Amateur Radio news from Italy

IW5EDI Simone – Ham-Radio

Amateur Radio news from Italy

Category Archives: HamRadio

Amateur Radio Blog Posts. Ham radio events, operations and local news

Google Glass Ham Radio app

Posted on by Posted in Ham Radio 2.0, Ham Radio Software, HamRadio 2 Comments

 

Google glass are wearable computer, with a built-in Android OS on it, and in this movie N3WG Nick Garner show us a sample application of a ham radio related application written for the Google Glass platform.
Practically Nick is able to remote control an Elecraft KX3 radio via the Pigremote  connected via Wi-Fi, of simply give commands to the Android OS to display latest dx spots, or show GMT time.

I already wrote a post some months ago about the first ham radio app for google glass, QSL query by  AE5DY, but this app is a real example of a practical implementation of this new google interface.

Well done Nick !

Ham Radio and Arduino

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Looks like the Arduino platform is getting popular and popular among amateur radio community.
I’ve been reading a lot’s of interesting projects based on the Arduino, from CW Players, to antenna tuners, beacons, keyers, and rotor controllers, magnetic loops controllers and more.

The Arduino looks is so popular that the ARRL is also publishing a book dedicated to application in the amateur radio use.

Well, honestly I’m not so inclined to microprocessors programming and related subjects,  and I believe I will feel more confortable with the other misterious device named Raspberry Pi, since is much more closer to my daily work that what the Arduino is.

In any case i will attend to a meeting dedicated to the Arduino and the Ham Radio applications that will be held at my local ham radio club in Firenze in the coming January.

 

QSL Query : App for Google Glass

Posted on by Posted in Ham Radio 2.0 1 Comment

QSL QueryDavid Young, AE5DY announced  QSL Query the first Google Glass application associated with the hobby of amateur radio. It is basically used to look up FCC call sign information, primarily for use in filling out QSL cards.

Currently, the information returned by QSL Query includes the name, address, and license class of the person associated with the submitted call sign.

Google Glass  is a “wearable computer” based on an optical head-mounted display

Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like format, and user can communicate with the Internet via  voice commands.

Google Glass diffusion is very limited due to the high cost but certainly, this is another demonstration of how Amateur Radio’s experimentation is always up to date with new technologies and communications media.

For more information visiti AE5DY webpage deidcated to QSL Query

SDR on your Android Galaxy S3

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SDR on Android

RTLSDR on a Saturn Galaxy SIII

IW5EIJ Leonardo, yesterday night showed me a nice App running on Android, named SDR Touch.
Connecting the Samsung Galaxy S3 to the RTLSDR dongle will turn your smartphone into a nice wide band receiver.
Leonardo is however experiencing an unwanted and unexpected phone vibration during reception. Could not gave him any hint since, I don’t onw a Galaxy S3 and neither an Android device.

In any case this is a very cool solution, to have always your software defined radio receiver along to you.
Looking to see a similar app even on my iPhone.

If you need to know more about RTL SDR Radio you can read my other posts about RTLSDR, if you are looking for Amateur Radio Android Software you can have a look in the google play store.

IU – New Ham Radio Callsign Prefix in Italy

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IU Ham Radio PrefixThe Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico has run out of callsigns with the IZ prefix.

A new IU prefix has been just announced.

The new IU Prefix will be added to the already in use prefixes for ham radio operators, I IK IW and the IZ.

In Italy, we have several other Ham Radio Callsign Prefixes like:

IR that are assigned to  FM Repeaters

IQ Are tipically assigned to club stations

but as you probably already know in italy we already have some special prefixes for hams living in particular regions:

 

  • IA5: Tuscany islands (Elba , Giglio etc)
  • IB0: islands of Lazio Region (Ponza, Ventotene, etc.)
  • IC8: islands of Campania Region (Capri, Ischia, etc.)
  • ID9: Eolie and other minor islands of north-east Sicilia Region
  • IE9: Ustica island (Sicilia Region)
  • IF9: Egadi and other minor islands of west Sicilia Region
  • IG9: Pelagie and other minor islands of south Sicilia Region
  • IH9: Pantelleria island (Sicilia Region)
  • IL7: Tremiti islands (Puglia Region)
  • IM0: all minor islands of Sardegna Region (Maddalena, San Pietro, etc.)
  • IN3: Trentino – Alto Adige (special-statute Region)
  • IS0: Sardegna island mainland
  • IT9: Sicilia island mainland
  • IV3: Friuli – Venezia Giulia (special-statute Region)
  • IX1: Valle d’Aosta (special-statute Region)

So who will use the new IU Prefix ? all new hams not living in the above special areas.

Micromix

Posted on by Posted in Equipment, HamRadio Leave a comment

MicroMix
Just added a new gadget for my Shack. the Behringer Micro Mix, an amplified audio mixer to optimize audio output management.

With this 4 ways mixer I can connect up to 4 radios and use a single external speaker, can mix volumes, and with an Y cable I’ve also connected my new Yamaha CM500 headsets.
Mixer output is Mono so is perfect for ham radio usage.
Got used for 20 euros.