Category Archives: Digital

Articles and Information related to Digital Modes. Topics include PSK, RTTY, JT Modes, APRS, operating using Digital Modes, equipment, software, and more.

Antennas, Digital, DX, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air, Station Equipment

Virtual Contest University

The 2020 Dayton Hamvention has been canceled, but you still have the opportunity to attend Contest University from the comfort of your QTH!   The organizers of Contest University will be holding a free Virtual Contest University via Zoom on May 14th.

Contest University is a full day of educational presentations.  The world’s most skilled contesters share their knowledge.  You will learn not just how to operate in a contest but skills that are useful for all ham radio operators:

  • How to improve your station
  • All about propagation and when to operate to get the most and most distant contacts
  • Information on setting up your digital station and operating digital modes,
  • What are the best performing transceivers based on testing by Rob Sherwood, NC0B
  • And much more!

Fred, AB1OC, and I have been attending Contest University for many years and we learn something new every time.  Contest University is highly recommended for our Student/Teacher Contesters as well as all of our members.

Here is an outline of the speakers and presentation topics: https://www.contestuniversity.com/course-outline/

You can register online for the Virtual Contest University at the above link to get the Zoom link.  Contest University starts at 8:30 am on May 14th.

Antennas, Digital, Featured, General, Newsletter, Space, Station Equipment

EME Station 2.0 Part 1 – Goals and Station Design

EME or Earth-Moon-Earth contacts involve bouncing signals off the moon to make contacts. An EME station provides a means to make DX contacts using the VHF and higher bands. There are also some EME Contests in…

Source: EME Station 2.0 Part 1 – Goals and Station Design

We made some 2m EME contacts a while ago using the 2m antenna on our tower at about 112′. This experience created interest on my part in building a more capable EME station at some point in time. Well, the time has finally arrived.

2m EME Moon
A Four X-Polarized Yagi, 2m EME Antenna System

The article above explains our goals, plans, and design of a new 2m EME station at our QTH. The article covers plans for a new tower, antennas, and an SDR-based receive system.

Our plans are to build an 80th percentile station that utilizes four large, dual-polarity antennas in an array. The station will use the JT65 digital protocol and will support adaptive polarity via MAP65. The new setup will utilize WSJT and MAP65 software created for EME use by Joe Taylor.

Our plans are to begin construction of our new EME Station later this week with a new 26′ Rohn 55G tower going in first. You can read all about our plans via the link above.

Fred, AB1OC

Digital, Featured, General, Newsletter, Station Equipment

GPS Time Server – Accurate Clocks for Your Station

There are many reasons to have an accurate time source such as a GPS Time Server in your station. Getting the best performance from WSJT-X modes like FT8 require your computer clock to be synchronized to within a second…

Source: GPS NTP Server

We’ve recently added a GPS synchronized NTP time source to our station. The unit provides very accurate clocks (to within a microsecond) for WSJT-X modes like FT8. It also provides accurate clocks should we lose access to the Internet. You can read more about the GPS NTP server via the link above.

Fred, AB1OC

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