XPost: rec.radio.amateur.misc

Amateur/Ham Radio

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Astron RS-50A Picked this up for free, but trips the circuit breaker when turning it off/on

Posted: 20 Apr 2022 01:32 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7rsav/astron_rs50a_picked_this_up_for_free_but_trips/

submitted by /u/LightSwitchTurnedOn
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My kit for SOTA / portable ops.

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 07:44 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u76thb/my_kit_for_sota_portable_ops/

submitted by /u/grilledch33z
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The sun is going crazy

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 08:08 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7mtie/the_sun_is_going_crazy/


I am getting signal reports from Oklahoma to Arizona and Utah in the 30 and
40 dB range on the RBN using my Pixie on 7023, the highest Ive ever
received since being a ham for the past 8 months sometimes with 100 watts.
Is this what happens when a big flare doesnt directly hit my side of the planet? submitted by /u/mr_noun
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Numbers station?

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 06:27 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7kwwt/numbers_station/


Before I got my ticket I bought a modded Yaesu vx 2 and was fiddling with
it on some of the lower frequencies when I heard what I later found to be
a "numbers" broadcast. Just a Spanish speaking woman clearly speaking out a series of numbers. I found it fascinating. Anyone else hear one?
submitted by /u/wiresmoke
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Decode JS8Call using an RTL-SDR?

Posted: 20 Apr 2022 12:09 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7qo3r/decode_js8call_using_an_rtlsdr/


I have an RTL-SDR, the virtual cable program, and JS8call.
I have RTL-SDR set to Q-sampling and Upper Side Band....the audio output is
set to Windows VB-Cable. JS8Call input audio is set to the same.....but
nada.
I have tried all the JS8call frequencies and JS8Call keeps popping up the configuration for RigControl. I tried disabling transmit in the settings.
Has anyone got this to work? JS8call is very faint as a signal so its hard
to really know if anything is coming in.....and i dont really understand
the waterfall that is showing up in JS8Call although I can sometimes see
bands in there.
Is it possible there is no JS8call being sent? submitted by /u/fattrying
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tabletop antenna demonstration with radiation patterns (YouTube video,
about one hour)

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 04:05 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7i40d/tabletop_antenna_demonstration_with_radiation/

submitted by /u/AE0NS-radio
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APRS With Mobile + HT + APRSDroid

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 08:26 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7n5f0/aprs_with_mobile_ht_aprsdroid/


So Im struggling right now to find out how I want to get into APRS, I have
some goals in mind: Mobile while in the car, no dedicated radio selected
yet, been eyeballing some FT-29XX series Yeasus for this though. Something
I can connect to my FT-60 (or another HT, eyeballing the new ICOM HT) while
in the field, usually hiking.
Big goal for at least my first deployment is something I can swap between
the car and my hiking setup -- so something I can throw in my backpack and
have connected to my HT (so long enough/swappable cables and a somewhat
rugged setup is ideal)
The Mobilinkd basically checks all of these, its a little pricey but I can
deal with that, Id just need an extension cable for the FT-60, and with a little bit of effort I can wire the other radio easily.
HOWEVER the Mobilinkd isnt going to be available for awhile, at least July,
and thats a maybe and if it doesnt immediately sell out.
Ive poked at rolling my own Raspberry Pi and Direwolf but Im not finding anything for PTT that isnt a bit of maybe questionable work (unless Im
missing something), dropping things in GPIO pins and building my own
circuits from diagrams and stuff -- its a lot more involved and I need this
all to work in the field.
Working with APRSDroid or something would be a huge plus -- one of the
things I ran into one weekend was being completely out of cell range but
within radio range of a bunch of repeaters (yay big antenna on my
backpack), SMS over APRS can be a huge deal for letting people know where I
am.
Is there a piece Im missing to close that gap? Should I not be so fearful
of VOX? submitted by /u/StrangeWill
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NTS Traffic Handlers, Why Do You Do It?

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 04:31 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7imxt/nts_traffic_handlers_why_do_you_do_it/


Those of you who are into NTS traffic handling, why do you enjoy that
aspect of ham radio? Also, whats the funniest, most interesting, or most eventful traffic youve passed? submitted by /u/s-ro_mojosa
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Question about swr on a 2m/70c combo antenna

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 02:09 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7flar/question_about_swr_on_a_2m70c_combo_antenna/


I am trying to optimize my setup and Im just getting my shack set up (new licensee) and the mobile antenna I purchased is 1:1.5 on 70cm its like
1:3.5 on 2M. I know its not going to be as good as a dedicated antenna so
my question is
Are there more efficient mobile dipoles that do both 2M and 70cm?
Would you recommend an antenna tuner? submitted by /u/kodack10
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If my license expired, do I get to keep credit for having passed the
General and Extra elements?

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 05:05 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7jb3v/if_my_license_expired_do_i_get_to_keep_credit_for/


This is counterintuitive. A guy told me that I just have to take the Tech
test and show proof of having passed the higher elements by showing my old Extra license, and I could be an extra again without taking the test. This strikes me as too good to be true, but for all I know maybe it really is
that way. So what’s the straight dope, yo? I can almost certainly pass the General and Extra tests but if I can get credit for having passed them,
that would be cool. Anybody heard of this? Source? submitted by /u/RobinHoodEsqVetsAtty
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Qcx, which band

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 12:43 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7do6r/qcx_which_band/


Which band would be the best to start with. Looking to hopefully reach
europe from canada submitted by /u/StinkyBanjo
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Watch "HAM RADIO: 40M Spiral Magnetic Loop Antenna. Build a Loop antenna"
on YouTube

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 02:15 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7fpzf/watch_ham_radio_40m_spiral_magnetic_loop_antenna/

submitted by /u/ishmal
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Got my technician license and an HT only to discover that I don't live
close enough to any repeaters to actually use them. Is there anything I can
do in the meantime before I get my general license?

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 09:22 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u6whi2/got_my_technician_license_and_an_ht_only_to/


Drove out to a parking lot near a repeater to make sure my radio actually worked and I got a response pretty quick. Been checking out simplex
frequencies but even after leaving my radio on all day I never hear
anything. submitted by /u/Ilikefinnishmusic
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Newly acquired Yaesu FT-530 for $100. Good buy???

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 08:06 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u6v35k/newly_acquired_yaesu_ft530_for_100_good_buy/

submitted by /u/Big_Cat31
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She may not be an "ugly balun", but she certainly ain't pretty. First
attempt at a balun

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 05:25 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u6rvkz/she_may_not_be_an_ugly_balun_but_she_certainly/

submitted by /u/RoadieRich
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Yet Another 3d Printed Center Insulator

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 04:03 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u72i7x/yet_another_3d_printed_center_insulator/

submitted by /u/rem1473
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Looking for info/software for CCSDS decoding

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 11:20 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7brr4/looking_for_infosoftware_for_ccsds_decoding/


Hi all, this is a matter of research for personal curiosity, but also
relates to a field of interest at my work. Ive only started looking into it this morning because I previously was not aware of the protocol but I know
for sure there is a group of amateur satellite enthusiasts out there that
have what Im looking for. This thread is for you.
Please come and share the secret of your powers with us. submitted by /u/Steve_but_different
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NanoVNA spotted in the new Batman movie. Hes got three mounted vertically. Where does he get those wonderful toys?

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 07:26 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u6uazt/nanovna_spotted_in_the_new_batman_movie_hes_got/

submitted by /u/mchamst3r
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Skywave propagation for long-distance contact without repeaters

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 12:33 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7dfzm/skywave_propagation_for_longdistance_contact/


Hi everyone! I am a new to amateur radio. I have read the ARRL book and
have my exam scheduled. My background is in computer science and let me
say, it seems like radio is way more technically challenging and
interesting than I thought! I am excited to learn.
Part of how I learn is to establish some cool goals, and then figure out
how to do it. That makes it fun for me. I have a friend who is 60 miles
away from me and family who is 1200 miles away from me. Ive convinced them
(my friend and brother, respectively) to get licensed as well, but they are very slow with making progress so Im not sure when that will happen.
I am mostly interested in being able to communicate with them without the
use of repeaters (in a grid down scenario, as you may have guessed). Both
of them are past the radio horizon. As I understand it (from the ARRL book
and some of my own research), the best way to do this is to use skywave propagation (bouncing off the ionosphere) on the HF bands. I can try to maximize my output wattage by using an amplifier and a yagi antenna. On
lower frequencies (like HF), as I understand it CW, SSB and AM are best, in that order. Even if I can make CW contact at a distance Id be happy, but
voice is preferable.
It just seems like such a lofty goal and Im not sure where to start. What
are some smaller steps / experiments I can do which will eventually build
up to accomplishing the goal? Is the goal even reasonably achievable? I
know skywave propagation depends on the time of day (and other factors),
which affect the frequencies are reflected. I also know that until my
friends get licensed Ill have to run my experiments one way (they use just
a receiver).
Should I just get a good Icom HF radio, ~10 dB yagi antenna and a receiver
(for my friend 60 miles away, they wont need all the fancy transmission equipment if theyre just receiving for now) and just start seeing if they
can receive my communications past the radio horizon? Where should I point
the yagi antenna, directly at the horizon? Once I can get it working (and
my friend gets licensed) well buy similar equipment for talking the other direction of course. How would I build up to the goal of 1200 miles? Do you have any recommendations on the equipment I should get to start
experimenting?
Thank you very much for any guidance! submitted by
/u/transmissionfactory
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question: doing research abot a story im writing with a major black out
would it be possible to comunicate via radio?

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 12:26 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u7d9u7/question_doing_research_abot_a_story_im_writing/


so as far as i understand, the sattelites still work (obviously they are
not hooked up to powerlines) but theres something like repeters on earth
that make communikation with smaller gadgets like walkie-talkies possible?
but theres also bigger radios for which you would need a generator or something?
is it the same for cell phones?
thanks for taking some time to answer :) submitted by
/u/quickbeforewedropdea
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Ham Radio and Arduinos

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 12:08 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u6z3gs/ham_radio_and_arduinos/


I was wondering if there was a UHF/VHF shield for the little Arduinos? I
want to make a mobile weather station/digipeater.
I know about hamshield, but I cant seem to find one anywhere to buy,
do you guys know about any other alternatives? submitted by /u/TrippingWildrose
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What mount is this?

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 05:45 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u6saje/what_mount_is_this/

submitted by /u/cupcakesoldier17
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Huge explosion on sun unleashes major solar flare on Easter

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 04:27 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u6qok2/huge_explosion_on_sun_unleashes_major_solar_flare/

submitted by /u/ishmal
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10 meter FM

Posted: 18 Apr 2022 04:37 PM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u6qw8j/10_meter_fm/


Hey, so, first post in a hell of a long time because I sort of went semi-dormant during the minimum. But now that the sun has decided to wake
the hell up and cooperate for a change, Im experimenting with modes Ive
never really tried before, and one of those is 10 meter FM.
This past weekend from JA (grid PM85) Ive managed to get my first QSOs in
this mode, two in Taiwan and two in HK. Ive not heard anything farther
afield than this but I wonder what kind of distance I might expect during
good conditions. Is a VK contact feasible from here? (It certainly is via sideband, as Ive reached Europe before on 10 meter phone back in 2015...)
Also is 10m FM even enough of a thing? Is there a "community"? submitted
by /u/the2belo
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Yaesu FT-4X with MARS Mode locked itself over time

Posted: 19 Apr 2022 09:03 AM PDT https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/u78mfj/yaesu_ft4x_with_mars_mode_locked_itself_over_time/


Hi,
I unlocked wider frequency range (90Mhz - 480Mhz if I remember correctly)
and ability to transmit with mars mode on my Yaesu FT-4X - tutorial. Its
been working perfectly fine. After a couple of weeks of not using it, I
turned the radio on, and I can tune only to the default narrow range of frequencies (400Mhz - 480Mhz). I can still transmit, which was impossible before the mod, but I wonder why I cant tune out of the default range.
Any ideas why is it locked now? Should I do the same mod once again?
submitted by /u/lord_EarlGray
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