Author Archives: robert

Success on 20-Meter Mobile

Posted on November 12, 2016 by robert

During JOTA 2016, my HF station had some RF issues due to the use of an off-center-fed-dipole (OCFD).  This type of antenna almost always has common-mode current issues on the coax.  Ultimately we solved it by making a 5 inch diameter … Continue reading →

Posted in Operating, Portable | Leave a comment

Amazed at 400th Anniversary of Cervantes Radio Event

Posted on October 5, 2016 by robert

I am absolutely blown away by what the URE (Union Radioaficionados Espanoles – their equivalent of the ARRL) – put together to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes.  The event last for only THREE WEEKS, starting September … Continue reading →

Posted in Contests, DX, Operating | Leave a comment

Touch-Tone Control of DVmega Hotspot

Posted on September 29, 2016 by robert

The DVmega, running ircDBGateway software, supports control/linking via DTMF Touch-Tone commands (that is an option that can be turned off, but it defaults to on).  This is generally much easier to do than struggling with trying to reprogram the UR … Continue reading →

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The Easiest DSTAR I’ve Ever Used

Posted on September 15, 2016 by robert

I’ve laid hands on six different Icom DSTAR radios, included the latest/greatest, and they all suffer from horrible illogical human interface designs.  Perhaps it is simply a cultural thing — what the Japanese find easy to do, frustrates someone from … Continue reading →

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15 Minutes of Fame?

Posted on September 7, 2016 by robert

Andy Warhol once said “In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”. A satellite buddy, WD9EWK, sent me a tweet about 12:30 this morning about the QRZ.COM page which was featuring my QSL card: Thanks, Patrick — that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM | Leave a comment

A Cool Linking Tool for Hotspots

Posted on September 6, 2016 by robert

Now that my DVmega is up and running, I am happy to report that a pretty cool App, “ircddb remote“, works just fine as long as you setup the port (usually 10022) and password in the ircDBBgateway program.  At the … Continue reading →

Posted in D-Star | Leave a comment

It’s Alive (DVmega Part 2)

Posted on September 6, 2016 by robert

It took more than a little bit of doing, but my DVmega/RPi3 is up and running just fine now. I can access the hotspot anywhere in my home using my ID-80AD on Super Low Power — this is a great … Continue reading →

Posted in D-Star, Digital Mode | 2 Comments

Getting a DVmega/RPi3 Hotspot Running – Part 1

Posted on September 5, 2016 by robert

As a backup to some local DSTAR machines that require a bit more than a HT on low power with a rubber duck antenna to access, I thought it would be nice to install a DV Hotspot in my house. … Continue reading →

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DXCC Update for August

Posted on September 1, 2016 by robert

Wow, have things ever slowed down.  I did fill in several missing band-slots for CY9C, and a few more random band-slots for other countries.  But I haven’t worked an ATNO in ages. So no new countries to report, and only … Continue reading →

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CY9C – St. Paul Island DXpedition – via Satellite

Posted on August 25, 2016 by robert

I was fortunate enough to work CY9C today at 21:08:39 during a pass of AO-7.  Great operator on the other end and great signals too.  Heard him work quite a few prior to me as well. Did the same thing … Continue reading →

Posted in AO-7, DX, Satellite, XW-2C | Leave a comment