Archive for 2007/11


CQ Mars

A couple of nights ago I was puttering around the shack and came across my July 1971 issue of QST. (July 1971 is the month I was first licensed.) Just for kicks, I picked it up and started leafing through it.
One of the strays happened to mention the Elser-Mathes Cup, a cup donated to [...]

Making Basic Audio Measurements

Audio DesignLine is running a two-part article titled “Introduction to the Six Basic Audio Measurements”:

Part 1 discusses basic test setup and how to make level measurements.
Part 2 discusses the other five basic measurements, including:

frequency response,
THD+N,
phase,
crosstalk, and
signal-to-noise ratio

National Weather Service Honors Ham Radio Dec 1

This is a fun event. A couple of years ago, I logged several NWS offices on 40m…..Dan
From the ARRL:
Newington, CT Nov 21, 2007 — The ninth annual SKYWARN Recognition special event will take place Saturday, December 1. This celebration of a lifesaving partnership is cosponsored by the National Weather Service (NWS) and [...]

Amateur Radio Stations at Science Museums

I’ve written many times about our efforts to set up an amateur radio station at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Well, recently on the HamRadioHelpGroup mailing list, Jeremy, N2BUF, noted, “I am trying to compile a list of other Science Centers that have Amateur Radio clubs or Amateur Radio displays for kids.”
Below is a list [...]

Will Printed ICs Bring Back the Electronic Experimenter?

EE Times has an article on their website, “Printed ICs aim to make mark on mainstream,” that describes advances in
thin-film transistor circuits–and the broader category of printed or plastic electronics–as the next step beyond wafer-based ICs. The technology uses inkjet printers and polymer inks to print cheap, low-density ICs on a system, display or [...]

I’m Thankful for Ham Radio

It seems kind of trite to write something like this at this time of year, but I am truly thankful for ham radio:

First of all, I’m thankful that my parents encouraged me when I took up radio as a hobby (or at least looked the other way when I did some of the crazy things [...]

Adventures in PSK31

Last weekend, I took my laptop to the Hands-On Museum, with the idea of perhaps trying to work some PSK 31. I’d downloaded and installed CocoaModem, a freeware package for the Mac, and I brought along the Buxcom Rascal interface that I purchased several months ago. I didn’t’ have a USB-RS232 adapter, but I guessed [...]

Got an Old CRT Laying Around?

Do you have a small CRT in your junk box? Then, make an oscilloscope! Just be careful with the high voltage supply.

It’s Only Words……

I was getting a little concerned. I hadn’t worked any stations whose callsigns spell words in quite a while, but about a month ago I got back on track. Since then, I’ve worked:

K2BE
N3BUD
WB4DAD
K3IF
K2SIT
W8TOW

I have cards from the first three, and am waiting for cards from the last three. I have about 75 total now, with [...]

ARLX007 Motorola buys Yaesu

This from the ARRL:
ZCZC AX07
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 7 ARLX007
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT November 5, 2007
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX007
ARLX007 Motorola buys Yaesu
Motorola USA has announced its intention to launch a tender offer to acquire a controlling interest in Vertex Standard Co, Ltd. Vertex Standard is the parent company of Yaesu. [...]