Posts tagged Ham Radio
Radio Operators Needed for Special Olympics Summer Games
6 days ago
by Bryan
in Radio Stuff
Amateur Radio Operators are needed for the Special Olympics Summer Games, June 8 and 9 at Cal State Long Beach. If you can help please contact Mark Lidikay, KE6TNM, at (MLidikay at holdenandrew dot com).
QRP QSO With VK4SDD
07 months ago
by Bryan
in Radio Stuff
Sometimes you just can’t go by what the propagation numbers tell you. Last fall when we were seeing sunspot counts topping 200 and solar flux counts near 200 I just wasn’t able to contact Australia nor New Zealand though they were blasting into SoCal clear into the early evening hours. So imagine the shock I received Saturday afternoon as I’m sitting in the Kmart parking lot and I hear a VK4 station calling CQ, I answer his call and on the first attempt I get this…
Yes, that is a stock FT-817 I’m using, barely 5-Watts out. Antenna used was an ATX Walkabout mounted on the roof using a MFJ BNC magnetic mount. For power a fold-up 15W solar panel, 10A solar charger and a 9Ah Solid Lead Acid (SLA) battery. The entire system is completely portable and stores neatly in my backpack.
Monitoring The International Space Station
07 months ago
by Bryan
in Radio Stuff
The first set of frequencies belongs to the on-board amateur radio station. Voice contacts are primarily reserved for schools, however, if a crew member has some downtime they’re free to go on-air and make as many contacts as they want. As long as there isn’t any electrical problems the packet modem will also remain on and in ‘store and forward’ mode. Allowing personal messages to be sent to crew members and other hams around the world. The SSTV frequency is rarely used, mostly during special events such as Field Day.
145.8000 FM Region 2 Voice Downlink
144.4900 FM Region 2 Voice Uplink
145.8250 FM Packet | APRS
437.5500 FM Packet
145.8000 FM SSTV
The second set of frequencies are for commercial operations such as EVAs and the docking of resupply ships. On VHF-1 you will hear Cosmonauts communicating with one of several Mission Control Centers around the world. VHF-2 is said to be used by Astronauts though Russian comms have also been logged on this frequency. On 121.750 and 121.125 EVA ‘spacewalk’ activity has been noted with the callsign ‘Soyuz’ being heard on EVA-1. EVA-1 is commonly logged by radio operators in SoCal as its also used by ground crews at LAX. Do note the ISS operates on Moscow Time so you may find the crew more active late at night.
143.6250 FM VHF-1
130.1670 FM VHF-2
121.7500 FM EVA-1
121.1250 FM EVA-2
If you’re worried about needing a big set up to monitor the ISS don’t worry, its just like monitoring AO-27, SO-50 or any other FM satellite. All you’ll need is a scanner, general coverage communications receiver or a 2-meter radio with extended receive which pretty much all radios made now a days have. As for an antenna, you will want to use something with gain like the Diamond RH-77/SRH-77 or even a beam antenna like the Arrow Antenna or Elk Antenna. They are fairly low cost and extremely portable.
The Media and Public is Formally Invited to ARRL Field Day 2012
011 months ago
by Bryan
in Radio Stuff
ARRL Field Day 2012
Hosted by…
Santa Clarita Emergency Communications Team
Santa Clarita Amateur Radio Club
Saturday June 23rd, 2012
11am – 6pm
Sunday June 24th, 2012
11am – 2pm
Castaic Lake Water Agency
27234 Bouquet Canyon Rd
Saugus, CA 91350
On June 23rd and 24th, Amateur Radio operators (“sometimes called HAMS”) across the country will leave the comfort of their home-based radio “shacks” for a weekend of emergency preparedness activity called “Field Day.” The event is designed to test operators’ skills in setting up and operating radio communication equipment in situations where electrical power is limited or unavailable. The idea is to simulate the conditions that can occur during a hurricane, tornado or other emergency, including man-made disasters. The event is sponsored by ARRL – the national association for Amateur Radio.
The very first Field Day actually took place in 1933. During Field Day, Ham Radio operators set up radio transmitting and receiving equipment in local parks, at shopping malls or even in backyards, and get on the-air using generators, batteries, wind or solar power to run their equipment. This type of exercise, along with the operators’ dedication to public service, allows them to step in and help emergency officials and relief organizations when disaster strikes. Cell phones, the Internet and other communications technologies have yet to replace what Amateur Radio operators can do. They have a long track record of getting the message through when all other systems fail and the infrastructure has collapsed.
The director of homeland Security said it best, “ . . . they are the first of the first responders when it comes to disasters!” Welcome to each of our visitors. We hope you will find our Field Day informative and fun for your family. Please feel free to ask questions about the equipment you see.
Coast Guard To Join Armed Forces Day Crossband Test
0SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX004
ARLX004 Coast Guard to Join Armed Forces Crossband Communications Test
ZCZC AX04
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 4 ARLX004
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT May 7, 2012
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX004
ARLX004 Coast Guard to Join Armed Forces Crossband Communications
Test
The US Coast Guard will be joining the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines in the 2012 Armed Forces Crossband Test, scheduled for May 12. In addition to the Coast Guard station, five Army stations, three Air Force stations and six Navy/Marine Corps stations will be on the air to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of Armed Forces Day (AFD).
Military-to-amateur crossband operations will take place on the dates and time in UTC on the frequencies listed for each station. Voice contacts will include operations in single sideband voice (SSB). Some stations, depending on propagation and staffing, may not operate the entire period. Participating military stations will transmit on selected military MARS frequencies and listen for Amateur Radio stations in the amateur bands. The military station operator will announce the specific amateur band frequency being monitored. Duration of each voice contact should be limited to 1-2 minutes. The Secretary of Defense message will be transmitted via digital modes, including RTTY, PACTOR, AMTOR, PSK31, MFSK and MT63 from certain stations.
The following information was not included in the original list of the stations that will be on the air for the test:
Station: NMN (1300 UTC May 12-0030 UTC May 13) USCG CAMSLANT (Communications Area Master Station Atlantic), Chesapeake, Virginia
Frequency Emission Amateur Band
7.5286 MHz USB 40M (USB)
14.427 MHz USB 20M (USB)
18.1961 MHz USB 17M (USB)
QSL card requests should be addressed to Commanding Officer, ATTN: OS3 Cattell, 4720 Douglas A. Munro Rd, Chesapeake, VA 23322-4399.
Schedules and frequencies of participating military stations, including the stations that will be transmitting the message from the Secretary of Defense can be found on the web in PDF format at, http://www.netcom.army.mil/MARS/docs/AMC_Test_2012.pdf.
Instructions on how to copy and submit the message are also included.
NNNN
/EX
Armed Forces Day Crossband Test
0SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX003
ARLX003 Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Scheduled for May 12
ZCZC AX03
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 3 ARLX003
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT May 2, 2012
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX003
ARLX003 Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Scheduled for May 12
The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are co-sponsoring the annual Military/Amateur Radio Crossband Communications Test in celebration of the 62nd anniversary of Armed Forces Day (AFD). Although the actual Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May — May 19 in 2012 — the AFD Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test will be conducted on May 12 to prevent conflict with the Dayton Hamvention, scheduled for May 18-20.
The annual celebration features traditional military-to-amateur crossband communications SSB voice and Morse code tests. These tests give Amateur Radio operators and short wave listeners an opportunity to demonstrate their individual technical skills and to receive recognition from the appropriate military radio station for their proven expertise. QSL cards will be provided to those stations making contact with the military stations.
Military-to-amateur crossband operations will take place on the dates and time in UTC on the frequencies listed for each station. Voice contacts will include operations in single sideband voice (SSB). Some stations, depending on propagation and staffing, may not operate the entire period. Participating military stations will transmit on selected military MARS frequencies and listen for Amateur Radio stations in the amateur bands. The military station operator will announce the specific amateur band frequency being monitored. Duration of each voice contact should be limited to 1-2 minutes.
The schedules and frequencies of participating military stations can be found in PDF format on the web at, http://www.netcom.army.mil/MARS/docs/AMC_Test_2012.pdf.
NNNN
/EX
