Learn Morse Code Makes del.icio.us Hot List

I have never seen anything related to ham radio on the social bookmarking website until tonight. Eight hundred and twenty eight now share Learn Morse Code. It is a good night for ham radio and Morse code.

DXpedition QSL Card Collection Begins...

My new QSL card holders arrived earlier in the week and first in the sleeve is VK9DNX, Norfolk Island. I'm still waiting on VP6DX and TX5C. In the meantime, the price tag on the QSL card holders? Nearly five dollars a piece. When will VP6DX and TX5C arrive?

Contest on.

Pat, K8LEN asked "What is the secret or steps to properly download the hamsphere."

Read comment here.

I can say there is no secret to downloading HamSphere. My own experience with the software might suggest placing the mouse over the PTT then right click and hold. Additionally, one may keep in mind that HamSphere is virtual radio using Voice IP (VoIP), and latency might be a problem. However, the program is supposed to simulate ionospheric conditions, according to the developer.

Likewise, HamSphere requires 128kbit/s Internet up/down; microphone and speakers; NAT firewall compatible TCP/UDP; Runs in Windows, Mac or Linux.

73 from the shack.

Keith, W4KAZ said "...Another rig that is converging down to your price level is the TenTec Omni VI."

Read comment here. A very good point and well taken. There are perhaps hundreds of superb transceivers with lots of life left in their finals. Ten-Tec reconditions their own equipment in the factory for resale as used gear. Additionally, a reconditioned Ten-Tec transceiver is sold with a "...10 day risk-free money back guarantee (customer pays shipping both ways) and a 30 day parts and labor warranty." I need to contact Ten-Tec and request their current demo/used gear listing. Thanks Keith for pointing me in this direction. 73 OM.

Google Trends: ARRL | eHam | QRZ

A few screenshots reveal an interesting picture. The number of ARRL unique visitors since 2007 leveled out with an up-tick in June of this year. Field Day is on the horizon. Secondly, comparing ARRL and eHam, one notes a near identical unique visitor trend, what is the relationship between the ARRL and eHam visitation behavior? Additionally, Google trend analysis revealed an eHam unique visitor down-tick this month. What happened? Read K9ZW's latest blog posting eHam--Ham Community Cross Section or Ham Hobo-Land? In contrast, QRZ.com outpaced both eHam and the ARRL, in terms of unique visitors while experiencing an up-tick in June traffic. Why is QRZ.com the destination for unique visitors moreso than eHam or the ARRL?

The All Asian DX Contest 2008

Looking for an opportunity at notching rare Asian multipliers from the list of DXCC counters? This is the weekend for Asian RadioSport and who knows what propagation will bring. The band for BIG points is 160-meters with 3-points per QSO. Eighty and 10-meters follow up with 2-points. Forty and 20-meter QSOs count 1-point each. The All Asian DX Contest exchange is fun -- one sends signal report and age. For detailed information on the All Asian DX Contest click here. I'm looking forward to working with my new computer interface cable [CT62] for the Yaesu FT100. And putting my small flat top doublet through the paces this weekend. All the best from the condo contest shack.

Ed, N4EMG said "It might very well be the only meter you ever buy."

Read comment here. I'm following up and found the Fluke 117 digital multi-meter. We use Fluke meters at work as well. Thanks for the suggestion and lead!

My First Top Ten Finish | 7th Call Area QSO Party Single-op Low CW

One never knows until the results are out and I scored my first top-ten finish within Single-op low power CW category. What a thrill that's 50-watts into a doublet at 30-feet supported by a fiberglass push-up. Something interesting is happening within RadioSport and it's called low-power.

The 7th Call Area QSO Party is a lot of ham radio fun. I remember those monster signals from Arizona and Nevada. Pulling out QSOs in the thick of 40-meter noise and having a blast on 20-meter CW where the gladiators of RadioSport compete. Then, after the electrons settle and the ionosphere returns to ham radio normal, one must follow-up.

Processing the log and submitting the log is just as important as the contest itself. I like beating the deadline and watching those log numbers roll. And if a contest breaks a log submitted record that's bonus as well.

In the meantime, take a look at the statistics, and discover that low-power operators numbered 65 versus 36 high-powered this year. CW QSOs outnumbered SSB QSOs except for 20-meters. Points favored a CW QSO at 3 whereas a SSB QSO garnered two. The game is in the numbers and CW lead the way.

Keep in mind this weekend is the All Asian DX Contest and another opportunity at having a lot of ham radio fun.

Contest on.

Gray-Line Propagation | Gray Line | K index | Terminator

Contest time this weekend and a few helpful terms from The ARRL Extra Class License Manual (2007).

• Gray-line propagation is north-south enhancement occurring at gray line and D layer absorption decreases at sunset or not yet built up around sunrise. (p 2-29)
• Gray line a transitional band between daylight and darkness. (p 2-29)
• K index updated every three hours at Boulder, Colorado and a rising value indicates disturbed conditions while a falling value suggests improving conditions. (p 2-29)
• Terminator a band around the globe separating day from night. (p 2-29)

A few terms to keep in mind this weekend.

Contest on.

Reference: Wolfgang L, Reed D, and Carman J (2007). [8th ed.] Extra Class License Manual. ARRL-The national association for amateur radio. Newington, Ct. 06111. (p 2-29)

Ed, N4EMG said "I will start my next contest using the K2, it was that good."

Read comment here.

Thanks Ed for an excellent comment regarding Elecraft's K2 as more than an entry-level transceiver with a near entry-level price tag. According to Elecraft, the K2 is straight forward kit building without surface mount assembly, given I do not have a test bench that's a great fit. And it meets my goal of moving to the next level in ham radio. That is, getting more out of and from our avocation. I want to learn and that's my geek calling out.

Likewise, one can use a digital multi-meter to align the K2, an affordable tool and a necessary one for any operator. Any recommendations on digital multi-meters for the shack?

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to the All Asian DX Contest [CW] contest this weekend and learning a little more from my FT100 as well. Thanks again for the great comment.

Contest on.

Receiver

I'm creating notes on my blog in preparation for the Extra Class examination. Additionally, I want to learn about receiver performance before making a financial decision on a Transceiver For Less Than $1000. A good place to start is the Extra Class License Manual [8th ed.] authored by the American Radio Relay League.

"It's What's Up Front That Counts." (p 4-17)

• When thinking about a receiver think about its front end.
• Radio frequency (RF) is amplified in the receiver's front end before conversion to intermediate frequency (IF) according to the license manual.

Basic Receiver Specifications.

• Think sensitivity or minimum discernible signal (MDS).
• MDS is the smallest, detectable input-signal level and MDS sensitivity relies on two variables--noise figure and bandwidth.
• MDS has another name and it's receiver noise floor.
• Conversely, look for low noise floor figures when researching because low noise floor figures are most desirable.

Ever hear of Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio?

• S/N is often expressed in decibels (dB).
• Noise figure relates to S/N because the definition of S/N is signal power divided by noise power according to the manual.

The Funnel.

• I'm thinking of this as the funnel--what is the "theoretical noise power at the input of an ideal receiver with an input-filter bandwidth of 1 hertz...?" (p 4-18)
• The answer is -174 dBm as the lowest noise floor a receiver can possess.
• Now enter the funnel--the greater the input-filter bandwidth the greater receiver noise.

Ultimate Tip.

• When researching receiver specifications think about this one according to the manual, "The receiver noise figure degrades the noise floor." (p 4-18)
• This BIG ONE for me--the higher the receiver's noise figure then more power is needed to be heard. Quiet. Think Quiet.

I'm thinking receiver front end, minimum discernible signal, the greater the bandwidth the greater the noise, and a big noise figure means more power to be heard. Next? Selectivity.

73 from the shack.

Reference:

Wolfgang, Reed, and Carman (2007). [8th ed.] Extra Class License Manual. ARRL-The national association for amateur radio. Newington, Ct. 06111. (pp 4-17, 18)