Other commitments have taken up my time (video games) so I am just now getting around to reporting on it. In between the event and this post, my cell phone expired when I tossed it out of the window of my vehicle. The information I gathered from this event was irretrievable.
Category Archives: News
Guess I’ve been gone awhile.
As you can probably see, my last articles were basically around the May time period. I can only say that leash laws are getting a little rough.
I have been doing my normal reporting, but I have not dropped out of amateur radio. I have been working on several projects associated with that hobby. I participated in an event, decided to become ARES certified, worked on a proposal to form an emergency communication system in my community and bought some new equipment.
I will cover all of this in upcoming articles. Particularly new equipment.
Now you might think that I get to test the latest BaoFeng equipment because I’m such a widely-read reviewer. You may think that because I review a lot of BaoFeng equipment. I wish that were true, but not so. The reason is mainly cost. BaoFeng is within my retirement budget.
I have been an amateur radio operator for over a year, now. Made a lot of friends and a few enemies. I’d just like to say to you all, stop calling me Kid.
A microphone made for Baofeng
Source: Hamcity on Amazon.
As a rookie Ham I am always on the lookout for products that help me in my communications, as is anyone. While listening in on a conversation concerning Baofeng radios, I overheard someone talking about the Kenwood SMC-34(G) microphone.
Many new amateur radio licensees start out with a Baofeng because of the low cost. With the purchase of a programming cable and free CHIRP software, a new operator can get on the air for less than $50. It is nice to add a microphone. Most go for the cheap Baofeng mics which are of poor quality. I hope to help new amateurs avoid the same trap.
I would like to have had the microphone on a recent trip that I took to try it out. I had to wait, however, until I returned home to test the Kenwood microphone. I was happy to learn that I received it a day early.
The interesting thing about Kenwood is that they use the same connector style as Baofeng on some of their microphones. This happens to be one. The first thing that I noticed was that the microphone fit tight into the microphone connector on the Baofeng. It was smaller and a little more difficult to remove.
The cord, however, stretched much better. I was able to put the Baofeng in my back pocket and run the microphone to my collar—which is, of course, the idea. I was surprised and pleased to hear that microphone clarity was good on the receive end.
The microphone, itself, is about the same size as the cheaper model, but slightly heavier. It also claims to be water resistant, but I am reluctant to dump in in a sink full of water to test it. I’ll just wait for the next rain.
If you are new to amateur radio and were attracted by the lure of the Baofeng radio, I recommend that you spend the extra money for the correct programming cable, a good extra antenna and the Kenwood SMC-34.
My first VE experience
Today I had my first experience as a volunteer examiner with the Coconino Amateur Radio Club in Flagstaff, Arizona. It turned out to be Friday the 13th part 2.
It started out quite pleasant. As I traveled east toward Flagstaff on I-40, I contacted Ken (KF7DUR). I found out that he was one of the other experienced volunteer examiners also heading into Flagstaff on I-17. I took the first exit in Flagstaff to Milton Avenue.
I heard Joe (W7LUX) and Ken discussing a traffic situation at the Butler exit. A truck hauling a trailer apparently jack-knifed. It was probable that they would not make it exactly at the time the exam would take place. I arrived at the Flagstaff Public Library and radioed that I would let anyone who was looking lost find their way.
It wasn’t long before I realized that I was lost. I was at the main branch when the test was being held on the east side of Flagstaff at the Fourth Street branch. By the time I found my way, the other examiners were all there.
Other than that, the test went well and I congratulate those new Amateur Radio operator (Or soon to be as soon as they appear in the FCC data base) who passed the examination.
I received a lot of good information. I still have my two Certificate of Successful Completion of Examinations for my Technician examination and my upgrade to Extra. Ken was one of the examiners on my Technician exam. I failed the General at that exam, so I guess I can blame him. Beside the fact that I wasn’t ready at all for the General.
I got a chance to learn about the paperwork and how it is organized and where all the dotted i’s and crossed t’s go. I learned of ways to help people with special needs take the examination if they cannot make it to the site. Volunteer examiners go through great lengths to help anyone get their license. Classes, special tests and so-forth. Of course they still have to comply with all of the Volunteer Exam Coordinator (VEC) requirements.
It was a good experience and I look forward to assisting with the next exam at the ARA Hamfest July 22 -24 in Williams.
The rest of Friday the 13th Part II went downhill from there.
FCC Invites Comments on Petition to Eliminate 15 dB Gain Limit on Amateur Amplifiers
The FCC has put on public notice and invited comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11767), filed on behalf of an amateur amplifier distributor, which seeks to revise the Amateur Service rules regarding maximum permissible amplifier gain. Expert Linears America LLC of Magnolia, Texas, which distributes linears manufactured by SPE in Italy, wants the FCC to eliminate the 15 dB gain limitation on amateur amplifiers, spelled out in §97.317(a)(2). Expert asserts that there should be no gain limitation at all on amplifiers sold or used in the Amateur Service.
“There is no technical or regulatory reason [that] an amplifier capable of being driven to full legal output by even a fraction of a watt should not be available to Amateur Radio operators in the United States,” Expert said in its Petition.
Read more at ARRL
Are you ready to get your Amateur Radio License?
If you have been studying to get your Amateur Radio license, you have two chances coming up in May.
The Coconinco County Amateur Radio club is planning an exam for all classes of license on May 14 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. The examination will be held at the North County Health Care classroom. The North County Health Care center is at 2920 N 4th Street in Flagstaff. Visit their web site for information on what you are required to bring for the exam.
In Yavapai county you have an opportunity to become licensed by the Yavapai Amateur Radio club. They require you to obtain an Federal Registration Number (FRN). The requirements can be found on their web site. Their next exam is also scheduled for May 14 and you can take a practice exam on Tuesday May 10. You must pre-register online. The exam will be held in the Jeep Posse Building at 255 E Gurley Street in Prescott.
Read more at Northern Arizona Gazette
CHIRP just gets better
There is more good news for BTech users. The latest version of the CHIRP program now supports menu settings for the mobile line of BTech radios by Baofeng.
The last upgrade to CHIRP allowed you enter repeater frequencies and CTCSS codes without having to do the math. The latest update allows you to change the menu items just like your other Baofengaled radios. Or any other radios for that matter.
It still does not cover my old Yaesu FT-11R, but you can’t have everything. CHIRP is developed by a volunteer corp of programmers and supported by donations.
Upcoming Hamfests for northern Arizona
Prescott Hamfest
10 – 11 June 2016
Hosted by the Eagle Amateur Radio Club & the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, 3700 Willow Creek Rd, Prescott, AZ
Click HERE for map
General Admission $5.00 for both days. ERAU Students with ID,
Commercial Vendors and Information Booth/Tables Free Admission.
Tailgate Swap $10.00 per space for both days.
Consignment Sales, Transmitter Hunt, Seminars and more.
VE Testing and DXCC Card Checking will be available.
Food Trucks will be on grounds. Sorry, NO RV Camping on Campus.
Visit the web site at http://www.w7yrc.org/prescott-hamfest for details.
Contact Chuck Zappala, KE7SA at czappala@cableone.net
or Bill Noe, W7PVA at w7pva@arrl.net for information.
ARCA/Williams Hamfest
22 – 24 July 2016
Hosted by the Amateur Radio Council of Arizona
Williams Rodeo Grounds, 800 Rodeo Road, Williams, AZ
Click HERE for map
Hamfest hours are Dawn to Dusk Friday and Saturday.
Trip to the Grand Canyon aboard the Grand Canyon Railroad on Sunday, 24 July.
Hospitality Suite on Friday – Barbecue Dinner at Railside RV Ranch on Saturday.
Breakfast and Lunch served by the Kiwanis Club of Williams on Friday and Saturday.
Prizes, VE Testing, Seminars and more.
For complete up-to-date information, click HERE.
Amateur Log: 20160402 0231GMT Bunbury Australia
What is amazing about amateur radio is you never know who you will talk to.
I live in Williams, Arizona. We have a Western Intertie Network (WIN) system repeater maintained by Bryan – W7BNW. He fixed the repeater after a massive snow storm knocked it out early in the season. It has been up for about two-week.
Today he got the down link radio connected and the system was complete. We can now talk to people through the western States and, at times, around the world. It is a very interesting coincidence that Bryan got the system working today.
About 2:31 AM GMT (7:31 Arizona Time), I heard a call from Richard VK6VRO in Western Australia (10:30 AM his time). I had to call him when he mentioned that he was from Bunbury, Australia.
You see, his city is a part of my history.
When I was in the Navy, I was on the Spruance Class Destroyer USS Oldendorf DD-972. I was on the crew that commissioned the ship. Our first overseas cruise we spent nearly half in Australia. Our very first stop in Australia was Bunbury on August 15, 1980. In fact, we were the second ship to moor at the new pier the city just built—the first United States Navy ship. It brought back great memories of a visit with some of the greatest friends in the world. When we left it seemed like the whole town shut down to come and see us off.
Bear in mind I spoke with him through a UHF repeater on a Baofeng BF-F9 V2+ radio which I purchased from FOSCAM for about $70.
Throughout the day I heard a couple of stations in Canada and I have talked with people in Canada, England, Spain and other States before the tragic loss of the repeater months ago.
A basic Technician license gives you access to the very high frequencies (VHF) from 144 to 148-MHz and Ultra-High Frequencies (UHF) from 420 to 450-MHz. You also have access to other frequencies in this range and above. But the frequencies I described are usually what people refer to when they speak of VHF and UHF. Most repeaters operate in this range.
As you can see, with a Technician license, you might be very surprised who you will speak with.
Good news for BTech fans. CHIRP now supports.
There is good news for the growing base of fans for the BTech UV-2501, UV-2501 +220 and UV-5001 radios. The popular free programming tool CHIRP now supports this series.
Apparently the the volunteer programmers for the CHIRP program added support for the radios in the last two updates.
You may recall that I have been developing an emergency radio system using the UV-2501. So far it has worked well. I am hoping to get the +220 model to add next. I have been using the Baofeng program that you download for Baofeng for the unit. It is complete but complicated to use. The new CHIRP version is a real blessing.
I downloaded the latest version of CHIRP, chirp-daily-20160329, and installed it immediately. I did not do any fancy programming, but did download the memory to a file. CHIRP does not yet have a tab for the extra settings, such as welcome message and initial setting for the FM radio.
It does let you program in the frequency for a repeater and the offsets and takes care of the math for you. In the Baofeng program, you have to enter the Rx frequency and then add or subtract the offset to enter the Tx frequency. It also allows you to add 7 alpha characters for the name and transmit inhibit for scanner only channels.
You must be logged in to post a comment.