TSM Reviews: RigExpert Stick 230
By Mark Haverstock K8MSH
When it comes to antenna analyzers, Mark has generally stuck with the old standbys—the Comet CA500 and the MFJ-269C. They’re rugged, loaded with features and have served him well over the years. But, he notes, “They’re bulky, especially when loaded with batteries. Try to carry one up a tower and tune a Yagi by yourself!” Then he discovered the RigExpert’s Stick 230. “It won’t weigh you down and fits in a pocket. It’s small and could be mistaken for a TV remote control if it wasn’t for the SO-239 connector on the top.” Mark puts this handy little device to work.
Murder on the High Seas: Sinking of the Lusitania
By Scott Caldwell
R.M.S Lusitania was a technological marvel of her time. She was the largest and fastest vessel afloat and reclaimed the Blue Ribbon of the Atlantic from the German Empire, with a service speed of 24-25 knots. She was the first superliner and introduced a period of intense rivalry with the White Star Line and the German companies. The Lusitania had the latest Marconi wireless equipment and the luxury of two wireless operators who provided a continuous 24-hour watch, working a six-hour rotating shift. In May 1915, with WWI in full swing, the Lusitania headed into waters infested with German U-boats. It would be her last voyage.
TSM Reviews: XHDATA D-808 AM/FM/SW/Air Portable Radio
By Loyd Van Horn W4LVH
Inexpensive AM/FM/SW radios are sometimes overlooked by radio enthusiasts, but the XHDATA D-808 has a lot going for it besides its low price. Loyd finds it’s a great traveling companion that doesn’t take up a lot of room in carry-on luggage, has a number of features you might not expect to find in a portable shortwave radio at just over $100 and extended battery life thanks to built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that makes it less expensive to operate portable than many.
Radio Propagation Banners Explained
By Robert Gulley K4PKM
Visit any popular amateur radio website and you are likely to see a propagation banner showing current solar and atmospheric conditions using data gathered from around the world. Unfortunately, most of us do not take advantage of the wealth of information provided by these banners, so in this article Robert presents a brief explanation for each category in hopes that these banners will become more understandable, as well as useful to hams and shortwave listeners.
TSM 100 Years of Radio:
Radio Publications from 100 Years Ago
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
One hundred years ago there were no mobile phones, television, cable-TV, satellite-TV, satellite radio or Internet and its unending number of social media platforms. There were 78 rpm records and, as we have been exploring this year, a global interest in the subject of wireless communications—a sensation of the time. Aside from the local clubs and various organizations that promoted this subject, how did aspiring radio enthusiasts further their interest in radio and keep up with the technology? The answer: magazines.
Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
New York City; Litchfield, Connecticut
Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Federal Monitoring During Lockdowns
Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
HF Aeronautical Mobile 3-MHz Band Scans
Utility Planet
Hugh Stegman
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Call FEMA
Shortwave Utility Logs
By Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz
VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
Hunting Zombie Satellites
Digitally Speaking
By Cory Sickles WA3UVV
Hello, Neighbor
Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Will Amateur Radio Survive the Perfect Storm?
Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
International Broadcasters on C-Band Free-to-Air Satellite
The World of Shortwave Listening
By Jeff Whites, Chairman HFCC
Shortwave Broadcasting in the Era of the Coronavirus
The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
CBC, WBCQ, RNZI and BBC on the Air
Amateur Radio Astronomy
By Stan Nelson KB5VL
A New Radio Meteor Listener in Mexico
Adventures in Radio Restorations
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Restoring an Old Acquaintance: Heathkit AR-3 Receiver