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Using the FCC to your advantage in identifying radio gear
Often I will find myself needing information about electronics where there is apparently no service information available on the web. This is where FCC processes become extremely handy. Let me introduce to you the FCC approvals database. Lets…
Read More »Should You Use Off-Brand Batteries in Two-Way Radios?
I recently read an article on the web that attempted to discuss whether or not you should use ‘off brand’ batteries in handheld devices. It resoundingly said ‘no’. The single argument that it provided was that the radio…
Read More »Spectral purity of Baofeng radios
One topic that is fascinating to watch rolling round on Facebook is the reactions of the crowd who hate the inexpensively made Baofeng radios. People talk about how you will set off all the repeaters in range on…
Read More »Looking at the Heathkit HD-1416 Code Practice Oscillator
Today my Heathkit Code Practice Oscillator arrived. I was lucky enough to pick it up on eBay for a song, but the shipping took forever. Anyway, it’s a beautifully constructed unit, built from a multivibrator circuit, based around…
Read More »Interconnectivity where it is not expected
I was actively involved in packet radio here in Canberra in the 80’s and 90’s. Great stuff, and a ton of fun. We had a core group of probably 10 -15 people here who were active. I did…
Read More »The 122G Project
(The cover photo for the project is Andrews dish (VK3CV/WQ1S) from the DUBUS article.) I encountered a fascinating project by a group of Amateur Operators, where they are re purposing a radar module made by a German company,…
Read More »Racal Matel 2c800 Field Phone
So, I was browsing the Internets a while ago, continuing my search for interesting ex military radio gear, and I encountered these awesome Racal Matel Field Phones. There were a couple of people selling them, so I picked…
Read More »Tuggeranong Hill Activation
Today, I activated Tuggeranong Hill (VK1/AC-038) again. Unfortunately, I was late leaving home, and the walk up took *much* longer than I expected, likely because of the staying inside with Covid (That’s my story, and I am sticking…
Read More »Building Hardware to Communicate with a LORA Satellite
A couple of months ago, a Spanish PicoSatellite (5cm x 5cm x 5cm) was launched called FossaSat-1 ( https://fossa.systems/ ). It was designed using open source principles and provides a LORA downlink on 70cm UHF using a standard…
Read More »QRP Labs Ultimate3S
Sooooo. A long time ago I discovered that I enjoyed using the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) to see how open various bands were during the day. I even went to various parks at lunchtime to set up…
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