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General => Off Topic => Topic started by: Wirezfree on March 11, 2015, 02:17:08 PM

Title: Radio Amateurs
Post by: Wirezfree on March 11, 2015, 02:17:08 PM
Hi,


This did go quietly by...
https://factualradio.wordpress.com/tag/tokyo-high-power-labs/ (https://factualradio.wordpress.com/tag/tokyo-high-power-labs/)


Given Tokyo-High-Power heritage & quality I can only assume BaoFeng bought it for the expertise & IP
Looks like the there could be some interesting(cheap) products in the pipeline.
It will be interesting to see how Kenwood, Yaesu and ICOM will react.?


73 - Dave - G8LIY


Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...
Post by: altman on March 11, 2015, 04:10:53 PM
You rarely see people interested by am radio now .

Had some nice radios when I was a truck driver , but no big am radios .

If I were Kenwood or the other ones I would start to beware of them , they have a real cheap workforce but it s nothing compared to Japanese quality or Taiwan s .

Saw a big difference between Chinese & Taiwan made cb radios .
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...
Post by: Wirezfree on March 11, 2015, 05:36:36 PM
I think you maybe surprised how many Radio Amateurs there are, obviosly not like the heydays 70's/80'.
They are at an all time high in the USA: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2015-03-05#toc02 (http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2015-03-05#toc02)

I think we are in the same position like Cars when the Japanese first started to export in the 60's/70's...
Unknown & Sometimes poor quality, but look at what happened in the 80's/90's they took over the world.

I guess in the next few years the Chinese will improve and adapt.

I bought a Chinese 2M/70cm FM Handheld for £29.99 @ $45.00 over a year ago,
it's still working fine, If it failed now not exactly a big loss.
(( I actually program it from LL 2.2 with CHIRP  ;D  ))

Dave - G8LIY
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...
Post by: altman on March 11, 2015, 05:48:46 PM
Hey cool ! did know that you could program it from LL ! A nice surprise !  Thought ham radio was way down .

Had a custom built antenna & had /have a modded 10Meter . + loads of moded cb radios , was some great years for me !

Thought at some time to have my am radio licences but had no time about these .
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...
Post by: Wirezfree on March 11, 2015, 08:57:44 PM
There are so many facets/angles to Amateur Radio...

- Just chat away to people around the world
- Communicate/exchange messages from your PC via Radio & Digital Modes, what I'm setting up at the moment
- Broadcast TV Pictures inc HD
- Communicate via Amateur satellites
- People who launch balloons with radio transponders
- Radio Foxhunts, orienteering looking for hidden beacons
- Just building stuff

There's something for everyone... You might get to speak to somebody on the ISS

Have a look on: http://qrz.com/ (http://qrz.com/)
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...
Post by: altman on March 11, 2015, 10:59:58 PM
Thanx Wirezfree , might check it out soon !
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...
Post by: N4RPS on March 12, 2015, 11:59:40 PM
Hello!

Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu are in another league entirely. However, they're not THAT MUCH better, and this can't help but put downward pressure on what they charge for their equipment.

The Charlotte Hamfest is this weekend. I need a good HF rig, a mobile antenna, an antenna tuner, and an HT for my bro, KF4JBF.

If I can find a compact dual-band mobile rig as well, I'll get one, if the price is right. Of course there are always the neat things you didn't go there to buy, but just happen to 'discover' while you're there.

I will also look and see what's new out there at the dealer spaces. The Baofengs and TYTs get the job done, and they ARE affordable. I have a Wouxun KG-UVD1P Handheld, which is also supported by CHIRP.

For the uninitiated, CHIRP is used to program a wide variety of two-way radios. CHIRP sure beats entering all the parameters for each channel preset by hand, which is what I have to do with my Icom IC-207H. I just cringe at having to hack a control head extension cable to make a data cable to program it, building an RS-232-to-TTL converter circuit assembly for it, and then finding the software for it out there somewhere.

If I ever DO find an IC-207H extension cable for sale, I'll buy two. THEN I'll take my chances at hacking one up...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...
Post by: Wirezfree on March 13, 2015, 04:43:22 AM
Hi Rob,

Yes, the Big Three are in a different league, but time will tell.

Seems you have a big shopping list...

I have dipped in and out of radio for many years, mainly because of moving around a lot with work.
I'm now likely to be where I am for the foreseeable future so I'm starting up again.
I was looking for weeks at what to get, "The Big Three" and at the New SDR type radios.

In the end I decided on an "ELAD FDM-DUO", Gives me a standalone radio, and SDR Capabilities.
If I want higher power, I can always add an external Amplifier at some stage in the future.
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11933 (http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11933)

It's working very nicely with FLRIG & FLDIGI on LL2.2
I did initially have an issue with USB/CAT port till I found I needed to:
Code: [Select]
sudo usermod -aG dialout username
I'm going to give WSPR a try over the weekend

GL at the Hamfest, hope you find what you want.


73 DE G8LIY
Dave
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...IC 207 H cable adaptor
Post by: darrell derrick on March 13, 2015, 11:04:11 PM
 Icom 207H pgm  cable adaptor I made one years ago , there are schematics on DKMODS  , the guts of it are in a small box, since then I have added other output cables  using junk rca jacks. I would go back and change out put to an RJ45 or a serial 9 pin d connector , I have not tried chirp on the 207H . It works with my W32's and the Chinese UV5Rs, got a pair of those<sigh> but they wont do air band   I see that almost every thing is USB now.
I want to use an RTL SDR but, don't know how yet, the part about python P3> made go back and study how to use that.I think I have to add it to my LL2.2 first. I was going to try and use this for a spectrum analyzer, albeit, not for accuracy, there are some old machines <cushman ce50a> I have, that have YIG osc,s in them and I would like to at least be able to hear them , they are above every thing I have for test equipment now. . A friend is bringing me some dead Boafungs to play with. ,,We shall see if they are fixable . Darrell de kb5zxm
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs.. The Chinese are really coming...
Post by: N4RPS on March 14, 2015, 12:17:38 AM
Hello!

I had to look up the acronyms, but they both appear to be quite interesting devices indeed. As for RTL SDR, I don't think the USB TV dongles I have are based on that chipset. Will keep an eye open tomorrow, to see if there's anything compatible out there. Having a SDR would be cool...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: Wirezfree on March 14, 2015, 07:34:57 AM
Hi,

Yes, the RTL SDR(USB Stick) is very popular.
SDR Radio's are definitely the future.

I let WSPR run last night on 17M @ 2.0Watts
This morning I was surprised at where my signal was "spotted"
I have a temporary wire antenna @ 8M long at about 5M high.!


Unique Spots: (inc VK & W Land)
(http://i.imgur.com/aJ1O8jK.png)


Map:
(http://i.imgur.com/LSTZPAx.png)
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: altman on March 14, 2015, 09:44:51 AM
Impressive ! Wasn t aware one could do some ham radio before seeing this thread .
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: Wirezfree on March 14, 2015, 11:51:04 AM
@ altman,

Yes, Amateur Radio is alive and kicking...
Not sure which country your in, your flags not showing..??

A guess at some possible country links:

USA: http://www.arrl.org/ (http://www.arrl.org/)
UK:   http://rsgb.org/ (http://rsgb.org/)
NZ:   http://www.nzart.org.nz/ (http://www.nzart.org.nz/)
AUS: http://www.wia.org.au/ (http://www.wia.org.au/)

If you are interested you should be able to find info on:
- Local Radio Clubs
- How to become a Radio Amatuer

Dave
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: altman on March 14, 2015, 11:56:11 AM
Hey thanx Wirezfree , I m in Canada .

Thanx for the links .

Does someone needs a licence even if done in the internet ! When not in the internet we need one .

I would need a fixed antenna , the one I have is for big trucks that I used to drive .
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: Wirezfree on March 14, 2015, 12:26:28 PM
@ altman,

If you intend to transmit, yes you need to pass various tests/exams.
Not sure how complex they are in Canada..??
Most countries have some form of entry/novice level tests/exams.

There should be info & contact details here: https://www.rac.ca/ (https://www.rac.ca/)

Dave
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: altman on March 14, 2015, 05:39:04 PM
@ altman,

If you intend to transmit, yes you need to pass various tests/exams.
Not sure how complex they are in Canada..??
Most countries have some form of entry/novice level tests/exams.

There should be info & contact details here: https://www.rac.ca/ (https://www.rac.ca/)

Dave

Thanx , will check it out .
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs @altman and Wiresfree
Post by: darrell derrick on March 16, 2015, 05:46:15 AM
I know of this resource Shannon Morse on HAK5 on line at Revision3 webtv . They introduced me to this SDR, TV dongle thing, to get down on HF 600 kc to 30 mc,  There is a kit to build, a x10 divider circuit , like a */10 multiplier circuit same as a mixer that allows the dongle to see below 40 Mhz. There is a full blown TransxCiever kit avail that they explain  "Great Scott Radio kits "  Its meant to be dual band 2meter and uhf hamm band . Its low power like 5 watts , but you can keep building till you got all the power you want.
But I want to look at VHF and up as far as I can for radio testing and repair, Did I mention I have a brain injury and polio, the polio is 60 yrs ago the brain frack is only 5 or so years ago. I have to read every thing very carefully and make notes on papre to do any thing like' sudo apt get -q install xyz' . mostly every cli I ever use is on a tablet in my coat pocket.  and all the new words too ,even old words have new definitions . I can see learning python 3 along with Putty < for my ancient terminal driven test equipment , IFR 2935 and Avcom psa 65c require tty command emulators . like XTERM > is going to be a documented in note book event. I miss having my mind,and short term memory. Backing up in my driveway is a chore I have to look back like 3 times to get it right. 
As far as antennas depends where you are . very simple Jpoles can be made from cable scraps or dipoles. The antenna you had on your truck was prolly for 27 Mhz but it will also work multiples or halves/quarters/eights of 11 meters , up or down it will have sweet spots in it.
Getting this stuff to work on linux is my current problem. I tried to install TOR browser till I gave up. but I did load it on my Dell 810 with no problem.
BTW the 207 H cable was in fact a 208 H cable  but it still works , and I would think opto isolator . with a usb home brew kit. use a RJ45 box to build it in , make newly required adaptor cables  from scarps, as things change I bet they all go to USB or Micro USB any way ..

Title: Re: Radio Amateurs @altman and Wiresfree
Post by: altman on March 16, 2015, 07:53:37 AM
I know of this resource Shannon Morse on HAK5 on line at Revision3 webtv . They introduced me to this SDR, TV dongle thing, to get down on HF 600 kc to 30 mc,  There is a kit to build, a x10 divider circuit , like a */10 multiplier circuit same as a mixer that allows the dongle to see below 40 Mhz. There is a full blown TransxCiever kit avail that they explain  "Great Scott Radio kits "  Its meant to be dual band 2meter and uhf hamm band . Its low power like 5 watts , but you can keep building till you got all the power you want.
But I want to look at VHF and up as far as I can for radio testing and repair, Did I mention I have a brain injury and polio, the polio is 60 yrs ago the brain frack is only 5 or so years ago. I have to read every thing very carefully and make notes on papre to do any thing like' sudo apt get -q install xyz' . mostly every cli I ever use is on a tablet in my coat pocket.  and all the new words too ,even old words have new definitions . I can see learning python 3 along with Putty < for my ancient terminal driven test equipment , IFR 2935 and Avcom psa 65c require tty command emulators . like XTERM > is going to be a documented in note book event. I miss having my mind,and short term memory. Backing up in my driveway is a chore I have to look back like 3 times to get it right. 
As far as antennas depends where you are . very simple Jpoles can be made from cable scraps or dipoles. The antenna you had on your truck was prolly for 27 Mhz but it will also work multiples or halves/quarters/eights of 11 meters , up or down it will have sweet spots in it.
Getting this stuff to work on linux is my current problem. I tried to install TOR browser till I gave up. but I did load it on my Dell 810 with no problem.
BTW the 207 H cable was in fact a 208 H cable  but it still works , and I would think opto isolator . with a usb home brew kit. use a RJ45 box to build it in , make newly required adaptor cables  from scarps, as things change I bet they all go to USB or Micro USB any way ..

Thanx will check it out .
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: bitsnpcs on March 16, 2015, 01:32:06 PM
Full circle has a project with SDR dongle in issue #93, you might like.
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: N4RPS on March 19, 2015, 05:40:48 AM
Hello!

I would need a fixed antenna , the one I have is for big trucks that I used to drive .

Making your own antenna is part of the fun. You can cut the wire antenna to length for the frequency you're using, eliminating the need for an antenna tuner.

QRP radios (<= 5W output) are relatively inexpensive to buy or build, but you WILL need that license. When the conditions are just right, the far-flung areas you can reach with one will surprise you...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob
Title: Re: Radio Amateurs
Post by: darrell derrick on August 20, 2015, 10:49:05 PM
Hi making low power amps and such??, I have seen, retired, dead, broke, unwanted, hand-helds at swap meets, old police, commercial , fire radios etc. I bought a box full , for 20$ , mostly for the mechanical parts, I know there will be some, VHF/UHF rf amps modules in there. When I was leaving, the guy carried another box full of portables, with accessories, to my truck. I all ways seem to provoke this response. My current need is to make a simple DC brushed motor controller, for my electric mobility scooter,s, the originals , are shot there is no good litt for them any way.. I bought a small device that was supposed to be able to carry, up to 10 amps at 24 volts, it worked some, but only on the smallest scooter. I was thinking I could just build one with a Big SCR, and use this toy controller, to gate it. Any one have some<even one> Big SCRs, retired from service, could be from AC motors even.