Manners cost nothing

This is no doubt a one off, but called UR6IM on PSK31 today. he was heavily overmodulating with a IMD of -11db. In response to my callback to his CQ he responded with "G4EST QSO BEFORElq BEFORE!!! de UR6IM  CQ... " that QSO was in May 2011, so not that recent.

I accept he may not wish to have a long QSO but a simple exchange would suffice rather than just being RUDE!

I responded thus: "UR6IM Igor -- sorry to bother you!!!
did not realize that you only accept 1 QSO per station
G4EST".  Perhaps he understood!

If memory serves me correctly I have seen him on the band (15m) fairly regularly and usually overmodulating.

USB, Soundcards, and connectivity.

Just thought I would document the problems I have had recently with my data connection between my interface unit (ZLP USBMiniPro) and the PC through external soundcards.

USB 6 channel audio external soundcard

After reading an article somewhere on the web about a decent external soundcard to use instead of the cheapo USB plug-in dongle I was using I purchased an External Sound Card USB 6 Channel 5.1 Audio from Amazon. It arrived a day or so later and as described in the article performed well, installation being straightforward, DM-780 recognising it easily and connection being 100%. Also there was far less added noise on the audio from the rig (TS-570D), as expected.

One morning however, weeks later after booting up the digimode software refused to recognise the microphone input, so I went about the usual steps of rebooting, reinstalling etc, all to no avail. I assumed therefore that the unit had developed a fault so returned it via Amazon's very efficient returns service. As it was sourced outside of Amazon I was unable to obtain a replacement, so a refund was made.

I temporarily connected with the dongle - no problems there.

Maplins 5.1 Multimedia Soundcard

Next stage was to obtain another external sound card (I wanted external so I could use my laptop if out portable). I went to the local Maplins and purchased a 5.1 Multimedia sound card. This as with the 1st unit connected easily and gave solid connections.

After a few days I decided to move the USB connection from the front of the machine to a rear panel input. On starting the DM780 software I was advised that the connection to the microphone had failed.(deja-vu) Went into the soundcard options and reselected the microphone without success. Next stage was to look at the recording devices available from right-clicking the icon in the notifications area of my toolbar (Windows 7). This shows activity against each connected device, and in my case showed that the Line-in was active although audio input was plugged into the microphone jack!  I selected this in the soundcard options dropdown and all was well, signals on the waterfall. Went to transmit and NOTHING.

To cut this long story short, after reloading drivers etc. the only way I could get both TX and RX to work was by connecting via different USB ports and reloading the disk based drivers. Currently working off line-in, audio plugged into this socket now.

I have a decent spec PC with a 750W PSU and am wondering if the voltage to the USB ports is marginal thus the intermittent connectivity. Also wondering if the latest W7 updates have fouled things up!

Working at the moment, so will keep fingers crossed.
 

QSLs and all that

After a few false starts with a QSL card design I finally decided to got some printed for both my own call and the GR4EST call. I wanted to design something which typified village life in the UK, and a game of cricket at the village club, the church in the background under overcast skies seemed to represent this perfectly. The GR card was easier, being based on the Union Flag.

As for producing the card I trawled the internet and obtained several quotes. I ended up using InstantPrint, based in the North East and ordered 500 'main' cards and 130 for GR4EST. There were some issues with the artwork I supplied, however they helped me sort this out and reference to their website for detailed information proved useful. The cards were duly printed and I am pleased with the results - Thanks guys - I will definitely come back for reprints.

This is where the fun (sic) started.
I use HRD for logging which is based on an Access database. I have some expertise with this DBMS from a professional role (before I retired) as well as Microsoft Word. I therefore decided to overprint my cards via a Mail Merge.

I created the "Word" template, linked to the database as the Data (Recipient) source and did a test merge. All seemed Ok so next stage was printing out a test card. I then found that the minimum size my Kodak ESP-3 AIO could handle was 6x4 inch paper. As it drinks ink, and the cartridges cannot be refilled I decided to bite the bullet and replace it with one which could handle QSL cards @ 3.5x5.5 inches.
Trawling the internet I found the HP Photosmart Plus B210a at £79.99 in my local PC World. Got it home, connected up via the wireless network, printed off A4 test print OK, then loaded up the QSL cards into the Photo tray. Options set to use this tray on Printer Preferences, however A4 from main tray selected. I went to the Printer properties and found the Photo Tray was shown as "Not Available". Set it as holding 9x13 cm paper as it was the closest size to cards, Custom not available on this printer, and 'Saved' - well perhaps not as message came back that it "Can not save Printer settings". Eventually, after about an hour of fiddling, got it to print out one card from the Photo tray, but after this settings were lost again. Investigation on the internet showed that this is not an uncommon problem with this printer.

I decided to upgrade drivers etc. so downloaded the new versions from the HP site. 88% into the extraction it failed saying "unable to create output file" even when run as Administrator.

Contacted HP who suggested resetting etc. but then said it was a hardware issue, and to replace the printer. One guy who had the same problems reported that it worked off one of his PCs, but not the other two, so hardware not the issue in his case.

I have had issues with HP kit before as regards software stability and this purchase was made with some trepidation.

I took the support advice to heart and returned the printer for replacement - I have bought an Epson BX525WD which is working perfectly.

I will not touch HP stuff again. - Lesson learned the hard way.

The format of the date and time field held in HRD required some conversion to get it to look right, and after applying sorts on the data to get it into country order for the bureau I am good to go.

TG9AHM - what a nice guy

I have just finished the GR4EST call after an eventful period of operation. I spent several minutes attempting to contact TG9AHM in Guatemala in the dying moments of the call and my perseverance was rewarded  by a solid and interesting contact which ended bang on midnight local when the callsign variation ended. Emmanuel enquired about my home call, at which point he then called me and a new country was then worked as G4EST.

Emmanuel - you are a scholar and a gentleman, thank you.

My thoughts on digimodes

I use digimodes a lot now, lazy perhaps as I am just pressing keys to activate the macros on DM780, logging done through HRD automatically, the only real input being the adding of custom phrases or messages within the predefined text. I do this often now though to stop me getting bored.

Major mode is BPSK-31, although other flavours are used as the digital imprint on the waterfall is easily recognisable.

More esoteric modes though are not as easy to identify, excepting RTTY, and I avoid using these unless previously identified to me by RSID 'coding'. I have this enabled on my transmissions and consider it has got me a few contacts when conditions are quiet on 15 and 18m.

My plea for the day is that those stations using less common modes who have RSID capability Enable it: you may well get more contacts.

Last day of my GR prefix, been busy so far, but mainly Eastern European. Still waiting for East Coast USA, the Antipodes, or South Africa (no chance as my antenna is end on to there!)

Living in hope anyway.

Good DX to all who read this anyway - both of you ;)

New toy

I got my ill-fated FT 480R back from Castle after the TX was repaired and all seemed well. After a day or so I attempted to use the memory facilities, which were operational previously, but now are not. I cannot be bothered to get this fixed professionally so delved into the unit to see if it was something obvious like a loose plug. No luck, although noticed a retaining / earthing screw on one of the boards was missing. Now looking for one to fit.

As it was my birthday a week or so ago I decided to treat myself, and saw a multimode transceiver HF to 70cm IC 706Mk2G for sale at LAMCO. As I had bought my main HF rig from there in January and was pleased with their service I had no qualms about a second purchase. It arrived the next day.
Issue now was antennae for 70cm and 6m.

70cm not an immediate issue, probably replace my 2m 1/2 wave with a 2m / 70cm colinear, but 6m caused most confusion. Horizontal or vertical.

I opted for a Moonraker 6m Halo (folded dipole in their catalogue). Arrived in 2 days and after building which was not without some issues on the tuning capacitor (Moonraker you must improve your instructions). we completed within an hour.
I decided to fit this to the mast supporting the rotator for the 2m beam so that I could gain access to the tuning capacitor easily. SWR 1.8:1 at best initially, but a couple of tweaks of the capacitor brought this down to 1.1:1 as best as I can tell in the lower section of the band. All I need is a contact now.
I coupled the 2 2m antennas to the Icom via a switch and listened for activity on 2m. Not a lot, so browsed VHF frequencies to see what i was able to hear. Radio 1 OK etc. then a a former pilot tuned to the local airport. have spent most time on the rig listening to Liverpool approach and therefore some of my former colleagues coming in for touchdown.

As a devotee of digital modes I ordered a switching box and cables from ZLP electronics in order to use the new rig on those modes and drive using CAT. I must have moved by existing ZLP Mini interface as half way through a contact on HF my TX power dropped, and when on receive I got a very weak signal. It was suggested that I had changed a setting.
As I had had issues with the reliability of the interface to soundcard connection when first received in January, I again reported this to ZLP along with a video showing the fault occurring when the jack plug was moved. I received a curt "clean the jack plug" response as a response to my complaint about the fault, this being something that had been done this time as well as when the problems first occurred.
Despite my experiences and evidence a fault was never acknowledged and I still have not received my new purchases.

GR4EST

I am writing this Bank Holiday Monday after the Royal Wedding.
I personally did not watch it, but considered the prefix may well be useful.
At 01:00 local on 29th April I fired up the rig on PSK on 20m worked an Italian station, then was subjected to a pile up of mainly Russian stations. Then went to 40m where a similar pile up occurred.
Been on intermittently since, mainly late afternoon and evenings, and made contacts with Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Cuba as well as the usual European bunch and West coast America
 Must keep going and hope band conditions improve so I can get East Coast USA.

NARSA (Blackpool) Rally

Sunday 10th April - Attended the rally above not knowing what to expect having been disappointed at the Red Rose rally in January. Pleasantly surprised, especially with the attendance of 3 major suppliers.
Having been disillusioned by prices of new gear, and the lack of availability of multimode VHF/UHF rigs I was looking for something to replace my ageing TR9000 and the FT-480R which I bought on eBay as functional but turned out to be a box of @#*!; this has cost me over £300 to get the TX and RX operational, and it still has faults...
Bumped into G3OCR at the Rally - Hi Stu - hope you got the amp you were looking for. I was after a GDO of some sort. Found 2 on one stall, cheap at £10.00 and £25.00, with coils, but on one the coil on the unit seemed immovable, and no instructions. The other seemed a bit battered and considering my experiences with second hand gear decided to look around a bit more. After a full circuit I returned and found the better one gone, no surprise really.
Spent money at the RSGB bookstall where I purchased an ARRL Antenna Handbook. I saw one in the US last week when on holiday there, and found this one cheaper. Will remember that for future trips. Also bought 30 or so assorted ferrites to help me combat the electrical noise emanating from those damned switched mode PSUs. my router, and also to block RF getting into my Sky box which does not affect the signal, but disables the remote control.
Such a lovely day I decided to have lunch in Blackpool, but after driving around for 20 minutes and not finding a parking space I headed for Lytham. Found a nice seafood restaurant wher a plate of fish and chips hit the mark.
Drove home with the top down on my Saab, exhilarating.

RST - a New definition?

In my time, RST stood for Readability, Strength, and Tone (CW).

Has it changed?

On several occasions now I have heard new callsign holders telling a station that they are coming in at Radio whatever, and Signal whatever. Is this correct, or it it a matter of lowering standards, or just ignorance of the protocols of signal reporting. As an addition to this one station reported to another that "you are coming in clearly, about 4 and 5".

Been back on the air now for almost 4 months, and in my QRT time new license classes were introduced. I do not know what level of knowledge is required to obtain a license now, but when one amateur needs to spend several minutes describing what a dipole is to a new licensee then I fear the worst for the hobby.

I appreciate the need to introduce new blood into our wonderful hobby, but are we to become a hobby where everything is bought 'off the shelf'?

Any views?

Snowdonia Radio - get your act together

Despite me sending them my details on 9th March 2011, they have still not responded to my 3rd support call. 1x phone, 2x e-mail.

Note to self: use alternative supplier who actually cares about a customer.

G4EST - a ham abroad

I have just returned from an 11 day trip to Orlando Florida and would like to tender a word of warning as regards bringing kit back.
I went to AES Orlando, a Ham  equipment supplier, and found them a friendly bunch, their shop festooned with antennae externally, and with books and mainly mobile and CB stuff internally. I purchased a 4 way antenna switch which I seem unable to obtain in the UK for a reasonable price. This is where the fun started. On returning home I thought of what the security at the airport would think of this solid (to X-Rays) bit of kit, the thought not being one of ease, so I packed it in my hand luggage. Upon entering the security area, I removed belt, shoes etc, and placed these in a tray along with my laptop, my Camera bag in a second, my jacket, iPhone, loose change and the antenna switch removed from the camera bag  in a third. I went through the metal detector arch without incident and waited for my stuff. Tray 1 sailed through. Tray 2 took longer as my camera bag held my sat-nav, video camera, camera and 3 lenses, and assorted power leads and chargers. Then Tray 3 got some attention... I could see from the end of the belt how the tray was moving... it was going back and forth, then the operators seemed to play with a setting or two. Eventually the tray appeared and the security guard grabbed the antenna switch which was still in it's transparent packaging. She looked puzzled, then asked a colleague (background scene - other passengers waiting to be processed looking frustrated). This colleague then wandered off to ask a third who seemed to recognise what it was and from that point it became a non-threat.

This process took around 3 minutes, and was facilitated by having the equipment easily available for physical inspection, I hate to think how it would have been handled had it been buried in my camera bag, or worse still in my hold luggage.

ADVICE: Think ahead and segregate any 'dubious' items out for inspection to save time through security, and avoid the daggers  emanating from other passengers held up while your equipment is being evaluated..