Category: Ham Radio

I can expect some more wallpaper…

by Jurgen

Even if I prefer playing in the SO2R category, I entered the 2013 ARRL RTTY Roundup in the MSLP category because I wanted to test the pretty new RTTY Skimmers. And even if I didn’t expect it this is what is written in the ‘2013 ARRL RTTY Roundup Results – extended‘:

The Multi-Single, Low Power category in Europe had nine out of ten stations on the Top Ten list. Some winners were team efforts and some were operators using spotting or CW Skimmer assistance. Jo, ON5MF won for Europe using contest call OQ6A, although he normally doesn’t participate in the Multi-Single category. Using the relatively new RTTY skimmer spots, Jo ran stations on his main VFO and jumped from one spot to another with his second VFO, no doubt mostly in-band to comply with the band change rules.

Guess my ‘nice heavy paper weight‘ isn’t that bad, is it Franki?

The QRM is gone…

by Jurgen

Finally after a few months I don’t have the QRM anymore on the higher bands. The guys from BIPT/IBPT (the belgian FCC) came over to my QTH and they found the source of the QRM and solved the problem.The QRM came from a broken high voltage light fixture in a nearby shop.

Now at least I can start to prepare for next contest 🙂

Why I’ll probably not be able to work 5W0M

by Jurgen

qrm

This is the QRM I have (S9 at least, on all bands from 17m up to 10m) during the time of the day where the propagation from 5W to ON is best.

I have identified the source of the QRM and I have filed a complaint with our authorities a few weeks ago. They sent me a letter they would investigate this as soon as possible. I hope ‘as soon as possible’ is tomorrow 🙂 That would leave me 2 days to try and work them… I need 5W0M for number 297.

My current project

by Jurgen

Ever tried to manually switch your antennas and bandpass filters 30 hours into a contest? I have been doing it for years. 🙂 (And I have been complaining about it for ages too)

But the solution is near:

band decoder 001 band decoder 002

This is the prototype for my new universal band decoder.

The hardware is an Arduino (in the pictures is a Mega, it will be replaced by a UNO r3 in the finished product) and 2 4×4 Driver Shields from Logos Electromechanical.

The goal is to switch my SixPak and my 2 Dunestar 600 band pass filters for SO2R.

The data comes from the pc (over the usb port) using the Open Two Radio Switching Protocol (OTRSP) which is supported by N1MM and DXLab logging software.

For now this is a work in progress,  so come back here soon to follow the evolution!

Paper CQ-QSO or not? (Was To UBA or not to UBA)

by Jurgen

After my email and blogpost about the UBA and it’s paper magazine I received a reply from Rik ON7YD who said the board members of UBA are really aware of this problem and they are looking for a solution.

Because some people misuse all information about the UBA I will not get into the details of this in public.

As soon as the different possibilities have been studied the UBA will of course publish how it will react to this problem.

The least I can say is that I am happy with the emails I received from the UBA and that this matter is under study.

To UBA or not to UBA (2)

by Jurgen

Today I received a very constructive reply from ON7YD ant ON7TK to my email concerning mainly the paper magazine of the uba.

Unfortunately some people seem to use my ‘open’ letter to stir up the war between the different radioamateur associations in Belgium.

For those who don’t agree with the things I write, you can always reply to me directly or on the blog. No need to only send emails to your friends about it.

And let me state this again: IF ALL THE ENERGY YOU GUYS HAVE PUT IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS IN BELGIUM DURING THE LAST TEN OR FIFTEEN YEARS HAD BEEN USED FOR PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HAM RADIO IN BELGIUM, TODAY IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER FOR ALL OF US TO PUT UP TOWERS AND ANTENNAS WITHOUT ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE HASSLE WE GET NOW.

I’ll probably comment on the reply from ON7YD and ON7TK in a few days, I will have to think about every word I write… “Everything you say will be misquoted and used against you”

To UBA or not to UBA?

by Jurgen

A few days ago I received an e-mail from Rik ON7YD to ask me to pay the yearly membership fee for the UBA. Since a few years they send out these e-mails a few weeks before they send out letters to all members. For those who pay before the letters are sent out they can spare some postage.

After receiving this e-mail I sent this reply to Rik ON7YD (the dutch speaking vice-president of the uba) and to Claude ON7TK (the president of the uba):

(I sent the reply in dutch but translated it here for you, in italic you find some extra explanations to help you understand)

Dear Rik,

with all due respect to those putting a lot of work in it but I think CQ-QSO (the bi-monthly printed magazine of the uba) is a huge waste of money. Continue reading To UBA or not to UBA? →