VK CW Beginners Net will be on 30th October 2012 at 0930 UTC on 7255 kHz, so make your first CW contacts while you learn morse code.
ALSA Speech Compression and FT-857D
Well friend and I have been playing around with speech compression as the FT-857D on it own does not have the best DSP. As my friend is keeping a better log of it all and how to set up up on the Raspberry Pi head on over to VK2MEV’s site and check it out.
I have the speech compression running on my computer rather than the raspberry pi at the present moment for testing purposes, but will get around to setting it up on the raspberry pi at later date.
My setup consists of:
Computer
Creative Sound Blaster Play USB Dongle
Heil Pro Set Elite
FT-857D
Necessary cabling to connect between the data port on the FT-857D and the USB dongle and headset
VHF/UHF Field Day Survey closing in 1 week 14/10
First, this Proposal for changes to scoring of Australian VHF/UHF Field days. This proposal outlines the rationale for these field contests, examines how well they meet their aims, how the current scoring system works and reveals some anomalies in the scoring system used. Then the reasons for changing the scoring system to one based on distance worked, and removing the link to grid squares worked, are explained and some details are provided of how that change can be made.
Reference:
http://vk1da.net/
Yaesu FT-857/897 DSP and Carrier Point Settings
Menu 46 DSP High Pass filter Default at 100. Set that to 200 to 300 on the low-end
Menu 48 DSP Mic Equalizer
Press and hold in the [DSP] key for one second. This instantly activates Menu Mode No-048 [DSP MIC EQ].
Rotate the DIAL to select one of the following equalization choices: OFF: Microphone Equalization Off
LPF: High Cut (lower frequencies are emphasized)
HPF: Low Cut (higher frequencies are emphasized)
BOTH: High/Low Cut (mid-range frequencies are emphasized)
When you have made your selection, press and hold in the [FUNC] key for one second to save the new setting and exit to normal operation.
You also have menus 016 Carrier Balance -300 to +300 LSB Transmit and 018 Carrier Balance -300 to +300 USB Transmit Adjusting these controls will give you more low response or high response. As always listen to your test signal through headphones connected to a second receiver. You will hear the balance that will please you.
As always study the operation guide for further information.
Reference:
Heil Sound – All Things Yaesu
Audio processing and ALC in the FT-897D
Giveaway to Promote Youth in Amateur Radio
Amateur Radio Supplies in the USA are holding a contest January 2013 to give away a DX HF setup to promote youth in the world of Amateur Radio in any country.
Haverhill, Mass., September 24, 2012 – Amateur Radio Supplies of Haverhill, Mass., announced today a new biannual giveaway to promote youth in amateur radio DXing and contesting. “Getting on HF (high frequency) in today’s economy is very challenging for many, but especially for our youth operators,” said Jeff Demers, owner, Amateur Radio Supplies. “Many youth operators are unable to purchase the needed equipment to get on the air. Here at Amateur Radio Supplies, we want them to experience the joy that has propelled us in this hobby for many decades. Thus, on January 1, 2013, we’ll be doing the first of many station sponsorships to support youth in DXing and contesting.”
Amateur Radio Supplies will give a complete HF (high frequency) station to the selected applicant, including:
Alinco DX-SR8T/E 160-6m All Mode Transceiver & 30 Amp PS
LDG AT-100 Pro II Desktop Antenna Tuner
Choice of Rugged All Band G5RV or HyGain DX-77A Vertical 100’ of
Premium RG-213 Coax
Vibroplex Brass Racer Iambic Paddles
SignaLink USB Sound Card for Digital Modes
Heil Pro Set Plus HeadsetApplicants from any country under the age of 21 are invited to provide brief answers to the following three questions, as well as their name, call sign, and license class online.
1. How often are you able to operate on the HF bands?
2. Where (what QTH) do you typically operate from?
3. How do you intend to use the equipment provided?
Further Details and Aplication forms can be found at Amateur Radio Supplies
VK3 SOTA
If all goes to plan… Peter (VK3ZPF) will be activating the following three summits this weekend.
9:00 am Saturday VK3/VS-001 Mt William (2300 14/9/12 UTC)
1:00 pm Saturday VK3/VW-020 Mt Zero (0300 15/9/12 UTC)11:00 am Sunday VK3/VW-022 Mt Araplies (0100 16/9/12 UTC)
You may find me around 3.610, 7.110, 14.190. 21.290 and 28.480 MHz.
For those interested in the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award Mt
William and Mt Zero are both in the Grampians National Park.I’ll also be on air in the Little Desert National Park Saturday night and
Sunday morning, comparing vertical and inverted vee antennas on 40 m and 20m.
Reference:
http://vk3zpf.blogspot.com/
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/SOTA_Australia/
[EVENT] Ford Show and Shine
Here are some images from todays Ford Show and Shine held at the MVPS Museum, with guess appearance from the Major of Salisbury to hand out awards.
Buyer Beware
Today I got an email from a place that I ordered a Raspberry PI from over the weekend, about that ‘the credit card payment for my order has been declined’ ok so rang them up to find out what was going on, while on the phone the lady processed the credit card again couple more times and it was declined both times after confirming details with her. Out of interest I asked her how much the order was and she said $51.40AUD, and she suggest that I contacted my bank to find out what was going on.
Well spoke to the bank and the bank said there was no restrictions on my Visa debit and she refreshed my account to make sure it was showing positive funds, which it was.
So rang the company back (and got different lady from the first time) about my order and said the bank refreshed my account to make sure it was showing positive funds etc. She tried to process the credit card and it declined also gave her the details and the credit card declined again. Out of interest again I asked her how much are you trying to debit and she say $61.80AUD, I am like WTF why has the price gone up since what was invoiced to me over the weekend? (which was $56.05AUD) She reply we hold a reserve amount for postage in case it bulky or have to package a special way, but the order is still only going to cost you $51.40AUD, but you need $61.80AUD in your Visa debit. After some disgruntled words with the lady about them should knowing the weight of item etc they posting and the cost related to it I canceled my order with them.
So moral of the story beware of who you’re dealing with, even big reputable companies have strange ways of dealing with purchases and thanks to Visa Debit system for helping making online purchases little safer.
Science Alive 2012
I have added a gallery of some the pictures I took while I was at Science Alive from Thursday to Sunday at the Wayville Showgrounds. Thursday was setup day for the 3 day event with Friday set a side for the high school children. I was a part for the Electronics and Communication, and Hackerspace stalls.
It was a great event and ran rather smoothly, we had a lot more interest in the Amateur Radio side of things this year compared to last year. and the Reprap 3D printers of hackerspace were a hoot with the public aswell.
This is a quick video of an AR Drone that one of the people part of our stalls bought in.
Still Alive and kicking
Thought is was about time that I wrote a bit of a post even though I not have any how to etc to post.
Well to start of wit I am still alive and kicking, just been busy with what life got to throw at me like packing up and moving into new place and doing renovation stuff. I have still got to get radios and stuff setup and on the air, I am really missing getting up on the 40m band and chasing the DX as the conditions permit.
I have been out doing event stuff like the Scouts RallySA with WICEN at the end July. you can view some the images I took here in my gallery.
This month will be helping out with the Remembrance Day Contest with EARC at the Science Alive event at Wayville showgrounds.
Well this little of what have been up to of late, hope to get settled into the new place soon and get back to normal tinkering with stuff like my WS 122 that I am slowly still been collecting parts for and restoring, you can see the progress to that in my gallery.