Amateur Radio news from Italy
Amateur Radio Blog Posts. Ham radio events, operations and local news
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These are 200 Morse Code QSO`s which might typically be heard on the HF bands. They were designed to give people who are learning Morse Code some practice with real life Morse contacts, rather than using text passages from books, or random letters generated my computer.
It is intended that the QSO`s are “played” by a morse code computer program such as “Supermorse” . This is an ideal way for a student to learn on their own.
W3DZZ Antenna
Moonraker supply a whole range of wire trap dipoles covering from 2 to 5 HF bands (MTD1; MTD2; MTD3; MTD4; MTD5; MTD6). Diamond also produce trapped wire antennas, the W-721, W-728 and W735. Comet and Diamond each produce similar interesting 5 band wire dipoles that utilize both traps and a fan arrangement – the Diamond W8010 and the Comet CWA-1000. If space really is limited then look out for KZJ Communications (dongo1950 on ebay) – he produces ‘Limited Space Inductive Dipoles’. These are inductively loaded and shortened dipoles so they will have reduced efficiency, of course, but are very nicely made, so might be very useful in a tight spot.
To obtain good efficiency and achieve a low angle of radiation, desirable for longer distance DX, a horizontal dipole needs to be installed at a good height – over 20 feet would be desirable and it is quite common to install horizontal dipoles at around 30 to 40 feet above ground level. This might be a problem at some QTH’s, it certainly is at mine!
Allan Copland, GM1SXX comments: “The dipole will operate well on the band it has been sized for , if placed at a suitable height, but will also operate as a’ three-half-wave’ aerial at three times the frequency and so on, so it’s not strictly a single band aerial. An 80M dipole (132 feet typical) will work nicely on 30 metres (three half waves) but not on 40m (two half waves)… because on 40M the feed-point is at a voltage node and not at a current node, for easy feeding. Most aerials are current fed.
The radiation pattern changes when a dipole is not used on its design frequency. The pattern will break up into multiple ‘petals’. This can be either a disadvantage or an advantage depending on what you expect from it. Since most of us use co-ax, an UN-BAL should really be used to connect the unbalanced feeder to the balanced aerial, but how many people actually bother? Not many I suspect. It’s possible of course to use a balanced feed-line system instead with a dipole and just have a delta match (no centre insulator… none needed). There are many choices and permutations, but in general, dipoles are centre fed at a point of current maximum (and minimum voltage).
A normal dipole is current fed but of course can be voltage fed instead. This is what’s done in the EFHWA or Fuchs aerial where a resonant half wave wire is fed at one end (max voltage / min current) from an L/C tank, against a very short counterpoise wire.
Original article is :W3DZZ Dipole Aerial design by the Maidstone Amateur Radio Society
http://www.btinternet.com/~shaun.scannell/club/w3dzz.htm
1. Introduction
Sooner or later every Shortwave Listener will hear them, the Number Stations: rarely letter-groups are read by a synthezised male or female voice, are keyed in Morse code or are sent in digital mode.
All transmissions start with an identifier/call, usually a 3-figure group, repeated several times. The following figure-groups specify the decryption key/group-count of the message which ends, for example, with a series of “Zero”s (or “out” if spoken).
Every network has its own “fingerprint”: transmission schedule, modulation and format are typical for a specific network and will help the listener assigning it to a certain country. An increasing number of utility listener are into the hunt for Number Stations.
Recommended Repeater Operating ProceduresAn interesting article by W2BRI you should read if you want to home made your own magnetic loop antenna
After having allowed hams to use their QRZ as alternate name, I’m going to show you how to lookup people by their amateur radio call-signs (QRZ), even if they are not in your friends-connections (Friends or Friends of Friends)
Just type into the top facebook search bar:
People named “iw5edi”
this will bring you to the Facebook Open Graph search result page with the results.
This is an example result page for a lookup search for the callsign IW5EIJ :
Restrictions
Language and devices
Unfortunately there are still some restrictions, since this feature is powered by facebook graph-search feature that is available only on desktop computers using the english language settings.
For all other devices and languages this is not avabilable yet.
Apparently the search by callsign works with all devices and languages, but this it’s not true, since by typing the callsing will return only the Altenate names of those that are already in your network and will not lookup within all facebook users database.
I’ve tested this by looking up for a ham radio call sign that is not in my network and it works:
Partial Searches
As an additional restriction, looks like is not possible to make partial searches like “IW5ED*”, but is still possible to refine search by adding additional filters to your query, like city, interest, etc.
Reindexing time
I’ve not been able to understand if, after having added your alternate name, you can immediately be found with your call sign, or if this take time. I’ve added my call sign in mid July, it immediately appeared in the profile page, but not in search results. I’ve checked after one month and it worked.
Thanks to an online petition made via change.org  promoted by NW7OR, starting from today facebook allow to add your own ham radio call-sign as altenate name and have it displayed in your public profile page
This should allow others to look for your your by using your QRZ.
This is how appears now my Facebook profile page… you can notice my callsing IW5EDI just below my name.
My ham radio call sign in Facebook profile
How I did it ?
Simply by editing my profile page and adding my QRZ as Alternate Name
QRZ on Facebook
What’s new ?
Well, the true is that an alternate name was possible and accepted in Facebook also before today, but looks like at Facebook someone changed the rules
Yes because those rules since yesterday where quite strict, not allowing to add numbers or all capital letters.
Here you can read a snapshot of the on-line help, that evidently need to be updated by the folks at facebook.
QRZ on Facebook
Searching
As a short note, i can tell you that at time writing, if you look for me on facebook by typing my call, you will not find me right now.
I belive the cause is that Facebook need to reindex their data and this may take time… Will try to update this post with latest news.
in the mean time, if you want, you can add me as friend in Facebook.
Update:
Starting from mid august, is now possible to lookup call-sing within facebook.
Just select from the top facebook search field the People Named prefix and type the call sign !
Facebook Lookup of my call sign
iPerf Example
If you have setup a ham radio Wi-Fi link and you want to measure the real throughput, copying files, or accessing to speedtest.net is not really the proper way.
I’ve written an article on calculating the total bandwidth in WiFi links , and I try to eplain the reason and give you some more hints.
Florence Old Bridge
This picture I’ve taken few days ago, reveals, what I’ve always considered, the symbol of amateur radio in Florence.
This Yagi Antenna tower, erected very close to the old bridge several years ago I suppose belong to IK5JXR (I5BKO), now SK.
Just wanted to share this piece of my city with you.
FT5ZM clublog log db has been updated right now!
So it means they have an internet connection
Are you in the log ?
