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... cense class written examinations.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" > <channel> <title>RSS What is Ham Radio</title> <link>http://www.calapna.org/</link> <description>What is Ham Radio</description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2020 08:34:21 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>daily</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <item> <title>Ham Radio license exam Locations</title> <description>Next session: Feb. 5, 2016 at 5:00 pm – St. James Lutheran Church, Swamp Pike and Kugler Rd., Limerick, PA. What to Bring to an Exam Session – Two forms of ID, or 1 photo ID – Test fee of $15.00 – If upgrading, your ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/become_an_amateur_radio.jpg" alt="Plan to take a test that is" align="left" /><p>Next session: Feb. 5, 2016 at 5:00 pm – St. James Lutheran Church, Swamp Pike and Kugler Rd., Limerick, PA. What to Bring to an Exam Session – Two forms of ID, or 1 photo ID – Test fee of $15.00 – If upgrading, your current license and a copy (we cannot make copies at the session), and any current valid CSCE’s (original and one copy) – Two or more pencils – Calculator, if desired All test sessions administered by examiners accredited by The American Radio Relay League, Inc. License Classes (from ARRL) The Technician class license is the entry-level license of choice for most new ham radio operators. To earn the Technician license requires passing one examination totaling 35 questions on radio theory, regulations and operating practices. The license gives access to all Amateur Radio frequencies above 30 megahertz, allowing these licensees the ability to communicate locally and most often within North America. It also allows for some limited privileges on the HF (also called “short wave”) bands used for international communications. All club nets and repeaters are accessible with the Technician Class License. General License The General class license grants some operating privileges on all Amateur Radio bands and all operating modes. This license opens the door to world-wide communications. Earning the General class license requires passing a 35 question examination. General class licensees must also have passed the Technician written examination. Amateur Extra License The Amateur Extra class license conveys all available U.S. Amateur Radio operating privileges on all bands and all modes. Earning the license is more difficult; it requires passing a thorough 50 question examination. Extra class licensees must also have passed all previous license class written examinations.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Ham Radio License]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/HamRadioLicense/ham-radio-license-exam-locations</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/HamRadioLicense/ham-radio-license-exam-locations</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2020 08:34:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Ham Radio 2 meter antenna</title> <description>Tune Around! SEARCH CHEAP AND EASY TO BUILD 2 METER ANTENNAS Are you interested in ultra low cost 2 meter antennas that are easy to build using cheap parts; that require no tedious matching and adjusting; that are almost ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/2_meter_antenna_ebay.jpg" alt="5/8 WAVE DUAL BAND 2 METER 144" align="left" /><p>Tune Around! SEARCH CHEAP AND EASY TO BUILD 2 METER ANTENNAS Are you interested in ultra low cost 2 meter antennas that are easy to build using cheap parts; that require no tedious matching and adjusting; that are almost invisible; that are portable, compact, quickly assembled; and that can be converted into a beam? If so read on! These antennas are somewhat based on the "V" designs in other projects on this site. They include the Ultra-simple wire version in figure 1 The Table Top version in figure 2 The 2 element beam version infigure 3 Fig. 1 Ultra-simple "wire" version above made on an SO-239 connector. Designed for hanging from any handy support and can be hung from trees, used inside motel rooms or as a "stealth" antenna. Fig 2. Table top "wire" version above using a dowel or other simple base. Upper and lower elements must be self supporting. Use aluminum or copper tubing. Disregard the reference to the upper insulator in figure 2 Fig 3. Yagi or Beam version above This is a variation of the designs above. By adding the extra reflector element about 16 inches behind the driven element and increasing it's length to 20 inches each side (5%), some gain can be realized! According to the article, this version had not been tested but should work with a bit of experimentation. It's no more than a standard dipole with a reflector added to come up with a 2 element yagi with all elements bent forward at a 90 degree angle. CONSTRUCTION NOTES AND TIPS In all of these designs, please note that the center conductor from the coax connection is connected to the element in the "down...</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Antenna Ham Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/AntennaHamRadio/ham-radio-2-meter-antenna</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/AntennaHamRadio/ham-radio-2-meter-antenna</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2020 08:32:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>EBay Ham Radio antenna</title> <description>Even in the age of the Internet, ham radio enthusiasts still get an enormous amount of enjoyment from connecting with others though radio waves. Licensed amateur radio operators, known as hams, need the right equipment in order ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/the_20_ebay_antenna_tuner_kit.jpg" alt="The $20 eBay Antenna Tuner Kit" align="left" /><p>Even in the age of the Internet, ham radio enthusiasts still get an enormous amount of enjoyment from connecting with others though radio waves. Licensed amateur radio operators, known as hams, need the right equipment in order to operate on radio frequencies that the Federal Communications Commission reserves specially for these hobbyists, according to the National Association for Amateur Radio. Many amateurs build ham radio antennas, which are essential equipment for transmitting and receiving radio signals. Gather Supplies Ham radio operators can start by building a dipole antenna that comprises a conductive wire rod. Dipole simply means "two poles, " and this is the most basic form of antenna that requires the following components and tools: 10 or 18-gauge copper wire Coaxial cable Ceramic egg insulators Ribbed insulator Wire cutters Cable stripper Solder kit Consumers can purchase solid or stranded copper wire to build the antenna. They can also choose between insulated or bare wire, depending on which product is available. Measure the Wire Before getting started, it is imperative to determine the length of the wire. Use the dipole length formula, which entails dividing 490 by the desired radio frequency in megahertz (MHz) to achieve a measurement in feet. Add an extra 2 feet to allow for attaching the insulators and tuning the antenna. For example, for a radio frequency of 14 MHz, the wire should be 490 divided by 14, which is 35 feet. Then add 2 feet to arrive at a final length of 37 feet. Cut the Wire The full length of the wire functions effectively for the maximum wavelength of the radio wave the antenna should generate. The next step in making a dipole antenna involves creating two poles by cutting the wire precisely in half using wire cutters. Attach the End Insulators The ends of the wire are at a high voltage point, so it is necessary to insulate them. Wrap one end of each wire around a small ceramic egg insulator. Egg insulators are a good choice because they fall away in the event of a fracture, leaving the remainder of the antenna intact, so it does not collapse and cause any structural damage.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Antenna Ham Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/AntennaHamRadio/ebay-ham-radio-antenna</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/AntennaHamRadio/ebay-ham-radio-antenna</guid> <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2020 08:26:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Ham Radio popularity</title> <description>With a smartphone in every pocket, isn’t amateur radio a thing of the past? The answer, as was clear at the Woodstock Rescue Squad Headquarters on a recent Saturday afternoon, is no, far from it. “Year to year [the number of ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/michael_sears.jpg" alt="Michael Sears" align="left" /><p>With a smartphone in every pocket, isn’t amateur radio a thing of the past? The answer, as was clear at the Woodstock Rescue Squad Headquarters on a recent Saturday afternoon, is no, far from it. “Year to year [the number of licenses issued is] increasing, which is not what most people would tend to expect, ” said Keith Tilley, certified instructor with the American Radio Relay League. The occasion was a two-day licensing class organized by the 55-member-strong Overlook Mountain Amateur Radio Club, which was founded in the 1960s. Participants learned the basics, took a test and received their call signs a few days later. Over 725, 000 Americans have ham radio licenses, up more than 60 percent since 1981, according to NPR. Perhaps part of the appeal is the charm of analog, which has made LPs the fastest growing music format in recent years not transmitted over a wire. Compared with the amount of incoming data on a web browser with several social networking and messaging apps running, ham radio is refreshingly focused. Another factor: preppers. Our increasing interconnectedness and diminished self-reliance have nurtured a certain strain of anxiety that can only be relieved by having all supplies on hand for a worst-case scenario— including communications. But surely the single largest factor in the recent growth of ham radio was the FCC’s 2007 decision to do away with the Morse code requirement for all operators. Tilley spoke about some of the club’s local coordinated activities. “We did pumpkin patrol last night, ” said Tilley, speaking the day after Halloween. He said the patrol involves keeping watch to make sure hooligans don’t drop pumpkins off highway overpasses. “We were there watching 10 or 11 different overpasses over the Thruway, ” he said. “Most of what we do in terms of public service is Kingston Classic and other events that are big in areas that need radio communications. We provide public service that way and we also practice for the potential of disasters in the future.” Amateur radio has stood the test of time as “being the mode of communication that works when everything else has failed, ” said Tilley, explaining an amateur radio station can be run with no electricity and no Internet. Recently amateur radio operators provided a vital service in Greene County in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Sandy when many towns lacked infrastructure for an extended time. “You don’t realize how much your life depends upon that stuff ’til it’s gone, ” Tilley said. The club teaches the first license class a couple times a year, usually in the fall and spring, but can also arrange to teach it to large groups or workplaces. “The idea is to get more amateur radio operators to primarily get interested in the hobby to see what they want to pursue; whether they want to get involved in emergency communications, which is very popular these days, or because they want to get more into the technology and learn how things work, or just to have the fun of chatting with people, ” said Tilley. The second and third licenses are more for worldwide communication and delve much deeper into the underlying technology. In addition to getting first-timers prepared for their license exam, the club also helps people with the sometimes intimidating choice of radios. “Based on a variety of things like your budget and what parts of the hobby you like, there’s some decisions to be made that can be kind of scary, ” said Tilley. “So we try to make it a little easier to choose the first radio and to decide where to start in what’s really a very wide-ranging hobby. “Hopefully when folks leave here not only will they be legally able to use the equipment but they’ll have a pretty good idea where they want to start.” The class and exam is $30 and a high-quality handheld radio can be had for under $50. “That’s a fairly new development, ” said Tilley. “They used to be a lot more than that. A Chinese manufacturer has come on the scene and just blown everyone away. You can get a decent quality radio at a tenth of the price of what it used to be.” While that little handheld only puts out five watts at most and has a range of 5-10 miles, repeaters are plentiful. Repeaters are electronic devices, often located on mountains or hilltops, which amplify weak radio signals. Find a repeater and suddenly that little handheld has a range of 50-60 miles, Tilley explained. In theory, that transmission can be relayed from repeater to repeater and across the country. “A lot of people upgrade their equipment because they want some particular function, but the equipment never goes out of style, ” said Tilley. “Electrons are electrons.” “A typical base station could probably run $1, 500. But you don’t need to start there and some people never get there. Some people get the handheld and maybe a mobile and they’re good.” The Overlook Mountain Amateur Radio Club meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Ulster Fire/Rescue Training Center, 259 Ulster Landing Road, East Kingston. The American Radio Relay league website, arrl.org, provides a wealth of information including a comprehensive listing of clubs and classes throughout the country. Only a fraction of the material published in each week's Saugerties Times makes it to our website. To read all about local government, schools, people of interest, arts and entertainment, classifieds and the region’s best calendar, subscribe today for just $30 a year.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Ham Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/HamRadio/ham-radio-popularity</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/HamRadio/ham-radio-popularity</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2020 08:23:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Ham Radio solar conditions</title> <description>© 2002-2015 by Harold Melton, KV5R. All Rights Reserved. (not incl. imported data) Propagation Maps from Australian Space Weather Agency These update once an hour Real-Time NVIS MUF Map For much more info, see the new NOAA Space ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/solarhamcom_solar_cycle_24_space_weather.jpg" alt="[Open CME Tracker]" align="left" /><p>© 2002-2015 by Harold Melton, KV5R. All Rights Reserved. (not incl. imported data) Propagation Maps from Australian Space Weather Agency These update once an hour Real-Time NVIS MUF Map For much more info, see the new NOAA Space Weather Enthusiasts page. An Introduction to Space Weather and Propagation, in Plain Language Amateur Radio operators who use HF generally like increased sunspots because they correlate with better worldwide radio propagation. When there are more sunspots, the sun puts out radiation that charges particles in the earth’s ionosphere. Radio waves bounce off of (refract from) these charged particles, and the denser these clouds of ions, the better the HF propagation. When the ionosphere is denser, higher frequencies will refract off it rather than passing through to outer space. This is why every 11 years or so when this activity is higher, 10 meters gets exciting. 10 meters is at a high enough frequency, right near the top of the HF spectrum, that radio waves propagate very efficiently when the sunspot count is high. Because of the shorter wavelength, smaller antennas are very efficient on this band, so mobile stations running low power on 10 meters can communicate world wide on a daily basis when the sunspot cycle is at its peak. There are also seasonal variations, and 10 meters tends to be best near the spring or fall equinox. If the ionosphere is not so dense, the Maximum Usable Frequency may be below 10 meters, and perhaps only signals with frequencies as high as 15 meters or below will propagate. The sunspot numbers used in this bulletin are calculated by counting the spots on the visible solar surface and also measuring their area. Solar flux is another value reported in this bulletin, and it is measured at an observatory in Penticton, British Columbia using an antenna pointed toward the sun hooked to a receiver tuned to 2.8 GHz, which is at a wavelength of 10.7 cm. Energy detected seems to correlate somewhat with sunspots and with the density of the ionosphere.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Ham Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/HamRadio/ham-radio-solar-conditions</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/HamRadio/ham-radio-solar-conditions</guid> <pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2020 08:19:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Amateur Radio History</title> <description>Radio captured the imagination of thousands of ordinary persons who wanted to experiment with this amazing new technology. Until late 1912 there was no licencing or regulation of radio transmitters in the United States, so ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/the_history_and_science_of_ham.jpg" alt="VIEW SLIDESHOW 1 of 3" align="left" /><p>Radio captured the imagination of thousands of ordinary persons who wanted to experiment with this amazing new technology. Until late 1912 there was no licencing or regulation of radio transmitters in the United States, so amateurs - known informally as "hams" - were free to set up stations wherever they wished. But with the adoption of licencing, amateur operators faced a crisis, as most were now restricted to transmitting on a wavelength of 200 meters (1500 kilohertz), which had a limited sending range. They successfully organized to overcome this limitation, only to face a second hurdle in April, 1917, when the U.S. government shut down all amateur stations, as the country entered World War One. - - - - - - - - - EARLY EXPERIMENTERS Beginning in the late 1880s, Heinrich Hertz conducted a series of experiments in Germany which proved the existence of radio waves. Moreover, the devices used in early radio demonstrations could readily be constructed by self-trained individuals - in the July 6, 1894 The Electrician (London), Oliver Lodge, reviewing "The Work of Hertz", noted that "Many of the experiments lend themselves to easy repetition, since they require nothing novel in the way of apparatus except what is easily constructed; many of them can be performed with the ordinary stock apparatus of an amateur's laboratory." A few months later, 21-year-old Guglielmo Marconi began his historic experiments on his father's Italian estate. Prior to late 1912, there were no laws or regulations restricting amateur radio transmitters in the United States. The industrialized northeast quickly became congested with a mixture of competing amateur and commercial stations, and it was the amateur operators who sometimes dominated the airwaves, as recounted in Irving Vermilya's Amateur Number One, from the February and March, 1917 issues of QST magazine. (Vermilya came from the ranks of a group which provided a number of the earliest radio enthusiasts - amateurs operating private telegraph lines, who wanted to expand their range without the bother of having to ask the "Mr. Taylors" of the world for permission to string their wires. Amateur Telegraphers, from the August 6, 1892 Electrical Review, reviewed a plan in Cranford, New Jersey to interconnect 30 locations by telegraph lines.) Many amateurs quickly gained professional positions, and, in the fall of 1924, a four-part Radio Age magazine series, Reminiscences of an Old Operator, reviewed Arthur Leech's early experimentation as an amateur, followed by his work as a shipboard operator, starting in 1909 at the age of 15. Although most amateur enthusiasts were male, in 1911 a young woman, who worked as a landline telegrapher but hoped to someday become a shipboard radio operator, joined the New York City-area airwaves. Her personal review of early radio, The Autobiography of a Girl Amateur, appeared anonymously in the March, 1920 Radio Amateur News. The Feminine Wireless Amateur, from the October, 1916 The Electrical Experimenter reviewed female amateur and professional radio operators. It was difficult at first for amateur experimenters to find technical information about radio. In Hertzian Waves, the November, 1901 issue of a mechanical and electrical hobbyist magazine, Amateur Work, included construction information for a simple transmitter and receiver, similar to what Heinrich Hertz had used. Another early resource was How to Construct An Efficient Wireless Telegraph Apparatus at Small Cost, by A. Frederick Collins, from the February 15, 1902 Scientific American Supplement - in 1917, Donald McNicol reported that within the United States "this article did more to introduce the art of amateur radio than anything else that had appeared". Many early amateurs were young, and most built their own spark-transmitters and receivers. In Amateur Work's June, 1904 issue, "Wireless" Telegraph Plant By Amateur Work Readers showcased the efforts of two Boston, Massachusetts 8th graders, who had built a set capable of covering eight miles (12.8 kilometers). And the September, 1906 Technical World Magazine included an article by M. W. Hall, Wireless Station in Henhouse, which featured the activities of two Rhode Island teenagers. Over time radio technology became more refined, and an eight-part series beginning in the September, 1916 Popular Science Monthly, How to Become a Wireless Operator by T. M. Lewis, provided detailed plans for constructing a tuned spark transmitter and crystal detector receiver. HUGO GERNSBACK One of the first companies to sell affordable radio equipment to experimenters and amateurs was the Electro Importing Company of New York City, set up in 1904 by Hugo Gernsback, an 18-year-old immigrant from Luxembourg. Beginning in 1905, this company sold what may have been the first complete radio system - including both a simple transmitter and receiver - offered to hobbyists on a national scale, under the name of Telimco Wireless Telegraph Outfits. The first national advertisement for Telimco outfits - possibly the first-ever advertisement by a company offering an inexpensive complete radio system to non-professionals - appeared in the November 25, 1905 issue of Scientific American. The Electro Importing offerings were later expanded, and in a 1910 catalog, which featured "Everything for the Experimenter", the company claimed it was "the largest makers of experimental Wireless Material in the world". The basic Telimco systems, plus other radio transmitting and receiving equipment, are included in a 1910 extract from Electro Importing Company: Catalogue No. 7. Hugo Gernsback would continue to be one of amateur radio's strongest proponents during its first years. In addition to the radio equipment sold through his Electro Importing Company, Gernsback started three magazines with large amateur followings - Modern Electrics in 1908, The Electrical Experimenter in 1913, and Radio Amateur News in 1919. He also claimed credit for coming up with the idea of assigning amateurs to 200 meters, dating to an Editorial which appeared in the February, 1912 issue of Modern Electrics. Gernsback's other accomplishments were recounted in a rousing review which closes with "Long live the Wireless! Long live the Amateur!!": Wireless and the Amateur: A Retrospect, from the February, 1913 Modern Electrics. And the 1914 Electro Importing catalog included A Sermon To Parents, written by Gernsback, which predicted that "Electricity and Wireless are the coming...</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Amateur Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/AmateurRadio/amateur-radio-history</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/AmateurRadio/amateur-radio-history</guid> <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:17:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Ham Radio data transmission</title> <description>Anonymous – or, at least, entities claiming Anonymous affiliation – has put together a secure communications project using the open source ham-radio Fldigi modem controller. You're not going to get fast communications out of ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/z71tahoe_suburbancom_just_got_a_ham.jpg" alt="Place" align="left" /><p>Anonymous – or, at least, entities claiming Anonymous affiliation – has put together a secure communications project using the open source ham-radio Fldigi modem controller. You're not going to get fast communications out of AirChat, since it takes the world back to the days of encoding data over voice channels. The group says “We traded bandwidth for freedom, or to be more exact we traded bandwidth for freedom, simplicity and low cost”. The aim of its AirChat is to give activists a way to communicate directly, without using Internet or cellular infrastructure, the project page at github says. The Anonymous contribution to the world of ham packet radio is twofold, the group says: to anonymise the communication, since ham packet radio doesn't have anonymity built in; and to ignore spectrum and user licensing. The latter carries a risk, but AirChat's author or authors believe it's justifiable. Beyond the project's rhetoric about “evil organisations like the FCC”, it is reasonable to think that an activist communicating from a trouble spot doesn't have time to obtain a ham radio license before they start communicating (and anyhow, doing so doesn't let you preserve anonymity). Anonymity The anonymity scheme is interesting, since over on the Internet, addressing is the always-in-the-clear metadata that makes true anonymity such a tough nut to crack. It's also very simple. AirChat ignores low-layer addressing, (a transmission is necessarily visible to any receiver within range). So to anonymise communications, the system uses a packet, the Lulzpacket, which handles error correction and encryption. There are two basic modes of communication: clear-text broadcasts that anybody within range can receive (as the project says, for “for general broadcasting and community discussion”); and asymmetric encryption, for anonymous communication. Everybody can receive an encrypted packet – but only the holder of the private key can decrypt it. “Each node only cares for what is being received, ” the project page states. “No hardware identification, no transmitter plain identification. Only packets matter. Transmissions are anonymous.” The software is designed to work with any transceiver, which means users should be able to grab a cheap device, choose a frequency, and start transmitting. Of course, El Reg notes that it's best to use unlicensed frequencies if you don't want to attract the attention of your local spectrum authority. AirChat also includes basic LAN functionality, the group says, so that users can connect a local network to an AirChat transceiver. There's also an Internet gateway with Tor and proxy support. There's a certain amount of soldering involved in the AirChat example setup, since it uses VOX rather than a “push-to-talk” to make it simple to use. Four insane radiocommunication facts If there's any way to get the gadget confused, do something with radios that doesn't involve the words “WiFi”, “cellular”, or “3G / 4G / 5G”. News of AirChat's advent has sent Motherboard into a complete head-spin, so as a public service, The Register offers this unspinner. 1. WiFi is radio “It uses radio waves instead of WiFi” – really, Motherboard? What does WiFi use, carrier pigeons? The “Wi” in “WiFi” stands for “wireless”. 2. Radio has transceivers! “The radio communication works much like a walkie-talkie or CB radio, with the transmitter acting as a sender and receiver—only you’re sending computer commands instead of audio.” The word Motherboard was looking for was “transceiver”, and really, transceivers are not a rarity in the radio communications world. Trust me here. 3. Radio data communication existed before 1971 “The concept has existed since ALOHAnet was introduced in 1971, a University of Hawaii project that sent data over radio.” Actually, data – ones and zeroes – over radio have existed practically as long as radio has existed. The first application of radio was to carry pulses – Morse code, which consists of on-and-off, encoded to represent letters. That's not to say ALOHAnet is insignificant. It's very significant: most informed commentators attribute the genesis of Ethernet – and WiFi – to that project. Really. Look it up. Here's a quote from ALOHAnet's Wikipedia entry: “In the 1970s ALOHA random access was employed in the widely used Ethernet cable based network[5] and then in the Marisat (now Inmarsat) satellite network.” 4. Packet radio over amateur frequencies isn't new</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Ham Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/HamRadio/ham-radio-data-transmission</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/HamRadio/ham-radio-data-transmission</guid> <pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2020 08:16:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Dual band Ham Radio antenna</title> <description>This article was submitted to HamRadioSchool.com by Al Andzik WBØTGE. It describes a unique copper pipe fan dipole that Al created and that provides fantastic results! Thanks for the submission, Al! If you have an article that ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/compare_prices_on_dual_band_ham.jpg" alt="5PCS Nagoya na-701 DUAL BAND" align="left" /><p>This article was submitted to HamRadioSchool.com by Al Andzik WBØTGE. It describes a unique copper pipe fan dipole that Al created and that provides fantastic results! Thanks for the submission, Al! If you have an article that you’d like to submit for consideration, please see our submission guidelines in our ‘contact us’ link. We’d love to hear from you! I call this the “Mighty Woof” antenna. It reminds me of two “Wouff Hong” antennas (created by Hiram Percy Maxim) joined together at the base and creating an awesome signal. The W0TLM 2013 fall tech day had many great displays and instructional sessions for club members. I watched a presentation by Bob Witte, KØNR, which discussed the many types of antennas available to amateur radio operators and the benefits each antenna design provides. It was an excellent technical presentation. One of the antennas Bob discussed was the HF wire fan dipole. This is a multi-band antenna which gives the amateur the capability of utilizing several radio bands with only one feed line. The fan dipole is usually constructed of multiple sections of wire tuned for each band required. That night at home the thought struck me that the fan dipole could be used for the VHF/UHF bands. I like building antennas from copper pipe and have made many j-poles for myself and others. I did an online search for copper pipe fan dipoles and found none. Was it because they didn’t work? Well that became a challenge. The design presented here was developed empirically by using cut and test methodology with SWR measurements being made after each adjustment. The antenna is constructed using 1/2” copper pipe and copper fittings. Cost was under $25. The center section utilizes a 1/2” NIBCO CPVC SxSxS Tee purchased at Home Depot. This plastic tee inside diameter matches the outside diameter of 1/2” copper pipe. Construct two half sections of the dipole using the dimensions in the following image (Image A. As you cut the copper pieces fit them together and measure the result. Measure with the end caps on the ends of the two long sections. The end caps are included in the finished dimensions. Cut each piece of copper pipe a little long initially so that you can trim to fit the finished dimension later. This is necessary because copper fittings vary in dimension between manufacturers. Use a 7/8” length piece of copper pipe to butt join the elbow (for the shorter 440 MHz elements) to the tee at the base of the dipole half. Also the piece on the bottom of the dipole half should not extend more than 1/2” from the tee (Dimension “D”). When you purchase the 90 degree elbows find the most compact sizes. This will allow the elbows to be butt soldered to the tees for the proper center dimension of the fan dipole without having to trim one or both of the elbows to make them shorter. After all of the pieces have been cut/trimmed, fitted together and measured, solder the pieces using lead free solder and flux. (NOTE: I know there are discussions that plumbing flux should never be used on electronics, however, this is not electronics it’s plumbing, so don’t worry. This soldering method is what is needed for the outside use of these antennas. Wear protective clothing, work in a well ventilated area, and observe proper safety precautions whenever soldering Looking at Image B, drill three 1/8” pilot holes on one side of the plastic tee about 1/4” from the ends of the openings. The image shows the 1/2” self-tapping screw used and the hardwood dowel used as the the mounting mast for the antenna. Sand the dowel end to match the inside diameter of the tee. Make it a press fit and long enough to seat completely into the tee opening. The copper pipes and wood dowel are secured to the tee using the self-tapping screws. Both soldered dipole halves needs to be driven into the plastic tee fitting. If you look at Image A, inside the tee on each hole is a ledge about 1/2” down inside. This ledge is where the dipole half’s rest when the antenna is assembled. Take the two dipole half’s and insert them into opposite sides of the tee. Orient the tee so that the center hole is facing opposite the two shorter elements per Image A Place one end of the antenna on a piece of wood, using another piece of wood for protection, tap the other dipole end and force the dipole halves into the tee until both are seated completely, the copper pipe of each half resting on the interior ledges of the plastic tee fitting. Secure the plastic tee to each dipole half using ½” self-tapping screws through the previously drilled holes and into the piece of copper pipe, as shown in Image C. The screws will drill into the copper pipe without pre-drilling the pipe. Don’t over-torque the screws. Attach the dowel also with a self-tapping screw. It is important that the screws “screw” into the copper pipe for connection of the coax. (NOTE: If self-tapping screws are not available, pre-drill a small hole for the size screw available. Use the holes drilled in the plastic tee for a guide since the copper pipe is already seated in the tee.) Now you are ready to attach the coax to the antenna (Image C). Separate the shield from the center conductor insulation for a distance of about 2-3 inches. Solder appropriately sized ring terminals to each of the coaxial cable center conductor and shield. Take out the screw attaching each of the dipole halves to the tee and attach the coax to the antenna by re-inserting the screws through the two ring connectors, one to each half of the dipole. It doesn’t matter which wire goes to which side. You may wish to protect the screws by applying a silicone sealer to prevent oxidation, and you may wish to cover the coax attachment area with rubber electrical tape or moisture protection sealant that conforms to the shape of the tee. This will help prevent moisture intrusion into the coaxial cable or potentially shorting the two halves of the dipole.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Antenna Ham Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/AntennaHamRadio/dual-band-ham-radio-antenna</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/AntennaHamRadio/dual-band-ham-radio-antenna</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2020 07:59:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>Houston Ham Radio Supply</title> <description>I’m in the market for a used solid-state HF (shortwave) receiver, a proper “tabletop” model, but unfortunately Houston doesn’t seem to have much of a local amateur radio “scene” that I can find. The last time I hooked ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/houston_amateur_radio_supply_houston_tx.jpg" alt="Houston Amateur Radio Supply" align="left" /><p>I’m in the market for a used solid-state HF (shortwave) receiver, a proper “tabletop” model, but unfortunately Houston doesn’t seem to have much of a local amateur radio “scene” that I can find. The last time I hooked up my 2-meter transceiver, I heard ONE active repeater in the area, and that was after about half an hour of searching. As for any kind of local “swap meet” or forsale/wanted list, none seem to exist. There are some clubs down around NASA, but that’s a way from here. There’s Houston Amateur Radio Supply, but they’re a half-hour drive away and don’t have anything used for under $300. I’ve tried eBay, but keep getting outbid by a dollar or two at the last minute for the last three auctions that I have bid on. One for an Icom 720A, one for an Icom R-70, and one for a Radio Shack DX-300. Anybody reading this have (or know of) a solid-state HF/shortwave receiver sitting in someone’s closet that needs a new home? I have a budget of $150.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Ham Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/HamRadio/houston-ham-radio-supply</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/HamRadio/houston-ham-radio-supply</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2020 07:50:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> <item> <title>CQ Amateur Radio Magazine</title> <description>Click on the cover for larger view Click on Table of Contents for a larger view CQ. is now available in a digital edition as well as the traditional print edition. Find out more details about CQ. CQ begins its 72nd year of ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="/img/behemoth_in_cq_amateur_radio.jpg" alt="BEHEMOTH in CQ Amateur Radio" align="left" /><p>Click on the cover for larger view Click on Table of Contents for a larger view CQ. is now available in a digital edition as well as the traditional print edition. Find out more details about CQ. CQ begins its 72nd year of continuous publication with an issue that demonstrates the breadth and variety of amateur radio. We start with a look at the incredible journey of AC6YY from war-torn Sarajevo to California's Silicon Valley, aided at every step by his ham radio friends in several countries. Next, Carole Perry, WB2MGP, takes us on a different kind of journey, following her travels to different radio events highlighting the accomplishments of young radio amateurs. Then we move into the world of contesting with the results of 2015's CQ World Wide VHF Contest, as well as the rules for the 2016 CQ WPX Contests. We also look at changes in the ARRL's rules for its VHF contests and a change in the rules for our own CQ 160-Meter Contest. On the technical side of things, we continue our series on microcontrollers in ham radio; then we take a step back in time to bring the venerable Heathkit SB-200 amplifier into the 21st-century world of solid-state transceivers; and Contesting Editor K3ZJ digs into ways of eliminating "crud" from your transmitted signal (a topic that should be of interest to more than just contesters). We also take a look at the Allstar repeater linking network, how the Global Positioning System (GPS) really works, and follow up on December's articles on maker faires.</p>]]></content:encoded> <category><![CDATA[Amateur Radio]]></category> <link>http://www.calapna.org/AmateurRadio/cq-amateur-radio-magazine</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.calapna.org/AmateurRadio/cq-amateur-radio-magazine</guid> <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2020 07:38:00 +0000</pubDate> </item> </channel></rss>If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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