68 new of 123 responses total.
Hello Everybody,I am merely a SWL and operate with a domestic type sangean, telescopic antenna.I wonder if there are any like me here. As far as I can see, this appears to be only for HAMs. Although it is interesting to read,it would be nice to exchange SWL/DX news once in a while.
This item and for the most part the conference is not just for hams. We happen to have a a high concentration of hams here. Harish, are you interested in getting a ham license? I would imagine that India has a codeless license. Please feel free to contribute anything you think in relevent.
Thanx OMni, I am definitely interested in a HAM license.unfortunately when I had time for all that during my college days, I never got around to it. Nowadays I am just too packed to devote time. In India as far as I am aware we still have to work our way up to a codeless license.(as i understand it, codeless means no morse code). That means I have to pass atleast two exams with a mandatory period between successive stages. Perhaps I will eventually get my license when I retire in about 30 years time.hopefully Radio will still be around then. But if there are any HAMS from India on this conf, I will be glad to know the exact procedure, in case my understanding of the process mentioned here is incorrect harish
Just call me Bob Here is some background I was a CB'er way befor the term Good Buddy Joined the Army in 1970 went to Radio school at Fort Jackson SC came out with a MOS of 05E20 Noncode Radio Operator Went to Vietnam were I was a RTO for the 14th Engr Bn 59th Land Clearing Co (Rome Plows) and 84th Engr Bn C Co after the Army I Took Electronics at DeVry Atlanta in 1974 after school went to work with RCA at AUTEC in the Bahamas then went to Harris Corp in 1977 R&D Labs Melbourne Fl was Downsized out in 1994 Took two years vacation and now working at Relm Wireless Corp as a Bench Tech in Customer Service Repairing All of Relms OEM Hand helds MPV MPU PT and WHS These Transcevers work well in the HAM Bands by the way I'm not a ham can't Hack the Code Makes me crazy.
There is technician no-code class. All privileges 50 MHz and above. I have the same problem with the code.
im looking for ham operators in the annapolis, maryland area to get some equipment. im just getting into ham and i am reading a lot. if you can help me, please email at evolution@psynet.net. thanks!
Get a copy of QST (or join ARRL and get it regularly). They list "hamfests", where hams and commerical vendors sell new and used gear, and you can meet a lot of hams. Hamfests are held frequently all over the country, and you should be able to find a couple per month within easy driving distance. You can also find ham clubs affiliated with ARRL through the ARRL web site at arrl.org.
Get the ARRL's book,"Now You're Talking". It contains everything you need to get your first license. Once you get a Novice or Technician license you'll magically start to receive catalogs in the mail. You'll even be able to legally operate some of the equipment in them.
I bought an Alinco DJ-X10T, wide band reciever...from Hamradio outlet its really cool..its kinda like the Icom R-10 but a little cheaper. :)
Now that you've had it a few days, what do you think of it? I've been looking at a few of those wde band receivers and the x10 looks pretty appealing.
I was kinda intimidated at first cuz I've heard horror stories about how some Japanese radios can be hard to figure out. This one was simple...I remembered the basic functions after about 5 hrs of playing with it. I bought a Radio shack Pro-2037 back in 95 that cost me $200, it does 30-960MHz with lots of gaps, 200 channels. (but is quicker scan=25ch/sec search=50ch/sec) this Alinco cost me bout $330 after S/H (2nd priority) covering 100KHz-1999MHz (minus cell freqs) has 1200 channels (40ch per 30banks) it has a neat little bandscope thats kinda like a spectrum analyzer. the sensitivity is good. (.25uV for 30-1000MHz NFM 3.5KHz 12dB SINAD) the only 2 things I dislike about it is: 1) its super slow scan=5-6ch/sec search=25ch/sec 2) when programming in names for channels im limited to 8 characters and it takes awhile to programs. a really good website for more info is: http://www.strongsignals.net/htm/revx10.htm $300 seems like alot for a fancy scanner...but im really into radios so to me it was worth it.
Thanks for the comments, and I'm with you about the $300, but it sure covers a lot of bandwidth. Although I do lump these more into the reveiver category over the "scanner" category even though you can do "scanning". How is it's coverage of the SW bands? My only SW receiver is old, analogue, and frankly hard to use, and I thought I could get something like the Alinco to get two birds with one stone, SW receive and everything else!
I was playing with it the other day..using the factory antenna and I could pick up 5070 WWCR easily, I could hear 10000 WWVH when I turned the squelch down to its lowest setting....when I had it im my car using my mag-mount 2-mtr 5/8 wave antenna I could listen toCW on 30 meters and a conversation on 15 meters (SSB). Im gonna make a super long wire antenna and report the results in a few days. :) so far I pretty happy with the SW performance..it seems to be albe to "hear" everything that my Radio Shack DX-392 can hear.
i want to know if ,it would be possible to create my own fm STEREO receiver please reply
Of course. They are devices and you could put one together yourself, though the difficulty of doing so would depend upon how much of it you buy as subunits. Stereo receivers are so inexpensive, however, that I wonder why you would want to.
Depends on where you are, though. But FM stereo is pretty complicated stuff to build yourself, compared with FM mono which isn't too much harder than AM. Maybe find a broken receiver or tuner to salvage the FM circuits from?
Try Kiwanis... :)
Purchase Radio has an FM receiver chip that needs only power and a few additional parts. I dunno if it's stereo.
Get two of them... :) (actually - how does stereo FM work?)
The main signal carries A+B, which mono receivers use. There is a subcarrier which has A-B. Stero receivers add the two signals for one channel, and subtract them for the other.
It's a bit complicated. As I recall, the monaural signal (Left+Right) is present as usual. Combined with this, however, is a Left-Right signal that's single-sideband amplitude modulated on a 19 kHz "pilot tone." The whole schpiel is then mixed together and transmitted as an FM signal. Since normal FM only carries audio out to 15 kHz, the pilot tone and L-R signal aren't audible on a monaural receiver. When a stereo receiver senses the pilot tone is present in the demodulated audio, it seperates it out and demodulates the L-R signal from it. By adding and subtracting that signal from the monaural signal, it recovers the two channels. (Since (L+R)-(L-R)=2R, and (L+R)+(L-R)=2L.) I know this isn't very clear...someone else might be able to explain it better. I could also scan the basic block diagram of the process from some class notes I have from a few terms ago, if you'd like. This system seems a bit Rube Goldberg-ish, but in practice it works pretty well, and keeps compatibility with monaural FM receivers. (Another scheme that was tried and thankfully rejected was transmitting the left signal on the FM broadcast band and the right signal on the AM broadcast band. One of the obvious problems with this was that the fidelity of the two channels just wasn't equal.)
#76 slipped in, and pretty much summarizes my response. ;>
Many thanks. I'm wondering why I hadn't thought to find out a long time ago how this works. I guess two monaural receiver chips just won't do it..... :)
The L-R signal is sent using double-sideband suppressed carrier centered around 38 kHz with a bandwidth of 15 kHz. The 19 kHz pilot tone (which is also transmitted) is used by the receiver to demodulate the L-R channel. To make things even more interesting there is something called "Subsidiary Communications Authorization" (SCA) that allows yet another signal to be sent on this composite WFM signal. This signal is centered on a subcarrier of 67 kHz and is FM modulated with a maximum deviation of 7.5 kHz. SCA is often used for commercial-free broadcasting of Muzak, commodity reporting, the Physicians' Network, and services of interested to the handicapped. The August and September 1987 issues of Radio-Electronics magazine had a two-part "Build This" article for a SCA/FM stereo receiver. I purchased the kit and built it. The performance is actually quite good. The kit was made by North Country Radio (P.O. Box 53, Wykagyl Station, NY 11804), which (I believe) is still in business and last I knew still sells the kit.
So do the majority of FM stations transmit SCA?
Re #80: I forgot that the 19 kHz tone gets doubled to get the actual subcarrier frequency. Thanks.
resp:81 A lot of them don't, actually. One possible reason for this, according to the article, is "In the case of SCA, modulating one subcarrier of a stereo signal uses up about 10% maximum of the total 75 kHz deviation (100% modulation). In practice, that reduces the main channel's signal strength by about 1 dB. Normally, such a drop in signal level would not be noticeable. However in areas with crowded FM bands, every dB counts in the race for ratings, and revenue." The article also mentions that there is sometimes a second SCA subcarrier at 92 kHz, which (if used) would take even more power away from the main channel. I live in a different area now than when I built the radio. All of this SCA talk is giving me the urge to fire up that radio and see what this city has to offer in terms of SCA.
SCA used to be popular as a way to broadcast commercial-free background music for stores and such. I'd imagine it's less popular now that there are satellite services such as Muzak.
I dusted off my SCA receiver. I found three SCA transmissions: One background music, one data transmission, and one that sounded like some type of community service thing. I can't remember if I have the receiver set for the 67 kHz subcarrier or the 92 kHz one (I should have brought that adjustment out to the front panel), so I there might have a few others that I missed.
http://www.northcountryradio.com of course is where you'll find North Country Radio! Jerome, do you live in Ann Arbor?
resp:86 (second line) Negative.
Oh, and if anyone does want to build North Country Radio's SCA/FM Stereo receiver, be advised that there were a few mistakes in the article, including on the schematic. I would be happy to supply details to anyone who wanted to build one.
Hello Ya'll! My name is Chad and I am a Special Forces Communications Sergeant in the Army. After going through the school here at Ft. Bragg I have developed a "slight' interest in radio communications. I am 15/15 in code, and have experience with HF,UHF,VHF communications......but I really think that I'm going to pick up QUITE A BIT here; And that's why I'm here! I need some of you "OLD-TIMERS" to point me in the right direction for when I get to my Unit in Germany!
This conference is pretty quiet, although there are a lot of hams around about, and some even lurk here. But, raise any questions you want, and we'll see what expertise is reading.
Re #90: I'd noticed it was pretty quiet in here, but I do check it periodically for signs of life. Perhaps I should start asking some dumb questions in an attempt to kick- start some threads of conversation? =o)
hi y people im new give us some help danieldunford@yahoo.co.uk cheers
Could you be more specific? ;)
Hello from Jim VE9MHZ /VE3 in Morrisburg, Ontario Canada My packet HomeBBS is KA2JXI.#NNY.N.USA.NA in Ogdensburg, New York My AMPRnet Gateway-BBS is mtlgw.ampr.org 73 and hope to chat with you later
re#94 Cool callsign! :)
Welcome Jim.
Hi ev erybody. Ham call is kd2nw Tom from NY Can somebody give me some hints on setting up my computer and rig for PSK?
Sure, get a good interface (build or buy, I built) don't overdrive the input of your rig, and use lower power (I use 50w on my 100w rig) due to the high duty cycle of psk31. See you on 20M!
Just a little self serving info: Two weeks ago I passed my Extra Class upgrade exam! I've also applied for a vanity call and hopefully will be K8MZO in short order.
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Congrats. I am currently planning on taking at least my General upgrade exam at Dayton. If I can find the time to cover both books, I'll try for the Extra. Staci is hoping to take her tech Lite.
- .... .- -. -.- ... .-. .- -. . That's great Glenda. I hope you can get both out of the way. Wish Staci luck from me too. Are all of you going to Dayton this year? IF so, I hope to see you there.
STeve, Staci, and I will be there. Damon doesn't like all the hub bub. I think it may stem from the year he was 4 and got lost twice in less than an hour. He was very independant even then and just would not stay right next to us and used the old Mom thinks he is with Dad and Dad thinks he is with Mom trick to go where HE wanted to go.
If I can get a couple more VEs, I can give you and your family exams. I just received my VE credentials in the mail over the weekend.
Exams are given monthly in Ann Arbor through the ARROW amateur radio club. See http://www.cyberspace.org/~arrow/ (The page will be updated shortly for their next meeting, which will be on Wednesday, 10 April, at 7:30 p.m. The ARROW station will open at 6:30 for any hams wishing to use the HF radio, and also following the meeting.)
Because of my class and work load I won't be ready for testing any earlier than Dayton. I won't be taking any Spring/Summer classes so will have a little over 2 weeks to prepare between the end of this semester and Dayton weekend. Staci may not be ready even then, but is working on it whenever she isn't doing school work. She will take hers at one of the ARROW sessions if she misses being ready for Dayton. STeve needs to find a pre 1987 Call Book to get grandfathered into General Class and then take his upgrade for Extra.
The exams that the ARROW gives are extremely well run and I am glad to be in the list of available VEs for their test sessions.
re 106 I'll check with my uncle, he might have an older callbook. What was his call back then?
WB8WSF then and now. I sent in my pre-reg for testing at the Friday 2:30 session. Staci is holding off sending hers in til near the end of the month. She still isn't sure that she can feel ready by then.
Congrats to all. It is nice to see that the VE program is still going strong. I just renewed my license for a second 10 year hitch. Thanks to STeve for helping me get what I have.
Hello to all. I am HC1XP from Quitpo Ecuador S.A. please hlp me with some ideas about antenas for 160 and 80 meters bands. Thanks!!! :)
Hola, Gustavo. Welcome to the Radio Conference!
How much space do you have available for 80m/160m antennas? Do you have any towers, etc?
Greetings Gustavo de K8MZO, welcome to Grex.
re 108 I finally got the chance to ask my uncle, even though I'm sure it's way too late to be of any help, and he doesn't have any callbooks.
Hello
Hi, I have used vhf marine radio and have become fascinated with the ameture radio idea. There is an exam in canada I can take for vhf operator. Is there another exam I can use to broadcast my own content from a laptop. basically I want my own 2 way radio station. not too greedy eh. exit
umm...please define "content". There are amateur radio modes that use a computer such as PSK-31 (2 way txt mesg), SSTV (slow scan TV), APRS (GPS relayed via radio), RTTY (does anyone even use this mode anymore?), Packet (older than PSK-31 with error correction) and probably more that I haven't thought of.
You should also consider what you're talking about as a broadcast, which is typically not allowed on amateur frequency allocations. As for Jeff's comments, RTTY us used still on HF, but is non-corrected text-only. AMTOR, the amateur version of SITOR, is corrected text-only, mainly used on HF. There are modes called Clover, G-TOR, and HF Packet that allow file transfers over the air as well. Something else you might look at is that some of the "channels" allocated under 802.11b are in the amateur allocation, and can be used for a short distance radio network.
I'm a newby booby. My call is KA6ATN. My qth is Cedar Creek, Texas. Hear you 5 by 9.
Roger that
Bill here. I listen to shortwave, and sometimes hear hams, the airport and some Detroit police station on my tabletop scanner. What did the previous message say? I guess I'm newbier than him!
Roger that = I agree. "Roger" is an acknowledgement that a communication has been received and understood. If you are asking about #120: KA6ATN is a radio amateur call sign licensed in region 6. QTH = station location 5 by 9 means that the readability is "5", the scale running 1 to 5, and that the signal strength is "9", the scale running 1 to 9.
You have several choices: