[digitalradio] Re: Emergency power digital station options for Field Day ?
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Joe Veldhuis [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I would suggest you just use your car. The radio will obviously run off the battery directly. If the laptop's battery voltage is close to 14V you can probably wire up a power cable to go directly to the car battery, otherwise use the AC charger and a properly grounded, shielded inverter. Run the engine for a while every so often to recharge. That won't give you the alternative energy bonus but at least it isn't grid power... Thanks Joe. I did think about the car. Knowing my typical operating, I would be active in between trips to the store and other weekend errands, so I could charge it that way. My van has a brand new battery in it too. I will look for cheap solar panels but will also keep the basic car battery option on mind. Andy. -Joe, N8FQ On Mon, 19 May 2008 22:56:30 - Andrew O'Brien [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So, assuming a battery powered laptop computer is part of the stations (and thus is not a problem) what inexpensive options are there to power a modern HF rig using digital modes at 5 watts or less ? Perhaps something that can be used to xmit and receive for 2-3 hours and then be re-charged without mains power in a reasonably quick manner ? I did think of pedal power , good exercise too, but that may be too difficult.
[digitalradio] Yaesu FT-757GX Enhanced CAT interface proyect
Hi, This is a project I am currently into. I am passing the information so it gets recorded somewhere for others, and also because I have a few information requests. I have a FT-757GX from the 80s. I just cannot afford what a newer HF costs. Also I got to like this one :) It has a very primitive CAT interface, which can be used only to command the radio. (Change VFOs, Frequency, enable/disable functions) Unfortunately: 1- It cannot change the mode (a rotary switch) 2- It cannot report information back (the CAT is unidirectional) 3- As a consequence of 2 if you make a change in the front panel, it goes completely unnoticed So, I am building a USB CAT control, quite enhanced, and bidirectional. I intercepted the relevant display unit signals, and I am already decoding all the information on the display. I intercepted the DC levels of Shift and Width, so a DAC can provide them, and an ADC can read the potentiometer I am reading the Forward Power, Reverse Power, AGC, and ALC I can write serially to the original CAT, to setup anything (but most importantly the frequency) I can PPT from the CAT That is a LOT more than the original. Identifying the signals, and getting shielded wires out of the box took about 3 hours. That isn't much it was easy because all of them were tapped at connectors instead of the PCB. It took me about 2 hours more to decode the display unit signals. It took me more time to work out all the details for the firmware, particullarly the USB part, and the UART part. Curiously the part were I intercepted and decoded the signals from the display unit, which was made using interrupts, worked flawlessly from the first try, I could not believe that!! I already have a working hardware design arround the PIC18F4550, with working firmware arround the Microchip CDC USB driver which emulates a COM port. More information if wished: http://www.albinarrate.com/index.php? option=com_contenttask=viewid=12Itemid=30 So right now, I have to decide what to do with the commands... This is the part were I need help... I intend to emulate a more modern transceiver, with standard text commands (I want to be able to control it from Hiperterminal to access non standard features), not like the old Yaesu CATs. So I have to decide WHICH model to emulate It should be one available at least in Ham Radio Deluxe, and MixW. Something like FT2000, TS850 or TS870 All ICOMs have binary commands right? That leaves them out... Any opinions on this? What would be the best choice? 73 for everybody! Javier LU8AJA
[digitalradio] Re: Emergency power digital station options for Field Day ?
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Sholto Fisher [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Andy if you don't mind a little leg power you could try the Freeplay Weza: http://store.sundancesolar.com/frfrwe.html I bought one a while back and I can run the FT-897 on it for quite sometime before needing to recharge. I limit the power to around 10-15W out on the rig. If you use a CW QRP rig you could probably operate for 24hrs without needing a recharge... Oh, and in order not to look too foolish and save some strain on the leg muscles - get the kids to pedal it! 73, Sholto KE7HPV. Sholto, that looks interesting . How much leg power does one need to get it initially ready for use? Hours and hours or what ? Andy K3UK Andrew O'Brien wrote: I am usually attend regional Field Day efforts with serious operations, I'm often the digital guy that gets invited so the organization can get digital-related bonus points. This year, the combination of needing to remain close to home due to family health issues and my past views that I miss out on all the operating fun by giving lectures/demos, has caused be to think about doing Field Day at home. I figure that I really need to find some way of not depending on my mains power supply for all my amateur radio operating. So, Field Day looks like a good target date for trying to find some emergency power. I am not going to buy a generator, too much of a hassle and too much noise for my neighbours. I thought about battery power, still thinking about it, but recharging a battery has to be thought about since the ARRL has some limits on how they are recharged. Wind power and Solar panels are appealing but they looked to expensive to me. Seems to me that true emergency communications preparation ought to be simple and cheap so that many stations would be activated , if needed. So, assuming a battery powered laptop computer is part of the stations (and thus is not a problem) what inexpensive options are there to power a modern HF rig using digital modes at 5 watts or less ? Perhaps something that can be used to xmit and receive for 2-3 hours and then be re-charged without mains power in a reasonably quick manner ? I did think of pedal power , good exercise too, but that may be too difficult.
Re: [digitalradio] Emergency power digital station options for Field Day ?
Below are the items I use to power my system, base, mobile or portable. This extra battery is not part of the vehicle, though the vehicle charges it when running. Other wise a 15A 13.8 volt ac power supply does the charging when not running the vehicle. All this sounds more complicated and time consuming then it really is. Once you do voice hf mobile install, most of what you need is already there. Add the laptop and power supply system, gps and an appropriate antenna / auto tuner that is fast enough, and your ale ready for the digital / voice mobile. By the way, to listen to your mobile radio remotely, pick up one of those TV wireless speaker / head phone systems on 900 MHz that run off twelve volts. Works great! = Dont worry about needing two power supplies to run a TS-480 HX version. It is worth it even if you do. Here is great way to power the 200 watt HX mobile radio version with only one light duty supply that supports base, mobile, portable and emergency power all in one: = Power gate PG40S backup power system to provide dual auto switching power and charging of a Gel Battery, mobile or base. Doesnt get hot. http://www.westmountainradio.com/SuperPWRgate.htm Rigrunner 4008 (comes with battery case package) using Anderson Powerpole connectors for power distribution to multiple equipment. Note that all outputs are also RF filtered from each other, and fused. http://www.westmountainradio.com/RIGrunner.htm Sealed Gelled 73 Ah Battery to go into the DCtoGo Battery box. http://www.westmountainradio.com/MKbatt.htm http://www.westmountainradio.com/rigrunner/M24SLDG.htm Powerpole Crimp Tool for making more cable to rig hook ups with spare connectors. http://www.westmountainradio.com/PWRcrimp.htm Battery Fuse Terminal Kit to protect vehicle cable feeding the distribution system. http://www.westmountainradio.com/rigrunner/battfusetermkit.htm Couple Power Pole Connector to HF Radio Fused 6-Pole Connector. Beats making up these manually! hi hi http://www.westmountainradio.com/rigrunner/ppl-24.htm For the voice HF Antenna I bought the Hi-Q 5/160. http://www.hiqantennas.com/ To provide quick auto tuning of the HiQ antenna (with out having to bottom out the antenna first when changing bands) N2VZ Turbo Tuner for the Kenwood TS-480HX. Just push a button on the radio and the antenna self tunes from six meters through 160 Meters. Sweet! http://www.n2vz.com The laptop needs to run on 11 - 14 volts dc while mobile. I dont recommend most dc to dc convertors to supply ac while moving in the mobile as most cause rfi. When stationary for more than a few hours, say over night, the battery voltage that the whole system runs on while doing hf operations can run down the battery enough that the laptop would fail and shutdown, killing any digital operation support (even though the hf rig system ran fine at that voltage level). Fix for that was to also carry a ac power supply to keep a charge on the battery while stationary (and a outdoor extension cord for the hook up reach). Also note that when feeding AC power to the vehicle when it rains in hot weather, you need a way to feed power cord in and keep the rain out. Even a way to keep the hf rig cool if the vehicle is closed up. Those side door window, top side shield covers work great for that need. Keeps out the rain, lets in the air to circulate. For mobile digital automatic band tuning switching, I use a long whip and a auto tuner, such as the LDG AT-200PC, but you could use the PRO version. A screwdriver antenna is not fast enough and you will burn out the motor trying. LDG AT-200 PC auto tuner intended for program control. Software control can select memory settings after the atu has been trained with frequencies of interest. This means relay operations occur with out RF arcing on the relay contacts. Once a frequency is pre-tuned, it goes into memory and is reselected the next time in a fraction of a second. The AT-220 AT is the same auto tuner but no computer interface. Each needs to have each frequency you will transmit on trained once and get added to the memory of the unit for that frequency. PC controlled version means no RF on the relay contacts in the atu as the relay selection process takes place before transmitting. (http://www.ldgelectronics.com/products.php?cID=1pID=4v=1) Charge from the vehicle, or an AC power supply. When the battery is heavily discharged, the rate is about ten to twelve amps during the early phase of the charge. The way to keep the charging level down while operating, is to connect the transmitter directly to the battery. That way no matter what the power source, you use the battery for the load. On the base, I even use a large UPS to feed the charging power supply. This system would be ideal to expand to charging via solar panels. For base and portable hf antenna, I use a 10-160 Meter Caroline Windom
[digitalradio] Equipment for a digital station Fund Day's ?
Equipment selection for emergency service can be viewed from many angles, but in general:, goals need to be defined so selections can be made to fit the goals: - Minimum amount to carry that does the most in the fewest packages using the least power that does the tasks needed to be done. - Maximum flexibility with redundancy, so if part of the system goes down, the whole system is not lost. - Expectations of a single operator user, or multiple operator users at the same time or over time. A subset of the goals needs to handle challenges of availability due to cost constraints, and what kind of time period is available to meet the goals: - Cost no object, equipment is locally available in a short period of time. - Limited resources due to funds, availability and or time constraints. At the EOC, the options can allow for redundancy and over lap of selections, even spares and separate power supplies for all pieces of equipment. Personal selection can be as varied as the individuals that make the choices, but if choices / requirements are set, the options can be reduced. In all the above, lack of simple interface cables, spare cables, fuses, tools etc etc can bring any selection to its knees. Assumption: Individual selection and purchases over time. Can make choices that will be implemented over time, probably several years as money becomes available. Scenario 1: Early choices would be to get the most at the least possible cost. Then to expand and improve selection of gear to round out the system over time. This could be as simple as a hf/vhf/uhf combination radio and a walkie talkie covering at least two bands. Likely two walkie talkies should be considered with at least one over lapping band to allow for inter-communications and coverage of more than two bands. These choices will have compromises / limitations, but can be highly effective for most circumstances and basic requirements. Many such systems will be common in real emergencies. Scenario 2: Make purchases with a plan over time, but strive to maintain integration of the gear for compatibility / interfacing and spare part support (same power cables, mikes etc etc). This could be individual selections of gear to allow for performance and flexibility, with not only redundancy in mind, but the system as a whole eventually being more capable than stand alone components. In all cases, it would be hoped that all gear is automotive power compatible with out the requirement for AC sources of power to operate over long periods of time. AC would be an option, not a requirement. In general HF radios that Do Not have vhf and uhf bands have better performing HF receivers due to front end designs. HF radios, even those that include six meters, can have tighter filter front ends that have to be given up to support the higher bands. (http://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/software_download.html download the TS-480HX/SAT In Depth Manual ) It is also more convenient to have separate HF Vhf/Uhf equipment so multi operations can be parallel with out compromising either. No matter what choices are made, compromises are always going to abound. However it is important to make a package purchase over a short enough period of time to allow for compatibility between them. New models come and go so quickly, and changes in standards, interfacability and accessories happen so quickly, compatibility could get complicated. On the other hand, buying just released new models is not a good idea either. You dont want to be field testing a new model for a manufacture at your expense, especially where intended for emergency support applications. Note that the items listed below are not all that I have. Like most hams with some years behind them, I have acquired a variety of gear that had no goals set to them other than having fun, or meeting certain personal expectations. The list below is a result of a planned purchase of equipment to meet my personal expectations and fill in for emergency service. Purchase was done over about a two year period. TS-480HX, Six Meters through 160 Meters, 200 Watts, remotable head, stand alone package for base, mobile or portable operations to cover voice and cw needs. Sky Command Compatible, meaning no computer required to interface to other compatible gear. Unique power requirement of this radio easily met by a power supply package (detailed in part II email). Additional applications of this radio include the ability to access / use it over remotable control head from a few feet to several hundred feet by cable. Computer accessible locally or remotely for full operation of the radio for voice and digital modes, using local area lan, the internet or direct plug in of computer / laptop. Access and control of the radio over radio links using compatible dual band mobile and dual band walkie talkie. Excellent cooling package for hot mobile and summer environments when air conditioning is not available.
[digitalradio] Digital station options?
Many HF rigs use relays for bandpass filter switching, and other tasks. Unfortunately when changing bands, these relays cycle to the configuration needed for each band range. When using software to scan the bands, these relays are being cycled with each band change request from the software. Some HF rigs allow using a dual VFO mode that the Software can use to scan in such a way that the band relays are not cycled. Software uses a bandpass relay selection that allows receiver performance during scanning, but switches in the relays for band activity and transmitting. This approach saves relay wear and tear. List of Radios for ALE: http://hflink.com/hardware/ PCALE will function with almost any amateur or commercial HF radio. For rapid channel scanning, PCALE (and MarsAle)uses the computer-to-radio CAT interface to control the transceiver frequency and mode. Some transceivers are better suited to ALE service than others, for various reasons. The following transceivers have internal circuitry that is optimum for fast Quiet Relay Scanning and Sounding with PCALE (and MarsAle): ICOM IC746, IC746PRO, IC7400, IC756PRO (Milspec 1030E-DSP), IC756PRO2, IC756PRO3, IC765, IC775, IC781, IC7800 (except mixer relays), PA relays handled by use of SPLIT VFO, all support up to 2 ch/sec scan rate, newer models at 9600 baud up to the 5 ch/sec and those that can do 19,200 baud at 10 ch/sec scan rate KENWOOD All Kenwood models after, but excluding the TS-440, PA relays handled by use of SPLIT VFO, all support up to 2 ch/sec scan rate, newer models at 9600 baud up to 5 ch/sec and those at 19,200 baud at 10 ch/sec scan rate YAESU FT-920, FT-990 with SPLIT VFO (FT-890 with special QS/S modification) all can do up to 2 ch/sec scan rate. HARRIS Harris RF-350 family: RF-350, RF-350K, RT-1446 URC, AN/URC-119, AN/URC-121(V) PA relays handled by BYPASS command, supports up to 2 ch/sec scan rate. === 73 from Bill - WD8ARZ
[digitalradio] Data Suggestions, Interfacing, RFI, Audio and Performance
There are a variety of challenges in interfacing radios, computers, data interfaces, cabling interfaces and antennas. All have to be addressed individually, but sometimes it is hard to make choices when there are so many choices. Nothing wrong with home brew here Hi Hi Two of the biggest oopppsss selections when we make our choices and put our money down is in the two areas of digital interfacing and rfi. === Digital interfacing needs speed, lack of complexity, easy interface for keying and and moving audio around. Beware of external digital interfacing / switching that uses and external sound card in the device. This adds delay and unknowns in wave shaping. Though many will say that XYZ product with sound amplification built in works great and have never had any problems, that is ken to saying I have not had any problems with losing incoming emails. How do you know? External digital interfacing that use their own sound card in them, add delay to the audio path and to the switch circuits. Faster modes just wont work reliably under those conditions. VOX transmitter keying for digital modes is a poor way to perform this task, and allows for software generate sounds to enter the audio path. The SignaLink with VOX PTT is one of the units that has the problem being referred to. It does work alright for non critical ALE operation, but but does have occasional handshake failures and errors with the ALE. Some manufacturers of embedded ALE hardware radios require fast T/R switching. The SignaLink and other VOX type methods of keying PTT clip off the first part of the transmitted ALE waveform. VOX release delay cuts off part of the received signal at the beginning. PCALE can handle T/R timing better than some of the hardware ALE radios. If using VOX for PTT for digital modes like ALE / Multipsk operations, it is possible that you will not encounter too many handshake problems if the signals are strong, with out phase distortion and Qrm. It is also possible hat it will be impossible to link with some hardware ALE radios or carry on reliable information exchange. Handshake timing is too quick, and VOX start tones can not be used in software to key the Vox fast enough. A start tone will not fix the Vox Ptt timing issue either. Hardware PTT is unbeatable with it comes to PTT switching and keeping the operating system audio off the air. This is why I use the Rigblaster Data Jack Plug and Play USB interface with my TS-480HX. Dont forget the high stability crystal oscillator for your rigs. Narrow digital modes needs it, and most MARS require it. === Other kinds of interfacing to radios these days is made a huge challenge due to the various kinds of cable connectors, and multi connectors meant to handle more cables than you can put on that connector! That is where I bring the LDG RCA-14 breakout box for the accessory jack on many rigs, such as my TS-480HX. The RCA-14 comes with a DIN-13, DIN-8, DIN-7, Mini DIN-8 and Mini DIN-6 cables. Compatible with these radios and many more: Icom: 703, 706, 718, 746, 756, 7000 and 7800. Yaesu: 817, 857, 897, and 840. Kenwood: 480, 570, and 2000. Ten Ten Orion and Orion II. http://www.ldgelectronics.com/products.php?cID=6pID=21v=1 === RFI, we all have it at one time or the other. Most frequently we are also frustrated with efforts to fix it that doesnt work well on the HF bands. The reason is that most unmarked on sale RFI suppression components dont use Type 31 ferrite material. Basically we need to put ferrite 'RF' chokes on the lines and devices that we need to protect. Many readily available ferrite chokes, snap or slip on, are just not up to the performance we expected of them. Fortunately a newer line of ferrite material is available that is much more effective than what we normally have used. from the Fair-Rite site my eyes have been opened and better options are now available to contain these concerns. It is important that just because a ferrite slip on / clamp on is available to be used, doesnt mean it is up to the task for hf frequencies and sometimes it may take more than one device on a line or in a area. Look for up to date information online. Summary: Fair-Rite EMI Suppression Ferrite Cores Mouser Electronics 800 346-6873 Fair-Rite 2631480002 is a bead a little under 1/2 OD, 0.2 ID and 1 long. Beads (cylinders) Mouser Stock No 623-2631480002 Fair-Rite 2631665702 beads, 0.687 OD, 0.375 hole, 1.125 long. Beads (cylinders) Mouser Stock No 623-2631665702 Fair-Rite 0431167281, 0.93 diameter, 0.4 bore, 1.55 long. Clamp On Cases Mouser Stock No 623-0431167281 Of course none of this works well if good (no not good, great) grounding with braid / strap strips are not used. Goggle searches will lead you to web sites with pdf files that have the specs for these items if your interested. === Some devices such as my SDR-IQ have no audio interface to plug into to feed
Re: [digitalradio] Re: Emergency power digital station options for Field Day ?
Andy, From a flat battery you can get all the LED's to come on in around 15-20 minutes of pedaling. It depends on how hard you make the flywheel spin. You don't have to recharge that way though, only in the field because you can also plug in a wall wart at home and charge it up beforehand. It does make quite a noise when pedaling but it's not difficult. 73, Sholto. Andrew O'Brien wrote: --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Sholto Fisher [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Andy if you don't mind a little leg power you could try the Freeplay Weza: http://store.sundancesolar.com/frfrwe.html I bought one a while back and I can run the FT-897 on it for quite sometime before needing to recharge. I limit the power to around 10-15W out on the rig. If you use a CW QRP rig you could probably operate for 24hrs without needing a recharge... Oh, and in order not to look too foolish and save some strain on the leg muscles - get the kids to pedal it! 73, Sholto KE7HPV. Sholto, that looks interesting . How much leg power does one need to get it initially ready for use? Hours and hours or what ? Andy K3UK Andrew O'Brien wrote: I am usually attend regional Field Day efforts with serious operations, I'm often the digital guy that gets invited so the organization can get digital-related bonus points. This year, the combination of needing to remain close to home due to family health issues and my past views that I miss out on all the operating fun by giving lectures/demos, has caused be to think about doing Field Day at home. I figure that I really need to find some way of not depending on my mains power supply for all my amateur radio operating. So, Field Day looks like a good target date for trying to find some emergency power. I am not going to buy a generator, too much of a hassle and too much noise for my neighbours. I thought about battery power, still thinking about it, but recharging a battery has to be thought about since the ARRL has some limits on how they are recharged. Wind power and Solar panels are appealing but they looked to expensive to me. Seems to me that true emergency communications preparation ought to be simple and cheap so that many stations would be activated , if needed. So, assuming a battery powered laptop computer is part of the stations (and thus is not a problem) what inexpensive options are there to power a modern HF rig using digital modes at 5 watts or less ? Perhaps something that can be used to xmit and receive for 2-3 hours and then be re-charged without mains power in a reasonably quick manner ? I did think of pedal power , good exercise too, but that may be too difficult.
[digitalradio] ARRL Introduces Fifth Pillar at Dayton Hamvention®
ARRL Introduces Fifth Pillar at Dayton Hamvention® On Saturday, May 17 at the Dayton Hamvention, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, plans to announce that the League will expand its identity program to include greater emphasis on technology. Harrison explained that Ham radio operators, and particularly ARRL members, closely identify with current and emerging radio technology. Today, we are naming 'technology' as ARRL's new fifth pillar. ARRL's other four pillars, the underpinnings of the organization, are Public Service, Advocacy, Education and Membership. For hams, expanding the four pillars to include technology will reinforce one of the organization's guiding principles -- that ham radio is state-of-the-art, innovative and relevant, he said. Radio amateurs have entered a new era. More than a dozen Amateur Radio satellites are presently in orbit with more to come. Software is expanding the capabilities of their radio hardware and communication by digital voice and data is expanding rapidly among hams, Harrison said. In addition to the new fifth pillar, the ARRL has launched a year-long ham radio recruitment campaign emphasizing the Amateur Radio Service as a scientific national resource. The campaign invites newcomers to discover ham radio in the 21st Century -- where hams are using science, technology and experimentation to explore the radio spectrum. For more than 90 years, the ARRL has been at the forefront of technology, encouraging experimentation and education through its license training resources, publications and periodicals. ARRL provides its members with top-notch technical information services, trusted product reviews and radio spectrum advocacy, Harrison said. The ARRL Laboratory is a centerpiece of ham radio technology, contributing to radio electronics experimentation, spectrum development and advocacy, and radio frequency engineering. Harrison also noted that many hams attribute their affinity to Amateur Radio as launching their professional careers in radio engineering, satellite communications, computer science and wireless communications. This is less about defining a new course for Amateur Radio, but simply recognizing a course that has always been a precept of radio amateurs and the ARRL, he said. Referring to the federal rules and regulations for Amateur Radio, Harrison explained that one of the defining principles of the Service's very creation by the government is the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. Harrison remarked, Today's technology is nothing new to ham radio! Page last modified: 03:06 PM, 16 May 2008 ET Page author: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyright © 2008, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Re: [digitalradio] ARRL Introduces Fifth Pillar at Dayton Hamvention®
Harrison explained that Ham radio operators, and particularly ARRL members, closely identify with current and emerging radio technology. Today, we are naming 'technology' as ARRL's new fifth pillar. No doubt they will inform the amateur community of these intentions in an ASCII bulletin 73 Sholto
RE: [digitalradio] ARRL Introduces Fifth Pillar at Dayton HamventionR
Too bad all the potential hams that wanted to hear this 20 years ago are now top Cell Phone engineers, WiFi Gurus, running Satellite Radio stations, etc. Paragraph 4 is the affirmation of this and the effect from the cause. It could have read that professional technical minds have always gravitated toward Amateur Radio as a means of expanding their understanding. But, thanks to the league, they chose to take their talent elsewhere. The league spoklesperson forgot to include the identifier senior hams attribute their affininty to Amateur Radio as launching their professional careers. Somehow, the league's steerage has driven the wheels of the concept of keeping up with technology; until now (Wink, Wink - Nudge, Nudge). I sure hope they didn't miss the chance to break this earth shattering decision to the world on a CW broadcast. Oh. Wait a minute; I have erred. That should have read a RTTY broadcast - After all, this is the 21st century. The league of exceptional shortcomings in foresight has spoken again. Don't tell these guys about USB or Firewire interfaces - it might confuse them... David KD4NUE ***- ARRL Introduces Fifth Pillar at Dayton HamventionR On Saturday, May 17 at the Dayton Hamvention, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, plans to announce that the League will expand its identity program to include greater emphasis on technology. Harrison explained that Ham radio operators, and particularly ARRL members, closely identify with current and emerging radio technology. Today, we are naming 'technology' as ARRL's new fifth pillar. ARRL's other four pillars, the underpinnings of the organization, are Public Service, Advocacy, Education and Membership. For hams, expanding the four pillars to include technology will reinforce one of the organization's guiding principles -- that ham radio is state-of-the-art, innovative and relevant, he said. Radio amateurs have entered a new era. More than a dozen Amateur Radio satellites are presently in orbit with more to come. Software is expanding the capabilities of their radio hardware and communication by digital voice and data is expanding rapidly among hams, Harrison said. In addition to the new fifth pillar, the ARRL has launched a year-long ham radio recruitment campaign emphasizing the Amateur Radio Service as a scientific national resource. The campaign invites newcomers to discover ham radio in the 21st Century -- where hams are using science, technology and experimentation to explore the radio spectrum. For more than 90 years, the ARRL has been at the forefront of technology, encouraging experimentation and education through its license training resources, publications and periodicals. ARRL provides its members with top-notch technical information services, trusted product reviews and radio spectrum advocacy, Harrison said. The ARRL Laboratory is a centerpiece of ham radio technology, contributing to radio electronics experimentation, spectrum development and advocacy, and radio frequency engineering. Harrison also noted that many hams attribute their affinity to Amateur Radio as launching their professional careers in radio engineering, satellite communications, computer science and wireless communications. This is less about defining a new course for Amateur Radio, but simply recognizing a course that has always been a precept of radio amateurs and the ARRL, he said. Referring to the federal rules and regulations for Amateur Radio, Harrison explained that one of the defining principles of the Service's very creation by the government is the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. Harrison remarked, Today's technology is nothing new to ham radio! Page last modified: 03:06 PM, 16 May 2008 ET Page author: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyright C 2008, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
[digitalradio] New PSK31 Reporter features
http://www.pskreporter.info/pskmapn.html -- Andy K3UK www.obriensweb.com (QSL via N2RJ)
Re: [digitalradio] ARRL Introduces Fifth Pillar at Dayton Hamvention(R)
I'll believe it when I see a change in QST that puts more emphasis on advancing the radio art and less on preserving it. (Not that I have anything against that, it's just not part of our purposes - or ARRL's pillar.)
