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All things radio related, with emphasis on ham radio.
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I obtained the following information from an image scan of a Yaesu document.  This information has been available for some time, although I have yet to find it anywhere in plain text so I am providing it here.  Any typos are surely mine, although I did fix what I thought were some typos in the original document.  In any case, if there is a conflict of information between this version and the original, the original should be assumed to be more  accurate.

This came out of research into a software mod for the FT-897 and FT-857 radios.  I know based on my memory map where to write the data, I just wanted that data to be easier to figure out what is proper and what is not.
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I wrote a letter to the ARRL asking if there were any new NPRM (notice of proposed rule making) by the FCC or a campaign in the ARRL to ask the FCC to reconsider the wording of FCC rule 97.117.  What I got back suprised me, and indicates that the ARRL does not want this type of communication to occur.

Specifically I used Email from services like winlink, IRLP and Echolink as examples of how 97.117 “gets in the way”, however this subject also applies to emergencies that cross borders.

If there is an emergency on the US/CA or US/MX border it is likely that ham radio operators would be involved on both sides of the disaster.  However, their relief efforts are hindered by 97.117.  To illustrate why I will quote 97.117. (continue reading…)

About 15 years ago I bought an optoelectronics scout frequency recorder.   I thought it would help me find fun and interesting things to listen to on my radio, and it has not let me down.  After 15 years however the nicads that came in it were showing their age and it would not operator for more than 15-20 minutes on a charge.  I looked for a replacement battery and optoelectronics wanted $40 for one, and other vendors were not much better.

I decided there had to be a cheaper way.  After a trip to Fry’s electronics, I got everything I needed for $10 including tax.  Here is a brief explanation of what I did. (continue reading…)

I wanted to talk for a minute about why internet linked repeaters and radios are somewhat detrimental to ham radio.  This is not to say there is no benefit, or that the systems should be scrapped, instead I think the rules should be changed, where applicable.

First, let me explain what I mean by internet connected repeaters and radios.  Systems like EchoLink, IRLP, and similar are software solutions that bridge a repeater or a radio to a distant point via the internet.  The audio is sent via some type of VoIP, and often there is signalling information sent as well which will tell the radio to transmit or not.  (continue reading…)

I bought a butternut HF9v from Bencher and the Ground radial kit and tilt base from DX Engineering and am installing them.  This is not a trivial project, it seemed like it would be a little easier than it actually turned out to be.

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I got my APRN button today, it was created by Dave W4DMH.  APRN is the American Preppers Radio Network, which is a ham radio net dedicated to helping people prepare for emergencies, whether natural causes, war, terrorism, econimic collapse, or zombie invasions.

kc2dwq aprn button

If you have a thin antenna like the Comet SMA-24 or SMA-503 you may be worried that it will snap off.  Mine look like they will, and a friends did.  Fortunately for my friend it was as he was signing in at a ham fest, so he was able to get a replacement, but he was not happy.

If you are in the field and your antenna breaks you may find that your radio is little more than a paper weight.  By adding a little heat shrink  around the base of the antenna you can dramatically improve its lifespan.

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Tying an antenna is an important part of using the antenna. If you have a wire antenna, whether a roll up dipole or a random wire antenna or some other type of wire antenna you will want to get the antenna off the ground. How you mount it will influence how it operates, as well as how safe it is to use the antenna.
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Many hand held radio antennas are only half of an antenna. They have the whip part, but nothing for a ground plane. Since hand held radios are small devices they usually do not have a good counterpoise to act as a ground plane.  This causes the radios to under perform.  A tiger tail can correct this problem.

This concept can be applied to mobile/base antennas increasing their performance, although most mobile antennas use the vehicle as the counterpoise, the missing half of the antenna, and while on a vehicle you may not see any benefit to using it on those antennas.  This will almost always be required if you mount a mobile antenna on a tripod for portable use or on a balcony or other home structure.  If you attach it to a mobile/base antenna you would do this at the base of the antenna and not at the feedpoint from the radio.

You will need about 10 minutes to make this tiger tail, and it only takes the most basic skills. It is an easy project suitable for people of all ages.
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I finally got my CT-M11 cable today, and started trying to build a data cable for it.  I discovered that cloning does indeed go over the RS-232 data pins.  This means that I will be writing a tool to load the memory the way that RT systems does it (although I will give the software away for free

Additionally I pulled out the multimeter and decided to try to map the 5 pins the GPS uses.  It appears that one of the 5 is never used, without pulling apart the GPS I will not be able to easily see why it is even there.  It *might* be used if you have the hand mic that takes the GPS, as I do not have one of those I cannot say for sure.

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