Radios used during WRTC 2014
It was not too many years ago it was ICOM who was the prime radio for DXpeditions and for contests. Electraft now has that honor and I don't see anything on the horizon that is even coming close. And yes the operator can still make or break a contest. However with a great radio and a good antenna systems, it would be hard to not do good...
|
FT1000D |
2 |
|
FT1000MP |
3 |
|
FTDX5000 |
5 |
|
IC756PRO3 |
2 |
|
IC7600 |
6 |
|
IC7800 |
2 |
|
K3 |
63 |
|
TS590 |
5 |
|
Other (IC7700, FT3000, TS850) |
3 |
|
Total |
91 |
Facebook Says OK to Ham Calls As Alternate Name
Officially licensed amateur radio operators may now use their call sign as their alternate name, or nickname, on their individual Facebook profiles. This thanks to Richard Bobbitt, NW7OR, who recently organized a petition drive on the social media site in the hope of achieving this goal.
It turned out that Jeff Ferland, KB1PNB, who works at the Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park, California found the petition on an amateur radio Facebook Group to which he belongs. After doing a bit of research Ferland wrote the necessary code, then got it reviewed and approved.
To add your call Bobitt says to go to go to “Settings”, then click on “Edit Your Name.” In the middle of the page you will see the words “Alternate Name.” That’s where you can add your callsign.
Bobbitt says that the petition was originally the idea of Richard Allcorn, KW7PTL, without whom, this may not have happened so easily and quickly. Over 1000 hams on Facebook signed the petition within the first week or so after it was posted on the various Facebook ham radio pages.
(NW7OR)
Pietro Marino, IT9ZGY, Silent Key
The beacon of genuine and top level HAM activity in Sicily, Pietro Marino IT9ZGY, became Silent Key today, at age of 80. He was a superb example of HAM spirit and a great elmer for a lot of us. Licenced since 1952, over the years Pietro held prominent positions within ARI, on both regional and national levels. He was an enthusiastic contester and DXer, with 390/340 (Mixed), 377/338 (Phone) and 352/339 (CW) Entities confirmed, and a lifelong passion for the Top Band.
Fake FTDI chips
It was only a matter of time before fake FTDI RS232-USB adapter chips began to appear.
http://zeptobars.ru/en/read/FTDI-FT232RL-real-vs-fake-supereal
This fascinating page shows how some anonymous Chinese company has created a fake FT232RL chip using a mask-programmable microcontroller, and printed it with the "FTDI" name and logo.
Like Prolific (the real Prolific company, that is) FTDI have updated their drivers to detect these fakes... but that also means that anyone who has bought a fake chip will have a non-working adapter.
The message is always the same: fakes are hard to spot, so buy only from reliable distributors.
FYI, the real FTDI company is a family-owned firm right here in Scotland's 'Silicon Glen'.
73 from Ian GM3SEK
EUCW Snakes and Ladders
About Snakes and Ladders
Jack Troster, W6ISQ SK
"John G. Troster, W6ISQ, became a Silent Key on January 11, 2014. His wife of 65 years, Marguerite (KC6NFE), was at his bedside when he passed away.
Jack, along with Vince Chinn K6KQN (now W6EE), Lee Shaklee W6BH (SK), and Don Schliesser K6RV, founded the Northern California DX Foundation in October, 1972. Jack served as an NCDXF Board member for 26 years before stepping down in July, 1998. He was the Foundation’s third President, serving from 1975 until 1986.
The Most Complete List of TO & TX Stations
Here is a list of TO & TX Stations operating from French extraterritorial areas since 1987 till Oct. 2013..
T10VB Transnistria - no DXCC Credit
Vlad Bykov, UA4WHX activated this entity as T10VB. There is no DXCC credit, also the authority issued the call T10VB is still unknown as well as chances to become a new DXCC country.
Some info from http://www.transnistria.info/
Over 1000 people died in a fight for independent freedom in 1992, which was focused on Transnistria's administrative capital of Tiraspol. The fighting was dominated by the Russian army, who eventually brought it to an end.
The country of Moldova, inside which Transnistria is situated, protested the stationing of troops in the area - Transnistrians are more sympathetic to Russian ways than the Moldovans. Transnistria occupies a thin strip of land between the Dniestr River and Ukraine.
The Transnistrians say they are an independent country - they have their own bank notes, officials, a president and their own public holidays - most of the world, however, does not recognize them as an independent country.
