Solid state power amplifier comparison
The Solid state PA comparison is a copylefted & free downloadable document in PDF format. It is a trial to colloect most useful data about available features of 31 different amplifiers mostly available on the market however there are also some older discontinued products widely available on eBay, Ham announcement etc. The data were taken mostly from manuals, sometimes also from manufacturer's web sites.
The TinyKeyer
the (possibly) World's Smallest Fully-Featured CW Keyer with Computer Support
Article updated on Jan. 26, 2021
This keyer, based on Arduino design, employs the famous K3NG code. It can be used with any Windows/Linux/Mac logging or contesting software with Winkeyer USB (K1EL) support. The credit & big kudos goes to Anthony Good (Goody), K3NG, who did the tremendous work. It is a very small unit (outer dimensions 45 x 45 x 18.6 mm, appx. 1.8 x 1.8 x 0.73 in) which does not have any fancy options (a zillion of buttons, psychedelic flashing LED lights or cockatoo colored displays). It is intended for regular CW work and contesting with computer support, most of functions should be adjusted and operated via the computer. For standalone work an acoustic menu in command mode is used. Otherwise, only speed control knob and a mini LED indicating the command mode is on the front panel, nothing more. See here.
Welcome to FT-SHMATE!
A Modest Proposal
By Victor Rosenthal, 4X6GP
While waiting for VP6R to operate CW instead of FT-8 on 20 or 15 meters during the very short openings to the Middle East, I began to think that FT-8 might not be as bad as I’d believed. My thoughts turned to ways that it could be improved. And suddenly I got an idea that I think will revolutionize digital mode operation, amateur radio in general, and maybe even pay for my beer.
Stop using FT-8
FT-8 is so much less labour and operator skill-intensive than CW/SSB that it has a fatal attraction for DXpeditions - more people can be worked more easily and more quickly. Added to this, "He who holds the gold makes the rules" and DXpeditions mostly hold the gold as we want to work them. So if increasing numbers of DXpeditions are intending to use FT-8 what can we CW/SSB ops do about it to turn this around?
To start with, we can stop using FT-8 at all in our day-to-day operation. The less stations there are on FT-8 the less temptation/likelihood there is of a DXpedition using FT-8 it - particularly if all stations with good transmit and receive antennas aren’t using it.
Perhaps even more important – and we come back to the gold metaphor - when you make a DXpedition donation – and please do so - clearly state you are interested in CW/SSB and do not use FT-8.
[borrowed from Steve, VK6VZ]
P.S. Feel free to download (click here) and share this article.
Amendment to ARRL DXCC Rules Will Expand DXCC List
The ARRL Board of Directors approved a motion to amend the DXCC Rules, when it met January 19-20. Section II, Subsection 1 of the DXCC Rules now will include a new Subsection (d): The entity has a separate IARU member society and is included on the US State Department Independent States in the World. In fact, the Republic of Kosovo (Z6) has been added to the DXCC List of current entities, increasing the total number of current DXCC entities to 340. The addition of Kosovo raises to 331 the required number of current entities confirmed to qualify for DXCC Honor Roll; Top of Honor Roll is 340. DXCC award accounts are being tabulated to reflect the change.
This change qualifies as an “event,” effective on January 21, 2018, at 0000 UTC. Nothing is retroactive.
http://www.arrl.org/news/amendment-to-arrl-dxcc-rules-will-expand-dxcc-list
What is behind the Hi-Tech look of the ZACH Iambic Magnetic paddle?
Many friends asking me to comment the new ZACH Iambic Magnetic paddle which I am now using. So, my trusty N2DAN Mercury has now a longer vacation and the new ZACH became my daily-paddle. It is very easy to adjust, much easier then the Merc. And once adjusted, I can forget what, where and why...
Read more: What is behind the Hi-Tech look of the ZACH Iambic Magnetic paddle?
Notes on call/QRP
Many well respected operators offered their opinions on call/QRP. It is considered sometimes as trying to gain unfair advantage, sometimes as deliberate altering of an official callsign but the majority considered it as counter-productive practice hurting both the user and his QSO partner. There is a significant number of high-profile DXpeditioners and contesters avoiding working, logging and QSLing call/QRP users.
Page 1 of 2