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In this Homebrew Workbench Roundtable, Tobias KK7BCO and I are joined by Mitch NK3H, filling in for Adam K6ARK, to talk through what is on our benches right now.We cover frequency counter builds and wiring lessons learned, a direct conversion receiver that's now pulling in W1AW, Mitch's SuperHET power amplifier improvements, and a look at using local AI agents for ham radio related tasks. We close out by announcing our next group build, the GQRP Club's Limerick Sudden ATU kit.Join us as we explore how you can get involved in portable radio, QRP, and more in this episode of the All Portable Discussion Zone (AP/DZ). Every aspect of portable operations is covered in this biweekly podcast, from news and gear to achievements, the workbench, contests, awards, and beyond.**SolderSmoke DISCORD INVITE**: https://discord.gg/GYVRZSBVFCConnect with us:* Discord: https://discord.gg/WVE3vVveWU* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/redsummitrf* TikTok: @redsummitrf* X (formerly Twitter): @NJ7V_Support the channel:* Buy us a Coke: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RedSummitRF* Red Summit RF Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/redsummitrf#apdz #HamRadio #QRP #Workbench #Electronics #homebrewradio #DIYradio #amateurradio #hamradiopodcast #scratchbuild #frequencycounter #SuperHET #KiCad #PCBdesign #SOTA #FT8 #directconversion #GQRP
Nick Wood M0NTV enjoys building ham radios and other electronics projects from scratch. He has a firm understanding of the science and techniques necessary to build his projects. Nick has a wonderful YouTube channel where he teaches the basics about homebrew radio construction and how their circuits work. He is a member of the GQRP club where he will occasionally submit an article about his homebrew adventures. NIck's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@M0NTVHomebrewing G-QRP Club Website: https://www.gqrp.com/ Join us as we talk about how YOU can get involved in portable radio communications in this episode of the All Portable Discussion Zone “AP/DZ”. Every aspect of Portable Ops is explored in this biweekly live stream as we discuss news, gear, achievements, the workbench, contests, awards and more - find all Portable Ops related topics here. Join this channel and become a Premium Member for early access, behind-the scenes-content, and exclusive chats https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHriEQX4EK2b0QS7EgSvjmg/join X: Charlie NJ7V @NJ7V_ Dan KC7MSU @KC7MSU Brian W7JET @BBW7JET Help support this channel - buy us a Coke: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RedSummitRF Red Summit RF Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/redsummitrf #APDZ #SOTA #PortableOps #HamRadio #POTA #qrp #cw #MorseCode --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nj7v/support
Tony Fishpool, G4WIF, is still active in the United Kingdoms G-QRP Club and contributes to the quarterly Sprat Magazine, is the author of a book on Test Equipment for the QRPer, an numberious article on equipment building with particular attention to detail and budget. I am please to present to you this re-edited and mastered QSO with Tony Fishpool, G4WIF.
Grayson Evans KJ7UM joins us to talk about the art and science of building with thermatrons! PERMALINK - https://www.hamradioworkbench.com/podcast/hollow-state-design Our Website - http://www.hamradioworkbench.com/ Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/hamworkbench Contact us - http://hamradioworkbench.com/contact Connect with us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/hamradioworkbench/ BrandMeister Talkgroup 31075 - https://hose.brandmeister.network/group/31075/ QSO Today Expo https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/ Hollow-State Design 2nd Edition by Grayson Evans | Apr 24, 2013 (Amazon Link Included above) Testers: Hickok Tube testers Resources Book: Tube Lore - Ludwell Sibley https://www.amazon.com/Tube-Lore-II-Ludwell-Sibley/dp/1532376316 Sprat magazine GQRP Club http://www.gqrp.com/sprat.htm Electric Radio Magazine https://www.ermag.com Hand Made Vacuum Tubes by Claude Paillard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzyXMEpq4qw Antique radio supply Hammon electronics transformers https://www.hammfg.com/ Tube depot https://tubedepot.com/ Tube Lore By Ludwell Sibley https://www.amazon.com/Tube-Lore-II-Ludwell-Sibley/dp/1532376316 Electric Radio Magazine https://www.ermag.com/ SPRAT Magazine of the GQRP club http://www.gqrp.com/sprat.htm
In this episode, Martin M1MRB is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU and Edmund Spicer M0MNG to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief and this episode’s feature is Launch Portable Operations Challenge ICQ AMATEUR/HAM RADIO PODCAST DONORS We would like to thank Charles Riley (G4JQX) along with our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate FT8 Experiment on 40 MHz - 1st to 15th August 2020 Why Hobby Electronics is a great thing to take up? Broken Cable Damages Arecibo Observatory Portable RF Hacking Tool with a Sub 1GHz RF Transceiver, BLE and USB ARRL HF Band Plan Committee submits final recommendation Chain Home Radar - Battle of Britain Anniversary Special Event Station Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame GQRP Club Releases Agenda for its Online Convention 2020
GB2RS NEWS Sunday the 16th of August 2020 The news headlines: Thanks for massive lockdown efforts Latest RSGB Convention Online info TX Factor 26 is bumper episode In this month’s RadCom, RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB thanks all the staff and volunteers who have pulled together to cope with the challenges of the last four months. He highlights the successes we should celebrate – such as helping 1,500 people take their first steps into amateur radio in just four months via remote invigilation Foundation exams – as well as the opportunities we all have to develop amateur radio in the future. You can also read the editorial online at https://tinyurl.com/rsgb-success-story. Practical Wireless this month features a look at how the RSGB is supporting new and returning radio amateurs. From the Beyond Exams range of resources through to the Tonight @ 8 webinars and a new Facebook group, there is a lot on offer. You can read the article on the RSGB website too. With the Covid-19 pandemic changing the face of rallies and conventions around the world, the RSGB Convention 2020 is going online. You will be able to enjoy some excellent lectures. On Saturday the 10th of October, the RSGB will be putting on two streams online for everyone to enjoy. The first stream is An introduction to… and the second stream is Learn more about.... You can find more information at www.rsgb.org.uk/convention. The first two lectures are The Small Station by Joe Chester, M1MWD and QRO Magnetic Loop Antennas with Rael Paster, M0RTP. In the small station, Joe M1MWD says that most of us don’t have the good fortune to own several acres of land on which to erect tall towers for beam antennas and have just one or two transceivers and an ATU on the corner of a table. But there is lots of fun to be had operating even the most modest radio station and he’ll look at how to get the best from limited equipment, or space. In his talk, Rael, M0RTP says that a transmitting magnetic loop antenna offers the amateur a compelling option for getting on the air and having access to all the HF bands when restricted for size and height of the antenna system at your QTH. He will cover DIY construction tips, tricks and traps for QRO operation and will provide an overview on how to remotely tune a magnetic loop. Find out more at www.rsgb.org.uk/convention. Running slightly behind schedule, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a bumper Summer edition of TX Factor is now available. Episode 26 is packed full of pre-lockdown features including a very relaxed tea and biscuits interview with Tim Kirby, GW4VXE as he speaks of his big passion for VHF and UHF operating. Bob, G0FGX and Mike, G1IAR take the lid off Bob’s Icom IC-7300 and fit a Radio Analog PTRX-7300 RF interface module. Coupled with an inexpensive SDR receiver like the SDR Play RSP1A and your computer, this board gives you a proper panadapter display so you can use your mouse to click and pounce on the signals you want to hear. Bob also gets his hands on one of the very first Icom IC-705 all-mode QRP SDR transceivers to arrive in the UK and gives a comprehensive review of all its wonderous capabilities. TX Factor is viewable on all devices from smartphones to smart TVs and is available at www.txfactor.co.uk, or search for TX Factor on YouTube. TX Factor is sponsored by the RSGB and Martin Lynch and Sons. Tim, G4YBU and Richard, G8ITB have planned a Summits on the Air Activity Weekend to be held on the 22nd and 23rd of August. The objective is to activate as many of the 15 summits in the Southern SOTA region of England. The event is for everyone. Bands and modes are down to the equipment that any particular operator owns, but it is suggested that 2 metres and 40 metres are very popular both on FM and SSB. Most of the summits in the Southern SOTA region are within easy driving distance of major towns and are a short walk to the summit itself; some actually have a car park within the activation area. For a detailed summit list see the SOTA website, www.sotadata.org.uk. International Lighthouses and Lightships Weekend is still going ahead this year on the 22nd and 23rd of August. Participation will dependent on local circumstances and government rulings regarding border and national parks closures, social contact and so on. Wirral ARS will be operating using GB2BHL but operation will be from the club premises. Moray Firth ARS will also be taking part, using the callsign GB0CSL for Covesea Skerries Lighthouse. The station will be run from individual club members homes. Details of this are at www.mfars.club. The GQRP club has released a detailed agenda for its Online Convention 2020, taking place on the 5th and 6th of September. The online event, which replaces the club’s annual GQRP convention, is open to existing members. There is a special rate for non-members that will include GQRP Club membership until January 2022. The two-day event comprises a series of online presentations and knowledge-sharing meetings where people can share ideas. For more information, and to view the full event schedule, see www.gqrp.com/convention.htm The Netherlands IARU member society, VERON, is encouraging amateurs to use digital amateur television, DATV, in the 2m band on the 22nd of August between 1200 and 1600UTC. Using either 144.600 or 145.300MHz, signals should be DVB-S or DVB-S2 and have a Symbol rate 125k. Details are at www.veron.nl/nieuws/datv-experiment-2-meter/. Now the special event news Since the change of regulations applying to special event stations in the UK, many activations are now able to go ahead. UK amateurs would like to thank Ofcom for their help in making this happen. Fort Purbrook ARC will put GB1PF on the air from member’s homes until the 17th of August. They will operate using CW, SSB and data across the HF/VHF/UHF bands. More information is on QRZ.com. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, the RSGB has organised a VJ Day amateur radio marathon on the HF bands and 6m using SSB, CW and digital modes. Three special UK callsigns GB75PEACE, GB1945PE, GB1945PJ will be on the air until the 31st of August. See www.rsgb.org/ve-vj-marathon. August sees two GB80 Special Event Stations on the air, marking the critical role that radar played in the Battle of Britain 80 years ago. GB80BRS will be operated to commemorate Bawdsey Radar Station in Suffolk, where radar was developed in the late 1930s. This was the location of the world’s first operational radar station. Activity will be on 80 to 10m using SSB, CW and FT8. GB80CH, Chain Home, will be operated from Chelmsford in Essex. And now the DX news Commemorating the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I, special event stations TC3GP and TC3GS will be active until the 23rd of August. QSLs via YM3KCN. Giorgio, YI/IU5HWS is with the military in Iraq and will be operating on 40, 20 and 10 metres until the end of November. Now the contest news There are no RSGB HF contests this month, as August is the month of the traditional summer holiday. That said, there is some doubt about going anywhere on holiday at present thanks to the current Covid-19 precautions! Please remember to check before the contest for new rules due to lockdown and social distancing, which may differ around the world. The RSGB strongly advises obeying your own national and local government’s advice first and foremost, especially in the instance of local lockdowns. RTTY operators can participate in the Scandinavian Amateur Radio Teleprinter Group contest. The first sessions were on Saturday but today, the 16th, it runs between 0800 and 1600UTC. The exchange is RST and serial number. Multipliers are DXCC entities and call areas in VK, VE, JA and W. See sartg.com/contest/wwrules.htm for full information. On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 14th of August. Sunspot region 2770 will have just about rotated out of view by the time you hear or read this. After a promising start it quickly faded away, but there is more hope as active region AR2771, belonging to Cycle 25, is forming in the Sun’s southeast quadrant. A secondary bright plage region is also now turning into view off the southeast limb, although it appears to be spotless for now. This is very encouraging as we think it shows that Sunspot Cycle 25 is ready to get under way. On Thursday the solar flux index was 74 with a sunspot number of 24. Please note that on Propquest.co.uk, the feed from the Chilton ionosonde has been down for a few days, but if you switch to FF051 Fairford you’ll find that feed is working. Daytime critical frequencies have generally been in the range 4 to 5.3MHz, which means that 40m remains unsuitable for close-in NVIS contacts around the UK. You may find 60m or 5MHz more reliable for inter-UK working. But critical frequencies are generally staying higher just after sunset, which can be good news for stations chasing DX. The charts suggest that 14MHz is remaining open to contacts over 3,000km until nearly local midnight. Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will remain at around 72, with the largest Kp index being two. This reflects the fact that there are no Earth-facing coronal holes at present, although this can change without much notice. Active region 2771 could develop further, as could the plage area in the southeast quadrant. But it really is guesswork at this point. And now the VHF and up propagation news. The weather pattern is changing into something much more unsettled generally, and not just in isolated instances of severe thunderstorms as we’ve seen recently. Tropo conditions were good in some parts as last week came to an end. It's easy to get Tropo over sea paths at this time of the year and, whilst there could still be some opportunities across the North Sea early next week, most areas will be in the realm of low pressure, so no more Tropo. The Sporadic-E season has had a little boost by the recent meteor input from the Perseids so it's still worth looking at the usual times, mid-morning and late afternoon to early evening. The season can last into early September, so there’s still time. Rain scatter should be the mode of choice this coming week, with a slow-moving area of low pressure over the country bringing thundery showers and spells of heavy rain to many places. It’s a good time to use one of the many radar displays available online to track the heavy rain cells and try some GHz band rain scatter. Mid-August is a good time for meteor scatter, so keep that on the list as the Perseids meteor shower declines. Opinion was that this year was not a vintage one, with many reporting poorer performance than last year. That said, the meteorscan.com website showed hourly rates at over 100 around 0600 on the 12th and 13th. The Moon was at peak declination yesterday and path losses are falling as we approach perigee on Friday, so it’s a good week for EME. 144MHz sky temperatures are low. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.
In this episode, Martin M1MRB is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Dan Romanchik KB6NU to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief and this episode’s feature is Rob Sherwood, NC0B on Transmitter Performance. ICQ AMATEUR/HAM RADIO PODCAST DONORS We would like to thank Gary Bridges (WA0VMV) and our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate Credit Card Chip used to make Crystal Radio IARU Submitted Paper Raises Rising RF Noise Levels AO-73 Now in Fulltime Transponder Mode Raspberry Pi FUNcube Satellite Telemetry Decoder Now Available PRESENTER OPINION: Collins Driving Another Nail into the Amateur Radio Emcomm Coffin? G-QRP Convention 2020 Will be a Virtual Event Hamvention 2021 Chair Appointed Russian-Ukrainian Radio War Spreads
In this episode, Martin M1MRB is joined by Chris Howard M0TCH, Martin Rothwell M0SGL, Ed Durrant DD5LP, Frank Howell K4FMH and Bill Barnes WC3B to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief and this episode’s feature is The Futures of Ham Radio. ICQ AMATEUR/HAM RADIO PODCAST DONORS We would like to thank Kevin Strishock (N3KA), Michael Street (G3JKX), Lizzy Cannon (G0MDL) and Billy Kemp and our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate - Record Numbers to take UK Foundation Exam - Ham Radio Operators still Transmitting - FT8 Used for Moonbounce (EME) Contact - AO-27 Returns from the Dead - Next Ham Heading to Space Station after Historic Launch - ARISS Establishes Itself as an Independent Organization - APRS Payload Balloons to Race Across North America in Educational Challenge - GQRP Club Online
In this episode, Frank Howell (K4FMH) talks to ARRL CEO and Secretary Howard Michel (WB2ITX), who provides an update from the recent ARRL committee meeting. Martin (M1MRB) and Colin (M6BOY) rounds up the Amateur Radio announcement this week. GQRP Convention 2019 Join W1AW 150th Birthday Celebration AMSAT Space Symposium Call for Papers MFJ Joins Corporate Prize Donor List for HomeBrew Heroes Award ARRL BoD Minutes - http://www.arrl.org/files/file/2019%20Board%20of%20Directors/Final%20Minutes%20July%202019.pdf
In this episode, Martin M1MRB is joined by Chris Howard M0TCH, Martin Rothwell M0SGL and Frank Howell K4FMH to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief and this episode’s feature is a review of the UHF/VHF Weekender Transceiver Kit by Martin M1MRB. ICQ AMATEUR/HAM RADIO PODCAST DONORS We would like to thank our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate Radar makes 5 MHz Band 'Useless' Neil G0WPO - SOTA Mountain Goat Free Foundation Training Books for Australian Amateur Radio Students Radio Ham Takes on Department of Justice ITU Strengthening Emergency Telecommunications in the Americas GQRP Club Founder the Rev. George Dobbs, G3RJV, SK State of the Hobby Survey 2019 BYLARA Launches New Bulletin Publication RSGB AGM Online Voting
When is comes to homebrewing QRP HF radios with simple parts and test equipment, then one of the go-to guys is Tony Fishpool, G4WIF, current membership chairman of the G-QRP group in the UK, and frequent contributor to its quarterly SPRAT magazine. Tony is also a co-author with Graham Firth, G3MFJ, of Simple Test Equipment for the QRPer, and numerous articles on equipment building with attention to detail and budget. Tony believes, along with his co-hearts at G-QRP, that ham radio does not have to be expensive to be fun. G4WIF is my QSO today.
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 transponders, and shares his ham radio and electronic builder story.
Keith Ranger, G0KJK, now retired from the Church of England, has had a lifelong love of electronics and radio who has never owned a commercially manufactured amateur radio. Instead Keith builds his own receivers and transmitters, works the World, makes contacts, and rag chews. He quickly dispels the notion that ham radio is an expensive hobby and demonstrates how to have fun and enjoy the amateur radio hobby for very little money. Keith joins Eric, 4Z1UG, on this episode of QSO Today.
Graham Firth, G3MFJ, joined our amateur radio hobby almost sixty years ago as a kid growing up in Yorkshire, England. Electronics and electronics building was the driver and is still Graham's first love in the hobby. QRP was the natural choice of this builder and a way to avoid television interference to his neighbors. Graham is active in the G-QRP group, builds QRP kits for the group, and still plays a mean bass guitar. G3MFJ is my guest on QSO Today.