging portable operations and mini-DXpeditions. Participants engage in year-round activities, including the **One-Day-Getaway (1DG)**, a casual portable operation held on the second Saturday of May, and the U.S. Islands QSO Party (IQP), a 15-hour contest occurring on the last full weekend of August. USI encourages hams to discover and operate from islands in their local areas, providing an alternative to traditional Field Day operations for outdoor radio enjoyment. The program supports various operating styles, including portable, walk-on, paddle-to, motor-to, mobile, and drive-on activations. Recent activities include AC1RH activating MA064R Eagle Island daily, aiming for over 100 activations using 600 watts, and KD9ZAB and KD5YZY qualifying MO021R Tower Rock, which is also a POTA US-10147 location. The USI program maintains a clear distinction from the Islands On The Air (IOTA) awards program.

Presents _HamQTH_, a free online callbook and callsign server, which provides rapid XML access for various logging programs, enabling seamless integration for amateur radio operators. The service includes features such as recent activity logs, propagation predictions, and support for multiple languages, making it a versatile tool for DXers and contesters. It also offers detailed information on callsigns, including US states, counties, IOTA, WAZ, and ITU zones. Users can leverage _HamQTH_ for efficient log searching and to monitor current band conditions, aiding in planning DX operations and contest strategies. The platform's XML interface facilitates automated lookups, streamlining the process of identifying stations and gathering essential QTH data. Petr Hlozek, OK2CQR, developed this resource, reflecting practical experience in amateur radio data management.

From TenTec Inc a video that illustrate a PL-259 installation on a RG8X coax cable

Solving Ignition Noise RFI article. Help on removing noise interfences caused by ignition

Examines Kiwa, a global entity specializing in **Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC)** services across diverse sectors. The resource details Kiwa's operational scope, which encompasses quality assurance, safety compliance, and sustainability solutions for industries such as Food, Feed and Agriculture, Digital and Cyber Solutions, Energy Transition, Industrial Services, and Medical Devices. It highlights the company's role in ensuring product, service, process, and system integrity through rigorous accreditation and notification processes, operating in over 35 countries worldwide. The content presents specific examples of Kiwa's engagement, such as food safety certification for HortaPronta in Portugal, explanations of the Digital Battery Passport requirements, and contributions to floating offshore wind energy development. It also outlines the company's approach to biological evaluation of medical devices according to **ISO 10993** and its commitment to ESG principles, as detailed in its online ESG magazine, Trace. The resource provides access to a certificate finder and a testing directory with over 3000 capabilities across 80 laboratories.

The ZS6BKW multiband antenna, an optimized variant of the classic G5RV, features a 102-foot (31.1 m) horizontal span and a 39.1-foot ladder line matching section. This design, derived by G0GSF (formerly ZS6BKW) in the early 1980s using computer programs and _Smith charts_, aims for improved SWR across multiple HF bands compared to its predecessor. Construction details specify Wireman 554 ladder line and #14 AWG THHN copper wire for the radiators, with precise instructions for determining the velocity factor (VF) of the ladder line using an antenna analyzer or dip meter, ensuring accurate physical length for the matching section. The radiator length is electrically 1.35 wavelengths for the 20-meter band, requiring careful trimming during tuning. Field measurements with an _AIM-4170C_ analyzer by KI4PMI and NC4FB demonstrated good SWR curves and bandwidth on 6, 10, 12, 17, 20, and 40 meters. The antenna was deemed unusable on 15 and 30 meters due to very high SWR, but an LDG AT-100PRO autotuner successfully brought 6 and 80 meters into tune. Contacts were made on 80, 40, 20, and 17 meters, including a **17-meter** contact to Spain. EZNEC models for 80-6 meters are provided, along with an AutoEZ model by AC6LA, which predicted good SWR for 80-10 meters. W5DXP's modifications for an all-band HF ZS6BKW are also referenced.

Home of the ARA Club W3CWC, Proud Sponsors of the Maryland DC QSO Party and The Hagerstown Hamfest

Inspired by Milan OK7GU, the goal is to build an universal antenna controller - for different types of rotor, different motor, encoder

The _Italian VHF Beacons_ resource provides a detailed listing of active and QRT amateur radio beacons operating across VHF, UHF, and SHF bands within Italy. Each entry specifies the beacon's callsign (e.g., IQ1SP/B), operating frequency (e.g., 144.411 MHz), QTH locator (e.g., JN44VC), effective radiated power (ERP) in watts, and antenna configuration (e.g., Big Wheel, 4x Dipole, Yagi). This data is crucial for radio amateurs involved in propagation studies, equipment testing, and long-distance (DX) communication on these higher frequency bands, offering fixed signal sources for monitoring. This compilation, last updated in October 2005, serves as a historical snapshot of Italian beacon activity. For instance, it lists several 144 MHz beacons with ERPs ranging from **0.1W** to **10W**, and higher frequency beacons such as I8EMG/B on 1296.880 MHz and I3EME/B on 24192.132 MHz. The inclusion of QRT (Quiet Radio Teletype) status for many entries indicates the dynamic nature of beacon operations over time. Users can utilize this information to identify potential signal sources for band openings or to calibrate their receiving equipment against known transmissions.

TARA is the Troy Amateur Radio Association (N2TY) of Troy, New York. We sponsor the Annual TARA RTTY Sprint and we sponsored the worlds 1st PSK Rumble!

Pirate radio recordings, addresses, links and QSLs

What is the Automatic Identification System (AIS)?

Band Plan for HF Bands by IARU Region 1, effective 2014.

This article is designed to be an introduction to the terms and basic mechanics of propagation methods that are to be found on the HF and VHF bands.

Microphone wiring for Yaesu FT-757 GX II

Temporary hf vertical installation for testing

The Micro24 is a ultra compact microsize QRP SSB transceiver for the 20 meters amateur radio band. This transceiver is so small that it fits into one hand.

The official site of the 1997 BS7H DXpedition to Huang Yan Dao (a.k.a. Scarborough Reef).

In response to a question about Numbers Stations, their origin and purpose, the following information should be of interest.

Operating on the 2200m band (135.7-137.8 kHz) often presents challenges for amateur radio transceivers, which typically exhibit poor receiver performance at these very low frequencies. This project addresses the issue by providing a design for a dedicated 137 kHz antenna preamplifier, specifically tailored to improve signal reception for radios such as the _Yaesu FT-817_. The preamplifier circuit utilizes a low-noise FET input stage, crucial for minimizing self-generated noise and maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio from weak LF signals. The design includes a detailed schematic, component values, and construction notes, enabling homebrewers to build a functional unit. The goal is to achieve significant gain, making the faint signals on 2200m more discernible and improving overall band usability. Key design considerations include impedance matching to typical antenna systems and ensuring stable operation across the narrow LF segment. The circuit aims for a **low noise figure** and sufficient amplification to overcome the inherent limitations of general-purpose HF transceivers when operating below **200 kHz**.

A free radio station that is transmitting world wide on several shortwave frequency 's with loads of pirate and freeradio information.

VE2ZAZ and distorted audio in SSB on some models prior 2006

Nino porcino documentation about CHIP64 digital mode

The webpage provides guidance on working 6 Meter DX, focusing on effective operating habits, preparation, and knowledge of the band. It emphasizes the importance of monitoring, clear frequencies, and using CW for weak signals. It also mentions the significance of knowing countries and individual stations on the air to increase chances of working DX. The page recommends utilizing resources like newsletters and websites to stay updated on 6-meter activity and offers suggestions for improving operating skills.

North Jersey DX Association, home of the ARRL W2 Incoming QSL Bureau

Audio files to help identify rf noise (rfi). Identify the RFI that interferes with your reception. RFI Noise identification.

French CW radio club