Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - Sparks

#106
Summer is soon over, and I finally decided against buying this fine radio, even at the 25% discount.

Main reason: I don't (yet) fully understand this SDR-stuff, and feel I don't need it (yet).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software-defined_radio

On top of that, ELAD delivers PC/Windows-only solutions, and I have used Mac only on a daily basis since 1989.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_software-defined_radios
#107
The transceiver used in there is a Hendricks PFR-3A, and I wanted to know more about it:

First: Interesting background on the PFR-3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5K3g0BffI0

These are about the PFR-3A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkxpij9zPHM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0JYYZ9Ywng

Seems the current version is Hendricks PFR-3B, which I found here:
http://www.qrpkits.com/pfr3.html
#108
Morse Code / Re: QUESTION: Why Do Men Love Morse Code?
August 23, 2017, 09:29:07 AM
Quote from: swxx on August 23, 2017, 08:58:06 AM
http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=18475

Funny site but very annoying popups that were impossible to dismiss until I gave them a fake email address.

Thanks cockpitbob for the picture, I have seen it a few years ago, this time I stored it for future reference.
#109
Quote from: cockpitbob on August 21, 2017, 09:34:42 AM
... I assume they are in the U.S., but I can't find where they are located.

I also wondered about that. This is what I found out. The owner of QRP Labs is a British ham:

G0UPL Hans Summers. — Email: hans.summers@gmail.com

Check Podcast Episode #125 here:

Quote from: www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/g0upl
As a 2009 QRP ARCI Hall of Fame inductee - Hans Summers, G0UPL, is an electronic experimenter and amateur radio innovator extraordinaire. Hans pays careful attention to compact and minimal parts count to achieve the design goals of his homebrew projects. Hans is the owner of QRP Labs joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in a conversation about QRSS slow data transmissions, high altitude balloon transmitters, and shares his ham radio and electronic builder story.

Websites:
http://www.hanssummers.com/home.html
https://www.qrp-labs.com/
https://shop.qrp-labs.com/
https://www.facebook.com/QRPlabs/
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/QRPLabs/info

Edit: I removed his complete home address, found on QRZ.com. All other information is publicly available.
#110

The Commander of Task Force (CTF) 75, Fleet Combat Camera Pacific (U.S. Navy), has recently discovered that HF Radio across the Pacific actually works ...


Quote from: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/243667/ctf-75-successfully-tests-hf-reach-us-mainland
Commander, Task Force (CTF) 75 successfully completed communications systems tests using high-frequency (HF) radio waves to broadcast voice and data 6,050 miles from Naval Base Guam to Port Hueneme, California, July 27, 2017.


The assessment tested the capabilities of expeditionary forces to use HF waves to deliver data over the Pacific. HF has become a viable alternative for military forces when more common forms of communication, such as satellites, are unavailable.
[...]
Common communication devices used by the U.S. military incorporate satellites. CTF-75 has been testing HF systems in the case of satellite communication failure. HF is a frequency wave broadcast that is transmitted around the curvature of the Earth. Unlike other forms of frequencies, such as very-high frequencies and ultra-high frequencies, the transmission is not distorted by terrain or physical obstructions.


"We may not always have access to operational equipment or the latest assets, but as communicators we should have a backup plan that is ready to be executed," said Carmon.


Well done, boys! — Next: The Wheel. And then: Gunpowder ...
#111
Quote from: gil on September 19, 2016, 04:53:09 AMSparks, where are you located? Is your BALUN a 4:1 or 1:1 type? You would use it to feed a dipole or Windom.. Do you have two support points high up to string a wire, only one? None? Trees?


Thanks to the three of you who have replied. Sorry for not responding until now! Life's unforeseen circumstances and family responsibilities forced me to leave the radio and the paraphernalia packed and stored with a friend in southern Norway, until further notice, so I haven't been able to look closely at the balun. I planned to use the set for portable QRP (CW only) on hiking trips in forests and mountains. I now consider selling the FT-817ND and instead acquire this radio:


http://radiopreppers.com/index.php/topic,1327.0.html  ( ELAD FDM-DUO Transceiver )
#112
I cannot find this Italian radio mentioned anywhere in this forum. Anyone here familiar with it?


I am asking because Norway's major ham outlet runs a summer sale with a 25% discount on this one, and I am considering selling my unused Yaesu FT-817ND to acquire the ELAD FDM-DUO instead.


Some links concerning this radio, mostly reviews:
https://eclecticlight.co/2015/10/04/sdr-the-elad-fdm-duo-an-hf-transceiver-for-all/
http://www.hamradioscience.com/elad-fdm-duo-sdr-done-right/
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/hamradioscience-reviews-the-elad-fdm-duo/
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11933  (Several reviews; mostly very favorable.)
https://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-base-station-radio-elad-transceiver/elad/elad-fdm-duo-5w-multi-use-sdr-transceiver-pd-5447.php
http://sdr.eladit.com  — http://sdr.eladit.com/FDM-DUO/  (Manufacturer's site.)
http://shop.elad-usa.com/sdr-radio/  (U.S. shop.)
http://www.permo.no/index.php/item/654-elad-fdm-duo-tranceiver  (Where the summer sale is.)
#113
General Discussion / Re: Backpacks
June 11, 2017, 06:45:01 PM
Quote from: Jon_Garfio on June 08, 2017, 04:56:11 AM
All my ham radio gear is into this 5.11 moab 6 backpack, leads, rig, antennas, batteries, solar pannel, chargers etc.

(My emphasis.) There is a large empty space after this sentence and before the two concluding ones, but I see absolutely no link(s) nor pictures or any other kind of illustration in between.
#114
Quote from: PuJo on June 08, 2017, 08:05:31 PM
Here is the link Vibroplex Code Warrior Juniors CODEWARR-JR


No link there, so here is the link to the manufacturer's site:


http://www.vibroplex.com/contents/en-us/d7_CODE_WARRIOR_iambic_paddle.html
#116

Quote from: Joe on May 11, 2017, 02:32:24 AM
And loosing a week with the evacuation oder because of Oroville Dam has put me that much further behind.


Many facts here, hopefully all correct: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroville_Dam


And this is Wikipedia at its best: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis


This topic interests me since many friends and relatives live downstream of huge dams in Scandinavia.
#117
Technical Corner / Re: mcHF QRP transceiver
April 18, 2017, 02:16:19 PM
Update: "Complete kit v 0.6 is in stock" as of March 12, 2017: http://www.m0nka.co.uk/?p=5747

Check main page for "Complete Kit v 0.6 Assembly Error", etc.: http://www.m0nka.co.uk/

A local ham friend of mine just announced on Facebook that he will be building one, that's how I became aware of this kit.
#118
Quote from: thunderkiss65 on December 08, 2016, 05:51:57 PM
Also, the captchas on this site seem excessive.

I remember I thought so, too, when I was new here. However, I think they disappear when you have posted a few times, ten maybe?
#119
Net Activity / Re: On the air..
October 21, 2016, 07:38:44 PM
Quote from: gil on October 04, 2016, 02:04:59 AM
The PRC-320 Yahoo group uses WhatsApp for impromptu skeds.. I don't like the privacy implications but it works.. I'll post something about it soon..

As a Mac user, I was recently warned about using WhatsApp (maybe more things are called WhatsApp, but here goes):

http://www.macworld.com/article/3131018/security/the-cautionary-tale-of-whatsapp-slipping-on-strong-default-user-security.html
#120
Digital Modes / Re: Ultra-Portable Digital Kits
October 08, 2016, 01:53:44 PM
Quote from: STN on October 07, 2016, 11:43:51 PM
I love when people reply without reading the articles or watching the videos.
The very first example is LINUX BASED!!! :D
I updated the image to show.
I totally agree with you Windows has no place in emergency communications. Android is an excellent lightweight, low current draw solution, when rooted with bloatware removed. Apple? Well everyone has an opinion :D
Thanks for the feedback

Sorry for not noticing this! (However, Linux is even more Greek to me than Windows and Android already are.)

Quote from: http://www.survivaltechnology.net/demonstrating-ultra-portable-amateur-digital-stations/
The MiniProSC is Plug and Play on Android Linux and Windows systems.