Amateur Radio – a hobby where people talk about their hobby using their hobby.
I completed a quick and easy addition to my IC-706MKIIG today using a great article from Phil, AD5X. The article describes how to add a 12v fan on the back of the IC-706’s heatsink to help keep the radio cool. Phil’s article describes how to use a Molex plug on the back of the 706 to power the fan. Everything went smooth and the fan is working great.
Check out more articles here.
Thanks Phil!
Submit logs confirming contact with 3 or more lighthouses located on an Army installation and you qualify for the US Army Amateur Radio Society’s Lighthouse Award.
Please submit log extract indicating which contacts qualify for the award along with a SASE (8.5″ x 11″) to AD7MI.
I’ve played around with APRS in the Toyota Tundra before. Now I’m upgrading the setup a bit. Instead of using the ICOM IC-T81A I switched to the Kenwood TH-D7A(G). To bump up the 5 watt output, I tossed in a Mirage 30 watt amp that I’ve had sitting on the shelf for the last five years. I’m still using my Garmin’s eTrex Vista, but now have the combo data/power cable. No longer do I need to worry about swapping out the 2x AA batteries.
Tomorrow I’m going to try to integrate one of my old Palm Pilots (Palm m125) to run Pocket APRS.
I also have to do some massaging with all the cables.
Go here to track me while mobile.
I played around with the Opek and Workman 40M antennas this morning. The Opek tuned from about 7.150 to 7.290 and the Workman tuned from 7.040 to 7.250. I noticed a difference in the receive – the Workman was doing a better job. I have an extra stinger for the Workman, so I’m going to shorten it a bit allowing me use of the upper phone band on 40M (good for lighthouse work on 7.270). I can then lengthen the existing one just a bit to allow me to cover all the CW area of 40M.
Had a nice QSO with Frank, AC9T, located up near Chicago. He served in the Navy aboard the battleship USS Iowa and told me what it was like sailing underneath the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
I spent some more time on Sunday improving my HF mobile install. After completely removing the rear interior panel of the cab and finding no grommet or any other easy method of passing the feedline into the cab I was able to find a nice sized grommet under the passenger seat. I was able to keep the feedline to a length of 10 feet, ran it through a plastic covering for protection, and then tied it off underneath the truck at multiple points using zip ties. For the antenna mount support, I found an L bracket at Home Depot that I was able to securely bolt to the bed of the truck near the cab. I ran a short length of braided grounding wire from the other side of the bolt (inside the bed frame) down to the frame of the vehicle underneath the cab. For the antenna mount, I’m using a 3/8 inch X 24 Radio Shack base fitting – standard for use with Hamstick, Hamstick knock-offs, and the Hustler varieties. The base fitting fit neatly through a pre-drilled hole through the top of the L bracket.
In the past when I operated portable HF from the truck I used one of the 12v convenience outlets (aka cigarette lighters). I have consistently failed to locate any easy access through the engine firewall for a power cable. Now with finding the grommet under the passenger’s seat, I decided to use that for the entrance for 12v power. I used 10 gauge wire from the truck’s battery terminals (both with in-line fuses), routed the cable around the engine and down the passenger side to the grommet. I terminated the line using Anderson PowerPoles and am using a Saratoga Amateur Power Panel for distribution.
I took advantage of the IC-706MKIIG’s detachable faceplate, using the mounting kit to attach it to a Belkin iPod/PDA holder that secures into a cup holder. This allows me to easily tune around the band with my right hand without any reaching. The handmike attaches to the faceplate.
I haven’t found a great place to actually secure the radio and auto tuner. Right now they’re tucked under the rear of the front passenger’s seat. The seat immediately behind the passenger’s seat folds up towards the front of the truck and provides protection (and shade) for the rig. If I can find a way to mount the radio that still allows me to quickly and easily remove it for portable use, I’ll do it.
For antennas I’m using a two Hamstick knock-offs made by a company called Workman. One is for 20M and the other is for 40M. They easily screw into the 3/8 inch X 24 base fitting. Both work well, the 20M tunes the entire band and the 40M tunes nicely below 7260. I also purchased a cross between a Hustler and a Hamstick antenna (also for 20M and 40M) made by a company called Opek at the Virginia FrostFest last month. The 20M antenna is worthless. It won’t tune anywhere in the 20M phone band. The 40M antenna does a nice job covering the 40M band and tunes up to 7290 without issue. I also have a 75M Hamstick (can’t remember where I bought it) – with a little trimming of the stinger I was able to get the stick to tune the upper portion of the 75M phone band. The tuneable bandwidth for the 75M stick will be narrow, no way around it. But I can cut a few different length stingers to provide coverage down into 80M.
I’ve had successful QSOs using the Workman 20M and 40M antennas as well as the 40M Opek antenna. This evening I had the 20M Workman antenna mounted and first had a QSO with PS7JS in Brazil. There were several stations calling, but PS7JS came back to me after my second call and gave me a 59 report. Ten minutes later I had a QSO with Pedro, XE1REM, operating from Mexico City. Pedro also gave me a FB 59 report. Earlier today I had a QSO with a station in Slovakia, receiving a 57.
A couple of notes on operating mobile:
(1) I need to get something to take notes with. I need to be able to jot down callsigns, freqs, and times.
(2) I have to remember to include “mobile” after my callsign.
Tonight I hooked up my IC-706MKIIG in my truck. Very temporary setup – I just wanted to see if everything would work. I mounted the antenna using an L bracket on the inside of the bed of the truck near the cab. I’m using single band antennas and used one cut for 40M for tonights test.
by Brian Pasternack, KA3VSP, ka3vsp@voicenet.com
If you know of more Morse appearing in music, you might drop an email to Brian and let him know.
This story uses the background music feature of Internet Explorer 2.0 to play the introduction to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony using your computer’s MIDI compatible sound system. Netscape users can download the MIDI file at http://www.hamradio-online.com/1996/apr/fifthsym.mid.
While listening to your favorite music, don’t be suprised if you hear those strange and annoying sounds of that terrible Morse code!
Case in point, on Joe Walsh’s latest solo album “Songs for a Dying Planet” is a song titled “Vote For Me”. The song is preceded with Morse code which pounds out “REGISTER AND VOTE FOR ME AR”. Brian, KF2HC, states that the same message appears on Joe’s first album “Barnstorm” in a song titled “Mother”. Joe holds an Advanced class Amateur license.
Another album worth noting is Roger Waters’ album “Radio Kaos”. This album is filled with Morse messages. Most of the code is underlying the haunting music and very difficult to copy. The album’s cover is also worth noting…it is littered with Morse code characters. The album’s song titles are all spelled out in Morse Code!
The rock band RUSH has a song title “YYZ” on their album “Moving Pictures”. This songs starts out with a heavy percussion belting out “YYZ” and then followed by bass and guitar blaring out the same. Well, the characters YYZ are the beacon identifier for the Toronto International Airport. The inspiration for the song came from Alex Lifeson, the guitarist for the band, who holds a private pilots license.
Carter Bennett, KI5SR, brings to my attention that there is badly formed Morse code on Kate Bush’s album “Hounds of Love”. Carter informs me that the song “Watching You Without Me” contains the code “SOS”. It was also reported that this track has some RTTY going in and out of tune. KI5SR continues with information regarding the album “Saving the Wildlife” by Mannheim Steamroller. He states that there is a track on the album which sounds too much like “CQ” in Morse.
Charlie, N2JQA, brings to my attention that there is Morse Codeon Ronnie Montrose’s album (Elektra 1982 EI-60034) “GAMMA 3”. The song “Stranger” contains Morse Code which spells “STRANGER”.
Wayne, WA6MPG, states that in 1967, the band “PEARLS BEFORE SWINE” recorded a song with an adult-rated CW message in it. The song was titled “MISS MORSE”. The song is said to have vulgarities in it spelled out with Morse Code. The album was titled “ONE NATION UNDERGROUND”.
Randall, KE0YG, provided the following info about Morse Code in the computer game called “RED STORM RISING” by Microprose. Randall says that in the opening credits there is music which contains Morse Code which spells out “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING” at about 18 WPM. Randall says that he can confirm this on the C-64 version and he believes that the IBM version plays the CW message in the theme song.
Craig, VK3CRA, informed me of a TV show called “INSPECTOR MORSE”. Craig has never seen the show but, from info gathered, states that the inspector’s name is never given in the show. It is alleged, however, to be contained in Morse Code which is played as part of the show’s introductory music.
Howie, N2WX and Mark, KM6XU, informed me that “Radioactivity” by Kraftwerk has lots of good Morse code in it. Mark also states that the band Missing Persons has a song with some code in it but Mark didn’t supply any info on the song.
A message from John, NI6D, brought to my attention of pseudo Morse code in the song “Radio Silence” on Thomas Dolby’s album titled “The Golden Age of Wireless”.
Dave, N0DET, adds that there is code in the song “Planet Claire” by the B-52’s. In the intro to “Planet Claire”, a kind of Spy vs. Spy mood is created by the music, and plainly audible CW. The Morse code says, “NAKS DE CFH I I ZKR F13395 5156 AS 662 ….,”, then fades to music. Dave believes that ‘NAKS’ and ‘CFH’ are commercial station callsigns. More information pertaining to the code comes in from Ron, VE3RYN. Ron says that “NAKS” should be “NAWS” which stands for ‘North Atlantic Weather Station’ and “CFH” is a CDN military ship/shore station located near Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Michael, W9OJ, claims that the words “love you” are spelled out in morse code at the end of the “Iron Butterfly Theme” by Iron Butterfly. This song is on their first album “Heavy” and is also on the double album titled “Rare Flight”.
Ian, VK2IAQ, writes in with information stating that the UK rock band ‘Barclay James Harvest’ has two songs which contain morse code. Ian states that the song “Nova Lepidoptera”, a sci-fi song from the 1977 album “XII”, starts off with “UFO” repeated in slow morse code. Also, the title track of the album “Ring of Changes” starts with the title sent twice in morse code. John Lees, the lead guitarist, is a licensed amateur operator in the UK.
Bill, WA6ITF, reports some really good Morse code on the CD “SEEK YOU” by Andrew, G3WZZ, and Lissa Huddleson.
Well, that’s about it for now. Thanks to all who have provided me with information on this subject and thanks to all who have inquired about the subject.
Until next time, KEEP POUNDING BRASS!
73 de Brian Pasternak, KA3VSP!
Editor’s note: And let’s not forget Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony with its famous “dit-dit-dit-dahhhh”. Okay, so the Morse code had not been invented yet…
Amateur Radio activity shut down in Iraq (Mar 13, 2007) — Iraq
Amateur Radio Society (IARS) President Diya Sayah, YI1DZ, has informed
ARRL that all Amateur Radio activity in Iraq has been suspended until
the security situation there improves. He says the suspension affects
both Iraqi citizens as well as any foreigners — including military
personnel and contractors — who have been on the air from Iraq. The
request to halt all ham radio activity and the issuance of licenses in
Iraq originated with a letter from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as part of a new security plan,
Sayah said. He received subsequent confirmation via the Ministry of
Higher Education and Scientific Research to shut down ham radio
activity, although he allows for a possible misunderstanding on the
part of government officials as to the nature and purpose of Amateur
Radio.
