Author Archives: robert

Thank you VP6D team!

Posted on November 1, 2018 by robert

I have to admit that hunting for VP6D felt like hunting real DX, a feeling that is pretty rare down here at the bottom of the solar cycle.  I had fun working them on 8 CW bands from 80-10m, plus SSB … Continue reading →

Posted in DX | Leave a comment

Errors in PortableRotation.com AZ/EL Manual

Posted on October 17, 2018 by robert

The Portable Rotation 12PRSAT AZ/EL Rotor is a pretty cool product, works well with SATPC32.  But there are several critical errors in the latest documentation (version 1.5). To enter Magnetic Declination (14 degrees west in RI) do the following: Power … Continue reading →

Posted in Gear, Satellite | Leave a comment

WB4SON.COM Moved to HostGator

Posted on September 8, 2018 by robert

For the past seven years, WB4SON.COM has been hosted on GoDaddy.com, but with their ever increasing prices, plus costs for a security certificate, I was forced to move my hosting to HostGator.com, which uses a standard cPanel interface and gives … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM | Leave a comment

DTMF and the FT-70D

Posted on September 7, 2018 by robert

I’ve been wanting to write up something covering what I discovered about my Zumspot and Yaesu FT-70D radio, especially how I configured them both, but there are already some excellent references online.  One website that has been very useful to … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Mode, DMR, FT-70D, FUSION, PiStar | 4 Comments

Yaesu System Fusion and ZumSpot Hotspot

Posted on August 18, 2018 by robert

My friend Pete, W1LAB, one of our DSTAR and Linux gurus, mentioned that he had become interested in a new HotSpot, the ZumSpot, that has become quite popular and is sold by HRO.  Part of the appeal was the rather … Continue reading →

Posted in D-Star, DMR, FT-70D, FUSION, NXDN, P25, YSF | 21 Comments

NIST Director Copan Decides to Shut Down WWV/WWVB/WWVH

Posted on August 13, 2018 by robert

Can you believe that WWV, WWVB and WWVH will be shut down in 2019?  Struck me as beyond strange, but sure enough it shows up in the 2019 budget request: -$6.3 million supporting fundamental measurement dissemination, including the shutdown of … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM | 7 Comments

Nice Day at RI ARES Beavertail Picnic

Posted on July 21, 2018 by robert

My thanks to Paul N1PSX, our RI SEC (Section Emergency Coordinator), and the ARES team for a nice time this Saturday at their annual picnic/get-together.  There were lots of folks from each corner of the state, most of them bringing … Continue reading →

Posted in ILLW, IOTA, Operating, Portable, USIslands | Leave a comment

“Emergency! There is smoke in the basement”

Posted on July 14, 2018 by robert

So I have a rule about keeping all my WB4SON Blog comments about radio.  Keeps me on topic and away from controversial subjects, which is a good thing.  In the very sad news department, my constant companion Lily, our 14-year … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, From the OM | 2 Comments

Thank you Baker Island Team!

Posted on July 4, 2018 by robert

It’s been a hectic couple of months here in WB4SON land, and my operating time has been severely curtailed.  But it pained me to think that I was about to miss an opportunity for a ATNO with the KH1/KH7Z DXpedition.  … Continue reading →

Posted in DX | Leave a comment

How much gas for a Field Day using a Honda EU2000i

Posted on June 25, 2018 by robert

My club borrowed my EU2000i generator for Field Day.  It gave me a chance to try out my new extended run tank (based on a 20L NATO gas can, with a custom cap for the generator, some J30R10 submersible fuel line, … Continue reading →

Posted in ECOMM | Leave a comment