Video - Me showing what PSK-31 Looks like - Take a Look!

I made this crappy video... I say crappy, but I think I do a good job showing what PSK-31 looks like.  I think you should see this.  I've made a couple QSO's with it and had a blast doing it.  I think you would to!

Sign my Guestbook, tell me what you think.

Save Analogue Radio campaign

I received theis e-mail from KF5CCN. After seeing what happened with analog TV, don't hesitate to think for a second that analog broadcast radio is safe.

A National Campaign to maintain essential traditional analogue broadcast radio for everyday listening and for use in times of national emergencies.
The pressure is on to replace traditional analogue radio broadcasting with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio.

Indeed, the UK Government has provisionally set 2015 as the date when the world wide standard frequency modulation (f.m.) services are to disappear from the Band II 87.5 to 108MHz (v.h.f. f.m. band), to be replaced with DAB radio transmissions.

Eventually, the analogue services on long waves (198kHz) and medium waves (500kHz to 1.6MHz) will also be replaced by digital transmissions.

Obsolete radio receivers:

Several million non-DAB equipped radio receivers could be made obsolete, if the Band II plans are implemented – requiring people of all income groups to purchase new receivers. The 'digital effect' is already apparent as very few manufacturers now produce analogue-only receivers.

Practical considerations and technical difficulties:

Unfortunately, the Government's plans don't take into account the large number of practical considerations and technical difficulties involved with the present forms of digital transmissions – particularly when radio broadcasting is involved because of the 'digital delay' effect (known as Latency). The problems are likely to be difficult to overcome because most listeners use portable receivers, utilising simple antennas (aerials).

So, in response to the Government's proposals I am planning to organise a national campaign urging the Government to retain analogue broadcasting on Band II v.h.f. f.m. and on long and medium waves, while maintaing the DAB radio services on Band III.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need further information on the complex problems that are in store for the radio listener in the UK – if the Government's seemingly ill-considered plans proceed.

Thank you.

Rob Mannion, G3XFD
Dr. R. B. Mannion G3XFD
Editor Practical Wireless magazine

Click here to support the Save Analogue Radio Campaign

Example of Actual Traffic Handling - Audio

This traffic was passed on the 5th Region Traffic Net on 9/18/2010. Carolyn, KC5OZT in TX passes a message to WA5FWD, Bill in OK. Bill's job is to either deliver the message to the recipient himself, or send it on to a station better able to fufill that task. 

This post is in conjuction with my previous post that attempts to explain the National Traffic System (NTS) message format.  By posting this, I'm trying to show how easy traffic handling actually is. 

Hopefully this will encourage more operators to get involved in this facet of the Amateur radio hobby.

(Side note- Isn't Carolyn's accent great?)

Amateur Radio Message Format - NTS Format Explained

Anyone can participate in traffic nets. Just keep in mind the reason for holding traffic nets is to facilitate the transfers of information over the airwaves.

Although there are several modes for traffic nets, the one I’m familiar with are SSB phone, or FM VHF phone. Here is a sample piece of traffic:

I’ll number the lines and explain each entry in the order shown.

After looking this over, LISTEN TO ACTUAL NTS TRAFFIC BEING PASSED BY CLICKING HERE.
.

1. NR 44 R KE5UTN 21 WEST MONROE LA SEP-14
2. KJ2V
3. BT
4. RN5 TUE SEP-14 CYC-2 CKINS-13
TFC-5/5 TIME-10min KE5UTN/NCS
AA5J/AR/CYC-4 KE5UTN/LA/NCS KA5JNL/LA KN5GRK/LA N7INO/LA W5MLO/MS/1-MS K5BBA/MS/1-RN2/1-OR W5OXA/MS KC5OZT/NTX N5OUJ/STX KE5YLY/STX N5ZAS/STX/1-EAST KM5VM/WTX
5. BT
6. DAN KE5UTN/NCS

Line 1. Msg number, precedence (R for Routine in this example), originating station, check count (number of words in msg body), location of originating station, date of message.
Line 2: This is the "To" line; who the msg is for. Usually you’ll see name, callsign, address and phone number.
Line 3. BT=’Break’ seperates header and msg body
Line 4: Message body
Line 5. Break seperates body and signature.
Line 6: "Signature" line; who originated the message (who wrote it)

It should be noted that in line 1, between precedence and originating station you’ll usually see an entry called handling instructions. The entries are usually HXC or HXG which have to do with weather a receipt of message is requested by originating station. There are several different handling instructions you can ask more experienced traffic handlers about. They will be happy to clear them all up.

The ARRL actually has a standard form that helps in writing these messages.  That said, I have found it easier for me to simply remember what each line item is and simply typing the message on the computer.  Usually, the way you'll receive your first traffic is over the air anyway, so it'll come to you in that format.   All you'll have to do, when you know the format, is start typing.

Hopefully this will give you some sense of what traffic handling looks like.

In an up coming post, I’ll actually upload a recording of a message being sent.

As always, leave a comment or sign my guestbook. Let me know what you think of this topic or any other you see here. Thanks and 73’s.

5 Principles of Repeater Operation

This is not the end-all of repeater usage. This is just my understanding of repeater operations.
1. There are always people listening. Any inappropriate words or statements will come back to you.

2. Keeping the repeater tied up for extended periods of time is unfair to fellow hams that might need to use it. After a few minutes of talking, ask if anyone else needs to use the repeater.

3. If you do get into a long discussion with someone who is within simplex range, move to a clear frequency to continue your conversation in simplex mode.

4. Someone owns and maintains repeaters which costs money. Therefore, respect the owners and show your appreciation by avoiding needless repeater “kerchunking”.

5. When checked in on Storm Warn nets, listen to the net instructions. Usually the NCS is only interested in SEVERE weather. Keying up the repeater to simply say something like, “It’s raining at my house”, could prevent a more important report from getting through. I personally know of a few times when this happened.

Remember, using repeaters is a privilege not to be abused. If we all operate them courteously, we’ll all be better able to enjoy our ham hobby using them.

Tips for Dealing with Interference on the Amateur Radio HF Bands

There are all kinds of interference out there. From atmospheric to intentional all will be experienced by amateurs at one time or another.

1. Atmospheric: Sometimes, there is nothing you can do except fight through it. Try adjusting your attenuator and noise blanker settings. If you have a Digital signal processor, try adjusting for least noise or highest quality desired signals.

2 Interference from nearby electrical activity. Your interference may be buzzing, whining, whirring or intermittent regularly spaced shushes. These all indicate something man-made. Power/phone lines, vehicles, nearby blow driers and other nearby devices such as computer/monitors, fans, air conditioners, or other communication equipment could be the culprit.

Try your noise blanker, attenuators and digital processors again to help. If unsuccessful, try turning things off and unplugging them while listening to the interference. If you cut power to something and the noise stops, you found the trouble.

I experienced interference by a nearby CB enthusiast. He had power way outside the legal limit, and he was causing interference through the entire HF spectrum in my shack. I found the frequency the guy was on and let him know what he was doing. I let him know continued interference by his CB operations would result in my notifying the FCC. As predicted, he ceased his high power operation.

3. Intentional interference: This might be some knuckle head purposely leaning on his cw key or making some other noise disrupting the regular flow of traffic. In most cases, the worst thing you could do is let the jammer know you are annoyed.

Jammers seek a reaction which will reinforce those ignorant actions. That said, sometimes it’s effective for everyone to simply stop transmitting for a few minutes. Nets I have been on have done this and the interference ceased.

Another strategy I’ve been a part of is while the guy is keyed up (jamming), someone said, “Let’s go to ___ MHz. A net I was on did this and successfully continued with the net on another frequency.

This article is by no means the end-all of countering interference. Just be aware that we, as ham radio operators, are not helpless when it comes to interference. From modern radios with attenuators and digital filtering capabilities to strategies for dealing with manmade interference, amateur radio operators can work to minimize disruptions.