Amateur Radio Event Schedule

2015 Ham Radio Classes & Events

JULY 18 & 19 • SPACE STATION TO TRANSMIT TV IMAGES

SSTV Space Images To Commemorate 40th Apollo-Soyuz Mission!
In order to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz mission, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team will transmit a series of 12 Slow Scan Television (SSTV) images. The SSTV transmissions on 145.80 MHz will begin on the morning of Saturday, July 18, and continue through Sunday July 19, subject to change. Apollo-Soyuz represented the first joint US-USSR mission, and it set the stage for later US-Russia collaboration on the space shuttle, Mir Space Station, and the International Space Station. The Soyuz and Apollo vehicles were docked from July 17-19, 1975. During that time, the three astronauts and two cosmonauts carried out experiments and other activities. Apollo-Soyuz was the final mission of the Apollo program and the last US human spaceflight mission prior to the inaugural space shuttle mission in 1981.  

Submit SSTV images to the ARISS SSTV image gallery by clicking HERE, which will post the best SSTV images received from this event. The ISS cosmonauts will take time out from the SSTV transmissions on July 18 to conduct an ARISS contact (starting at approximately 1655 UTC) with students attending the Moon Day/Frontiers of Flight Museum event in Dallas, Texas. Streaming audio will be available HERE.

ARISS International has expressed thanks to ARISS-Russia's Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, for his leadership on this historic commemoration. Also, special thanks to the AMSAT News Service via Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chair, and NASA for their support!

JULY 18 • HAM LICENSE TESTING

ARALB • ASSOCIATED RADIO AMATEURS OF LONG BEACH provides amateur radio testing for $5.00 on the third Saturday of each month at 9:00 AM.  Next testing date after Saturday, July 18, 2015 is Saturday, August 15, 2015. The test location is at the The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, 3824 Woodruff Avenue, Long Beach CA 90808 (behind the Dental Building). Click HERE for a map & directions. Pre-registration is recommended through Louise Chapman, N6ELK, at 562-429-1355 or send an email to n6elk@aol.com.  When you pre-register your GLAARG Form 605X will be ready for you to sign, when you come in to test. 

  

AUGUST 21, 22, & 23

2015 ARRL NEW ENGLAND CONVENTION BOXBORO MA! The Annual ARRL New England Ham Radio Convention will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 21, 22, & 23 at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough, Massachusetts. Click HERE for a map & directions. Call the Holiday Inn at 978-263-8701 or 1-800-HOLIDAY to make a reservation or click HERE for other hotels in the Boxborough MA area. There will be commercial vendors, a swap meet area, raffle prizes, guest speakers, forum workshops, free one-day ham radio license classes. tons of commercial "swag," and loads of ham radio FUN!!!. Join us at the Saturday Evening Banquet with Keynote Speaker Gordon West, WB6NOA. Yes, that's our Gordo!! Most hams know Gordo as the man behind those ham radio instruction books. With awards like Hamvention's "Man of the Year" and ARRL's "Instructor of the Year", his classes, offered through W5YI, have brought him notoriety. In his spare time, Gordo also volunteers with the American Red Cross communications team in Orange County, California and provides free classes to CERT members. To put a fun spin on the weekend, Gordo will present "Pass The Ham," a fun banquet speech with LIVE recorded ham audio and several live electronic demo gags! Join us for the FUN!! Click HERE for complete ARRL New England Convention information.

  

OCTOBER 16, 17, & 18

PACIFICON • THE WEST'S LARGEST HAM RADIO CONVENTION! The Annual Pacificon Ham Radio Convention will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 16, 17,& 18 at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel, San Ramon, California. Call the Marriott Hotel at 925-867-9200 to make a reservation. Click HERE for a map & directions. There will be commercial vendors, a swap meet area, raffle prizes, guest speakers, forum workshops, free one-day ham radio license classes. tons of commercial "swag," and loads of ham radio FUN!!! Gordo's W5YI Ham Instructor Academy will be held on the first day of Pacificon, Friday October 16. Also, look for Gordo and his Ham Nation TV crew as they "roam" the convention floor taping segments for their upcoming shows. And who knows? You may be on TV! Click HERE for complete Pacificon information.

  

NOVEMBER 19

GORDO'S MARINE RADIO OPERATOR LICENSE CLASS will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at the Orange Coast College of Sailing in Newport Beach, California. Classes are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with lunch from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Personalized instruction from Gordo. Materials and Gordo's Study Notes $99 plus $35 test fee. When you pass your exam, you will have the full privileges of the MROP -- the FCC's Commercial Marine Radio Operator Permit! To register for this commercial radio class, please click HERE or visit www.occsailing.com for more information. Pre-registration is required well before class time! Call Gordon West at 714-549-5000 Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM to reserve your space today!

America's Volunteer Lifesavers

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Wants You!

USCG Auxiliarists Work Directly in Support of The U.S. Coast Guard

One of my most enjoyable volunteer avocations is being a proud member of the U.S.Coast Guard Auxiliary, the all-volunteer arm of the U.S. Coast Guard. Both Gordon West WB6NOA and I put our amateur radio skills to work, serving as Telecommunications Specialists, training radio operators, programming radios, and taking part in emergency drills, public affairs events, and on-the-ocean security patrols.  Click HERE to view Gordo in action, putting his radio amateur teaching skills to work in Auxiliary Radio Communications.

Click HERE To Learn More About The USCG Auxiliary

It's not all about radio comms either!  Auxiliarists fill-in for the U.S. Coast Guard in all support areas except law enforcement. And the benefits are fantastic! Let's see.. we have helicopter and fixed wing pilots, using their skills in aerial patrolling and search & rescue, boat crews on open water patrols, class instructors, public relations specialists, videographers, and get this: there's even a chef's training program for those who like to cook!

Teaching A Future Boat Crew Member "The Ropes"

The U.S. Coast Guard relies very heavily on the Auxiliary for boating safety training, search & rescue operations, public education, and my favorite -- radio communications!  Interested in learning more?  Just click on the link below for more information on how you can help the U.S. Coast Guard by being a proud, contributing member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.  This is one move, I guarantee you will not regret!

Preparing The Helicopter Rescue Basket in San Francisco Bay,California

Click HERE To Learn More About The USCG Auxiliary

Chinese Radio FCC Certification

FCC Part 90 Certifications

Many radio amateurs across the country are members of RACES, ARES, DCS, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and other groups which support our emergency responders in the event of natural disasters, fires, floods, storms, and even acts of terrorism.  These "volunteer" responders often purchase FCC Part 90 Accepted land-mobile radios, which gives them the opportunity to monitor public service agencies in the event of local, regional, or national emergencies or take part in exercises with government-affiliated groups, such as MARS, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the Civil Air Patrol.

Recently, several inexpensive LMR handhelds and mobiles manufactured in China have been introduced to the American market.  Although these offerings are generally not as rugged as their commercial counterparts, such as Vertex, Motorola, Kenwood, Harris, and others, they are substantianly more affordable and thus, very attractive to hams like us.  Similarly, the question has arisen as to whether many of these Chinese products are really "FCC Part 90 Certified" as some claim to be.  That is, whether these radios meet or exceed the FCC's new standard for 12.5 Hz narrow band operation and 2.5 kHz steps for expanded frequency allocations.

As new "narrow band" products come to market, we will post for download the genuine FCC Part 90 Certificate here in the popular Adobe PDF file format, so that hams everywhere can be assured that their rigs are properly-approved for the outstanding emergency services to which they all contribute.

If you have any questions as to whether your own mobile or handheld radio is FCC Part 90 Certified, you can search your radio's unique FCC ID by entering it HERE.  The FCC ID may be found on a small sticker on the bottom of your mobile radio or inside the battery compartment of your handheld.

  

• Click HERE to view / download the FCC Certificate for the Chinese import 5W dual-band VHF-UHF Wouxun KG-UV6D handheld.
  
• Click HERE to view / download the FCC Certificate for the Chinese import 4W dual-band VHF-UHF Baofeng UV-5R handheld.

  
• Click HERE to view / download the FCC Certificate for the Chinese import 2W dual-band VHF-UHF Baofeng UV-3R handheld.
  
• Click HERE to view / download the FCC Certificate for the Chinese import 50W dual-band VHF-UHF Wouxun KG-UV920PA mobile.

  

• Click HERE to view / download the FCC Certificate for the Chinese import 50W dual-band VHF-UHF AnyTone AT-5888UV mobile.

  

World Clock by ClockLink

Time Shown UTC / ZULU  •  Click On A Country Area For Another Time

Check Your Signal On The Internet!

Here's a great example of why I love amateur radio -- hams helping their fellow hams!  If you don't have a close amateur radio friend who lives across the country, wouldn't it be nice to have a distant station give you a reception report, so that you can monitor your signal strength or make adjustments to your mic gain or antenna system?  Let's say you own an older "vintage" rig, like the Yaesu FT-101B, with analog tuning.  Wouldn't you like to check your dial's frequency calibration?  Well, thanks to hams with SDR (software-defined radio) websites, you now can!  All the popular HF, VHF, and UHF bands are covered, so you can easily check out all your rigs!  Here are two of my favorites SDR websites:

WEBSDR INTERNET RADIO

WebSDR is a Software-Defined Radio receiver connected to the internet, allowing many listeners to listen and tune it simultaneously. SDR technology makes it possible for all listeners to tune independently, and thus listen to different signals.  This is in contrast to the many classical receivers that are already available via the internet.  WebSDR is located at www.websdr.org.

More background information is available HERE and frequently asked questions are answered HERE. Questions and comments can be sent to PA3FWM, the author of the WebSDR software and maintainer of this website.

WebSDR Radio Station Coverage Area

S-METER INTERNET RADIO

Welcome to the S-Meter Website  Check your signal and listen to others on remote receivers. Read thousands of pages of ham radio information. Download virus-free radio-related design programs. There is no charge for receiver usage, any of the information, or any downloaded computer programs.

Menus take you to major content sections. Thousands of other pages are buried within. Search from the bottom of any page to find what you are looking for if you don't see it in a menu. This site is updated frequently, so be sure to Bookmark or add it to your Favorites so you can return easily. (Don't lose track of this site, because some things here can be difficult to find anywhere else!)

Listen To The Dallas, Texas Receiver On Your Smartphone  The Dallas receiver audio streaming technology has been changed for compatibility with modern Smartphones. Users of Windows Smartphones have been listening to receivers at the S-Meter site for years. Now Android, iPhone, and iPad users can listen to the Dallas receiver from their mobile devices. Clicking this link will take your Smartphone or iPad to the new Dallas receiver mobile streaming page Dallas Receiver Mobile. Desktop users should LISTEN HERE instead.

Newport OR Receiver Now Online The Kenwood R-5000 receiver that was running online from a site north of Salt Lake City for many years has been moved to Newport, Oregon and is now back online.  Click HERE to check your signal.

TECH NOTE: When using your laptop computer next to your ham rig, plug headphones into the audio-out jack of the computer (to hear your own transmission) and a dummy plug into the rig's headphone jack to mute the rig's audio, in order to prevent feedback.  Enjoy!

Radio Programming Made Easy!

THE RT SYSTEMS VERSION 4.5 UPDATE!

In discussing the new RT Systems software for programming amateur radios, especially the newly-introduced Chinese handhelds, several of you have emailed me asking me what makes this software different from the free versions you can easily download from the web.  Here's the answer: RT Systems new 4.5 version update of their extremely popular (and reliable) radio, programming software.

HERE'S WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 4.50

USB CABLE • NO MORE COM PORT SETUP!

• RT Systems USB cables make it easier to transfer data between the radio and the computer.
• Plug and go. Once the cable is attached, you’re ready to “Getting data from” or “Sending data to” the radio... without struggling to set up the com port!
• See for yourself just how easy setting up your radio can be. Click Getting Stared and relax as we show you how.

SHARE FILES WITH OTHERS, EVEN IF THE "OTHER" HAS A

DIFFERENT RADIO THAN YOURS!

• Share files with others. Transfer easily via e-mail, CD, or flash drive.
• The RT Systems Version 4 file for any radio can be opened with the RT Systems Version 4 Programmer for ANY radio.
• The “shared” file opens in a generic screen from which you copy the channel details to a file for your radio.
• With just a few mouse clicks, the other radio is programmed and ready to use.

OPEN SEVERAL FILES AT ONCE!

• Files can be for the same or different radios (Version 4 Programmer for each radio required).
• Different color tabs at the top of the screen let you see that several files are open. Simply click a tab to switch between the files.
• Split the screen to see more than one file at once.  Click HERE to see how easily this is done.

NEW EDITING FEATURES

• Column editing with copy and paste. Change one. Copy it. Paste in the same column... once or repeatedly by highlighting several.
• Move-up or Move-Down to rearrange the order of the channels.
• Sort and Unsort.
• Copy and paste one or many channels. Select all to copy. Select only one to paste. Copied channels are pasted beginning with the selected channel.
• Copy within the same file or between files for different radios.
• Learn more about Copy and Paste with this 10-minute tutorial.

EASILY ENTER DETAILS FOR SPECIAL RADIO FUNCTIONS

• Learn more about D-Star setup using the built-in D-Star Calculator. The D-Star Calculator is part of the RT Systems Programmer for many Icom D-Star Radios. Check the Icom page on our site for a complete list of these radios
• Click D-Star Setup and relax, as we show you.
• Learn more about Hypermemories in the Yaesu FT-7800, FT-7900 and FT-8800 radios. Click Hypermemories and relax, as we show you.

What more info? Visit www.rtsystems.com.

Newly Licensed? Here's Help!

AMATEUR RADIO VHF-UHF STARTER FREQUENCIES

Get a good start in ham radio with some of Gordon West's favorite Southern California repeater and simplex radio frequencies for the most popular VHF & UHF amateur radio bands.  The lists below are configured for the popular Baofeng & Wouxun Chinese-made VHF-UHF dual-band portables, but you can input these frequencies into virtually any amateur radio, mobile or portable, manually or using a computer and programming software.  But if  programming your new radio with a computer is new to you, please feel free to email me. The top two lists below were designed especially for hams who are boaters and would like to monitor the marine channels along with the most popular Southern California repeater frequencies. The bottom two lists include MURS, FRS, and GMRS channels. Click on the links below to view/download the frequency list of your choice. 

Gordo's Top 60 + Marine Channels For The Baofeng UV5R.pdf 

Gordo's Top 60 + Marine Channels For The Baofeng UV3R.pdf  

Gordo's Top 100 Frequencies For The Baofeng UV5R.pdf 

Gordo's Top 99 Frequencies For The Baofeng UV3R.pdf

MARINE CHANNELS NOTE -- When you look at the frequency lists that contain the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Channels, you will notice something interesting: They are matched up with memory locations of the same number.  In other words, after turning on your radio, if you press "016," you will be taken to Marine Channel 16. Pressing "022" takes you to Channel 22, and so on. Special thanks to Tony Ashlin KI6DZV for this great programming idea!

BAOFENG PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE -- If you're a fan of Dan Smith's unique CHIRP Software for the computer programming of the inexpensive 128-channel Baofeng UV-5R dual-band radio, you will need the following image files.  The first link below will take you to Dan Smith's "CHIRP Download" webpage. CHIRP is available for all versions of Windows, as well as Linux and the popular Ubuntu operating systems.

Click HERE To Download The Free CHIRP Programming Software

Gordo's Top 60 + Marine Channels For The Baofeng UV5R.img  

Gordo's Top 100 Frequencies For The Baofeng UV5R.img 

WOUXUN PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE -- If you're a fan of Dan Smith's unique CHIRP Software for the computer programming of the inexpensive 199-channel Wouxun KG-UV6D/X dual-band radio, you will need the following image files.  The first link below will take you to Dan Smith's "CHIRP Download" webpage. CHIRP is available for all versions of Windows, as well as Linux and the popular Ubuntu operating systems. The second link is an Adobe PFD file of Gordo's exclusive frequency list. The last link is the CHIRP file you will upload to your radio.

Click HERE To Download The Free CHIRP Programming Software

Gordo's Top 100 + Marine Channels For The WouxunKG-UV6.pdf  

Gordo's Top 100 + Marine Channels For The Wouxun KG-UV6.img 

THE ABSOLUTE BEST PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE!

Bob Nagy in his video (see the Baofeng post below) tells how difficult it is to program these Chinese handhelds via the front keypad.  I can also tell you, that my attempts to program the Baofeng or Wouxun radios with the free downloadable Chinese PC software was equally disastrous. But, there is a solution -- RT Systems to the rescue!

I was so please recently to discover that RT Systems has entered the field by providing USB programming cables and Windows-based software for the most popular Chinese handheld and mobile radios, such as the Baofeng UV-5R.  As a ham radio operator, I have appreciated the intuitive RT Systems software for programming my HF rigs and Yaesu handhelds for years.  Not to go into great detail, but if you have ever been challenged by not being able to move memory channels up or down or had the “CSV Import-Export” dilemma drive you batty, you will love the ease and convenience of RT Systems software!  BTW, the USB cables and software are VERY affordable, too.  To see how easy programming your rig can be, visit www.rtsystemsinc.com.

Special thanks to Gordon West WB6NOA and Tony Ashlin KI6DZV for helping me in organizing the frequency lists and image files for this post. Bravo Zulu guys! Need more help? Email me your questions at w6aux@arrl.net.

The Radio Amateur's Code

THE RADIO AMATEUR IS:

• CONSIDERATE never knowingly operating in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.
• LOYAL offering loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs and the American Radio Relay League, through which Amateur Radio in the United States is represented nationally and internationally.
• PROGRESSIVE with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station, and operation beyond reproach.
• FRIENDLY with slow and patient operation when requested, friendly advice and counsel to the beginner, kindly assistance, co-operation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.
• BALANCED Radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.
• PATRIOTIC with station and skills always ready for service to country and community

Those Chinese Radios • Part 1

BAOFENG UV-5R DUAL BAND HANDHELD

One of the most popular little HT portables to hit the US market from China is the Baofeng UV-5R dual band VHF-UHF portable transceiver.  At 4 watts, its a sufficient little radio for hitting your local repeaters or reaching your XYL. Because of its extremely small size and light weight, it makes an ideal radio for covert ops, security work, and celebrity protection details. The radio has a scrambler encryption option, and a "clear tube" earpiece with covert microphone is available from a number of suppliers and on eBay.

Click HERE To View Bob Nagy's Great Review & Setup Video

KEY FEATURES & TECHNICAL SPECS

This BAOFENG UV-5R transceiver is a small, light-weight multi-band FM transceiver with extensive receive frequency coverage, providing local-area two-way amateur radio communications along with unmatched monitoring capability. This HT meets the FCC & NTIA narrow band requirements of a Part 90 Accepted Transceiver.

• 25KHz/12.5KHz Switchable (W/N Band)
• Channel Step: 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25 KHz
• Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-480 MHz
• FM Broadcast Receive 65-108 MHz
• 128 Channels 50 CTCSS and 104 CDCSS
• Dual-Band Display, Dual Freq. Display, Dual-Standby
• 7.4V 1800mah Li-ion Battery Pack 

Frequency Range: 65-108 MHz (FM Receive Only)

136-174 MHz and 400-480 MHz (TX/RX)
Channels 128
Frequency Stability: ±2.5ppm
Antenna: High Gain Dual Band Antenna
Antenna Impedance: 50?
Operating Voltage: DC 7.4V
Mode of operation: Simple or semi-duplex
Dimension (W x H x D): 100 x 52 x 32 mm
Weight: 250g (including battery, antenna)
Transmitter Output power: 4W / 1W (Max 5W) 
Modulation Mode: 16k?F3E / 11k?F3E
Maximum Deviation: <5kHz(Wide) / <2.5kHz(Narrow)
Spurious Radiation: <7?W
Adjacent Ch. Power: <=-65dB(Wide) / <=-60dB(Narrow)
Pre-emphasis characteristics: 6dB
Current: <=1.6A(5W)
CTCSS/DCS deviation: 0.5±0.1kHz(Wide) / 0.3±0.1kHz(Narrow)
Intermediation Sensitivity: 8-12mv
Intermediation Distortion: <10%

PROGRAMMING THE BAOFENG UV-5R

Bob Nagy in his video (above) tells how difficult it is to program this handheld via the front keypad.  I can also tell you, that my attempt to program the Baofeng with the free downloadable Chinese PC software was equally disastrous. But, there is a solution -- RT Systems to the rescue!

I was so please recently to discover that RT Systems has entered the field by providing USB programming cables and Windows-based software for the most popular Chinese handheld and mobile radios, such as the Baofeng UV-5R.  As a ham radio operator, I have appreciated the intuitive RT Systems software for programming my HF rigs and Yaesu handhelds for years.  Not to go into great detail, but if you have ever been challenged by not being able to move memory channels up or down or had the “CSV Import-Export” dilemma drive you batty, you will love the ease and convenience of RT Systems software!  BTW, the USB cables and software are VERY affordable, too.  To see how easy programming your rig can be, visit www.rtsystemsinc.com.

WHERE TO BUY?

You can order one of these great little radios for as low as $49.95 (special sale price), by paying a visit to the website of Knight Radio by clicking HERE.  Knight Radio also sells a full line of extra batteries, speaker-mics, and other accessories for this radio.

And yes, Amazon.Com also sells the Baofeng UV-5R for an amazing low, low price of only $42.45!  Click HERE to jump directly to the Amazon website's Baofeng sale page.

When you order your Baofeng, look for a "package bundle" including an extra battery, extended range antenna, etc. You'll get more "bang for your buck!"

GOT A QUESTION?

There's a nice blog by a Dutch radio amateur, which has a ton of information on the Baofeng radios, links to user groups, and tips on doing firmware upgrades as they become available. The link to his blog is Thoughts of a Dutch Radio Amateur. Another good resource here in the USA, is the Yahoo Baofeng UV-5R Users Group, with a lot of the same type of information.  In the meantime, you can always leave me a comment with your email below, and I will get back to you within 24 hours.

Those Chinese Radios • Part 2

DUAL BAND FM MOBILE RADIO COMPARISON

In this comparison of the AnyTone, Yaesu, and Wouxun dual band mobile transceivers, you will note that the Chinese manufactured AnyTone AT-5888UV (Qixiang Electronics) is a near clone of the USA-Japanese Yaesu FT-8900R in its user features and functionality.  The Wouxun KG-UV920P on the other hand, and sadly, has a very complicated user interface and on-screen menu, with buttons seemingly designed for a small child’s fingers!  Here’s an initial visual comparison below. Click On Any Photo To View A Larger Image.

The Chinese AnyTone AT-5888UV Dual-Bander

Yaesu Screen Layout Above • Compare To AnyTone Top Photo

Yaesu Button Layout Above Vs. AnyTone Buttons (Top Photo)

IDENTICAL ANYTONE & YAESU MOBILE RADIOS?

Between the AnyTone and the Yaesu dual-band FM radios above, you will note that SCREEN MENU LAYOUTS ARE ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL!  The design and position of each icon is exactly the same for each radio’s displays.  Coincidence?

Now, before anyone says anything:  Yes, I am aware that the Yaesu FT-8900R is actually a QUAD-BAND FM transceiver, operating on the 2M, 6M, 10M, & 70 CM bands.  But for our purposes here, I'm going to continue to refer to the Yaesu FT-8900R as a "dual-bander," in order to avoid confusion and also as most hams use this amazing radio on 144/440 MHz bands, rarely on the 6M or 10M bands.

AnyTone AT-5888UV w/ Front Speaker Mic For Portable Use

As to the KNOB LAYOUT, the AnyTone AT-5888UV utilizes the VERY SAME left-right volume and squelch layout as the Yaesu FT-8900R.  This is a very nice and well-thought out feature, as controlling the volume of each side-by-side band screen is very convenient indeed.  The LOW (output power adjustment), V/M (VFO/Memory), HM (Home Memory Channel, and SCAN buttons are in identical placements.  The AnyTone, however, did move the SET button to the upper left-hand side of their radio.  Oh well, you can’t everything!  Now, let’s look at the Wouxun KG-UV920P dual-band FM radio:

THE WOUXUN KG-UV920P

The best way I can summarize the Wouxun User Interface is this: Confusing.  The VFO (frequency tuning) knob is on the left, while the VOLUME controls on the right are NESTED, for each of the side-by-side band screens.  This makes volume adjustment a bit tedious. It gets more interesting: the SQUELCH adjustment is made via a SCREEN MENU OPTION.  Oops!

The Wouxun KG-UV920P Dual-Band FM Radio

Speaking of which, the MENU OPTIONS as seen on most Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, and other popular radios are SPLIT here between PANEL BUTTONS and ON-SCREEN MENU selections.  This makes for EXTREMLY CONFUSING selection of a number of “on-the-fly” options one would necessarily like to make during an emergency or disaster scenario, such as changing CTCSS codes for a particular repeater, jumping to lower power, a quick squelch adjustment, etc. 

THE PRAISE REPORT

These radios do provide a much-needed alternative to the higher-priced, more rugged land-mobile VHF-UHF public service radios manufactured by Motorola, Vertex, Harris, Daytron, and others.  Inexpensive and programmable, these radios are great for light use by Army-Navy MARS, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, SATERN, Red Cross, and other emergency community response radio stations which operate OUTSIDE the FCC Amateur Radio bands or within the NTIA U.S. Government bands.

The inexpensive Chinese ($250-$300) dual band rigs – namely the AnyTone & Wouxun mobile models -- offer multi-colored backlit LCD screens, detachable remote heads, dual-fans with large heat sinks, FM broadcast reception (most models), DTMF microphones, alpha-numeric displays, low power consumption on receive, CTCSS/DCS Encode/Decode, cross-band repeat, dual band simultaneous reception, encryption capabilities (scrambler), narrow & wide band, 2.5KHz frequency steps, remote "kill," password protection, and more.  Of the two, my money would be on the AnyTone, mainly for its ease of use.

WHAT SETS THE CHINESE RADIOS APART?

From a design standpoint, the Chinese designers of the AnyTone & Wouxun models got a lot of things right. For instance, most FM transceivers coming out of China -- 50W mobiles & 5W handhelds -- have FM broadcast receive 68-108 MHz built in.  Nice feature for listening to your favorite country music station while on the road!  The AnyTone models add AM aircraft band receive, which I particularly like. Great for monitoring 121.5 MHz, the aircraft "Mayday" channel.  Top-mounted speakers on all mobile models means you can throw your mobile on the passenger seat next to you in your car, plug the 12VDC power cord into a cigarette lighter socket, throw a mag-mount antenna on the roof, clip the speaker microphone to your jacket, and you're good to go mobile!

As an emergency comms backup radio for your "Go Kit," there are a lot of nice features that are hard NOT to like!   I already mentioned the speaker-mic feature, air band monitoring, dual band receive and scanning, and dual, thermostatically-controlled rear fans.  But the feature I like the most on an emergency comms unit (which is also on the Yaesu FT-8900R) is Full Duplex Cross Band Repeat. Click HERE to view nice video tutorial on how to setup a duplex cross band repeater, using the Yaesu FT-8900R.

Unfortunately, the AnyTone AT-5888UV is not available in the USA just yet, as the first batch sent here from China had to be recalled last week for harmonics problems.  We should begin to see the final USA model by March.  You can pre-order the latest AnyTone dual-bander at www.wouxun.us.

A PROGRAMMING NIGHTMARE

There are TWO popular methods for programming your dual-band FM mobile radio:  Windows-based PC programming software or direct-input, using the DTMF microphone keypad.  However, it should be noted that Part 90 FCC Accepted land-mobile radios may ONLY be “bench programmable,” that is using a PC computer.  No Part 90 “in-the-field” user programming of frequencies, tones, etc. is allowed, although the Chinese offerings above do so.

For years now, Amateur Radio gear could be programmed quite easily -- even “on-the-fly,” as it were.  Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom, for instance, allow programming of their mobile radios via the DTMF microphone keypad in a similar fashion as the programming of their handheld, portable units via the DTMF keypad on the front of the radio.  The “programming transition” between radio types is pretty seamless, once you get the knack of it.

Enter the Dragon!  When the Chinese entered the field, my “Programming Dream” became a “Programming Nightmare!”  Programming the Wouxun via the DTMF microphone’s keypad is tedious, to say the least.  My biggest complaint is the jumping between on-screen menu options and the pressing of the tiny front panel buttons to reach a programmable result.  Wouxun’s PC programming software, although improved recently, leaves a lot to be desired, as well.  All that aside, in an emergency, am I always going to have my laptop handy?  Not likely!

Lastly, I was so please recently to discover that RT Systems has entered the field by providing USB programming cables and Windows-based software for the most popular Chinese handheld and mobile radios, such as the Baofeng and Wouxun models.  As a ham radio operator, I have appreciated the intuitive RT Systems software for programming my HF rigs and Yaesu handhelds for years.  Not to go into great detail, but if you have ever been challenged by not being able to move memory channels up or down or had the “CSV Import-Export” dilemma drive you batty, you will love the ease and convenience of RT Systems software!  BTW, the USB cables and software are VERY affordable, too.  To see how easy programming your rig can be, visit www.rtsystemsinc.com.

Want to learn more about these fascinating FM mobile radios? You can download and/or view a user manual by clicking on one of the selected model links below:

AnyTone AT-5888UV User Manual
Wouxun KG-UV920P user Manual
Yaesu FT-8900R User Manual

There are many choices becoming available these days for the Volunteer Emergency Radio Communications Responder. My advice? Investigate, ask questions, and most of all, CHOOSE WISELY!

Ham Radio Live On Internet TV

HAM NATION  •  WEDNESDAYS 1800 PST

The hobby of Amateur Radio has finally met its match! Ham Nation is the latest offering from Leo LaPorte's Twit TV, an internet video provider located in Northern California.

Gordon West WB6NOA Broadcasts From His Home Studio

Each week, Gordon West WB6NOA, Bob Heil (creator of the famous Heil microphone series), Leo LaPorte, George Thomas and others report on the latest news in amateur radio, demonstrate the latest radio gear, review new products, discuss the importance of ham radio operators in time of disasters, and show recent videos submitted by viewers and fellow hams. My favorite segment is "Smoke & Solder" with George Thomas, where you'll learn how to assemble kits, repair your own radio gear, and even build a long-wire HF dipole antenna from scratch. I love this show!

Watch "Ham Nation" every week right on your favorite computer or smart phone every Wednesday at 6:00 PM PST (9:00 PM EST) at http://twit.tv/hn.  Did you miss the show? No worries! There's a whole list of TV podcasts to choose from going back through last year!

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

73's!

Jason

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Radio

DART EMERGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS EXERCISE

On December 15, 2012, a number of radio amateurs who are members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary took part in a DART Emergency Preparedness Drill, designed to support the active duty Coast Guard in the event of a local disaster, such as an earthquake, or a national emergency with portable, battery-powered radio communications.  The primary goal was to set up portable HF and VHF stations which could pass both voice and digital messages between Coast Guard assets, such as coastal bases and cutters.  All radio communication was done via NTIA government radio frequencies, rather than FCC amateur radio bands.

Gordo & I Checking Into The DART Exercise

Gordon West WB6NOA and I were assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal, based in Newport Beach, California.  We handled messages on VHF & HF (1.8-30 MHz) in both voice and digital modes via the MT63 protocol.  Once the assigned DART Test Message was received, we checked it for errors and then delivered a printed hard copy to the Officer of The Day, PO2 R. Ulrich, aboard the Cutter Narwhal.

Delivering The Hard Copy DART Message To PO2 R. Ulrich

The DART Test also gave us a chance to check out a new portable HF antenna called the Great Lakes All-Bander, designed by Danny Althouse N0BRN.

My "Car Trunk" Portable HF/VHF Station w/ Battery Backup

The All-Bander HF Antenna Is On The Roof - VHF On Trunk

GREAT LAKES ALL-BANDER HF ANTENNA

The Great Lakes All-Bander is the first portable HF antenna of its kind to be designed SPECIFICALLY for MARS, USCG Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, SHARES, Red Cross, Marine SSB, and other frequencies that operate on high frequency (1.8-30 MHz) OUTSIDE the amateur radio bands.

Radios: Yaesu FT-897D HF & Vertex VX-4204 Part 90 VHF Radio
The Portable HT is a Vertex VX-929 VHF Part 90 Radio As Well 
The Dell Mini-9 Netbook Is Used For MT63 Digital Transmissions
HP Battery-Powered Printer Is Used For Printing MT63 Messages

The Great Lakes All-Bander antenna was a roaring success on both voice and digital modes.  It was extremely easy to load on the various "out-of-band" frequencies we used, by merely setting the two sets of jumpers for the "in between" bands (see photo below) and then "tweaking" with my LDG automatic antenna tuner. I easily got a 1:1 SWR reading on my specially NTIA-modified Yaesu FT-897D!  Although the total height of the antenna stands at about 9 feet (114 inches with mag mount), it is relatively light weight and is easily handled by the 5" Tram magnetic mount shown here.  On the amateur bands, the antenna performed equally well mounted on a heavy duty camera tripod, using four 16' counterpoise wires for a ground plane effect. Great Lakes Antennas sells a very nice machined aluminum TRIPOD MOUNT for $24.95 + Free Shipping ($19.95 when purchased with the All-Bander Antenna). The tripod mount includes a stainless steel 3/8 X 24 to SO-239 connector.

Great Lakes All-Bander w/ Its Dual Jumper Setup
Great Ground Plane w/ Mag Mount On Car Roof
The Coil Is Completely Sealed For Marine Use

Nine Foot All-Bander On A Heavy Tram-Browning 5" Magnetic Mount
Roof Mounting Provided A Great Ground Plane

WHERE CAN YOU BUY THE ALL-BANDER ANTENNA?

The newly-improved 2013 model of the Great Lakes All-Bander Antenna (80-10 Meters) sells for $199.00 with Free Shipping + a 10% discount for members of MARS and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Available only from www.greatlakesantennas.com. Improvements in the 2013 model of the “All-Bander” includes machined stainless steel end caps on the coil, enhanced waterproofing for marine applications, and more flexible band jumper wires.

The custom-designed machined aluminum tripod mount is $19.95 when purchased with the antenna -- $24.95 + Free Shipping, when purchased separately. The tripod mount includes a stainless steel 3/8 X 24 to SO-239 connector.

The Great Lakes “All-Bander Jr.” (40-10 Meters) will be made available for sale at a lower price sometime in March-April 2013.  Please feel free to email me at w6aux@arrl.net, should you have any questions or to be notified when this new version of the All-Bander becomes available.

BTW -- If you're a ham radio operator and would like to do something for your country and be a part of the "Homeland Security's Team Coast Guard," then the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is just the ticket for you!  Click HERE for more information.  If you would like to learn more about Danny Alhouse's fantastic HF antennas, then please visit www.greatlakesantennas.com.

73's!

Jason