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Repost – FT4XU Kerguelen On The Air!

FT4XU KerguelenThis is a “republish” of a post I made in January, 2016. Why is it relative now?  Well, with possible activation(s) of Bouvet over the next few years, it shows the “longpath” for all of North America is probably your best (and possibly only) chance to log Bouvet.  With mountain ranges from 1,300′ to over 2,300′ blocking all of North America on the short path from Camp Fie on Bouvet (see AE5X map below), you may wish to start making preparations to tool up your station for the longpath over Asia.  And here is my relevant story of working Kerguelen in the South Atlantic – over the longpath…

I guess my parents were right – “sometimes doing your homework pays off”.

Over the last few days I’ve noticed that Nicolas FT4XU on Kerguelen Island has a rhythm.  He usually starts off on or around 14.130 simplex, then when the pile-up forms he receives split up 5 – 10.  After a while operating on 14.130, he’s been immediately going to 14.330.  So when I heard him over the longpath on 14.130 this morning, I went and readied the gear for a run on 14.330 just in case he did what he had been doing in the past.  I’d have loved to work him on “nice and quiet” 14.130, but that portion of the band is out of our US Extra Class privileges.  So I waited.  And I waited a little more.  Then damnit, he just vanished!

But I had already set the VFO’s to RX on 14.330 and TX on 14.335 so I checked there, and in the midst of some heavy QRM both above and below from the net geezers, there he was!

50 watts, a shoulder high dipole out in the middle of absolute nowhere from Kerguelen Island over the longpath into Colorado.  All Time New One #329 for me – Ham Radio awesomeness!

N0UN working FT4XU Longpath UP 5 on 20 Meters

 

FT4XU on QRZ

QSL FT4XU via F1ULQ direct.

Paper log only, no online log check offered.

Added (08/21):  FT4XU on Club Log (391 QSO’s Total – I’m a lucky guy!)

Map courtesy of John Harper, AE5X.  Read AE5X Longpath Blog Post here.  Click map below to enlarge

Bouvet 3Y Short Path to North America

 

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By N0UN – August 10, 2021

3Y0J – Bouvet DXpedition 2022

3Y0J - Bouvet DXpedition 20223Y0J – Bouvet DXpedition 2022!

Ken, LA7GIA announced today that the 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island is ON for 2022! More info can be found on their Website at 3Y0J.no.

“The 3Y0J team are delighted to inform about our continued effort to activate Bouvet island. After cancellation of the previous attempt due to the ill-fated sale of the vessel Braveheart we decided to continue the effort and search for a suitable and affordable vessel.”  Continued…

N0UN

 

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By N0UN – August 8, 2021

C92RU Mozambique

C92RU StatisticsAccording to their stats on Club Log, of C92RU’s 43,971 contacts from Mozambique:

68% were Digital (FT8)
28% were CW
4% were Phone

C92RU Online Log at Club Log

Think I’ll pass on any donation and let the FT8ers carry the load on this DXpedition.

N0UN

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By N0UN – April 13, 2021

Restored Collins 32V-2 For Sale

Collins-32V-2

click to enlarge

My Collins 32V-2 transmitter restored by Howard Mills W3HM is for sale on eBay.  Reserve’s been met, she’s gonna’ go.  What a beauty!  Only 2 days left!  Read (and reread) the description fella’s!

Collins 32V-2 Transmitter For Sale on eBay

N0UN

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By N0UN – March 24, 2021

FT8 Is Destroying Ham Radio

VK9CE FT8All day I’ve scanned the bands and DX Cluster on both CW and SSB on all bands for Cocos-Keeling (VK9CE) and guess what?  Nothing.  How frustrating to invest and build a station, put aluminum in the sky, get a little goo, and pffft – nothing.  VK9CE has been on that Ham Radio destroying computer software mode, all day.  You know the mode where their unmanned computer talks to your unmanned computer.  Don’t think it happens?  Do your homework as it most assuredly does.  They, nor you ever heard a thing.  The automated software does the scripted connectivity.

Don’t worry you little pistols.  There’s no need for an antenna.  No need for some power.  Hell, no need for a microphone or a CW key (or keyer)!  You just need some computer software where your computer can earn ARRL’s DXCC in a day!

FT8 is destroying Ham Radio.  Note, I didn’t say FT8 is killing Ham Radio, I said it is destroying it.

I saw the upcoming Bouvet DXpedition is all about FT8, even more so than they were on Conway Reef.  If it comes down to it, I’d rather die with 339 DXCC entities than work Bouvet on FT8.  Not going to happen.  From the Rebel DX Group site I read today, “We will be testing some our new ideas to operate 5 different stations on FT8 (FOX & HUND) at the same time by 1 operator.”

As co-founder of the Rebel DX Group a few years ago, I walked away when it became clear FT8 was ruining what I consider “Amateur Radio”.  I handed over my domains and Website I spent  hundreds, if not a thousand hours developing.  I do not want to be affiliated in any way with DXpeditions that operate more than 20% or so FT8.  And I won’t donate either.  You FT8’ers can pull your own weight and subsidize these computer efforts.  It’s only fair, right?

FT8 isn’t rebellious, it’s stupid.  In my opinion FT8 is like a self-driving car.  No operating skills required.  How much fun is sitting in a car you’re not driving?  You get my point?

And a pleasant reminder.  This is my Blog.  You don’t like it – turn the dial.  Go tell the world how FT8 is saving Ham Radio on your own social media.

N0UN

🙂

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By N0UN – March 22, 2021

FCC Enforcement Advisory Warning

FCC, Amateur Radio License and Email AddressAn FCC Enforcement Advisory Warning?  In 48 years a Amateur (Ham) Radio Operator, I’ve never seen this.

Federal Communications Commission DA 21-73

Released: January 17, 2021

FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY WARNING: AMATEUR AND PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES LICENSEES AND OPERATORS MAY NOT USE RADIO EQUIPMENT TO COMMIT OR FACILITATE CRIMINAL ACTS

The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission issues this Enforcement Advisory to remind licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as licensees and operators in the Personal Radio Services, that the Commission prohibits the use of radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts.

The Bureau has become aware of discussions on social media platforms suggesting that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms for groups to communicate and coordinate future activities.

The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted purposes, including speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes.

Specifically, the Bureau reminds amateur licensees that they are prohibited from transmitting “communications intended to facilitate a criminal act” or “messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.” 47 CFR § 97.113(a)(4).

Likewise, individuals operating radios in the Personal Radio Services, a category that includes Citizens Band radios, Family Radio Service walkie-talkies, and General Mobile Radio Service, are prohibited from using those radios “in connection with any activity which is against Federal, State or local law.” 47 CFR § 95.333(a).

Individuals using radios in the Amateur or Personal Radio Services in this manner may be subject to severe penalties, including significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and, in some cases, criminal prosecution. 47 U.S.C. §§ 401, 501, 503, 510.

Media inquiries should be directed to 202-418-0500 or MediaRelations@fcc.gov.

To file a complaint with the FCC, visit https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC. To report a crime, contact your local law enforcement office or the FBI.

To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Issued by:

Chief, Enforcement Bureau

https://www.fcc.gov/document/amateur-personal-radio-users-reminded-not-use-radios-crimes

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By N0UN – January 17, 2021

Your License And Your Email Address

FCC, Amateur Radio License and Email AddressDid you see this?

FCC “Strongly Advises” License Holders To Get An Email Address

“Strongly Advise“? Seems to me after reading FCC Order 20-126 there is NO wiggle room. Either submit an email address, or lose your license.

PART 97 – AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE

§ 97.21 Application for a modified or renewed license grant.
(a) A person holding a valid amateur station license grant:
(1) Must apply to the FCC for a modification of the license grant as necessary to show the correct Federal Communications Commission mailing and e-mail address, licensee name, club name, license trustee name, or license custodian name in accordance with § 1.913 of this chapter.

§ 97.23 Mailing and e-mail addresses.
Each license grant must show the grantee’s correct name, mailing address, and e-mail address. The e-mail address must be an address where the grantee can receive electronic correspondence. Revocation of the station license or suspension of the operator license may result when correspondence from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the grantee failed to provide the correct e-mail address.

FCC Order On Email Address 20-126 (Full)

Me thinks you best “get with it” OM, there can be no doubt Big Brother is watching (and waiting) for you rebels with no email addresses 🙂  Here’s a link to get your FRN number for your Callsign on the FCC ULS:

Search Your Amateur Radio Callsign

N0UN

Information Added 12/28/2020

To update your license grant with an email address, you need to know your FRN number. You can find that from the “Search Your Amateur Radio Callsign” link. Once you have your FRN Number, you can either sign up (or if already signed up, Log In) at the FCC License Manager.  Once in License Manager you can update your license and add your email address.

N0UN

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By N0UN – December 27, 2020

Ham Radio Deluxe Review

For years I used the free version of Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) by Simon, HB9DRV. It worked great. But over the years since Simon sold HRD in 2011, the only way to update the Country Manager database or Unique Callsign database was to edit them yourself. Frankly I got tired of trying to stay on top of changes so I finally moved on over to the one-time “paid” version.

And I’m glad I did!

I’ll probably make a few more Blog posts on the features in Ham Radio Deluxe over the coming months, but I’ll keep this post to just the HRD Rotator program.  For my three electronic rotor controllers HRD Rotator is absolutely fantastic!

Ham Radio Deluxe HRD Rotator programHere’s a screenshot of HRD Rotator controlling my three electronic controllers (click to enlarge):

I simply set the rotator type, set the com port for each rotator, set for 1 second refresh interval from the pulldown menu, and “connect”.  HRD remembers my settings so I only have to set them once initially, then the program remembers them every time I open HRD.  I point & shoot with the mouse so no more holding down levers or fingers slipping off the controller brake for me!  In my case, the Hy-Gain Tailtwister rotator on Com 3 is powered by our Ham Supply Rotor-EZ With RS 232 board mounted inside a Hy-Gain controller, Com 4 is a Alpha Spid “RAK” rotator powered by an Alpha Spid electronic controller, and Com 5 is a Yaesu G-800 rotator powered by our internal Ham Supply RotorCard mounted in a Yaesu G-800DXA controller. Hands off control of all three rotators!

Ham Radio Deluxe logging screenHere’s a snapshot of my HRD Logbook program with one rotator chosen.  As you can see I have the screen stacked with several utilities in HRD. Logging, DX Cluster, rotator control, audio recording, QRZ lookup, and more. If I want to change the rotator heading all I have to do is click the new heading and HRD Rotator in combination with my chosen electronic controller do the rest. One click on 315° and my antenna is on its way to Japan. 90° to South Africa. 180° to the South Pole.  I can watch the pointer follow the rotator in real time and am also assured the antenna is where I want it. Easy stuff, and as always HRD is rock solid. No flaky bugs or crashes.

Ham Radio DeluxeThat’s about it for this Part I review of Ham Radio Deluxe. Check back soon for Part II. I’ll probably review the HRD Logbook, some of its functions, awards tracking and their one click LoTW upload/download utility. Awesome sauce. Click their link/logo on the right if you’d like to find out more about Ham Radio Deluxe software, straight from the company itself. Visit Ham Radio Deluxe

See you in the pileups!

N0UN

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By N0UN – December 25, 2020

Elevated Radio

N0UN's Elevated RadiosI don’t know about you but I’ve never had enough space on my desk for my radios and all my miscellaneous shack peripherals.

But I found a way to stash a few of them!  And it was really, REALLY cheap and easy too!

Cooking oil spray can lids!  Think PAM spray!

Now I can “hide” my USB Sound Card, paddle and more under the front of my rig, AND I can see my rig at a better reading angle too!

How simple is that?

Check back for more Ham Radio secrets while I go clean some dust off my radios.

N0UN's Elevated Radios

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By N0UN – December 14, 2020

4U75UN United Nations HQ

United Nations New York4U75UN United Nations HQ on the air!

Not sure if it was Adrian (KO8SCA) at the key or not.  Even though it was like shooting fish in barrel, I’ll take a band fill any day!

4U75UN Online Log at Club Log

4U75UN on QRZ.com

N0UN working 4U75UN 17M CW

 

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By N0UN – December 12, 2020

N0UN.net Is Back!

Won’t be long now…

N0UN.net is back!

N0UN

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By N0UN – December 12, 2020