Rocky Mountain
Ham Radio Microwave Backbone and DMR Repeater Network
By Wayne Heinen
N0POH
The Rocky Mountain Ham Radio deployed analog repeater sites
all along the Front Range of Colorado and had been linking them via the
Internet for years. Due to the cost and reliability factors of commercial
Internet, the club had been looking for a ham radio spectrum-based transport
method for their IP needs which have been steadily growing over the years. What
was needed was a digital link that could be created between the various
mountain top sites, an IP based network of their own design that would be
controlled by the club. Wayne explains how they did it.
Intro to
Scanning Today
By Bob Grove
W8JHD
The requirements
of scanner listeners have been changing since the very first radios capable of
tuning the public service bands were manufactured. While some analog scanners
available today are still useful, many listener in more urban areas need
significant upgrades to their listening posts to continue listening. Bob explains
which radios are best for each technology today.
TSM Reviews:
W4OP Loop
Antenna
By Thomas
Witherspoon K4SWL
Last year Thomas caught a bug: the National Parks on the Air
(NPOTA) bug. He found NPOTA the perfect excuse to play radio outdoors. From
August to December 2016, he activated ninety-one NPOTA National Parks running
QRP (low power). To do so he needed a stand-alone antenna small enough to set
up easily, rugged enough to do so many times and capable enough to make
contacts from some very remote spots. The W4OP loop filled the bill.
Using
Weak Signal Modes for Propagation, RFI, and Antenna Analysis
Robert Gulley
AK3Q
Digital mode
operating has changed everything for many hams looking for a way around the
disappearing solar cycle. WSJT-X weak-signal software, which includes JT65,
JT9, MSK144, JT8 and other specialized transmission modes for moonbounce,
meteor scatter and aircraft scatter has extended two-way amateur communications
on bands that otherwise might not be used. Robert has also discovered that these programs are an excellent resource for identifying
and studying propagation, Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and antenna
characteristics.
US TV Channel
Assignments: Part 3
By Mike Kohl
This third installment in the series on the repacking of the TV
band continues with the identification of significant communities within each
designated marketing area (DMA). Markets numbering from 151 to 248 are covered
this month.
Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Winnebago County
(IL), Broward County (FL)
Federal
Wavelenghts
By Chris Parris
Joint Base Lewis
McChord, Washington
Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman
Watching the
Eclipse with a Radio
Shortwave
Utility Logs
By Hugh Stegman
and Mike Chace-Ortiz
VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch
N6CL
Honey, I Shrunk
the Loop
Digital Voice
By Cory Sickles
WA3UVV
Feels Like the
First Time
Amateur Radio
Insights
By Kirk
Kleinschmidt NT0Z
RG-6: It’s Still
a Steel
Radio 101
By Ken Reitz
KS4ZR
Connection
Complications: Troubleshooting 101
Radio
Propagation
By Tomas Hood
NW7US
Coronal Mass Ejection
Science
World of
Shortwave Listening
By Rob Wagner
VK3BVW
The Use and
Abuse of SINPO
The Shortwave
Listener
By Fred Waterer
Radio from Four
Continents via Shortwave and Internet
Amateur Radio
Astronomy
By Stan Nelson
KB5VL
New Callisto
Devices
The Longwave
Zone
By Kevin O’Hern
Carey WB2QMY
630-Meter Band
Plan Takes Shape
Adventures in
Radio Restoration
By Rich Post
KB8TAD
Heathkit HG-10B
VFO
Antenna
Connections
By Dan Farber
AC0LW
Stealth: A
Philosophy and a Methodology