Podcasts about so2r

Ron Schwartz, VE3VN, maintains his enthusiasm for participating in CW contests using his SO2R station and tower farm. For more than five decades, Ron has been an avid ham radio operator and ham radio blogger with an enduring passion for climbing towers and rigging antennas. In recent years, Ron has pursued an interest in EME - moon bounce , Tropospheric ducting,  and meteor scatter.  VE3VN is my QSO Today.

BERU Commonwealth CW contest, 11th/12th March. Good condx forecast for HF Bands. Great contest for both serious and casual participants. Low band antennas with 80m switched 2ele/ omnidirectional array. Homebrew Bandpass filters for SO2R with automatic band switching. EDZ antenna for 20m, with good performance on 15m and 10m also. Any questions or suggestions please contact me via vk6lw.kev@gmail.com

Perspective from VK6 of the CQWW CW 2022 contest. Comments on high scores, conditions, TX and RX antennas I used along with observations on how to maximise 2BSIQ/SO2R operation from VK6. Any questions or comments please email to me vk6lw.kev@gmail.com

Foundations of Amateur Radio One of the first questions a new amateur asks is "Which radio should I buy?" It's a topic I've discussed at length and the answer "It depends." is unhelpful without doing more research, but after you've done the work, you'll be able to answer it for yourself. A question that is just as important, but not asked nearly enough, frankly, I've not heard it in the decade I've been part of this community, is: "How should I build my shack?" The answer is just as useful, "It depends." So, let's explore what precisely your shack design depends on. Let me start with pointing out that I'm not here to give you answers, you can watch hundreds of YouTube videos, read a gazillion web-pages and get no closer than discover how others have answered this question. It wasn't until recently that I understood that it was a question at all, but airing my frustration at the level of dysfunction of my shack unearthed it and in attempting to answer my own question, I started to explore the landscape. As with choosing a first radio, one of the very first answers you need for yourself about the ideal shack is: "What do you want to use it for?" That in and of itself is not enough. I had an answer for that, I want to operate my weekly net, I want to do casual HF contesting, have a beacon running and have space for experimentation. It wasn't until Ben VK6NCB suggested that I dedicate a single radio to the weekly net and the contesting and use the other for experimentation, that I discovered that this wasn't going to work for me. I want to be able to use both my radios at the same time, in a so-called Single Operator Two Radio setup, or SO2R. This will allow me to extend the boundaries of my comfort zone and in doing so, will give me plenty of new things to learn. So, the question: "What do you want to use your shack for?" is probably the single most important thing you need to discover. If you're like me, the obvious answer is: "Everything!", but reality soon sets in and you might start to create an actual list of things that you want to do. Prompted by Ben's suggestion, I was able to articulate for the very first time something that I didn't want to do. I didn't want to set a radio aside for experimentation. So when you're considering what you want to achieve, also think about what you don't want. For example, I have no interest in using the 6 meter band at this time. Not because it's a bad band, far from it, it's because I'm not permitted to use it with my current license. Same for the 23 cm band. This means that I don't have to find ways of making my shack accommodate those two bands. My current license permits me access to precisely six bands and the station I'm building only needs to access those bands at the moment. That brings me to the next question for the ideal shack design. "How long do you expect the layout to last?" For example, are you going to build a new building for your shack, for the next 50 years, or is it something that's going to last for the weekend? Is your shack going to be moved, or is it something a little more permanent? Are you going to change your needs and should you incorporate some of that into your design, or are you perfectly happy with what you're doing today? You have to remember, this is your shack, not mine, not your friends, yours. It means that it needs to accommodate what you want. The next question, boring as it might be, "How much money are you going to spend?" Building a whole new shack out of a catalogue is perfectly fine, but you might discover that the gear you have today is ample to get your shack started. You might leave space for a different piece of kit, or you might decide that the shack needs changing when a new shiny piece of equipment arrives in a nondescript brown box. Some other things to consider are, "What operating actually looks like?" I've seen shack videos that look like a tour through a radio museum with more radios than I have keys on my keyboard, sometimes all connected, other times, just stored on shelves to look at. Are you going to have more than one radio operating at the same time and if so, how are you planning to control them? How many antennas are connected to this shack and how do you track which antenna is connected to which radio? What are you going to do about power? Does everything run on mains power, or are you going to build a 13.8 Volt supply for all your gear? Where are you planning to put computer screens, what about keyboard, mouse, Morse key and antenna switching controls? In other words, "What do the ergonomics of your shack look like?" Remember, there is no right answer. The answer you come up with is yours and yours alone. Look at things that work for you and take note of things that make you wince when you see it in another shack somewhere. That's not to say that you should be dismissive, rather, use the opportunity to ask the shack owner why they made that choice. Who knows, it might cover something you hadn't considered yet. So, what does your ideal shack look like? I'm Onno VK6FLAB

Review and discussion of the recent BERU Commonwealth CW Contest. Conditions on LF and HF, report on various antennas we used and tested both for TX and RX. Merits of SO2R in this contest, activity, HQ stations and travellers.

CQWW CW report, TX and RX Antenna review. Band Condx from VK6 during and after contest. SO2R with VK6T contest call. Any comments or questions please email to vk6lw.kev@gmail.com

CQWW CW preview, Antenna modelling and rebuild, HF Rx antennas for SO2R contesting. 40m 2 ele, switched wire beam. I will be using VK6T in CQWW. Any questions or comments please email to vk6lw.kev@gmail.com

Mark Beckwith, N5OT,  grew up in Southern California, with amateur radio's most famous television producer, Dave Bell, W6AQ, who was his amateur radio mentor in the 1970s.  Dave opened a lot of doors to Mark, allowing Mark to build up his contesting and DX on-the-air skills. Mark was a professional opera singer for over 30 years, leading to some interesting conversation both on and off the QSO Today microphone.  N5OT is my QSO Today.

Wire Beams for receive and transmit. SO2R with RX bandpass filters. Single mast beam for 40m with relay switched elements. Commonwealth contest. WPX CW contest. IC 7610 Screen problem. Tower and new shack project.

CQWW CW contest, SO2R operation, improved HF band conditions. Improvements to LF and HF antennas, new directional 160 and 80 m antenna. RX antenna options

Summary of recent WPX CW, Rx antennas for HF bands, SO2R training and contest setup. 160m season and antenna evaluation. IC7610 and TS590.

CQWW CW condx and report. Low Band condx and antenna experiments and performance. SO2R setup, upcoming Commonwealth Contest.

Ward Silver, N0AX, author of the QST magazine column, ·Hands-On Radio·, editor of ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications, and author of many books on ham radio joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in his QSO Today. In the podcast, Ward describes his ham radio beginnings

After 44 years with the ARRL, beginning as an intern in 1972 at the American Radio Relay League, David Sumner, K1ZZ, retired, last year, as CEO and General Manager.  In this episode of QSO Today, Dave shares his ham radio story from its early beginnings, his favorite operating practices, and his reflections on his years at League Headquarters.  

When Rick Dougherty NQ4I isn’t operating single sideband at 51 thousand feet in a Gulfstream jet, he may be preparing for the next big contest at this super multi-multi station in Griffin, Georgia.  A career jet pilot and ham radio contester, NQ4I shares his amateur radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Sputnik was the catalyst that spurred many to enter electronics, engineering, and amateur radio.  Rob Brownstein, K6RB, was inspired to find a ham across the street to build his first crystal set for a science fair project leading to a lifetime as a ham radio operator. Rob is a co-founder of CWOPS and its on-line CW training academy helping hundreds of hams a year become better CW operators.  K6RB shares his ham radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO today.

George Fremin, K5TR, is a seasoned SO2R contester and DXer.  He has many years of experience building and maintaining multi operator contest stations in Texas.  This experience with both operating the contest events as well as the practical maintenance of these stations led to an important conversation about tower safety.  In addition to HF contests, George enjoys VHF and UHF contesting as well as DXpeditions. K5TR joins Eric, 4Z1UG, in this QSO Today.

Don Beattie, G3BJ, is a former president of the Radio Society of Great Britain, past chairman of BARTG,  or the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group, past president of the CDXC, the British DX foundation, board member of the RSGB,  and its acting general manager for two years.  The list goes on and on.  Don is currently the President of the IARU, or the International Amateur Radio Union for  Region 1. G3BJ is a leader in British amateur radio and is my QSO Today.

Scott Wright, K0MD, travels the World extensively as part of his responsibilities as a doctor with the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. This creates for Scott opportunities to take his portable station on DXpeditions around the globe from China, the Caribbean, to South America.  K0MD shares his ham radio story and some practical advice on this QSO Today.

Faaaaala Maracas, nesse episódio, Alex (PY1KS), Arthur (PY5VC) e Soni (PY1NX) comentam sobre o CQWW CW 2015, algumas curiosidades, propagação, polemicas e a evolução do SO2R. Abaixo alguns links sobre o que falamos: ZF2MJ durante o CQWW CW Operação do PY5VC nas bandas baixas.  

Faaaaala Maracas, nesse episódio, Alex (PY1KS), Arthur (PY5VC) e Soni (PY1NX) comentam sobre o CQWW CW 2015, algumas curiosidades, propagação, polemicas e a evolução do SO2R. Abaixo alguns links sobre o que falamos: ZF2MJ durante o CQWW CW Operação do PY5VC nas bandas baixas.  

Foundations of Amateur Radio There are times when you'll find yourself being encouraged to participate in a contest. You might receive an email, a Facebook encouragement, or even hear an item on the local news about a contest. Where do you start if that's what you're interested in? Well, first things first. You need to find out when this contest is exactly. The reason this is important is because you might go though all the preparation, only to find yourself sitting at a family BBQ listening to your favourite family member sharing the story about the dog and the lake, rather than being in the contest. Once you've determined that you are in fact able to participate in the contest, put it in your diary. This seems obvious, but I can guarantee you that there will come a day when you're happily sitting in the sun having lunch when that sinking feeling appears and you realise that the contest you were going to play in started 8 hours ago. Now that you've got the basics out of the way, what's next? Find the contest website, most contests have one, in fact I can't think of one that doesn't, and look at what the aims and objectives of the contest are. Download a copy of the rules and see if there are things that exclude you from operating. The contest might be on bands you're not allowed on, or modes you're not licensed for, so make sure that you're actually allowed to participate. Then read the rules of the contest for understanding. Most contests define who is allowed to contact whom at what time, on what frequency and how often. The rules will outline how points are calculated and how the log needs to be submitted. Other things you'll find are the deadline for log submission, the exclusions, power requirements, bonus points for low power operation, things like operating more than one radio, or having more than one operator. Terms you'll come across are SO2R, or Single Operator Two Radios. Or Multi-Multi which means Multiple Operators with Multiple Radios, or Multi-Single, meaning Multiple Operators, One Radio and all manner of special classes as defined by the contest manager. Previously I've talked about getting logging software together, setting up your station and testing it, but those things all need to be covered off. Make sure your computer doesn't need a Windows Update in the middle of the contest, get enough sleep before the festivities and plan for some recovery time after the contest. This of course doesn't cover all of what you need, but it's a really good start. Get on air and make some noise. I'm Onno VK6FLAB

From the hills of Tennessee, Kirk Pickering, K4RO, operates a SO2R, single operator 2 radio, contest station and makes over ten-thousand contacts a year. Using Beverage antennas, Kirk is able to operate 160 meters, the “top band”, as solar cycle band conditions fade.  Kirk is Eric, 4Z1UG’s, guest on QSO Today.

Becoming a top contester in the World of amateur radio is about skill, practice, experience, and a great station according to Pat Barkey, N9RV. Pat combines all of these attributes, including his SO2R, single operator two radio, station,  to be one of the top contesters in the World. Now he is the editor of the National Contest Journal, a professor at Contest University, and Eric, 4Z1UG’s, guest on QSO Today.

Nesse episódio falamos sobre a Operacao de PX1M, PY1NX e PY1KS no IARU HF Contest. Fabio fez um longo relato sobre a operação da PX1M no estilo field day, as dificuldades e as alegrias, Soni novamente em busca da pontuação para o WRTC, operou SO2R na busca dos valiosos pontos. PY1KS, mais uma vez remoto, conta […]

Nesse episódio falamos sobre a Operacao de PX1M, PY1NX e PY1KS no IARU HF Contest. Fabio fez um longo relato sobre a operação da PX1M no estilo field day, as dificuldades e as alegrias, Soni novamente em busca da pontuação para o WRTC, operou SO2R na busca dos valiosos pontos. PY1KS, mais uma vez remoto, conta […]

What use is an F-call? On previous occasions I've spoken about contesting and what it might add to your amateur experience. I know that there are amateurs who are convinced that contesting isn't for them, you'll never hear them on air, they don't think it's worth while, it's too complicated, it's not fun, it's not them. I beg to differ. In my opinion, contesting is among the most fun you can have with amateur radio and it's the most challenging, rewarding and fundamental test of your amateur abilities. I know that you might be thinking that your station isn't up to the task, but I learnt at an early age that if you don't try, you're guaranteed to fail. Of course there are contests that are high profile, attract the bulk of the world wide amateur community and flood the band with their noise, but there are also smaller and even tiny contests where you can practice and get your feet wet. There is at least one contest every weekend of the year, that's 52 contests right there, but the reality is that there are many, many more contests than that. In essence a contest is the process of sending unique information to another station, and receiving unique information from then, logging the exchange and moving on to the next station. What the exchange is differs for each contest, for some it's a number that keeps incrementing each time you make a contact, for others it's your state, or your years in amateur radio, or your location, or any number of other forms of exchange. A contest is of course not just sending and receiving information, it's a test of your equipment, your radio, antenna, microphone, logging software and any number of other aspects of the hobby that will challenge you. You'll learn about propagation, you'll use your phonetic alphabet more than you thought possible and you'll learn that different countries have different preferences for their phonetics. Some contests run for a short time, an hour, others run for two or more days. In each contest, preparation is a big part of the experience, not just preparation of your gear, but also of yourself, your diet, sleep, fitness and the like. Depending on how seriously you take your contesting, you might find yourself in training before a big one and exchanging ideas and lessons with some of your friends. Perhaps you'll join together and run a contest station with multiple radios going at the same time, at which point you'll be learning about interference first hand. Getting started on a contest is simple, go on-line, do a search for amateur radio contests, you'll find calendars, rules, logging software, educational material, videos, documents and much more. Before you start a contest, read the rules and make sure you understand them, have a listen around the bands to get a feel for the tempo of the contest and dive in. Some terms you're going to come across are HP, or High Power, SO2R or Single Operator - 2 radios. You'll come across a concept of a multiplier, which is a scoring mechanism that often doubles your score every time you get a multiplier. For example, you might get a multiplier for each zone you work, or for each country, or for a contact on a different band. Sometimes the scores differ depending on whom you talk to on which band, sometimes it's a different score for a different distance, or more points for talking to a QRP station, so it pays to understand the rules. There are many tricks to learn, people to talk to and things to do, but the first step is to get over the mindset that contesting isn't your thing. If you have questions about contesting, drop me a line via email: vk6flab@wia.org.au I hope I've given you some food for thought. I'm Onno VK6FLAB