Tag Archives: On The Air

Activities, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air

Join us for the ARRL Rookie Roundup – Sunday April 16

rook·ie
ˈro͝okē

noun

  • A Ham Radio operator that has received his or her first license in 2015, 2016 or 2017
  • A Ham Radio operator that has never operated before in the mode of the current ARRL Rookie Roundup.

Are you a rookie?  Join us for the ARRL Rookie Roundup SSB on Sunday, April 16 from 18:00z to 23:59z  (that is 2 pm – 8 pm local time).  The Rookie Roundup is a contest sponsored by the ARRL specifically for new hams.

N1FD Certificate from the 2016 ARRL Rookie Roundup SSB
N1FD Certificate from the 2016 ARRL Rookie Roundup SSB

We will be hosting a multi-op entry using the club callsign, N1FD from the AB1OC/AB1QB QTH.  Help us defend our title from last year as #1 Multi-Op Area 1.  This is an opportunity to get on the HF bands if you just got your license and don’t have a station setup yet, or a chance to get some practice if you want to try running some pile-ups before Field Day.

If you have never operated from our station before, we will hold an elmering session on Saturday, April 15 from 2 pm – 4 pm, also at our QTH.

Details are on our club calendar.

If you are interested, contact Anita, AB1QB to sign up at [email protected].

Anita, AB1QB

Featured, General, Homebrewing, Newsletter, On The Air, Station Equipment

Add CTCSS PL Tones to Your Old VHF Rig

Last week I gladly accepted a free Azden 2m FM transceiver model number PCS-4000 that was offered to me.  You have to love the old free stuff!  The only capability this 25W rig was missing is the ability to transmit CTCSS PL tones or sub audible tones to activate a repeater.

I found the manual and schematics online and found that this rig was built to accept a tone generator as an add-on. See below.

PL Tone Mod Circuit

Below is a photo showing the jumper locations for the tone input.  I soldered some leads with a home brew disconnect to easily remove the cover in the future.PL Tone Mods

Below is a photo showing an added 1/8″ mono jack for the input tone.

PL Tone Mods

For an input tone, I used an Android cell phone with a frequency generator App to generate the PL tone.

PL Tone Generator

I can experiment with other ways to generate the tone such as an Arduino with RC filters etc.  I can also try to insert a 700 Hz tone with my Arduino keyer for MCW.

Below is a photo of the rig set up for a local repeater.

Completed Mod to add PL Tones

So now to quote Pete Juliano “Bob’s your uncle”!!!

73,

Mike, AB1YK

DX, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air

5U5R – Niger | DX World

Source: 5U5R – Niger | DX World

A 12-man team will be active from Niger as 5U5R between March 9-21, 2017. QRV on 6 to 160 meters; CW, SSB and RTTY with at least 4 stations on the air simultaneously. Full details here

DX World DXpedition Calendar for Marc
DX World DXpedition Calendar for March

Like to chase DX?  There is quite a bit of good DX on the air this week.  I just worked 5U5R from Niger, which was an ATNO (All Time New One) for me!  9N7EI from Nepal and TU7C from Cote D’Ivoire are also on the air.

The DX World website has a calendar for the month which shows all of the DXpeditions for the month.  It also has announcements for upcoming DXpeditions.

Anita, AB1QB

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