VE3CNU

Long Wire Balun

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:26:00 +0000

Now that I have my WiNRADiO G31 up and running, my next concern is getting a decent antenna connected to it. I currently have a random length wire connected to it which is about 25 feet long. It's not that high up either. My roof of my house is higher so it's not ideal. It's winter here right now...

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VP8DNT

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:39:00 +0000

It's a long way from here to the Falkland Islands (10759 kms.), and I just made contact with Zorra, VP8DNT on 20 meters sideband with my Icom IC-7000. Woot! Apparently, this is JH1AJT, who will be active from the Falkland Islands 21-28 January 2012 as VP8DNT. He will be active on 80-10. There...

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What are my Amateur Radio options for communicating long distance via morse code?

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:27:00 +0000

I saw this question recently from a newcomer to the hobby of amateur radio. He went on to ask whether a lost-cost QRP rig might a good choice as his first radio. QRP is not for beginners. QRP makes for a horrible operating experience for the newcomer. Just because it's low power doesn't mean...

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Herman Munster on his Ham Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:11:00 +0000

Wish I had his QSL card :)

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Pileup into Namibia

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Today I was very lucky to work a station in Africa (V5/DJ2HD). For me, that happens once every few years. Today's contact was to Namibia on the 20 meter band. There was a serious pileup, and the operator was working them as quickly as he could. He had a tremendous signal into North America and the...

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Short Ham Shack Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:41:00 +0000

Here's a quick look at the new ham shack. New additions to the equipment lineup forced me to rearrange things. It's a pretty comfortable setup now.Compare this setup with what it was back when I decided to rekindle my hobby.

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The WiNRADiO G31DDC SDR Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:28:00 +0000

My new toy this week is a software defined radio, or SDR, from WinRadio in Australia. I found this one locally used for $650. Not cheap but new they are considerably more. This is a quick test of the radio on 6.0 MHz with Radio Havana Cuba coming in via a random length wire I have out the...

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YouKits FG-01 Antenna Analyzer Review

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:33:00 +0000

Yesterday I received my new FG-01 antenna analyzer from YouKits. It came nicely packaged and quickly from the vendor, online in an eBay auction. I had trouble at first because I did not read the eBay ad closely enough to understand that this unit needs 12 volts to run. I made the incorrect...

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SHORTWAVE FREQUENCIES BAND GUIDE

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:42:00 +0000

Here is a table detailing the various services throughout the Shortwave bands. Listed are such things as the SW broadcast, Amateur, Marine, Aircraft, Fixed, Mobile and CB services. SHORTWAVE FREQUENCIES BAND GUIDE FREQ BAND KHZ CODE SERVICE ...

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How to set your Microphone Gain Control for SSB

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:25:00 +0000

Ever wondered how to set the proper mic gain on your SSB transceiver? Tyler, N7TFP, shows you how to properly set your microphone gain in this video. Note: ALC actually stands for Automatic Level Control

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QSL Card From 9A202NA

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

QSL Card From 9A202NA 15 meters was wide open to Europe today and I was lucky enough to have a QSO with Mladen in Croatia. Thanks to eQSL, I have my QSL card the same day.

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The YouKits FG-01 Antenna Analyzer

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:22:00 +0000

I just purchased one of these antenna analyzers on eBay for $250. I'll be sure to post my review and a demo video when it arrives. In the meantime here is the only other demo I could find on YouTube. These are very handy devices to have when you do lots of DIY antennas as I do. Can't wait to try...

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Kchibo KK-9803 Shortwave Radio Review

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:38:00 +0000

Looking for an inexpensive shortwave radio? Maybe a newer model with DSP technology such as the Kchibo KK-9803? Do not buy this radio says SWLing.com, who have just published their review of the Kchibo KK-9803 shortwave radio. "If you really want a DSP radio with an analog face, spend an extra...

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The Ham Band Video

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:04:00 +0000

This is a must watch video, play it in HD and full screen to get the full effect.

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How To Use An Antenna Tuner

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:14:00 +0000

Here is a tutorial for how to use an antenna tuner unit to tune your antenna, or more accurately, to match impedances between your antenna, and the output of your transmitter.

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QSL Card From LU7DSY

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:45:00 +0000

From Evernote: QSL Card From LU7DSY Clipped from: http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/DisplayQSLPrint.cfm?QSLID=235204144

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VE3CNU QSO Statistics

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:03:00 +0000

I really need to step up my game on some more bands! From Evernote: VE3CNU QSO Statistics Clipped from: http://www.hrdlog.net/graph.aspx?type=u&user=VE3CNU

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Baofeng UV-3R VHF/UHF ham radio

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:18:00 +0000

When I recently believed I had lost my Wouxun dual-band radio, I went back to eBay and found an even cheaper dual bander, the Baofeng UV-3R. I bought this two-way radio for 31 dollars, brand new in the box, from a Hong Kong source. It arrived in about 2 weeks time. It is a bare bones radio for...

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F2YT

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:21:00 +0000

Here an interesting QSL card from F2YT in France. This was my first time using BPSK31 on the 10 meter band. 3760 miles using 35 watts isn't bad.

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BaoFeng UV-3R Mark II

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:04:00 +0000

I just purchased one of these BaoFeng UV-3R Mark II radios from eBay. I seemed to have misplaced my KG-UVD1P, and when I saw these on eBay is just went ahead and ordered one. How on Earth do they make these dual band transceivers so cheap? $31 is ridiculously cheap. I'll add to this post once I...

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My Wire Antennas

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:16:00 +0000

I have three antennas for my whole amateur radio station. I have a Par End-fedz 20 for 20 meters, a doublet cut for 20 meters and harmonic frequencies, and a random legth wire for SWLing. No VHF or above antennas.

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QSL Card From S51F

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:22:00 +0000

From Evernote: QSL Card From S51F Clipped from: http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/DisplayQSLPrint.cfm?QSLID=230903935

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Buying a WiNRADiO WR-G31DDC EXCALIBUR

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:17:00 +0000

The next toy I am really eyeing for the shack is the Excalibur from Winradio. The WiNRADiO WR-G31DDC 'EXCALIBUR' is a high-performance, low-cost, direct-sampling, software-defined, shortwave receiver with a frequency range from 9 kHz to 50 MHz. This true SDR receiver includes a...

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QSL Card From OE9MON

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Signals were 59 plus both ways From Evernote: QSL Card From OE9MON Clipped from: http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/DisplayQSLPrint.cfm?QSLID=229206060

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QSL Card From UT2UU

noreply@blogger.com (Rick Blythe) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:30:00 +0000

Here's another contact on 10 meters, now that that band is wide open. From Evernote: QSL Card From UT2UU Clipped from: http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/DisplayQSLPrint.cfm?QSLID=229087511

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