DX Cluster. Who don’t know this useful feature for DX’er and contester. This telnet service is provide information about a station appear on a frequency. Reported by anyone who send a post on telnet. Why we need dx cluster? Because we don’t have to tired scanning 10 HF ham bands if we wait a station QRV to add our QSO score. Just sit back and relax. Other ham friends from any part of the world helping us sending the DX info.
You know what, N1MM logging software has this DX cluster feature build in. Setting this DX cluster feature is very very easy. Go to Window then select Packet/Telnet. Then now click the Telnet tab. Then choose first a telnet server from servers list. For example, I choose AB5K. Then type your callsign to white box where every commands should typed. Now press Enter button. Make sure you have good quality internet connection.
If everything go right, you will receive responses from telnet server. For first time user, AB5K server will ask you to enter your name and QTH (and surprise me, this data is spread out to other telnet servers). If all questions being answered, then you will start receiving raw DX cluster data. It’s showed chronologically.
If you want to participate on DX info, you can type DX dx_callsign frequency comments. Then press Enter. But do it wisely since your info will read by whole world in real time.
September 5th, 2009 | Posted in Contesting | 4 Comments
Maybe you already read many articles about how to extend your walkie talkie range. All of them must be good one and helpful. I add one more tip for you to extend your walkie talkie range without hard and deep modification (where sometimes can void your walkie talkie guarantee or even cancel your GMRS walkie talkie license).
My tip now is only one. Change your walkie talkie antenna to high gain antenna model. Looks like simple idea, but can be hard to do with some reason.
First, this tip is only good for GMRS walkie talkie radio. Why? Because in GMRS walkie talkies usually provided with antenna connector to make it replaceable and user own setting which antenna is meet their needs. Connector is commonly BNC on TNC connector model. It’s very famous on market and adopt widely. This walkie talkie antenna connector is a clear sign that GMRS walkie talkie is allowed to modify the range, instead GMRS power availability. But different situation on FRS walkie talkies. With only smaller power output and no external antenna connector means FRS is close the possibility to modify it. Sure you can force your FRS walkie talkie and soldered your own BNC connector in there, but that’s on your own risk.
Second, high gain means an antenna that has better energy amplification to the air. The radio frequency energy is multiplied when it radiated. So it will make your transmission range is improved and along with your reception capability. Both are improved.
I found several GMRS walkie talkie antenna on online store that give 3 dB gain. Maybe some others are more gain number. 3 dB gain means your walkie talkie radio energy will multiplied 2x when radiated. So it should be extend your walkie talkie range approx 2x also. If you can find walkie talkie antenna which give higher gain, your walkie talkie range will farther also. Or at least your signal will be on better quality to make sure a good establishment of two way radio communication.
Changing your walkie talkie antenna is simple and easy to do.
July 16th, 2009 | Posted in Others | 2 Comments
What is “portable” ? Merriam-Webster give the definition is “capable of being carried or moved”. So a “portable two way radio” is a two way radio that capable or easy to carry and bring it to wherever you go. How portable a radio is depend on your imagination.
Good example of this imagination is ham radio tour called dxpedition. Dxpedition is when one person or a team of ham radio go on air from a rare place. The more rare the place of dxpedition, the unbelieveble number of equipments carried to that place. But still we only can call it a portable radio operation since they are not citizen of the place. One big dxpedition team is 3Y0X to Peter 1 island, one island in Antartica region. Thye brought several big two way radios, RF amplifiers, ham radio antennas, power generators, computers, and more logistics to covers two weeks of dxpedition operation. They used ship to depart from Punta Arenas to water of Peter 1 and used helicopter to transport crew from ship to island. But still it is a portable operation.
Portable operation also if a person just hike to a hill or mountain and carry two way radio communication in his backpack and equipped with portable antenna also. If he intended to work on HF ham radio bands, he can bring the famous low power two way radio like Icom IC-703 or Yaesu FT-817. Both radio are build to give low power output 5 watts so they can use battery to operate them for several hours during portable operation.
Handheld two way radio also popular for portable two way radio operation. This radio usually divide into two categories, the walky talky and the handy talkie. Walkie talkie commonly intended to non-license usage. Any user can use this two way radio type for their own need. But handy talkie term usually means a two way radio device that intended to use by ham radio. So when you choose this radio, please make sure your operation is not violating your country rules.
The differences between modern walkie talkie and handy talkie are on their features. Modern walkie talkies commonly channelized frequency usage while handy talkie commonly equipped with VFO (variable frequency oscillator) to make it meet with ham radio needs. Channelizing to walkie talkie is prepared to be used by anyone at any age so no license is required to operate. Power output sometimes same between walkie talkie and handy talkie. And also some other features such as CTSS and DTMF (depend on your model).
These are many walkie talkie and handy talkie devices in the market. And also many online stores who sell walkie talkie radio and handheld two way radio equipment. Maybe they also can ship to entire world. Before you buy two way radio, make sure you choose the right model that meet with your needs. Some radio stores also give customer service staffs and accept consultation before customer purchase. Some walkie talkie and handy talkie also featured with military specs to make it tough in every field of operation.
June 10th, 2009 | Posted in Others | No Comments
