tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156888894572280812024-03-19T05:26:10.228-04:00PRC-77Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-42965930047620031502024-03-13T08:40:00.004-04:002024-03-13T09:10:13.073-04:00Thinking Outside The Box<p>Pet peeve time.</p><p>Ham radio is in love with the go-box. You can't attend a hamfest or club meeting without seeing presentations on, or hearing discussions about, go-boxes; what goes in them, how they are built, how to power them, how to connect to them, etc. Suffice to say, ham radio is go-box batty. Proof? Just Google 'ham radio go box'. </p><p>The go-box concept is good, but it can be limiting in both capabilities and scope. Just the mindset that all your capability has to fit into a single box, and if it doesn't fit, then you don't need it, is a silly way to approach a problem. </p><p>I haven't seen too many go-boxes that were built to meet a specific mission or requirement. For example, I once asked a person demonstrating his go-box why he included a VHF packet modem. He admitted there wasn't a clear need for it - it was there 'just in case'. This in a region that hasn't seen any public service related packet activity for over 15 years.</p><p>I don't want to disparage the concept of the go-box, but the 'box' mentality and the lack of a requirements-based approach seems to lead to a lot of implementations that look like solutions in search of a problem.</p><p>Let's think beyond the go-box and instead think about the concept of a mission-focused communications hub or, as we used to call them in the Army, a 'comms center'. A comms center is just a place - a table, a room, a shelter, a tent. Heck, it can be the tailgate of a pickup truck. But it is the place at which you build out a communications hub in support of an event or incident, and build it out tailored to the mission requirements.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5V7ZELtley4xu34iBf51YrgFTf4qckviuqnQVLscb1RlrWJrrvQS6M8P-xyE6JC8NmPe3FVUdE9CEpKfT5QdhhciUsU00REChzKNw9Bgp5XwTkx96AutAcA-gSM5Zn_JtzMyM-7_tGLTpWCf0H7gasv9X6jeepWqExmDKaS0r5eMEC5x1r_HuAF6S6iN/s2106/SCR188.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="2106" height="517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5V7ZELtley4xu34iBf51YrgFTf4qckviuqnQVLscb1RlrWJrrvQS6M8P-xyE6JC8NmPe3FVUdE9CEpKfT5QdhhciUsU00REChzKNw9Bgp5XwTkx96AutAcA-gSM5Zn_JtzMyM-7_tGLTpWCf0H7gasv9X6jeepWqExmDKaS0r5eMEC5x1r_HuAF6S6iN/w640-h517/SCR188.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A comm center can be anywhere, even in a sandbagged bunker</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><p>I use the term 'mission focus' a lot, and it really is the key to the comms center concept. You build capability to meet a specified mission. Let's use a county-level ARES group as an example. Do a mission analysis and ask yourself (and your EMA) these questions: <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What are your served agencies? </li><li>What are the missions of these served agencies? </li><li>What communications capabilities do they need to meet their missions? </li><li>What are their organic communications capabilities? </li><li>What are they lacking? </li></ul>The answer to <i>'What are they lacking?'</i> is what should drive your mission focus. Once you identify and understand that gap, and build capabilities to close it, you are on the path to establishing a formal comms center.<p></p><p>The comms center concept is also fluid. In the Army, I've been in situations where the comms center started out as just a single VHF radio mounted in a truck, a map board and a message log. Over time it morphed into a dedicated shelter with multi-channel voice and digital HF and VHF capabilities, a landline switchboard and a SATCOM link. What all this gear wasn't, was stuffed into a single box. That was impractical and unwieldly; each communications system required more elbow room than a boxed enclosure could offer.</p><p>Far-fetched for a civilian operation? Not at all. With growing reliance on systems like Winlink and other HF-based digital tools like JS8CALL, Fldigi, VarAC, and use of internet-linked VHF voice and data modes like DSTAR, C4FM, DMR and Echolink, the technology stack in a civilian comms center can easily match that found in military units. And let's not forget the vulnerability of terrestrial-based internet. There's a reason a Starlink package is a standard part of many civilian communications centers.</p><p>But a comms center isn't really about comms equipment. The job of the comms center is moving information, and the synchronization of communications across systems, agencies and departments. With this in mind, a comms center's key functions include:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Establishing and maintaining communications support as directed by the event director, incident commander or incident communications leader</li><li>Maintaining the event/incident radio log</li><li>Conducting an overall 'radio watch'; ensuring all comms systems are up, operating and proactively monitored</li><li>Interfacing communications systems. For example, establishing radio-wire interfaces, making sure information received via radio is 'hopped' to the appropriate systems like WebEOC, internal chat systems, status boards, etc.</li><li>On-boarding new personnel, departments or agencies that show up to support the incident, making sure their organic communications systems are integrated into the communications architecture</li><li>Radio set-up and programming</li><li>Troubleshooting communications issues</li></ul><div>So... while a go-box can serve as a component of a comms center, it should never be considered an all-encompassing solution. For this reason I'm not a big fan of the 'box' solution. It seems to impose conceptual restrictions, trying to force the mission requirements to fit the box, not the other way around.</div><div><br /></div><div>So let's stop focusing on go-boxes and instead focus on flexible, mission focused comms centers. Start thinking outside the box.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div><p></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-3057939564379518692024-03-03T09:05:00.004-05:002024-03-03T09:05:55.065-05:00A Small KX2 UpgradeI continue to be impressed by Elecraft and their long-term support for products that other manufacturers would consider 'end-of-life' and not worth investing time or effort on. Case in point is the KX2, introduced in 2016. While eight years isn't really that long for an amateur radio to be in production, it is unusual for a radio to see firmware improvements and factory hardware upgrades this far into its production life. Yet 'obsolete' and 'end of life' don't seem to be in the Elecraft vocabulary; they continue to provide support for rigs that have been out of production for years. There are no orphans in the Elecraft line-up.<div><br /></div><div>Case in point with the KX2 is the recent release of the <a href="https://elecraft.com/products/kxibc2-kx2-internal-battery-charger" target="_blank">KXIBC2 internal battery charger board</a>. The KXIBC2 replaces the internal clock board and adds the ability to charge a factory Li-ion battery inside the rig <i>and</i> provides a real-time clock. This is a big improvement, and addresses one of the major complaints many have of the KX2. As designed, the battery pack had to be charged outside of the rig - open the radio and remove the battery, plug it into a charger, when fully charged re-install it in the radio. Elecraft originally designed the radio this way because back in 2015, when the design was finalized, Li-ion charging technology wasn't what it is today, and Elecraft thought it was smarter and safer to require charging outside the radio. Nine years on, Elecraft figured out a power management system that allows the Li-ion pack to be charged safely while inside the radio. The KXIBC2 board is available as a factory option, or a user installed kit.</div><div><br /></div><div>The kit arrived a week ago, and yesterday I decided it was time to dive in and do the upgrade. In typical Elecraft fashion, the installation instructions are well thought out and easy to follow. It's a simple matter of pulling out the old clock board, popping in the new charger board, soldering two jumpers to the main board and adjusting the radio settings to recognize the new board. In my case I needed to do a firmware update (v3.00 to v3.02). </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ8H-Jx66xktLZipU1Sv8-iJpKYIhWd8Zn5mZbfI-5l5DYDTA-28zcjpgh4_y1883FjO4Ew0CdUEKnICXlcJBkR5LTBZB3jYTtrDDnsbL5JVapcO7HYUkLhlpTSoRt0129jFVuphA-SXUjNsPAU8IuPAzotApPefC1i5dciJgw-HG2z1VNi_9cG0vEfzLm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1129" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ8H-Jx66xktLZipU1Sv8-iJpKYIhWd8Zn5mZbfI-5l5DYDTA-28zcjpgh4_y1883FjO4Ew0CdUEKnICXlcJBkR5LTBZB3jYTtrDDnsbL5JVapcO7HYUkLhlpTSoRt0129jFVuphA-SXUjNsPAU8IuPAzotApPefC1i5dciJgw-HG2z1VNi_9cG0vEfzLm=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The KXIBC2 board installed (right side of the picture. It replaces to old real-time clock <br />board, but provides a charge controller plus real-time clock. The red and white pins<br />will be soldered to the main board. The large open space will be taken up by the Li-ion battery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja6I00Xk3SUA2sDG9_H6Xiw46-p9rVjkjAGEpKuhxKo39Ehcg0pIG_6rjxHGtXNH7gXnQpP5XUIhnJ8NqXEKLZ9opbIvUyjbdk6elcWc9bBCoIhqi5YcUUWDJYWoT18mEQWDKG1TvRU7g8kqc75ctTfv2_uQrGOjL3E_2zmGZxHSMySL7XI9UXdQNF9BUE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1055" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja6I00Xk3SUA2sDG9_H6Xiw46-p9rVjkjAGEpKuhxKo39Ehcg0pIG_6rjxHGtXNH7gXnQpP5XUIhnJ8NqXEKLZ9opbIvUyjbdk6elcWc9bBCoIhqi5YcUUWDJYWoT18mEQWDKG1TvRU7g8kqc75ctTfv2_uQrGOjL3E_2zmGZxHSMySL7XI9UXdQNF9BUE=w640-h515" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The KXIBC2 board seen from the 'outboard' side</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn9ZSlc8iy9iDuuXjsLQqoPLPLOqlUmoGaxglEQnVLzfBRsxi5Ayt3W8Jb4zm7SYx1yEcZA__hBYM_0joFbvlpl-ipaKQu2DNxxPqMaP2Z6tSYHrbZ_am00qqTxe8Z-arCbGFuYtdq7qe4VoQQKYpI1-DAPNhxjnfMgREurPkVuGh3kk2vTTg9V274oMiE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1335" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn9ZSlc8iy9iDuuXjsLQqoPLPLOqlUmoGaxglEQnVLzfBRsxi5Ayt3W8Jb4zm7SYx1yEcZA__hBYM_0joFbvlpl-ipaKQu2DNxxPqMaP2Z6tSYHrbZ_am00qqTxe8Z-arCbGFuYtdq7qe4VoQQKYpI1-DAPNhxjnfMgREurPkVuGh3kk2vTTg9V274oMiE=w640-h408" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumper wires soldered in place on the main board</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOF3wKB1FUVucBw_HHQ-T-qSBY_Nq-slcXNvP-PPJC1PuSTxLCmuz4_9PpEl6Uf2655MeeAkO-IYQhaGYrTsjkgEy7ofyuf_eL8IiPt9fTq0Pd-Mgdge90tva6zvsPFistLbsVR6mT9_O9qjeZ22by8l5Jf39RJgxJ8C0DPmEW3FDCDIM1WURvqMLTmLhQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOF3wKB1FUVucBw_HHQ-T-qSBY_Nq-slcXNvP-PPJC1PuSTxLCmuz4_9PpEl6Uf2655MeeAkO-IYQhaGYrTsjkgEy7ofyuf_eL8IiPt9fTq0Pd-Mgdge90tva6zvsPFistLbsVR6mT9_O9qjeZ22by8l5Jf39RJgxJ8C0DPmEW3FDCDIM1WURvqMLTmLhQ=w483-h640" width="483" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battery pack in place, time to test. The LED on the charger board is a steady<br />yellow, so the battery is charging and all's good!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbFPkdNZ6E2iPCTTwiJ3w02pIhKKKqzaKy7tLxRHevstM8Kv9ki1cCYMetb7PWGGKUtCilAzM7DsOCAj6IBbTal8K0ekcfY9TYdCok8lIP9-_UNtOg9_06nsIxMQmXf4EDCcPLvI-_f1w6zn81ghch9xrQCK14POeW_idF7_Z-i13n-bXYJIzoeSJWVBvm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1129" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbFPkdNZ6E2iPCTTwiJ3w02pIhKKKqzaKy7tLxRHevstM8Kv9ki1cCYMetb7PWGGKUtCilAzM7DsOCAj6IBbTal8K0ekcfY9TYdCok8lIP9-_UNtOg9_06nsIxMQmXf4EDCcPLvI-_f1w6zn81ghch9xrQCK14POeW_idF7_Z-i13n-bXYJIzoeSJWVBvm=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick firmware update brings everything up to snuff<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAXlzqEivwjfHy1tjzFuBSzmP-VR45rK5IoKTRujwX7myS41OTGIoGiuYoSRtk879Zd4YYIhs_4EVxV4inRM5gvQ1hKNY7HtSyChGs7ScHn6IPWuAl0NUH78RskSdGqWjnafet1jt1PhajynTelAX5FZd0m-4yR4jj4mo9KRuxS5Mxa74U-sj8yE1veMhH" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1129" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAXlzqEivwjfHy1tjzFuBSzmP-VR45rK5IoKTRujwX7myS41OTGIoGiuYoSRtk879Zd4YYIhs_4EVxV4inRM5gvQ1hKNY7HtSyChGs7ScHn6IPWuAl0NUH78RskSdGqWjnafet1jt1PhajynTelAX5FZd0m-4yR4jj4mo9KRuxS5Mxa74U-sj8yE1veMhH=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little rig is merrily charging away, getting ready for the next radio adventure!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There you have it. A dandy little rig made even better, courtesy of a company that actually listens to and engages with its customers.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-83630124312384210462024-02-04T16:07:00.000-05:002024-02-04T16:07:05.906-05:00So Close, Yet Still Oh So Far<p>I got bored yesterday and decided to put together yet another one of my ham radio transceiver evaluation spreadsheets. This time I wanted to evaluate QRP and 100 watt HF rigs against the same criteria, but not have them compete in the same space. So I decided to take a look at 100 watt rigs and QRP rigs separately.</p><p>My evaluation criteria change around the margins from year-to-year, but there are always a core set of requirements I'm looking for. These are MY requirements, the features and capabilities that matter to me. I also only evaluate rigs I've got personal experience with, or rigs that have caught my eye. For example, as kind of a toss-in to see where the market is today I decided to add the new(ish) Yaesu FT-710 to the evaluation. I have no personal experience with the rig, other than about a 15 minute test session at my local HRO showroom, but felt it deserved to be evaluated against some of its older siblings like the FT-897 and the FT-891.</p><p>Some of the radios I evaluate are out of production, so their scores really are not relevant to anyone other than me. But, since they are in my radio arsenal, I figured they would serve a useful purpose to highlight how far current rigs have (or have not) improved in terms of features and capabilities.</p><p>Let's talk briefly about the evaluation criteria. As I said, these are features that matter to ME. However, I know from talking to a lot of hams that like to operate outdoors that many of you are interested in these features, too. I also weight the evaluation criteria. For example, I consider the a built-in sound card interface to be critically important, so I give it an evaluation weight of 3, as opposed to having back-lit buttons, which only gets an evaluation weight of 1. While I think back-lit buttons are important, I consider a built-in sound card interface to be three times as important. </p><p><iframe framborder="0" height="500" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSBAQeh9OmjBL6SqdmJdVKpOKzlqiMKJ8e1OZHGOgLIBcpzNFqojVmr5NcGnow0Myl4bA3C1JXoFGKe/pubhtml?widget=true&headers=false" width="900"></iframe></p><p>Let's review some of the criteria:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Built in panadapter. This implies the radio has a real-time panadapter and waterfall display. Over the years I've found this a very useful feature, particularly when doing digital modes. A panadapter isn't absolutely critical; some high performing rigs on this evaluation, like the KX2, don't have them, but if the radio does have one that's a plus</li><li>Sound card interface. I've already discussed this above. My feeling is this - with a modern rig of any type, if you are a manufacturer and don't include a sound card interface, you are half-stepping it</li><li>Ease of digital mode configuration. It's one thing to have a built-in sound card. It's another to have a firmware set that makes it easy to configure for and run sound card digital modes. In my experience, Icom clearly excels at this. While no manufacturer's digital mode configuration settings are exactly 'easy', Icom's configurations are the least confusing and aggravating to set up and troubleshoot. </li><li>Internal battery. It used to be only QRP rigs came with internal batteries (and not all of them, at that). I can understand 100 watt rigs not having internal batteries due to cost and technical complexity (although that excuse is becoming harder and harder to swallow, given recent improvements in battery chemistries and charging technologies), but there is NO reason today for a QRP rig to not have replaceable, rechargeable internal batteries or, in the case of rigs like the IC-705 and the Lab599 TX-500, a battery holder that securely attaches to and integrates with the main radio body</li><li>MARS mod. This is important to me, but likely not to many others. I'm a licensed MARS operator, so the ability to do a wide-band TX mod on any radio I own is important. The good news is that just about any radio can take a MARS modification. The challenge is the cost and difficulty. Most radios need some physical modification - either the removal of diodes or, in the case of some Yaesu rigs, adding a solder bridge across two open pads on a board. But the all-time winner is Elecraft. Their MARS mods are done via software - quick, easy, elegant and reversable</li><li>Tuners. Most tuners built into 100 watt rigs are anemic, handling (at best) a 4:1 antenna mis-match. They'll tweak up an 'almost resonant' antenna, but choke when the SWR crawls above 5:1. But what if you are dealing with some serious mis-matches under something like disaster response conditions? Spare me the talk about only using resonant antennas. I operate in the real world, where I've got one antenna up, and it's got to work on 10 - 40 meters and, if possible, at reduced power on 80 meters. This is why I want a more robust tuner in my radio. I'm OK with a tuner that can handle a 4:1 mis-match, but if you can give me one that'll handle 10:1, and build it into the radio, you get an extra point in my evaluation</li><li>IP and MILSTD ratings for water/dust resistance and ruggedness. <u>Every</u> rig fails at this, but I keep it as aspirational evaluation criteria. Both Yaesu and Icom know how to build IPX and MILSTD radios - they do it every day for the military, marine, aviation, commercial and land mobile markets the serve, and they also do it for some of the ham radio UHF/VHF handheld radios they currently make, like the Icom ID-52. There is no reason why they can't put just one HF radio in their lineup that meets these standards</li><li>Factory ruggedized. This is the most subjective evaluation criteria I have. It is different from IP and MILSTD ratings, but the end goal is the same - a radio that offers improved water and shock resistance for field use. There two radios on my list that manufacturers have either implied or outright stated as built to a higher standard - the Icom IC-7200 (now out of production) and the Lab599 TX-500. I've opened up my IC-7200 several times, and I can tell you that radio is about as water resistant as a submarine with screen hatches. It looks rugged, but it's really just a plastic shell surrounding a huge heat sink. A good radio, yes, but in no way water resistant. Icom should be ashamed of itself for implying in their product literature that the IC-7200 was in some way more water resistant than other radios on the market. The TX-500 is a different story. Lab599 proudly states that the radio is built to offer a higher level of water resistance. While the radio doesn't meet IPX or MILSTD ratings, reports from the field are that the radio really does offer serious water resistance in light rain and snow (it's a Russian design so, yeah, snow). The TX-500 is the only radio I give an extra point to for being truly rugged </li></ul><p></p><p>What's not in this evaluation criteria? UHF/VHF capability. Since I'm only interested in HF, I don't take into consideration any UHF/VHF capabilities the radio might have. Both the IC-7100 and the IC-705 offer UHF/VHF, but I simply don't care when it comes to what I'm looking at here. I also don't evaluate for CW capabilities. I'm not a CW operator. HF voice and digital only.</p><p>So, winners? Here's a few:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>In the full-size 100 watt category, the IC-7300 is the winner. I've said this many times in the past - if you want an HF radio that works great in the widest number of scenarios, the IC-7300 is it. After over a decade in the market it really hasn't been beat. It's not a perfect radio by any means, but compared to all the others in it's market niche, it is still the best.</li><li>In the QRP rig category, the IC-705 is the clear winner. Like the IC-7300, it works best in the widest set of circumstances and offers those used to Icom's command and feature set a very similar menu structure. In fact, if you can operate a current Icom HF radio (7300, 7610) you can operate the 705 with ease. Performance on HF digital, with one exception, is a dream. It is hands down the easiest to configure and run digital QRP radio on the market. That one exception? RFI interference via the USB connection. This is a very serious issue, one that Icom has acknowledged, but not likely to address. The way around this is to run the radio on digital modes via wi-fi. There are several apps you can use for this, but I've had the most success with Icom's own RS-BA1 software </li></ul><div>There's no losers, per-se. Just several second place finishers, and a few radios that should have been spared this comparison (like the Yaesu FT-818 and the Xeigu G90). The #2 finisher in the 100 watt category is the Icom IC-7100. Even after 15 years of production, this is still a very viable design, with an excellent feature set and great digital mode performance. Icom kinda' sorta' killed it off in early 2023, then resurrected it for another production run (and with a corresponding price increase). Speculation is that the 7100's replacement has been delayed due to chip shortages (boy, that excuse is wearing thin), and Icom scraped up enough parts to do a final production run or two of the 7100 as a 'gap filler' until the new radio can make it to market. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some observations regarding other radios. The Yaesu FT-891 remains the radio that could have been. If you look at the score it received, a respectable 9, and then consider where that radio would have placed if Yaesu had put a sound card interface in it (giving the rig 3 more points), that would have put the radio in a solid 2nd place, ahead of the IC-7100. But considering Yaesu has a long history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Jeezus guys, just a simple sound card interface!</div><div><br /></div><div>The Yaesu FT-710 looks like a solid performer, and I have to admit that I quite liked the interface when I played with it at HRO. Far, far better than the awful interface on the FT-991A. But I've also heard some of the same stories regarding digital mode configuration with the 710 that I heard with earlier models. Again, an overly and unnecessarily complex command set. I'll be doing more research on this rig before making a final assessment.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the QRP category, while the Elecraft KX line remain strong contenders, their single biggest weakness is digital mode operations. The KX2 is a bugger to configure and run on digital modes, and the rig heats up very quickly. It just seems that digital operations were an afterthought with these rigs. On sideband they are unmatched in their class - even better than the IC-705. The venerable old FT-818 is such a simple rig that it's actually easy to configure for digital modes, and it'll run all day long on its 5 watt output. Sometimes simpler is better. Too bad the old girl isn't really competitive in any other category. But hey, it's almost a quarter century old design, so it can be forgiven.</div><div><br /></div><div>OK, this is it for now. Remember, these are MY selections based on MY criteria. I'm sure many of you will disagree, so let me have your comments!</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div><p></p> Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-75455169897025780322023-11-15T04:00:00.003-05:002023-11-15T04:00:00.130-05:00Digital Multimeters For Ham Radio<p>A few days ago I stumbled on this video, put together by Tom Wilkinson, N8FDY, for the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society (NOARS). Tom has been doing a variety of meter evaluations over the past year, and I've come to respect both his approach to evaluating meters, and how he presents his results. Watching Tom evaluate a meter is like watching my grandpa do it, even though Tom and I are probably not too far apart in age 😄. His approach is slow and methodical.</p><p>What sets this video apart from many other evaluation videos put together by bloggers like Dave Jones (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@EEVblog" target="_blank">EEVBlog</a>) and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@joesmith-je3tq" target="_blank">Joe Smith</a> is that Tom starts the video by discussing terms like CAT ratings, digit counts, accuracy and test certifications - something few other reviewers do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="407" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bn5_4jft030" width="489" youtube-src-id="Bn5_4jft030"></iframe></div><p>I'm familiar with several of the meters Tom highlights in this video, particularly the Brymen models. Brymen is not a brand we hear much about in the US, but they are very popular and well respected in the rest of the world. Here in the US, Brymen has a distribution agreement with the electronics tool supplier <a href="https://www.testequipmentdepot.com/brands/greenlee/digital-multimeters.html?p=2" target="_blank">Greenlee</a>, so if you want a Brymen meter just buy one of the Greenlee branded meters. Or, you can do what I did and order a Brymen meter from overseas suppliers who will ship to the US. That's how I got my Brymen 869s, which has become my most used bench meter.</p><p>As you watch the video you'll note one brand that's missing from the presentation. Big Yellow is nowhere to be seen. While Tom, in other videos, describes himself as a bit of a Fluke fanboy, he also admits that they are not good value-for-money for the kind of work hams use their meters for - mainly low voltage CAT 1 (DC) and CAT 2 (household 120v) applications. I have to agree with him on this.</p><p>If you are not interested in meter reviews, just watch the first half of the video where Tom discusses all the meter safety and accuracy topics - that alone is worth your time.</p><p>Tom is also building a library of individual meter reviews, and what he's reviewed so far is quite interesting. There may be a <a href="https://youtu.be/4tmoXLhVRrg?si=5HfLLM62EOncVo_I" target="_blank">Uni-T 181A</a> meter in my future, since I want something that will do logging.</p><p>Thanks!</p><p>W8BYH out</p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-38965887368635394352023-11-12T10:01:00.005-05:002023-11-12T20:18:15.171-05:00NVIS Exercise Wrap-Up<p>On 07 October, Georgia ARES and AUXCOMM conducted a state-level NVIS exercise. It was designed to test voice and digital comms between ARES groups around the state and the two Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) operations centers. GEMA runs one state operations center (SOC) at its headquarters in Atlanta and a back-up ops center in Forsyth, Georgia. As far as we know, this is the first time an exercise like this had ever been held. </p><p>A few days ago I did the final wrap-up on the exercise by holding the on-line AAR briefing. You can view the presentation slides at <b><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vqszSm4I3GIISIms6MBDYafspXyiLd4sdrP43SxHjJQ/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">this link</a></b>, and view the AAR session here:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="388" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jp4WsZOjbmQ" width="468" youtube-src-id="Jp4WsZOjbmQ"></iframe></div><p>Overall the exercise was a success, and it helped us better identify some issues that I believe ARES and EMCOMM here in Georgia need to focus on.</p><p><i>Before going further, I need to remind all readers that this is <u>my</u> blog, and these are <u>my</u> observations and recommendations, and they do not represent any official Georgia ARES positions or recommendations.</i></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Participation</b>. For decades, Georgia has been struggling with low ARES and Amateur Radio participation in the largely rural southern and eastern parts of the state. Georgia is a big state - the biggest east of the Mississippi in terms of contiguous land area. Most of the population is concentrated in the Atlanta metro area, but that only consists of 14 counties out of a total of 159 (9%). Amateur Radio activities, participation and infrastructure in the Atlanta metro region, and all the way down the I-75 corridor to Macon, is strong. However, participation in any ARES activity from the areas east and south of the Atlanta - Macon line is weak. In fact, the region below a curved line running from Augusta to Columbus is known as the 'silent crescent' (the shaded area in the map below). ARES and Amateur Radio have very poor representation in this region - it's just hard to find the people to participate in activities like this exercise. Yet, it's these counties that end up needing disaster recovery and communications support the most. They are square in the target area for spring and summer storms pushing into the state from the west, and any hurricane or tropical storm pushing up from the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic coast hits these counties hardest. It's accurate to say that tropical storms coming up from the Gulf vent their fury as dying hurricanes in these southern counties before wandering north towards Atlanta as little more than moderate rain and wind events. </li></ul><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">There is no easy fix for this lack of participation. It's due to a combination of factors - mostly rural areas with low population densities and lower income levels certainly has a lot to do with it. I don't have a solution to this problem, but it is something ARES needs to work on going forward. </blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieEaLW3d6NNnRy582x6ryWcDyFcdE5Eg42lABZaeDUjGjrxZbH19WxLonTXeJuoPBgFaAyAy0mDtReS65wJFJUxkbWAsFO4PPv4dd8QVXNLHmSD62Vv0OY5boxjpHkEzLG-BKDbcKT2mvEq4HvS4otmRbG-mO_7zbm6wFTMQwIkWlVtonnXq2FIjxorQjm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="487" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieEaLW3d6NNnRy582x6ryWcDyFcdE5Eg42lABZaeDUjGjrxZbH19WxLonTXeJuoPBgFaAyAy0mDtReS65wJFJUxkbWAsFO4PPv4dd8QVXNLHmSD62Vv0OY5boxjpHkEzLG-BKDbcKT2mvEq4HvS4otmRbG-mO_7zbm6wFTMQwIkWlVtonnXq2FIjxorQjm=w579-h640" width="579" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'silent crescent' encompasses all counties south of the Augusta - Columbus line</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Digital vs. voice</b>. Honestly, I didn't anticipate this being as big an issue as it turned out to be, but two separate issues quickly coalesced to bring the digital vs. voice issue to the forefront. As we planned this exercise we knew we wanted to have a digital portion to see if participating stations found a difference in their ability to connect to the SOCs on voice and digital. Although Georgia ARES runs regular digital nets on PSK-125 and MT-63, most folks show up for just the voice nets. The digital portion of this exercise was just supposed to be a confidence builder - a quick check-in with the SOCs to confirm that their digital setups work. But a lot of stations, including the SOC at GEMA HQ in Atlanta, struggled with properly running Fldigi. In general, many participants struggled with digital operations - less than 2/3 of the stations that made successful voice contacts on 80, 60 & 40 meters made successful contacts on digital. This doesn't mean digital doesn't work, it means we need to pick a better mode (we used PSK-31) and improve the digital operations experience base for all of Georgia ARES.</li></ul><p></p></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Early in the planning process we identified the need for a simple back-channel chat tool that would allow the SOCs and participating stations to coordinate activity without interrupting the exercise operations. This chat tool became more important than we anticipated, as poor operating conditions had us moving band-to-band to find a usable frequency. The tool we picked, like all the tools we looked at, was web based. This meant everyone using it had to be on the internet. However, one of the goals of the exercise was to simulate a cyber-denied scenario - no internet at all. In this scenario all of the chat tools we're familiar with - Slack, Telegram, FB chat, Discord, Groups.io, etc. would not be available. The need for a chat tool doesn't go away, just the ability to use it. It's precisely this scenario where several good point-to-point HF communications tools pop up, and are all digital - Fldigi running MT-63 (already an adopted Georgia ARES standard), JS8Call and VarAC (Vara Chat). All of these tools have the capability to fill the one-to-one or one-to-many operator chat and coordination tool role.</div><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Digital operations offer huge advantages over voice. MT-63 running in Fldigi and JS8Call offer great weak signal performance, particularly JS8Call, which is based on a modification of the FT8 protocol. JS8Call can decode traffic when it can't even be seen on the spectrum waterfall. VarAC uses Vara as the soundcard transport mode, and Vara is world famous for it's ability to hold a connection through rough band conditions. If a connection is lost, VarAC can be configured to automatically try to re-establish the connection. It's tenacious. This all means that digital modes offer more reliable and overall faster traffic throughput than voice communications. These tools can also run in unattended mode, pass small messages, and in the case of JS8Call and VarAC, can handle automated band and frequency changes based on time of day. They can also stage and pass traffic through intermediate stations using a 'traffic parking' function. In short, these software packages can be configured to automate a lot of the functions that an ARES operator would normally do manually. Again, reduced error, improved throughput and reduced operator workload.</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><u>What about Winlink</u>? Nothing I propose here impacts Winlink; it remains the primary tool for passing email, ICS traffic and small files. It's the heavy-weight tool that will handle most of the formal traffic. What's proposed here is an adjunct tool that sits side-by-side with Winlink and handles those real-time coordination tasks</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Pulling this all together, I believe the future of HF-based emergency communications support lies in digital, not voice. If we're serious about providing robust communications that actually fill a need, it'll have to be more than a bunch of guys and gals talking into microphones. The great news is that we've got excellent digital tools that were not available to us just five years ago. It's time to leverage them. Let's flip the paradigm and make digital comms the primary standard in Georgia ARES, voice the secondary. Then pick a tool, <i><u>but just one too</u>l! </i>Build a state-level communications architecture around it; installation packages, documentation, configuration files, even a virtual help desk, and train hard against real world scenarios. </p></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY7nKcNgDsnE3KD8Cil-lEf0UmFrD34IDD54Ncva2u2qaqsONjNBj5eRla8Dci3tANyjn703A1IgO_5O-Skkn02RlC3AyXfydNdOHfyQlM4ihFWdK3frqR5JVtEuLrk3pMc2HhOGmv-1fNDSfmiEt9jWFWYdLWK_CAaDLs7_GXQoAderlrPeWmR8JBw-6D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1204" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY7nKcNgDsnE3KD8Cil-lEf0UmFrD34IDD54Ncva2u2qaqsONjNBj5eRla8Dci3tANyjn703A1IgO_5O-Skkn02RlC3AyXfydNdOHfyQlM4ihFWdK3frqR5JVtEuLrk3pMc2HhOGmv-1fNDSfmiEt9jWFWYdLWK_CAaDLs7_GXQoAderlrPeWmR8JBw-6D=w640-h365" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Not to toot my own horn, but heck, why not. I wrote about this issue back in 2020 in a series titled <a href="https://www.prc-77.com/2019/12/the-emcomm-layer-cake-part-1.html" target="_blank"><b>The EMCOMM Layer Cake</b></a>. If anything, our software options have improved since then. Winlink's gotten better, JS8Call's gotten better, VarAC has hit the streets. Even Fldigi has seen improvements. The emergence of Vara as an unofficial standard that rivals Pactor in speed and connection reliability has had a huge impact on Winlink operations. I expect to see other applications, similar to VarAC, build out dependencies on Vara to take advantage of its excellent connection properties. If you are involved in emergency communications at any level and haven't bought a Vara license yet, I would just go ahead and do it; it's almost inevitable that having one will be a requirement in the near future. </div></blockquote><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>NVIS</b>. This was billed as an NVIS exercise, so did NVIS work? As I emphasized in the run up to the exercise, it's not about how far you can talk, but how close you can talk on 40, 60 & 80 meters. We all know we can talk from Dalton to Kings Bay (about 350 miles) with no problem on our 80 and 40 meter dipoles, but can we talk from the State Operations Center in southeast Atlanta to the EOC in Fayette County (about 20 miles) on 40 or 80 meters? <i>That</i> was the challenge the exercise posed. Although I don't have hard numbers, I can say based on our experience at the Atlanta SOC at GEMA HQ the answer is yes. The antenna we used was the Chameleon CHA-NVIS, a modification of the US Army's AS-2259/GR NVIS antenna. We got excellent signal reports from most counties in the immediate metro Atlanta area on 40 meters. Was it the antenna? Was it just good 40 meter propagation? We can't tell for sure, but based on my limited use of this antenna for other NVIS work I have to say that this particular antenna configuration offers excellent NVIS performance.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0f1e6f47-7fff-a973-9153-fd5383376ee5"><img height="294" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/2RuszrnESlz0v4MyHq2kffAnm28Gvsq7paSBTFs-l1ZTOvSV80kSHTCQOaIblPnWBQqlZYF5_mQqo5JpT4cHfHaXeNwkkA8XZrOFtMwPXu6tHnENuc2NhG-Vzg0JHbBzhTljCcOFOwBQNVziKQXVWiu_qQ=w640-h294" style="border-radius: 0.5px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="640" /></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">That wraps it up for this exercise overview. If you have any questions or comments you can add them below in the comments section, or contact me directly at w8byh@arrl.net. Thanks!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">W8BYH out</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-87998360205422542112023-10-01T08:26:00.000-04:002023-10-01T08:26:03.356-04:00Toss It In The Bag<p>Lately I've been spending some time with my stable of shortwave receivers. I do this every now and then when I just want to listen and I don't want to be bothered with the drama of setting up a portable ham radio station on my porch. I'll pull out one or two of my portable receivers and play around a bit, seeing what I can catch on the airwaves.</p><p>Like so many my age, shortwave radio listening was my gateway drug into ham radio. I've written about this a bit in this blog. I'm old enough to have caught the tail end of the golden era of shortwave broadcasters. This was when major players like the Voice of America, the BBC, Radio Moscow, Deutsche Welle and others conducted a surrogate Cold War on the airwaves. This was the time when shortwave receiver dials were marked off not just in frequencies, but in the various theaters of Cold War operations - New York, London, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Peking, Havana. It was a glorious time to be a shortwave listener. </p><p>Now that the Cold War is over most of the major players have abandoned broadcast radio as an information outlet, or shut down entirely due to lack of audience, funding, or mission. The survivors have moved their operations to the internet or satellite radio, leaving a lot of dead air on the shortwaves. But if you are willing to spin the dial there are still some interesting things to catch. Small national broadcasters, a few commercial operations, ham radio operators, utility stations, military and government operators, aviation and maritime operators, and more. You just have to hunt around a bit.</p><p>So, to the point of this posting. Let's say a hurricane is coming to town (and if you live in the southeastern US, a hurricane is <u>always</u> coming to town between August & November). The authorities have ordered an evacuation. You've got an hour to pack and get on the road. You need to take along a receiver for situational awareness, but only have room for one. What do you pack?</p><p>Let's look at the implied requirements:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Compact & lightweight</li><li>Runs on common batteries. I call this the Dollar General test - if the batteries I need to run <u>any</u> piece of important gear can't be found at any Dollar General then it doesn't get packed, regardless of how good it is</li><li>Good overall performance on the AM & FM broadcast bands, shortwave bands and the Amateur Radio HF bands (implying USB/LSB capability) and the NOAA weather channels</li><li>Good performance on all bands using the stock whip antenna</li><li>Has an built-in speaker - no headphones or ear buds required. Sound clarity is the most important thing. We're interested in information, not entertainment, so the speaker can be small as long as it offers good clarity. </li><li>Easy for a non-techie to figure out; can your non-ham spouse pick up the radio and tune it to the band and frequency of their choice without waking you up for help?</li></ul><p></p><p>My collection is modern, consisting mostly of radios that are in current production. All are SDR-based rigs that offer outstanding performance compared to earlier designs, and in much smaller and more power efficient packages. Some of these radios will fit in a shirt pocket. Of course, bigger radios with bigger speakers = better sound, but many of the smallest radios will surprise you with their audio punch and range. And of course, with headphones or earbuds all of these radios sound great. </p><p>My small collection consists of:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sangean ATS-909X2</li><li>Tecsun PL-880</li><li>Tecsun PL-330</li><li>Tecsun PL-360</li><li>Eton Elite Executive</li><li>C.Crane Skywave SSB</li></ul><div>All are very good performers, but a few have some shortcomings that take them out of consideration as a 'bug out' general purpose receiver. I won't be evaluating the Tecsun PL-330 or the PL-360 since they lack USB/LSB coverage. These are nice (and inexpensive) little radios offering good performance, but I consider USB/LSB coverage essential to this mission.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsUTqedgTpfAlBcHhiPLXu94SLA6a_FvjP6Q5XsmbrJ6g_mfAwWGpy8WqsS_6GGGlyceFAho9z0Sg3ZLy_2ygX9ardP4ZAkzauKvR3lK1w9v4wnvxnEfPVPIz-yjILnMynaXX6egx9-Lji2KEyFRkBKmek3hRR-z0c0hih_FPZxMx49ScRsOqGXFxVOOuw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1231" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsUTqedgTpfAlBcHhiPLXu94SLA6a_FvjP6Q5XsmbrJ6g_mfAwWGpy8WqsS_6GGGlyceFAho9z0Sg3ZLy_2ygX9ardP4ZAkzauKvR3lK1w9v4wnvxnEfPVPIz-yjILnMynaXX6egx9-Lji2KEyFRkBKmek3hRR-z0c0hih_FPZxMx49ScRsOqGXFxVOOuw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Let's start the evaluation with the Tecsun PL-880. This radio is the best performing portable shortwave receiver in my lineup. In fact, many in the shortwave listener community consider it the best portable shortwave receiver on the market. I can't argue. Shortwave and medium wave sensitivity and selectivity are great, the audio quality is outstanding (not the best, but very close to it), and AM & FM performance are first rate. The build quality is very good. Would I toss it in the bag? No, for three reasons. First, it uses much less common lithium-ion 18650 batteries, and can only charge via a mini-USB port, and the charging rate is s-l-o-w. Second, it lacks NOAA weather broadcast frequency coverage. Third, the user interface is overly complex and somewhat 'kludgy'. If I'm using the radio I can get it figured out in short order, but if my wife had to use this radio to tune in to a local AM station, she'd just get confused and frustrated. I consider this a niche radio - excellent performance but really focused at the shortwave geek. This same argument runs through the Tecsun PL-330 and the PL-360. Great performers but an overly complex user interface. Good for the geeks, but not for someone running from a devastating storm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6SMPFIdAUFo" width="320" youtube-src-id="6SMPFIdAUFo"></iframe></div><br /><div>Next up is the Sangean ATS-909X2, This is the most disappointing of the lot. This radio is the clear winner in ergonomics, user interface and build quality, and is the best sounding radio of the bunch, edging out the Tecsun PL-880 for audio quality on FM and AM. Sangean is a Taiwanese company that has been making quality portable radios for decades, and its earlier ATS-808 and 909 line of portable shortwave radios were highly regarded receivers. I used an ATS-808 extensively while stationed in Germany in the late 1990s, when there was still a lot of shortwave activity, and it was a great performer. The current ATS-909X2, however, is reputed to be 'deaf' on shortwave when using the whip antenna, and I've confirmed that myself. I mean, really deaf as compared to the Tecsun PL-880. Sangean struggled for several years to fix issues with the first generation 909X, which was supposed to be an upgrade to the venerable ATS-808, but the radio had a number of firmware bugs and just didn't perform all that well, Sangean pulled the 909X from the market, re-worked it and while they fixed the firmware issues, they never really got the shortwave reception issues figured out. Sadly, it won't make it into the bug-out bag.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqK_OWW62tBeN-Ozf81DV7g1atX0EgQjrrPNM-BqC4UGwGdG0YIBTmroq6q_0B_BuBD-6ssvv93OuWsQ9I30uPuK9jbwpVgXUZORXp3Cs0o5C0levdiSQT8g51sLiiz6h08MzqLWBx2h2uDNMFzGm071IeiNT6gjnVC_VXFWV9P2IsK6RWNeOuB-vI5TKp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqK_OWW62tBeN-Ozf81DV7g1atX0EgQjrrPNM-BqC4UGwGdG0YIBTmroq6q_0B_BuBD-6ssvv93OuWsQ9I30uPuK9jbwpVgXUZORXp3Cs0o5C0levdiSQT8g51sLiiz6h08MzqLWBx2h2uDNMFzGm071IeiNT6gjnVC_VXFWV9P2IsK6RWNeOuB-vI5TKp=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sangean ATS-909X2. Beautiful to look at, but so-so performance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>A surprise performer in the group is the Eton Elite Executive. Eton released this radio over three years ago and nobody paid it much attention until a few shortwave bloggers like RadioJayAllen and the Oxford Shortwave Log took a look at the radio, almost in passing, and were surprised at how good of a performer it is. My informal testing backs this up. This is a remarkable receiver, and hits almost all the points needed to qualify as a bug-out radio. Shortwave performance is almost as good as the PL-880 - great sensitivity and selectivity, although the filter (bandwidth) selections are not as good as the Tecsun. The user interface is much better than the PL-880 for the casual user, and the speaker audio is surprisingly good; not as good at the PL-880 or the ATS-909X2, but better than you'd expect for a radio this size. I'd <i>almost</i> toss it in the bag but for one issue - no pre-set NOAA weather radio channels. But for general shortwave and AM & FM listening, this is a really good little radio. I've seen this radio go on sale regularly for some remarkably good prices. I got mine on a Woot special for $80. At that price, it's well worth it if you are a shortwave geek.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="323" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/89hqL63Gxmo" width="388" youtube-src-id="89hqL63Gxmo"></iframe></div><br /><div>What are we left with? The tiny radio from C. Crane. About the size of two packs of cigarettes - just a bit bigger than the classic AM & FM pocket radios of the 1960s. Although small, the Skywave SSB* is a remarkably good performer across the board; top-notch performance on FM and AM, and surprisingly good performance on shortwave, including USB/LSB. I don't mean 'surprisingly good performance for a small radio'; on shortwave this radio rivals the Tecsun PL-880 and the Eton Executive Elite. It has very good sensitivity and selectivity, and very good bandwidth options. The user interface is simple and easy to figure out. And huzzah! It has really good NOAA weather channel coverage. Of course there are trade-offs due to the size - the sound out of the small speaker is nowhere near as good as the three radios already reviewed. The quality is good, and punchy, but it's impossible for a small speaker in a small cabinet to achieve the richness of the speaker in the Sangean or Tecsun reviewed above. There's other trade-offs, too. A few the firmware bells and whistles found on the larger radios are lacking on the Skywave SSB - no RDS functionality on FM, no synchronous AM detection, no ability to assign alpha tags to memory slots, and a few others. But given its size, the feature set is remarkably good - FM stereo output through earbuds (included with the radio), air band coverage, alarm clock function, adjustable tuning speeds, external power/charger capability, and more. Plus, it runs for hours on just two AA batteries. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6IhpHQRhQ_OXz01fhlNpvUfq80dYa0f_8iwwqMSXmLlhRPqq6S_JTXTzSKz4zLCJ9tntw_dXiH_I2-tDXLugdr7TCXnawpzx4tk3WDq2svp5kd-zjgS8pSUm1ao947eTADVpfqd8LWBuj0leKfcBq0LE6u9BazK9OqOct-fHPaXXblesPPFp-a6UvBkG/s3678/PXL_20231001_120621052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3678" data-original-width="2750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6IhpHQRhQ_OXz01fhlNpvUfq80dYa0f_8iwwqMSXmLlhRPqq6S_JTXTzSKz4zLCJ9tntw_dXiH_I2-tDXLugdr7TCXnawpzx4tk3WDq2svp5kd-zjgS8pSUm1ao947eTADVpfqd8LWBuj0leKfcBq0LE6u9BazK9OqOct-fHPaXXblesPPFp-a6UvBkG/w299-h400/PXL_20231001_120621052.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>As it comes from C. Crane, the Skywave SSB includes a set of C. Crane's excellent earbuds and a clip-on reel antenna. The hard clamshell case you see in the photo is an extra option available from Amazon and I highly recommend it. It protects the radio and provides space for the earbuds, user manual, and a spare set of AA batteries.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_6FfISbN1pc" width="320" youtube-src-id="_6FfISbN1pc"></iframe></div><br />I think you can already guess what my choice would be if I had to bug-out and could only take one receiver. The C. Crane isn't the choice because it's small. It's the choice because it offers all the features I need and it's performance is great. Its small size is just a bonus. </div><div><br /></div><div>*C.Crane now offers an upgraded version of this radio called the Skywave SSB2. Reports are that although there are slight improvements in performance with the SSB2, along with the addition of an external antenna jack, performance of the two radios is pretty much the same.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div><p></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-69445570530333603712023-09-16T11:48:00.002-04:002023-10-01T07:03:01.384-04:00The BenchA few weeks back I posted some pictures on Facebook showing how I replaced the clock memory battery in my IC-7300.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV3Ubbv1sA5ydp4OzWy_wM21l-TRYUnx_NRqhNtmy0ZYQyoKjwjqUGvqKhYkGxiy-hS403_mOZnKc7cXoQ6nLhK61GuYYeIHstJV05THbNzH1tUGa3RqeKlSQnB-x1i8wHgMFefDYtYle49_FD5mZMzXQ7iU-HXVJvE5NdTO-5c77IX9RaOzlwZL9_Vl8H" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1197" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV3Ubbv1sA5ydp4OzWy_wM21l-TRYUnx_NRqhNtmy0ZYQyoKjwjqUGvqKhYkGxiy-hS403_mOZnKc7cXoQ6nLhK61GuYYeIHstJV05THbNzH1tUGa3RqeKlSQnB-x1i8wHgMFefDYtYle49_FD5mZMzXQ7iU-HXVJvE5NdTO-5c77IX9RaOzlwZL9_Vl8H=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div> <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh5fTsRT4Bg8p1zKJ1s6oMi-TtSpyPD4IyQ4ciUrnUuCGhJsgJoplm0x-57imUSv4vlXMuS2y-HaEWH-2kPwtYSiwERVLaKdf3l68wEum2xk-bkrsQVOj9xuyANW3dY1hXdY4g5W16w8YLKTzhrMA4THMQ3IKqHCvHJv15fHM9qBhF8iyrjIHPGq5nlfLU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1197" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh5fTsRT4Bg8p1zKJ1s6oMi-TtSpyPD4IyQ4ciUrnUuCGhJsgJoplm0x-57imUSv4vlXMuS2y-HaEWH-2kPwtYSiwERVLaKdf3l68wEum2xk-bkrsQVOj9xuyANW3dY1hXdY4g5W16w8YLKTzhrMA4THMQ3IKqHCvHJv15fHM9qBhF8iyrjIHPGq5nlfLU=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br />Some readers contacted me and asked about the tools I used to do this job, so I figured it was time for an abbreviated tour of the workbench. Timely, because the memory battery has crapped out on my second IC-7300, so I'm setting up to get that one fixed.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>To begin, my 'bench' is really a table that sits in the middle of a room full of junk. Literally, in the middle of a room full of junk. Junk to the left, junk to the right. Junk straight ahead and behind. There's even junk piled at my feet. Electronics gear, fishing gear, radios, camping gear, you name it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The bench started out years ago as a table that I did all my fly tying work on. Yes, I used to tie a LOT of flies for fly fishing, so many that I'm still using flies I tied up over 5 years ago! As my interest in electronics grew I started plopping more and more test and builder gear on the table until one day I decided I needed a dedicated electronics work bench. I packed up all my fly tying gear and put it in storage. I fully intend to get back to fly tying one day (it is a very relaxing and artistic way to spend a few hours), but for now it's all about pushing electrons around. </div><div><br /></div><div>Like most electronics hobbyists the collection of stuff grew slowly as my needs evolved. Nothing on this bench is 'lab grade'; most of it is good quality hobbyist gear that came out of China or the far east. Regardless, it all fits the bill nicely. So let's have a look:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhspbhoYK4WTAogTcBOkTtzv6jeTVckctg-5BjCuBU9cxNcra2xYuU8XBmvMNJm89105cYj6sit1pr-X1a_wJJ53k7atwDpnVKOROAC5GESoqxQTg489ooBl8NHog5qmGeWg6IwEq7kPUWxBDF1cS4oWc_im-6o2xHaL3z4Qfjq1Z2Ht-7Ec78m7YSzC0C" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1383" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhspbhoYK4WTAogTcBOkTtzv6jeTVckctg-5BjCuBU9cxNcra2xYuU8XBmvMNJm89105cYj6sit1pr-X1a_wJJ53k7atwDpnVKOROAC5GESoqxQTg489ooBl8NHog5qmGeWg6IwEq7kPUWxBDF1cS4oWc_im-6o2xHaL3z4Qfjq1Z2Ht-7Ec78m7YSzC0C=w640-h416" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEPlU-QPiqhK0fV0vxtUZPbCoEBMnFE2vEe3mLbGVNQZBTNuEW-aNmo1dQW7DveV9dJTuNfoHwwNJbGt4kE5h_-4rYSzjEwF7JOTLDUzJtHdAGS_-cTcOfUwdb2J5sKagncvdlDP9T8MwdwtDNqiuqn6Rh9YcUgIj8zOrlDsgdU6MQq6QSin4m2Bm3DEma" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1381" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEPlU-QPiqhK0fV0vxtUZPbCoEBMnFE2vEe3mLbGVNQZBTNuEW-aNmo1dQW7DveV9dJTuNfoHwwNJbGt4kE5h_-4rYSzjEwF7JOTLDUzJtHdAGS_-cTcOfUwdb2J5sKagncvdlDP9T8MwdwtDNqiuqn6Rh9YcUgIj8zOrlDsgdU6MQq6QSin4m2Bm3DEma=w640-h416" width="640" /></a></div><br />Let's start with lighting, since that is probably one of the biggest issue I face in this cave. I depend highly on the LED magnifier lamp on the swing arm you see in the picture. It's absolutely essential for focusing light on the work area and magnifying the project. It's the true unsung hero of the workbench. It wasn't cheap, but it was a solid investment. I use it every single day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next, the soldering station. It's a Hakko FX888 digital station, and it is the single tool on the bench that has allowed me to tackle so many projects. In the past I used various single wattage/single heat irons that were clumsy performers. This soldering station, with it's digitally controlled temperature settings and interchangeable tips has allowed me to tackle projects that I just couldn't in the past. Again not cheap (but not too expensive either), but well worth the money.</div><div><br /></div><div>Multimeter. I've got a small collection of multimeters - a few Fluke's (to include an 87V), a few Brymens, some off-brands. The one that has become my standard bench meter is the Brymen 869s. I bought this meter on the recommendation of several reviewers, particularly David Jones, author of the EEVblog website and YouTube channel, and Joe Smith, who does destructive testing of multimeters. Both heaped high praise on this meter for its features and accuracy. While not as physically rugged as a Fluke, it carries a UL and German TuV certification, so it more than meets it's electrical overload protection ratings. Plus it offers far more features than the highly vaunted Fluke 87, at about half the price, and the display is far easier to read. Because Brymen does not sell its meters in the US (they have a marketing agreement with Greenlee) I had to order this one from a distributor in Poland, of all places. This is another tool that gets used almost every day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hiding away behind the Brymen multimeter is a Siglent bench power supply. While most of my power testing requires 12 - 14 volts, something easily supplied by one of my ham radio switching power supplies, I occasionally have to take things down to 9 or 5 volts. Hanging off to the side is a collection of test leads I can connect to the power supply, allowing me to hook up to just about anything. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Quick 8610 hot air rework station sitting on the shelf is a recent acquisition. I needed it to do some SMD component replacements on an amplifier project, and it works like a champ. I've used it on several other projects since, and I'll be using it on the upcoming IC-7300 battery replacement (Icom solders the OEM battery directly to the board, making it hard to get off with a conventional soldering iron). Honestly, it can be frightening how fast it works. While this is not a top-end unit, it gets very good reviews from folks who do board-level repairs on computers and other electronics. Louis Rossmann, who runs a business doing Apple board-level work and has a very active YouTube channel, actually prefers this rework station to the much more expensive Hakko systems he previously used.</div><div><br /></div><div>The blue mats are a combination of an electrostatic grounding mat and a silicone soldering mat. When working on sensitive electronics I'll use a grounded wrist strap that snaps to the mat and connects to the house ground. Very cheap insurance.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the middle of the blue mats sits one of those inexpensive hobbyist 'third hand' tools that I have to admit is all but indispensable. Yes, I've got much more expensive electronic component holders, including a rotating circuit board work holder that can support a full-sized computer board, but this cheap little tool gets used the most for simple tasks like soldering two pieces of wire together. You'll also see a small PanaVise head sitting off to the right. That gets used a good bit, too. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hand tools. I've got a large assortment of hand tools - screw drivers, cutters, wire strippers, pliers, scissors, tweezers, small rulers, X-acto knifes and more. Honestly, I don't know where a lot of this stuff came from. Some I used in my fly tying activities, some I just had laying around when I started this hobby. The two hand tools that get use most on the bench are sitting right up front - the red handled side cutter and the miniature pliers. I go through a set of these about once a year, particularly the side cutters. When they get dull don't even think about trying to sharpen them. Just toss 'em and get another set.</div><div><br /></div><div>Magnifiers. I have to admit it, my eyes are not what they used to be. When I joined the Army in 1979 I had 15/15 vision. Today I can't even get out of bed without glasses. I'm almost 67 and have a bit of cataract forming in both eyes. I need both good light and magnification. I've got a number of small hand-held magnifiers that live on my bench, plus I've got an OptiVisor headband magnifier with an LED light attachment, something I find I'm using more and more. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do have an oscilloscope - a Siglent digital model, but I've had little use for it over the past year so it's sitting in storage on a shelf in the far back. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last, but certainly not least, are all the consumable supplies sitting on or near the bench - </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>denatured alcohol for cleaning just about everything electronic</li><li>Q-tips</li><li>spools of solder, paste flux and liquid flux, along with solder wick and a surprisingly effective spring loaded 'solder sucker'</li><li>electrical tape</li><li>double sided tape</li><li>heat resistant tape (really needed when doing hot air re-work stuff)</li><li>small zip ties</li><li>a box of toothpicks</li><li>a tube of silicone glue</li><li>a bottle of superglue</li><li>paper towels</li><li>glass cleaner</li><li>a roll of twist-tie material</li><li>Sharpie markers</li><li>small parts containers - little plastic salsa 'bowls' that I steal from local Mexican restaurant chain whenever we go there for lunch or dinner</li><li>pens & pencils, and a notebook</li><li>Yeti coffee cup full of my favorite coffee 😄</li></ul><div>And wire. Lots and lots of wire. When working on the bench most of my wire needs fall into the 18 - 22 gauge arena. Lately I've been going through a good bit of 22 gauge Teflon coated wire. I keep two spools of red and black on-hand. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>I think that's about it. If you have any questions about anything you see just drop a comment below.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-85288150859176027702023-08-26T05:51:00.002-04:002023-08-26T05:51:11.488-04:00The Most Important Amplifier In Ham Radio<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The title is a pretentious joke, but there is a kernel of truth in there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few days ago I wrapped up my HobbyPCB HardRock50 amplifier build, and I'm in the process of testing it with a variety of QRP rigs. So far so good with the Yaesu FT-818 and the Icom IC-705, and testing with the Elecraft KX2 is coming up. Right now I'm updating the external interface for the IC-705 that is manufactured by HobbyPCB, an interface that allows the amplifier to follow band changes on the ra<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">dio and trigger tuning cycles</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Earlier today I created a video showing the start-up procedure when using the amp and the IC-705 interface with the IC-705. The video shows how the IC-705 interface controls band switching (via Bluetooth), tuning and amp triggering. The interface works quite well, but it is an extra cost item ($70 as I have it configured) from HobbyPCB. Note - you DO NOT need this interface to run the IC-705 with the amplifier - the interface just takes care of the band switching and tuning duties, something you can do without the interface. You just have to do those tasks manually, and it's not at all difficult. </span></span><div><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="336" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/siw5TZcS2vM" width="486" youtube-src-id="siw5TZcS2vM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I'm quite happy with the output. Signal reports from fellow hams are good, and I'm easily getting 50 watts PEP on sideband when driving the amp with 3 watts of output from the radio.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Building this amp was, as it's popular to say today, 'a journey', and I've outlined much of it in earlier postings. This is the second of these amp kits that I've built, and I learned a LOT on the first build. The reason I built this new amp is because the previous amp kit was an early model (shipped in 2014 but never built) and it had some issues regarding the ability to interface with the IC-705. I figured I'd start with a clean slate (and somewhat improved soldering skills) with a current production kit from HobbyPCB that included the internal tuner board. While this is not a tough kit to put together, it took me several months to get it done as work, family commitments and other factors got in the way. </span></div></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">One of the hiccups was a blown capacitor on the amp board, which the manufacturer put down to it being a tantalum cap with known tendencies to let out the smoke when voltage is first applied. Jim Veatch, the owner of HobbyPCB, said they are likely going to switch capacitor types on the next production run. He cheerfully sent me two replacement caps. The job to replace them gave me the convenient excuse to buy a hot air re-work station to get the remains of the old cap off the board, get things cleaned up and the new cap in place. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBmmUwxxwvddO0YlPFC-Eln904fsyaf4shlxegAmo-C0xi8PEF7La71itV7qsy-KkgpanErYH0IdwY6GHiz6NCdIlwZHOmEubvfe_SGIQKn7x0oVfmRIHkNnWJGN3mAT6a5yU2wl2gJt3tVagDoNQPRdN2R4SFGze0AliXxowV-FOMfbh9GQpmSkS18--/s2498/PXL_20230701_210138418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2405" data-original-width="2498" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBmmUwxxwvddO0YlPFC-Eln904fsyaf4shlxegAmo-C0xi8PEF7La71itV7qsy-KkgpanErYH0IdwY6GHiz6NCdIlwZHOmEubvfe_SGIQKn7x0oVfmRIHkNnWJGN3mAT6a5yU2wl2gJt3tVagDoNQPRdN2R4SFGze0AliXxowV-FOMfbh9GQpmSkS18--/w400-h385/PXL_20230701_210138418.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poof!<br />Luckily the damage was limited to the blown capacitor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfDANdjvyidt_ofJUrURUvrFL_BfDZVVrKA2bshxdWKEFqK-QSuTnZT0NqZYzaJCosqCadtIBwVZBZIKu19GA1EY5lzm_JAj656BTj_91b89je5D9JjaQSYP6uUtxYW2bt3bqcC8_kqX4jZHvK382meXxgrZQxlDJWcJMzhBKgHDimkwiX80ceVO40JJz/s3083/PXL_20230801_203611320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3083" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfDANdjvyidt_ofJUrURUvrFL_BfDZVVrKA2bshxdWKEFqK-QSuTnZT0NqZYzaJCosqCadtIBwVZBZIKu19GA1EY5lzm_JAj656BTj_91b89je5D9JjaQSYP6uUtxYW2bt3bqcC8_kqX4jZHvK382meXxgrZQxlDJWcJMzhBKgHDimkwiX80ceVO40JJz/w393-h400/PXL_20230801_203611320.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting set to replace the blown capacitor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another issue was the maddening discovery that the mounting holes for the tuner board had been mis-drilled in the case - basically they were drilled 'backwards', but you don't immediately know that until you go to mount the tuner board in the case and button everything up for testing - it just doesn't fit, and too much forcing can result in some bent connector pins (don't ask me how I know...). Again, Jim at HobbyPCB got back with me and let me know that their recent production runs had the holes on some of the cases drilled improperly, and he's only finding them when people like me bring up the issue. He offered to replace the case but I had to ship the old one to him first, or he could send me a template that would allow me to drill my own holes in the proper location. I opted to go the template route.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYxJB80XXuixs4CQQT5Ip2QsOVkoN-nfZrM6ucLYGgf0N9UV2ZElPMTQT-QJVIZOVxK9fOOsrds_WYwxD7lGUavGCjPTNu9sR6G-QhHC4CuZBNfAWDNtmnE_r6FQQsyav79ftlwdBiP93CVL1fD-VpHaZ2kLuFjTdu9DcPBUtAY7GKZnhYgarhqAVpNZY/s3842/PXL_20230805_114210968-EDIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2341" data-original-width="3842" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYxJB80XXuixs4CQQT5Ip2QsOVkoN-nfZrM6ucLYGgf0N9UV2ZElPMTQT-QJVIZOVxK9fOOsrds_WYwxD7lGUavGCjPTNu9sR6G-QhHC4CuZBNfAWDNtmnE_r6FQQsyav79ftlwdBiP93CVL1fD-VpHaZ2kLuFjTdu9DcPBUtAY7GKZnhYgarhqAVpNZY/w640-h390/PXL_20230805_114210968-EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, I can't emphasize too much that this is a 'hobby' build - the instructions are very good, and on-line support is good (Jim answers emails promptly and very courteously), but you are still likely to run into glitches like I did. This is where the hobby aspect comes into play, and you're kind of expected to do your own troubleshooting. Adversity builds character, right? But HobbyPCB also states that the price of the kit includes a working amplifier, so if you get it all together and simply can't get it working you can ship it off to Jim and he'll diagnose and fix whatever's wrong, for free.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPc6Nb7GEzy_0Sq-jEQyAM01osieBdVe4fc4XGwpGjJup2e18V2g550a92KrlytFUGidDInDAfMr76hdEDbFLbuSpHZ3P6PKD3XYWrTTohd3LEjnTAYicgsGEwK2za1_1qWNguSY7PavArErnYQ6Mn40E_O59kDBzTX3vth2faQTACZphdCpjLfqYEwf0/s4032/PXL_20230812_114405414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPc6Nb7GEzy_0Sq-jEQyAM01osieBdVe4fc4XGwpGjJup2e18V2g550a92KrlytFUGidDInDAfMr76hdEDbFLbuSpHZ3P6PKD3XYWrTTohd3LEjnTAYicgsGEwK2za1_1qWNguSY7PavArErnYQ6Mn40E_O59kDBzTX3vth2faQTACZphdCpjLfqYEwf0/w640-h480/PXL_20230812_114405414.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The IC-705 interface module - a box that connects between the amp and the 705 and allows<br />automatic band switching and tuner operation. It's basically an Arduino board with a Bluetooth<br />interface. I just got through soldering in the add-on board that drives the tuner in the HardRock50<br />(the lighter colored board in the upper right)</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Another challenge for those of you not used to running bootloaders is updating the firmware. Your kit will likely ship with a slightly outdated firmware version. Updating the firmware isn't tough, but you have to install a bootloader on your computer and run the update from there. It's a well documented procedure, but might put off those with limited computer skills.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Last, although everything about this amp and the add-on components like the tuner and control interface are well documented, the HobbyPCB website is something of a dog's dinner in terms of organization, and HobbyPCB has some dead links and pointers to outdated files out there. They need the help of a good web developer.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">So what's the use case for this amp? For me it's simply this - with the demise of portable all-band, all-mode 100 watt rigs like the IC-7100 or the FT-857, I am looking for more 'oomph' for both my IC-705 and my KX2. I love those rigs, but feel that they are limited by their 10 watt output, particularly when working voice. Let's focus on the IC-705 - an incredibly capable radio that brings together all the features anyone would need for portable operations. I consider 50 watts as something of a sweet spot for portable work. In most cases going from 50 - 100w output doesn't really get you much beyond greater power consumption. I also like the idea of the two components in separate packages. If I only want to run digital I can go out with just the radio and work at 10 watts. If I want to run voice, I can bring along the amp and push things up to 50 watts. With the internal tuner in the amp I can also leave the Icom tuner behind. It's all about options and capability.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">OK, what about this silly 'most important amp in ham radio' claim? Well, here's the truth of it. To be an effective portable shack-in-a-box radio the IC-705 needs to put out more than 10 watts. This is particularly important if you want to use the rig for EMCOMM applications. Ten watts may be enough for digital modes, but for SSB it's not enough for <i>reliable & repeatable</i> comms. There are a number of solid state amps on the market that will work with the IC-705, but they generally fall into two categories - low cost, low output Chinese manufactured amps of poor quality, and high quality (and expensive) 100+ watt amps designed for in-shack use from companies like Elecraft, RM, ACOM and others. The HardRock50 is the only high quality, <u>field portable</u>, well supported and reasonably priced amp available for QRP rigs. This means the HardRock50 stands alone as an amplifier that can turn the IC-705 into a serious field radio for EMCOMM use. So while not the most important amp in all of ham radio, it is still the best option to turn your field QRP rig into an effective tool for reliable communications.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;" /></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">The next step is testing using a battery instead of a power supply - I'll test using a 12 amp hour LiFePo battery to see how long that holds up in field use. I'll also be testing with the KX2. So stay tuned!</span></span></p><p>W8BYH out</p></div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-3445136330701232462023-08-05T10:11:00.001-04:002023-08-05T20:35:04.673-04:00Considering the IC-705?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfksZQzy6E4KRPxEW0L9UK620iD3rUZy3FhWmrdSHovItrpT_zs7NdT79QOOdi-mc6ZmxU19N62dWWx1X6LD8sYBsxES65TW2T1AuzxoAgfT4yZ2rBxZzQLPF0i6BTN2sY0dm8j9_is7xxOi_MLl7FDIAYHmhsVtcqrXwNjk9cBoYSH0fT2nfSBRW_AiF9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1593" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfksZQzy6E4KRPxEW0L9UK620iD3rUZy3FhWmrdSHovItrpT_zs7NdT79QOOdi-mc6ZmxU19N62dWWx1X6LD8sYBsxES65TW2T1AuzxoAgfT4yZ2rBxZzQLPF0i6BTN2sY0dm8j9_is7xxOi_MLl7FDIAYHmhsVtcqrXwNjk9cBoYSH0fT2nfSBRW_AiF9=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Earlier today I watched a YouTube video by <a href="https://youtu.be/3Xzr6jfs9AE" target="_blank">Ham Radio DX</a> doing a 'should I buy' review of the IC-705. While the video is otherwise unremarkable, the author did mention a few things that clicked with me, and started me thinking.</p><p>I've owned my IC-705 for over two years, and really like it. Notice I say 'really like', not 'love'. There have always been a few things about the 705 - issues and shortcomings - that bother me. I've written about most of these issues on this blog, so I won't go back and beat the dead horse (just search on the blog for 'ic 705'). I'll just say that while the IC-705 stands alone in its class it still has some shortcomings.</p><p>Which leads us to this post, and the ideas spurred by the Ham Radio DX video. Here's my advice to folks considering buying an IC-705, or have bought an IC-705 and are struggling with some of its shortcomings:</p><p><b>The IC-705 should be considered as nothing more than the core of a larger radio system. It is minimally functional right out of the box, but requires a compliment of additional hardware and software to be considered a fully mature and capable system.</b></p><p>To be fair, this concept applies to virtually every other QRP rig I've owned or used, including the highly touted Elecraft KX series. However, Icom seems to specifically market the IC-705 as a complete, all-in-one rig that really doesn't need any add-ons. But out here in the real world, it does.</p><p>So, if you think about the IC-705 as being just the core of a larger 'system' you will be less likely to focus on its shortcomings and become disappointed. The other components of the system will effectively address the shortcomings and make it an incredibly capable best-in-class radio system, but at a cost.</p><p>What are these system components? Here's my <u>minimum</u> requirements list:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Environmental protection for the radio. Something like the Peovi or Windcamp cages or one of the dozens of 3D printed cages on offer on eBay. I particularly like the <a href="https://peovi.com/collections/ham-radio" target="_blank">Peovi solution</a> because of the available polycarbonate snap-on cover made by SideKX. ($285 current price for the Peovi)</li><li>Antenna tuner. Please, spare me the righteous talk about only using resonant antennas. This is the real world, and I like frequency agility. Compromised antennas are often a fact of life, particularly with lightweight portable radio setups. While just about any tuner will work with the 705, the one that works best in my experience is <a href="https://www.icomjapan.com/lineup/options/AH-705/" target="_blank">Icom's own AH-705</a>. It's an incredible tuner, although somewhat big when compared to the radio itself. ($360 current street price)</li><li>Power. To get the full 10 watts out of the IC-705 you'll need an external power source. The good news is that it doesn't need <u><i>much</i></u> external power. Like a lot of 705 owners, I use a small 4.5 amp hour lithium-iron phosphate battery that will keep the 705 running at 10 watts for well over 8 hours. ($65 from Bioenno)</li><li>Software (and the computer to run it on). Software is only required if you run digital modes, but since most folks buy the 705 for its digital mode capabilities, some software is required. The only software package I consider absolutely essential is Icom's own RS-BA1 v.2 software. It is the remote server component of this package that allows you to control the radio via a wi-fi USB connection. Why not just use the USB port on the radio? Because Icom failed to properly shield the IC-705 and the radio is highly susceptible to RFI coming in over the USB connection. It is so bad that, when running digital modes like FT8, it overwhelms the radio on all bands. I wrote about this in an <a href="https://www.prc-77.com/2021/06/told-ya-so.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a> so I won't re-hash it here. Suffice to say, you'll need the RS-BA1 software. ($140 current street price)</li></ul><div>These minimum system add-ons come to $850, in addition to the base cost of the IC-705. There are cheaper options on the market for things like the protective cage, tuner and battery, so consider this $850 a high-end estimate. It just reinforces that reality that most IC-705 owners will face at some time or another. You don't <i>have</i> to buy these at the same time you buy your radio, but to exploit the full capability of the 705, at some point you'll likely need to add them.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you go into the IC-705 purchase knowing it takes these add-on items to reach what we called in the Army 'full mission capability' you are much less likely to be disappointed with your radio.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div><p></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-73375737983641661312023-07-14T22:16:00.008-04:002023-07-15T17:25:46.620-04:00Biting The Apple<p>I live in a house divided. I'm a Windows guy. KQ4IZK is an Apple gal. I take care of all the overhead - I make sure all the shared software license fees are paid, I keep the network up and available, make sure the streaming devices are working, pay all the IT-related bills and generally keep the home computing environment running. I also keep all the Windows and Android devices running. KQ4IZK lives and breaths Apple. She'd got her MacBook(s), iPad(s), iPhone(s) and there's even an Apple Watch laying around somewhere. And she's pretty darned good with all the Apple stuff. I get almost zero tech support calls (ha, ha) from her on things MacOS or iOS. She loves her Apple ecosystem, and it works well for her. </p><p>There was a time when I was enchanted by Apple products. I've used Apple II+'s and early Mac's, and thought they were great, and I lusted after the early iPhones. I think a large part of my attraction was related directly to Steve Jobs. Jobs was a force of nature who could sell ice to an Eskimo and spin a vision like nobody else. And let's be honest, the iPhone and iPad really were foundational concepts that changed how we communicate and consume content. In my work I've had to support several generations of iPhones and iPads. I appreciate the app-focused ease of use found on these devices; they are far more dummy proof than Windows or Android devices. But I've always found iOS-based devices to be 'too much for too little'; the cost of the devices was much too high for the level of usability they provided. They were (and still are) viewed as prestige devices; you pay a premium for the name and the logo. I have far less experience with MacOS, but found it odd that when Apple switched from Motorola to Intel CPUs, all the Mac fans rejoiced because now they could finally run Windows natively on their Mac hardware. <i>Hmmm...</i></p><p>I've always been impressed by the build quality of Apple's hardware. Across the board their products seem better built, with more attention to detail on the fit and finish. But over time some cracks developed in my Apple windshield. At work, where we use a LOT of iPads going back at least four device generations, we started to notice a lot of premature device failures. Some of them were clearly hardware related (cracked screens, non-responsive buttons, etc.). Some 'just died'; they worked yesterday but not today. Some would go off to IT for an OS upgrade, and would never come back. The response from the service desk was often, <i>"we tried to upgrade it and it bricked itself"</i>. Were these failing at a higher rate than the cheaper Android tablets we bought, like the Samsung Tabs? Probably not, but we were paying around $250 for perfectly adequate Tab 8's, and over $500 for the 2020 iPads. And some really annoying Apple product positioning issues started to crop up. We needed iPads with GPS in them for outdoor data collection, but the basic level iPads don't come with GPS. If you want GPS you have to shell out an additional $100 per unit for the data plan ready model (the ones that can take a phone plan SIM card). Yet the much cheaper Tab 8's all came with GPS. More <i>Hmmm....</i></p><p>Over time I became less and less enamored with Apple's hardware. The outward fit and finish was (and still is) very good, but the physical build just seemed lacking. They may be fine for schlepping around the Stanford University campus, but for field data collection at the world's busiest airport they were just not holding up as expected - particularly considering the price. In fact, I started to compare the service life of some of the MacBooks we use at work against a generic issue Windows laptop like a Dell Inspiron. The Dell was a lot cheaper, lasted just as long, and served the average user just as well as the Mac. The build quality of an Inspiron isn't as good as a MacBook, but if I crack the screen of an Inspiron I'm not going to cry like I would if I cracked the screen of a MacBook. I began to doubt the Mac hardware was really as good as Apple and Apple fanboys claim it is, but I didn't have any hard evidence beyond my very unscientific gut feeling.</p><p>But earlier this week I stumbled on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@rossmanngroup" target="_blank">this guy's</a> YouTube channel, and found his Mac repair videos and commentary both revealing, and a bit humorous. Louis consolidates all that he finds wrong with Apple products into one 24 minute video.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="395" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AUaJ8pDlxi8" width="475" youtube-src-id="AUaJ8pDlxi8"></iframe></div><br /><p>The video is five years old, but I doubt Apple has improved things. In fact, Louis has plenty of recent videos laying out similar issues with current production Apple products.</p><p>To be fair, you'll find similar design and execution issues in any other manufacturer's range of laptops, including the highly regarded Lenovo ThinkPads. The big difference with Apple is that they've become expert at deflecting the blame for lousy hardware design and early product death back at the customer. They actually make the customer feel remorse for bringing the issues up. How else can you explain why customers who've been screwed over by Apple keep coming back time and again just because it's Apple, and everyone knows Apple is that edgy, forward thinking visionary company that keeps pushing the envelope? When in fact all they deliver is nicely packaged run-of-the-mill hardware that has lots of engineered-in planned obsolescence.</p><p>If you think I'm just another Apple hater, I invite you to read some of my pervious posts about Windows hardware, particularly the Microsoft Surface line.</p><p> W8BYH out</p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-88824877226478008962023-07-08T06:47:00.002-04:002023-07-08T06:48:40.153-04:00Pop Goes The Weasel<p>For the past two months I've been slowly working my way through the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/hardrock50beta/hardrock-50-builders-information-site?authuser=0" target="_blank">HardRock50</a> amplifier kit designed and manufactured by Jim Veatch at <a href="https://hobbypcb.com/" target="_blank">HobbyPCB</a>. This is the second of these kits I've put together. The first one I bought off of QRZ.com last year. It was used, but new-in-the-box. The owner bought it from a friend, who had bought it from HobbyPCB. Neither of the two had the time to put the kit together so the last owner sold it to me at a significant discount. Everything was still in its factory fresh packaging. However, it was only after I got this kit that I realized it was an early 2014 vintage unit. HobbyPCB still supports them, but getting the amp to work with modern QRP rigs like the the IC-705 was going to be difficult. Lots of jumpering, some cutting of traces, etc. This unit works well with my Yaesu FT-817, but I still wanted something I could use with the IC-705. So, I bought a new kit from HobbyPCB and figured I could sell the old amp to help cover the cost of this new one.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc9avFtaj7xPU1fkmPVRtSdvxgxD0yQC6trwuGSkjX-rQHiSM8MMMp7eWXnVvDwrxo6nFlNynoNMP7ivkG2QZVCDNxUTFTu-_H10pL8zdyNyvG3FG8-r5DOc7E9sbRkfK_sLH8WIk1_gMI7tajjAWS827UASB0RuW0_q_AaStpWrRd4edzR77q6EbUIa0D" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1280" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc9avFtaj7xPU1fkmPVRtSdvxgxD0yQC6trwuGSkjX-rQHiSM8MMMp7eWXnVvDwrxo6nFlNynoNMP7ivkG2QZVCDNxUTFTu-_H10pL8zdyNyvG3FG8-r5DOc7E9sbRkfK_sLH8WIk1_gMI7tajjAWS827UASB0RuW0_q_AaStpWrRd4edzR77q6EbUIa0D=w400-h173" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HardRock50 paired with the Elecraft KX3</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Construction of the HardRock50 is pretty straightforward, and Jim has tweaked the build instructions over the years to the point that everything is clearly described and diagrammed. Having already built one of these kits, this second build went quick and relatively easy. One of the upgrades Jim has introduced over the years is that a lot more of the components are now pre-installed at the factory. With the 2014 kit you got a bag of relays and instructions on how to stuff them on the board. With the current kit, the relays are already on the board. This cuts down on a lot of the tedious soldering. If you've soldered one relay, you've soldered them all.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia6lfRh5zVQEV_tDDkn-Qj5fYNeDspNWnK7whNTGZh8DzRU0O6FTqW3-wPv9gcj6utOHgxQ2JOa7Zkezagmo4EkcR65FZ8QrpVPci6LVZplpKP6fI9IsuJ67YKQatPKTGftXdTLZ_F8CsqlBoQTCL5UWQ12KIkf7HiG-q6gtgybL_PsClnn-T35PFxWXaA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia6lfRh5zVQEV_tDDkn-Qj5fYNeDspNWnK7whNTGZh8DzRU0O6FTqW3-wPv9gcj6utOHgxQ2JOa7Zkezagmo4EkcR65FZ8QrpVPci6LVZplpKP6fI9IsuJ67YKQatPKTGftXdTLZ_F8CsqlBoQTCL5UWQ12KIkf7HiG-q6gtgybL_PsClnn-T35PFxWXaA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Everything went pretty straight forward until I got to the step where you have to set the DC bias. There's a Rube Goldberg-esque setup in the manual that has you interconnect your power supply with your ammeter and the amplifier. I've done this a few times with my old amp, with no problems. Just take your time and follow the test lead and power connection instructions in the diagram.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKbZR2FxeV0RmSVhmAALfGyrs8FyFIamyOejF1np_YV-xjIb03DNIfLNtwXI49Y4rEIANeAEKZv0yKweXdj-zuXan7zrmZJa7vWqYkwPtmpOCMEe4WrUf88BmSUDlI932RkH70siyl9rNjgJusxTTw4F0Fk37sSACovhr-04c5RB01U2373NdozBi_OLVl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="772" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKbZR2FxeV0RmSVhmAALfGyrs8FyFIamyOejF1np_YV-xjIb03DNIfLNtwXI49Y4rEIANeAEKZv0yKweXdj-zuXan7zrmZJa7vWqYkwPtmpOCMEe4WrUf88BmSUDlI932RkH70siyl9rNjgJusxTTw4F0Fk37sSACovhr-04c5RB01U2373NdozBi_OLVl=w640-h429" width="640" /></a></div><br />OK, all cables connected and checked and re-checked. I reach over and hit the ON switch on my power supply and POP! Lots and lots of smoke coming out from under the board. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn. I pull everything apart to get a look at the underside of the board and find that capacitor C36 - a pre-installed component, had popped. What the hell had I done wrong? I checked and re-checked my test lead setup, and everything looked good. But SOMETHING went wrong. The evidence was inescapable. Clearly I screwed up.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAYeGyLexvww9L6g2cHgTHsd93EsuC1Qehq_ueDTLr7dt4xB9E-WNGe0wbmBpvv5KzMwyL8YSH4QfjhE1qCIuZKSSBaVakhTuMwf_ApNKOs-ffSo0RJORUN60t6GFFlhPxE7uk1K4VUzDtcPeTfuHYZSpdrn26Bdc06XykImXQ0D1_DZU9PzSgY0jZ9A0x" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1069" height="557" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAYeGyLexvww9L6g2cHgTHsd93EsuC1Qehq_ueDTLr7dt4xB9E-WNGe0wbmBpvv5KzMwyL8YSH4QfjhE1qCIuZKSSBaVakhTuMwf_ApNKOs-ffSo0RJORUN60t6GFFlhPxE7uk1K4VUzDtcPeTfuHYZSpdrn26Bdc06XykImXQ0D1_DZU9PzSgY0jZ9A0x=w640-h557" width="640" /></a></div><br />I contacted Jim and asked him if he had any ideas as to what could have caused this - something upstream in the build I had put in wrong? Maybe a solder bridge I didn't catch? Jim wrote back almost matter-of-factly,<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"Tantalum caps have a habit of blowing the first time voltage is applied"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Oh really?! I'd heard 'tant caps' could be problematic. As the comedian Bill Engvall says, <i>"Here's your sign"</i>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So Jim is mailing me a new cap, and I'll report back on how well this one survives. At least this experience gives me the excuse I've been looking for to buy a hot air solder rework station.</p><p style="text-align: left;">W8BYH out</p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-69629037605791044292023-04-30T10:34:00.004-04:002023-04-30T10:34:53.223-04:00Building The Bomb<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7NMThjeE7hE39qwurqUAT099xqkfd0zeNGpOiJPcz1wKJzqNjyMHGzm9gDXJSGqgR7Nhd0piTppWIcGmBbxw3jOCc_FsTWeydLenhrnTJE_Br2hU-aW0aiCe6BU66bhxFXGifJB4jK5cWyRcAGlJhyppsztfORCgeMeWjUW2Lce4oKBPgPvLVMomf_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7NMThjeE7hE39qwurqUAT099xqkfd0zeNGpOiJPcz1wKJzqNjyMHGzm9gDXJSGqgR7Nhd0piTppWIcGmBbxw3jOCc_FsTWeydLenhrnTJE_Br2hU-aW0aiCe6BU66bhxFXGifJB4jK5cWyRcAGlJhyppsztfORCgeMeWjUW2Lce4oKBPgPvLVMomf_g=w400-h320" width="400" /></a></div><br />No, not <i><u>that</u></i> bomb. I've set out to build what I consider the ideal field computer for Amateur Radio use. I guess in this case I shouldn't use the term 'the bomb', but instead, <i>'da. bomb'</i>, as in <i>'this computer is gonna' be da' bomb!' </i>When the grid goes down, this bomb needs to keep on ticking.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>This little project is an extension of my experience with tablet computers (discussed <a href="https://www.prc-77.com/2023/03/tablets.html" target="_blank">here</a>), and my frustration with any ham radio manufacturer's inability or unwillingness to deliver a ruggedized full featured field radio that doesn't cost more than my camper (which, if you're curious, set me back $22,000). Any rugged field computer would need to be accompanied by an equally rugged computer to run digital modes, CAT control software, etc. While Icom or Yaesu still can't get the radio side done, at least Dell can get the computer side done.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've come to really like the Dell Latitude line of ruggedized computers, particularly their tablets - the 7212 and <a href="https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops-and-notebooks/latitude-7220-rugged-extreme-tablet/spd/latitude-12-7220-tablet/xctol722012us?gacd=9684689-1037-5761040-265942859-0&dgc=st&gclid=CjwKCAjwo7iiBhAEEiwAsIxQEXt7ARiWC_X8EsQdnPoajzD0HqoME1zIPNwvbBmbpizGAyVqGEnl1RoCYfoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&nclid=fYalXRrNTQC4LYe1VvQ8MgUeYTlgO9g89yHFUTrP61B845gQpJpnnaHcVplM0262" target="_blank">7220 line</a>. The 7212 went out of production last year, and the 7220 is about to be replaced in Dell's lineup with the 7230, but good used examples of both tablets - the 7212 and 7220 - are available on eBay and from on-line resellers like <a href="https://www.bobjohnson.com/" target="_blank">Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff</a> out of Delaware. (Side note - I've bought from Bob Johnson's in the past and can highly recommend them.)</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC7pYIsTTjkKTkKn51KH7-ry392WZiXAhZyZZd10LMgb1MVSe6kWtCbsd7xyhlTDpVKhrMexpsX21-YeF_IzvDOIUM2YlRmtYZoVTcb7J3V7ufTzG-zd1fUKEps59AItQLrc3kzAS3Sii-zHOWmtdw4vCtEp4nHJqFmFFhcuoCD_C48Z6Gl1yMAvD_iw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="2010" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC7pYIsTTjkKTkKn51KH7-ry392WZiXAhZyZZd10LMgb1MVSe6kWtCbsd7xyhlTDpVKhrMexpsX21-YeF_IzvDOIUM2YlRmtYZoVTcb7J3V7ufTzG-zd1fUKEps59AItQLrc3kzAS3Sii-zHOWmtdw4vCtEp4nHJqFmFFhcuoCD_C48Z6Gl1yMAvD_iw=w400-h336" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dell Latitude 7220 in all its naked glory</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>I was fortunate enough to have evaluated the 7212 at work, and of all the tablets I tested I found it to be the best in overall performance and design. There's nothing unique or spectacular about the guts of these Dell tablets - they are run-of-the-mill i3, i5 or i7 processor units with on-board graphics, 8 or 16 gigabytes or RAM and up to 1 TB of storage. There are dozens of tablet manufacturers that can deliver the exact same specs and performance. The big difference with the Dell units is how those specs are delivered - the design and manufacturing of the overall tablet. This is where Dell excels. From the port covers to the battery design to the folding stand and how the removable keyboard integrates, Dell just does it better. The best example is the detachable folding stand. For most rugged tablet manufacturers, a folding stand (if they even offer one) is a kludgy after-thought. Yet everyone I know who uses a tablet wants one. Dell thought about this from the start, and designed the rear of the tablet around the folding stand. It's an extremely simple yet very well executed design. </div><div><br /></div><div>And of course, the 7212 & 7220 are IP65 and MIL-STD 810G rated, so they can withstand some rough handling and wet weather. Take the hint, Icom & Yaesu...</div><div><br /></div><div>A bit of sniping on eBay got me a like new condition 7220 at a great price. That was just the tablet, and I needed a detachable keyboard, folding stand (as discussed above) and a carrying handle, all Dell accessories. Once again, eBay helped a here. A few non-Dell accessories like a screen protector, USB port extender and microSD card for additional storage came from Amazon. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2mmGXeL33lQhXceaIATO0hgqllrpQn0LwhCnVhIpzdaz0upI4dqgb2rbx9AKh6aARQANGW65LmVo2dvxJkcgcCzWeBd0iU-fkB_TEV3J_PlkCXlYuEYWyK1_TbaGEzl5FnL5MbqDDjcvR-PT4f6ZeOrDcZtNsrhFEEOx5wlnmwsqxhChdcjZ-8uWECw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1109" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2mmGXeL33lQhXceaIATO0hgqllrpQn0LwhCnVhIpzdaz0upI4dqgb2rbx9AKh6aARQANGW65LmVo2dvxJkcgcCzWeBd0iU-fkB_TEV3J_PlkCXlYuEYWyK1_TbaGEzl5FnL5MbqDDjcvR-PT4f6ZeOrDcZtNsrhFEEOx5wlnmwsqxhChdcjZ-8uWECw=w640-h494" width="640" /></a></div><br />The next step was to test it in the real world. That started with loading common productivity apps like Microsoft Office and <a href="https://www.libreoffice.org/" target="_blank">LibreOffice</a>, followed by ham radio apps. The list of ham radio apps I wanted to have available on the 7220 was extensive:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fldigi</li><li>Ham Radio Deluxe</li><li>Winlink</li><li>Vara</li><li>JS8Call</li><li>VarAC</li><li>Log4OM</li><li>Ion2G ALE</li><li>RTSystems programming apps for the IC-7300, IC-705 and the ID-52 and the Yaesu FT-3DR</li><li>Black Cat WEFAX and SSTV apps</li><li>VSPE - virtual serial port emulator</li><li>NetLogger</li><li>uBlox GPS management software</li><li>SCSChat </li><li>SDRSharp</li><li>VOACAP</li></ul><div>Little of this software gets used regularly. Most of it is loaded (and regularly updated) for just-in-case situations. In the field it's mostly Winlink, VarAC, Vara, Fldigi and occasionally Log4OM. While I pay an annual subscription for Microsoft Office (the family plan), my experience is that LibreOffice does better in the fully disconnected mode. Even without internet, Microsoft Office keeps trying to 'phone home' and sync with OneDrive. It can be a PITA, and consume computer resources you might need for something else. LibreOffice is mature, stable, compatible with Microsoft Office file formats, free, and has no internet dependencies. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXLfyjtpNay58UHpavYgtgP2C31j2Fxik6AAH-cA8QmeSjK3rT5ZBbMpLA6uAvWbmnl0AwgKNzch7TZ1NxN5-bgaqvh-EpqRisXjGswtbys-cN_IVEhgUk-I16X0vpy0pjPQyRfsDAFh_dLUac7vVZ4X7JEGUKTLqv8DpqMg06m_W0M0PCsXO7mklzeA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1143" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXLfyjtpNay58UHpavYgtgP2C31j2Fxik6AAH-cA8QmeSjK3rT5ZBbMpLA6uAvWbmnl0AwgKNzch7TZ1NxN5-bgaqvh-EpqRisXjGswtbys-cN_IVEhgUk-I16X0vpy0pjPQyRfsDAFh_dLUac7vVZ4X7JEGUKTLqv8DpqMg06m_W0M0PCsXO7mklzeA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />This grid down setup still needs some hardware add-ons. The Dell detachable water resistant keyboard is one of the best of its genre for typing, but the trackpad leaves something to be desired. A good Bluetooth mouse is in order. The attached stylus that Dell provides (it stores in the carrying handle) is quite good, but it's a bit cramped for regular use. A larger stylus helps for pointing duties when you are not using the mouse. Like most tablets, the 7220 is 'port challenged', so you'll need a USB-C based port extender. For headphones I toss in a set of <a href="https://ccrane.com/cc-buds-pro-in-ear-earbuds-for-talk-radio-audio-books-and-voice-clarity/" target="_blank">C.Crane's excellent earbuds</a>. I also bring along my ZumSpot USB DSTAR dongle, a USB isolation dongle, a u-Blox GPS/GLONASS dongle and a small handful of USB thumb drives for data exchange with other operators. And don't forget spare batteries for your mouse, pen and any other battery powered devices. And then you've got to schlepp all this stuff around. A good quality, rugged computer bag is an absolute necessity. </div><div><br /></div><div>So how does it all work in the field? Pretty darned good. Battery life is excellent. I routinely get five hours of continuous use with two batteries installed. This is with screen brightness turned up for use in full sunlight, and using the detachable keyboard (which draws power from the tablet). Replacement batteries can be hot swapped, so I can snap in a spare fully charged unit and keep running almost indefinitely. Another great feature of the 7220 is that can charge via the USB-C port. This goes a long way in helping to move as much of my field gear as possible to USB-C connectivity and charging. One high capacity 3 amp USB-C charger can keep a lot of gear running in the field - my phones, iPads, Android tablet, this Dell tablet, my Surface Pro and Go, and more. Sadly, the only equipment manufacturers that haven't caught on yet are the ham radio manufacturers. They are still stuck on micro and mini(!) USB ports. C'mon guys, get with the program. But I digress.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've used this tablet as a daily driver computer for a few months now. Not just for ham radio use, but as a home and work computer. It's a great all-around unit and really shines when out in the field. With all the ports buttoned up I don't have to worry about dust, pollen, heavy humidity or a light rain shower, and when the sun comes out I can bump up the screen brightness and not have to worry about finding shade. If I bang it into something (which I have) I'm not worrying about screen damage. It's a high performance, worry free device. Is it as good as a dedicated business laptop? No. I'm not going to try to fool anyone - there are plenty of cheaper computers that make better home and office units. My Surface Pro 7 is a better all-around business machine. Except when I drop it. Or leave it out in the rain. Or the battery dies. Or the sun comes overhead. That's when the Dell 7220 chuckles and says <i>"hold my beer"</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out.</div><div><br /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-67715039242754700082023-04-16T11:35:00.002-04:002023-04-16T11:35:58.455-04:00Behold The Lowly Tuner<p>Antenna tuners* get little love. Every ham needs one, most have at least one, but they rarely get talked about in glowing terms, like a good radio, or great antenna design, or a fine cigar. Instead they are viewed mostly as lumps - lumps of metal or plastic that sit nearby and make sure the finals on your precious $2,000 radio don't burn up because you keep trying to put a 100 watt full duty cycle signal into an antenna that's a 10:1 mis-match.</p><p>The tuners built into most radios designed for Amateur Radio use are pretty anemic - handling (at best) a 4:1 mis-match. About all they'll do is lightly tweak a nearly resonant antenna. There are exceptions, like the internal tuners Elecraft builds for it's KX line of QRP radios. These remarkable units can tune the bumper on my wife's Hyundai. And I have to admit, Chinese manufacturers like Xeigu have put very good tuners in their radios almost from the beginning. This begs the question - if the Americans and Chinese are building really good internal tuners for their radios, why can't the Japanese? Has advanced tuner technology not made it across to that part of the Pacific rim yet? Geeze.</p><p>There is a single tuner that keeps popping up whenever I need to run a portable HF radio at 100 watts with a sub-optimal antenna. I've had it for several years, and bought it when I owned a Yaesu FT-891. I wanted something that could run off of batteries and handle just about any antenna I hooked up to it. This tuner worked great with the FT-891, and when I needed a tuner for an FT-991A it worked great for that, too. Then I got my hands on an Icom IC-7200, followed by an IC-7100, and guess what? It worked great with those radios. When I got my IC-705 and didn't want to pay Icom's outlandish price for the AH-705, I saw Ham Radio Outlet (HRO) was offering my tuner in a 'special IC-705 configuration'. I emailed the manufacturer and asked what made the tuner 'special'? In about an hour I got an answer back - all HRO was doing was bundling the tuner with a 3.5mm audio jack cable, to serve as the control connection between the radio and tuner. Like most hams, I had a several 3.5mm audio jack cables laying around. I hooked the tuner to the 705 and, sure enough, it worked! Seems the tuner was '705 ready' before the 705 was even a glimmer in Icom's eye. </p><p>Most recently, I've begun testing the Icom IC-7300 for use as a field radio and needed a tuner that could handle antenna mis-matches greater than 4:1 (about the limit of the 7300's internal tuner). Once again, I grabbed this tuner and it worked great.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqdjP0pbiqEpT1kT0q5GFLq1RQat2_GzR2hveRDMMPKhz8lNwjvHUSiOjjAourN9JYvJCj2A8RhbKXgQP9INfxEtOt1espT8UWbsauKGfDy1J5fqvlNtTSiUlv9eCuE_r0hqmIQJvpvhhmLelRpvxVJT2JiArO0_6y_m5SqcVFz4vmJi9rG2ePsKDvZA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1190" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqdjP0pbiqEpT1kT0q5GFLq1RQat2_GzR2hveRDMMPKhz8lNwjvHUSiOjjAourN9JYvJCj2A8RhbKXgQP9INfxEtOt1espT8UWbsauKGfDy1J5fqvlNtTSiUlv9eCuE_r0hqmIQJvpvhhmLelRpvxVJT2JiArO0_6y_m5SqcVFz4vmJi9rG2ePsKDvZA=w640-h466" width="640" /></a></div><br />Recognize the tuner? It's the <a href="https://www.ldgelectronics.com/product/Z-100-Plus" target="_blank">LDG Z-100 Plus</a>. It's an unlovely lump - just a black metal box with some LEDs and a tune button. But what it lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in performance and versatility. It's relatively compact, runs on internal power (via a AA battery tray mounted inside), is rugged, reliable, fairly priced, and has tuned just about everything I've hooked up to it. <div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoADYpD6dyeROyXmyO-DpnhLCj-fGmKn-JUR3Y4HttPimYohap0sPI3gSXeuT6j3UrWcEgAvZ3hAHOZWb7161Ajr3-eKYQrtTl9MFOarlnxoDsPVSvvUNB11Mx3wFfJWcGue3ifJyvRCw3Hc5pwyt9bKYJ2EPyP1G5pATVAn10IXYrrPaJ-_WUw9636g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1143" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoADYpD6dyeROyXmyO-DpnhLCj-fGmKn-JUR3Y4HttPimYohap0sPI3gSXeuT6j3UrWcEgAvZ3hAHOZWb7161Ajr3-eKYQrtTl9MFOarlnxoDsPVSvvUNB11Mx3wFfJWcGue3ifJyvRCw3Hc5pwyt9bKYJ2EPyP1G5pATVAn10IXYrrPaJ-_WUw9636g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Z-100 Plus with an ID-52 for size comparison. Sorry for the goofy color balance - I<br />shot the tuner on a green tray, underneath a red umbrella. The sensor in my camera<br />must have gone nuts trying to get it all balanced out</td></tr></tbody></table><p>LDG offers Icom and Yaesu specific cables for this tuner so they'll interface with your rig - hit the tune button on your radio and the Z-100 Plus wakes up and runs a tune cycle. The tuner will also work with just about any other radio by putting out a low power CW carrier and tapping the Tune button on the tuner. If there's any weakness in the system it's in the Icom control cable (which works with any tuner in the LDG line). I've gone through three due to broken or poorly crimped pins on the Molex connector that mates with the radio. Thank goodness the cables are reasonably priced. My advice is, if you are going to use this with an Icom rig, have a spare cable (or two) on hand.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEn1b_n5LUHQm5IOaNLLz7FVKVHoTYy7w79_IVPUUHMsLVgFhhobESQjUylJThaCHipwZYqomXvIk1MhEuv5pkohKwt6OXiuU7yiqnDpZtB17jEkyA2fWJ_hzdyEr2PpKj6NHHiTD9lEQSyH0S6Sbwqbii9_b-DHSTaOQ_QcHjefMG9ob_xAu90kmWUg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1143" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEn1b_n5LUHQm5IOaNLLz7FVKVHoTYy7w79_IVPUUHMsLVgFhhobESQjUylJThaCHipwZYqomXvIk1MhEuv5pkohKwt6OXiuU7yiqnDpZtB17jEkyA2fWJ_hzdyEr2PpKj6NHHiTD9lEQSyH0S6Sbwqbii9_b-DHSTaOQ_QcHjefMG9ob_xAu90kmWUg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Operating off grid? No problem. Just stuff a handful of AA batteries into the internal tray</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>If you are looking for a compact, internally powered 100 watt tuner with a proven track record that will interface neatly with Icom and Yaesu radios, check out the Z-100 Plus. LDG as a company has been around for a long time and they make quality products. This tuner may not be much to look at, but it performs great and is as reliable as a hammer. Almost as heavy as one, too.</p><p>*<i>Ok, ok, ok, antenna tuners don't tune antennas. They just make the antenna look like a 50 ohm match to the transceiver. But 'tuner' is the commonly used descriptor for what we're talking about here, so we'll use it.</i></p><p>W8BYH out</p></div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-85591494831183927132023-04-09T05:00:00.003-04:002023-04-09T05:00:00.176-04:00A View From The Bench - 09 April 2023<p>Happy Easter!</p><p>The way things are going, I'll be dead before I get all my ham radio projects out of the way. I'm guessing that's a that's a good thing? It means I'll be busy right up until the end.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEsxnv5bOs5qafAQO5KD4oE5xkqbVjqxVj2m46Q9I_8Oxa7fviCpxAeIQPg-StRj-clssL7zOwIGN_hVSJDeo-zcDraJ3KKHIxKF5C7-L9V7G3o4alsYPLNUpZ2bXTvrlrG_82z7EB0guewvxdPRAPLmekLJPaRO9PH7UKBn6mlHvtjkk5_tod4MjnUw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1125" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEsxnv5bOs5qafAQO5KD4oE5xkqbVjqxVj2m46Q9I_8Oxa7fviCpxAeIQPg-StRj-clssL7zOwIGN_hVSJDeo-zcDraJ3KKHIxKF5C7-L9V7G3o4alsYPLNUpZ2bXTvrlrG_82z7EB0guewvxdPRAPLmekLJPaRO9PH7UKBn6mlHvtjkk5_tod4MjnUw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the bench is... messy</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I've already told my employer that I intend to retire around Christmas 2023. The retirement finances are lining up (as long as the current administration doesn't screw things up even more) and my wife and I have decided it's just the right time. There's so much stuff we want to do while we are physically able to do it.</p><p>That includes more radio projects. The way these projects are stacking up, I'm beginning to think I should have retired a few years ago.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've built a HobbyPCB HardRock50 amplifier for use with my Yaesu FT-818, KX2 and IC-705. The kit I bought from a seller on QRZ.com was new-in-the-box. It seems to work fine with the FT-818, but now I need to finish putting together the tuner. It's a project I've been putting off, and off. Time to finally get it done so I can test it with the Icom IC-705. That's a radio badly in need of a good 50 watt amplifier/tuner.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How about a TNC for the IC-705? I'm still trying to figure out how to get my Mobilinkd TNC3 working with the IC-705, so I can do VHF packet (and maybe APRS?) on it. Any ideas?</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>As for APRS, there's more to do be done. I'm increasingly curious about APRS and its potential use for emergency communications. Sadly, there are few good out-of-the-box solutions. The biggest issue is the difficulty of composing and managing messages. This is where the Yaesu FT-3DR (and, I suspect, the FT-5DR) fails. Spectacularly. To be fair, offerings from other manufacturers like the otherwise great Kenwood TH-72D and 74 had the same issue: lousy messaging interfaces. The best solutions I've seen so far are third party apps like APRSDroid for Android and APRS.fi for iOS, linked by Bluetooth to a TNC like a <a href="https://store.mobilinkd.com/products/mobilinkd-tnc4" target="_blank">Mobilinkd TNC4</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Speaking of Yaesu, Kenwood & Icom, things have been very quiet on the new announcement front. While not normally a bad thing, these are not normal times. Yaesu has done a good job of keeping interest going in their radio lineup with some new releases like the FT-5DR, the FT-DX10 and the FT-710, but there's been almost nothing out of Icom, and Kenwood has been silent on new releases since before the pandemic. With the announced demise of the IC-7100, Icom has a huge hole in their HF/VHF offerings. Specifically, Icom has no high power HF DSTAR offering, a significant market gap for a company that has hitched it's ham radio star to DSTAR (pun intended). All eyes are on Hamvention!</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Web map development. <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9695e774a1c64971b43bb89a8bae766e" target="_blank">The ARES Southeastern US Situational Awareness Map</a> is slated to receive a major clean-up, where I'll be pulling selected data layers from the map to improve performance. Many of the more esoteric layers that get little, if any, use will be dropped in an attempt to improve map load and refresh times</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've about finished my hunt for the perfect laptop for use during outdoor activations, and I've got an upcoming post on the topic. After spending over a year testing and evaluating I've found my ideal. And it's not just good - as Tony the Tiger says, "It's great!"</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I'm getting back to an earlier interest in HF-based off-grid emergency communications. <a href="https://www.prc-77.com/2020/01/an-emcomm-layer-cake-part-2.html" target="_blank">I covered the topic</a> in some depth a few years back, but the new player on the scene - VarAC (Vara Chat) - looks like it's lapped the previous HF chat application leader, JS8CALL. Back in October <a href="https://www.prc-77.com/search?q=vara+chat" target="_blank">I did a short post on it</a>, but since then the pace of development on VarAC has been almost frantic, as the author and his supporting developers rush to incorporate new features. As a result the application interface has gotten a bit messy. My feeling is that the developers now need to take a pause and work on the interface and do an overall look and feel improvement</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>And last, sometimes the simplest works just fine. Yesterday I had a limited window of opportunity to 'play radio' in my back yard before a cold front with rain pushed through. I wanted to do some Winlink and if possible a few VarAC sessions, but I got caught up in some antenna issues. After fumbling with various configurations I just said 'screw it' and stuck a 17' Chameleon collapsible whip on a tripod with one counterpoise. I was surprised to find that combination worked just great on 10 - 40 meters (using a tuner, of course). I was hitting Winlink RMS nodes up to 400 miles away on 10 watts. I'll take that!</li></ul><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkHNOiGy2e7APnTQ6_rk-AEWTKUzAZhwrwlC34H7X6yhMAsR2BzwJ2UzUB7Wcf5vx6ycPiKVs_rmSotbyo1u0QmSSIakMhR0O99vdVtAwPflkoKVIrf5SlTbZroxDvv9ZrKyB0J7yF2agU1ExESy85ApPQO37AeN3D7GZ-YsbJ1ANt9Z_FR18CyguRpQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="633" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkHNOiGy2e7APnTQ6_rk-AEWTKUzAZhwrwlC34H7X6yhMAsR2BzwJ2UzUB7Wcf5vx6ycPiKVs_rmSotbyo1u0QmSSIakMhR0O99vdVtAwPflkoKVIrf5SlTbZroxDvv9ZrKyB0J7yF2agU1ExESy85ApPQO37AeN3D7GZ-YsbJ1ANt9Z_FR18CyguRpQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chameleon 'mini' base with a 17' collapsible whip<br />and one counterpoise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxeP1VhOpuqmeVNA93m6Oi88mYaXguV9x7Ruzf1i_6TcdrsPrQyKE5Ld3jr9rG6oTszEFrIS5SitrSTw2yK71IL4Cd0_mWFZfWrV5h488E3kRFpbw9bj8fsIRhb3zhTzlc-wcpvjBPSVlbCrRnVIFDcYYDc1nzXUKchIA1TAqWKmmlEHeNcNqhwtSV9Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxeP1VhOpuqmeVNA93m6Oi88mYaXguV9x7Ruzf1i_6TcdrsPrQyKE5Ld3jr9rG6oTszEFrIS5SitrSTw2yK71IL4Cd0_mWFZfWrV5h488E3kRFpbw9bj8fsIRhb3zhTzlc-wcpvjBPSVlbCrRnVIFDcYYDc1nzXUKchIA1TAqWKmmlEHeNcNqhwtSV9Q" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The battery powered Ryobi fan does a great job of<br />keeping the little biting buggers away and the<br />operator cool. Runs almost all day on a <br />4 ah battery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Have a great day! W8BYH out.</div><p></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-17750166571151917902023-03-27T06:00:00.010-04:002023-04-04T16:44:56.770-04:00Tablets<p>Over the past several years I've accumulated a number of tablet computers. A few I've bought out of pocket (mostly iPads for family members), some have flowed my way for evaluation by my employer, some have been given to me (usually older units that still had a bit of life left in them), and I've even been known to buy 'junkers' on eBay just to play around with. I've developed a good base of experience with tablets, and find them an interesting segment in the personal computing world. </p><p>Most folks under 40 think that the tablet format was born when Steve Jobs announced the iPad back in 2010, but the concept of a computer tablet predates the iPad by at least a decade. I won't attempt to lay out the history of tablet computers - there's a very good <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_tablet_computers">Wikipedia page on the topic</a>. </p><p>Apple's big achievement was to refine the concept of a touch-capable tablet into something that was not just commercially viable, but redefined how individuals and businesses viewed tablet-based computing. If it hadn't been for the iPad, tablet computers would still be very 'niche-y' devices, used by geeks and techno-wonks but not by soccer moms or bank executives. Overnight - literally, overnight - Steve Jobs and Apple made it cool to be a tablet user. The rousing success of the iPad pulled the entire tablet market up with it. In less than a year of the iPad release, Samsung and Google hit the market with very capable Android-based devices that took off. </p><p>Microsoft stumbled (badly) in the tablet operating system space for several years, first trying to convince the world that Windows CE was what everyone needed, then trying to force-fit a butchered version of Windows 7 onto small devices, then putting out Windows 8 and claiming it was engineered specifically for mobile computing. Windows 8 was the Windows Vista of its time, a rousing disaster. Many thought Microsoft would just walk away from the mobile operating system market, as they had recently done in the smartphone market. But Microsoft got real smart real fast about tablet operating systems, and under pressure from new corporate leadership (which was threatening to lop off heads), quickly followed Windows 8 with Windows 10. With Windows 10, Microsoft finally got it right. Windows 10 wasn't just a good tablet OS, it ended up being a great tablet OS. And it's Windows 10 that brings us to the real start of this discussion - the emergence of a fully capable Windows OS running on a tablet, and the application of Windows-based tablets in Amateur Radio.</p><p>Is a tablet a better Amateur Radio computing device than a laptop? To be honest, not in most cases. Market forces have made Windows-based laptops downright <strike>cheap</strike> affordable. For a few hundred bucks you can buy a quality laptop that's more than capable of running all of the Amateur Radio-related software; Fldigi, Winlink, WSJT-X, JS8CALL, Vara, VarAC, any of the logging programs. Plus, with a laptop you get a keyboard and, in most cases, a larger screen and more connection ports - USB, HDMI, etc. Heck, last year MicroCenter was selling a $70 Windows laptop that could be charged using a 12 volt battery, and reports were they worked pretty good. Ham radio operators were buying them like they buy their Krystal burgers - by the sack-full.</p><p>While Windows tablets are niche devices in Amateur Radio, they do have virtues that recommend them to the larger ham radio community. They tend to be smaller and lighter than laptops, making them easier to carry on POTA, SOTA and other outdoor operating activities. Most models offer all the processing power needed to handle the Amateur Radio applications listed above. They can be dual-use devices; use it like a tablet to watch your streaming content, add a keyboard and mouse and run it like a conventional laptop. </p><p>Negatives? Yes. To start, you'll pay more for less. Compare laptops and tablets that share the same hardware specs, and the tablet will invariably cost more. With a tablet you need to add a keyboard and mouse. In the rush to make their products lighter and thinner, most tablet manufacturers are eliminating things like audio jack ports, full-size USB-B ports, and more. Many tablets are down to a single USB-C/Thunderbolt port. Most tablets have significantly smaller screens than laptops, and the Windows desktop can seem 'cramped'. Also, tablets tend to have batteries that just don't last all that long when running locally installed apps like Winlink, JS8Call, logging programs, etc. Most are optimized to stream content through a browser window, not run WSJT-X for hours at a time.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8H7WNLTyul_KNJabaOmFLs-IfiLDWTQTlPMOb-MJYo-ouI48jYm9aeLEaPXc6vBSVy5130VHw9eRuOsO9_SWyLo27kacMX-_JbqRGuUcerxyJ4kc3I5SwSsBAi-N1CR2ZXB94bK6bEwueljDYK2IQcdabdukTaoF8GosQnWNDic1gcGDNe7FTLxyPhA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1001" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8H7WNLTyul_KNJabaOmFLs-IfiLDWTQTlPMOb-MJYo-ouI48jYm9aeLEaPXc6vBSVy5130VHw9eRuOsO9_SWyLo27kacMX-_JbqRGuUcerxyJ4kc3I5SwSsBAi-N1CR2ZXB94bK6bEwueljDYK2IQcdabdukTaoF8GosQnWNDic1gcGDNe7FTLxyPhA=w640-h534" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pile-O-Tablets. Lower center - Surface Go 3. Left - Surface Pro 7. Upper right - Dell 7220<br />sitting on a DT Research Trimble T-10 (yellow case) and at the bottom, a Panasonic<br />Toughbook CF-19, a somewhat goofy laptop/tablet combo</td></tr></tbody></table><br />At the time of this post there's a lot of interest in the Microsoft Surface line of tablets for ham radio field use. I'm a long time user of the Surface line, starting with the original Surface Go, then the Go 2 & 3 models, and the Surface Pro line, the 3, 5 & 7 versions. In fact, I'm writing this post using a Surface Pro 7 hooked up to a docking station running dual monitors. My experience is that, with the Surface tablet line, Microsoft flubs it, gets it right, then flubs it again. The original Surface Go running Windows 8 was a joke, and damned near killed off the product line. Then Microsoft got it right with the Surface Go 2, an ideal combination of size, processing power and battery life. Then they botched it (badly) with the Surface Go 3. It was a minor upgrade to the Go 2 that didn't add anything in terms of performance, but ended up cutting usable battery life by over 20% when compared to the Go 2. The minor upgrade was actually a downgrade. That's too bad, because the form factor of the Go 3 is ideal - small and light, with a great touch interface and a very good type cover. The Surface Go 3 is still for sale, and Microsoft is still telling users to stop believing their lying eyes and that the Go 3 battery lasts just as long as the Go 2 battery. But the user community figured it all out early on, and the Go 3 has developed a reputation as something of a turkey due to the ridiculously short battery life. I own a Go 3, and can confirm that useable battery life running installed apps is about 2 hours. I'm not joking when I say you can sit and watch the battery status indicator drop in real time. It's like watching the old Windows XP software installation progress meter, but in reverse.<p></p><p>The Microsoft Surface Pro tablets are the same mixed bag. Early models suffered from serious battery issues. Out of the box the battery life for all of the models wasn't bad, but the Pro 3 & 5 both had a reputation for eating their batteries fairly early in the life of the device. In fact, Microsoft was exchanging a lot of them under warranty because of faulty batteries. Microsoft seems to have finally gotten the battery issue put to bed with the Surface Pro 7, and I have to admit that the battery life is impressive. My Pro 7 has the i7 CPU and when new the battery would last up to 5 hours under load. After three years of almost daily use I'm starting to see some battery performance issues, but considering the age of the device and how I use it, that's perfectly acceptable. I've come to admire the Surface Pro 7 and can recommend it if you are looking for a tablet that can fully replace a laptop. My Pro 7 is provided by my employer, and when I retire at the end of this year I'll be looking for one as home desktop computer replacement.</p><p>Discussion of the Surface tablet line brings us to one of the main points of this post - batteries. Batteries are the Achilles heel of all tablets. Only with the last generation or two of tablet devices have the manufacturers finally gotten battery issues figured out. Every manufacturer, from Apple to Microsoft, put out devices that had serious battery issues. To make matters worse, most of these devices, particularly the Microsoft tablets, could not be opened up for a battery replacement, not even by the manufacturer. Imagine that - a $1,000 (or more) tablet that can't be opened for a battery replacement. Talk about hubris. </p><p>This is why I no longer buy tablets or laptops for field use that don't have easily replaceable batteries. I'm talking about user-replaceable batteries - open up a battery compartment, pull out the old one and slide in a new one. In my experience, user replaceable batteries add at least a year to a device's useful life. It's usually battery issues that cause an otherwise perfectly good tablet to be tossed in the electronics recycling bin. </p><p>Recently, I've started using a tablet that finally impresses me across the board - great performance and battery life, extremely rugged, lightweight, a very well thought out detachable keyboard and stand, and enough legacy ports to keep me happy. It's the <a href="https://www.dell.com/en-us/dt/corporate/newsroom/announcements/detailpage.press-releases~usa~2019~10~20191029_new_dell_latitude_7220_rugged_extreme_most_powerful.htm?gacd=9643275-1040-5761040-266682520-0&dgc=st&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2v-gBhC1ARIsAOQdKY0zVrnf3YON7wPEiJNJgaZyzOR7UdTez2-NOd4FA3EpBGUfjTU49DgaApEHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&nclid=fYalXRrNTQC4LYe1VvQ8MgUeYTlgO9g89yHFUTrP61B845gQpJpnnaHcVplM0262#/filter-on/Country:en-us" target="_blank">Dell Latitude Rugged Extreme 7220</a> tablet. I was drawn to the Dell tablet based on my experience with my <a href="https://www.prc-77.com/2023/01/battery-angst.html" target="_blank">Dell 5414 rugged laptop</a>. The 7220 is specifically designed to be used outdoors. In fact, the 7220 is IP65 and MIL-STD 810G rated, so it can survive drops and a pretty good rain shower. Dell has done an outstanding job with the design and execution of their rugged computers, and I think they have beaten Panasonic at their own game. </p><p>Some of the other benefits of using a tablet (from any manufacturer) specifically designed for outdoor use include</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>a sunlight readable screen</li><li>a wider range of connection ports</li><li>integrated GPS (becoming more common on tablet devices)</li><li>SIM card capability for use with wireless data plans - an option, but a very handy one</li><li>and, of course, multiple user replaceable battery options</li></ul><div>While small compared to the overall sales of tablets, the ruggedized tablet market is still pretty big. Government agencies at all levels buy these in bulk (your tax dollars at work), and many of them end up on the used market after a few years. Some look like they've been dragged behind a HMMWV (and probably were), and some look like they were never taken out of the box. EBay has page after page of rugged tablets from a wide variety of resellers on offer. </div><div><br /></div><div>One last bit of advice. When you go looking for a rugged tablet, new or used, make sure you can get reasonably priced replacement batteries for it. This is an issue that works in favor of the major manufacturers like Dell and Panasonic. Batteries for their rugged tablets are available just about everywhere, and are reasonably priced. Need a battery for a 10 year old Toughbook? No problem, someone has a new production model available, and it won't cost a fortune. I say this because there are a number of really good rugged tablets made by smaller manufacturers for which batteries are either no longer available, or very expensive. A good example is the yellow framed tablet in the picture above. It's manufactured by a company called DT Research, which makes a lot of custom tablets for vertical markets. The tablet is sold by the survey equipment manufacturer, Trimble. It's a great tablet - an excellent screen, and i7 processor and lots of system memory. But replacement batteries for it run $350.00. Yes, three hundred and fifty bucks. And there are no cheap versions available on eBay or AliExpress. Great tablet on not, I'm not going to invest in a device that requires $350 replacement batteries.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's it! If you are using a tablet for your ham radio activities I'd love to hear about your experiences. What tablet(s) are you using? How is it working out for you? Inquiring minds want to know!</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div><p></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-38586601863569005312023-03-22T09:17:00.010-04:002023-03-23T07:40:09.513-04:00Paper MapsI'm a GIS (Geospatial Information Services) professional. I've been 'doing' computer-based mapping since the late 1980s, and my conventional GIS experience goes back to my undergraduate days in the late 1970s. Today I run the largest GIS program in the US civilian airport industry, at the world's busiest airport. I also do a lot of GIS work to support Amateur Radio activities at the state and regional level. If you've ever seen the <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9695e774a1c64971b43bb89a8bae766e" target="_blank">ARES Southeastern US Situational Awareness Map</a>, that's mine. I use web-based maps every day, build them for customers almost every week, and I work on very complex projects that embed GIS mapping technologies into other applications. I understand the GIS technology inside and out, I'm a huge promoter of the uses and benefits of GIS, and I've built a pretty good career on it.<div><br /></div><div>And I still use paper maps.</div><div><br /></div><div>Computer-based GIS is a very vulnerable technology. Everything comes to the end user via a web browser (with a few exceptions, but they are minor). This implies internet access, power, and a working computer. When any one of those three goes away, your access to digital GIS maps goes away. Consider:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Hurricane Maria - Puerto Rico</li><li>Japan - the 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami</li><li>Turkey - the February 6th earthquake along the Turkey - Syria border</li><li>California - the 2019 Kincade wildfire</li></ul><div>In each of these events, modern web mapping services were available. But power and internet outages meant these mapping services could not be accessed for days or weeks within the affected areas. Even after power and internet were restored, there were still limitations on available bandwidth. This meant limited access to web maps, even for first responders using prioritized networks. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Closer to home, my radio club has long supported the National Weather Service forecast office in Peachtree City, GA. Our job is to contact storm spotters via Amateur Radio. Many of these spotters live in remote parts of the state that have very vulnerable infrastructure. Power and internet outages are a feature of life in rural Georgia, and services will be out for hours or days. Prior to 2019 that wasn't too big of an issue. Most spotters who were Amateur Radio operators had battery back-up for their radios and could keep operating and submitting reports. At the NWS forecast office, state-level street atlases could be seen at all the forecaster workstations, and we always had one at the spotter station. They were all the same, the DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer for Georgia. We also encouraged storm spotters to use the DeLorme atlas. This commonality was important. DeLorme overprints a grid on each map - a simple x, y grid that makes it easy to identify location. For example, a spotter might call in and say, <i>"I'm at the intersection of Pine Road and Sandy Street in Eastman." </i>We'd ask him if he had a DeLorme atlas and if he did, to give us his location by page number and grid box. That way we could easily and quickly identify his location. This only works if, a. everyone has an atlas and, b. everyone has the <u>same</u> atlas.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCGMQVumzq7YOBu5iaBPzc22GFkJNbUq-NHlMZXNN7ZPkyClAvjUuzBryjfp6PpC6_LH9aIp-XWMkbG1O0MvqTx57ZQ4AN-H_f1zSrFFBJ1aAj-9reFBICwnPaLicuNRbXyy5v77EpfIDVap_PvEip36UFQtrZ6m3z98tN_q-cBGURGWuobZHLB6VktQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCGMQVumzq7YOBu5iaBPzc22GFkJNbUq-NHlMZXNN7ZPkyClAvjUuzBryjfp6PpC6_LH9aIp-XWMkbG1O0MvqTx57ZQ4AN-H_f1zSrFFBJ1aAj-9reFBICwnPaLicuNRbXyy5v77EpfIDVap_PvEip36UFQtrZ6m3z98tN_q-cBGURGWuobZHLB6VktQ=w283-h400" width="283" /></a></div><br />This post isn't an advertisement for DeLorme product. It's just what Georgia Skywarn adopted years ago. Other atlas products put out by companies like National Geographic or Benchmark can serve just as well. The important point is that everyone needs to be using the same atlas.</div><div><br /></div><div>Around 2019, and with the arrival of COVID, how we support the forecast office changed. A lot more support is remote, and everyone started using NWS Chat to post spotter reports. But NWS Chat suffers from the same vulnerability web maps do - no power or internet, no NWS Chat. We can still communicate and take reports via Amateur Radio, but without a map it's difficult to visualize where the incidents occurred and start connecting the dots. </div><div><br /></div><div>When the internet isn't available (for any reason) it's back to paper maps. While paper maps and atlases are a back-up to on-line web maps, they are a <i><u>critical</u></i> back-up. In ARES and Skywarn we should be standardizing the paper-based map tools we use as back-ups, and focusing some training activities around the assumption that all power and internet is out, and paper maps are all we have available. Remember, only one end of the radio conversation needs to be without power or internet for both operators to have to revert to paper maps.</div><div><br /></div><div>So take it from this GIS guy - at some point Mother Nature <i>will</i> have her way, and either you or the spotter at the other end of the radio link (or both) will be operating in the dark, with a flashlight, using a car battery to power your rig. You're going to be glad to have that paper map.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div><div><br /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-27709872351366399482023-03-12T10:26:00.000-04:002023-03-12T10:26:02.144-04:00Backyard NVIS<p>Yesterday between yard care sessions (I'm refusing to surrender my Bermuda sod to the weeds), errands and other duties, I found the time to give an initial try to something I've wanted to test for a while now - using a lightweight off-center fed dipole (OCFD) in NVIS mode with either my Icom IC-705.</p><p>A few months back I bought a lightweight 10 - 80 meters OCFD from Tim Ortiz, N9SAB (check his eBay store <a href="https://www.ebay.com/str/n9sab" target="_blank">here</a>). This antenna was getting pretty good reviews, and for a time Chameleon was selling them (heck of an endorsement right there). </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1Gzg9p4Jgo2pfEaHJM51TYjMv-oqpbR53cPmHmxl7PzfIzTncFAonHHYthxKkN_81KyjwZZ_BFJuuakuCm7PXf4_6wJsJKM1kliv08kghG62WpHfGKXRNpeej6squYfE2xPuMqPrFSsp4RDd-8iOlvh1s0nhAHJYcD0Cszxl72wp6l9y7QCy-b_azhA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1Gzg9p4Jgo2pfEaHJM51TYjMv-oqpbR53cPmHmxl7PzfIzTncFAonHHYthxKkN_81KyjwZZ_BFJuuakuCm7PXf4_6wJsJKM1kliv08kghG62WpHfGKXRNpeej6squYfE2xPuMqPrFSsp4RDd-8iOlvh1s0nhAHJYcD0Cszxl72wp6l9y7QCy-b_azhA=w400-h236" width="400" /></a></div><br />Once I got it I began to think, would there be a way to deploy this in my yard, without having to sling lines in trees? Then I spied a small pile of fiberglass electric fence stakes I'd used on another project and thought, "... hmmm, why not give an NVIS seup a try?" So, off to Tractor Supply for more electric fence stakes. In ham radio one can never have too many electric fence stakes. When I laid out the antenna I realized that it was too long to fit in my back yard! I would have to lay about 15' of the antenna over the chain link fence at the back of my property. That wasn't going to work. I ended up dog-legging the last 20 feet or so of the antenna. I figured that would make for an interesting radiation pattern!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErMAR38i2fQXPA47Bqh2aFGISOdo1gqgZhitR5xnDFXwFJCLhLFpShtqD5SZ6Gj6rQ25OtZ_KcPdGci319Z3vtHk752WdC51A5OE6rDSCvjd4iUoJQm_B1zhZ_s0qznzpmdgwm8zHQ8YsJHaMbdHcmURUPNxVCthGFwXZ9v5swDWrMaH4jEF6AHKlAA/s807/NVIS%20antenna%20run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="807" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErMAR38i2fQXPA47Bqh2aFGISOdo1gqgZhitR5xnDFXwFJCLhLFpShtqD5SZ6Gj6rQ25OtZ_KcPdGci319Z3vtHk752WdC51A5OE6rDSCvjd4iUoJQm_B1zhZ_s0qznzpmdgwm8zHQ8YsJHaMbdHcmURUPNxVCthGFwXZ9v5swDWrMaH4jEF6AHKlAA/w640-h364/NVIS%20antenna%20run.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial shot of my house showing the dog-leg layout. The blue dot is the feedpoint</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Setup was quick and simple - just place the fence stakes at regular intervals and drape the antenna wire over them. The feedpoint was set close enough to my deck that I could reach it with 20' of RG-58.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTsl6JMlrSvNBG2e9DQ9nUuqvsccY4-kdEubwaCYKhE8GGCxQbZADM0C-nOIdOAf4-IeTRpMHkKj-3wvIdBlJI4qXkb27Zje67Z3fH0jkitQ0TEwWwQYFdyudGqq9YShK3olZISIrNiIH8Wm2uKHG8ClnYoyFFe5SIALhGF18ElQshpQ9EkEB_505UUQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="676" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTsl6JMlrSvNBG2e9DQ9nUuqvsccY4-kdEubwaCYKhE8GGCxQbZADM0C-nOIdOAf4-IeTRpMHkKj-3wvIdBlJI4qXkb27Zje67Z3fH0jkitQ0TEwWwQYFdyudGqq9YShK3olZISIrNiIH8Wm2uKHG8ClnYoyFFe5SIALhGF18ElQshpQ9EkEB_505UUQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One end of the OCFD. If you look close you can<br />see the rest of the stakes stretching out in the distance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkaNGHgS0hLbj8ArxedetKOHQgd0sk8wyzVjzJNXUJnFgcSiM7gZ1OHGNrsq4HHrv-5e3Sl9_VUfyncCVu2-zypjylDgO1v2yJWWDHy-M7qbY9uNllk-gdKWpADhNgFuAL3vRiBdZE_8sLQx5MtZf28d6NcTWjM6KBQY6YdhCwxpuhudd_auE17LAaxA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="669" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkaNGHgS0hLbj8ArxedetKOHQgd0sk8wyzVjzJNXUJnFgcSiM7gZ1OHGNrsq4HHrv-5e3Sl9_VUfyncCVu2-zypjylDgO1v2yJWWDHy-M7qbY9uNllk-gdKWpADhNgFuAL3vRiBdZE_8sLQx5MtZf28d6NcTWjM6KBQY6YdhCwxpuhudd_auE17LAaxA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The far end of the OCFD, at the end of the 'dog-leg'.<br />That's my Davis weather station in the background, <br />which you can monitor on APRS.fi <br />(just search for W8BYH)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQbrxVIVeMLoj3aPMTH8n_HGNaLailA_OvRpUAqJEUtCDo6Cx50jGL-3Tl2MWL-735SO2cwd73T3_hNliL4oRs-XbgnuI_BZ9IfeVuXf8T9ZRuI_ZUo0khol5KvNI2mw8PcPGrvGWMdJL9MUiSBb9H9FLqjbIQX5hZ_PgieUfWngX-JwmP9Xk7HMia7g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="844" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQbrxVIVeMLoj3aPMTH8n_HGNaLailA_OvRpUAqJEUtCDo6Cx50jGL-3Tl2MWL-735SO2cwd73T3_hNliL4oRs-XbgnuI_BZ9IfeVuXf8T9ZRuI_ZUo0khol5KvNI2mw8PcPGrvGWMdJL9MUiSBb9H9FLqjbIQX5hZ_PgieUfWngX-JwmP9Xk7HMia7g=w378-h400" width="378" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the feedpoint of the OCFD, with a small common mode choke</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhyheBKfH-HRGwrbVx116a9Ygv0nGnk1ywFjV5rEC6swLDZvRJZPZGZkMf9saYP79zLKNFqgpl4Oo6_Q-yXU4geLsHYkG4Ceah8Eop2HXwg79hfkO3dd85l-lmlRF-L1up7l-GLH3vc0E2V87Q6p6ye4uJPEG2HoZNhbD3iTCmlbCZ8IjVxNbRLbIXtQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="669" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhyheBKfH-HRGwrbVx116a9Ygv0nGnk1ywFjV5rEC6swLDZvRJZPZGZkMf9saYP79zLKNFqgpl4Oo6_Q-yXU4geLsHYkG4Ceah8Eop2HXwg79hfkO3dd85l-lmlRF-L1up7l-GLH3vc0E2V87Q6p6ye4uJPEG2HoZNhbD3iTCmlbCZ8IjVxNbRLbIXtQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The feedline is lashed to a deck rail using a large <br />Nite-Ize gear tie - very handy</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In the end I had the antenna set up only 3' off the ground, right up against a stone retaining wall and dog-legged at the far end. Would it tune? Would it get a signal out? Will Ross and Rachel ever get married? (Oops, sorry - the XYL's been binge-watching Friends and that stupid show's just stuck in my brain.)</p><p>I hooked up my IC-705 I did some SWR testing without the tuner. I was surprised and delighted to find that this antenna is well below 1.5:1 on 10, 20 & 40 meters, and just a bit less than 3:1 on 80 meters. In fact, on 40 & 20 the SWR was almost dead flat. </p><p>Next it was a trial with Winlink on 40 meters using just the IC-705 factory battery (meaning only 5 watts or less output). The Winlink propagation prediction window said it was a lousy time for 40 meters, at best a 60% chance of hitting any station. But what's life without challenges, eh?</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj63YMAxIJ-bmGaVVpPsWwuA4pEDwYgJY2jLqThHHNNU8Q8S7t10nQIM2hRGCX_l6uOJqe0yUf4A4DrxHFtzWlzRDsqMTrBvp6SrIAE8yXHhQE3-UO_grjT5f7biN47QyZ2AH3VYluzIYQsqRpL8vMhOt6E09jD1tTWOVfNm6yssCjIlbrR8B0U-RCang" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1190" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj63YMAxIJ-bmGaVVpPsWwuA4pEDwYgJY2jLqThHHNNU8Q8S7t10nQIM2hRGCX_l6uOJqe0yUf4A4DrxHFtzWlzRDsqMTrBvp6SrIAE8yXHhQE3-UO_grjT5f7biN47QyZ2AH3VYluzIYQsqRpL8vMhOt6E09jD1tTWOVfNm6yssCjIlbrR8B0U-RCang=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IC-705 running 'barefoot'. I'm guessing my ERP was probably<br />just 2 - 3 watts</td></tr></tbody></table><br />OK, I'll admit it, connecting to a gateway on 40 meters was tough. but I did manage to get to the AJ4GU gateway (about 50 km) and W4MRB (200 km). Because of time constraints I did not get to hook up the tuner and try for an 80 meter gateway. I'll try that another day soon.</p><p>What are the take-aways from this? First, that NVIS does work, and works on low power digital modes. The second is that with a handful of fiberglass electric fence stakes I can set up an effective NVIS antenna just about anywhere. And third, this is just a whole lot of fun!</p><p>W8BYH out</p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-90566141294267423582023-03-04T22:14:00.005-05:002023-03-05T18:22:24.181-05:00Mother Nature Will Have Her WayJapan is a highly developed, wealthy, highly cultured and thoroughly modern nation. Japan is also no stranger to earthquakes and tsunamis. In fact, Japan leads the world in earthquake-resistant construction techniques, earthquake prediction, and advanced warning systems, and the entire Japanese population is highly tuned to the threats of both earthquakes and tsunamis. They live with earthquakes as part of their daily lives, they plan for them, run endless drills to respond to them, and have built their infrastructure to be earthquake resilient.<div><br /></div><div>And yet... March 11th, 2011. A magnitude 9.1 earthquake 70 miles east of the Oshika Peninsula, deep in the Pacific Ocean, instantly overwhelmed Japan's ability to respond. Now known as the Great Tohoku Earthquake, it was the most violent ever recorded in Japan, and the resulting tsunami crested at over 130 feet in some areas. To make matters worse, a 50' high wall of water hit the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, knocking cooling systems off-line and ultimately causing a melt-down in three of its four reactor cores. Japan is still dealing with the mess today.</div><div><br /></div><div>I recently stumbled on <a href="https://youtu.be/0E2Q7kr4L2c" target="_blank">this video</a> put together in 2021 by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK. It is 49 minutes of mostly raw, unedited film footage of the disaster, and the few days following. It's clear the Japanese authorities, despite their best efforts, were immediately overwhelmed. Nothing could have prepared them for a disaster of this scope and scale. In the video you'll witness food & water shortages, shelter shortages, fuel shortages, medical shortages, even shortages of blankets and warm clothing (at one point workers at a shelter was pulling curtains off the windows to use as blankets), </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't care how good FEMA or your state and local EMAs are, at some point nature will rear her ugly head and we'll be dealing with a situation that quickly spins out of control. The Japanese learned the hard lesson: Mother Nature will have her way. This is San Francisco (1906 earthquake), New Orleans (Hurricane Katrina), Puerto Rico (Hurricane Maria). Each time the authorities were confident they could handle it. Each time, Mother Nature made fools of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>What's the point in all of this? Preparedness. Not just communications, but preparedness and security in all its aspects. Food & water security, shelter security, energy & power security, financial security, physical and personal security. Watch the video. Absorb the lessons. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0E2Q7kr4L2c" width="461" youtube-src-id="0E2Q7kr4L2c"></iframe></div><br /><div>W8BYH out</div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-32483024978198018362023-02-22T10:10:00.002-05:002023-03-17T06:23:11.240-04:00AN/GRC-106<p> Boy, this picture brings back memories.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5g4xXMXYMQ0dkMEIVzJNB1AbHDSBtOhTxYZYG9gPaa1OeMzQdc-S6GmbvHG0WAex5xCLX_L_NjCs5KuXhT3wKNXy6Ta9FXKdMne10WqV9ZqlCqMGtiKqyrpEhMmxWlPIeMhf6E5AjgleiUrFtjXir2w588bTtwAi0Q7ECbSGGynn9_yi-FHK37ULcAg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1242" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5g4xXMXYMQ0dkMEIVzJNB1AbHDSBtOhTxYZYG9gPaa1OeMzQdc-S6GmbvHG0WAex5xCLX_L_NjCs5KuXhT3wKNXy6Ta9FXKdMne10WqV9ZqlCqMGtiKqyrpEhMmxWlPIeMhf6E5AjgleiUrFtjXir2w588bTtwAi0Q7ECbSGGynn9_yi-FHK37ULcAg=w640-h438" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I grabbed this screen shot from a video posted on the Vintage Military Radio group on Facebook. It's a surplus AN/GRC-106 HF radio in its vehicle mount. These radios were in regular use in the Army well into the 1990s. The transceiver is on the bottom, the amplifier is on the top. What you don't see is the power supply or hook-up to the vehicle's 24 volt power system. The power supply is as large as the amplifier section.<br /><br />I had one of these in just about every unit I was assigned to when in the Army, and when filling a command position I had to inventory and maintain these things. The transceiver/amplifier stack you see in this image is, easily, 150 lbs of mid-20th century military radio technology. <br /><br />Without the amp you'd get 20 watts of output on USB. With the amp, it was (if I remember correctly) 400 watts of output. When you keyed up, and all the cooling fans kicked in, it sounded like a tornado was in the room with you.<br /><br />In the late 80's I was assigned to the 864th Engineer Battalion at Fort Lewis, WA. We had one company stationed at The Presidio outside of San Francisco. Once a month we'd set up a GRC-106 at both locations and run communications exercises using different antenna configurations. I didn't have my ham radio ticket then, but our battalion commo chief did, and I remember him mentioning that you could use these radios on the ham bands. I thought that was really cool.<br /><br />Years later, after I got my General ticket, I was working at Fort Bragg, NC as an exercise evaluator. Late one night I was in a company TOC (tactical ops center) and they had their GRC-106 set up and running. I had no idea who they were supposed to talk to, because I knew the battalion TOC wasn't set up to work HF. I reached over and switched the radio to USB, cranked over to the 20 meter band and clicked around to see if I could pick up any ham traffic. There wasn't much going on, but I did hear one guy calling CQ. I keyed up and answered him back. He acknowledged my callsign but said my signal was very weak. Four hundred watts and weak? Something didn't add up. I went outside and traced the coax to the antenna which, to my surprise, was a HMMWV mounted VHF vertical whip. Someone clearly just went through the motions of setting up the radio to satisfy an evaluator ("See sergeant, we set up our 106 - can we get credit for that?"). At the time I was surprised I didn't burn out the transmitter finals. Later I remembered that the amplifier had something like five tubes in the transmitter stage and could soak up a heck of a lot of SWR.</p><p>Today you can easily duplicate the AN/GRC-106's 'barefoot' capabilities with something like an Elecraft KX2, an Icom IC-705, or a Xeigu G90. But that's not the point, is it? The AN/GRC was a glorious piece of mid-20th century, Rube Goldberg-esque, military radio technology that was so well designed and manufactured it stayed in service for almost 40 years. So let's celebrate the AN/GRC-106 for what it is - an unapologetically over-built, over-complex, over-weight and dead reliable radio, and one I'd love to have running in my shack.</p><p>W8BYH out</p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-27141561225137714742023-01-12T07:43:00.001-05:002023-01-12T07:43:56.178-05:00Battery Angst<p> Aaaarrrgggghhh! The battery on my Surface Pro 7 is giving up the ghost. Yesterday during a conference the screen started to flicker slightly and I noticed the battery level was dropping at a rate faster than I'd seen before. I knew it was inevitable, and I've been seeing indications of declining battery capacity for a few months now.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZqY4SbY6LgwQjnlJziC9-V2FHzAw70tg-pWw70FubTEFHAxsPbxvbs2hubBMt4AfZWDIRir9IUjTQXCKQm3UEteQsLKZX_Vfyg5lPA_WaPM84nHdH7CBFPu6fBJq7HcZ_5x9l_71s0H4_0iXstETzs2dBW1FEWFBa_cVzGnOg1uaF_LU6ObTBCVd18w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZqY4SbY6LgwQjnlJziC9-V2FHzAw70tg-pWw70FubTEFHAxsPbxvbs2hubBMt4AfZWDIRir9IUjTQXCKQm3UEteQsLKZX_Vfyg5lPA_WaPM84nHdH7CBFPu6fBJq7HcZ_5x9l_71s0H4_0iXstETzs2dBW1FEWFBa_cVzGnOg1uaF_LU6ObTBCVd18w=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is a work tablet, so I didn't pay for it. It's served as my office laptop for several years and I've come to really appreciate the Surface tablet form factor. I retire in less than a year, so I'm likely stuck with finding a replacement on my own (nothing provided by employer largesse). I've got several personal laptops that can fill the gap, but what I really like about the Surface line is the ability to outboard video to a dual monitor setup using the Surface docking station. My question now is, do I invest in a closed hardware solution? Surface Pros can not be opened up for a battery replacement. Microsoft wants you to toss it and buy a new one. Planned obsolescence. I'm thinking that any new laptops or tablets I buy for field use in Amateur Radio will have replaceable batteries.<p></p><div>I've got a very good Dell 5414 rugged laptop that I bought used about 4 years ago. It's my ham radio field laptop. It's got an i5 processor, 16 gb of RAM and a 128 gb SSD. It's a workhorse, and even four years on is still a very viable computer. It's only real drawback is that it'll eat a battery in about a year. But that's OK, because the design of this laptop means I can open the battery bay door and slide in a new battery. No dying battery angst. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgag6XMWx1m5EYabENOZRLHmUng7rcuigMd9xJDdrAdrEqCl6cbUTYcaWhZqgEUjB2Oaodr8Wz7l3wrWgT5N3BmRERUwKF8voKkWK5QG_Mh8NQcsvUiWmDPsiTvlxaxPa1Het8HyXf3uT-JX0q1bwR1KwhZuwkh52PYKIwrfsZ8ne45V9QwuJ1CCFL2w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1604" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgag6XMWx1m5EYabENOZRLHmUng7rcuigMd9xJDdrAdrEqCl6cbUTYcaWhZqgEUjB2Oaodr8Wz7l3wrWgT5N3BmRERUwKF8voKkWK5QG_Mh8NQcsvUiWmDPsiTvlxaxPa1Het8HyXf3uT-JX0q1bwR1KwhZuwkh52PYKIwrfsZ8ne45V9QwuJ1CCFL2w=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br />My experience is that the ability to easily replace batteries extends the service life of a laptop or tablet for at least a year. After three years most mobile device batteries start to show a serious decline in capacity; it's just the nature of the technology. Users find themselves plugging in their laptop or tablet more frequently to 'top it off', and very quickly the device turns into a small format desktop computer, permanently tethered to a power supply. A replaceable battery restores the functionality of the device - it gives your laptop or tablet a new lease on life. The vast majority of laptops and tablets, particularly laptops, are still very viable computing devices when they get tossed into the electronics recycling bin. The only reason they are there is because the batteries died.</div><div><br /></div><div>Replaceable batteries also makes the concept of the fully off-grid computer possible. My expectation for a field computer is that I get at least 6 hours of laptop use with a 10% reserve. If that means I've got to swap out batteries in that 6 hour period, so be it. The design of laptops like the Dell 5412 (and its successors) means this 6 hour requirement is easy to achieve, and even exceed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course all computers and tablets have limited lifespans. At some point my Dell will be orphaned by Microsoft (I already know I can't install Windows 11 on it), replacement batteries will become impossible to find, or I'll have a hardware failure. But considering that this is a 4 year old laptop that still has more than adequate processing power for today's routine tasks, and that I've been able to do two battery replacements on it for a small fraction of the cost of a new laptop, I'd say my plan to buy future devices only if they take replaceable batteries is a sound one.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-71369898646818759342023-01-04T10:30:00.002-05:002023-01-04T10:30:59.769-05:00Giggle<p>I giggle when I read things like this: </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEepokEPNl0qKgbEyCwE4neIh4YcYVfg6-hRi5xA2hZ4gDNeKa4RmQRZRFPghAYSWxVGDV_GMnu2rpVfWYuCw_YMNcwOl6JgoLU9MvtbKHdoaC3BoyPj6onAH7rwSKExZ7RxIkLFUxlmQwUth1iD5AiKuLn-Yio-N0x2D_s514ABjYNbetg__EGB8okA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="1576" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEepokEPNl0qKgbEyCwE4neIh4YcYVfg6-hRi5xA2hZ4gDNeKa4RmQRZRFPghAYSWxVGDV_GMnu2rpVfWYuCw_YMNcwOl6JgoLU9MvtbKHdoaC3BoyPj6onAH7rwSKExZ7RxIkLFUxlmQwUth1iD5AiKuLn-Yio-N0x2D_s514ABjYNbetg__EGB8okA=w640-h220" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>For those who have trouble reading the screen capture, it goes like this:</p><p><b>"I forwarded a few questions from HF Pack list members to a Special Forces commander whose unit has been using KX2s in the field for three years. He passed along the following additional comments:</b></p><p><i><b>"We prefer to use Off Center Fed Dipoles (OCF). They work for us because they present a consistent, predictable mismatch on the frequencies we use. I made a few small baluns out of binocular cores that are 4:1, which handle the output of the KX2 on Voice, CW and digital all day long. Typically the dipoles area strung up arms-reach-high in the field, which gives us easy 300 - 400 mile range in our KX2 nets. If we're fortunate enough to have a tree, that OCFD with a center height of 10 to 15 feet or so works perfect for NVIS, at least for us.</b></i></p><p><i><b>"You'd be proud to know my KX2 has survived remote jungles, 14-er peaks in Colorado, -30 degree F temps, a helicopter crash, and gunfights / IED blasts... I think the radio has held up better than I have."</b></i></p><p>Wayne, N6KR, is one of the co-founders of Elecraft and is the main designer of the KX2. He posted this on the HFPack Groups.io site back in 2020 in response to some folks who were looking for more information on the US Army Special Forces use of the KX2 as a back-up radio. The topic recently re-surfaced on the Elecraft KX Groups.io site.</p><p>I find it funny (the giggle part) that today, folks who use the Icom IC-705, the Lab599 TX500, the Yaesu FT-818 and other QRP rigs struggle to put together a deployable package that includes the radio, tuner, battery, cables, connectors, etc. and end up with a pile of stuff the size of a desktop printer, while all of that fits inside of the KX2, a radio you can hold in the palm of one hand.</p><p>This is one of the reasons why in today's era of IC-705 SDR do-everything QRP market dominance, the KX2 - a 7 year old design - is perpetually on back-order.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM_Cgjr8FR0tI52U_-x6P3GuNQdHsAay5hdoH38w9bBcs_zANPxMEZt7TBTjuEbXKfkOIH-lnQrAt8lBqYpVpDjfSinVVGe-H-YWWX3ECIGHMtsrK6dpTrFmPg7Ul59os_8_YgRdJm-sH-QG1GikwkawQBI4q7xWvwT_Eu5NAWMPYb-6TKk-pFOqejCw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1712" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM_Cgjr8FR0tI52U_-x6P3GuNQdHsAay5hdoH38w9bBcs_zANPxMEZt7TBTjuEbXKfkOIH-lnQrAt8lBqYpVpDjfSinVVGe-H-YWWX3ECIGHMtsrK6dpTrFmPg7Ul59os_8_YgRdJm-sH-QG1GikwkawQBI4q7xWvwT_Eu5NAWMPYb-6TKk-pFOqejCw=w640-h346" width="640" /></a></div><br />Also note the use of an OCF dipole. No sooper-dooper sneaky-pete million dollar Special Forces antenna solution. Just a plain-jane dipole. The US Army is actually very pragmatic about antenna designs for their radios - you just can't cheat physics. If an antenna's gotta' be a quarter wavelength, it'll be a quarter wavelength.<p></p><p>W8BYH out</p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-78157442494255081862022-12-29T06:50:00.001-05:002022-12-29T06:56:41.914-05:00FT-818 QRT<p>Word dropped yesterday that the venerable FT-818 was taken out of production by Yaesu. As of this morning Gigaparts does not list the radio at all on their website, and HRO shows it either out-of-stock or low stock at all of its stores.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUzy7bAg3H9csTyYA_M0S2el61M4XFUQvMx7PoqASFx7TjcRjSYFWQuKlXUJYkYTDyzFN92pjDxewZHFZM78iSTIFqtqX0ixsTkf6ndrp9rq4lO3kecFrqZBPoBwDrBQ_6C5KAAaiOHXb_kQ4jIzLdwW98Ktqd4v1LN8qjOa1fgRzfPSf9izjFDufs5A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="638" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUzy7bAg3H9csTyYA_M0S2el61M4XFUQvMx7PoqASFx7TjcRjSYFWQuKlXUJYkYTDyzFN92pjDxewZHFZM78iSTIFqtqX0ixsTkf6ndrp9rq4lO3kecFrqZBPoBwDrBQ_6C5KAAaiOHXb_kQ4jIzLdwW98Ktqd4v1LN8qjOa1fgRzfPSf9izjFDufs5A=w640-h580" width="640" /></a></div><p> <br />I've written extensively about this little radio on this blog and on various Facebook sites. I consider it the last of the 'good' generation of Yaesu radios, along with its sister rigs - the FT-897 and the FT-857. The FT-818 had a 20+ year production run, perhaps the longest of any Amateur Radio (although I think the Icom IC-718 may be giving it a run for its money). In the end it was killed off by the one thing no electronics system can escape - parts availability. According to Yaesu they couldn't source many of the components needed to build this radio. Of course they could have re-designed the rig to take advantage of components that are available in the market. A lot radio manufacturers have had to do this - including Icom and Elecraft. My guess is that Yaesu gave it some thought but realized that, given the age and design of the radio, it was just time to let the old girl go and work on bringing something new to market. At least I <i>hope</i> that's what Yaesu was thinking. Yaesu is being very cagey about what might be coming. I'll say this though - throughout the pandemic and chip shortages, Yaesu has been the one Amateur Radio manufacturer that hasn't been shy about bringing new products to market. Some have been minor refreshes like the FT-5DR handheld, some have been new development products like the FT-710. But while all the other manufacturers have been sitting on their hands waiting for things to shake out, Yaesu has pushed ahead. To me this indicates that Yaesu is likely to already have a replacement for the FT-818 waiting in the wings.</p><p>In an <a href="https://www.prc-77.com/2021/01/when-does-obsolete-become-collectible.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a> I mentioned that in 50 years there'll be more FT-817/818 rigs still on the air than Icom IC-705s, and I truly believe that. Given the sheer number of 817/818 radios out there, and the fact that the 20 year old design is easier to maintain than an SDR, I'll wager that in 2101, the 100th anniversary of the FT-817s introduction, there'll be special event stations dedicated to firing up these great old rigs and getting them on the air. By that time the IC-705's will all be recycled electronic waste. </p><p>So raise a glass to the old gal, the radio that defined the QRP shack-in-the-box concept and helped launch the SOTA movement. And if you have one, make sure she gets on the air every now and then.</p><p>W8BYH out </p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-80434413914896972302022-12-26T19:36:00.006-05:002022-12-26T21:25:08.968-05:00No One Radio Can Do It AllLast month I attended a Georgia AUXCOMM class, and one of the key take-aways (for me) was always knowing what your communications capabilities are. I own <strike>too many</strike> a lot of radios, and it's been a few years since I did a feature comparison. My question was, which radio I currently own offers the broadest range of capabilities; a true shack-in-a-box. <div><br /></div><div>While nothing fit the bill 100%, I was only slightly surprised when the winner emerged - the Icom IC-7100. Sadly, this incredibly capable radio was taken out of production by Icom a few months ago. I can only hope there's a replacement already waiting in the wings, and Icom's only holding back on shipping them because the northern sea lanes between Japan and the port of Los Angeles are still choked with dangerous icebergs.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>It should be no surprise that the Icom IC-705 is the runner-up. That little radio is just begging to be up-sized. I'm hoping it's the up-sized version that's being held up by the icebergs</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIm837gCxtmB0XCCpYVf0ly3DoJGFiwrwuOzlI9OS7LPWD-gSFy-_LpSWYeZ_fH_BuUocF_mGYb4pKPSv_4tcgfoOy1yD9HP6iNcWFavq3WiLV8qWwnL4Hx-l6ITFO12hPUD9FsRerY6ZCC20yLxDEgXKW80EcalEVOhi-CFA8_Zul2XSfjkl9CKpIuA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1524" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIm837gCxtmB0XCCpYVf0ly3DoJGFiwrwuOzlI9OS7LPWD-gSFy-_LpSWYeZ_fH_BuUocF_mGYb4pKPSv_4tcgfoOy1yD9HP6iNcWFavq3WiLV8qWwnL4Hx-l6ITFO12hPUD9FsRerY6ZCC20yLxDEgXKW80EcalEVOhi-CFA8_Zul2XSfjkl9CKpIuA=w640-h236" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Other radios on the list have their own unique capabilities, which is why I hang onto them. The Icom IC-7200 is a no-frills, built like a bulldozer HF rig. All it does is HF, but it'll do it all day, every day, for months on end. The KX2 may not look like it does much, but what it does it does better than any other radio on the market. It's an amazing piece of technology to behold - and you can behold it in the palm of just one hand, with room left over.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Given my current stable of radios, what would I grab going out the door for a SHTF situation? Well, it wouldn't be just one radio. I'd need at least three. Based on the combination of requirements I anticipate - both HF voice and digital, using a variety of modes, the ability to do wide band TX (the 'MARS mod'), the ability to do ALE scanning and HF chat using either Vara Chat or JS8CALL, the choices came down to:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>IC-7200</li><li>IC-705</li><li>ID-52</li></ul><div>Some of you are surely yelling, <i>"you're letting your inner Icom fanboy leak out!"</i>. No, and yes. In the past I've been a Yaesu fanboy, a Ten-Tec fanboy, a Hammarlund fanboy, even a cheap Chinese radio fanboy. I'm still an Elecraft fanboy. For a long time I didn't particularly like Icom products. I thought they were over-polished and over-priced; slick toys that didn't offer anything better than the competition, but at a higher price. In my mind I was paying extra for the Icom badge. It took a few years of struggling with Yaesu's configuration settings on several of their HF radios to appreciate Icom's well developed and mature interface and settings libraries that spans much of their product line. Icom radios are easy to set up for digital or voice operations, share operating principles across all of their modern rigs - HF and UHF/VHF, and share Icom-developed apps like the RS-BA1 wi-fi rig control package, the RS-MS1A Bluetooth rig control package, and the ST-4001A picture utility program. While none of these packages will win any awards for world-class features or functionality, they are solid apps that allow different Icom rigs to be operated through a shared interface, and to share data across platforms, mostly via DSTAR. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>The IC-705 and the ID-52 (and the ID-51) go even further and share battery packs. This means I only have to worry about one type of battery pack and charger for two different radio models. </div><div><br /></div><div>You may ask, <i>"why not the IC-7100, if it's so capable?"</i>. Truthfully, it was initially in the mix as I was writing this post, but then I figured I'd need to scan ALE channels using either Ion2G or MARS ALE, and the 7100 can't do that. Only the IC-7200 (with the quiet scan mod) or the IC-7300 can do that. The IC-7300 would seem the next logical choice, but I wanted a 100 watt HF rig that could run continuous duty cycles on digital modes like Vara Chat, and the IC-7200 with its better cooling arrangement just seems a better candidate.</div><div><br /></div><div>By grabbing these three specific radios I'll have all the coverage I need for voice and digital comms, with redundancy. One hundred watts of HF voice and digital, a 10 watt backup, and a 5 watt hand held. The IC-7200 is a high duty cycle radio that can do voice, digital and ALE scanning, The IC-705 provides an advanced SDR capability on HF, Gen3 DSTAR capability and wideband receive. The ID-52 provides handheld UHF/VHF dual watch voice and Gen3 DSTAR capability. Bases covered.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz-zTwUPkNRaMdfixLLMp3GVZ61Zz-w_uwBYiSNsfjEWt8_h870BaNIk_CcoGPJAHUJrY6rOlAC8o9ytE48aSMbUAix_AVvDpl4cPYJHc8isWyJwJ_tK5QKaw78kMUbV2gNmtzvXKtxhyGhyqPZUPTdEoJj0eNRe9-oPoRrWDTbazLgAA33YhG9SuW6w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="1523" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz-zTwUPkNRaMdfixLLMp3GVZ61Zz-w_uwBYiSNsfjEWt8_h870BaNIk_CcoGPJAHUJrY6rOlAC8o9ytE48aSMbUAix_AVvDpl4cPYJHc8isWyJwJ_tK5QKaw78kMUbV2gNmtzvXKtxhyGhyqPZUPTdEoJj0eNRe9-oPoRrWDTbazLgAA33YhG9SuW6w=w640-h114" width="640" /></a></div><br />So remember, in today's market there's not one single radio that can do it all, from any vendor. If you need to relocate for any reason - your own house is damaged or destroyed, or you are deploying to provide comms support for a disaster - you'll need a mix of radios to cover all the requirements. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, there's a point to all this. It's called Winter Field Day 2023. </div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out</div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-57301207912062736832022-12-21T09:03:00.000-05:002022-12-21T09:03:07.589-05:00Swoon<p>I recently spied this beauty for sale on QRZ.com. Radios like this make my heart race and I get lightheaded.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2Hemjf1x3gChNKCGHC3-oUe64w7b-we_UDL6DaZtQuQZfVoz_HBfey9K4J22qtaBXt9UzKxfHcbGvoePB08Qeuy-_9P84BcA2PmzFfAunCSnxzdl_pq8t_QrVQ6HBqm82ZEImW-2N_NmYnjGFEYd0N3ZadxTt-_fSmdgUgv2HHG5JXax_FOlbjp_72Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1848" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2Hemjf1x3gChNKCGHC3-oUe64w7b-we_UDL6DaZtQuQZfVoz_HBfey9K4J22qtaBXt9UzKxfHcbGvoePB08Qeuy-_9P84BcA2PmzFfAunCSnxzdl_pq8t_QrVQ6HBqm82ZEImW-2N_NmYnjGFEYd0N3ZadxTt-_fSmdgUgv2HHG5JXax_FOlbjp_72Q=w640-h288" width="640" /></a></div><br />One of the great tragedies of American ham radio was the demise of Ten-Tec. In their hayday they made truly great products, all in their Sevierville, Tennessee facility, and they bent over backwards to accommodate the ham radio community. Ten-Tec's public face was always as a rock-solid, well respected, US-based ham radio manufacturer, but I think their bread and butter - the thing that kept Ten-Tec profitable - were their government contracts for radios like the RX-340.<div><br /></div><div>When I got my General ticket back around 2004 I bought a <a href="https://www.tentec.com/ten-tec-538-jupiter/" target="_blank">Ten-Tec Jupiter</a>, and it became my gateway drug to HF operations and Ten-Tec products. It was a groundbreaking radio - a true SDR with a dedicated rig control interface. I think it became Ten-Tec's most popular HF radio. I ended up owning a series of Ten-Tec rigs - an Omni A (typically and correctly referred to as a 'solid-state boat anchor'), a Triton I, a Triton II, and one of their 2 meter mobile rigs. <div><br /></div><div>Ten-Tec's service was always first rate. You could ship them any Ten-Tec radio, in any shape, and they'd return it to operating condition for a relative pittance. I bought the Omni A off of a seller on eBay who advertised it as being in 'perfect working condition'. When I got it, it was a mess. Certainly not 'perfect'. Not even operational. I opened a complaint against the seller through eBay, and he eventually admitted he knew nothing about the radio and was selling it for the widow of a local SK. He refunded half the selling price and all the shipping costs. I sent the radio off to Ten-Tec, and for a whopping $114 they re-built and re-aligned it and got it back into perfect operating condition. The cost of the parts alone had to exceed the final bill, not counting the labor cost involved. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ten-Tec hosted an annual hamfest at their Tennessee factory, and I made the trip up one year. It was held on the factory grounds, and included a factory tour. The corporate staff bent over backwards to make everyone comfortable, and were very open about new developments that were in the pipeline. I was somewhat taken aback by the age of the facility; Ten-Tec had been making electronics products in that building since before WWII, and it showed. They did <i>everything</i> in the building - design advanced SDR radios, form sheet metal for radio cases, mold plastic and metal components, assemble and test new products, service used radios, and run retail sales. It was a well used and somewhat tired and inefficient building.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took a four year hiatus from ham radio between 2015 and 2019, and during that time Ten-Tec was sold twice over and effectively left the ham radio market. I'm told the original Ten-Tec owner was facing mounting facility modernization costs and just wanted to retire, so he sold the company and facilities as-is to the highest bidder. The succession of new owners were after the government contract side of the business. Of course each owner promised to keep the ham radio side of things running, but never did beyond a token effort. The company eventually landed in the hands of Dishtronix, and Distronix has effectively ceased production in the face of COVID, worldwide chip shortages, and a factory move from Tennessee to Ohio. Will Ten-Tec ever be competitive again in the ham radio market? I doubt it.</div><div><br /></div><div>In its prime Ten-Tec made some of the world's finest receivers, like the RX-340 above. These ended up in the hands of a lot of three-letter federal agencies, and it was said you could hear a flea fart in Havana using an RX-340 in Washington. Gives you an idea who was running them. Ten-Tec's high end receivers don't often come up for sale on the used market, and when they do they don't sit around long waiting for a buyer. I think this radio sold within a day of being posted, and the owner got full asking price.</div><div><br /></div><div>But darn it, beyond the performance, the RX-340 just <i>looks</i> like a real radio; all the buttons and knobs and digital displays you need to run a radio without having to insert a computer into the mix. Radio the way Marconi, David Sarnoff, Edwin Armstrong, Arthur Collins, and Wayne Burdick and Eric Swartz (the founders of Elecraft) intended - radios with real knobs and readable displays that show you everything you need to know, and not a single digit more.</div><div><br /></div><div>W8BYH out </div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215688889457228081.post-45431638713149967662022-11-20T09:58:00.001-05:002022-11-21T06:19:19.879-05:00What The World Needs...<p>About 100 years ago, Vice President Thomas Marshall (who served under Woodrow Wilson) once quipped during a Senate debate, <i>"What this country needs is a really good five-cent cigar"</i></p><p>Now it's my turn. After two months trying to get various incarnations of a new Facebook page up and running, I say that <i>what the world needs is a strong competitor to Facebook. </i></p><p>Facebook is doing every damned thing they can to monetize everything I post or click on in their environment - that's how they make a profit and are able to provide Facebook as a mostly free service. I'm not one of those who thinks everything on the web should be free. I understand the actual costs of site development, integration, sustainment, etc. It's all far more expensive than most people realize. For that reason, companies like Facebook try to squeeze every penny out of their users as possible, not by charging them for the service but by selling their personal data and preferences to other companies. Facebook isn't so much a social media platform as it is a data scraping service. Every mouse click you make in Facebook is being sold to someone, somewhere, as a data point. And if you think Facebook is the lone evil troll in the on-line universe, you're wrong. Everyone is doing it - Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Google, Microsoft, Firefox, and dozens more. Basically I'm OK with Facebook scraping my data and selling it to the highest bidder. But it's my responsibility to give them them only the absolute bare minimum necessary to get access to their platform. My personal data, my rules. Everyone should take that attitude.</p><p>The problem is that Facebook, over the past several years, has turned the service into this mind numbingly complex environment that makes setting up and managing even simple personal pages a real pain-in-the-ass, and the attempts to get at your personal data are both subtle and evil. In the early days of Facebook, setting up a personal or organization page was easy, and fun. Give your page a name, post a few pictures, add some minor personal data and invite some friends and off you go. Easy-peasy. Now the set-up options are frustratingly complex and the nagging from the Facebook system is endless. Here's a hint - Facebook doesn't really want your birthdate so they can send you a birthday greeting every year. They want it because your age is a critical marketing data point. Also, Facebook loves it when you post videos of your singing cat not because they can share your interest with other cat lovers and everybody feels warm and fuzzy. No, they track your cat video postings so they can tell a marketing firm that you are a certain age (which is an indicator of income level) and that you likely buy a lot of cat food and pet care products. That's why, when you post a new cat video, you get Facebook ad offers from Chewy. Mark Zuckerberg doesn't give a damn how warm and fuzzy cat videos make you feel. He's after your personal data points so he can sell them for profit. And your data is very, very profitable.</p><p>I've seen indicators that Facebook's participation rate is dropping. There's a perception that <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/tech/news/facebook-now-officially-old-people-27713966" target="_blank">Facebook is for old people</a>, and there does seem to be a gradual graying out of the Facebook community. But Facebook offers something none of the other attention deficit options like TikTok offer - a website-like functionality that allows a wide range of information delivery options, and encourages in-depth discussions on topics. For this reason Facebook stands alone when looking for free platforms that do what ham radio clubs, organizations or folks like me need.</p><p>In the quest for more and more data, Facebook has entered shoot yourself in the foot territory. Even the simple personal pages are too complex to set up, and way too intrusive. I've been setting up and administering Facebook pages for the better part of a decade, so I have the perspective. Hey Facebook, the reason you user base is shrinking isn't just because of shifting demographics. It's also because you've made the environment so complex and confusing that people go looking for a simpler option. </p><p>If I were a social media platform developer, I'd be looking at the Facebook example and figuring out ways to bring many of the same features to a simpler interface. The other thing I'd do is start charging for the service. Follow the path taken by many iOS and Android developers - the app is free but you'll get advertising 'nag-ware', or pay a small fee and the ads go away. I'd gladly pay $100 or more per year for a quality Facebook-like hosting experience that doesn't try to monetize every one of my mouse clicks, and doesn't nag me to tag cat videos with little heart emojis. </p><p>Yup, what America (and the world) needs is a better Facebook. Only Facebook is unlikely to deliver. So all you smart platform developers out there - get to work. </p><p>W8BYH out</p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301078056782961841noreply@blogger.com0