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A free application that displays location information determined from a callsign, displays translations of common "QSO words and phrases" in the languages used in the callsign's DXCC entity, displays beam headings and SpotCollector DX Spots on a world map, displays country maps, and provides point-and-click control of antenna rotators from AlfaSpid, ARSWIN, Heath, Hygain, M2, Prosistel, SARTek, TIC, Trackbox, and Yaesu

Demonstrates RadioComm, a freeware Icom transceiver/receiver controller program for Windows, which facilitates memory programming, spectrum analysis, and interfacing with extensive frequency databases. The software allows users to program their Icom radio's memory, generate radio-frequency spectra, and connect the radio to a computer-based frequency database. It supports various Icom models, offering bidirectional control where virtual controls mirror the transceiver's physical controls and vice versa. The program's spectrum analysis feature, exemplified by tuning the WWV time standard at 15 MHz, provides insights into the AM passband, a capability often found in high-end Icom transceivers. While RadioComm offers these functionalities, the author, Paul Lutus, notes that it has been superseded by JRX (a virtual radio) and IcomProgrammer II (a memory programming utility), which are described as superior and compatible with more platforms. RadioComm is available as a 516 KB self-extracting executable, requiring an Icom CT-17 RS-232 interface box for radios that need it. Users can also customize the plain-text database to include unsupported Icom models. However, the author explicitly states that no user support is provided for this free program.

Two Wire Beverage by Jeff Parke, describes a two-wire Beverage antenna design for improved reception with switchable direction (forward/backward) and lower noise level. It includes details on building the antenna, matching transformers, and a control box for selecting direction and connecting to the receiver.

Sharing beverage antennas with this switch boxes is possible. This article describes a 6-position remote antenna switch for Beverage antennas on 3 bands (160m, 80m, 40m). It allows selecting one of 6 antennas for each band without affecting other receivers. The system uses a control box with a rotary switch and a separate splitting box with bandpass filters for each band.

6x2 coaxial remote antenna switch, completed unit showing weatherproof relay box and station control unit.

VQLog 3.1 - 782 is a shareware logbook program designed for Windows operating systems (95, 98, NT, 2000, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 10, or later), supporting resolutions of 800x600 or higher. It can also operate on macOS and Linux via virtualization software like Virtual PC for MAC, Oracle VirtualBox, or VMware. The software facilitates QSO access by date, callsign, prefix, square, DXCC, and other parameters, offering robust import capabilities for ADIF, Cabrillo, and ASCII files from various contest and logbook programs. Key features include comprehensive award tracking for DXCC, WAZ, WAC, WPX, WAS, IOTA, TPEA, DIE, VUCC, 100EACW, and up to 30 user-defined awards. It generates customizable summaries and graphical statistics for QSO activity, DX contests, Most Wanted Squares (MWS), propagation openings, and prefixes. VQLog supports DX-Spot reception and processing from DX-Cluster and PSK-Reporter with programmable warnings, integrates with callbook services like QRZ.COM and Buckmaster's CD, and offers online lookup. Electronic QSL and log upload support extends to LoTW, eQSL.cc, Clublog, and DXMAPS, with real-time updates for online logs. The program provides extended QSO information for VHF-DXers, including separate TX/RX frequencies, start/end times, propagation modes, and specific entry fields for MS, EME, and Tropo. CAT support for rig control and interfaces with ARSWIN and PstRotator for azimuth/elevation control are also included.

A 90-foot vertical antenna constructed from **aluminum irrigation tubing** is detailed, focusing on its innovative raising and lowering mechanism. The resource describes a **45-foot ginpole** system, allowing a single operator to erect or lower the antenna in minutes. It covers the mechanical design, including the pivot base, insulated joints for the tubing sections, and guy wire attachment points. The antenna consists of two 30-foot sections of 4-inch tubing and one 30-foot section of 2-inch tubing, stacked with the smaller diameter at the top. The electrical design incorporates PVC "condulet" boxes at the 30-foot and 60-foot points, housing relays to change the effective height for multi-band operation on 160, 80, 40, and 30 meters. Ferrite rod inductive chokes are used for DC control and to tune out gap capacitance. The antenna is fed with 1000 feet of open wire line, connected to a matching transformer comprising stacked toroids and a coaxial/toroidal balun. Grounding is achieved with a 3x3 foot grid of 16-gauge tinned copper wires with soldered crossovers.

A remote control box for the SG-237 that allow to turn on and off, check status the SGC tuner remotely by AA5TB

MDS-HAM Amateur Radio Products help make operating easier with the Introduction of the RC-1-Y, and RC-1-M rotor control box. A digital rotor control box with a serial computer interface at an affordable price which is made in America.

Have you problem with your RG cables ? This page describes a smart antenna box using an RG-cathode for 3 antennas. The remote control needs just a simple wire and the GND for remote-control

For amateur radio operators engaged in **radio direction finding** (RDF) and **transmitter hunting** (T-hunting) activities, this resource provides a catalog of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for constructing various DF and foxhunt-related projects. The offerings include PCBs for 80-meter fox transmitters and receivers, UHF fox transmitters with audio recording capabilities, and several designs for general-purpose radio direction finders. Specific projects like the "Simple 80M ATX-80 Transmitter" and the "N0GSG DSP Radio Direction Finder" are listed, along with attenuator boxes and specialized components for Doppler DF systems. The catalog details PCBs for projects published in prominent amateur radio magazines such as *73's*, *CQ*, *QST*, and *PE*, indicating their origin and design pedigree. For instance, the "Montreal Fox Controller" is sourced from the *Homing-In* column by Joe Moell, K0OV. The resource also lists components for advanced Doppler DF systems, including main boards, LED display boards, and antenna switch boards, with options for programmed PIC microcontrollers. Pricing for each PCB is provided, allowing hams to acquire the necessary components for their DIY RDF endeavors.

Presents a QRP AM/CW transmitter project specifically designed for the 10-meter band, utilizing a crystal oscillator and a collector-modulated AM oscillator. The design employs a 2N2219(A) transistor in a Colpitts configuration, generating 100 to 350 mW of RF output power depending on the 9-18 Volt supply voltage and modulation depth. Frequency stability is maintained by a 28 MHz crystal, with fine-tuning possible via a Ct1 trimmer capacitor for approximately 1 kHz adjustment. The resource details the RF oscillator stage, implemented with a 2N2219 NPN transistor, emphasizing frequency stability and low power dissipation. It also covers the amplitude modulation stage, managed by a 2N2905 PNP transistor, which impresses audio information onto the carrier. Selective components (C3, C4, C7, C5) enhance voice frequencies within a +/- 5 kHz bandwidth, and modulation depth is controlled by R2 and R3. The project includes a 3-element L-type narrow bandpass filter (Ct3, L3, C10) to suppress harmonics and ensure a clean output signal. The project provides a complete schematic diagram, a comprehensive parts list including specific capacitor, resistor, and inductor values, and construction notes for the coils (L1, L2, L3). It also offers practical advice on enclosure requirements, suggesting an all-metal case or a PVC box with graphite paint for RF shielding. Operational parameters such as current draw (27mA@9V to 45mA@16V) and input impedance (50 Ohms) are specified, alongside guidance on antenna matching and the importance of a valid amateur radio license for 10-meter band operation.

Carry a small stock of new and reconditioned parts for both rotators and control boxes for the following makes: CDE/HYGAIN , YAESU , STOLLE.

Demonstrates the construction and implementation of a **two-element phased vertical array** for 40 meters, utilizing _Christman phasing_ techniques. The author, W4NFR, details the process from building individual 1/4-wave aluminum verticals to integrating them into a phased system. The resource covers antenna spacing of 32 feet, elevated radial design, and the critical steps for tuning each vertical to achieve a 1.1:1 SWR before combining them. It also provides insights into calculating precise coax lengths for feedlines and the phasing delay line, emphasizing the use of an MFJ-269 Antenna Analyzer for verification. The finished system exhibits good front-to-back nulls, with an overall SWR ranging from 1.6:1 to 2.2:1, which is managed by an antenna tuner. The project includes detailed photos of the relay box, showing 12 VDC relays capable of handling 5KV, and the control box in the shack for switching between three different antenna pattern configurations. Static bleed-off chokes are incorporated for protection, and the construction emphasizes robust weatherproofing for outdoor elements.

The Elecraft K2 transceiver requires specific modifications for optimal soundcard digital mode operation, particularly for PSK31. The original article, circa 2001, details initial challenges with manual PTT and speech compression settings. A key modification involves adding headphone audio and a compression disable signal to the K2's microphone jack, utilizing pins 4 and 5. The **COMP0** signal, active low, is shorted to ground via a non-inverting open collector switch circuit, comprising two resistors and two transistors, mounted on the SSB board near U3. This circuit provides effective control of an analog signal line with good noise immunity. The switchbox itself repurposes a computer COM port switch, using only two of its original connectors and four of the nine poles. It integrates a microphone preamplifier, a PTT circuit built with 'flying leads' construction, and RCA jacks for soundcard connections. A trimpot adjusts the audio drive to the K2. The central DB9 connector links to the K2's mic connector via a shielded RS232 serial cable, ensuring proper grounding and signal routing. An external footswitch PTT jack is also included. Further enhancements include a **noise-canceling microphone** preamp based on a QST December 2000 article, adapted for Heil mic elements. This preamp, built with pseudo-Manhattan style construction, provides a gain of approximately 2 by changing emitter resistors (R9 and R16) from 680 ohms to 330 ohms. A 10-ohm series resistor and 47 µF capacitor on the +5V supply mitigate noise spikes.

The ZL1BPU Rotator Controller has been designed as an add-on unit for the popular Kenpro KR-400 and Yaesu G-400 rotators. The controller consists of a small circuit board which fits inside the rotator control box

A synthesized 2.3 GHz Amateur Television (ATV) transmitter design, conceived by Ian G6TVJ, is presented, targeting broadcast-quality video performance on the 13cm band and extending up to 2.6 GHz. The core of the design utilizes a commercial Z-comm Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) that tunes from 2.2-2.7 GHz, providing a +10 dBm output and simplifying RF alignment. This VCO's stability, originally intended for narrowband applications, readily accepts high-frequency video modulation, contributing to the transmitter's robust performance. The exciter stage, incorporating a Mini Circuits VNA 25 MMIC amplifier, boosts the signal to +16dBm, while a Plessey SP4982 prescaler divides the output frequency for the synthesizer. The synthesizer employs a Motorola MC145151 CMOS parallel IC, favored over the common Plessey SP5060 for its superior video modulation characteristics and ease of programming without microprocessors. This choice addresses issues like LF tilt and distorted field syncs often seen with SP5060 designs, particularly when operating through repeaters or over long distances. The MC145151 divides the signal further, enabling precise frequency stepping, with programming handled by EPROMs for channel selection and LED display. The loop filter network, critical for video integrity, was developed through experimentation to prevent the PLL from reacting to video modulation, ensuring a clean transmitted picture. The transmitter incorporates a Down East Microwave commercial power amplifier module, delivering approximately 1.6W output, driven by the exciter through a 3dB attenuator. Construction involves surface-mount SHF components on micro-strip lines etched onto double-sided fiberglass board, housed within a tinplate box. The design boasts no AC coupling in the video path, preserving low-frequency response, a common failing in other ATV transmitters. Performance tests with a 50Hz square wave revealed no LF distortion, and a calibrated "Pulse & Bar" signal showed a near 100% HF response, demonstrating its capability for high-quality ATV transmissions.

When one starts in amateur television, one begins with a small simple transmitter and a small camera. But very quickly, one needs to transmit audio signals with the pictures, then comes a second camera

A Phased Array Switchbox by ComTek founder K8UR, switch your 4-Square in 8 directions and control it remotely over the internet

Amateur radio accessories, like the CT-17B ICOM CI-V hubs, IABs ICOM ACC1 Breakout boxes, GS232Dunio GS232A/B arduino based rotor controler, IMK memory keypad for ICOM Radios

This article documents the author's latest go-box build for outdoor ham radio operations using a Yaesu FT-891 transceiver. The go-box is constructed from a plastic "50-cal ammo case" and contains various components, including the transceiver, LDG Z11 Pro autotuner, DIY Yaesu FH-2 remote control keypad, and an external battery. The author details the design considerations, the mounting of components inside the box, and addresses issues related to ventilation and cable management. The go-box is geared for CW operations and POTA activations, with further modifications planned for a microphone and DATA jack. This project allows for rugged, environmentally protected outdoor radio operations while maintaining portability.

The author describes building a remote switch box to control the direction of two reversible Beverage antennas. The switch uses a buried cable and relays to select the desired antenna direction from the shack. The design is simple and uses common components.

Details the construction and performance of a phase-controlled receiving array, specifically a **MicroSWA** variant, optimized for QRP low band fox hunting on 40M and 80M. The resource documents the author's iterative design process, addressing significant regional noise challenges encountered during 0100-0230 UTC fox hunt periods. Initial experiments involved a director wire on a 40M vertical, yielding limited improvement, prompting a shift towards advanced null-steering techniques. The project leverages concepts from Victor Misek’s "The Beverage Antenna Handbook" and Dallas Lankford’s extensive work on phased receiving antennas for urban lots. A key modification involved integrating a new passive phase control box and a push-pull **Norton common base preamp** using 2N5109 transistors, designed for high third-order intercept performance to maintain weak signal integrity amidst strong adjacent signals. The system incorporates Faraday-shielded transformers with RG174 primaries on -75 ferrite cores, housed in ABS plastic pipe. Performance tests confirmed the MicroSWA's ability to produce deep, steerable nulls, achieving approximately 30 dB noise reduction on 160M, 80M, and 40M. This enabled detection of QRP signals undetectable on conventional transmit antennas. The final unit includes front panel controls, a 10-11 dB preamp, and a robust power conditioner, demonstrating effective noise mitigation for challenging low band QRP operations.

The project aims to create a remote control system for the VK5RSE beacons located near Millicent, South Australia. The beacons on 144.550, 432.550, and 1296.550 MHz can interfere with nearby amateur radio operations, particularly for EME work on 1296 MHz. The remote control system uses a DTMF decoder and PIC microcontroller to allow turning the beacons on and off individually or in combination. The system is housed in a diecast box and powered from 5-8V. The password-protected control allows authorized users to manage the beacon operations remotely, helping mitigate interference issues for local amateurs.

The project details the construction of a small, portable **CW decoder** built around an Arduino Nano and an LM567 tone decoder circuit. It integrates an OLED display for output and is powered by a 1200 mAh Li-Po battery. The Arduino Nano is programmed with a modified version of the OST Morse Box firmware, originally based on Budd, WB7FHC's work, provided as a HEX file for flashing. The LM567 output connects to Arduino pin D2, while pins A6 and A7 are grounded due to the absence of potentiometers, simplifying the circuit. Standard I2C connections are used for the OLED: SDA to A4 and SCL to A5. The entire assembly, including the Arduino, OLED, and decoder circuit, is mounted on a perfboard to fit precisely within an old cassette tape box. This design emphasizes portability and compact form factor. Parameters for the decoder can be adjusted using a dedicated Windows Control program, offering flexibility in operation. The resource provides practical insights into adapting existing firmware for specific hardware constraints and achieving a self-contained, battery-powered **Morse code** decoding solution.

This online project documentation details the construction of a hands-free microphone interface unit designed for _mobile_ amateur radio operation. The curriculum covers the integration of electret microphone elements with amateur radio transceivers, specifically addressing **VHF** band communication. It outlines the circuitry for a switch box that provides an interface between various radio models and microphone types. The guide specifies the inclusion of a **1750 Hz** tone-burst generator for accessing amateur radio repeaters, an operational protocol for many VHF systems. Design considerations include the reduction of ambient vehicle noise through an adjustable audio input level control. The project provides schematics and wiring diagrams for connecting the interface unit to specific amateur radio transceivers, including the Yaesu FT-817. It addresses the selection and adaptation of readily available electret microphone and earpiece assemblies, initially sourced from mobile phone accessories, and later from dedicated headset units. The design incorporates a control mechanism for radio functions, enabling hands-free operation during _mobile_ excursions. Circuit details cover power supply considerations for the electret microphone and signal routing for both transmit audio and received audio monitoring. The documentation specifies component selection for the switch box, ensuring compatibility with common amateur radio microphone input impedances and output levels. This includes considerations for PTT line switching and audio path isolation. DXZone Focus: Online Project Documentation | Hands-Free Mobile Microphone Interface | Electret Microphone Integration | 1750 Hz Tone-Burst Generation