VE7DAO's Ham Radio Blog

New 60 Meter privileges now In Effect for USA Aamateur Radio Operators

2012-03-06T14:16:00.000-08:00

Effective March 5th 2012, US amateurs have new privileges on the 60 meter band. In addition to an increase in effective radiated power from 50 to 100 W, hams can now transmit CW and PSK31 on the following channel-center frequencies:

Channel 1: 5332.0 kHz
Channel 2: 5348.0 kHz
Channel 3: 5358.5 kHz
Channel 4: 5373.0 kHz
Channel 5: 5405.0 kHz

Amateurs can also transmit Upper Sideband voice and PACTOR III on the following suppressed carrier frequencies (the frequencies typically shown on transceiver displays):

Channel 1: 5330.5 kHz
Channel 2: 5346.5 kHz
Channel 3: 5357.0 kHz
Channel 4: 5371.5 kHz
Channel 5: 5403.5 kHz

For more information, download 60-Meter Operations – New Privileges and Recommended Practices. Also, a revised ARRL band chart is available for download.

Linksys Routers and VHF radios.

2012-03-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

I recently decided to look into why my VHF radio a Yaesu FT-7800R was making such a racket on a few simplex and repeater frequencies. A few of the repeaters I have stored in memories have both CTCSS encode and decode to reduce the noise hash but when users of the repeater would unkey the noise would pop loudly in. Very frustrating.

I moved the radio away from the computer thinking that was the culprit but it wasn't. I then turned off the router, success. Now I had to determine how to shield the router but all attempts to do this failed. Upon searching searching online I found out that my particular router a Linksys WRT54G had many issue with RFI.

There were suggestions about fixing the issue, they included

Throwing it into the dumpster, and finding a properly RF compliant Router. Apparently Linksys routers are not RFI complaint. Some suggestions included, wrapping each end of the network cable into a three prong toroid to act as a choke as the cable itself would actually radiate the noise. That last option and the one I opted for was to connect the computer direct to the Cable box and eliminate the router.

So until I find a better router or pick up some toroids to try I will be out of luck using my WiFi devices.

The source of my information for possible solutions came from here.

Airlines Divert course for Solar Storms

2012-01-27T08:21:00.000-08:00

Delta, Qantas and Air Canada reportedly were among operators that chose to alter routes Tuesday and Wednesday to avoid potential disruptions caused by the most powerful solar storm to hit earth since 2003. Some flights originally scheduled to fly transpolar routes were re-routed south, adding to flight times but reducing the risk of disruption to high-frequency radio communication used along the routes. The storms cause fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field, and high frequency radios and other systems are susceptible to the interference. The re-routing was a precaution that not all carriers chose to take.

American, United, Continental and Air New Zealand did not alter flights, according to Businessweek.com, but were closely monitoring flights. The carriers have other options available, including operating at different altitudes or relying on different navigation and communication systems. The storm may have fallen just outside the list for top ten most powerful storms over the past 35 years. Delta's operations from Detroit to Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul and Shanghai were among those potentially affected. Qantas was expected to divert Antarctic routes like those between Sydney and Buenos Aires. The airline said that one flight would carry an extra five tons of fuel, flying a longer, less southerly route, but details of the direct costs of rerouting for Qantas and other airlines were not immediately available.

Source: AVWEB.com

Ham Radio Podcast - Newsline

2012-01-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

Newsline is a Ham radio podcast which maybe of interest to those wanting to get the latest Ham Radio information on the go, with their portable device. Visit their website for information or to download the latest release.

Work the Hamsats

2012-01-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

I just came across a great website created by Clint Branford K6LCS called Work the FM Hamsats which provides some excellent information about Software, equipment and Do-it-yourself projects that will help you get on the FM HamSats. These include frequencies, antennas to use and techniques to understand which will help you make it easier to make those DX contacts with a simple FM Dual Band handheld radio.

Due to the demise of some recent AMSAT satellites like ARISSat-1 and AO-51 those that are still active for FM communications within reach of simple equipment are: SO-50, AO-27 and ISS. For frequency information visit the AMSAT Website.

Other websites of interest may be the EIDX Network Satellite page which provides audio recording of the AMSAT satellites located here and for locating or scheduling satellite passes for your area check out heavens-above.

73, VE7DAO

ARISSat-1 comes to a fiery end

2012-01-04T11:50:00.000-08:00

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 004.01

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.

January 4, 2012

Reception reports indicate that ARISSat-1/KEDR has stopped transmitting on Wednesday, January 4, 2012. The last full telemetry captured and reported to the ARISSatTLM web site at 06:02:14 UTC on January 4 were received from ground stations as the satellite passed over Japan.

ARISSat-1/KEDR was deployed from the International Space Station on August 3, 2011 during during EVA-29 on by Cosmonaut/Flight Engineers Sergei Volkov and Alexander Samokutyaev.

The satellite carried a student experiment from Kursk State University in Russia which measured atmospheric density. Students from around the world provided the voices for the FM voice announcements.

The amateur radio payload aboard ARISSat-1/KEDR achieved many "firsts" for amateur radio in space:

+ First flight test of AMSAT Software Defined Transponder which transmitted simultaneous:

- FM voice downlink cycling between student messages, spoken

telemetry and SSTV from cameras on the spaceframe.

- 16KHz bandwith linear transponder,

- CW beacon with telemetry and callsigns of radio amateurs noting

their significant contributions to amateur radio in space.

- Robust, forward error corrected 1K rate BPSK downlink with sat-

ellite telemetry and Kursk experiment telemetry.

+ Development and release of the ARISSatTLM software for PC and Mac platforms enabled amateur stations worldwide with reliable reception of the BPSK telemetry, CW telemetry, display on the station's computer, and automatic upload of received data via the internet to the ARISSat engineering team.

+ A new Integrated Housekeeping Unit was developed and successfullyflown.

+ A new Power Management System was developed and successfullyflown.

AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW noted, ARISSat-1/KEDR marked a new type of satellite which has captured the attention of the national space agencies around the world for the unique educational opportunity we have been able to design, launch, and operate. By designing an educational mission aligned with NASA's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics goals amateur radio operators around the world have been able enjoy a new satellite in orbit."

ARISSat-1/KEDR Project Manager, Gould Smith, WA4SXM said, "Dozens of amateur radio volunteers, AMSAT, ARRL, NASA, and Energia teamed up for this successful mission to bring you the most unique and innovative amateur radio satellite mission. Congratulations to all who made ARISSat-1 successful!"

[ANS thanks the ARISSat-1/KEDR Team for the above information]

Listening to ARISSAT-1 with an Arrow Antenna

2012-01-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

I have seen various reports from the OSCAR Satellite Status Page that ARISSAT-1 has entered the atmosphere and burnt up. It was fun while it lasted.

Two days ago I created a quick video using my handheld ham radio and special directional antenna. It consisted of a Yaesu FT-60R and an Arrow Dual Band Antenna. I wanted to have a recording of the ARISSAT-1 audio before it came down. There was a contest of sorts by the creators of this amateur satellite project to be the last amateur radio operator to have the last bit of telemetry from the satellite before it burnt up. I wasn't sure what the prize was but it would certainly be some nice prestige.

You will hear me make an attempt to call the International Space Station and following afterwards the ARISSAT-1 Hamsat which provided automated voice telemetry and voice recordings.

These recordings were created by students from around the world specifically for this AMSAT satellite.

Further information on this project can be found here.

Malcolm, VA7ISS / VE7DAO

ARISSAT-1 is getting closer to re-entry

2012-01-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

I had a little time on my hands today and noticed a pass or two for ARISSAT-1 coming up. I decided to grab my HT and Arrow antenna and head outside to have a listen. The Hamsat is soon to be coming back into the atmosphere sometime soon and I wanted to get a video of the reception of the satellite before it does.

A link to the video on YouTube is here.

The first Tube-SDR receiver built by Richard Illman (AH6EZ) using the LIF2011 & MDSR

2012-01-02T13:11:00.001-08:00

Dear HAM members;

Dick (AH6EZ) just succeeded to connect his National N-57 tube receiver to the
LIF2011 converter and is now demodulating SSB and CW through the MDSR software. He also was so kind to provide to video of the whole project and he posted it on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXQqx5mziTY

One of the main issues in connecting the LIF to the N-57 IF was the fact that a
tube radio IF is very high in impedance. Connecting anything to it will de-tune
the IF transformers.

For more info on the MDSR project please visit the official MDSR website and download a fee copy of the MDSR software V2.2.

http://users.skynet.be/myspace/mdsr

All the best and to everyone a Happy New Year from the MDSR development team.

Thanks and 73;

"Do it yourself" Ham Radio by the ARRL

2011-12-29T11:01:00.000-08:00

In reviewing the qrz website today I came across a very good story and video about DIY ham radio.

The new video "The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio" took 14 months to put together and is available for viewing on YouTube as well as the ARRL Website.

Special Event Callsign for December

2011-12-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

Canadians are welcome to use a special event prefix for the month of December to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the CBC

Starting December 1st 2011 until the end of the month the prefixes are as follows.

VO becomes XJ
VE becomes VX
VA becomes VG
VY becomes XK

73 Malcolm VE7DAO

AMSAT Reception reports

2010-09-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Today I was able to listen to a few satellites.

The first, ISS was not heard. I guess they have the radios off so they can get
their work done. Nothing heard on APRS nor Voice.

The next was UO-11 which I had not heard for a long time and it usually is an AX.25 packet, which it did not sound like. 17:28 - 17:36 UT 25th Sept 2010

The third satellite was HO-68. I used my Arrow antenna attached to my mobile rig, a FT-7800R Dual Band rig. The Arrow Antenna was mounted on a photo tripod and connection was made by removing the mobile antenna and using an NMO to SO-239 adapter. I copied the entire pass from 18:02 - 18:25 UT 25th Sept 2010. I could not transmit as I have not yet installed the miniature inline duplexer. That will be my next task.

ISS Contact

2010-07-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce that I was able to finally make contact with the International Space Station after 20 years of trying. I spoke with Col. Doug Weelock, KF5BOC as NA1ISS on the ISS while traveling in the car. I was able to talk to him on two successful concurrent orbits. What fun and so amazing. It was a wonderful and exhilarating experience.

Those with scanners may like to listen to 145.800 Mhz for communications coming down from
the ISS. Look online at http://www.issfanclub.com or http://www.heavens-above.com

Malcolm Scrimger, VE7DAO