Cognitive Radio?

Diamonds gleam within the pages of QST and Eclectic Technology (p. 94) October 2008, Vol. 92, Issue No. 10 shines brightly. What is on the horizon? Cognitive radio.

This quote from IEEE Xplore, "The growth of wireless applications and spectral limitations are serious concerns... Cognitive radio technologies expand spectrum efficiency using elements of space, time, and frequency diversity that up to now have not been exploited. An adaptive waveform (AW) generation...adapts to the changing electromagnetic environment and synthesizes waveform features in the frequency domain."

Scientific American.
"Indeed, if cognitive radio technology progresses as its developers hope, a glut of RF-spectrum options may actually arise in time. The airwaves will never be the same again."

Cognitive Radio Technologies.
"Suppose this same radio could remember the locations where your calls tend to drop and arrange for your call to be serviced by a different carrier for those locations."

Cognitive Radio Technologies Proceeding (CRTP) ET Docket No. 03-108.
Read Powerpoint presentations by the following Ph.D's Fette, Lane, and Marcus. Also, Beyond the Outer Limits, by Preston Marshall.

Cognitive Radio Information Center.
"This page aims to collect all information related to Cognitive as well as Software, Opportunistic, Dynamic, and such alike radios."

Smart radios and ham radio? Perhaps full deployment of cognitive radio technology is a few years down the road but radio frequency (RF) spectrum is a resource. And demand will push the development of this technology. Have we reached 1-billion mobile users?

On the other hand, what about cognitive radio and RadioSport? One word comes to mind, convergence. CW Skimmer and software defined radio (SDR) like the FlexRadio Systems' Flex-5000C will lead me into a new era in ham radio.

CW Skimmer sniffs RF spectrum, identifies spectrum activity, and frequencies that are not in use as well. The same maybe said of N1MM's bandmap when connected to packet or the telnet. However, my situational awareness is static because visually speaking, I'm only seeing call signs not signal strength or RF spectrum as exemplified by QS1R versatile radio board (VERB) technology.

Read about QS1R VERB technology here, here, and here.

The possibilities of cognitive radio and RadioSport are boundless. Imagine a pop-up message or a synthetic voice saying, "Fifteen meters is now open. Four new multipliers detected." However, I'm in the middle of one of my best rates since the beginning of the contest. Points or multipliers? Perhaps tactical decisions will trend upwards further increasing the complexity of RadioSport. Because of dynamic information that is processed inside the box and displayed on the monitor.

Mine is only a software controlled radio but cognitive radio is leading me in an entirely new direction.

By the way, read my interviews with Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR CEO FlexRadio Systems and Toby, DH1TW for further insight into ham radio's new era.

Until then turn on, tune, and operate.

Isotron Responds

Don Bryant, VK4FNQA just emailed and there is good news.

Ralph Bilal, WD0EJA Isotron CEO indeed responded with a phone call. Don is working with Mr. Bilal via email to resolve any issues.

Don said, "Thanks cobber!"

73 from the shackadelic.

QST RadioSport Issue Rocks

My issue finally arrived in the mailbox. I'm stoked. Who hasn't read Ward Silver, N0AX interview with Tim Duffy, K3LR? How about the pull-out with its how-to operate Sweepstakes and the year of the State QSO Party Award? I'm in.

Additionally, I'm seeing my station in the future and building goals around that vision. One component. One antenna. One learning lesson. One contest. Each building on the other. Lately, I added a CT62 computer interface cable and software controlled radio (SCR) is now off the objective list. I'm learning N1MM Contest Logger. And I will soon add an LDG Z-11 Pro autotuner. My budget is ready without breaking the piggy bank.

My ultimate RadioSport goal? Single Operator 2 Radio (SO2R) albeit SCR or software defined radio (SDR) using wire antennas. I believe my goal is achievable, not so much for the Box, but for the satisfaction of engineering my condo contest station on a budget.

The October issue of QST is a source of inspiration for me. Keep pushing the envelope. Keep saving my hard won dollars. Eventually my SO2R condo contest station will manifest. That's what I'm taking away from the rockin' RadioSport issue of QST.

Turn on, tune, operate.

Ten-Tec Replies

I spoke with Scott Robbins, W4PA regarding changes at Ten-Tec's website.

Why the new sidebar with really simple syndication (RSS) feed?
Scott Robbins, W4PA "We're trying to keep up with the latest web technology with RSS. Generally anything that happens here, we post on the web page immediately. People that are very interested in Ten-Tec will get the news right away and it spreads out from there. It really helps us get the word out for events, firmware upgrades, everything. With RSS, the news just gets out that much faster."

Any plans for the Ten-Tec Cam in the near future?
Scott Robbins, W4PA "I'm a big believer in video presentations. We did a live hookup with the RSGB HF Convention in Great Britain earlier this year that directly resulted in Ten-Tec selling some more rigs through our distributor over there. Despite the fact we were looking a little sleepy (it was done at 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on a Saturday!) We intend to do more video both passive presentations like I've done with various equipment of ours and interactively. We're the only company that is doing sales and support for new equipment on Skype; we get video and audio calls every day from around the world (username: tentecsales)"

When will testimonials and reviews come on-line?
Scott Robbins, W4PA "Testimonials and reviews will be added slowly as time passes. We get letters and feedback all the time about our products and intend to start adding them in the near future."

Good stuff within Ten-Tec's organization and they get it.

73 from the shackadelic.

Bob, K0NR comments on 73s "[P]utting the "s" on 73 is a classic error in "radio grammar," if such a thing exists."

Read comment here.

We are having fun and 73s continues gaining ground as ham radio's social networking website. Postings are now feeding to Twitter.

Perhaps the 's' is incidental but it stands out in the crowd.

73 from the shackadelic.

Ten-Tec Gets It

What about Ten-Tec and the new sidebar?

• A lobby re-model web cam.
  
• A Ten-Tec community page.
  
• A user submitted photo gallery.
  
• Really simple syndication (RSS) feed.
  

The new ham radio business model begins shaping up and Ten-Tec is leading the charge. Social community building is the platform and Ten-Tec gets it. And this company is the first, at least from my perspective, to launch this ground breaking venture that includes next level interaction with owner/operators of Ten-Tec equipment. For example, a community web page, a photo gallery, and RSS feed delivered into my Google reader. That's fresh.

Will others get the model? Perhaps but, Ten-Tec was there first and, with a web cam as well. Who would have thought? Kudos for taking this step.

Turn on, tune, operate.

HamSphere Challenge A Resounding Success

Kelly Lindman, SM7NHC reported 111 virtual contesters participated in the first ever RadioSport virtualization on HamSphere.

HamSphere Challenge Statistics.

Number of Contesters Per Hour 40 Meters:
1300 UTC (Warmup): 38
1400 UTC : 49
1500 UTC : 45
1600 UTC : 44
1700 UTC : 36

Number of Virtual Contesters Per Hour 80 Meters:
1300 UTC (Warmup): 25
1400 UTC : 36
1500 UTC : 24
1600 UTC : 32
1700 UTC : 27

Contest on.

Don, VK4FNQA commented "Have not yet heard from Ralph Bilal CEO at "ISOTRON" Antennas."

Read comment here.

I'm sorry and disappointed that Ralph Bilal, WD0EJA's email has not arrived in your box. We may consider that his email did not arrive and that depends on spam filters or misplacing a period in the email address.

I emailed you further contact information regarding Isotron Antennas ie. fax number. Mr. Bilal was keen on using his toll free fax number during our conversation and I found the number by Google searching his call sign.

Additionally, Mr. Bilal suggested using Information Request Form as another means of contact.

Don, I hope this helps as stated in my email to you. Thanks for staying in touch.

73 from the shackadelic.

73s.org | Ham Radio Social Networking

NexGen ham radio scores a clean sweep with 73s. Jazzy. Fresh. Just a few adjectives describing the work of Chris, N7ICE. The basic idea is find, follow, and track your old and new friends. 73s is inductively cool.

73 from the shackadelic.

Retro Rigs | Signal/One CX-7 | Ten-Tec Century 21

73 from the shackadelic.