VE2RMP Radio Group .:. VE2RMP & VA2RMP Repeaters

MURS available in Canada in 2014

2012-01-31T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) is an unlicensed two-way radio service similar to Citizens Band, but in the VHF band.

The service was launched in the United States in 2000 and it uses 5 frequencies with the following bandwidths:
151.820 MHz (11.25 kHz)
151.880 MHz (11.25 kHz)
151.940 MHz (11.25 kHz)
154.570 MHz (20.00 kHz)
154.600 MHz (20.00 kHz)

According to the FCC, the service is defined as a private, two-way, short-distance voice or data communications service for personal or business activities of the general public.

The FCC also stipulates that MURS stations may not be connected to the public telephone network, may not be used for store and forward operations, and radio repeaters are not permitted.

A five year transition period was established by Industry Canada in order to permit the use of MURS in Canada starting June 2014.

Click here to download a copy of Industry Canada's preliminary document about the availability of the MURS service.

REPEATER SYSTEMS : Cavity resonators and duplexers

2012-01-29T03:36:00.000-08:00

Cavity Resonators

Receiver desensing can be reduced by separating the transmitter and receiver antennas. But the amount of transmitted energy that reaches the receiver input must often be decreased even farther. Other nearby transmitters can cause desensing as well. A cavity resonator (cavity filter) can be helpful in solving these problems.

When properly designed and constructed, this type of resonator has very high Q. A cavity resonator placed in series with a transmission line acts as a band-pass filter. For a resonator to operate in series, it must have input and output coupling loops (or probes). A cavity resonator can also be connected across (in parallel with) a transmission line. The cavity then acts as a band-reject (notch) filter, greatly attenuating energy at the frequency to which it is tuned.

Only one coupling loop or probe is required for this method of filtering. This type of cavity could be used in the receiver line to "notch" the transmitter signal. Several cavities can be connected in series or parallel to increase the attenuation in a given configuration. The diagram below show the attenuation of a single cavity (A) and a pair of cavities (B).

The only situation in which cavity filters would not help is the case where the off-frequency noise of the transmitter was right on the receiver frequency. With cavity resonators, an important point to remember is that addition of a cavity across a transmission line may change the impedance of the system. This change can be compensated by adding tuning stubs along the transmission line.

Duplexers

Most amateur repeaters in the 144, 220 and 440 MHz bands use duplexers to obtain the necessary transmitter to receiver isolation. Duplexers have been commonly used in commercial repeaters for many years.

The duplexer consists of two high-Q filters. One filter is used in the feed line from the transmitter to the antenna, and another between the antenna and the receiver. These filters must have low loss at the frequency to which they are tuned while having very high attenuation at the surrounding frequencies. To meet the high attenuation requirements at frequencies within as little as 0.4% of the frequency to which they are tuned, the filters usually take the form of cascaded transmission line cavity filters.

These are either band-pass filters, or band-pass filters with a rejection notch which is tuned to the center frequency of the other filter. The number of cascaded filter sections is determined by the frequency separation and the ultimate attenuation requirements.

Duplexers for the amateur bands represent a significant technical challenge, because in most cases amateur repeaters operate with significantly less frequency separation than their commercial counterparts. Many manufacturers market high quality duplexers for the amateur frequencies.

Duplexers consist of very high-Q cavities whose resonant frequencies are determined by mechanical components, in particular the tuning rod. The rod is usually made of a material that has a limited thermal expansion coefficient (such as Invar). Detuning of the cavity by environmental changes introduces unwanted losses in the antenna system.

These can be broken into four major categories:

Ambient temperature variation (which leads to mechanical variations related to the thermal expansion coefficients of the materials used in the cavity).
Humidity (dielectric constant) variation.
Localized heating from the power dissipated in the cavity (resulting from its insertion loss).
Mechanical variations resulting from other factors (vibration, etc).

In addition, because of the high-Q nature of these cavities, the insertion loss of the duplexer increases when the signal is not at the peak of the filter response. This means, in practical terms, that less power is radiated for a given transmitter output power.

Also, the drift in cavities in the receiver line results in increased system noise figure, reducing the sensitivity of the repeater. As the frequency separation between the receiver and the transmitter decreases, the insertion loss of the duplexer reaches certain practical limits. At 144 MHz, the minimum insertion loss for 600 kHz spacing is 1.5 dB per filter.

Testing and using duplexers requires some special considerations (especially as frequency increases). Because duplexers are very high-Q devices, they are very sensitive to the termination impedances at their ports. A high SWR on any port is a serious problem, because the apparent insertion loss of the duplexer will increase, and the isolation may appear to decrease. Some have found that when duplexers are used at the limits of their isolation capabilities, a small change in antenna SWR is enough to cause receiver desensitization. This occurs most often under ice-loading conditions on antennas with open-wire phasing sections.

The choice of connectors in the duplexer system is important. BNC connectors are good for use below 300 MHz. Above 300 MHz, their use is discouraged because even though many types of BNC connectors work well up to 1 GHz, older style standard BNC connectors are inadequate at UHF and above.

Type N connectors should be used above 300 MHz. It is false economy to use marginal quality connectors. Some commercial users have reported deteriorated isolation in commercial UHF repeaters when using such connectors. The location of a bad connector in a system is a complicated and frustrating process. Despite all these considerations, the duplexer is still the best method for obtaining isolation in the 144 - 925 MHz range.

Source: the ARRL Antenna Handbook

Coronal mass ejection heading our way

2012-01-21T04:59:00.000-08:00

An active sunspot erupted Thursday, Jan. 19th, producing an M3-class solar flare and a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME). The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory recorded the cloud expanding almost directly toward Earth.
Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab say strong geomagnetic storms are possible when the cloud arrives this weekend. Their animated forecast track predicts an impact on Jan. 21st at 22:30 UT (+/- 7 hrs).

Electra Proximity Payload :: SDR ( software-defined radio) by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

2012-01-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

Today, I stumbled upon a little SDR (software-defined radio) package with a big responsibility.

Electra Proximity Payload, is a software-defined radio defined and implemented by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for use between spacecraft. It is typically used by a lander to communicate with an orbiter that can then communicate with Earth.

Click here to download the complete specifications in PDF format

Sources: Wikipedia and NASA

Multiband Dipole Antenna

2012-01-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

Click on the image to enlarge it

This antenna system consists of a group of center-fed dipoles, all connected in parallel at the point where the transmission line joins them. The dipole elements are stagger-tuned. That is, they are individually cut to be λ/2 at different frequencies.

An extension of the stagger tuning idea is to construct multi-wire dipoles cut for different bands.
In theory, the 4-wire antenna of Fig 14 can be used with a coaxial feeder on five bands. The four wires are prepared as parallel-fed dipoles for 3.5, 7, 14, and 28 MHz. The 7-MHz dipole can be operated on its 3rd harmonic for 21-MHz operation to cover a fifth band. However, in practice it has been found difficult to get a good match to coaxial line on all bands.

The λ/2 resonant length of any one dipole in the presence of the others is not the same as for a dipole by itself due to interaction, and attempts to optimize all four lengths can become a frustrating procedure.
The problem is compounded because the optimum tuning changes in a different antenna environment, so what works for one amateur may not work for another. Even so, many amateurs with limited antenna space are willing to accept the mismatch on some bands just so they can operate on those frequencies using a single coax feed line.

Since this antenna system is balanced, it is desirable to use a balanced transmission line to feed it. The most desirable type of line is 75-ohm transmitting twin-lead. However, either 52-ohm or 75-ohm coaxial line can be used. Coax line introduces some unbalance, but this is tolerable on the lower frequencies. An alternative is to use a balun at the feed point, fed with coaxial cable.

The separation between the dipoles for the various frequencies does not seem to be especially critical. One set of wires can be suspended from the next larger set, using insulating spreaders (of the type used for feeder spreaders) to give a separation of a few inches. Users of this antenna often run some of the dipoles at right angles to each other to help reduce interaction. Some operators use inverted-V mounted dipoles as guy wires for the mast that supports the antenna system.

An interesting method of construction used successfully by Louis Richard, ON4UF, is shown below.
The antenna has four dipoles (for 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz) constructed from 300-ohm ribbon transmission line. A single length of ribbon makes two dipoles. Thus, two lengths, as shown in the sketch, serve to make dipoles for four bands. Ribbon with copper-clad steel conductors (Amphenol type 14-022) should be used because all of the weight, including that of the feed line, must be supported by the uppermost wire. Two pieces of ribbon are first cut to a length suitable for the two halves of the longest dipole.
Then one of the conductors in each piece is cut to proper length for the next band higher in frequency. The excess wire and insulation is stripped away. A second pair of lengths is prepared in the same manner, except that the lengths are appropriate for the next two higher frequency bands.

Click on the image to enlarge it

A piece of thick polystyrene sheet drilled with holes for anchoring each wire serves as the central insulator. The shorter pair of dipoles is suspended the width of the ribbon below the longer pair by clamps also made of poly sheet. Intermediate spacers are made by sawing slots in pieces of poly sheet so they will fit the ribbon snugly. The multiple-dipole principle can also be applied to vertical antennas. Parallel or fanned λ/4 elements of wire or tubing can be worked against ground or tuned radials from a common feed point.

Source: The ARRL Antenna Handbook

The J-Pole Antenna

2012-01-15T04:33:00.000-08:00

Click on the image to enlarge it

The J-Pole is a half-wave antenna that is end-fed at its bottom. Since the radiator is longer than that of a 1/4-wave ground-plane antenna, the vertical lobe is compressed down toward the horizon and it has about 1.5 dB of gain compared to the ground-plane configuration.

The stub-matching section used to transform the high impedance seen looking into a half-wave to 50 Ω coax is shorted at the bottom, making the antenna look like the letter “J,” and giving the antenna its name. Rigid copper tubing, fittings and assorted hardware can be used to make a really rugged J-pole antenna for 2 meters. When copper tubing is used, the entire assembly can be soldered together, ensuring electrical integrity, and making the whole antenna weatherproof.

No special hardware or machined parts are used in this antenna, nor are insulating materials needed, since the antenna is always at dc ground. Best of all, even if the parts aren’t on sale, the antenna can be built for less than $15. If you only build one antenna, you’ll have enough tubing left over to make most of a second antenna.

Construction
Copper and brass is used exclusively in this antenna. These metals get along together, so dissimilar metal corrosion is eliminated. Both metals solder well, too.

Cut the copper tubing to the lengths indicated. Item 9 is a 11/4-inch nipple cut from the 20-inch length of 1/2-inch tubing. This leaves 183/4 inches for the 1/4-matching stub. Item 10 is a 31/4-inch long nipple cut from the 60-inch length of 3/4-inch tubing. The 3/4-wave element should measure 563/4-inches long.

Remove burrs from the ends of the tubing after cutting, and clean the mating surfaces with sandpaper, steel wool, or emery cloth. After cleaning, apply a very thin coat of flux to the mating elements and assemble the tubing, elbow, tee, end caps and stubs. Solder the assembled parts with a propane torch and rosin-core solder. Wipe off excess solder with a damp cloth, being careful not to burn yourself.

The copper tubing will hold heat for a long time after you’ve finished soldering. After soldering, set the assembly aside to cool. Flatten one each of the 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch pipe clamps. Drill a hole in the flattened clamp as shown. Assemble the clamps and cut off the excess metal from the flattened clamp using the unmodified clamp as a template. Disassemble the clamps. Assemble the 1/2-inch clamp around the 1/4-wave element and secure with two of the screws, washers, and nuts as shown. Do the same with the 3/4-inch clamp around the 3/4-wave element. Set the clamps initially to a spot about 4 inches above the bottom of the “J” on their respective elements. Tighten the clamps only finger tight, since you’ll need to move them when tuning.

Tuning
The J-Pole can be fed directly from 50-ohm coax through a choke balun (3 turns of the feed coax rolled into a coil about 8 inches in diameter and held together with electrical tape). Before tuning, mount the antenna vertically, about 5 to 10 feet from the ground. A short TV mast on a tripod works well for this purpose.

When tuning VHF antennas, keep in mind that they are sensitive to nearby objects—such as your body. Attach the feed line to the clamps on the antenna, and make sure all the nuts and screws are at least finger tight. It really doesn’t matter to which element (¾-wave element or stub) you attach the coaxial center lead.

Tune the antenna by moving the two feed-point clamps equal distances a small amount each time until the SWR is minimum at the desired frequency. The SWR will be close to 1:1.

Final Assembly
The final assembly of the antenna will determine its long-term survivability. Perform the following steps with care. After adjusting the clamps for minimum SWR, mark the clamp positions with a pencil and then remove the feed line and clamps. Apply a very thin coating of flux to the inside of the clamp and the corresponding surface of the antenna element where the clamp attaches. Install the clamps and tighten the clamp screws.

Solder the feed line clamps where they are attached to the antenna elements. Now, apply a small amount of solder around the screw heads and nuts where they contact the clamps. Don’t get solder on the screw threads! Clean away excess flux with a non-corrosive solvent.

After final assembly and erecting/mounting the antenna in the desired location, attach the feed line and secure with the remaining washer and nut. Weather-seal this joint with RTV.

Source: The ARRL Antenna Handbook

About vacuum power tubes, by Matt Erickson KK5DR

2012-01-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Alex VE2VEH found this very good article on vacuum power tubes by Matt Erickson KK5DR.

Source: Matt Erickson's website

The G5RV Multiband HF Antenna

2012-01-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

A multiband antenna that does not require a lot of space, is simple to construct, and is low in cost is the G5RV.

Designed in England by Louis Varney (G5RV) some years ago, it has become quite popular in the US. The G5RV design is shown in Fig 8. The antenna may be used from 3.5 through 30 MHz. Although some amateurs claim it may be fed directly with 50-Ω coax on several amateur bands with a low SWR, Varney himself recommended the use of an antenna tuner on bands other than 14 MHz. In fact, an analysis of the G5RV feed-point impedance shows there is no length of balanced line of any characteristic impedance that will transform the terminal impedance to the 50 to 75-Ω range on all bands. (Low SWR indication with coax feed and no matching network on bands other than 14 MHz may indicate excessive losses in the coaxial line.)

Fig 2 shows the 20-meter azimuthal pattern for a G5RV at a height of 50 feet over fl at ground, at an elevation angle of 5° that is suitable for DX work. For comparison, the response for two other antennas is also shown in Fig 2—a standard half wave 20-meter dipole at 50 feet and a 132-foot long center-fed dipole at 50 feet.

The G5RV on 20 meters is, of course, longer than a standard half wave dipole and it exhibits about 2 dB more gain compared to that dipole. With four lobes making it look rather like a four-leaf clover, the azimuth pattern is more omni directional than the two-lobed dipole. The 132-foot center-fed dipole is longer than the G5RV and it has about 0.5 dB more gain than the G5RV, also exhibiting four major lobes, along with two strong minor lobes in the plane of the wire. Overall, the azimuthal response for the G5RV is more omni directional than the comparison antennas.

The G5RV patterns for other frequencies are similar to those shown for the 135-foot dipole previously for other frequencies. Incidentally, you may be wondering why a 132-foot dipole is shown in Fig 2, rather than the 135-foot dipole described earlier.

The portion of the G5RV antenna shown as horizontal in Fig 1 may also be installed in an inverted-V dipole arrangement, subject to the same loss of peak gain mentioned above for the 135-foot dipole. Or instead, up to 1⁄6 of the total length of the antenna at each end may be dropped vertically, semi-vertically, or bent at a convenient angle to the main axis of the antenna, to cut down on the requirements for real estate.

Fig. 1

The G5RV multiband antenna covers 3.5 through 30 MHz. Although many amateurs claim it may be fed directly with 50-Ω coax on several amateur bands, Louis Varney, its originator, recommends the use of a matching network on bands other than 14 MHz.

Fig. 2

Azimuth pattern at a 5° takeoff angle for a 102-foot long, 50-foot high G5RV dipole (solid line). For comparison, the response for a 132-foot long, center-fed dipole at 50 feet height (dashed line) and a 33-foot long half wave 20-meter dipole at 50 feet (dotted line) are also shown. The longest antenna exhibits about 0.5 dB more gain than the G5RV, although the response is more omnidirectional for the G5RV—an advantage for a wire antenna that is not usually rotatable.

Source: ARRL Antenna Handbook 2010

Simple HF Antennas

2012-01-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

The simplest multiband antenna is a random length of #12 or #14 wire. Power can be fed to the wire on practically any frequency using one or the other of the methods shown in Fig 1. If the wire is made either 67 or 135 feet long, it can also be fed through a tuned circuit, as in Fig 2. It is advantageous to use an SWR bridge or other indicator in the coax line at the point marked “X.”

If you have installed a 28- or 50-MHz rotary beam, in many cases it may be possible to use the beam’s feed line as an antenna on the lower frequencies. Connecting the two wires of the feeder together at the station end will give a random length wire that can be conveniently coupled to the transmitter as in Fig 1. The rotary system at the far end will serve only to end-load the wire and will not have much other effect.

One disadvantage of all such directly fed systems is that part of the antenna is practically within the station, and there is a good chance that you will have some trouble with RF feedback. RF within the station can often be minimized by choosing a length of wire so that the low feed-point impedance at a current loop occurs at or near the transmitter. This means using a wire length of λ/4 (65 feet at 3.6 MHz, 33 feet at 7.1 MHz), or an odd multiple of λ/4 (3⁄4-λ is 195 feet at 3.6 MHz, 100 feet at 7.1 MHz).

Obviously, this can be done for only one band in the case of even harmonically related bands, since the wire length that presents a current loop at the transmitter will present a voltage loop at two (or four) times that frequency.

When you operate with a random-length wire antenna, as in Figs 1 and 2, you should try different types of grounds on the various bands, to see what gives you the best results. In many cases it will be satisfactory to return to the transmitter chassis for the ground, or directly to a convenient metallic water pipe. If neither of these works well (or the metallic water pipe is not available), a length of #12 or #14 wire (approximately λ/4 long) can often be used to good advantage. Connect the wire at the point in the circuit that is shown grounded, and run it out and down the side of the house, or support it a few feet above the ground if the station is on the first floor or in the basement. It should not be connected to actual ground at any point.

Fig 1 - At A, a random-length wire driven directly from the pi-network output of a transmitter. At B, an L network for use in cases where sufficient loading cannot be obtained with the arrangement at A. C1 should have about the same plate spacing as the final tank capacitor in a vacuum-tube type of transmitter; a maximum capacitance of 100 pF is sufficient if L1 is 20 to 25 μH. A suitable coil would consist of 30 turns of #12 wire, 2½ inches diameter, 6 turns per inch. Bare wire should be used so the tap can be placed as required for loading the transmitter.

Fig 2 - If the antenna length is 137 feet, a parallel-tuned coupling circuit can be used on each amateur band from 3.5 through 30 MHz, with the possible exception of the WARC 10-, 18- and 24-MHz bands. C1 should duplicate the final tank tuning capacitor and L1 should have the same dimensions as the final tank inductor on the band being used. If the wire is 67 feet long, series tuning can be used on 3.5 MHz as shown at the left; parallel tuning will be required on 7 MHz and higher frequency bands. C2 and L2 will in general duplicate the final tank tuning capacitor and inductor, the same as with parallel tuning. The L network shown in Fig 1B is also suitable for these antenna lengths.

Source: ARRL Antenna Handbook 2010

HRS Antennas

2012-01-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

HRS antennas were invented during the 1920s and 1930s when there was a lot of experimentation with long distance shortwave broadcasting

The Distributed or Branch Feed curtains are considered to be classical HRS type antennas. There are 4 mathematical model types of ITU HRS type HF antennas.

Distributed or Branch Feed curtain arrays are called HR type curtain arrays. The H and R standing for Height and Rows. When they are steerable, they are sometimes called HRS arrays, the S representing "steerable".

An HR 4/3 would be an antenna 4 elements high and 3 elements wide. If it was an HRS 4/3, it would be a steerable array of the same element configuration.

The HRS antenna type was not originally intended for voice and music broadcasting. However, the directional properties of this antenna type were ideal for voice broadcasting—and the design is now pervasive in international broadcasting by the 1950s. As far back as the mid-1930s, Radio Netherlands was using a rotatable HRS antenna for global coverage.

Read the full article on Wikipedia

Daytrip to Salem, New Hampshire

2011-11-28T11:04:00.001-08:00

Saturday, November 26, Claude VE2YI, Cliff VE2YU and myself hit the road very early in the morning. Our destination: the Pier 1 store in Salem, NH. To our surprise, the Ham Radio Outlet store was just 2 miles away from Pier 1 and we decided to check it out. Very strange coincidence!!

The border crossing was a breeze and luckily, the traffic was very light. Antennas, HF, DX, tuners, linear amplifiers, D-STAR and HF radios were the main topics on our way down there. We also made a few contacts on HF.

Thanks to a GPS setting, we managed to save 50 cents and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Bear Brook State Park. (According to other sources, we wasted 20 minutes and 10$ worth of gas...)

The HRO store was smaller than I expected but very nicely organized. The guys there were very welcoming and helpful. For me, the main attraction was the big shelf loaded with HF radios. I had a chance to see, touch and play with the most recent HF radios. I also spent a lot of time checking the Yaesu FT-950 ...

After about 2 hours of looking at radios, tuners, antennas, linear amplifiers, handhelds, D-STAR radios, magazines and lots of other things, we had a nice lunch and we headed back home.

On our way back, the topics shifted from amateur radio to more let's say social issues.

We really enjoyed this trip and we decided to extend it to a full weekend trip next year.

Ham Radio Licenses at an All-Time High

2011-11-22T12:12:00.001-08:00

The newest trend in American communication isn't another smartphone from Apple or Google but one of the elder statesmen of communication: Ham radio licenses are at an all time high, with over 700,000 licenses in the United States, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Ham radio first took the nation by storm nearly a hundred years ago. Last month the FCC logged 700,314 licenses, with nearly 40,000 new ones in the last five years. Compare that with 2005 when only 662,600 people hammed it up and you'll see why the American Radio Relay League -- the authority on all things ham -- is calling it a "golden age." Read the complete article here

Retrieved by Bruce Given VE2GZI

World's lightest material created by US engineers

2011-11-20T12:56:00.001-08:00

A team of engineers claims to have created the world's lightest material.

The substance is made out of tiny hollow metallic tubes arranged into a micro-lattice - a criss-crossing diagonal pattern with small open spaces between the tubes.

The researchers say the material is 100 times lighter than Styrofoam and has "extraordinarily high energy absorption" properties.

Potential uses include next-generation batteries and shock absorbers.

The research was carried out at the University of California, Irvine, HRL Laboratories and the California Institute of Technology and is published in the latest edition of Science.

"The trick is to fabricate a lattice of interconnected hollow tubes with a wall thickness 1,000 times thinner than a human hair," said lead author Dr Tobias Schaedler.

Retrieved by Alex Vegh VE2VEH
Complete article: BBC News

Marine AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (SART) Processor

2011-11-20T12:50:00.001-08:00

CML Microcircuits has announced the launch of the new cutting-edge Marine AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (SART) processor, the CMX7045.

An AIS-SART is a self-contained radio transmitter that is deployed by a survival craft or distressed vessel to notify its position for the purpose of rescue. In a rescue situation the device repeatedly transmits its updated position reports using a standard Automatic Identification System (AIS). Position and time synchronisation is derived from an onboard GNSS receiver (e.g. GPS). Every minute the unit transmits multiple position reports to maintain a high probability that at least one of the position reports is sent on the highest point of a wave, guiding rescue services accurately to its location.

The CMX7045 is a highly integrated and flexible baseband processor fulfilling the needs of an AIS-SART and meeting IEC 61097-14 requirements. In addition to providing the core AIS-SART formatted data functionality, the CMX7045 incorporates a number of auxiliary operations that assist in the overall system implementation and therefore reduce component count and cost.

CMX7045 AIS-SART Processor IC:
•   9600 baud GMSK modulator
•   AIS-SART formatted data
•   Very low power sleep modes
•   PA Ramp automation
•   Four DAC outputs
•   Multiplexed two-input ADC
•   System PLL clocks
•   Small 48-pin VQFN/LQFP packages
•   IEC 61097-14 compliant

Retrieved by Claude Everton VE2YI
Source: CML Microcircuits

Amateur radio, a valuable disaster communication resource

2011-11-20T07:13:00.001-08:00

Amateur radio technology has historically played an important role in emergency communications during large-scale disasters all around the world. During Hurricane Katrina, for instance, hundreds of "ham" radio operators traveled south with their mobile radio equipment to help provide what was often the only method of communications that victims--cut off from telephones, cell and the internet service and even television broadcasts--had with official government information sources. And during Hurricane Earl in September 2010, amateur enthusiasts manned their highly portable radio equipment to provide critical communications for many of the Red Cross evacuation shelters throughout the Northeast.

That's why it's a so important for emergency managers to reach out to local ham radio operators and groups. Odds are they'll be more than enthusiastic about volunteering their time, technical know-how and talent to be a part of your emergency communications strategy.

Speaking on behalf of the American Red Cross, Bob Birch, a Red Cross volunteer says, “This isn’t just your grandpa’s quaint little hobby. The communication networks amateur radio people can stand up and operate instantly have saved many lives in recent months when other systems failed or were overloaded. Amateur radio is a vital part of Red Cross preparedness and response in times of emergency and we stand ready to contribute our skills whenever they are needed.”

Retrieved by Claude Everton VE2YI
Source: Federal Signal Blog

A sense of humour or a close call? Claude VE2YI

2011-11-20T05:32:00.001-08:00

Two British traffic patrol officers from North Berwick were involved in an unusual incident while checking for speeding motorists on the A1 Great North Road. One of the officers used a hand held radar device to check the speed of a vehicle approaching over the crest of a hill, and was surprised when the speed was recorded at over 300 mph. Their radar suddenly stopped working and the officers were not able to reset it.
Just then a deafening roar over the tree tops revealed that the radar had in fact latched on to a NATO Tornado fighter jet which was engaged in low flying exercise over the Border district, approaching from the North Sea.
Back at police headquarters the chief constable fired off a stiff letter of complaint to the RAF Liaison Office. By return came the reply in true laconic RAF style:

"Thank you for your message, which now allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked onto, your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, an air-to-ground missile aboard the fully-armed aircraft had also automatically locked onto your equipment. Fortunately the pilot flying the Tornado recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile systems alert status, and was able to override the automated defence system before the missile was launched and your hostile radar installation was destroyed.
Good Day"

Finally on HF and just in time for ARRL's November Sweepstake

2011-11-19T17:23:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Cliff VE2YU, today I pressed the PTT for the first time on HF, after a few months of listening. N4WW answered my call on 14.220 MHz with 59 report.

We started early (well, at least for a Saturday) and we drafted the big plan for the day.
The top 10' of the existing pole with came down and we installed the supporting hardware for the multiband antenna Cliff built for me. Cliff did a great job and built a great antenna for 10m, 15m, 20m and 40m.
Initially we planned to rise the whole mast from 20' to 30' but we decided to go only 5' higher due to the weather conditions (it was a windy morning).
Everything worked as planned and the antenna and the balun went up the mast in no time.

The moment of truth came: checking the SWR. To our surprise the SWR was extremely high on all bands. After a few tests, we found the cause: one of the connectors on the coaxial cable was faulty and caused the high SWR reading. Once that problem fixed, the antenna required just some minuscule adjustments and the SWR was below 1.8 an all bands. Well, almost ... The 10m section stubbornly refused to go below 2:1... Not ideal but perfectly acceptable.

Another hole in my window frame and the new coax was in.

We took a break and enjoyed lunch and a glass of Bordeaux and we moved in "the shack".
With the external tuner connected we press the PTT and surprise-surprise, NO POWER!
We pushed this, we turned that, we checked the connectors ... !@#$!! Still no output. Five minutes later we found the problem: the radio's internal tuner was playing games on us. We disabled it and we went from zero to 100W.

The antenna tuned great on all bands (10m, 15m, 20m and 40m) and to our surprise, also on 80m.

Cliff gave me a crash course on tuning, HF etiquette and Ham Radio Deluxe software and I was somehow ready to begin my adventure on the lower bands. With ARRL's November Sweepstake taking place today, I had a chance to make a few contacts on my first day on HF.

Once again, a BIG THANK YOU to Cliff VE2YU for everything!
I made my debut on HF today using the Cliff's Yaesu FT-890 and his tuner and also the antenna he built for me.

Tactical UHF Mobile Antenna

2011-11-18T13:40:00.001-08:00

The VCF400-470 mobile antenna from Radiant Antennas is an omnidirectional, vertically polarized, rugged and versatile UHF antenna intended for tactical mobile communications in the 400 - 470 MHz frequency range.
Encased in a high strength fiberglass sleeve, the VCF400-470 is robust, impact resistant, and able to withstand the rigorous demands of harsh military environments.
Being center-fed in design, the VCF400-470 is ground plane independent and therefore ideal on platforms where limited or no ground plane is available, or for mast mounted application (mast adapter required).

Frequency Range: 400 - 470MHz
Impedance: 50 Ohm
Power: 100 Watts
VSWR: < 2:1
Gain: +2dBi
Connector: N Female
Length: 23.6"

Radiant Antennas Website

Propagation Summary :: 902 - 928 MHz (33cm)

2011-11-17T13:32:00.001-08:00

Ionospheric modes of propagation are nearly unknown in the bands above 902 MHz.
Auroral scatter may be just within amateur capabilities at 902 MHz, but signal levels will be well below those at 432 MHz.
Doppler shift and distortion will be considerable, and the signal bandwidth may be quite wide. No other ionospheric propagation modes are likely, although highpowered research radars have received echoes from auroras and meteors as high as 3 GHz.
Almost all extended-distance work in the UHF and microwave bands is accomplished with the aid of tropospheric enhancement. The frequencies above 902 MHz are very sensitive to changes in the weather.
Tropospheric ducting occurs more frequently than in the VHF bands and the potential range is similar. At 1296 MHz, 2000-km (1200-mi) continental paths and 4000-km (2500-mi) paths between California and Hawaii have been spanned many times. Contacts of 1000 km (620 mi) have been made on all bands through 10 GHz in the US and over 1600 km (1000 mi) across the Mediterranean Sea.
Well-equipped 903- and 1296-MHz stations can work reliably up to 300 km (190 mi), but normal working ranges generally shorten with increasing frequency.
Other tropospheric effects become evident in the GHz bands. Evaporation inversions, which form over very warm bodies of water, are usable at 3.3 GHz and higher. It is also possible to complete paths by scattering from rain, snow and hail in the lower GHz bands.
Above 10 GHz, attenuation caused by atmospheric water vapor and oxygen become the most significant limiting factors in long-distance communication.

Propagation Summary :: 430 - 450 MHz (70cm)

2011-11-17T13:29:00.001-08:00

The lowest amateur UHF band marks the highest frequency on which ionospheric propagation is commonly observed.
Auroral signals are weaker and more Doppler distorted; the range is usually less than at 144 or 222 MHz.
Meteor scatter is much more difficult than on the lower bands, because bursts are significantly weaker and of much shorter duration.
Although sporadic E and FAI are unknown as high as 432 MHz and probably impossible, TE may be possible.
Well-equipped 432-MHz stations can expect to work over a radius of at least 300 km (190 mi) in the absence of any propagation enhancement.
Tropospheric refraction is more pronounced at 432 MHz and provides the most frequent and useful means of extended-range contacts.
Tropospheric ducting supports contacts of 1500 km (930 mi) and farther over land. The current 432-MHz terrestrial DX record of more than 4000 km (2500 mi) was accomplished by ducting over water.

Propagation Summary :: 222 - 225 MHz (135cm)

2011-11-16T11:28:00.001-08:00

The 135-cm band shares many characteristics with the 2 meter band.
The normal working range of 222-MHz stations is nearly as far as comparably equipped 144-MHz stations. The 135-cm band is slightly more sensitive to tropospheric effects, but ionospheric modes are more difficult to use.
Auroral and meteorscatter signals are somewhat weaker than at 144 MHz, and sporadic E contacts on 222 MHz are extremely rare.
FAI and TE may also be well within the possibilities of 222 MHz, but reports of these modes on the 135-cm band are uncommon.
Increased activity on 222 MHz will eventually reveal the extent of the propagation modes on the highest of the amateur VHF bands.

Propagation Summary :: 144 - 148 MHz (2m)

2011-11-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Ionospheric effects are significantly reduced at 144 MHz, but they are far from absent.
F layer propagation is unknown except for TE, which is responsible for the current 144-MHz terrestrial DX record of nearly 8000 km (5000 mi).
Sporadic E occurs as high as 144 MHz less than a tenth as often as at 50 MHz, but the usual maximum single-hop distance is the same, about 2300 km (1400 mi). Multiple-hop sporadic E contacts greater than 3000 km (1900 mi) have occurred from time to time across the continental US, as well as across Southern Europe.
Auroral propagation is quite similar to that found at 50 MHz, except that signals are weaker and more Doppler-distorted. Auroral E contacts are rare.
Meteor-scatter contacts are limited primarily to the periods of the great annual meteor showers and require much patience and operating skill. Contacts have been made via FAI on 144 MHz, but its potential has not been fully explored.
Tropospheric effects improve with increasing frequency, and 144 MHz is the lowest VHF band at which weather plays an important propagation role.
Weather-induced enhancements may extend the normal 300- to 600-km (190- to 370-mi) range of wellequipped stations to 800 km (500 mi) and more, especially during the summer and early fall. Tropospheric ducting extends this range to 2000 km (1200 mi) and farther over the continent and at least to 4000 km (2500 mi) over some well-known all-water paths, such as that between California and Hawaii.

Propagation Summary :: 50 - 54 MHz (6m)

2011-11-15T11:13:00.001-08:00

The lowest amateur VHF band shares many of the characteristics of both lower and higher frequencies. In the absence of any favorable ionospheric propagation conditions, well-equipped 50-MHz stations work regularly over a radius of 300 km (190 mi) via tropospheric scatter, depending on terrain, power, receiver capabilities and antenna.
Weak-signal troposcatter allows the best stations to make 500-km (310-mi) contacts nearly any time. Weather effects may extend the normal range by a few hundred km, especially during the summer months, but true tropospheric ducting is rare.
During the peak of the 11-year sunspot cycle (especially during the winter months), worldwide 50-MHz DX is possible via the F2 layer during daylight hours. F2 backscatter provides an additional propagation mode for contacts as far as 4000 km (2500 mi) when the MUF is just below 50 MHz. TE paths as long as 8000 km (5000 mi) across the magnetic equator are common around the spring and fall equinoxes of peak solar cycle years.
Sporadic E is probably the most common and certainly the most popular form of propagation on the 6 meter band. Single hop E-skip openings may last many hours for contacts from 600 to 2300 km (370 to 1400 mi), primarily during the spring and early summer. Multiple-hop Es provides transcontinental contacts several times a year, and contacts between the US and South America, Europe and Japan via multiple-hop E-skip occur nearly every summer.
Other types of E layer ionospheric propagation make 6 meters an exciting band. Maximum distances of about 2300 km (1400 mi) are typical for all types of E layer modes.
Propagation via FAI often provides additional hours of contacts immediately following sporadic E events.
Auroral propagation often makes its appearance in late afternoon when the geomagnetic field is disturbed. Closely related auroral E propagation may extend the 6 meter range to 4000 km (2500 mi) and sometimes farther across the northern states and Canada, usually after midnight.
Meteor scatter provides brief contacts during the early morning hours, especially during one of the dozen or so prominent annual meteor showers.

Propagation Summary :: 28.0 - 29.7 MHz (10m)

2011-11-15T11:10:00.001-08:00

The 10 meter band is well known for extreme variations in characteristics and a variety of propagation modes. During solar maxima, long-distance F2 propagation is so efficient that very low power can produce strong signals halfway around the globe. DX is abundant with modest equipment. Under these conditions, the band is usually open from sunrise to a few hours past sunset.
During periods of moderate solar activity, 10 meters usually opens only to low and trans-equatorial latitudes around noon. During the solar minimum, there may be no F2 propagation at any time during the day or night.
Sporadic E is fairly common on 10 m, especially May through August, although it may appear at any time. Short skip, as sporadic E is sometimes called on the HF bands, has little relation to the solar cycle and occurs regardless of F layer conditions. It provides single-hop communication from 300 to 2300 km (190 to 1400 mi) and multiple-hop opportunities of 4500 km (2800 mi) and farther.
Ten meters is a transitional band in that it also shares some of the propagation modes more characteristic of VHF. Meteor scatter, aurora, auroral E and trans-equatorial propagation provide the means of making contacts out to 2300 km (1400 mi) and farther, but these modes often go unnoticed at 28 MHz.
Techniques similar to those used at VHF can be very effective on 10 meters, as signals are usually stronger and more persistent.

Amateur Radio Designs for Older Operators, by Alexander R. Vegh

2011-11-14T11:25:00.001-08:00

Following several weeks of research and gathering Human Factors methodology design principals from various sources, I am pleased to present a paper entitled "Wide-Ranging design goals and human factors methodologies applied to future Amateur Radio designs for Older Operators" Possible solutions for manufacturers for correcting some of the Human Factors related design shortcomings in future Amateur Radio Designs as it effects Older Operators are identified.

Currently several government, military, aerospace and commercial industries require Human Factors to be incorporated early in the new equipment design phase. I decided to analyze the apparent effects of a general lack of Human Factors design principals when applied to the Amateur Radio industry with special emphasis on how Older Operators are effected.

Why the focus on Older Amateur Radio Operators?

My research revealed some interesting statistics mainly that there presently ~ 3.6 million government licensed Amateur Radio Operators worldwide with the majority of countries reporting the average age of their Amateur Radio Operators being 60+.

Also worth noting, most new Operators wait until they are between 40 and 50 years of age before acquiring their Amateur Radio License.

With Older Amateur Radio Operators now demographically in the majority, Amateur Radio manufacturers must start adopting a New Wide-Ranging Design Philosophy which includes Human Factors Methodologies as applied to the special needs of an Aging Worldwide Amateur Radio Population.

With this goal in mind and offering some solutions for manufacturers to help with implementing this New Wide-Ranging Design Philosophy, here then is my paper.

Alexander R. Vegh
Industry Canada Licensed Amateur Radio Operator
IC Authorized Call VE2VEH

Click here to download the complete article in MS Word format

MIT researchers develop a radar system that locates people behind concrete walls

2011-11-14T07:06:00.001-08:00

MIT Lincoln Laboratory researchers developed a new radar system that looks through walls.
This ultrawideband (UWB) multiple-input, multiple-output phased-array sensor has real-time acquisition and processing capability and provides video-like synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of people moving behind a concrete wall. The system demonstrated the ability to capture meaningful imagery at a 10.8 Hz frame rate through 4-inch- and 8-inch-thick, as well as cinder block, walls from a standoff distance of approximately 20 feet.
(full article here)

VE2RMP :: Live Audio Feed

2011-11-12T15:56:00.001-08:00

A new feature was added to our website recently: live audio feed of the VE2RMP repeater.
The live feed is still in testing/development stage for now and your feedback is really appreciated.
Also, during this testing period, the audio player will be hosted only on the English home page of our website.
Have fun!

Une nouvelle fonctionnalité a été ajoutée à notre site Web récemment: retransmission en direct du répéteur VE2RMP.
La retransmission en direct est encore en stade de développement pour le présent et vos commentaires sont vraiment appréciés.
Aussi, durant cette période d'essai, le lecteur audio sera hébergé uniquement sur la page d'accueil anglaise de notre site Web.
Amusez-vous!

Propagation Summary :: 24.89 - 24.99 MHz (12m)

2011-11-12T15:41:00.001-08:00

This band offers propagation that combines the best of the 10 and 15 meter bands.
Although 12 meters is primarily a daytime band during low and moderate sunspot years, it may stay open well after sunset during the solar maximum.
During years of moderate solar activity, 12 meters opens to the low and middle latitudes during the daytime hours, but it seldom remains open after sunset.
Periods of low solar activity seldom cause this band to go completely dead, except at higher latitudes.
Occasional daytime openings, especially in the lower latitudes, are likely over north-south paths.
The main sporadic E season on 24 MHz lasts from late spring through summer and short openings may be observed in mid-winter.

Propagation Summary :: 21.0 - 21.45 MHz (15m)

2011-11-12T15:39:00.001-08:00

The 15 meter band has long been considered a prime DX band during solar cycle maxima, but it is sensitive to changing solar activity.
During peak years, 15 meters is reliable for daytime F2 layer DXing and will often stay open well into the night.
During periods of moderate solar activity, 15 meters is basically a daytime-only band, closing shortly after sunset.
During solar minimum periods, 15 meters may not open at all except for infrequent north-south trans-equatorial circuits.
Sporadic E is observed occasionally in early summer and midwinter, although this is not common and the effects are not as pronounced as on the higher frequencies.

Propagation Summary :: 18.068 - 18.168 MHz (17m)

2011-11-11T07:32:00.001-08:00

The 17 meter band is similar to the 20 meter band in many respects, but the effects of fluctuating solar activity on F2 propagation are more pronounced.
During the years of high solar activity, 17 meters is reliable for daytime and early-evening long-range communication, often lasting well after sunset.
During moderate years, the band may open only during sunlight hours and close shortly after sunset.
At solar minimum, 17 meters will open to middle and equatorial latitudes, but only for short periods during midday on north-south paths.

Propagation Summary :: 14.0 - 14.35 MHz (20m)

2011-11-11T07:31:00.001-08:00

The 20 meter band is traditionally regarded as the amateurs’ primary long-haul DX favorite.
Regardless of the 11-year solar cycle, 20 meters can be depended on for at least a few hours of worldwide F2 propagation during the day.
During solar maximum periods, 20 meters will often stay open to distant locations throughout the night. Skip distance is usually appreciable and is always present to some degree.
Daytime E layer propagation may be detected along very short paths.
Atmospheric noise is not a serious consideration, even in the summer. Because of its popularity, 20 meters tends to be very congested during the daylight hours.

Propagation Summary :: 10.1 - 10.15 MHz (30m)

2011-11-10T05:26:00.000-08:00

The 30 meter band is unique because it shares characteristics of both daytime and nighttime bands.
D layer absorption is not a significant factor. Communication up to 3000 km (1900 mi) is typical during the daytime, and this extends halfway around the world via all-darkness paths.
The band is generally open via F2 on a 24-hour basis, but during a solar minimum, the MUF on some DX paths may drop below 10 MHz at night.
Under these conditions, 30 meters adopts the characteristics of the daytime bands at 14 MHz and higher.
The 30 meter band shows the least variation in conditions over the 11-year solar cycle, thus making it generally useful for long-distance communication anytime.

Propagation Summary :: 7.0 - 7.3 MHz (40m)

2011-11-10T05:22:00.000-08:00

The popular 40 meter band has a clearly definedskip zone during the day due to insufficient ionization to refract high angles.
D layer absorption is not as severe as on the lower bands, so short-distanceskip via the E and F layers is possible.
During the day, a typical station cancover a radius of approximately 800 km (500 mi). At night, reliable worldwide communicationvia F2 iscommon on the 40 meter band.
Atmospheric noise is much less troublesome than on160 and 80 meters, and 40 meter DX signals are often of sufficient strength tooverride even high-level summer static. For these reasons, 40 meters is thelowest-frequency amateur band considered reliable for DX communication in allseasons.
Even during the lowest point in the solar cycle, 40 meters may be openfor worldwide DX throughout the night.

Propagation Summary :: 3.5 - 4.0 MHz (80m, 75m)

2011-11-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

The lowest HF band is similar to 160 meters inmany respects.
Daytime absorption is significant, but not quite as extreme asat 1.8 MHz.
At night, signals are often propagated halfway around the world.
Asat 1.8 MHz, atmospheric noise is a nuisance, making winter the most attractiveseason for the 80/75 meter DXer.

Propagation Summary :: 1.8 - 2.0 MHz (160m)

2011-11-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

The 160m band suffersfrom daytime D layer absorption.
Daytime communication is limited to ground-wavecoverage and a single E hop out to about 1500 km for well equipped stations(running the full legal limit, a quarter-wave vertical with a good groundsystem, and a low noise receiving environment).
At night, the D layer quickly disappearsand worldwide 160 meter communicationbecomes possible via F2 layer skip andducting.
Atmospheric and man-made noise limits propagation.
Tropical and midlatitude thunderstorms cause high levels of static in summer, making winterevenings the best time to work DX at 1.8 MHz.
A proper choice of receivingantenna (Beverage, 4-square, small loop) can often significantly reduce theamount of received noise to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

VE2RMP Annual Meeting .:. President's Message

2011-11-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

Let me begin by expressing my gratitude for having been elected president of the VE2RMP Group during this past year.

It has been a pleasure to help, assist and maintain relations and equipment over the last year.

I know that expectations and challenges are sometimes high. To improve & to showcase the VE2RMP group and HAM-Radio as a Techno-semi-professional hobby, and to try and follow in the footsteps of our former president and some of you very knowledgeable members, my responsibility is to meet and hopefully surpass these expectations.

My duty is to meet the challenges, and work with and for you as part of our team to the betterment of us all.

I wish to extend thanks to all of our members and interested Hams, assistants, flashlight holders, information hunters, blog generators, antenna designers, net station operators, all of you D-Star enthusiasts - and all of you who have through your interests in this hobby, with your ardent desire to improve upon our image as good Amateur Radio Operators, to all of your heart’s content improved our organization and its activities. You have helped strengthen the sense and meaning of our members which serves as a guide to all amateur radio operators, students, interested parties consisting of listeners and users of our repeater facilities (as well as HF, VHF, UHF, scanner users, graduates and even some professionals) in every domain, in Quebec and abroad, through technologies such as Echolink, IRLP, and D-Star – aside from several others which shouldn’t be forgotten like Meteor Burst, moon-bounce and satellite communications… and there are even more…!!!

This next term will hopefully begin with the directed efforts of a few of you towards the revitalization of our activities, with some new projects such as: D-STAR, Free-Star, a full-fledge Field-Day event this coming spring - to begin with; and perhaps even more will be added and achieved as the year progresses.

With the quality of our members, and our agreements with associations & organizations (such as: RAQI, RAC, ARRL, Industry Canada, multiple suppliers, such as Motorola, VERTEX (YAESU), and ICOM, as well as others like Kenwood, HUTTON, Wireless Source & CAMBIUM (to name just a few), and our continued desire to obtain additional knowledge of the technical advances in this amazing world of “wireless” communications, from all sources available - manufacturers & system operators, Public Safety, Industrial & Commercial - in the Montreal region, and beyond - will provide us with the opportunity to elevate the quality, knowledge & standards of our Group and its facilities. This abundance of information on new technologies and processes will assist us all to help ourselves & each of our members (through mentoring, sponsorship, and networking tools) the offering of skills & development through education, which I firmly believe is the most important single item which will help to create more interest in our hobby, and by the same token attract many more youngsters (and students) into our fraternity of Amateur Radio.

This, I believe is the foremost challenge for the ongoing future of our hobby.

I think this is likely the most important value to maintain in order to develop those key skills required for us to be outstanding “HAMs”, providing the necessary learned material & training through that of our experiences and knowledge - to our friends & fellow members (and as a group) to all (both young & old) for the livelihood and continued enthusiasm that each of us have grown to desire, and are entitled to expect!

In this regard, the learned Guru’s of our D-Star team will be providing you with a demonstration & a whole lot of valuable information and training - following our Secretary’s reading of our past year’s activities, our hi-site(s) developments, regulatory issues, proposed new operating frequencies, our Group’s web-site, internet access and most importantly our financial budget, and the vote of directors.

In closing, I ask that you all take a few minutes to note to visit our Group’s website (graciously maintained by Christian VA2OOK and Cliff VE2YU) where you'll find very interesting, current information with continued updates supporting our efforts and on-going activities.

Please feel free to contact me directly, should you wish to express any comments or ideas or developments.

Respectfully yours,
Claude Everton - VE2YI
President , VE2RMP Radio Group

My D-Star Adventure, by Bruce Given VE2GZI

2011-10-20T05:15:00.000-07:00

Having always being interested in computers and all things digital is probably the reason that I started to look at the D-Star a couple of years ago , but the reports of bad audio and basically no repeaters in Montreal in English pretty much kept me away from purchasing a digital rig.

But last May, while in Dayton, I finally succumbed and purchased a Icom ID-880H as I had heard that VE2RM and VE2REX would be putting up repeaters (Thanks Cliff). So I brought it and due to family and work it pretty much stayed in its box on the shelf till late September, early October.

That just happened to be the time that ICOM was seeding the Canadian Market with free repeater offers to clubs.

VE2RM got one and finally got it installed, previous to this they had a mini style repeater but no gateway (internet access) so it was pretty limited.

As most of the comments that I had heard and Youtube videos that I looked at talked about the radios being pig’s to program, I thought that I would get a cable and download the software.
Well the ICOM software is OK but I am sure glad that I didn’t pay for it. Besides the fact that there is no manual, let’s just say that it’s not that intuitive (and that’s being nice). I finally got to grips with it and got the essentials programmed into the rig the standard URCALL ,MYCALL, Rpt1 and Rpt2 and yes don’t forget the 8th character it’s got to be the 8th on the call sign for the repeater or the thing will not work.

Well all sorted and I hit the PTT and I was on the air my first QSO on D-Star was Nick VE2HOT it’s fun it’s digital and it’s the future.

Having said that I have heard all the grumbling from other members of the Ham fraternity that the codec is no good and it sounds horrible and why is the band width so small and the why is the codec closed and not open source...

I could go on but really what matters is it`s Amateur radio, it`s not funded by a well know or huge corporation, it`s mostly a open standard and that`s the spirit of Amateur radio

Get out and try it have fun with it experiment that`s what amateur radio is about, if anybody wants help I am very happy to help.

Digitally yours,
Bruce VE2GZI

Robert Galvin, ex-Motorola CEO, dies aged 89

2011-10-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

Robert William Galvin

Robert William Galvin, son of Motorola founder Paul Galvin and company CEO from 1959 to 1988, has died peacefully during the night of October 11, 2011, in Chicago aged 89 years old.

Galvin is credited with transforming Motorola from a successful national leader into a global corporation. When he took over the company in 1959 it had annual sales of $290 million. In the year he stepped down as chairman, 1990, it had sales of $10.8 billion, according to a statement released by the Galvin family.

Galvin presided over Motorola's moves into Europe, Southeast Asia, Israel, India, Japan, Latin America and China and was leading proponent of management and business leadership theory. Under his leadership, Motorola developed the Six Sigma Quality improvement system and disseminated its findings across the globe. Motorola received the U.S. Commerce Department's first-ever Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Manufacturing in 1988

Galvin was also an advisor on telecom regulation and government policy. Galvin was one of the executives who along with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Strauss helped drive U.S. pressure on Japan to open up its domestic semiconductor market in the mid-1990s.

In retirement Galvin was a writer and philanthropist who invested in think-tanks and academic institutions with an interest covering topics ranging from electricity supply to transportation and management. Galvin was highly honored for his achievements and had received the National Medal of Technology, the French Legion of Honor medal and the Founders Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and most recently, the Marconi Society Lifetime Achievement Award.

While disagreement was considered a healthy sign at Motorola, Bob Galvin insisted on constant respect for people and uncompromising integrity.

Project 25 (P25) :: Short Presentation

2011-10-16T03:23:00.000-07:00

What is Project 25?
Project 25 is a digital radio system designed specifically for public safety applications by police, fire and medical services. It will also find applications with utility operators and other government agencies.
With interoperability and maximizing radio spectrum efficiency as fundamental requirements, Project 25 Phase I uses digital voice encoding to reduce the required bandwidth for speech transmission to 12.5 kHz, while simultaneously maintaining backward compatibility and inter-operation with the existing 25 kHz analog FM systems. A further development of the specification will reduce the required transmission bandwidth for voice down to 6.25 kHz, thus freeing up more spectrum for future use.
The Project 25 specifications are available in the public domain, enabling multiple equipment vendors to compete for this market with the objective of reducing end user costs and providing interoperability both within and between user communities.

Project 25 features
Only some of the features that make Project 25 suitable for public safety use are given here.
Priority calling enables calls to be ranked in importance so that the system is always available for high priority traffic such as emergency calls. These are usually accessed from a single key push on the terminal.
Encryption prevents call interception and ensures that the communication is kept secure.
Call Alert and User ID are used to keep the user fully informed of the status of the communication channel in use.
Group Calling allows a message to be broadcast to all other members of a specific group.
Affiliation enables the members of the group to change to meet operational requirements. This can be done over the air allowing dynamic reconfiguration of talk groups. Encryption keys can also be changed in this way to retain security within the talk groups.

Interoperability
User groups can be dynamically reconfigured over the air so that communications can be maintained between all those required to be in attendance. Cross-Band Repeaters can also be used when agencies are allocated different frequency plans.

Spectrum Efficiency
Existing analog technology supports voice traffic in a bandwidth of 25 kHz. The use of digital technology allows the same voice quality to be transmitted in a 12.5 kHz bandwidth for Project 25 Phase 1. In the future a more complex modulation will allow the same voice information to be transmitted in a 6.25 kHz bandwidth.

Basic System Components
Mobile terminals, either vehicular mounted or portable, communicate in normal mode to the Base repeaters. These are interconnected with a land line or microwave link to the main switch in the base station. Depending on system complexity, a Trunking controller may be included to provide more efficient use of spectrum if the traffic level demands it. Interfaces to a dispatch console complete the basic system and a PSTN interconnect can also be provided.
Additionally, the terminals have a talk around facility which allows direct communication between mobiles without the need for the infrastructure.

Trunking
Trunking gives a significant increase in capacity as well as having the capability to build a geographically larger network. Backwards compatibility with the existing analog systems enables Project 25 to use existing trunked infrastructure such as the Smartnet™ and Smartzone™ systems from Motorola.
The Project 25 standard also has its own defined trunked mode for implementation of a totally digital network.

Analog vs. Digital
In order to obtain an acceptable voice quality using analog FM modulation, a channel bandwidth approaching 25 kHz is required. Additionally, signaling to maintain the radio link and provide call management occupies some of the available resource.
The use of a high level modulation called Continuous 4 level FM (C4FM) enables 9600 bits to be transmitted in a 12.5 kHz channel. This enables error correction information to be transmitted along with the
voice signal and signaling information. The error correction is able to correct for small errors in the received signal thus providing a more robust service without any of the background hiss that you hear on analog systems as they get near the edge of range.
The Phase II implementation will use a further increase in modulation complexity to support the same 9600 bits in a 6.25 kHz channel.

Analog to Digital Conversion
In a digital system the voice is encoded into a bit stream by a device called a Vocoder. Various techniques are used to do this and the one selected for use in Project 25 is called an Improved Multi-Band Excitation (IMBE) Vocoder. This uses complex algorithms to reduce each 20ms of speech to 88 bits of information to be transmitted over the radio link. The receiving device reverses the process to produce 20ms of analog speech signal.
The IMBE Vocoder converts a 3100 Hz audio band (300-3400 Hz) to a 4400 bps digital signal.

Modulation
The Phase I implementation of Project 25 uses a modified form of four level FM as its modulation technique. The information is transmitted in the form of a digital data stream and is modulated as symbols.
Each symbol type is determined by two bits of data giving four symbol types in total. The symbol types are represented by a particular FM deviation applied to the carrier. The modulation is characterized as being complex because the deviation is not symmetrical about the carrier as you would expect in a conventional FM system although it is of fixed amplitude.
Compatible Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (CQPSK) has been considered as a possibility for Phase II modulation. With CQPSK, each symbol is identified by the phase change from the previous symbol. This is one of a family of modulations generally grouped under the term of linear modulation in which both the phase and the amplitude of the
signal vary from symbol to symbol.

Security flaws
According to an article published in The Wall Street journal in 2011, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania overheard conversations that included descriptions of undercover agents and confidential informants, plans for forthcoming arrests and information on the technology used in surveillance operations. It was determined that the messages sent over the radios are sent in segments, and blocking just a portion of these segments can result in the entire message being jammed. Their study also shows that the radios can be effectively jammed (single radio, short range) using a highly modified pink electronic child’s toy. With other systems, jammers have to expend a lot of power to block communications, but the P25 radios allow jamming at relatively low power, enabling the researchers to prevent reception using a $30 toy pager.

The report was presented at the 20th Usenix Security Symposium in San Francisco in August 2011. The report noted a number of security flaws in the Project 25 system, some specific to the way it has been implemented and some inherent in the security design.

The report did not find any breaks in the P25 encryption, however they observed large amounts of sensitive traffic being sent in the clear due to implementations problems. They found switch markings for secure and clear modes difficult to distinguish (∅ vs. o). This is exacerbated by the fact that P25 radios when set to secure mode continue to operate without issuing a warning if another party switches to clear mode. In addition, the report authors said many P25 systems change keys too often, increasing the risk that an individual radio on a net may not be properly keyed, forcing all users on the net to transmit in the clear to maintain communications with that radio.

One design choice was to use lower levels of error correction for portions of the encoded voice data that is deemed less critical for intelligibility. As a result bit errors may be expected in typical transmissions, and while harmless for voice communication, the presence of such errors force the use of stream ciphers, which can tolerate bit errors, and prevents the use of a standard technique, message authentication codes (MACs), to protect message integrity from stream cipher attacks. The varying levels of error correction are implemented by breaking P25 message frames into subframes. This allows an attacker to jam entire messages by transmitting only during certain short subframes that are critical to reception of the entire frame. As a result an attacker can effectively jam Project 25 signals with average power levels much lower that the power levels used for communication. Such attacks can be targeted at encrypted transmissions only, forcing users to transmit in the clear.

Because Project 25 radios are designed to work in existing two-way radio frequency channels, they cannot use spread spectrum modulation, which is inherently jam-resistant. An optimal spread spectrum system can require a effective jammer to use 1000 times as much power (30 db more) as the individual communicators. According to the report, a P25 jammer could effectively operate at 1/25th the power than the communicating radios. The authors developed a proof-of-concept jammer using a Texas Instruments CC1110 single chip radio, found in an inexpensive toy.

Interference from VE2RMP VHF repeater

2011-10-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

Last week, Gerry VE2AW informed us about an interference from what seemed to be the output signal of our VHF repeater, VE2RMP operating on 146.760 MHz from Lac Echo (Saint-Hippolyte, Québec).

Claude VE2YI

Friday evening, loaded with coffee and testing equipment, Claude VE2YI and Cliff VE2YU went back to the repeater site to investigate the issue. The spectrum analyzer confirmed that a faulty circulator installed on the TX leg of our MSR2000 VHF repeater was out of tune and caused a “spurious” condition to appear right on VE2RAW repeater’s input frequency of 144.710 MHz.

The replacement of the circulator by a newer Sinclair version has resolved the problem.

A big thank you for our emergency response team!

Cliff VE2YU

UPDATE 1: Saturday evening, Claude VE2YI went back to the repeater site to further investigate the issue. We'll keep you posted ...

UPDATE 2: A fresh “re-tweak” of the PA (power amplifier) fixed the issue for now.

A short presentation of D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio)

2011-10-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

D-STAR(Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) is a digital voice and data protocolspecification developed as the result of research by the Japan Amateur Radio League(JARL) to investigate digital technologies for Amateur Radio in 2001. While thereare other digital on-air technologies being used by amateurs that weredeveloped for other services, D-STAR is one of the first on-air protocols to bewidely deployed and sold by a major radio manufacturer that is designedspecifically for amateur service use.

D-STARtransfers both voice and data via a data stream over the 2 meter (VHF), 70 cm (UHF),and 23 cm (1.2 GHz) Amateur Radio bands either simplex or via repeater. One ofthe interesting features about the D-STAR protocol is the fact the system uses AmateurRadio call signs not only as an identifier, but for signal routing.

Inthe most common configuration, the most vital part of a D-STAR system is thegateway server, which networks a single system into a D-STAR network via a trustserver. The trust server provides a central,master database to look up users and their associated system. Allowing Amateur Radiooperators to respond to calls made to them, regardless of their location on theD-STAR Network. While almost all documentation references the Internet as theconnection point for a network, any IP network connectivity will work,depending on signal latency. Additionally, D-STAR can provide a zero infrastructuresupport system utilizing point-to-point “backbone” 10 GHz connections.Currently, the global D-STAR trust server is maintained by a group of dedicatedD-STAR enthusiasts from Dallas, Texas — the Texas Interconnect Team.

TheD-STAR protocol specifies two modes; Digital Voice (DV) and Digital Data (DD).In the protocol, the DV mode provides both voice and low speed data channel on 2meters, 70 cm and 23 cm over a 4800-bit/s data stream. In the protocol, the DVmode uses a data rate of 4800 bit/s. This data stream is broken down to threemain packages: voice, forward error correction (FEC) and data.

The largestportion of the data stream is the voice package, which is a total of 3600bits/s with 1200 bits/s dedicated to forward error correction, leaving 1200bit/s for data. This additional data contains various data flags as well as thedata header, leaving about 950 bit/s available for either GPS or serial data.This portion of the data stream does not provide any type of error correction, which has been overcome byimplementing error correction in the application software.

Whilethere are various techniques of encoding and transporting a DV signal, the focusof D-STAR’s design was the most efficient way to conserve RF spectrum. While D-STAR’s"advertised" occupied bandwidth is 6.25 kHz, tests reveal a band planof 10 kHz spacing is adequate to incorporatethe D-STAR signal as well as provide space for channel guards.

Inaddition to DV mode, the D-STAR protocol outlines the high speed Digital Data(DD) mode. This higher speed data, 128 kbit/s, is available only on the 23 cm bandbecause it requires an advertised 130 kHzbandwidth, only available at 23 cm in world-wide band plans. Unlike the DV moderepeaters, the DD mode module operates as an "access point" operatingin half duplex, switching quickly on a single channel. As with the DV mode,there is a portion of the data stream used for signal identification with thedata header as well as various system flags and other D-STAR related items.Once this portion of the data stream is taken into consideration, the 128kbit/s is reduced to approximately 100 kbit/s — still more than double adial-up connection speed with significant range.

Anotherconsideration is the data rate specified at 128 kbit/s is the gross data rate.Therefore, the system developers are challenged by the area coverage/potential userissue. Meaning the higher the elevation of the system, the more potential usersand the slower the system will become as all the users split the databandwidth.

Finally,there is an issue from the days of packet radio. While technically, theopportunity for "hidden transmitter" issues does exist and collisionsdo occur, the T/R switching is very fast and this effect is handled by TCP/IPas it is for WiFi access points.

Thesimplex channel eliminates the need for duplexers at a repeater site if onlythe DD mode system is installed. It is still recommended to have filtering,such as a band-pass filter, in place to reduce possible interference from other digital sources closeto the 23 cm band as well as reduce RF overload from nearby RF sources. Whilesome DD Mode system owners would like more sensitivity or more output power (10W), at the time of print, no manufacturer has developed pre-amps or RF poweramplifiers with an adequate T/R switching time to boost the signals.

Radioscurrently providing DV mode data service use a serial port for low-speed data (1200bit/s), while the DD mode radio offers a standard Ethernet connection for high speed(128 kbps) connections, to allow easy interfacing with computer equipment. The DD-modeEthernet jack allows two radios to act as an Ethernet bridge without anyspecial software support required. This allows standard file sharing, FTP,TELNET, HTTP/ Web browsing, IRC chat or even Remote Desktop Connections tofunction as if connected bywire.

In aGateway configuration, ALL users must be registered in the network. Thisprovides the DD mode sysop a layer of authorization, meaning that if someonewants to use a DD-mode system, and they have not received authorization to usethe gateway, their DD mode access will be denied. Any gateway registered user,on the common network, can use any DD-mode system, even if the registration was not made on that system.While we are not able to use encryption in the Amateur Radio service, securitycan be implemented in standard software or consumer routers and firewalls.

AD-STAR repeater system consists of at least one RF module and a controller.While any combination of RF modules can be installed, typically a full system includesthe three voice modules (2 m, 70 cm and 23 cm) and the 23 cm DD mode module.

A computer with dual Ethernet ports, running theGateway software is required for Internet access to the global network. Anadditional server, as shown in the diagram, can be incorporated for localhosting of e-mail, chat, FTP, Web and other services. In a D-STAR systeminstallation, the standard repeater components (cavities, isolators, antennas, etc.)are not shown but are required as with any analog system. Some groups have removedanalog gear and replaced it with D-STAR components on the same frequency withno additional work beyond connecting the power and feed lines.

Larsen NMO 2/70C Mobile Antenna

2011-10-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

Larsen NMO 2/70C Dual Band Antenna

About a month ago I decided I don't want to deal with magnet mounts or trunk lip mounts anymore and I asked Claude VE2YI for help. So one Friday morning I showed up at his door and one hour later I had two permanent NMO mounts installed on my car, one on the roof and one on the trunk.

Using my old TRAM 1180 antenna, the tests showed a slight improvement both on RX and TX using the new mounts.

The next step was to replace my "old" dual band antenna with something better and after some online research I choose the Larsen NMO 2/70C antenna, the one with a closed phasing coil. Cliff VE2YU got me a nice discount from Peter at HRO, he ordered the antenna for me and a few days later it was already installed on my trunk.

I have to admit, in the beginning I wasn't very impressed with the "look and feel" of it. It looked like my old "budget" antenna, the whip was not as sturdy as the one on my UHF commercial antenna (PCTEL MUF4505, NGP)...

Out of the box the SWR was about 1.8:1 on 146.160 MHz (input of the VE2RMP repeater) and about 1.6:1 on 448.550 MHz (input of the VA2RMP repeater). Not too impressive for a "factory tuned" antenna. With Cliff's help and his SWR analyzer, we trimmed it a bit and I got the SWR down to 1.4 both on VHF and UHF. Not perfect but tolerable for me.

After testing it for about a week, I can definitely say that it makes a big difference compared to my initial setup. The reception improved dramatically in my noisy spots (Bell Center, Turcot Yards, South Shore) and I can make it into the repeater less noisy from the same spots.

My conclusion: I'm really pleased with the performance and the look of this antenna. Oh, and I think it's a bit lighter than the others (Diamond, Comet, etc .)

The VE2RMP VHF Repeater is back on air

2011-10-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words ...
This is what caused VE2RMP's repeater outage last Friday.

Claude VE2YI and Cliff VE2YU spent their evening fixing the issue.

Thank you guys!

The IARU Region 1 VHF Band Plan

2011-10-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

Frequency	Mode	Usage
144.000 144.110	Telegraphy (EME)	144.050 Telegraphy calling 144.100 Random MS
144.110 144.150	Telegraphy & MGM	144.110-144-160 EME MGM 144.138 PSK31 center of activity
144.150 144.180	Telegraphy, MGM & SSB	144.160-144.180 alternative MGM allocation 144.170 alternative MGM calling frequency
144.180 144.360	Telepgraphy & SSB	144.195-144.205 Random MS SSB 144.300 SSB calling
144.360 144.399	Telegraphy, MGM & SSB	144.370 FSK441 Random calling
144.399 144.491	Telegrapy & MGM	Beacons only 144.4905 +/- 500Hz WSPR Beacons
144.500 144.794	All Mode	144.500 SSTV calling 144.525 ATV SSB talk back 144.600 RTTY Calling 144.630-144.660 Linear transponder OUT 144.660.144.690 Linear tranponder IN 144.700 FAX calling 144.750 ATV Talk back
144.794 144.990	MGM	144.800 APRS
145.000 145.194	FM / Digital Voice	Repeater output exclusive
145.194 145.206	FM / Digital Voice	Space communications
145.206 145.5935	FM / Digital Voice	145.2375 FM Internet Voice Gateway 145.2875 FM Internet Voice Gateway 145.300 RTTY local 145.3375 FM Internet Vocie Gatway 145.375 digital voice calling 145.500 (mobile) calling
145.594 145.7935	FM / Digital Voice	Repeater Output exclusive
145.794 145.806	FM / Digital Voice	Space communication
145.806 146.000	All Mode	Satellite exclusive

OH8X Arcala Radio

2011-10-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

Today, I stumbled upon an article about this Finnish station, Radio Arcala OH8X, situated close to the Arctic Circle.
Their towers and antennae setup are impressive but their Mammoth 160/80M beam left me speechless ...

Mobile Antenna Placement

2011-10-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

When selecting a mobile antenna, there are a number of factors which significantly affect the ultimate performance of the antenna. Gain requirements, electrical type, ground plane availability, mounting style and placement, coaxial type and loss ratings, physical size, appearance and surrounding environment are issues to be addressed to ensure the maximum performance from a mobile antenna installation.

The electrical type or design of the mobile antenna is commonly referred to in terms of its wavelength: 1/4 wave, 1/2 wave, 5/8 wave, etc. Each electrical type has a specific radiating pattern to be considered when selecting a mobile antenna. For example, the signal radiating from a 1/4 wave antenna is directed more vertically, thus making it ideal in urban environments where buildings might obstruct the signal. A 5 dB collinear mobile antenna is designed to direct the signal more towards the horizon. This type of antenna is ideal for geographically flat regions where signal coverage is sparse.

Ground plane availability is another critical factor in mobile antenna performance which must be considered when determining the location and type of the antenna. Ground plane requirements vary given the type of mobile antenna and the frequency of operation. A typical 5/8 wave antenna at 150 MHz requires a ground plane at least 42” in diameter. At 450 MHz a 15” diameter ground plane is required, At 800 MHz a minimum of 8” is considered sufficient.

In terms of mounting mobile antennas on a vehicle, there are five general locations: roof, front fender, rear fender, trunk and rear window glass (although other glass mount locations may be used). Of these, the center of an automobile roof is considered the best for mobile antenna placement, followed by the center of the trunk lid, the fenders, then on-glass mounting. This ranking is determined by the amount of ground plane provided by the positioning and clearance from obstruction (i.e., the roof line).

The center of the roof is considered the ideal mounting location, provided the roof is metal.
The diagram below illustrates the effective loss (at 800MHz) due to insufficient symmetrical ground plane.

01. Permanent Mount - Center of the roof: 0.0 dB	07. Magnetic Mount - Trunk Corner: -3.4 dB
02. Magnetic Mount - Center of the roof: -0.02 dB	08. Magnetic Mount - Trunk Center: -2.1 dB
03. Magnetic Mount - Corner of the roof: -0.02 dB	09. Permanent Mount - Trunk Center: -2.8 dB
04. On Glass Mount - Upper Center: -0.5 dB	10. Trunk Lip Mount - Trunk Center: -2.8 dB
05. On Glass Mount - Middle Center: -1.2 dB	11. Magnetic Mount - Corner of the hood: -2.4 dB
06. On Glass Mount - Lower Center: -3.0 dB

A Successful Installation

A successful installation means that all product instructions are read, the right tools are available, and best practices applied. Below are a few tips to ensure your antenna performs as specified.

NMO Mounts: One way of ensuring proper grounding of your antenna system is to clear the paint on the underside of the mounting surface, such as the roof or trunk, with a medium grit sandpaper or other by other means. The NMO mounting hardware is designed to “cut” into the paint, however, paint thickness and total applied mounting torque may make conditions where grounding is insufficient. The VSWR of the mounted antenna is the primary indicator that the ground is poor.

Glass Mounts: Glass mounts have very specific instructions for preparing the glass for an on-glass antenna and should be strictly followed. The most important instructions are to clean the glass avoiding ammonia-based cleaners, glass temperature must be close to room temperature (70 degrees), and after install, the whip should remain off and the mount dry for 24-72 hours. By preparing and installing correctly, you can rest assured knowing that your antenna is not going anywhere.

Tuning: Many users trust that the cutting charts provided with an antenna are absolute. It should be reinforced that cutting charts are guidelines. Ground plane size (a car versus a van), antenna mounting locations (the roof versus the trunk), and even mounting types (permanent roof mount versus magnetic mount versus trunk lip mounts) all have an impact in the tuning of an antenna. Using the cut chart with an economic SWR meter will help ensure the antenna is tuned correctly.

Mobile Radio Antennas

2011-10-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

Choosing the proper antenna for any application requires carefully weighing these criteria: gain, physical size, cost and appearance.

The gain required depends on system margins and how far the system must operate. Generally, the more gain, the more cost and the longer the antenna. Systems where the antenna can be a low performance type will have less cost and less noticeable antennas at any particular frequency. Installations with a suitable ground plane will have the same performance at less cost than those without adequate ground plane.

To determine the best mobile antenna types to use in a particular installation, you should first be acquainted with all the electrical types available. Keep in mind not all types are available in all mechanical configurations and frequencies.

Loaded 1/4 Wave
The loaded 1/4 wave antenna is electrically a 1/4 wave but is shorter than a full size 1/4 wave antenna. This is accomplished with a loading coil which places a portion of the electrical length of the antenna in a coil located at the base of the radiating element. The efficiency of the antenna depends on how much of the electrical length is inside the coil (and therefore not radiating). Typical gain is comparable to a full 1/4 wave where the full 1/4 wave is mounted on the fender and the loaded 1/4 wave is mounted on the roof. Typical length at the lowest recommended frequency is 49”.

1/4 Wave
A single radiating element 1/4 wavelength long. It is the simplest and least expensive type of antenna. Length varies from 20” at 144 MHz to 3” at 900 MHz. A loading or matching coil is not required. Typical gain is unity when mounted on a suitable ground plane.

1/2 Wave
The 1/2 wave antenna is a single radiating element 1/2 wavelength long. Because the end fed impedance of the antenna is not suitable for matching the radio, an impedance matching transformer is used at the base of the radiating element. Length varies from 49” at 120 MHz to 13” at 440 MHz. The 1/2 wave antenna is suitable for use where no ground plane exists. The gain with no ground plane is unity. Gain with a suitable ground plane is 2.4 dBi.

5/8 Wave
The 5/8 wave antenna is a single radiating element 5/8 wavelength long. In single element antennas, the 5/8 wave antenna has the best performance (3 dB) when mounted on a suitable ground plane. Element length varies from 49” at 144 MHz to 18” at 440 MHz. Since the end fed impedance of a 5/8 wave antenna is not suitable with a radio, an impedance transformer is used at the base of the rod. Must be mounted on a suitable ground plane.

Collinear Two elements separated by a phasing coil for increased gain. Three styles are common:

5/8 over 1/2
These collinear designs have two elements separated by a phasing coil.

5/8 over 1/4
The top element is 5/8 wave and the bottom element is either a 1/2 wave or a 1/4 wave. Gain is typically 5 dB for a 1/2 wave lower element and 3-4 dB with a 1/4 wave lower element when mounted on a suitable ground plane. Antenna length is 23” to 29” at 440 MHz depending on the lower element. The end feed impedance matches the transmitter’s impedance, so no transformer is used.

5/8 over 5/8
This collinear design has two elements separated by a phasing coil. Both top and bottom elements are 5/8 wave. Gain is typically 5 dB when mount¬ed on a suitable ground plane. Collinear element length is 33” at 440 MHz. The end fed impedance does not match the transmitter’s impedance, so a transformer is used.

Source: Larsen Antenna Products

A (very) brief overview of Motorola's MOTOTRBO™

2011-10-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

· Utilizes Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) which allows for two simultaneous voice conversations through the same repeater using a single frequency pair occupying just 12.5kHz of bandwidth. Or, one voice and one GPS dedicated time slot within a single 12.5kHz of bandwidth (as compared to analog or FDMA). In other words, think of having two repeaters in one. This is ideal for emergency communications, just one back up power source to feed a single repeater, which acts like two + handles GPS and text messaging.

· Voice and data are integrated (GPS, Text Messaging, Radio Check, automatic presence notification to a computer server / dispatch position of when a radio has been turned on, off, GPS reception quality, has left the coverage area of the repeater system, has entered a particular pre-outlined location on the servers / dispatch computers map. Know when your field personnel have arrived at a scene with a pop up notices / flags on the server / dispatch computer.

· Voice & Data can be routed to specific pre-defined groups of individuals, or a single specific individual. Plus, there is an ALL CALL feature which broadcasts your call across all groups (when broadcasting important / emergency bulletins).

· Repeaters can be used in either Analog mode, Digital mode, or Mixed mode (only after having purchased the Mixed Mode upgrade). 5. When utilizing 3rd party software (ie TRBOnet or Smart PTT), the computer Server/Gateway logs GPS route history, records voice traffic, as well as logging which particular radio had initiated the call, and to which particular radio or group the radio voice/data was sent to.

· The GPS units are built within the portables and mobiles. No need to purchase special $200-$300 GPS equipped speaker microphone.

· Allows Telemetry remote control of the radios accessory connector input / output pins. A simple example would be, if you had a water tank up on a hill tied to a Mototrbo portable / mobile radio. You can pre-configure your radio on the hill, to page your individual portable or mobile radio and display "WATER TANK XYZ IS FULL". Then, with the portable on your waist (which you might have received that alert with), you may send a command back which sends one of the radios I/O's on the hill to either go HIGH or LOW, in other words, sending a command to (lets say) open a valve. The applications for the telemetry capabilities are too vast to ponder, and limited only by ones imagination. Open a gate, AC power failure notification, building door status, automobiles ignition on, etc . . . .

· Robust against co-channel interference.

· Mototrbo repeaters may be linked via IP (in a Multicast fashion). IP Site Connect adds roaming and remote repeater diagnostics / control capabilities. What this means for subscriber units (mobiles and portables) is that the radios will automatically switch over to the repeater which it hears the strongest. No need to be juggling manually between repeaters along your commute.

· Subscriber units are capable of 1000 channels.

· Built to US Military 810 C, D, E and F Standards for durability and reliability. Portable radio are built to IP57 water submersibility standards.

· Portable radios can be used in intrinsically safe environments (locations where flammable gas, vapours or combustible dust may be present).

· Presently, there is no radio scanner that can decode Mototrbo.

The official Motorola MOTOTRBO™ page

Ohm's Law Wheel Diagram (with Power)

2011-10-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

The Ohm's Law Wheel with Power provides a graphical representation of the relationships between voltage, current, resistance and power in a direct current electrical circuit.

Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them.

The mathematical equation that describes this relationship is:

where I is the current through the conductor in units of amperes, V is the potential difference measured across the conductor in units of volts, and R is the resistance of the conductor in units of ohms. More specifically, Ohm's law states that the R in this relation is constant, independent of the current.

The law was named after the German physicist Georg Ohm, who, in a treatise published in 1827, described measurements of applied voltage and current through simple electrical circuits containing various lengths of wire.

Ohm's law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Interview with Cliff Sutton VE2YU, Secretary of the VE2RMP Radio Group

2011-09-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

VA2OOK: How did you find out about wireless (radio waves)?

VE2YU: When I was about 12 years old a friend of mine, Terry Potts in Verdun had a 6 channel CB set and I used to visit him very often to listen. Soon, and I became very interested.
Being on a tight budget, buying me a radio was not a top priority for my parents. One of my dad's friends was electrician and he used to bring him leftover wires from various projects. After a few months of wire stripping, my dad and I went to a scrap yard just off of Atwater street and cashed it in. We took the bus down to Kardon Import on St. Catherine street where I got a brand new Lafayette Comstat 19 for $72.95. Since I was very young, my dad came with me to the DOC (Department of Communication) to get a CB (Citizen's Band) license. My first call sign was XM52-341. I was active on CB until I was about 16 years old then the girls became more important.

VA2OOK: How did you learn about amateur radio?

VE2YU: I always wanted to become a ham but having a color deficiency always prevented me from going to get the license. A good friend, Dan VE2ZC, told me I could still pass the test despite my condition, so I enrolled in the West Island Amateur Radio School.

VA2OOK: When did you become an amateur radio operator?

VE2YU: I became a licensed amateur operator in 1988 After enrolling in the West Island Amateur Radio School , 2 months later, after a lot of hard work and with help from Dan VE2ZC, Charles VE2SIR and his wife Céline VE2SUN, I passed my written and my Morse code exams. My first call sign was VE2SUT.
11 months later I passed the theory and the CW exam at 15 words plus per minute and I got my advanced ticket. I applied for a 2 letter call and was given VE2YU in 1992.

VA2OOK: What was your fist setup like? Radio, antennas?

VE2YU: My first antenna was a spider web of 10-15-20 and 40 meter dipoles with a balun on a 10 foot mast fed with RG-58U coaxial cable. I tuned each dipole for the best SWR and I made hundreds and hundreds of contacts, all on CW. That was all we were allowed to use with the basic amateur license. You were allowed to use SSB, AM or FM once you received your advanced ticket. So the first year was only CW.
My first HAM radio was bought from Eric Browning VE2ER , a very good guy, one whom I have fond memories of. I was over at Dan’s VE2ZC one evening and Eric came over with an Yaesu FT-901DM. "It's a hybrid but it has a digital readout" he said. "New in the box" was his favorite expression. Dan looked it over and advised me buy it. This was my radio and I used it from 1988 to 1994.

VA2OOK: What is your current setup?

VE2YU: Right now I have an Icom 756 Pro III for HF along with two Kenwoods, the TS-820 and the TS-830. These are not my main rigs but I really enjoy using them. I have made a nice secondary station just for the two of them. For VHF and UHF I have an Icom IC910H and also an Alinco DR-235 for 220Mhz. I have a Henry 2k3 linear amplifier for HF using 2 x 3-500Z tubes.
Then antenna system is a 56 Foot Delhi self-supporting tower with a Mosely TA-33 tri-band and independent dipoles for 40 and 80 meters. The VHF/UHF antennas are a Diamond X-3200 (144, 220 and 440 MHz) along with a 144 MHz, 10 element horizontal beam for SSB work.

VA2OOK: Do you remember who were your first contacts?

VE2YU: Of course! The moment I received my license in the mail, I called Dan VE2ZC, Charles VE2SIR and his wife Céline VE2SUN and we had a nice CW QSO. I have the three QSL cards framed and on my wall in my shack.

VA2OOK: Did you participate in any contests?

VE2YU: Very rarely mostly. Time is a precious commodity for me. One of my daughters is very active in sports and that keeps us busy. I enjoy participating to the ARRL Field Day Events. This year, our club, the VE2RMP Radio Group, organized its first Field Day. Jacques VE2BRO was an excellent host and we enjoyed it tremendously.

VA2OOK: Tell me a bit about the RMP Radio Group ...

VE2YU: The VE2RMP Radio Group was created in 2005, following Niel's VE2BOA departure to New Brunswick. Neil VE2BOA took good care of the repeater and maintained it for a very long time. The group was created to help pay the insurance, electricity and the maintenance for the repeater. Presently, the VE2RMP Radio Group has over 50 members and growing.
The old GE Mastr II VHF repeater was recently replaced by a Motorola MSR-2000 VHF repeater donated by Paul Caccamo VA3PC. Also the old UHF repeater was decommissioned and a Motorola MSF-5000 UHF donated by Claude VE2YI took its place. The two repeaters are controlled by an Arcom RC-210 Repeater Controller.
The VE2RMP Radio Group also hosts many social events during the year.

VA2OOK: Do you have any funny HAM stories?

VE2YU: The one that come to mind happened 6 months after I got my license. Having your amateur license you could go down to the Department of Communication and show them your hand written logbook. If accepted, you received what they called a 10 meter endorsement. This allowed you to talk only on 10 meters. They would take your certificate and type on it then stamp it.
Well after 6 months of CW only, I went down to the DoC with about 500-600 contacts in my log. I showed it to the inspector and he said “Wow you have been busy”. I received the endorsement on the spot!. Once arrived back home, I turned on the radio and plugged the microphone in for the first time. Lucky me, the 10 meters band was wide open. I was making contacts left and right for hours. I called Dan to tell him I got my endorsement. He asked me "Have you made a lot of contacts yet?". I said "Oh yeah... Been on air all day". "Unplug the microphone and put it back in the drawer" Dan said. "You have worked too hard to stop now. Get back on CW and when you will be ready to pass your advanced in 6 months at 15 words a minute, then you can talk", he continued. I did just that and he was right.
If I would have not gone back to CW then I would have never got my speed up to 22 words a minute to pass the advance very easily. Thanks Dan!

VA2OOK: On which bands are you active? What modes?

VE2YU: My favorite Band is 20 meters.

VA2OOK: Thank you.

Coaxial Cable Performance Charts (Power and Attenuation)

2011-09-22T08:27:00.001-07:00

Power Capacity (in watts 104°F, 40°C)
MHz:	30	50	150	220	450	900	1500	2000
LMR-100A®	230	180	100	80	60	40	30	25
RG-58U	400	300	160		80
LMR-200®	1020	790	450	370	260	180	140	120
RG-59	500	400	250
RG-8X	350	280	150		80
LMR-240®	1490	1150	660	540	380	260	200	170
LMR-240 Ultra®	1490	1150	660	540	380	260	200	170
RG-213	1800	1200	620		300
RG-214	1800	1200	620		300
LMR-400®	2100	1700	1000	830	550	380	290	250
LMR-400 Ultra®	2100	1700	1000	830	550	380	290	250
9913	2200	1700	900		450	280	200	160
Values indicated are approximate and for comparison purposes only. LMR® is a registered trademark of Times Microwave Systems.

Attenuation (dB per 100 feet)
MHz:	30	50	100	146	150	440	450	1000	2400
RG-174	5.5	6.6	8.8	13.0		25.0		30.0	75.0
LMR-100A®	3.9	5.1		8.8	8.9	15.6	15.8
RG-58A/U	2.5	4.1	5.3	6.1	6.1	10.4	10.6	24.0	38.9
LMR-200®	1.8	2.3		3.9	4.0	6.9	7.0		16.5
RG-59		2.4	3.5			7.6		12.0
RG-8X	2.0	2.1	3.0	4.5	4.7	8.1	8.6		21.6
LMR-240®	1.3	1.7		3.0	3.0	5.2	5.3		12.7
LMR-240 Ultra®	1.3	1.7		3.0	3.0	5.2	5.3		12.7
RG-8/U FOAM		1.2	1.8					7.1
RG-213		1.5	2.1	2.8	2.8	5.1	5.1	8.2
RG-214	1.2	1.6	1.9	2.8	2.8	5.1	5.1	8.0	13.7
LMR-400®	0.7	0.9		1.5	1.5	2.7	2.7		6.6
LMR-400 Ultra®	0.7	0.9		1.5	1.5	2.7	2.7		6.6
BURY-FLEX™		1.1	1.5					4.8
9086			1.4			2.8	2.8
9913	0.8			1.5		2.8			7.5
Values indicated are approximate and for comparison purposes only. LMR® is a registered trademark of Times Microwave Systems.

What does IP67 mean? Waterproof cable, connectors, or adapters.

2011-09-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

Water and dust proof connectivity products are defined by their Ingress Protection (IP) numbers.
The first number after IP is for the part's protection against solid objects like dust and sand.
This number can range from 0, meaning no protection against dust and sand, and 6, meaning 100% protection against dust and sand.
The second number after IP is for the part's protection against liquids. It ranges from 0 to 8.
IP67 equipment is the most commonly found in the connectivity market. It is 100% protected against solid objects like dust and sand, and it has been tested to work for at least 30 minutes while under 15cm to 1m of water.

Here is a chart showing other IP ratings:

First number (Protection against solid objects)	Definition	Second number (Protection against liquids)	Definition
0	No protection	0	No protection
1	Protected against solid objects over 50mm (e.g. accidental touch by hands)	1	Protected against vertically falling drops of water
2	Protected against solid objects over 12mm (e.g. fingers)	2	Protected against direct sprays up to 15o from the vertical
3	Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm (e.g. tools and wires)	3	Protected against direct sprays up to 60o from the vertical
4	Protected against solid objects over 1mm (e.g. tools, wires and small wires)	4	Protected against sprays from all directions - limited ingress permitted
5	Protected against dust - limited ingress (no harmful deposit)	5	Protected against low pressure jets if water from all directions - limited ingress permitted
6	Totally protected against dust	6	Protected against strong jets of water e.g. for use on ship decks - limited ingress permitted
		7	Protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes
		8	Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure

Canadian 70cm Band Plan 430-450 MHz

2011-09-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

430.025 - 431.500		Digital Modes
431.500 - 433.000		CW, SSB, Moonbounce, Amplitude Modulation narrow band modes.
432.000		Centre Frequency for EME
432.100		National CW Calling Frequency
432.200		National SSB Calling Frequency
432.300 - 432.400		Propagation Beacon Network Exclusive
432.400 - 433.000		Experimental Narrow Bandwidth Modes
433.000 - 434.800		Digital Modes
434.800 - 434.900		Analog Repeater Links
434.900 - 435.000		Guard Band
435.000 - 438.000		Amateur Satellites (Global Secondary Allocation) Remote Sensing Satellite Radar secondary
438.000 - 444.000		Amateur Television (NTSC, Vestigial Sideband, Digitally Enhanced Video)
439.250		Video Carrier Frequency
442.000 - 445.000		Repeater Outputs
444.000		Spread Spectrum
445.000 - 445.775		Analog and Digital Links
445.800 - 445.975		Digital
446.000 - 446.175		FM Simplex
446.000		National FM Calling Frequency
446.200 - 446.375		FM Remote Base
446.400 - 446.775		Analog and Digital Links
446.800 - 446.975		Digital Modes
447.000 - 450.000		Repeater Inputs

Canadian 2m Band Plan 144-148 MHz

2011-09-20T06:45:00.001-07:00

144.000 - 144.100		Moonbounce and Terrestrial CW
144.100		CW Calling Frequency
144.100 - 144.200		CW/SSB Weak Signal
144.200 - 144.275		AM Narrowband Modes Exclusive SSB (ACSSB, SSB, CW, TY ) Other modes with bandwidth less than 3 kHz - FAX, SSTV, RTCALLING Frequency
144.275 - 144.300		Propagation Beacon Network Exclusive
144.300 - 144.500		Digital)
144.340		National ATV Coordination Frequency
144.390		National APRS Frequency
144.500 - 144.600		Repeater Inputs Primary, Linear Translator Inputs Secondary
144.600 - 144.900		Repeater Inputs
144.900 - 145.100		Digital
145.100 - 145.200		Repeater Outputs Primary, Linear Translator Outputs Secondary
145.200 - 145.500		Repeater Outputs
145.500 - 145.590		SAREX/ARISS Links
145.590 - 145.790		Digital
145.800 - 146.000		Exclusive Amateur Radio Service, ARISS
146.010 - 146.370		Repeater Inputs
146.400 - 146.580		FM Simplex
146.520		National FM Calling Frequency
146.610 - 147.390		Repeater Outputs
147.420 - 147.570		FM Simplex (30 kHz)
147.435 - 147.585		Digital (30 kHz)
147.600 - 147.990		Repeater Inputs

Canadian HF Band Plan

2011-09-20T06:09:00.001-07:00

160 Metre Band - Maximum bandwidth 6 kHz

1.800 - 1.820 MHz - CW
1.820 - 1.830 MHz - Digital Modes
1 830 - 1.840 MHz - DX Window
1.840 - 2.000 MHz - SSB and other wide band modes

80 Metre Band - Maximum bandwidth 6 kHz

3.500 - 3.580 MHz - CW
3.580 - 3.620 MHz - Digital Modes
3.620 - 3.635 MHz - Packet/Digital Secondary
3.635 - 3.725 MHz - CW
3.725 - 3.790 MHz - SSB and other side band modes*
3.790 - 3.800 MHz - SSB DX Window
3.800 - 4.000 MHz - SSB and other wide band modes

* 80 metres normally LSB, to stay within Band Plan SSB should not be lower than 3.728 MHz.

40 Metre Band - Maximum bandwidth 6 kHz

7.000 - 7.035 MHz - CW
7.035 - 7.050 MHz - Digital Modes
7.040 - 7.050 MHz - International packet
7.050 - 7.100 MHz - SSB
7.100 - 7.120 MHz - Packet within Region 2
7.120 - 7.150 MHz - CW
7.150 - 7.300 MHz - SSB and other wide band modes

30 Metre Band - Maximum bandwidth 1 kHz

10.100 - 10.130 MHz - CW only
10.130 - 10.140 MHz - Digital Modes
10.140 - 10.150 MHz - Packet

20 Metre Band - Maximum bandwidth 6 kHz

14.000 - 14.070 MHz - CW only
14.070 - 14.095 MHz - Digital Mode
14.095 - 14.099 MHz - Packet
14.100 MHz - Beacons
14.101 - 14.112 MHz - CW, SSB, packet shared
14.112 - 14.350 MHz - SSB
14.225 - 14.235 MHz - SSTV

17 Metre Band - Maximum bandwidth 6 kHz

18.068 - 18.100 MHz - CW
18.100 - 18.105 MHz - Digital Modes
18.105 - 18.110 MHz - Packet
18.110 - 18.168 MHz - SSB and other wide band modes

15 Metre Band - maximum bandwidth 6 kHz

21.000 - 21.070 MHz - CW
21.070 - 21.090 MHz - Digital Modes
21.090 - 21.125 MHz - Packet
21.100 - 21.150 MHz - CW and SSB
21.150 - 21.335 MHz - SSB and other wide band modes
21.335 - 21.345 MHz - SSTV
21.345 - 21.450 MHz - SSB and other wide band modes

12 Metre Band - Maximum bandwidth 6 kHz

24.890 - 24.930 MHz - CW
24.920 - 24.925 MHz - Digital Modes
24.925 - 24.930 MHz - Packet
24.930 - 24.990 MHz - SSB and other wide band modes

10 Metre Band - Maximum bandwidth 20 kHz

28.000 - 28.200 MHz - CW
28.070 - 28.120 MHz - Digital Modes
28.120 - 28.190 MHz - Packet
28.190 - 28.200 MHz - Beacons
28.200 - 29.300 MHz - SSB and other wide band modes
29.300 - 29.510 MHz - Satellite
29.510 - 29.700 MHz - SSB, FM and repeaters

Canadian Amateur Radio Bands

2011-09-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

Frequency (MHz) Lower edge	Frequency (MHz) Upper edge	Maximum Bandwidth	Qualifications
1.8	2.0	6 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
3.5	4.0	6 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
7.0	7.3	6 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
10.1	10.15	1 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
14.0	14.350	6 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
18.068	18.168	6 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
21.0	21.450	6 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
24.890	24.990	6 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
28.0	29.7	20 kHz	B+, B5 or BA
50.0	54.0	30 kHz	B
144	148	30 kHz	B
220	225	100 kHz	B
430	450	12 MHz	B **
902	928	12 MHz	B **
1,240	1300	Not Specified	B **
2,300	2,450	Not Specified	B **
3,300	3,500	Not Specified	B **
5,650	5,925	Not Specified	B **
10,000	10,500	Not Specified	B **
24,000	24,050	Not Specified	B
24,050	24,250	Not Specified	B **
47,000	47,200	Not Specified	B
75,500	76,000	Not Specified	B
76,000	81,000	Not Specified	B **
142,000	144,000	Not Specified	B
144,000	149,000	Not Specified	B **
241,000	248,000	Not Specified	B **
248,000	250,000	Not Specified	B
Notes:
"B" means an Amateur Operators Certificate with Basic Qualification "B+" means an Amateur Operators Certificate with Basic Qualification "with Honours" (where the holder achieved 80% or higher on the examination "B5" means an Amateur Operators Certificate with Basic Qualification and Morse Code (5 w.p.m.) Qualification "BA" means an Amateur Operators Certificate with Basic and Advanced Qualification Radio Amateurs are secondary users in the bands marked with asterisks **, and may not cause interference to primary users.

DX Code Of Conduct

2011-09-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

I will listen, and listen, and then listen again beforecalling.
I will only call if I can copy the DX station properly.
I will not trust the DX cluster and will be sure of the DXstation'scall sign before calling.
I will not interfere with the DX station nor anyone callingand willnever tune up on the DX frequency or in the QSX slot.
I will wait for the DX station to end a contact before Icall.
I will always send my full call sign.
I will call and then listen for a reasonable interval. Iwill not callcontinuously.
I will not transmit when the DX operator calls another callsign, notmine.
I will not transmit when the DX operator queries a callsign not likemine.
I will not transmit when the DX station requests geographicareas otherthan mine.
When the DX operator calls me, I will not repeat my callsign unless Ithink he has copied it incorrectly.
I will be thankful if and when I do make a contact.
I will respect my fellow hams and conduct myself so as toearn theirrespect.

The VE2RMP Radio Group cares about DX conduct
Source: http://www.dx-code.org/

The New VA2RMP UHF Repeater

2011-09-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

VE2RMP / VA2RMP Repeaters

Thanks to Claude's VE2YI generous donation, a Motorola MSF5000 UHF system and countless hours, the new VA2RMP repeater is now operational.

http://ve2rmp.org/events.html

http://ve2rmp.org/evenements.html

Please give it a try and let us know what you think! Your feedback is needed and greatly appreciated.

QSL Card dedicated to the 2011 ARRL Field Day

2011-07-19T02:30:00.000-07:00

The Club's QSL card are available for view/download in the Events / Événements section of our website.

http://www.ve2rmp.org/events.html
http://www.ve2rmp.org/evenements.html

Virtual Grocery Shopping

2011-07-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

I know it doesn't have anything to do with our hobby, but this could be a great idea ...

Home Plus has plastered a subway station with facsimiles of groceries, labeled with a unique code for each product. As commuters pass by on their way to work, they can use a mobile-phone app to take pictures of the products they want, then check out. The groceries are automatically delivered to their doorstep by the end of the work day.

Field Day 2011 - Communiqué de presse officiel

2011-07-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Et nous voici déjà l’été et nous avons eu notre premier « Field Day », et nous croyons que ce fut un succès.

Nous tenons d'abord à remercier Jacques (VE2BRO) de nous avoir permis d'utiliser ses biens et installations pour la fin de semaine, sans cela, notre journée n'aurait pas été aussi bien et autant de succès.

Le programme d'installation a commencé à environ 8 h 15 et nous avions Claude( VE2YI), Cliff (VE2YU), Marshall (VE3SAQ), Christian (VA2OOK), Jacques (VE2BRO), Alex (VE2VEH) et Marc (VA2YLB).

La conception d’installation proposée par Claude était très bien. Une poulie a été installée au sommet de la tour de 25 pieds et nous avons hissés les antennes que jusqu'en haut. Nous avons installé une dipôle multi-bande de 10-15-20-40 mètres et ensuite une pour le 80 mètres, suivi d’une dipôle de 160 mètres. Les antennes ont été syntonisé à la perfection (1,2 :1), donc il n'y n'avait aucun besoin d’utiliser un « tuner ». Claude a fournis un commutateur d'antenne à distance artisanale qui nous a sauvés deux descentes de câble coaxial. Cela a été installé à la base de la tour et des antennes, avec le contrôle à l’intérieure au côté de l’opérateur. Nous avons utilisé un Yaesu FT-890, avec un Kenwood TS820 et un Icom IC-7000 en relève au cas ou nous aurons eux des difficultés, donc nous avons été bien équipée et préparés pour une panne radio. Le Yaesu FT-890 a très bien fonctionné pour les 24 heures.

Le temps était pluvial et humide, mais ceci ne nous a pas empêchés d’avoir du plaisir. De plus, nous avons également eu beaucoup de visiteurs samedi. Guenther (VE2BHH) et Sigrid, Wayne (VE2WHH), Stephane (VE2TAX) venu avec ses deux filles, et Janusz (VE2ZHP) qui nous a aussi aidé comme opérateur, Vince (VE2BRA), André (VE2RZ) et son épouse Raymonde, Helmut (VE2ARG) avec son épouse Diane, et Dan (VE2ZC), qui a opéré pour nous en mode ‘CW’, ainsi qu'Andy VE2DNN et son épouse. Marsh (VE3SAQ) a fournis son barbecue et toutes les à-côtés que Joyce (son épouse) a préparé don les cornichons, tomates, oignons, moutarde, et relish. Et dimanche matin, il a fait le petit déjeuner avec bacon et des œufs. Il a été assez occupé samedi avec le cuisson des hamburgers et des hot-dogs pour dîner et souper et ensuite le déjeuner du dimanche matin. Nous avions aussi des tartes fournis par Helmut VE2ARG et Diane. Nous avons pas été dépourvu de manger! Même à 2h00AM, nous (soit Marc (VA2YLB), Claude (VE2YI), Cliff (VE2YU), Chris (VA2OOK) et Marsh (VE2SAQ) ) avons dégusté une grande pizza « toutes garnis » pour bien nous porter de la nuit. Dan VE2ZC c’est présenté à 5H00AM pour opéré en ‘CW’ et il apporta des beignes de Tim Hortons. Frank (VE2TOR), Ray (VA2RY) et Pierre(VE2CFB) vint également à visiter. La météo était très bien dimanche et sa nous a rendu une journée facile et agréable à démonter toutes les équipements. Ca fut un plaisir. Frank (VE2TOR) et Ray (VA2RY) sont restés pour nous aider.

Tout nos véhicules était rempli à craquer. Certaines antennes qui ont été faites pour l'événement ont même été emballées et nous espérons les utiliser à nouveau l'an prochain. Jacques (VE2BRO) a déjà confirmé qu'il veut nous revoir l’an prochain.

Ce fut un événement excitant et amusant pour tous ! J'espère que l'année prochaine nous pourrons obtenir plus d’opérateurs, car nous étions très fatiguée après avoir passé 24h, et ayant seulement une heure de sommeil.

Nous avons fait une énorme journée avec 1009 contacts. Personnellement, je crois que ca été une grande réussite et que toutes les personnes impliquées méritent un grand applaudissement. Nombreuses photos ont été prises et Christian les organisera et ils devraient être très prochainement sur notre site Web.

Merci encore, à tous ceux et celles qui ont participé ou assistée d'une manière ou d'une autre. C'est qu’avec votre aide et votre participation que nous pouvons réussir de tels projets.

Field Day 2011 - Official Press Release (EN)

2011-07-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

We have had our first field day and we believe it was a success. We first want to thank Jacques VE2BRO for allowing us to use his property and facilities for the weekend, without this, our field day would not have been as smooth and as successful.

Setup started at approx 8:15 am and we had Claude VE2YI, Cliff VE2YU, Marsh VE3SAQ, Chris VA2OOK, Jacques VE2BRO, Alex VE2VEH and Marc VA2YLB. The design was Claude’s and it was a good one. A pulley was installed at the top of the 25 foot tower and the antennas we hoisted up. We had a multi-band dipole with 10-15-20-40 meters and we trimmed them until they were matched on all bands. Then an 80 meter and a 160 meter dipole went up and were trimmed and matched also so there was no need to run a tuner.

Claude brought a homemade remote antenna switch which saved us two runs of coax, this was installed at the base of the antenna and we were done. All the radios were brought in to the shed and setup. We had a Yaesu FT-890 and a Kenwood TS-820 along with having an Icom 7000 so we were well equipped and prepared for a radio failure. The Yaesu FT-890 ran well for the 24 hours.

The weather was wet but we all still had a great time and we also had many visitors on the Saturday. VE2BHH Guenther and Sigrid, VE2WHH Wayne, VE2TAX Stephane came up with his two daughters, VE2ZHP Janusz (helped out with the operating),VE2BRA Vince, VE2RZ Andre and his wife Raymonde, VE2ARG Helmut with his wife Dianne and VE2ZC Dan who came to operate CW for us as well as Andy VE2DNN and his wife.

Marsh VE3SAQ brought up his BBQ and he and Joyce provided pickles, tomatoes, onions, mustard, relish and for Sunday’s Bacon and Eggs breakfast. He was kept pretty busy on Saturday cooking up hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch, supper and then breakfast on Sunday morning. We also had 2 pies brought up by Helmut VE2ARG and Dianne. We never went hungry! But at 2:00 AM, Marc VA2YLB, Claude VE2YI, Cliff VE2YU, Chris VA2OOK and Marsh VE2SAQ had a large “all dressed” pizza to carry us through the night. Dan VE2ZC showed up at 5:00 AM to operate CW and he brought Tim Horton's donuts. Frank VE2TOR , Ray VA2RY and Pierre VE2CFB also came to visit.

The weather was great Sunday and made it easier to take down the equipment. It was a pleasure. Frank VE2TOR and Ray VA2RY stayed to help us. All was packed up and some antennas that were made for the event have even been packed away and hopefully we will use again next year. Jacques VE2BRO has already confirmed that he wants us back. It was an exciting and fun event for all!

Hopefully next year we can obtain more operators as most of us were very tired since we only got about one hour sleep. We made a whopping 1009 contacts. I personally think this is a great accomplishment and everyone involved deserves a big pat on the back.

Many photos were taken and Chris is organizing them and they were uploaded on our website.

Thanks once again to all who participated and/or assisted in one way or another.

It’s only with all of your continued support that we can put together such a successful event.

Pen Can Draw Functional Electronic Circuits on Paper

2011-06-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

While the idea might not be new, they actually made a plain rollerball pen filled with a conductive ink that can draw functional circuits on a sheet of paper.

The first thing that came to my mind was: antennas.
More specifically, fractal antennas ...

How about a printer with conductive ink?

Read the complete article here.

ARRL Filed Day 2011

2011-06-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

This was our club's first Field Day ...

The weather was not ideal for tower and antenna setup, but hey, it was more interesting to install, check and adjust everything in heavy rain.

Despite the heavy rain, we moved pretty quick and once everything was set up and tested, Marsh VE2SAQ rewarded us with an copious lunch.

At 2 PM EST, we started adding contacts in our logbook. The most active bands were 40, 20 and 15 meters but we had some contacts on 80 and 10 as well.
We've worked mainly stations from Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Ontario, but we also have Texas, California, Florida, Minnesota, Georgia and a few others in our log. They don't count for points but we had contacts in Denmark, Slovakia and Australia...

In the end, we counted a little over 1000 contacts ... Not too bad for a start, eh?

Well, that was pretty much it for our club's fist Field Day. Check our Field Day photo album!

73 for now.
Chris VA2OOK