HamShield for Arduino (VHF/UHF transceiver)
Turn your Arduino into a powerful radio transceiver!
HamShield lets your Arduino talk to far away people and things using powerful amateur radio bands! Best of all, the hardware and software is open source!
With the power of Arduino, you can use the HamShield to build and invent amazing things in minutes!
Here are some examples, right out of our sketch toolbox:
Packet Radio
Long range mesh networks
Emergency communication networks
High altitude ballooning
Talk to repeaters
Tracking devices (APRS)
Interface the HamShield to your computer!
Beacons
Weather stations
Repeaters
Remote controlled robots
Automated satellite tracking and reception
Weather satellites
Scanning police, fire, business, FRS, GMRS, and MURS frequencies
Logging and recording radio traffic
Touchscreen handhelds
Bulletin board systems
New inventions!
Showing posts with label Best starter HF transceiver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best starter HF transceiver. Show all posts
HOW DOES AN FM TRANSCEIVER WORK?
Take a look at this FM transmitter diagram:
The process is relatively straightforward:
1) The microphone takes the voice in.
2) This voice signal goes into an audio processor in order to create an input signal.
3) The input signal is combined with a carrier frequency that is generated by the voltage controlled oscillator (V.C.O.).
4) The result is a signal that carries our information but is not sufficiently powerful enough to be transmitted up through an antenna. The signal is amplified through two different stages:
5) The exciter stage amplifies the signal power up one level of output.
6) The power amplifier drives it up to another power output level, now sufficient for the transmitter’s antenna.
See video
The process is relatively straightforward:
1) The microphone takes the voice in.
2) This voice signal goes into an audio processor in order to create an input signal.
3) The input signal is combined with a carrier frequency that is generated by the voltage controlled oscillator (V.C.O.).
4) The result is a signal that carries our information but is not sufficiently powerful enough to be transmitted up through an antenna. The signal is amplified through two different stages:
5) The exciter stage amplifies the signal power up one level of output.
6) The power amplifier drives it up to another power output level, now sufficient for the transmitter’s antenna.
See video
Tallest buildings in Canada
Tallest buildings in Canada
This list of tallest buildings in Toronto ranks skyscrapers in the Canadian city of Toronto, Ontario by height. The tallest structure in Toronto is the CN Tower, which rises 553 metres (1,814 ft).[1]
The CN Tower was the tallest free-standing structure on land from 1975 until 2007. However, it is not generally considered a high-rise building as it does not have successive floors that can be occupied. The tallest habitable building in the city is First Canadian Place, which rises 298 metres (978 ft) tall in Toronto's Financial District and was completed in 1975.
It also stands as the tallest building in Canada.[2]
The history of skyscrapers in Toronto began in 1894 with the construction of the Beard Building, which is often regarded as the first skyscraper in the city.[3] Toronto went through its first building boom in the late 1920s and early 1930s, during which the number of high-rise buildings in the city vastly increased. After this period, there was a great lull in construction between 1932 and 1964 with only a single building above 91.5 metres (300 ft) tall being built.
This list of tallest buildings in Toronto ranks skyscrapers in the Canadian city of Toronto, Ontario by height. The tallest structure in Toronto is the CN Tower, which rises 553 metres (1,814 ft).[1]
The CN Tower was the tallest free-standing structure on land from 1975 until 2007. However, it is not generally considered a high-rise building as it does not have successive floors that can be occupied. The tallest habitable building in the city is First Canadian Place, which rises 298 metres (978 ft) tall in Toronto's Financial District and was completed in 1975.
Warning! So YOU Want to Buy the High Power Handheld Amateur HAM Radio
Warning ! So YOU Want to Buy the High Power 10 Watts Handheld Amateur HAM Radio
(VIDEO)
The California city famous for challenging the status quo is taking on the cellphone industry with signs warning against the dangers of cellphones, and now they're headed to court over the controversial signs
High Power (Watts) Handheld Amateur HAM Radio
Berkeley's cellphone crusade (VIDEO)
(VIDEO)
The California city famous for challenging the status quo is taking on the cellphone industry with signs warning against the dangers of cellphones, and now they're headed to court over the controversial signs
High Power (Watts) Handheld Amateur HAM Radio
Berkeley's cellphone crusade (VIDEO)
Berkeley's cellphone crusade - CBC News | The National (VIDEO)
See this full video to learn about RF around the head area
False - DSTAR, the most reliable, and the most useful
We read what seemed to be a very bias and uninformed blog with no facts, so below I have added some facts if someone wishes to read.
Brought to you by VE3WZW, Last updated: 2017-04-23
59,573 DMR-Contacts WORLD-WIDE
POLL:
Poll and Small Sample
http://twitter.com/hamradioscanada
Brought to you by VE3WZW, Last updated: 2017-04-23
59,573 DMR-Contacts WORLD-WIDE
As someone that spends my available hobby time on many modes, we all have opinions and most try to be unbiased. But the entire hobby is wonderful and each to his own preference :)The important fact is a better quality digital has now exploded, blown up to (60) sixty thousand id's within a few years and in the next year or two years will be the largest digital. Join me to celebrate what will be the largest digital ! VE3WZW as 2016
POLL:
Poll and Small Sample
So here is FACTS
POLL : A new HAM Amateur Radio Operator asked of the two DIGITAL MODES -- what is recommend or what is suggested ? Best Digital ?
https://twitter.com/hamradioscanada/status/856705426733359104
******************************************************************************
Although I don’t have specific numbers, DMR is about 45,000 users in NA,
Dstar is almost 2M worldwide and never suffers from the abusive behaviour sometimes heard on DMR and Analogue including spammers.
POLL : A new HAM Amateur Radio Operator asked of the two DIGITAL MODES -- what is recommend or what is suggested ? Best Digital ?
******************************************************************************
Although I don’t have specific numbers, DMR is about 45,000 users in NA,
Dstar is almost 2M worldwide and never suffers from the abusive behaviour sometimes heard on DMR and Analogue including spammers.
That’s why my moneys on Dstar! Great nets and very passionate Fellow Hams participating in meaningful conversations!The D-Star mode continues its tradition of being the #1 Digital mode, the most reliable, and the most useful.
CQ CQ CQ. Anybody around - Do NOT Call CQ on Repeaters
Do NOT Call CQ on Repeaters
How to find active repeaters?
Hams have been complaining about lack of activity on repeaters for well over a decade. Way back in 2003 I created a cover of a magazine I was editing (the SERA Repeater Journal) that spoofed the ARRL's Now You're Talking license manual by changing the title to Now You're Missing. See the art for this episode if it shows up in your podcast feed. I also wrote an editorial about the phenomenon in that issue.
E
How to find active repeaters?
I've found quite a few repeaters in my area but most of them dont really have activity. One has a "Traffic report" at 8:30, and another is cw and some data. But none of them seem to be really active.
Hams have been complaining about lack of activity on repeaters for well over a decade. Way back in 2003 I created a cover of a magazine I was editing (the SERA Repeater Journal) that spoofed the ARRL's Now You're Talking license manual by changing the title to Now You're Missing. See the art for this episode if it shows up in your podcast feed. I also wrote an editorial about the phenomenon in that issue.
E
LED light bulbs cause RFI - Marijuana grow lights are causing static for ham radio operators
LED light bulbs cause RFI - Marijuana grow lights are causing static for ham radio operators
AUGUSTA - Retired Coast Guard officer Roger Johnson sometimes notices a harsh buzz when he turns on his amateur radio, and he blames high-powered lighting used to grow pot.
Amateur radio operators say the legalization of marijuana is creating a chronic nuisance thanks to interference caused by electrical ballasts that regulate indoor lamps used to grow pot. The American Radio Relay League wants the Federal Communications Commission to take a stand against devices that give off much more interference than federal law allows in homes.
Ham radio operators generally say they don't have a problem with pot but worry amateur growers may not be aware that cheap ballasts can have phony FCC-compliance stickers. The operators point out they serve as backup communication during emergencies - but concede it's unlikely any lighting devices would still be on if the power goes out.
Lifelong ham radio operator and expert tinkerer Tom Thompson looks at a representation of radio waves on his computer in his basement, where he operates a ham radio and other devices, in Boulder, Colo. Associated Press/Brennan Linsley
Johnson, one of the radio league's 166,000 members, said he worries interference will only become a bigger inconvenience in years to come in Maine, which recently legalized growing up to six flowering marijuana plants, 12 immature plants and unlimited seedlings.
When he recently heard suspicious noisy static, Johnson said, he drove up and down side streets with a spectrum analyzer hooked up to his laptop to determine the source, which turned out to be a licensed grower a mile away who said he had no idea he was causing a disturbance.
COOL RECEPTION FROM FCC
"My prediction is that as more and more states legalize marijuana, the number of growers is going to increase exponentially and overwhelm the FCC's ability to regulate it," he said.
The American Radio Relay League has filed four complaints with the FCC and said it hasn't heard back, and says complaints concerning alleged interference continue to trickle in, particularly in Colorado and California. Cultivation of recreational marijuana is also now legal in Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Alaska, Washington state and the District of Columbia.
AUGUSTA - Retired Coast Guard officer Roger Johnson sometimes notices a harsh buzz when he turns on his amateur radio, and he blames high-powered lighting used to grow pot.
Amateur radio operators say the legalization of marijuana is creating a chronic nuisance thanks to interference caused by electrical ballasts that regulate indoor lamps used to grow pot. The American Radio Relay League wants the Federal Communications Commission to take a stand against devices that give off much more interference than federal law allows in homes.
Ham radio operators generally say they don't have a problem with pot but worry amateur growers may not be aware that cheap ballasts can have phony FCC-compliance stickers. The operators point out they serve as backup communication during emergencies - but concede it's unlikely any lighting devices would still be on if the power goes out.
Lifelong ham radio operator and expert tinkerer Tom Thompson looks at a representation of radio waves on his computer in his basement, where he operates a ham radio and other devices, in Boulder, Colo. Associated Press/Brennan Linsley
Johnson, one of the radio league's 166,000 members, said he worries interference will only become a bigger inconvenience in years to come in Maine, which recently legalized growing up to six flowering marijuana plants, 12 immature plants and unlimited seedlings.
When he recently heard suspicious noisy static, Johnson said, he drove up and down side streets with a spectrum analyzer hooked up to his laptop to determine the source, which turned out to be a licensed grower a mile away who said he had no idea he was causing a disturbance.
COOL RECEPTION FROM FCC
"My prediction is that as more and more states legalize marijuana, the number of growers is going to increase exponentially and overwhelm the FCC's ability to regulate it," he said.
The American Radio Relay League has filed four complaints with the FCC and said it hasn't heard back, and says complaints concerning alleged interference continue to trickle in, particularly in Colorado and California. Cultivation of recreational marijuana is also now legal in Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Alaska, Washington state and the District of Columbia.
Looking for VHF/UHF HT recommendations
While I'm saving up for/learning to build my own HF base station I'd like to get a hand transceiver. The only problem is, there are so many options I have no idea where to begin.
What I'm looking for is:
- Dual-band 2m and 440. There are repeaters locally that support both.
- Digital support. My local club has d-star support built into their repeaters, and a few members use it. I was looking at an Icom ID-51a but if their are other or better options (not necessarily D-star mind you) I'd like to hear them.
- Priced between $250-500. I'm not really interested in Baofeng or the other Chinese brands. I've seen a few and messed with them. They're kinda tacky and definitely show their pricing in their build quality.
I've also looked at a few Yaesu models but I don't remember the specifics of them.
SMD Soldering Tips and Tricks
SMD Soldering Tips and Tricks
On this very special edition of According to Pete, our intrepid DoE is sharing some of his favorite and most useful SMD soldering tips – because no Training Montage ever started with the hero already being really good at soldering.
Amateur Radio Call Sign Refund $60 from Spectrum Management Operations Branch
Spectrum Management Operations Branch
Because I had to contact Spectrum Management Operations Branch formally Industry Canada for the
Amateur Radio Call Sign Refund $60 for the release of a call sign from Spectrum Management Operations Branch.
I waited four months with no contact until I had to contact them.
Because I had to contact Spectrum Management Operations Branch formally Industry Canada for the
Amateur Radio Call Sign Refund $60 for the release of a call sign from Spectrum Management Operations Branch.
I waited four months with no contact until I had to contact them.
Amateur Radio Guide
Amateur Radio Buying Guide
Amateur radio communication has been an interesting and very informative means of communicating for a very long time. For getting the maximum output from this radio, you need to make sure you are following proper installation practices. An Amateur Radio license should be with you when carrying out operations. A thorough knowledge of Amateur radio operations is very useful for making the most potential when using these devices. By doing so, you will grow your list of contacts locally and internationally.
If you want to enjoy all the benefits of your Amateur radio, you need to learn about all the features that you that are available to you. There are plenty of options for Amateur radio enthusiasts in the market nowadays. We recommend you stay updated with the famous brands that deal in selling the best products. Pay attention to where you can find these products at the best prices. Of course, you should understand how you can make your operations most efficient and worthwhile. For keeping pace with the dynamics of the modern world, you must also have sound knowledge about the frequency types, types of licenses you can have, parts of an Amateur radio system and the potential advantages of using an Amateur Radio.
Discover Amateur Radio
Having an Amateur radio at home or in your vehicle can be a very fun-filled activity. You can chat with anyone sitting anywhere in the world using this system in no time. People from all age groups can use this facility and make most out of the efforts they put into this device. Below is a list of the types of Amateur radios that you can bring home, details about their operating frequencies and an overview of the components found in these systems.
Types of Amateur Radios
Amateur radios are available in three categories: handheld, mobile, and base station. Below are the brief descriptions of each one of them:
Amateur radio communication has been an interesting and very informative means of communicating for a very long time. For getting the maximum output from this radio, you need to make sure you are following proper installation practices. An Amateur Radio license should be with you when carrying out operations. A thorough knowledge of Amateur radio operations is very useful for making the most potential when using these devices. By doing so, you will grow your list of contacts locally and internationally.
If you want to enjoy all the benefits of your Amateur radio, you need to learn about all the features that you that are available to you. There are plenty of options for Amateur radio enthusiasts in the market nowadays. We recommend you stay updated with the famous brands that deal in selling the best products. Pay attention to where you can find these products at the best prices. Of course, you should understand how you can make your operations most efficient and worthwhile. For keeping pace with the dynamics of the modern world, you must also have sound knowledge about the frequency types, types of licenses you can have, parts of an Amateur radio system and the potential advantages of using an Amateur Radio.
Discover Amateur Radio
Having an Amateur radio at home or in your vehicle can be a very fun-filled activity. You can chat with anyone sitting anywhere in the world using this system in no time. People from all age groups can use this facility and make most out of the efforts they put into this device. Below is a list of the types of Amateur radios that you can bring home, details about their operating frequencies and an overview of the components found in these systems.
Types of Amateur Radios
Amateur radios are available in three categories: handheld, mobile, and base station. Below are the brief descriptions of each one of them:
Compare DMR : DMR-MARC or DMRPLus
For anyone that is interested in getting connected to either DMR-MARC or DMRPLus North American networks, below is a comparison between the two that can help users decide which network is best for them.
| Motorola repeater support |  | |
| Hytera repeater support | | |
| Homebrew MMDVM repeater support | | |
| DV4mini hotspot support |
2017 Canada's 150th Birthday. Operators in Canada are allowed
Please note that next year is Canada's 150th Birthday. Operators in Canada are allowed (all year) in 2017 to operate with a special event prefix, that is, every Canadian amateur radio station may be a special event station automatically and with no paperwork.
(I'm just spreading the world early as last time we had special event prefixes, I didn't hear many at all besides myself using them on the air and no one seemed to know about it)
As listed on the Industry Canada site (linked below):
VA can become CF
VE can become CG
VO can become CH
VY can become CI
Any operator with a callsign starting with "VA", for example, may operate their callsign with "CF" instead. For example, VA3RAC could operate as CF3RAC, VE3RAC could operate as CG3RAC, etc.
All of the awards I've played with so far (DXCC, WAS, CQ WPX, WAZ, Counties, etc) all accept different callsigns in a submission as long as it's the same operator/QTH
PSA: Industry Canada permits hams to remove address from online database
IC permits hams to request that their address not be posted in the online databases, Of course, you still have to give them your mailing address and keep it
updated, and redacting a current address will still leave it mirrored
across other sites on the Internet).
callsign application has had a "do not publish" checkbox for years.
New and Old Regulations and Policies
I am moving. What are my obligations to Industry Canada and the Amateur Radio Service Centre (ARSC)?
When you are moving to a new address within the same province notify the ARSC by requesting a "change of amateur address" which can be found on the Amateurs and Clubs page. If you are moving out of province and will no longer be retaining an address in the province of your call sign, request a "change of amateur province" which can be found on the Amateurs and Clubs page.
callsign application has had a "do not publish" checkbox for years.
New and Old Regulations and Policies
I am moving. What are my obligations to Industry Canada and the Amateur Radio Service Centre (ARSC)?
When you are moving to a new address within the same province notify the ARSC by requesting a "change of amateur address" which can be found on the Amateurs and Clubs page. If you are moving out of province and will no longer be retaining an address in the province of your call sign, request a "change of amateur province" which can be found on the Amateurs and Clubs page.
Canada 150: Special Event Prefixes for Canada’s Sesquicentennial
As previously announced at the Dayton Hamvention, Radio Amateurs
of Canada has secured permission for all Canadian Radio Amateurs to use
special call sign prefixes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of
Canada's Confederation.
National, regional and local events will take place throughout 2017 to celebrate the anniversary and Canadian Amateurs will let their counterparts around the world know of our celebration by using the following special prefixes:
For more information on Canada150 visit http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1342792785740
National, regional and local events will take place throughout 2017 to celebrate the anniversary and Canadian Amateurs will let their counterparts around the world know of our celebration by using the following special prefixes:
- Amateurs and clubs whose regular call signs start with VA will be able to use the CF prefix instead of VA (for example, VA3RAC will be authorized to use the CF3RAC call sign).
- Amateurs and clubs whose regular call signs start with VE will be able to use the CG prefix instead of VE (e.g., VE4RAC will be authorized to use CG4RAC).
- Amateurs and clubs whose regular call signs start with VO will be able to use the CH prefix instead of VO (e.g., VO1RAC will be authorized to use CH1RAC).
- Amateurs and clubs whose regular call signs start with VY will be able to use the CI prefix instead of VY (e.g., VY2RAC will be authorized to use CI2RAC).
For more information on Canada150 visit http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1342792785740
Ham Radio Deluxe released a statement
Ham Radio Deluxe released a statement
I want to make a statement of apology on behalf of HRD Software.
We regret that we have been unable to maintain our high standards of quality in our service to one of our customers. I have reached out to this customer to correct this regrettable situation. I am looking forward to speaking with him.
We apologize for what has happened here. I have stepped in and personally taken corrective actions to ensure that this mistake does not get made again.
It is not the policy or practice of HRD Software, LLC to retaliate, in any way, when negative reviews are made about our company, its products, or our employees. If this has happened in the past, I'm sorry. It won't happen again. We will strive to avoid, even the suspicion of, such things in the future.
QRZ QSO confirmation (SOLVED) - HOW TO CONFIRM QSO in logbook QRZ
QRZ QSO confirmation (SOLVED) - HOW TO CONFIRM QSO in logbook QRZ
So as we all understand HAMs Amateur Radio Operators log conversations. One place to do so, log conversations and contacts is on a website call QRZ.com in the logbook tab.
A confirmation will only take place when each party to a QSO enters that log data independently and provided both records agree by callsigns, mode, band, and UTC date/time within a 30-minute window.
The default info appearing in a QSO Confirmation Request is not that of your worked party's and a correct match must be entered to finalize the confirmation. If you are unable to achieve a correct match then it is up to the parties themselves to resolve the problem through direct contact via e-mail or private message.
Log into to QRZ.com
Look for the LOGBOOK Button in the right along side your CALL Button.
Click on the Logbook Button to enter your logbook.
If you agree with a QSO Record click on the green check to confirm it.
Alternately there are other choices that are self-intuitive.
So as we all understand HAMs Amateur Radio Operators log conversations. One place to do so, log conversations and contacts is on a website call QRZ.com in the logbook tab.
A confirmation will only take place when each party to a QSO enters that log data independently and provided both records agree by callsigns, mode, band, and UTC date/time within a 30-minute window.
The default info appearing in a QSO Confirmation Request is not that of your worked party's and a correct match must be entered to finalize the confirmation. If you are unable to achieve a correct match then it is up to the parties themselves to resolve the problem through direct contact via e-mail or private message.
Log into to QRZ.com
Look for the LOGBOOK Button in the right along side your CALL Button.
Click on the Logbook Button to enter your logbook.
If you agree with a QSO Record click on the green check to confirm it.
Alternately there are other choices that are self-intuitive.
Best starter HF transceiver
Best starter HF transceiver
What's a good starter HF transceiver, simple to operate, maybe the earliest model of Icom or Kenwood or any other brand that first came out with the built in antenna tuner, from $250 to $400 price range.
Answer :
First you need to decide what type of operating and modes you want. Digital requires more stability, CW is a lot simpler, etc. Once you define that, then I think it will be a lot easier to define what you would like.
Answer :
Although it's older technology, the Kenwood TS-130 is dead simple to operate, and can be found fairly inexpensively (less than $250). A TS-120 is also cool if you don't mind losing the WARC bands.... The Icom IC-718 is also popular, but will run you just a bit more (around $400 used, depending on the installed options).
Neither of these rigs have a built in tuner, but that's okay. You're better off with an outboard tuner. Most on-board tuners have a very limited tuning range (usually only about 3:1). That's enough for trimming a single band dipole, but not much more. An outboard tuner will match 10:1 or better, so you get a lot more tuning solutions.
I own both radios, and their both decent performers. I think the 130 has better ears, although the 718 has better specs. I've gotten good comments on the audio from both rigs, but I performed a simple mod to the Icom mic to make it sound better. The Icom is more feature-rich than the Kenwood, but is still relatively easy to use. Mine has the optional TCXO installed,
Neither of these rigs have a built in tuner, but that's okay. You're better off with an outboard tuner. Most on-board tuners have a very limited tuning range (usually only about 3:1). That's enough for trimming a single band dipole, but not much more. An outboard tuner will match 10:1 or better, so you get a lot more tuning solutions.
I own both radios, and their both decent performers. I think the 130 has better ears, although the 718 has better specs. I've gotten good comments on the audio from both rigs, but I performed a simple mod to the Icom mic to make it sound better. The Icom is more feature-rich than the Kenwood, but is still relatively easy to use. Mine has the optional TCXO installed,