Archive for 2006/11


Interesting WWV Facts

The November issue of High Frequency Electronics includes a short article on WWV with some little-known facts (at least to me!) on the time- and frequency standard station. For exampe:

WWV began transmitting in 1923 on frequencies from 75 to 2000 kHz.
Telegraphic announcements were added in 1945, with phone announcements beginning in 1950.
When it first began [...]

Porcine QSLs

Today, I received a QSL from N3HAM. This card complements the card I got from W3HAM several years ago.
BUT, the card I got previous to this was one from KB9BVN, an illustrious member of the Flying Pigs QRP Club. A coincidence? Maybe, but maybe not.

Are You Good at RF Design? Feeling Lucky?

EE Times recently ran an interesting editorial on an RF design contest being run by Tektronix, the leading oscilloscope maker, in conjunction with its 60th anniversary. It reads:
Even with 60 years’ experience, Tektronix and the rest of the industry still need hard-to-find clever RF designers. To that end, it has launched nationwide DesignInsight seminars and [...]

Scopes for Hams

On the Elecraft mailling list, Doug KØDXV wrote:
I am interested in learning about oscilloscopes and how to use them. I would like to learn how to trace and debug digital as well as analog radio circuits. Any recommendations on a good used scope? Any thoughts on any books that might provide a useful overview [...]

New Band Chart Available

The ARRL has published a band chart detailing the frequency allocations and operating privileges for each license class. These are due to take effect on December 15, 2006. The ARRL is going to try to get some of the allocations changed—especially those in the 75m/80m bands—but it’s doubtful they will have a lot of success [...]

How Many Hams Are in Your Neighborhood?

The population of the U.S. just passed the 300 million mark. If we guesstimate that there are 650,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the U.S. that means that there is roughly one ham for every 462 people. Now, if we further guesstimate that the population of Ann Arbor (where I live) is 110,000, that means [...]

Some Good Advice on Learning Morse Code

Below, find some great advice from Dee N8UZE, who originally posted this to the KochMorse Yahoo Group in response to someone who has been trying for a long time to learn the code. Thanks, Dee!
…Dan
If you can tell a dit from a dah, you can learn it [Morse Code]. You mention having spent “countless [...]

Another Disturbing Incident

Sunday, I made a bunch of CW contacts and then decided to listen to some phone contacts while I played around with some projects. So, I puttered around and listened to a few QSOs.
After about a half hour or so, I hear a PA stations calling CQ. He had a nice signal in here, so [...]

Latest Rule Changes Posted to Federal Register; Will Become Effective December 15

From the ARRL website:
NEWINGTON, CT (November 15, 2006) — Just a little over a month after the Federal Communications Commission released the Report and Order (R&O) in the so-called “Omnibus” Amateur Radio proceeding, WT Docket 04-140 (FCC 06-149) to the public, a revised version appeared today in the Federal Register. The changes in the R&O [...]

A Double Double

Yesterday, I got on 30m, tuned around, and heard Fritz, W4PKU calling CQ. He had a decent 559 signal here, so I thought we could make a go of it. He gave me a 579 report, but immediately after the first exchange, the band went dead and we gave up. I tuned around a bit [...]