Any thoughts?
Edit: I have a technician level license. I can go for a general level.
Welcome to 2022 (almost)! Most every year we try to post an amateur radio resolutions thread. So, what are your 2022 radio-related resolutions? What radio-related activities are you most looking forward to?
If you were involved in previous years, please let us know how you did. If you're new, welcome aboard! Please post what you would like to accomplish with amateur radio.
I made the mistake of jinxing all of 2021 by asking about "post-covid plans" last year. I won't be doing that again. Yes, it's all my fault.
73 GD DX 2022
I'm currently looking for a Signal Analyzer with a tracking generator so i can easily sweep the RL of antennas without a huge amount of hassle. Surely there would be some old analog instruments with a reasonable BW for not too much right?
For context, I live in New York but go to school in Boston.
Since it's the holiday season, many people are coming into sub wondering what they can get for an amateur radio operator they know.
Please use this thread to give ideas. Provide a link to the product (avoid link shorteners and referral links as they will be removed). This sticky will be updated as items are added.
Free
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Get licensed! - If someone close to you is an active amateur radio operator, obtaining an amateur radio license would make them very happy. It's a 35 question, multiple choice exam. The study material is free using http://www.hamstudy.org and/or /u/dan_KB6NU 's Tech (PDF) Study Guide. The exam could also be free (under laurel VEC) and you have the option of taking the exams online (for a fee). Sooner the better as the FCC will start implementing their own application fees in the near future. (This is US based, for other countries, check out our wiki for more information about amateur radio.
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Lend a helping hand - There are times where hams need a hand when it comes to installing an antennas, towers or other various projects. There are also events called contests where some people need operators to be on the air. You don't really need a license in the US (however, some rules do have to be followed). (Credit /u/kb2s)
$20USD And Under
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Cat In Shacks, 2022 ARRL Calendar - $12.95USD - It's cats... In shacks. It's a calendar.
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GPS Time Sync Dongle - $12.99USD - Some modes such as FT8 need to have accurate time on their computer. With this dongle (and 3rd party software), it's possible to sync the computer's time using GPS satellites. This is excellent for those doing digital modes while out in the field (POTA/SOTA) or have limited internet (time sync) connection. (Credit to /u/MonkeybutlerCJH)
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Go QRO or QRT T-Shirt - $18.95USD - Hams have been abbreviating text on CW (Morse Code) well before it was done with texting. We use "Q" Signals. Basically this shirt says "Go High Power Or Get Off The Air". Nice shirt for those who use large amplifiers. QRO = Increase power, QRT = Stop Transmitting. (Credit to /u/groovecookie)
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Custom Wooden Callsign Plank - $20USD (ETSY) - Ha
I managed to get a couple of LoRa boards and I'm curious to know how other amateur radio are using LoRa and what experiments are conducting. Other Amateurs in the area have a temp sensor, but we would like to extend the availability of the local coverage. I was thinking to develop a pager service or a APRS type device that reports the position back to the gateway. Also, what is the difference between a concentrator and a gateway amd what horsepower needs a gateways to properly work.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lid
>lid
>
>A lid is a poor amateur radio operator; one who grossly does not follow the rules.
>
>Jack's operator skills can be best described as a lid.
Used in another post, I had to look it up in the online urban dictionary.
>we just check the frequencies are clear and use common sense to avoid being a LID
What is its origin?
Besides the FCC (government) saying we can't. Wouldn't it be helpful? I believe ham radio supports emergency backup communications for the government through ARES and the like. Wouldn't some of those government communications be encrypted?
If the public can use https secure Internet protocols to transmit personal messages across the Internet, yahoo, gmail, etc, what's the difference in doing that with radio waves?
Or is it a national security thing?
With amateur radio being such a diverse hobby, I'm sure people will answer very different things, depending on the individual perspectives. Let's hear your top three (or five) things you learned because of your activity in the field of amateur radio, and how they perhaps helped you later on in life / in your career / education.
China successfully launched Xiwang 3 (XW-3), a CubeSat built by the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT) on 26th December 03:11 UTC (11:11 Beijing Time). The 6U Cubesat was placed successfully into LEO along with the rocket’s primary payload Ziyuan-1 02E via Chang Zheng 4C rocket.
Xiwang – meaning Hope – is equipped with a small visible-light camera whose images will be downlinked along with telemetry through a GMSK-modulated downlink which will be openly accessible to amateur radio enthusiasts. It also carries a telemetry beacon, an x-band transponder and a thermoelectric generator – the latter being carried as part of a high school experiment.
The 100 mW linear transponder will have an uplink frequency of 145.870 MHz and a downlink frequency of 435.18 MHz (transponder passband is 30 kHz, inverted). The satellite also has a CW beacon on 435.575 MHz
Xiwang 3 (XW-3) user manual has more details.
https://itshamradio.com/new-chinese-amateur-radio-satellite-in-orbit/
This kind of thing has probably been asked before, but I am curious as ham radio is very valuable if SHTF
Hello again! I was surprised and delighted to see the response to my previous amateur radio hobby drama post. I’ve returned to share the story of yet another “battle of the band”. This time, I will share the story of the troubled 14.313.
In my last post, I went into a fair amount of detail about the technical side of amateur radio. I would encourage those who are curious to go back and read the first section of the write up - but the technical information is not strictly necessary here. All that you need to know is that the radio spectrum is divided up like a pie. A slice goes to Radionavigation, a slice to Maritime traffic, a few slices to military communications… and a few slices of the spectrum are allocated to amateur radio. Each of these slices are called a “band” in radio lingo.
Amateur radio is defined by the use of radio equipment for non-commercial purposes. Anybody can become licensed to use the amateur radio bands by passing a series of competency exams. At the heart of amateur radio is the ability to communicate with other amateurs over the radio, either by voice or by sending digital data packets.
First, a little bit of important history about the law and amateur radio:
Amateur radio (as a class of American radio license) began in 1912 as a way to ensure that radio hobbyists followed a clear set of regulations designed to keep their transmissions from causing interference to the U.S. Navy’s military communication. At the same time as the “amateur” distinction was created, so was an exam to be passed in order for an amateur license to be granted. The exam covers the technical aspects of radio communication, and is designed to ensure that each licensee (theoretically) possesses the knowledge required to build and operate equipment in a way that does not cause interference. Over the past century, amateur radio licensing (and the associated exam) has evolved - but the overarching goal of the exam has always been to confirm that the licensee is privy to the regulations, etiquette, and technical operation of the radio. The governing body of amateur radio in the United States is the FCC. The usage of the amateur spectrum is far too vast for the FCC to police effectively, so amateur operators are very much on their honor to self-police and follow the proper protocols. Amateur radio ho
... keep reading on reddit ➡New to amateur radio, with good enough basic knowledge of electronics. Just downloaded qsl net free book pdf - “the beginners amateur radio”. Please share any advice/suggestions
I have created this discord server for new hams to easily find someone to contact. Enjoy!
join here:https://discord.gg/JtddNZnC
I'll go first: double check your threaded rod before purchasing. Apparently, your 16 tpi threaded rod won't fit a stud with 24 tpi threading.
I wanted to get into AR for some time, and now i'm finally trying to do so. I'm intrested in shortwave radio and ISS stuff, will a typical SW radio be able to recieve ISS, or do i need something else? sorry if this is a dumb question i know basically nothing about radio lol
Hey all!
I'm currently a senior engineering student and member of my university's Amateur Radio Club. I proposed a research project for a method of propagation testing as a function of altitude/height and received a small grant to pursue it! However, in order to complete it, I need some help from other operators in receiving my transmitted signal, and perhaps some insight into my methodology to make sure what I'm trying to do makes sense.
In short- I wanted to answer the question of the point of diminishing returns as far as antenna height goes. Obviously laying a wire on the ground isn't great for skywave propagation, and putting a tracker on a weather balloon is going to give you a great signal. I'm interested in the middle ground- the space between the tens of thousands of feet of altitude of a weather balloon, and the couple dozen-foot antenna towers on the ground. To do this, I'm going to be launching a small WSPR transmitter (Likely QRP Lab's LightAPRS-W or the Ultimate 3S) on a high power rocket to ~8,000ft, and send pings at specified altitudes during descent. I'm also on my university's rocketry team (and have been talking to the folks over at r/rocketry ) so as far as the rocket side of things goes, I have that part down pat.
My primary question is if there are any hams that would be willing to fire up their rigs at the specific day of my launch to help catch some WSPR reports so I can have some data points from various distances from the launch site? I wouldn't need much beyond receiving the pings and sending me the reports afterwards, and if you'd like I'd be more than happy to credit you in the report by name, callsign, etc. Or alternatively, if autonomous ways of receiving WSPR pings exist, I'd love to be pointed in their direction!
Lastly, if anyone sees any glaring issues with my methodology, please let me know! I want to do this right to get some level of meaningful data, and if I can improve anything I'm open to doing so!
Excuse me for my lack of knowledge about this stuff. Bare with me.
My Father picked up amateur radio a few years ago, and he's been loving it. Morse code and all that fun. Talks to people all over the world. He's good at it now though claims not to be an expert.
I want to get him a book that covers the history of Morse code, the telegraph, telecommunications etc.. or some other kind of gift related to his hobby. I lack the knowledge to make a good decision on a book. If you knowledgeable folk on this subreddit could help me out, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
Edit: typo
Now I know that WSPR is used for propagation but one thing I need clarified is does it work like this: u set it up overnight and people receiving it upload were they received it on a website and the next day u can check where ur signal went. So the question is does it work like that or is the operation procedure a bit different?
