PW 1995 10
PW 1995 10
PW 1995 10
Nit p34°
to,3p,
Dual Band Mobile FT -8500
Never before has Yaesu technoloq Specifications
. Frequency Coverage:
MONI Button
REV Button RPT Button
LOW Button
VHF&VHF, UHF&UHF, VHF&UHF MUTE Button
Joystick -type lever (A) & (B) Keys
Select three dual band configurations. (A) for Upward. or
Menu loop contains 13 headings and (B) Downward scan-
53 transceiver settings. Shown with LOCK Switch ning, and memory
custom 6 -character alpha-numenc code. selection (A) 8. (B)
are "4th column"
SQL Dial e 07- DTMF control tones
oo 0/tDO,
dunng TX.
Keypad
VOL Dial
o 0_ (C)SKIP
Spectra -Analyzer" displays station
activity above and below the current ©tDO0 00M -TUNE
(')PRI
operating channel. In Memory Recall. D/MR Button 1-0 for numeric
display signal strength of programmed settings. All keys can
channels. CO transmit DTMF tones
Spectra -Analyzer during TX mode.
SPA and "D Buttons
ENT Key
Wireless
OCTOBER 1995 (ON SALE SEPTEMBER 14)
9 The Editor raises topical amateur news and
views.
COMPETITION CORNER
9 If you enter our Spot the Difference
VOL. 71 NO 10 ISSUE 1063
competition this month you could win a
NEXT ISSUE (NOVEMBER)
prize subscription.
ON SALE OCTOBER 12
.77
igritF T- 1 0 0 0 MP
Yaesu FT-900AT ONLY £1199 Yaesu mid -priced HF
base station
HF VHF/UHF
TRANSCEIVERS HANDI's &
PORTABLES FT -10R km
4:3>
KENWOOD
TS-950SOX list £3995 our price £3495
YAESU FT -40R 70cm
TS -850S list £1809 our price £1579
VHF FT -11R list £324 our price £275 Two new "Ultra Compact"
FT -41R list £369 our price £315 handies from Yaesu -
TS-850SAT list £1959 our price £1699 offering a choice of four
FT -51R list £529 our price £449
O
TS -450S list £1499 our price £1299 keypads and many new
ICOM FT -416G list £369 our price £249
TS-450SAT list £1649 our price £1439 features.
IC -820H list £1795 our price £1569 FT -290R2 list £599 our price £509
TS -50S list £1059 our price £929 IC -275H list £1495 our price £1395 FT -690R2 list £649 our price £549 PHONE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
IC -281H list £449 our price £399 FT -790R2 list £749 our price £625
BRAND NEW YAESU UHF COMERCIAL
IC -2000H list £369 our price £329
TRANSCEIVERS SUITABLE FOR
IC -2340H list £689 our price £599 ICOM
CONVERTION FOR PACKET
IC-Z1E list £529 our price £459
KENWOOD IC-2GXE list £255 our price £225 Single channel ONLY £79
TS -790E list £1959 our price £1699 IC-2GXET list £279 our price £229
IC-T42E
list £259
list £269
our price £229
our price £269
FT -1000 list £3999 our price £3399 TM -455E list £1059 our price f925
IC-W31E list £469 our price £419
TM -733E list £739 our price f645
FT -990 list £2399 our price £2039
TM -251E list £419 our price f359
FT -990/0C list £2099 our price £1779
TM -702E list £579 our price £519 KENWOOD SmC-54m im
FT -900 list £1399 our price £1189
TH-79E list £479 our price £419
list £1599 our price £1359 2 channel ONLY £89
FT-900AT
PRICE CUTS
WITH EVEN MORE branch outside 01SW:sill).
MOVE create the largest retail
SMC ON THE
our Northent
shosiooms are being
amalgamated. To 111111in tille; Northern".
more eperlise on hand Ids team at SW, Northern.
hairt:31RO and With*.
"Greater. OW1 special offers1 on
Vi Irani 12111September stocks to %rds means October. Come in and inert Roger ted prices Incept
the transfer of staff and
caller.: during.
September & further 70 oft allies of 11.R: f.
eening 7pm ormrds. technical editor
Special offers for personal Nod Item open consultant
our diar - 2111
September SW', ms tt Chris lore1.6411C1,.
date for lecture on equipment rtli on offer plus FREE refreshments
flans ha1d11
FEATURE PROJECT:
Multi Function_
EPROM Progransoss
SG -230 Smartuner
Antenna Coupler
SSB, AN I, IV& DATA
You can't buy a smarter tuner than this.
An automatic antenna coupler so intelligent it
precisely tunes any length antenna -8 to 80 ft -in
the HF band.
The Smartuner automatically evaluates and
iiTilit1111(16 switches 64 input and 32 output capacitance com-
binations, plus 256 inductance combinations in a
"pi" network. The amazing result is over a half -
The Summer '95 edition has 280 pages packed million different ways to ensure a perfect match
with over 4000 products and now with news and for your transceiver. And the most intelligent
features including a full construction project. feature of all is that the Smartuner remembers
the chosen frequency and tuning values, and will
The computer section is greatly increased with new
automatically reselect those values -in less than
ranges of equipment and accessories for PCs including:
10 ms, each time you transmit on that frequency.
Mother boards. CPUs and SIMMs The SG -230 Smartuner:
CD ROM drives and hard drives
Buy smart.
Sound cards, I 0 cards, disc drive
cards and video cards
+ 30p p&p
Mice. trackerballs and joysticks
Power supplies and cases
Feature project for an EPROM programmer
0. New 20MHz 'scope from Leader. training systems from
SMARIUNER
Flight and an extended range of mobile phone batteries
and accessories from Uniross
INSIDE
Latest addition from Velleman kits including a video
digitiser card
MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED NON-VOLATILE MEMORY
280 pages. 26 sections. over 4000 products from some WATERPROOF BITE. INDICATOR 1.8 TO 30 MHZ RANGE
of the worlds finest manufactures and suppliers
10 TO 150 WAITS INPUT POWER 10mS RETUNING TIME
Available at most large newsagents, from 13th April, or 8 to 80 ft. ANTENNA (all types)
directly from Cirkit
Send for your copy today!
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The electronics lab in a computer' m
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SPECIAL SALE PRICES ON ALL KO
Example... YAE SU
KENWOOD
FT -1000 RRP £3999 Lowe price £2995
FT -840 RRP £959 Lowe price £725 TS -850S RRP 21809
FT -900 RRP 21399 Lowe price £1099 Lowe price £1399
FT -990 RRP £2399 Lowe price £1895 TS -690S RRP 21649
Lowe price £1299
FT -2500M RRP £399 Lowe price £319 TS -50S RRP £1059
FT -736R RRP £1999 Lowe price £1549 Lowe price £829
FT -11R RRP £324 Lowe price £259 TM -251E RRP £419
FT -51R RRP £529 Lowe price £399 Lowe price £329
TM -742E RRP £879
We now have the 1 Lowe price £679
UNBELIEVABLE! superb ANC4 TM -79E RRP £479
The corn IC -706 exists. Automatic Noise Lowe price £379
Canceller from JPS back
RRP £1 195 in stock. This is excellent
at removing local Vargarda
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COMPETITION CORIllilek
gPer IrtlL- rittri-r-rra_=N_cri-
Our worthy cartoonist John Worthington GW3COI took his family out for a picnic
in search of inspiration for this month's 'Receiving Special' issue. However,
family Worthington don't seem to appreciate his efforts, and he's on the
'receiving end' in more ways than one! Never mind John, it still makes an
interesting 'Spot The Difference' cartoon!
There are 12 differences to mark on the bottom version of the cartoon this
month, good luck.
FIRST PRIZE: A year's subscription to Practical Wireless or a £20 book
voucher.
SECOND PRIZE: A six month subscription to Practical Wireless or a £10
book voucher.
Send your entry (photocopies acceptable with corner flash) to: Spot The
Difference Competition, October 1995, PW Publishing Ltd.,
Arrowsmith Court, Station Approach, Broadstone, Dorset BH18
8PW. Editor's decision on the winner is final and no correspondence will be
entered into.
Name
Callsign
Address
Postcode
differently, can non -radio amateur parents had previously been attached to until vertical.
the mast then continued upwards
and written after safetya over the years, so my
reasonably be expected to know and teach their Much has been said advice
before starting project like this, rather than
children this point? recommendation is ask
I am, however, quite happy to accept that on assuming that what's written is safe!
the wider aspects of manners and etiquette on air Nigel R. Tucker Z21KIR/G7URIN
Zimbabwe directly to Nigel
that newcomers most commonly fall foul. It is
Although I'm sending some material
readers have any favourite
inevitable since they are at the beginning of a Editor's reply: a cubical quad array) if would be interested
learning curve. I'm sure that most, if not all (I've recommended Yagi, the Editorial team
designs or ideas using apractical article.
newcomers, share my desire to follow all the
as it could make a very
rules, be they written or not, and that the
inadequacies are due to lock of knowledge.
Perhaps Andrew Howlett would like to assist Antennas & Budget Rigs
newcomers by writing an article explaining points
about operating etiquette and manners on air? Dear Sir
On reading the letters in the September issue, I was especially interested
Finally, I'm sure we are all aware of the by two, one about antennas and another about budget rigs. I know it's
valuable nature of frequency allocations. If it was different for v.h.f. op's. As a novice to get set-up, I bought a second-hand
not for the easy access to the bands which today's Howes TX/RX as the one I was building sort of went wrong.
amateurs enjoy, the number of UK licensees My garden is 22 yards long and not being very technical or rich, I
bought a roll of copper wire from an engineers shop and two ten foot
would certainly be massively less. Would the wooden poles and rigged up the classic 'back leg of the dog' or 'a double S
bands then be more likely sold off to the highest bend antenna' depending on which way I pulled the guy ropes.
commercial bidder? So what, my latest page in my log states I have worked Ds, Fs, LAs, LY,
To all newcomers, I wish you the best. Listen and YL in the past couple of weeks. The LY in palanger turned out to be Dave
GOBZF said 'VY good signals considering my three watts 'he"he'. Did he
learn from the veterans, then make the most of think I was cheating? But three watts is all I have.
amateur radio. So, for me, budget and antennas are no problem! But where would I
Paul Hardcastle G7SLP get with a proper antenna? If your antenna expert needs a test bed, he can
Saudi Arabia always try my garden.
T. J. Stevens
Cambridge
Amateur Lifeboat
Following the raising of £12500 by the Worked All Britain (WABI Group and a
cheque being presented to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (as reported in
'News '95' in PW August) a new D Class Lifeboat was officially luanched and
named at the RNLI's Open Day on Friday July 28.
The D Class Lifeboat D-483 was named C. John Morris DFM G3ABG after the
founder of the WAB. The naming ceremony was carried out by Veda Morris,
G3ABG's widow at the RNLI Headquarters in Poole, Dorset.
The D-483 is an inshore inflatable lifeboat of the type originally designed and
built in 1963. It measures 4.72m
overall in length by 1.93m wide.
This D Class lifeboat needs at
least 18in of water to operate
and is capable of maintaining a
top speed of 20 knots from its
._
Veda Morris pictured centre with Sue 31hp engine. This latest addition
to the RNLI fleet will be housed
Reardon GONLX WAB president and Adrian at the headquarters in Poole, as
Keeble G4HPU WAB Appeal Co-ordinator, it is relief boat and will be
together with the despatched to inshore waters
commemorative plaque. around the UK and Ireland as The D-483 the latest addition to the
and when it is required.
RNLI's relief fleet.
Economy Wide balun, which SMC, say has been antenna measures 30m overall and band dipole antenna for £99.95
carefully designed tested to give weighs in at 3kg. Optional coaxial including VAT. Further information is
Band Dipole minimum losses, excellent balance cable assemblies of 10, 20 and 30m available from S.M. House, School
ratio and prolonged performance. are also available. Close, Chandlers Ford Industrial
South Midlands Communications Computer aided design and testing South Midlands Communications Estate, Eas-deigh, Hampshire
have recently designed and are
has enabled SMC to provide full are currently selling the TFDSE wide S053 48Y. Tel:(01703) 255111.
currently manufacturing the TFDSE
efficiency figures, polar plots and
wide band h.f. dipole, which is based
techincal back-up which is all backed
on the TFD range of terminated
by their IS09001 design and
folded h.f. dipole antennas. It is an
manufacture quality system.
economy version of the TFDBB.
The frequency range covered by
The TFDSE is constructed from
the TFDSE antenna is 2.5 - 30MHz
lightweight but heavy duty pvc
with a p.e.p. rating of 125W. The
covered copper wire and has a centre
New From Yaesu The FT-1000MP features keyer. speed scanning and four
enhanced digital signal The FT-10R/40R hand-held output power levels.
Following hot on the heels of processing, dual -band receive transceivers are said to be the Yaesu UK Ltd., Unit 2,
the FT -8500 dual -band f.m. with separate S -meters, a first amatuer hand-helds to Maple Grove Business
mobile transceiver which built-in Collins mechanical carry the MIL-STD810 rating. Centre, Lawrence Road,
features the FS -10 Smart 455/2.7kHz s.s.b. filter and an The FT -10R is for 144MHz Hounslow, Middlesex TW4
Controller microphone for the optional Collins 455kHz/500Hz operation with the FT -40R 6DR. Tel: 0181-814 200 or
first time (all the radio filter. covering any
functions are housed on the is also an independent 2nd Described by Yaesu as supply you with more
microphone), comes the FT- and 3rd i.f. filter selection being ultra compact with their information on the FT-
1000MP h.f. all -mode together with wide receiver unique clamshell design and 1000MP, FT -10R and FT -40R
transceiver and the dynamic range. rear mounted batteries the together with prices and
FT1OR/40R hand-held Also featured on the FT-10R/40R offer the buyer a expected delivery dates.
transceivers. These new FT-1000MP is a transverter choice of four keypads. Other Practical Wireless will be
offerings from Yaesu were on jack for v.h.f./u.h.f operation, features include alpha- reviewing the FT -10R and the
display for the first time at selectable antenna jacks and numeric display, digital coded FT -8500 in the November
Stafford Amateur Radio & a 'Quick Memory Bank'. squelch, direct f.m. designed issue - watch this space! Our
Computer Show, held over There's also a built-in high to improve packet review of the FT-1000MP will
the weekend of August 19 - speed automatic a.t.u. and performance and voice appear in the very near future
20th. electronic contest memory qulaity, dual -watch, high too.
FM
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GRACE YOUR SHACK WITH ONE OF
TS -850 SAT MS -107K 0 THE ABOVE LITTLE BEAUTIES, THEN GIVE US A CALL FOR
THE KEENEST PART -EX OR STRAIGHT CASH PURCHASE.
Minature speaker microphone with
H.F. transceiver with
P.T.T. suits all Kenwood handhelds.
auto A.T.U. IMO.
Introductory otter £14.95+ ft P&P A
SEONDHAND
SALE PRICE E11549 £1099 EQUIPMENT
TS -450 SAT
TS -450S
i..955
1.3-4435 £949
YAESU FT -51R H.F. TRANSCEIVERS & RECEIVERS
' Dual band h/held transceiver. Mg. IC -761 As new £1299.95
YAESU FT -840 FT -ONE As new £899.95
inSuperb value for SALE PRICE £395 FT -ONE
IC -735
VGC
VGC
£699.95
£749.95
money. H.F. FT -11R Sal Sale price £249
FT-747GX11 VGC £569.95
transceiver.
MT. elleYAESU FRG -100 As new £399.95
H.Ps.701
-
of
Now in stock. H.F.
+ 6m +2m mobile
SALE PRICE
FT -8500
£425 1.349' sale price £649
FT -290R11
FT -690R11
With linear
VGC
£469.95
£349.95
£269.95
transceiver. X99.
c.:0 FT -211R H VGC
-0 &IXALINCO
`6- IC -2000 Ex -demo £329.95
OUR PRICE £1099
+ FREE P.S.U.
DR -130
2m FM mobile transceiver
IC-2SRE
IC -2E
2m Tx 25-1300 Rx
2m handy
£279.95
£129.95
(50w) £36915. TH-215E As new £199.95
ALINCO DX -70 £299.95 TH-27 VGC £199.95
- H.F. + 6m
SALE PRICE
DJ -180 + FREE extra Nicad £229.95
FT -23R VGC £189.95
4 transceiver.
v.sEtvsi DJ -G5 ..£.47-9 sale price £409.95
ow to S-1095:
MISCELLANEOUS
KENWOOD
OUR PRICE £999.95
* Cr tr Itr Cr tr It. tr 4* tr tr tr tr 444 tr * trtt II?* *I} tra 44 tr * t,
,.., - ,
TM -733E
Dual band mobile with
PK-232MBX
AR -3000
FRG -9600
As new
As new
+ H.F. converter
£249.95
£699.95
£349.95
t, quick release remote
STAR BUY head. Rx available. 108-180/400-512/850- MVT-7100 H/held scanner £299.95
iP-2512 950MHz. £729-.95. SALE PRICE PRO -2035
ICF-2001D
As new
VGC
£249.95
£219.95
2 An incredible power supply!
F25-30 amp cont. variable volts (3-15).
-.:'. Dual meters (VS and amps).
0 £UNBEATABLE OPTO-Scout
OPTO-3300
As new
As new
£329.95
£119.95
TM -251 /..44.9795" sale price ;;.'cc,
Over voltage protected.
C TM -451 £.46.R15 sale price ¶$P PLUS MUCH MORE
2: 30 DAY SPECIAL £7969.0 *
..0474:}4,0.04,4}A}23041,0084:1414041,184414,34}{10
TM -255
TM -790E
£.94915
£1.86915
sale price
sale price c,.
441.0('
MON COMMICATIONS
14 Practical Wireless, October 1995
We'd rather sell it
ANCE SALE than count it!
NB -30W AUDIO FILTERS MA -339
441P- 2m H/held amp. 1',4w input
30w output 13.8v
Mobile holder suitable for all h/helds
III
OUR PRICE £9.95
£2 P&P
£44.95 Timewave DSP9 Plus
Timewave DSP-59 Plus
sale price £225
sale price £279
+ £2 P&P
TSA-6601 Datong FL -3
MFJ-784B
sale price £139.95
sale price £239.95
TSA-6201
I Pocket VHF/UHF SWR/PWR Super quality ext speaker with
£1 P&P
meter. 144-440MHz J0w.L
OUR PRICE £34.u5 sail im V00DLP £14.99
volume control
+£1 P&P
:.443 1111 es 13
-
NEW RS -402 - 300W A.T.U. with
built-in dummy load
WATSON WEP300
High quality earphone with
Low priced
VSWR/PWR meter OUR PRICE £129.95 plus El P&P gib 3.5mm mono jack fitted
1) Large meter display
2) Sel. FWD PWR. REV
*New VC -300M, 300W A.T.0 £89.95* (Fits over Ire earl
£9.95 + £1 P&P
SDU-5000 c.Y39. £719.95 OUR PRICE OP -51 Case for 7100 £17.95
AR -3030 Skrin
Solt case for 8000/2700
£639.95
£17.95 £114.95 £249.95
OP -50
MVT-8000
Case for 7000
L40,1
£17.95
£349
NB: ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT DELIVERY (UK MAINLAND) 24HR £10 / 48hr £7.50
* Outside office hours 0850 586313 * Mail Order: Same Day Despatch * WHI R:R(111CH CANONS
LIGHTS DRIVE
4.7N1 (A406) HIGH ST Ml JNG 4( 2 Mena A41) 4
"Altogether this little book provides a superb guide for any radio enthusiast, whether beginner or advanced. And
especially recommend it to anyone embarking on an RAE course. This book comes as highly recommended by me."
ROD Mannion G3XFD
By becoming a Subscriber, you can get your copy of The Superhet Radio Handbook for only
£4.95 including P&P UK and overseas (normal price £4.95 plus £1 P&P (UK), £1.75
(overseas) and get PWdelivered right to your door
To take advantage of this offer just fill in the details on the order form on page 62 of this
issue. Alternatively call Michael on our Credit Card Hotline on (01202) 659930 and
quote SCPVV10 to place your order.
Offer open until 13 October 1995 (UK), 27 October 1995 (overseas).
How To Use It
So, now you understand why you should have the a.t.u., let's look
/1f7 at how to use it. Most a.t.u.s have three controls, two tuning
ANTENNA TRANSMITTER capacitors and a switched inductor.
:. INDUCTANCE
0 2
J
a.
The markings will vary from unit to unit, but often the switched
inductor will be marked in bands. So. to use the a.t.u.. you set the
inductor to the appropriate band, connect an s.w.r. meter between
I
the transmitter and a.t.u., and adjust the controls for minimum
s.w.r. Sounds easy. and it is, but there are a few important points
MFJ to note.
10..wEi
VERSA TUNER MFJSOIB
The first is to start by disconnecting your antenna and
connecting a suitable dummy load. This enables you to find the
approximate settings without polluting the airwaves! Once this is
done you can connect your antenna and complete the fine tuning,
taking care to make sure you're operating on a clear frequency.
If you've never used an a.t.u. in anger. you must be sure to be
Antenna Tuning Units very careful and move the controls quite slowly. The optimum
setting can easily be missed, especially if you're antenna is a long
Now you ail know wry the antenna way adrift from the required
tuning unit (a.t.u.) is used. but do you WO.
know how to use one? If not. let me try It's also
and give you a few tips. important to
Let's start with a quick refresher note that the
on why you need an a.t.u. It's a.t.u. settings
Important to note that there any will probably
many eminent engineers out there who need to be
will advise you that anything that changed as you
interrupts the path between the move around a
transmitter and antenna is a bad band and every
thing. time you change
In many cases they are right as any bands. Once
additional devices are bound to introduce you've found the
unwanted losses. However, this approach is only best setting for a
really feasible when you're dealing with professional particular band, it's well worth jotting it down so
standard antenna systems where the antenna characteristics are you can return to those settings on your return to that band. Be
both predictable and repeatable. patient. and remember - practice makes perfect.
In the world of the amateur, home -built, antennas the a.t.u.
serves a vital role in equalising the differences between the
theoretical antenna and the practical result. It's most important
role is to match the (usually) 50f/output impedance of the
transmitter to the often variable impedance of the antenna.
Once the, 500match has been achieved you can be assured of
maximum power transfer and the best radiated signal. but. there
is another important advantage from the a.t.u. that's not normally
covered as part of the Novice course - harmonic suppression.
The scourge of many amateurs operating within our densely
populated shores is TV and radio interference. Whilst poor design in
domestic appliances are often to blame, anything that can be done
to reduce the harmonic content of your transmission is bound to
help.
because the a.t.u. achieves its impedance matching using a
tuned circuit. the side benefit is a filtering effect that reduces the
national group for those of Radio Amateurs and like-minded people. Now, all Have you just passed your RAE? If so
the Royal Corps of Signals Listeners) welcome all the societies I mentioned you may have a list of questions on how
including the TA and other Christian radio amateurs and have addresses to write to if to put everything into practice or maybe
military personnel. listeners regardless of you are interested in more there are certain areas of the hobby that
The St. Dunstan's denomination. information. If I include them you're not sure about. And if that's the
ARS is a wonderful society Finally, how about the here I shall be in big trouble case why not drop me a line with your
catering for those blinded British Esperanto over space! queries and I'll cover them in 'First
during their time in the Association. I haven't heard If you would like a list of Steps'.
services. I've been to about them for a while, but I the most current addresses, That's all the 'Natterings' for this
several St. Dunstan's think they still operate. then either look in the RSGB issue so until next month cheerio.
meetings and you couldn't (Walter G3ESP, QTHR, can Call Book (the latest edition)
belong to a better group of help. Editor.) or send an s.a.e. to the PW
people. I look back on This list is a fairly large Editorial Offices and they'll
those meetings with very sample of the many post the list out to you.
ailge q4/0
happy memories. organisations you could join.
The WACRAL (World There's a lot to be said for
Association of Christian meeting and or talking with
Helpful
Hand -Held
Richard Newton GORSN reports on his
experiences with a new v.h.f./u.h.f. rig from
Icom which proved itself in his car and
demonstrated how it fights off interference from
computers and 'wide area paging' transmissions.
--Th
1-
Mike Rowe GONE, has reviewed an electronics simulation package for PW.
Can he design his next project on Electronic Workbench Version 4?
When Rob Mannion 0.5s/div, input range 0.01mV to 5kV/div
G3XFD, 'phoned me up (a.c./d.c. coupling selectable). It has
Logical Side
and said "I've a little job features such as automatic, A, B or Let's now have a look at the logical side
for you, I want you to external triggering with leading or trailing of the simulator and start with the Word
review some computer edge triggering. Generator. In digital terms 16x8bit words
software", my immediate reaction was The simulation even has variable may be generated and can be triggered
"Oh 'eck, is he out of his mind (off 'is trigger level! Oh for such an instrument in internally or externally triggered on either
trolleybus)? I'm no computer whizz -kid". real life! The 'scope has two zoom levels the rising or falling edge.
(That's why we asked you Mike. Editor) within the program. The second level of The words are easily written using a
So, the very well presented Electronics which fills the screen and gives a mouse and can be stepped, cycled or
Workbench package arrived. It had two magnificent display. applied in a single burst of sixteen words.
splendid manuals, both very well written The speed of the cycling or burst may be
and easily understood, and two disks. Function Generator varied in Hz, kHz or MHz depending
Thumbing through the manuals to get a upon the setting applied.
feel of the program before installing it - The function generator is used to A Logic Analyser will display up to
immediately gave me feeling that this was generate signals for the circuit under test. eight channels with all the normal
going to be a nice assignment after all. It has variable waveform signals between controls on the 'front panel'. This is a
The actual installation process was 0.001 Hz to 999GHz with output levels of very useful function gives the
very straightforward, and following the hexadecimal value of
on screen prompts it took about ten the currently
minutes. You select either ANSI (zigzag displayed word.
resistors, etc.) or DIN (box resistors) and An inbuilt Logic
type in the serial number. Later you type Converter is a very
in a word from the text, as a security useful tool for people
measure. like myself who are
The main working screen of not 'too hot' on logic,
Electronics Workbench is divided into it enables you to
three main areas, the 'Work area', the specify the output
'Parts bin' and the 'Instrument shelf'. At that you require
the top right hand corner of the screen is given a set of up to
an 'on/off' switch. eight input
The Instrument shelf consists of seven conditions. In
instruments, a multimeter, an practice it simplifies
oscilloscope, a function generator, and a the Boolean algebra
bode plotter (this is explained later, but it and will draw for you
doesn't exist in real life!). There's a logic the gate sequence
analyser, a binary word generator and required.
logic converter. At this point, I
Each of the instruments on the test would also
bench can only be used once. However, 1p V to 999kV. These ranges are all easily recommend that everyone who uses
in the parts bin there are voltmeters and set using the mouse and the 'selection Electronics Workbench runs the tutorial
ammeters which can be used in your box' on the 'instrument panel'. files. By carrying out the simple but
circuit as many times as you wish. informative tests, you can familiarise
yourself with the program. All of which
Bode Plotter may be analysed. (It's interesting to
Multimeter Functions The Bode plotter (think of it as a cross monitor the waveforms and voltages
The multimeter has six functions, between a spectrum analyser and around the circuit before getting a
measuring voltage and current (both a.c. oscilloscope) is not a 'real' instrument, it printout of the screen).
& d.c.), resistance and decibels. Voltages only exists within a computer simulation.
may be measured in the range of It is however an extremely useful piece of
equipment, invaluable in testing
Spares Bin
0.001p V to 999kV (all to three decirr ll
places). simulations of a.c. circuits, and really In the spares bin the operator has a good
Current ranges are from 0.001pA to comes into its own on filters. supply of components. There's a wide
999kA again to three decimal places. Within the program the Bode choice of passive components such as
Ohmmeter ranges will measure circuit generator will diagnose a circuit giving resistors, capacitors and inductors in both
resistances from 0.001S2 to 999Mi2 the response curve from 0.001 Hz to fixed and variable forms.
There's a truly superb simulated 10GHz. It can draw the response (either Resistors are available from 0.0010 to
'oscilloscope' in Electronics Workbench, logarithmic or linear) curve in either 999Mf2, and inductors from pH to
dual -beam with independent trace amplitude or phase over the frequency Henrys, capacitors from pF to Farads. All
positioning, timebase speed 0.01 ns to band selected. values are editable.
r
15I Take out a
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It's A Classic...
here to
begin?
VII 9 RCA ,-1-11188D desense the
receiver on
That, as
a
General Purpose s.s.b./c.w.
A variable
famous noise limiter
bard once wrote. is the
question! What can be
Communications Receiver allows high, pulse
type ignition noise
said about the AR88D to be greatly
that truly conveys its reduced. The noise
standing in the field of communication Antenna Input limiter is switchable along with manual or
receivers? This set, known to almost a.g.c. controlled gain.
everyone who knows what a valve is, has The antenna input of the AR88D is designed The audio output has provision for high
been around since the early 1940s. to match a 200f2 transmission line on all but impedance (20kf2) headphones, 2.512
Used by the military and then by the lowest frequency band. A three terminal speaker and 60052 line or speaker. The
commercial users, amateurs and short wave connector on the rear wall allows either headphone jack on the front panel is special
enthusiasts the world over, the RCA AR88D balanced or end -fed wire to be used. in that, if the jack is inserted to the first
receiver and the AR88LF version are a joy If an end -fed antenna is used, then a link position then the 'phones are in parallel with
to operate. They both have large smooth from the ground to the centre terminal is the 2.551 winding and both speaker and
tuning controls, variable selectivity, large, required. A front panel mounted antenna phones work.
easy to operate knobs and a wonderful tone trimmer is provided to peak the r.f. input With the jack pushed fully home into
in audio output. tuned circuit. position, the 'phones are connected to the
The AR88D set covers 535kHz to Two stages of tuned r.f. amplification phones winding and the 2.552 is cut off from
32MHz in six bands and produces 2.5W of feed the mixer along with the output of the the rear speaker terminals. If there is no
audio into 2.5 or 60052. It has a sensitivity 1.o., this running at 455kHz higher than the speaker connected to the 2.5 or 60052 tap
down to 0.5pV (for 0.5W o/p) and a five r.f. frequency. The 1.o. is fed from the then the phones should always be used in the
position variable selectivity employing a regulator valve h.t., which provides a second position. This is because a load
crystal filter for the sharpest response. stabilised supply under varying line resistor is shunted across the 2.5 tap to
The set operates on 100 to 260V a.c., variations. provide the correct loading.
external batteries or via an external vibrator The i.f. amplifiers contain 12 tuned Space on the front panel was provided
power supply, the MI -8319. The set employs circuits in the signal path along with a so as to add a tuning meter at a later date.
14 valves in two r.f. stages, a mixer, three i.f. crystal, used to obtain the sharpest It's usual to find this added by now although
stages, local oscillator (I.o.) and b.f.o., noise selectivity for c.w. reception. The third i.f. the correct meter has not always been
limiter and audio output, rectifier and amplifier stage is not connected to the a.g.c. installed. The meter is wired in the cathode
stabiliser. line to permit the b.f.o. injection to be circuit of the first i.f. amplifier and should be
The AR88D is large and this fact cannot coupled in and give a better s.s.b. reception. a 5mA type with zero on the right.
be overlooked. Automatic gain control is obtained from
At I9in wide by 11 in high by I9in deep, and a 6H6 valve, a variable delay gain dependent Mechanical Construction
weighing in at 100Ibs, this is a real piece of upon the r.f. gain control is provided for. The
communication hardware, but you certainly b.f.o. output voltage is just lower than the The AR88D is usable either as a table -top
get your money's worth. a.g.c. diode bias voltage so that it does not set with its accompanying case or as a 19in
AR881) AR88LF
Band 1 535 to 1600kHz 73 to 205kHz
Even though the RCA Band 2 1570 to 4550kHz 195 to 550kHz
Band 3 4450 to 12150kHz 1480 to 4400kHz
Band 4 11900 to 16600kHz 4250 to 12150kHz
AR88D receiver has Band 5 16100 to 22700kHz 11900 to 19500kHz
Band 6 22000 to 32000kHz 19000 to 30500kHz
rack mounted receiver, the front panel frequency. the electronics, circuitry and the ergonomic
having standard mounting holes provided. There are drawbacks to the AR88D of appearance of the front panel layout. It's
The receiver was designed to be very rugged
so as to stand up to the severe conditions recently heard one amateur stating that and the set produces superb results in use.
imposed by military life. valves are 'no good' as they start Having seen the prime condition of many
All the components are secured by nuts deteriorating right from day one. examples of this set it is quite conceivable
and bolts rather than rivets to permit easy This is true, but then it's true of all that it will still be around in another 50
replacement. The tuning capacitor is rigidly components, they all start ageing from the years time.
mounted to the tuning unit yet flexible to the second they are first used. You simply have There were in fact the three versions.
main chassis, this prevents any chassis to ask yourself 'how many modern plastic - The AR88, the AR88D and the AR88LF. In
distortion from having any appreciable effect cased, c.p.u.-controlled wonders, will still be RAF service they became the R1556, the
on the oscillator stability. around and working in 50 years time?' R1556A and the R1556B respectively.
The AR88D, and its LF brother, are a PNA
Audio Quality superb example of receiver design, both in
The PW De v -)_f
7 II/77-72. Rec_L,ii
A good receiver is a must for use on 7MHz.
So, PW commissioned well known designer
Dave Howes G4KQH to design an interesting
superhet to take the 'fear out of forty', and he
came up with the 'Daventry'.
The 7MHz band is a band that offered by many general coverage receivers The PW Daventry 7MHz receiver
needs a decent receiver for on the amateur market. prototype, designed and built by Dave
operation in Europe. With far too Howes G4KQH. (The digital frequency
many radios you simply get lots Circuit Outline display unit is an optional extra).
of noise and apparently very little
in the way of clear signals, especially at So, let's now look at the circuit outline
night. starting from the r.f. input. The signals from
The Daventry receiver project sets out to the antenna socket are taken to the r.f. application where I was looking for good
provide a good level of performance that will attenuator switch where 15 or 30dB resistive performance. I was also trying to keep things
transform the 7MHz band. It turns into a attenuators can be switched into line. reasonably simple to build, and not too
happy DX hunting ground for any reader The attenuators can be used to increase costly either!
who finds their current receiver provides the basic dynamic range of signals handled The 7MHz input signal is mixed with the
little more than 'mush' on this band. (approx. 90dB spurious free range) up to v.f.o. signal of 17.7MHz to give the i.f. of
The 7MHz or '40 metres' is a great band 120dB. This should cope with almost nominally 10.7MHz. It's at this frequency
with lots of DX, but only those with superior anything, no matter how big your antenna! that most of the 'close in' selectivity is
receivers know this! So, if the band seems The signals then pass on to the main printed obtained by use of a crystal filter.
nothing but grossly overcrowded and noisy circuit board (p.c.b.). Quite a wide range of i.f. filters are
on your present receiver, then it's time to get The 7MHz band signals are separated available for the I0.7MHz i.f. frequency. So,
the soldering iron out and build the PW from the rest of the r.f. spectrum by a band- you do not have to use the same device as
Daventry! pass filter. This filter's bandwidth is only just the prototype receiver.
greater than the width of the 7MHz band. The filter I used in the prototype is an
Extensive Filtering So, the level of r.f. filtering used in this s.s.b. filter with a nominal bandwidth of
design is much higher than that encountered 2.4kHz at the -6dB points. A c.w. bandwidth
The PW Daventry is a single up -conversion in most modern general coverage receivers filter could be installed as an alternative, if
superhet, I.s.b. and c.w. receiver. The (which have relatively wide open front you are only interested in this mode.
receiver employs extensive radio frequency ends). This is one of the circuit techniques However, in the prototype receiver I have
(r.f.) filtering. that helps this receiver outperform many envisaged using an accessory audio filter kit
The design incorporates a good quality general coverage sets. (Howes CSL4) to give a narrow c.w.
double balanced mixer and crystal The r.f. filter also provides an impedance bandwidth.
intermediate frequency (i.f.) filter. It also transformation. This helps match the 50i2
uses a low noise discreet MOSFET i.f. antenna input to the higher input impedance Intermediate Frequency
amplifier strip. of the SL6440 double balanced mixer Amplifiers
An active audio frequency (a.f.) filter is integrated circuit (IC1).
fitted and there's provision for additional a.f. After the i.f. crystal filter, the signal is
filtering within the automatic gain control Balanced Mixer passed on to the i.f. amplifiers. These stages
(a.g.c.) loop. The prototype also has the have been designed to be much less
benefit of digital frequency read-out using a Mixing on the Daventry is carried out by the susceptible to pick-up of stray signals that is
commercial kit design (Howes DFD4). SL6440 double balanced mixer. It provides usually the case.
My design objective was to try and keep much better strong signal handling than most Many superhet receivers are almost
all spurious responses over 90dB down as far types of mixer i.c. and also needs less local impossible to test and fault find with the
as practical, without incurring too much oscillator (l.o.) drive than diode type double p.c.b. exposed on the workbench. This is due
expense. This is a considerably higher balanced mixers. to direct pick-up of signals by their i.f.
standard of technical performance than The SL6440 is a good choice for this stages.
*12V to 1C21060. R2
Tr14
2N3053
.91/ R92 0+12V
BF245a
To frequency counter 10
C73
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See text
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R53
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C44
II
II II
Tr6 100p
BSX20
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10.7MHz
.150p 10k
R49
100
040 R45
65p 3k3
846
470
...C42
6 R50
10k
From C38
Fig. 3: The product detector b.f.o. and audio frequency low pass filter stages (see text).
R61 12V
47
R64
10k
C53
Optional
external filter oT470µ ..0µ1
C60 C58
14
R66 i1052
22p
C54
100
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R80
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Fig. 5: The a.g.c. and S -meter driver circuitry (see text).
skirt selectivity). Let's face it. 7MHz The output of the volume control is fed to the zero setting and meter drive currents
operators need the best performance that can the LM380 a.f. output i.c. This provides enables meters with slightly different current
be reasonably justified in a receiver! plenty of drive for an 8f2 loudspeaker or ratings to be used, if you wish.
headphones. In Part 2 of the Daventry project I'll be
Extra Filtering describing the constructional and the
Automatic Gain Control assembly stages. In the meantime, perhaps
After the 'on board' a.f. filtering, the signal it's time you got that antenna ready...to join
is amplified further and fed to a terminal for The automatic gain control circuit used in in the action on 7MHz!
connection of an optional outboard a.f. filter the PW Daventry is quite simple. I set
unit. It's here that you can connect a c.w. myself a strict design limit of just three CONTINUED NEXT MONTH
filter or any other additional selectivity that transistors for a.g.c. and S -meter drive!
you fancy to enhance the performance a little It's all too easy, in the search for the
more. perfect a.g.c. response and S -meter tracking BUILDING THE
The outboard filter should have a nominal to complicate matters. You can end up with
gain of around unity, with some adjustment more devices devoted to these functions than
DAVENTRY RECEIVER
to match the signal levels between the rest of the receiver circuits put together! All the necessary p.c.b.s for the Daventry
bandwidth settings. For understandable The use of audio derived a.g.c. enables will be available from the PW PCB Service.
reasons. I've used a Howes CSL4 dual the audio filtering to be within the a.g.c.
Dave Howes G4KQH, of C. M. Howes
bandwidth filter kit in the prototype receiver. loop. This is an important advantage over i.f.
On this unit an additional 4.71S2 resistor is derived a.g.c. for this application. Communications, Eydon, Daventry,
fitted to the s.s.b. output to match the audio The a.g.c. range is over 100dB and the S - Northamptonshire NN11 3PT. Tel: (01327)
level to the Wide (no a.f. filter) switch meter indication seems to work quite nicely
setting. too, with the meter capable of reading S9 for 260178, is able to supply a kit of parts to
The c.w. filter audio level is adjusted by the standard input signal level of 50pV. This build the p.c.b. module (including p.c.b. and
the preset resistor on the filter p.c.b. After is more than can be said for many
i.f. filter) together with an (optional)
the additional filtering, the signal is fed on to commercial designs!
both the volume control and the a.g.c. The S -meter I used is a 400pA type. But hardware pack.
amplifier. the use of adjustable preset resistors to adjust
_Wanted
Fig. 1: Block diagram showing the basic idea behind a ...--k-signa I
superhet receiver with mixing arrangements illustrated.
sensitivity is of prime importance, very low compromise over the factors mentioned. Fig. 7: A 'roofing filter'response
noise amplifiers are employed. In view of Accordingly many sets have two or more shown as broken line (see text).
the circuit limitations these are not switched i.f. stages.
between different bands. Instead they are The first i.f. stage will be at a high
normally only designed for one band. frequency to give the good image rejection. manufactured for operation at quite high
The first i.f. signal will then be converted frequencies, making higher frequency i.f.s a
down in frequency practical reality.
Mixer Crucial Fig. 5: An where it's filtered.
TI
Second I.o
with today's microprocessor
(variablei controlled circuitry, and
offers a vast number of
Fig. 9: Superhet receiver with crystal -controlled first conversion. The wider response of the advantages in terms of
first i.f. (illustrated by inset respomse curve above the stage) is necessary because of the flexibility of operation.
second mixer/oscillator combination's need to 'tune' over the required passband (see text). The main disadvantage of
phase locked loop (p.1.1.)
synthesisers is that they can
overloaded, especially if the signal falls The solution lies in using a combination generate large amounts of phase noise. This
outside the filter bandwidth. of the two loops. The reading of the second is noise which spreads out either side of the
With the enormous range in level of loop would need to be taken, but it should signal, as shown in Fig. 10.
signals which are picked up by any receiver, be modified by the voltage on the first so Phase noise can mix with 'off channel'
even the early stages of the set can be that any reduction in gain it causes can be signals to generate noise within the receiver
overloaded. This means that some means of taken into account. pass -band, thereby reducing the sensitivity.
reducing the gain must be employed. To overcome this the synthesiser must be
Often, manual r.f. gain controls are used. Oscillator Performance very carefully designed, not always
However, most people including myself accepting the cheapest approach. In fact the
tend to leave these controls at maximum The local oscillator or oscillators' new direct digital synthesisers have a lot to
unless the received signal is very strong. performance will govern many aspects of offer in this area and they are being
Accordingly, the gain control should be the receiver's operation. The main introduced in many of today's sets.
reduced when the other signals on the band requirement is that it should be stable. If the
are strong, so that the set does not become Final Design
overloaded. And in fact it may not be the
Wanted
wanted signal which causes the problem. signal The final design of any receiver will be a
but one which is outside the main filter carefully balanced compromise between a
bandwidth. a number of different requirements. However,
Phase noise
Instead of using a manual control, it spreading out care taken in the initial design will ensure
equally either
would be much better to use an automatic E side of the signal that the best performance is obtained.
gain control. If it could detect the levels of Best performance however, is not
the signals at an early stage in the receiver, necessarily the best sensitivity (for
then the information could be used to example). It can be the optimum sensitivity
control the gain of the early stages and Frequency under all conditions. This is a much harder
prevent them becoming overloaded. Fig. 10: Phase noise spreading out requirement to meet!
If automatic control was accomplished in either side of the main signal of a PW
the way described, a further 'loop' would be receiver using a synthesiser (see text).
Yaesu's exciting new Enhanced Digital Signal Processing system provides four random
noise reduction settings, selectable bandpass filtering with adjustable low and high cut
responses, and transmitted audio enhancement with four voice response equalisation
appeal to the most demanding of HF
operators . especially on todays crowded
bands. It replaces the out going TS -8505.
(although they are still available). and the
-J ,;tI))9
_;)
With all the new wave of DSP
technique. price, (considering there are NO fitters to transceivers, don't forget YAESU had
buyll, is, I think. very competitive at Digital bandwidth control on the FT -990 three years ago! 100 watts
In addition, an automatic seeking EDSP notch filter will identify and eliminate interfering only £2399.95. out, Auto ATU built in, plus the option of AC (internal PSU), or DC,
hetrodynes and carriers should they appear in the passband. It's interesting to note the
the F7990 is still our best selling HF Transceiver. No other has plug in
introduction of Collins mechanical filters in the new FT-1000MP. ft's debut was actually at Deposits from only £399.95. hoards for easy maintenance either! ,
the Stafford Show in August and customers who visited the Yaesu stand commented
FT -990 AC List £2399.00 Few at only £1849.00 FT -990 DC
how the Audio quality was in a different class, no doubt due to the DSP and more
List E2099.00 Few at only E1899.00 SUPER LOW COST
importantly the employment of Collins filtering. The price is in fact lower, (its true!), than
FINANCE AND 5 YEAR WARRANTY ALSO AVAILABLE!
the current out going FT.1000. $
Retailing at only £2849 including a built in PSU and E2599 for the version
without. that's a saving of over £1100 on the original. We will gladly take trade
in's as deposit, (even the current FT -1000), and can offer the balance on our 111 1;1_?n
very advantageous finance terms. Martin Lynch is offering the FT-1000MP with
FIVE YEAR WARRANTY as standard, once again proving customer peace of Before the price shot up through the
mind is our satisfaction! Available Now!! roof I bought 30 of the most popular
VHF multimode Base Station. There are still some left but not many
7 75DSP along with 200 Watts of power The new IC-775DSP still lists et E3699.00. so hurry' You will not want to fork out C2000 for one.
output, (the other two only produce At the price, it comes with FIVE YEARS FT -736R BRAND NEW, NOT "EX DEMO", E1499.00 - LIMITED
100W), Auto notch for those annoying WARRANTY, (Only from Martin Lynch), SUPPLIES.
interfering carriers. two receivers with includes an internal PSU. auto ATU and is
.4/7171N81/8S-
19.8:6781- SOWN
UMM
"Never knowingly made a profit on new Icon,. Kenwood. Yaesu.
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THEORY
External Mike van der Westhuizen ZS6UP looks at the
external noise effect on the sensitivity figures of
28
Storm
Night
Day
-128
-128
-126
0.11
0.11
0.11
15
15
15
St'No IcIBI for SI/Ni = 10dB
Storm -131 0.063 10
56 Night -131 0.063 10
Day -131 0.083 10
Some Conclusions 40dB (from Fig. 1). Entering Ne = 40 in 2 and read the approximate values of NFi at
Fig. 2 we see that it cuts the vertical line the So/No = OdB vertical line. We get the
To arrive at some some conclusion we must where So/No = 9dB at NFi = 34dB (1µV). following:
move from radio science to human So, any better sensitivity won't help you at 1.8MHz: NFi = 60dB
physiology, which differ from individual to 3.5MHz. 3.5MHz: NFi = 50dB
individual. In physiology textbooks one (b) At 28MHz it can be seen from Fig. 1 7MHz: NFi = 38dB
reads that the smallest difference in sound that Ne is about 15dB. Entering Ne = 15dB 14MHz: NFi = 34dB
(at say 1000Hz) that the human ear can in Fig. 2, we see that it cuts the So/No = 21MHz: NFi = 28dB
detect is 1dB ($3). 9dB line at a point between NFi = 20 and 28MHz: NFi = 23dB
The figures quoted seemed very low in NFi = 7. But I estimate the value, to be 56MHz: NFi = 21dB
value so, in the interests of science, I did a probably at NFi = 9dB. So, on 28MHz it is The above values of NFi are for So/No =
few rough experiments with two of my worthwhile to have a receiver or pre -amp OdB if Si/Ni = 10dB
children. Using an amplified audio signal with this lower noise figure. We can now determine NFi for many
generator, and an a.c. digital voltmeter I let (c) Let's take everybody's favourite band So/No values, or we can take a certain NFi
them hear pure tones through headphones. (well it's mine anyway) I4MHz. During day value from Table 2 and determine what
Sure enough, all the values were between I time Ne = 25dB, giving an NFi of Si/Ni must be for So/No = 0 on every band.
and 2dB except at very low sound levels approximately 18dB. During night time Ne An interesting So/No case is where Si/Ni =
where it rose to 3 or 4dB. = 33, which gives an NFi of approximately IdB (Si/Ni = ratio 1.26). At this point So/No
Returning to Fig. 2, if the perfect 24dB. During stormy conditions, Ne = 45 is 1dB less than Si/Ni . If we follow the
receiver gives So/No = 10dB for Si/Ni = giving a NFi of approximately 39dB. All of arguments through we see that in this case
10dB and, if one can detect a 1dB the above interpolated at the So/No = 9dB the NFi values are the same as that given in
difference, then you should be able to detect line. Table 3. So, it seems as if the NFi values in
a difference at So/No = 9dB and lower. (d) If you build small receivers at home, Table 3 is the lowest that we must aim for
So, if we draw a vertical line at So/No = then design it for the NFi values in Table 3 on the different bands.
9dB in Figure 2, then at all conditions left of for good readability, taken from daytime Ne I must emphasise that my conclusions
this line we will be able to detect a values. will differ from person to person. The
deterioration in readability. Let's take a few There is another question that can be human ear/brain is a remarkable instrument
examples. asked. If you don't really need So/No = 10 with surprising filtering properties. So much
(a) During daytime on 3.5MHz, the Ne = or 9dB to read a signal, what is the lowest so, that it's nearly impossible to describe in
value of So/No that is still exact terms.
readable. There are PW
External Noise Receiver Si for m.d.s.
above standard sensitivity Ni So for Si .10dB experienced C.W. operators
N.. Ni - Ns N. Ni can read a signal below the
NFi 1.11/ Ratio IN) dB Table 3: Suggested Band Ne NFi
7 0.048 1 0 10 noise level. On s.s.b. mode minimum receiver (MHz) (dB) (dB)
80dB 20 0.2 1 0 10
34 1.0 1 0 10 if someone at the other end noise figures for 1.8 45 40
43 3.0 1.0002 0.0009 9.9991 3.5 40 34
of the link is reading the various 7 30 22
7 0.046 1 0 10 numbers slowly it can also frequency bands 14 25 18
60dB 20 0.20 1.0001 0.0004 9.9996 21 20 13
34 1.0 1.0025 0.0018 9.9892 be read just below the (see the text for 28 15 9
43 3.0 1.0200 0.0880 9.9140 56 10 6
noise level($4). more details).
7 0.048 1.0004 0.0017 9.9983 Say, for arguments sake,
40dB 20 0.20 1.0099 0.0428 9.9572
34 1.0 1.2511 0.9729 9.0271 the lowest that can be read
4.7643 5.2357
43 3.0 2.9952
is So/No = OdB, that is the References
7 0.048 1.0400 0.1703 9.8297 m.d.s. level. Now we can *1. Stancey Gerald G3MCK, 'Noise in h.1.
20dB 20 0.20 1.9900 2.9885 7.0115
34 1.0 26.11 14.168 -4.168 determine the approximate receivers', Practical Wireless, August 1984.
43 3.0 200.5 23.021 -13.021
least sensitivity which is #2. Radio Society of Great Britain, Radio
7 0.046 1.1266 0.5177 9.4823 needed on the different Communication Handbook, Volumes 1 & 2.
15dB 20 0.20 4.1329 6.1625 3.8375
34 1.0 80.48 19.056 -9.056 bands if Si/Ni = 10dB. #3. Katz J., Handbook of Clinical Audiology,
43 3.0 632.4 28.010 -18.010
From Fig. 1, again get the 1985
7 0.046 1.4000 1.4612 8.5388 daytime Ne values for the *4. Ainsworth W., 'Recognising speech in
10dB 20 0.20 10.90 10.374 0.3740
34 1.0 252.1 24.016 -14.016 different bands. enter this noise'. Electronics Today International, April
43 3.0 1996 33.002 -23.002
at the left hand side of Fig. 1989.
7 0.048 2.2658 3.5522 6.4478
5dB 20 0.20 32.33 15.096 -5.096
34
43
1.0
3.0
795.6
6315
29.007
38.004
-19.007
-28.004
Table 2: External noise and signal to noise ratios for differing
receiver sensitivities.
ass
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474292
38 Practical Wireless,October 1995
REVIEW
A Really
Remote Rad
Unbiased objectivity, After some considerable time
that's what being a with the rig, my impressions
changed. It's worth bearing in
reviewer is all about. mind that although mostly our
Well it is most of the first impressions are correct,
time! you can get caught out! In
But I personally believe that if you are the case of the IC-Z1E I
going to give the reader of any review most certainly did (well
something to get their teeth into you must about most things) I still
have an opinion about the product that don't see much point in
you're writing about. If not, then why having a display on the
bother writing anything? speaker/microphone.
Personally I find that I either love or
hate a piece of equipment. Sometimes Many Kinds
though the odd piece of kit, be it a radio,
computer, or car seems to defy the norm. I've come to a
Although I most often find this happens conclusion after
with music. three decades of
I can hear a tune, and really like it, experience using
then grow to loath it as I get over exposed electronic devices
to it. Conversely something I would of many kinds.
initially switch of the radio to avoid, My experience,
mysteriously 'grows on me' and it ends plus a decade of
up being one of my all time favourites - being involved in
life's strange isn't it? specifying or writing guides for the
use of such devices both simple and very
The IC-Z1E complicated, that there is no substitute
for making equipment simple to operate.
You're probably wondering where all this
preamble is leading. Well when G3XFD
asked me to review the IC-Z1E I was very
The main criteria - in my opinion - is
that you should be able to use the
apparatus, without consultation to a The Icom
pleased to get my hands on one.
I have to say that the only piece of
Icom equipment that I've ever used is an
air band hand-held transceiver. That was
handbook. The controls should have
responses that agree with what you might
expect, especially if you've used
something similar before. This is what I
10-Z1E
while I was under going micro -light pilot mean when I refer to controls being
training. intuitive. Kevin Nice G7TZC,
During my flying training my only You may have to spend a little time
contact with the radio was via the in - working out the logic behind the way that
helmet intercom. So I was looking controls achieve the desired effect. But Assistant Editor of Short
forward to putting this radio - from the once you have familiarised yourself, with
manufacturer with a not inconsiderable a good design it then all falls into place Wave Magazine, tries
reputation - through its paces. and off you go.
I can only say that my initial
impressions of the IC -Z1 E were extreme
Ultimate Test out a really different
disappointment. I didn't like the case, I
didn't like the buttons, and the removable The ultimate test, in my opinion, is can hand-held transceiver
display seemed like a crazy idea. you use the transceiver without reading
The battery latch mechanism didn't the manual? The IC-Z1E passed this test
feel right, I really didn't like what I saw with flying colours. which has a detachable
(and held). But before you read on, you It might interest you to know that I'm
must realise that this is a million miles writing this part of the review after a
away from the un-biased objectivity that I week of using the IC-Z1E and so far I've front control panel
opened with. only referred to the user guide once. This
Indeed, here in the opening was to establish to charge time for the microphone to provide
paragraphs I've provided very emotive, battery (some things you must not find by
critical views which were formed in experimentation).
seconds. And on reflection I was By now you are probably wondering remote operating
disappointed with myself just as much as what this hand-held is a capable of. So,
with this transceiver, for jumping to the without further ado I'll outline its capabilities.
rash conclusions! capabilities.
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73 from Dave G4KQH, Technical Manager.
Last time I took a look at the v.h.f. national field day contest. worked many stations during the This year however, the total was
many Sp -E openings that The opening on July 1 actually morning events. His best contacts eighteen! For those that missed them
occurred on the 144MHz band consisted of a five separate events. were with UT3WWY/P (KN19), they occurred on June 7, 12, 13, 16,
during June. For those keeping The first started around 0915UTC UT5DE (KN18) and YO5CBX (KN27). 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27. July 2, 3, 4, 5,
records they occurred on June 2, 5. lasting approximately 35 minutes. Another opening, the fourth of 6. 7. 8 and 10.
6. 9, 12 and 25. (There was also one Stations situated in HA, OE, OK, the day, started around 1200UTC and What I found remarkable was that
on May 20). OM, S5 (Slovenia) and 9A (Croatia) lasted for about 30 minutes. By this most of the openings reappeared
John Nixon G7SMA (1093) has were worked by operators time the propagation path had moved day -after -day. I've shown all the
sent me a report concerning the throughout the British Isles. Alan further south and contacts were 50MHz transatlantic openings and
opening on June 12. I've included it Chin G170TB (1074) was astonished being made into eastern and the 144MHz Sp -E openings in Fig. 1
because I want to show you that you to hear several DX stations on southern Spain. It also shows some of the recent
don't need lot's of power and big 144.300MHz coming through loud Finally, between 1720-192OUTC auroral openings observed at my
antennas to work the DX. and clear. the last event of the day occurred. 0TH.
At 1145UTC on June 12 while At 0930 Alan worked YU1WP This enabled operators participating So what caused the tremendous
monitoring the f.m. calling frequency (JN94) and during the next 30 in v.h.f. field day to really bump up conditions on the 50MHz band and
145.500MHz. John heard a Spanish minutes he also heard 9A1CCY, their scores. Many 144MHz portable why was this year particularly good?
station calling CO. Unfortunately he 9A3RU and 9A3VD. His station stations where heard contacting DX Looking back for a possible answer
disappeared very quickly, but John consists of an FT -290 Mk1, a Tokyo throughout I. IS, IT9, TK, EA and in previous issues I wrote that
continued to listen this time on and HL37V amplifier running 30W and a EA6. transatlantic openings have
around 144.300MHz (the s.s.b. 7 -element Yagi. The band was also in good shape frequently occurred after a day of
calling frequency). Alan reports that he is a bit the next day July 2 with a good Sp -E intense European Sp -E. especially if
At 121OUTC John was pleased to incredulous about these contacts and opening to Spain and northern Africa. there had been openings on the
hear EA7AG (IM86) who came back wonders whether I had received Typically, it commenced about 30 144MHz band.
to his first call. This was John's first similar reports. minutes after the field day contest
ever DX contact on the 144MHz Well Alan, it really did happen. had finished!
band. And it you listen to the 144MHz band Steve Potter G1JHZ (1082) The Chart
The distance was 1835km which again next June and July you'll reports working EA9IB at 1459UTC
was even further than he had worked probably make some more DX and EA5GRB (IM98) a few minutes Interestingly the chart. Fig. 1, shows
on the 50MHz band. Six minutes contacts. Good luck! later. He runs a Trio TR-9130, 25W that only two 50MHz transatlantic
later. at 1216UTC. he heard EA9IB Philip Lancaster GOISW (1084) and a 7 -element ZL-Special antenna. openings occurred on days when the
(IM85) calling CO. John managed to runs 25W output from an FT -736 into What was probably the last and m.u.f. reached the 144MHz band.
work him, first call, at 59 both ways a Create Log Periodic Yagi. He also arguably the best Sp -E opening of Jim Smith GOOFE also makes the
over a path length of 2012km. His reports catching the early morning the season took place on July 15. It observation that there was a distinct
second DX OSO on the 144MHz band event from 0925UTC. Philip managed started around 163OUTC. and lasted lack of intense Sp -E within Europe
and it was to Africa! to make s.s.b. contacts with well over three hours allowing UK prior to many of these openings.
What makes the DX even more 0E8XXK/8. S53RY. YU1WP and operators to make contacts into I, Jim also noticed that on many
remarkable was that John used only 9A3VD. He also heard S57TTI, ISO. 1T9. LZ. SV7. SV8, UT, YO and occasions the m.u.f. was relatively
25W and a 5 -element Yagi in the loft 9A1CCY and 9A2PT. 9H. low and didn't reach up to the
space. On the same day he also Among the DX callsigns noted on 144MHz band. He suggests that the
worked 12 countries on the 50MHz the 144MHz band were SV7AII and transatlantic propagation was
band with 10W and a simple half - Second Event SV7VU (KN20), SV10J/8 (KM27), created by a different kind of
wave vertical antenna. US7C0 (KN59). UT1E (KN68), UT3JE mechanism, more like E -layer
Well, after that news I hope that's The second event of the day was (KN65) and UT4JX (KN64). What a propagation, rather than
encouraged more of you to try this quite brief lasting from 1010- way to end the season! 'conventional' Sp -E.
amazing propagation mode. Of 102OUTC. Stations in S5. YU, 9A Roger Horne G4HBA agrees with
course if you run high power and were being worked from central and the comments made by GOOFE. He
have large antennas then you will get southern England. Mouth Watering also thinks that the E -layer becomes
more consistent results but you A similar event occurred between ionised. not in patchy clouds but
shouldn't forget that being in the 1040-1055UTC. Graham Taylor If all the DX on the 144MHz band rather in a large stable sheet.
right place at the right time is worth G7UJC (1083) reports working sounds mouth-watering you should Roger notes that the transatlantic
many dB! YU7BW (JN95), 9A1CCY and have heard what was happening on openings seem to coincide with a
9A1KDE. both in JN96. Interestingly the 50MHz band! After a faltering sudden drop in the geomagnetic A
Graham was running 25W into a 5/8 start in early May the band really and K indices. He suggests that this
Conditions On 144MHz over 5/8 vertical antenna to make came alive and for over two months type of propagation also appears on
these contacts. on an almost daily basis much DX easterly paths but tends to be
Many operators were hoping that Sp - During the event stations located could be worked. masked by active Sp -E within Europe
E conditions on the 144MHz band on the eastern side of England were What set this year's Sp -E at the same time.
would be as good during July as they able to make contacts with stations openings apart from others were the Both G4HBA and G4IGO have
were the previous month. However. it in Italy. The station of Silvio IW1AZJ many transatlantic openings to North been aware for some years of the S-
was not to be with only three events (JN35) reports working GM4IPK. America. Based on results from layer propagation on the middle -
being recorded in the UK. These GW3EJR, GW3ZTH, GW6EOL. EI3GE, previous years, about four or five eastern path to 4X. 5B and 9K. They
occurred on July 1, 2 and 15, the El4D0. EI5FK and EI9EJ. such openings are expected during both think that some of the old
former coinciding with the RSGB Ken Osborne G4IGO (1080) the months of June and July. theories do not stand up to the
June 7 12 13 16 18 19 20 21 22 27
July 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 Circular Polarisation
On the 144MHz band the VE3ONT
dish will be configured to transmit
Fig. 1: 27 -Day Solar Rotation Calendar by G4ASR (see text. and receive right-hand circular
polarisation (r.h.c.p.). If you're using
evidence now available and that text It doesn't seem at all strange to Chris suggests that there is circular polarisation be very careful
books will have to be re -written. G4IFX that multi -hop propagation to significant evidence that his which mode you select.
the west doesn't necessarily occur observations are at least consistent Get the polarisation wrong and
when there is intense Sp -E to the with multiple Sp -E reflections. Finally, you won't hear anything at all! It's
Radical Suggestion east or south. He reminds us that Sp - he makes the point that if a simple probably safer therefore to use linear
E is just that...it is 'sporadic' and extension of a well established model polarisation. Either vertical or
Martyn Vincent G3UKV makes an there's no great correlation between can explain observations then there horizontal polarisation can be used, it
even more radical suggestion. He Sp -E events in widely separated is no reason to invent another more doesn't matter which.
doesn't think double -hop Sp -E is the areas. complicated one. In his view the Sp - The Canadian group will be active
mechanism at all. Martyn reckons it In any case, the requirements for E theory works very well for long between 0000-0907UTC on October
might actually be via the Fl -layer. the two sorts of propagation are distance 50MHz propagation away 7, transmitting on 144.100MHz and
However. Emil Pocock W3EP rather different. Chris suggests that from sun spot maximum. listening for replies up to 10kHz
says that F -layer propagation, for Sp -E at 144MHz or for short -skip I must say at this point that I higher. Operation on the 1.3GHz band
especially Fl. is definitely out of the at 50MHz high intensity ionisation is totally agree with the views of G4IFX. will be conducted simultaneously
question. Although he cannot give a required but not necessarily a large But what do you think? I'll be with activity on the 50MHz band
definitive answer, Emil thinks that it cloud. happy to open up a debate on this They'll transmit on 1296.050MHz.
is very unlikely to be anything other On the other hand long distance very interesting subject. Please send again listening up to 10kHz higher for
than E -layer propagation. multi -hop propagation requires me your theories or ideas to the replies.
Emil suggests that some of the widespread ionisation with several address given below. If you send me an s.a.e I'll
activity may be attributed to a large clouds approximately 2000km apart. provide you with a list of azimuth and
increase in European stations using These clouds don't need to be elevation bearings for use during the
more sophisticated monitoring and particularly intense provided they will Moonbounce Contest e.m.e. contest. But don't forget to
reporting systems. He does agree support 50MHz reflections at low give me your full six figure locator! (I
however, that there appears to have angles. Billy Lunt KR1R, the ARRL Contest can also accept requests via packet
been far more openings this year So. you can have either intense Manager, has confirmed the dates for radio).
than at similar low points of the solar Sp -E or widespread Sp -E but you this year's ARRL e.m.e.
cycle. Emil also says that there are don't need both for the multi -hop 'moonbounce' competition. It will be
indications that Sp -E is more transatlantic path. Although of held during the weekends of October Deadline Time
frequent at solar minimum but it's course there will be occasions when 7-8 and November 4-5.
certainly not an established fact. both do occur at the same time. Unfortunately, both weekends It's deadline time again. If you have
Chris Deacon G4IFX reports that Chris says that in his experience clash with major European v.h.f. and any material for the column please
like everyone else he has been he's noticed that long-distance u.h.f. contests. The November send details (to reach me by the end
amazed by the amount of long signals have more or less the same weekend is a particularly bad choice of the month) to' Yew Tree Cottage,
distance propagation on the 50MHz characteristics as single -hop Sp -E. as the Marconi Memorial 24 -hour Lower Maescoed. Herefordshire
band. He doesn't agree with the Their occurrence is sporadic and and RSGB six -hour c.w. events are HR2 OHP. Alternatively via packet
theories put forward by GOOFE, signals can be strong but often with running at the same time. radio rOGB7MAD or the DX Cluster
G4IGO and others regarding E -layer rapid fading. However, the ARRL contest is system. Or you can telephone me
propagation. Frequently propagation is highly usually one of the best opportunities on (01873) 860679.
In his view we are actually seeing localised and moves rapidly. This is to work some of the larger e.m.e.
what Sp -E should be like near sun very different from F -layer stations around the world. If you can
spot minimum. There was Sp -E propagation. Of course signal get about 100W c.w. into a single
virtually every day in June and July strengths may at times be very stable long Yagi then you stand a chance of
and more Sp -E inevitably means for long periods but that can also be making your first e.m.e. contact.
more multi -hop paths. true of single -hop Sp -E as well. Satellite operators with elevation
This year has been particularly Both types of this E -layer mode facilities will be even better placed to
good. not just to the west. There peak in June/July and are best near make a contact via the moon. One
have been long double -hop openings sun spot minimum. (Expected to be group that you may possibly hear is
to the eastern Mediterranean (4X, 1996/7). A recent article by Geoff VE3ONT. the Toronto v.h.f. Society.
5B) and even further to 4K6D. Grayer G3NA0 in the RSGB's Radio Once again, the VE3ONT group
Stations located in CT3. EH8 and Communications journal, showed have received permission to use the
5T5 have also been regularly heard that the probability of long distance 46m diameter radio telescope dish
throughout the summer. Almost 50MHz E -layer propagation can be antenna belonging to the Institute for
invariably 'normal' Sp -E type directly related to the probability of Space and Terrestrial Science.
contacts have been made at the same Sp -E occurring at the intermediate Situated in locator FNO5XW, the
time as these long distance contacts. reflection points. Toronto Society intend to be active END
46 Practical Wireless, October 1995
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We all know that Power Power resistor you haven't changed the
feeders from Termination Termination way the line looks when viewed
Absorbed Refelected Absorbed Ref elected
transceivers to from the generator. What we
R = mi None All R = ... None All
antenna come in have done is we have provided
various gur.cs. For instance we R = Zo All None R > Zo Some Some a load that is said to be matched
may use coaxial cable, R.0 None All R . Z0 All None to the line. The value of resistor
balanced twin or open wire Table 1. R < Zo Some Some that can replace a section of
feeder. And we casually refer to This table shows whether power line without changing what the
R=0 None All
them by names such as 500 is reflected or absorbed by a generator 'sees' is called the
coaxial or 60052 line. load in three specialised cases. Table 2. characteristic impedance, and is
However, if we take a length This table shows whether power usually labelled Zo.
of any feeder and measure it impeded by the inductive action is reflected or absorbed by a
with an Ohm -meter the only of the first inductor. As soon as load depending on the value of
readings we get are infinity or a voltage appears across the first
Impedance
the terminating resistor.
zero Ohms (or a few milliohms). capacitor, current will start to Difference
You never get readings such as flow through the second measured in Ohms. Now I've explained what's
50, 75, 30052 with which we inductor pair into the second Let's look at the infinitely meant by line impedance and
are familiar with. So what are capacitor. long line a little more closely as by a matched line, let's see
these 'Ohms' that don't register The current flowing into the shown in the drawing of Fig. 2. what happens when a line is
on an Ohm -meter? second capacitor will also be If you consider a section of the terminated with a load which
Like many puzzles, the impeded by action of the line some way from the differs from the line's
'mystery Ohm' version is not second inductor pair. This generator, you can see that the impedance. First of all consider
hard to solve once you look at it composite action will carry on voltage across the section is the the simplest case of line with a
correctly. Radio enthusiasts are down the line with each set of same at the input and the load that differs from its
so used to relating the term inductors and capacitors. output. Note also the same characteristic impedance. Such
Ohms to a definite object, like a If you have a line which is current flows into the section as a case is called a mismatched
470 resistor, that we forget that infinitely long you will arrive at flows out of it. load.
the term Ohm is the ratio of the a situation where the capacitors Because there is no voltage The simplest mismatched
voltage .-.cross a circuit to the at the start of the line are fully or current loss in the line, you load is when the line is not
curreot flowing through the charged and yet a constant can replace the rest of line to terminated at all. In other words
dr( ult. This definition is the key current is still flowing through the right of the considered the load is an open circuit. In
to ,,,derctanding the enigma. their associated inductors. section by a resistor. This the case of an open circuit, it is
easy to see that none of the
energy fed into the line can be
a Lb Lc dissipated in a load as there is
no load to absorb it.
To an infinite number
a Cb Cd of further similar circuits The energy fed down the
Ld Le Ld
line can't just hang about in
limbo. It's being fed into the line
and has to go somewhere. So,
as it cannot go any further it has
Fig. 1: The theoretical circuit of a section from an infinite length of r.f. feeder. Each to return from whence it came.
inductor is equivalent to the inductance of a short length of conductor. Each capacitor In other words it is reflected
is the capacitance between the same length of both conductors. The effective, or back down the line.
characteristic, impedance (20) can be calculated from the applied V and the current (i) When the line is terminated
flowing. in a short circuit there is again
no power consumed, as short
The reason for this constant
La
Balanced Line current still flowing through the
inductors is that the capacitors From generator
>O
To resistor pad
V V
For simplicity let us consider a further down the line are still *
C
R = Zo
balanced line. being charged up. As the line is
zo =.f La
T
Diagrammatically this can be considered to be of infinite
represented as a series of length, there are always going Fig. 2: If a resistor of the same resistance as ZO is
capacitors and inductors as to be capacitors that are being attached to the points A -A then all the energy from the
shown in Fig. 1. If a voltage is charged up. generator will be absorbed in it.
applied across the line, current The ratio of the voltage
will start to flow through the across the charged capacitors resistor would have a resistance circuits do not consume energy.
first inductors into the first and the current flowing through equal to the ratio of the voltage So, once again the power is
capacitor. their inductors is the impedance across the section to the current redirected whence it came,
However, the flow of current of the line. So, it's not surprising flowing out of the section. towards the generator. I've
into this first capacitor will be to learn that impedance is By replacing the line by a summarised the normal case of
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IN RADIO
Mike Richards G4WNC brings you
all the latest news and views from
the computing in radio world.
Much interest has been using the facilities ==.1 Netscape - [TRAFFORD AMATEUR RADIO CLUB]
shown following the available from modern Elle Edit View Go Bookmarks Options Directory help
various digital signal telecommunications '4;0 JL
bob Ciss bro bop
processing (d.s.p.) features switching techniques.
in this column and there's more to Because all these networks Locatiols I httpliwww. rocc.ac.uk/OtherPagesitratiordARCITratford.html
come! The latest news comes from use centralised
Mike Kerry G4BMK of Grosvenor interconnected processors What's Newt What's Cool, A Handbook Net Search I Net Dorm:low 1
Software. it's now possible to easily
Mike's sent me a note to say that redirect traffic under
he's developed software routines for central control. Trafford Amateur Radio Club
the Texas DSK so that it can be used In the case of v-PoPs,
with his BMK-Multy for Amtor, local phone numbers are
Pactor, RTTY and c.w. Mike also allocated so that most of
reports a few problems with the the population can access
assembler supplied with the DSK. them with just a local call
The package has poor validation charge. When these
and can produce unpredictable numbers are dialled the TRAFFORD AMATEUR
results. By way of a solution Mike switching network RADIO CLUB
has written his own cross assembler recognises that this is a Trafford Amateur Radio club Internet page.
that runs on a PC. He is releasing the special number and
assembler as shareware and has automatically re-routes the call to Web browser.
kindly supplied a copy so it will be one of the network supplier's modem vast majority of people using provides an easy to use graphical
included on all future DSP starter sites at no extra charge to the Windows based PCs for Internet interface to the Internet.
disks. customer. Another advantage of the access I've concentrated on those In my opinion by far the best
Much of the E-mail I've received system is that you should rarely applications for this. available World Wide Web browser is
has been asking for details of good suffer from busy tone as the system Probably the first application that Netscape Navigator which is
d.s.p. sites on the Internet. The key will automatically re-route you to the new users seek out is some form of currently at version 1.2 (beta2). For
sites to watch are: ftp.tapr.org next free PoP. E-mail program. The two main many of us, one of the great benefits
Rapr/SIG/hfsig/upload This is the The other development that goes contenders in this area are Eudora of Internet access is the ability to find
site used by Johan Forrer for hand -in -hand with this is British (ver 1.44) and WinPmail (ver 2.0). and retrieve a wide range of top
uploading new programs. The Telecom's (BT) revised pricing Both programs are equally quality software.
ttp.ucsd.edu/harnradio/dsp site structure. Not only have the rates competent and well tested but in my One of the main tools for doing
contains mainly older material but is been reduced over recent months, view WinPmail has the edge with a this is a good File Transfer Protocol
still very interesting. but they've just changed to per better range of facilities. or FTP client. There are several of
second charging. This is particularly WinPmail is particularly powerful these available, but one of the best is
attractive for the Internet user, but for attaching files to messages and WS-FTP (ver 95.04.27).
Low Cost Connection you need to note that there is a 5p automatically filtering messages to a This provides all the important
minimum charge for any call. folder. This is particularly handy if features including clear indication of
Good news at last for all who've been If you restrict your main Internet you subscribe to a specialist transfer time, progress and data rate.
put off the Internet due to the access times to the weekend you can listserver where you can set-up the Searching out the required
potentially high 'phone bills. Most of also take advantage of BT's Weekend mail filter so that all messages from information can be something of a
the main connection suppliers are rate which gives you local calls at the listserver are automatically filed black art but good Gopher and Archie
busy opening -up what are known as just 1 p per minute. You can reduce away in an appropriate folder without clients make a good starting point.
v-PoPs or virtual Points of Presence. your costs by a further 5% if you out clogging -up the new mail area. The two I use are WSGopher (ver
Before the v-PoP, most users take advantage of BT's Friends and Next on the list of goodies is a 1.2) and WSArchie (ver Alpha 0.8 ).
made their connection to the Internet Family offer. news reader and this is an area that's Both are well tried and have a good
by making a 'phone call to their You can take this even further if been very poorly served until interface with all the necessary
nearest conventional PoP. These you normally pay more than about relatively recently. What you really features.
PoPs were located around the £40 or so per quarter on call charges need is what's known as an off-line The home/UK sites for all the
country to give as many people as by taking -up BT's PremierLine. This news reader. This let's you bulk programs are listed in Table 1.
possible local access to the Internet. could add an extra 15% savings download messages so you can
The disadvantage of course was making the total 20% so reducing the browse at your leisure without
that Murphy's law makes sure none local call charge to just 0.8p per having to stay logged -on to the FAX With Slow PCs
of the PoPs were within your own minute at weekends! Internet.
local call area! The other As far as I'm aware, the only One of the most common problems
disadvantage for the connection shareware off-line reader is Forte' with JVFAX comes from trying to run
supplier was that he had to maintain Internet Applications FreeAgent (ver 1.0). This is a really it on a slow, 286 based PC. Most of
a number of remote sites located all excellent program with a top class the difficulties stem from trying to
around the country. I thought you might find it useful if I interface and range of facilities. use the simple comparator interface
The v-PoPs represent a very neat ran through what I have found to be If you want to impress your with a slow 286 processor.
technical solution to the problems the best applications that are family and friends you really do need In many cases the end result is either
It's Field Day Again! are not just those of a good operator.
You also need mechanics,
Think back to earlier this year, to the cooks, drivers, labourers and
month of May. Consider the state of general assistants. Anyone who
mind evident in the people who run owns a caravan will be very popular
your local radio club. Were they over certain weekends!
cool, calm, collected? The idea of Field Day is that you
Did they discuss matters try to set-up a station (perhaps
rationally and make reasoned several, according to the rules) in
decisions? Not likely! They were 'emergency conditions'.
probably in an increasing state of Starting with an empty field, a
panic, seeking equipment and group is required to erect antennas years, we had a spectacular diesel can concentrate on just one, and put
volunteers. Why? Because it was and get the stations going without generator failure one year. all their effort into that.
getting close to Field Day time. using mains power or any A piston decided not to As the interests of radio
A typical British group would be permanent structures. It's not just a participate in the contest any more, amateurs become more diverse, it
planning for one or more of these question of getting on the bands and and made an exit out of the side of may be worth considering a single
four weekends: National Field Day making a few contacts, the events the crankcase. This did not increase Field Day for Europe. Then a group
(c.w.); VHF Field Day; Low Power last for 24 hours, so you have to our score, and caused a couple of can ask its members for help on a
Field Day (CW) and SSB Field Day arrange operating shifts, decide rude words (maybe more!). single weekend a year, without
The v.h.f. event is a multi -mode tactics for band usage and so on. The weather can make life very diluting their efforts in all the other
contest which also includes u.h.f. The point is this: the weekend is difficult. Antennas may be blown activities they would like to take part
The other three are single -mode and made interesting and worthwhile by over, and rain can find its way into in throughout the summer.
involve the h.f. bands. Participants requiring entrants to participate in a any operating position. There is There have been unsuccessful
are likely to include not just British contest once they have got sometimes a danger of lightning, efforts to coordinate dates in Europe
stations, but also thousands set-up everything working. particularly for entrants in Southern and North America, so that portable
under in a similar way from all over Needless to say, many things Europe. stations would have the opportunity
Europe. can go wrong during a Field Day. The to contact each other across the
Most amateurs who have any power supply (often a generator) Atlantic. This is an issue which might
connection with a club have been can go wrong. At the Flight Bigger In The USA be worth bringing up again in a few
roped in to help during a Field Day. Refuelling club, near Bourmeouth, years' time, as the sunspot cycle
This is because the skills required Dorset, where I took part for many As you might expect, everything is brings better conditions.
bigger here in the USA! It doesn't
mean to say that everything is better, Entry
although most people would agree Categories
that an increase in interest from
British clubs would be very good A nice feature of the US Field Day is
news! that you can enter in any one of
The main difference is that the dozens of entry categories. Because
US has just one Field Day each year, the contest is oriented towards
and it incorporates most of the emergency operation, several
features of all of the British four. categories call for different types of
Unsurprisingly, the number of temporary power supplies.
participants is huge. The categories include
Just to give you a few statistics, generators and battery power. Then
more than 2000 groups enter, you get bonuses for 'natural' power
involving over 36,000 people. About sources, such as solar, wind or
one and a half million OSOs are alcohol!
made, two thirds on s.s.b. and the Unlike our own Field Days,
rest mainly on c.w. antennas are not restricted in type
All bands can be used, apart or number, and maximum licensed
from 10, 18, 24MHz and the higher power may be used. Bonuses are
u.h.f. bands. Contacts are also made available for lower power levels
by packet and satellite. down to 5W. Interestingly, there are
So, how does this compare with categories which allow various
a British Field Day? It's hard to say, numbers of simultaneous
because of the different formats. transmitters to be used.
However, the concentration of A welcome feature is that
effort into one weekend seems to Novice and Technician licensees are
Fig. 1: A general view of some of the Field Day antennas grab the attention of most clubs. encouraged by the scoring system to
at NOAUS, showing a 50MHz 6 -element quad, a 4 - Instead of deciding to enter one or enter, which is not a feature of our
element mono -bander for 14MHz and a 22 -element array two of the available Field Days (as own events. Of course, the licence
for 144MHz. most British clubs do), Americans categories in the USA are different,
but it would be nice to have more information booth, and for publicity interference was not great and it had the feeling that problems were
encouragement for newcomers in in newspapers, radio and television. was unnecessary to achieve large just calmly dealt with as they
the UK. We are pretty bad in the UK at station separation. happened. Maybe I'll report next
explaining our hobby to the world at At the start of the 24 hours, year on a club which really tries to
Local Group large. Most people think that we operation was mainly on h.f., with win. It will be a different atmosphere,
have meaningless conversations s.s.b. and c.w. stations achieving but there is much to be said for a
I decided to find out how one of the about trivial topics with the folks good rates on 7 andl4MHz. laid-back approach!
local groups organised themselves down the road. The relatively relaxed nature of
here in Colorado. Several in the Of course, we do! But that's only the group's efforts was illustrated by Comments And
Denver area go out to various sites, a small part of it. Amateur radio has the arrival of Luca VE2WKR (Fig. 2). Suggestions
with differing expectations of what the potential to teach something He was late because he had been
they might achieve. about electronics, geography, skiing on Saturday, and found the Thank you to those who have written
Some treat the weekend as international relations and many snow conditions good (very unusual with comments and suggestions. For
another contest in their calendar, other subjects. in June)! example Wyn GW8AVVT has
and try to get the best score in their It's ideal for anyone to take up at Nobody was perturbed. Luca proposed showing questions from
state or perhaps nationwide. Some any age, but particularly for proceeded to set up satellite the RAE along with those set for
go for a weekend out in the youngsters. Why don't we say so equipment, gaining bonus points for various US licence exams, so that
countryside, operating whenever whenever we can? his contacts. we can compare standards.
they can. We could do much more by Perhaps I will go one stage
The group I visited were following the lead of our American further, and devote a whole column
specifically set-up to provide friends. We could put up signs
Different Bands And Modes
to the US exams, with examples,
emergency communications in the directing visitors to Field Days and As time went by, different bands and There seems to be a lot of interest in
event of any sort of disaster. Like other radio activities. modes were used. Use of 1.8 and this topic.
RAYNET groups in the UK, they We could ensure that someone 3.5MHz (and, to some extent, 7 and And John G4POF, asks when I
practice throughout the year in is always available to explain what's even 14MHz) is limited during the will be on the h.f. bands to make
exercises, during sporting events happening. We could make up a summer, because of the high static contacts. In answer, I operate mainly
and so on. They rejoice in the leaflet with some basic facts, noise. A continuous S9 level is 14MHz c.w., and look for G stations
unexciting (but accurate) name of showing how to get more something we rarely encounter in at the weekends.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service information. the UK, but in North America it's Conditions have not been good
District 22, or ARES 22. I feel strongly that Amateur common. from here to Europe during the
Under the leadership of Al Radio will gradually cease to exist, to For a different reason, v.h.f and summer. But we can hope for
Cooley, and using his callsign, everybody's detriment, if the public is u.h.f. do not feature heavily in less improvement this winter.
NOAUS, ARES 22 operated from indifferent because of ignorance. populated regions. There are just a I will certainly be on the air
Daniels Park. This is a wooded area, We somehow need to boost our limited number of amateurs to (along with thousands of others) for
located about 20 miles south of image, and find ways of informing contact, and distances are generally the two most popular contests in the
Denver. the world about ourselves. too great. world. The CO WW DX contests.
It would be unusual for a UK The nearest large city to Denver The contests are organised by
station to use a place like this, which On The Air is 600km away, which means that the American magazine CO, and are
was so open and available to the you need an opening to build up taking place on October 28-29 (s.s.b.)
public. Anyone could stop and Apart from the publicity aspect, the large numbers of QSOs. However, and November 25-26 (c.w.), on 1.8,
wander around the campers and participation of ARES 22 in Field Day contacts are allowed via packet 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz.
tents, which were in a small clearing could be said to meet a combination relays, so this is a popular way of
at the side of the road. of two goals: first, to use whatever achieving greater distances. That's all from me for this quarter, so
means reasonably necessary to put By the end of Field Day, a until next time, 73 and keep writing
Site Ideal their three stations on the air and respectable number of GSOs had with your news and views to me Ed
secondly, to train newcomers in the been made (over 1000). The leaders Taylor WT3U, PO Box 261304,
Al explained that they found the site setting up of an emergency station. in the entry category had probably Denver, Colorado 80226, USA.
ideal. Part of the group's aim is to Thus it was fairly low key, and was made more than 5000, but nobody Deadline time for the next editon of
educate and inform the general by no stretch of the imagination an minded. 'Scene USA' (January PW) is the
public about amateur radio, and attempt to reach a high scoring Al Cooley said he was very middle of October.
particularly its role in emergency position. pleased with the way that ARES 22
communication. As you can see from Fig.1, they had performed. He was particularly
In fact, the rules of the contest use a selection of antennas. happy that the Novices had not only
give extra bonuses for encouraging Because operation was limited to learnt a lot, but wanted to do more
access. There's even more points for three simultaneous transmitters next year.
such things as running an without amplifiers, the amount of co - No disasters took place, but I
END
Practical Wireless, October 1995 57
This time Andy Emmerson G8PTH
has an update on the future of ATV
on 430MHz. together with Internet
and repeater news.
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TRANSCEIVER PRC 316 HF, AM, CW, watts output
Miscellaneous with headphones and boom microphone and manual
last few. E105. Megger crank handle type 500v. £45. All
prices include P&P send large SAE for list. C.P. Surplus,
DIY INEXPENSIVE RADIO PROJECTS. Easy to Wanted 56A Worcester Street, Wolverhampton WV2 4LP.
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make, SAE, RYLANDS, 39 Parkside Avenue,
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WANTED FOR CASH Valvc or solid state Antennas. SAE G81KP, 1 Melstock, Weymouth, Dorset
VALVE ENTHUSIASTS: Capacitors and other parts communication receivers Pre -1980. Preferably working DT3 6JX.
At attractive prices! Ring for free list. Geoff Davies and in good condition. Non working sets considered
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Willow Way, Ampthill, Beds MK45 2SP. magazines. Also, most valves wanted for cash. Must be
unused and boxed. CBS, 157 Dickson Road, Blackpool, YAESU FT2700 dual band 2M,70CM 25W E300
FY1 2EU. Tel: 1012531 751858 or Fax: 1012531302979. Tel: 01256 781881 evenings only.
BRAUN T1000 RX also Grundig 2100 RX working not JAPANESE GAAS-FET, RF power module,
Valves working anything considered. 65F Stratford Rd, microwave TR's and devices for communication and
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VALVES WANTED for cash: KT88, PX4,PX25 £45; with headphones and boom microphone and manual
DA100 E75; EL34, EL37 ECC811CV4024, CV4003, last few. £105.00 Megger crank handle type 500V
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various station types are listed separately the maps are useful for the travelling
Detaied desuipt,ons of the Ward Melec,olouca, 0,anisation Global
listener Articles included in the guide discuss v h I aerials, RDS. the Radio PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO
Telecommunication System operating FAX and RTTY meteo stations, anC its
Authority and developments from Bleroured , " on to explore and !- rurld or broadcast
message formal with decoding examples Also detailed description of the
Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network amongst others
58 pages £345 matures on different mernationai radio stations, receive
358 pages £20 00 LI advice as well as the hours and language of broadcast stations by
POP WENT THE PIRATES tie, , the 'blue pages' monde a channel to -channel guide to world band
AIRWAVES 95 Keith Skues sc 416 pages £1450
A very comprensensive history of Pirate Radio Thanks to Pop Went The Pirates
The Complete HI/VIE/UHF Aviation Frequency Directory
the whole era of people seeking to provide a popular alternative radio service, SHORT WAVE INTERNATIONAL FREQUENCY HANDBOOK
Much of the more obscure (especially military) information is made accessibe
under quite considerable opposition, will be remembered I cionl suppose we wall In, r i,iirehertsive frequency listing covering 1001kg - 30 MHz
this volume Not only are taciiitesiactivities listed, giving their frequencies. but also -
ever see or hear the like of it again £1 5 95 and .1!t eVerchrlig from the basics of short wave listening tc explaining
there are reverse lists - when the frequency is known, the allocated user can be
found FAX and RTTY. In this updated version there are many new broadcast and utility
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Airways sectors are listed so much more clearly Mao in the Supplements. The main
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GUIDE TO FAX RADIO STATIONS UK SCANNING DIRECTORY 4th Edition
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15th Edition this spiral bound book lists over 20000 UK spot frequencies from 25kAH7 to
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The new edition of this super reerence book covers the world's facsimile stations,
This spirally bound book is published in a similar formal to Ainalvele 95 and
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airband frequencies given for 38 countries and their dependencies in cast and west
Europe A must for airband enthusiasts both in the UK and Europe 124 pages
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Morse
THE BEGINNER'S HANDBOOK OF AMATEUR RADIO
3rd Edition ELECTRONIC PROJECTS FOR YOUR PC BP320 INTRODUCING MORSE
- Aides train PW 1982 1985 48 pages £125
Ms book ',s 'a good practical introduction A varety al
lo amateur radio.
102 pages F3 95
constructional projects are included to give the beginner etcetera in designing
and building an amateur radio station Even includes valves HOW TO EXPAND MODERNISE AND REPAIR PCs AND Operating and Handbooks
398 pages £1795 COMPATIBLES 813271.
AMATEUR RADIO TECHNIQUES RSGB
ELECTRONICS SIMPLIFIED - CRYSTAL SET Areto
Pat Hawke G3VA
Recently revised. tni, - ci sever chapters dealing ven IBM PCiAls or 'clones
CONSTRUCTION BP92 :
Anyone who enjoys Pat Hawker's 'technical topics' In Rack Communcatrons will
Starting en an overvie....' PCs and hardware, before describing upgrading disks.
F A VP enjoy this book An amateur radio manual itself, this paperback book. Me 7th
video and memory. Three chapters cover repairs, building a PC from bits, and
Especially written ter those who wish to take part in basic radio building All the edition, can only be bettered by a new edition A truly excellent reference source
repent developments A gcnd grnund,ng mr1iCs
sets in the book are old designs updated with modern components It is designed 4, with a wactical bias 368 pages £950
for all ages upwards root the day when one can read intelhgently and handle
simple tools INTERFACING PCs AND COMPATIBLES BP272 ARRL HANDBOOK FOR RADIO AMATEURS 1995
711
II A ilento,o this ,s the 72nd edition of this handbook and contains the best inlormation from
previous issues. New for this edition is some information on leedback-loop design
D5 pages £3 95
HOW TO PASS THE RADIO AMATEURS' EXAMINATION to power supplies, a new gel -cell charger project, updates on antenna systems and
(RSGB) NEWNES COMPUTER ENGINEER'S POCKET BOOK new coverage of balues, propagation programs are compared and odour SS TV and
. - 71-i and George Benbow G3HB Third Edition telephone FAX machines are also covered. Finally there's a new section on Tor Me
I J, L. .o to multiple choice exams and how to study jar Men with Sample workbench win new protects for be reader to build 1214 pages £19 95
M,cride, Tuuley
RAE paper for practice plus maths revision and Now to study for the exam The
An invaluable compendium of facts. Noes, circuits and data which rs
majority of this book is given to sample examirat on paper, s- 'ha' -,:orlon can ARRL OPERATING MANUAL
indispensible to the designer student, serince engineer and all those interested in
familiarise themselves with the examiration and k. - Another very useful ARRL book Although written for the Arneran amateur, this
=puler and microcomputer systems This enlarged third edition covers a vast
88 pages £799 book el alsc be of use and interest to the UK amateur Topics cowered range from
range subrdats al a pradcal level, with the appropriate explanatory text
shed wave C ?'atIng awards to repeaters. operating and satellites
RAE MANUAL (RSGB)
-
84"3 684 pages J
N001- A -,Ad -n. c, .77 n1 ;nd !he book provides a useful reterence source
This 0:10" :vices esseir airocratic" and iead,g ton anyone who
has
J Michael Gale
--eno3) problem With Me relp of the wen -illustrated lad and
tech- How do you stay in touch when you sail oft over the Won and into the blue?
THE NOVICE LICENCE STUDENT'S NOTEBOOK lye mystery hem me troublesome cord of electromagnetic
What you need is a single sideband radio, a marines s b This book explains how
Compatibility is removed
117 pages. £7.99 the system works, now lo choose and instat your set and how to get tee best out of
i,
, tie Novice Lance it There is also a chapter on amateur radio with Pre emphasis on the Increasingly
Geeing al aspects .' 4-naleki rad o and elezttcr,s is wo_ld be useful to anyone important mailime mobile nets 96 pages £10.95
start ng nu' r amateur -rd- 0eery 'en ^and pane is '01 yo,r own notes of
Historical MARINE VHF OPERATION
, fr a
-ii .:, , .-J. riff< to get off to a quick start
Edited by
A fascinating ,JJ
.-
1934 OFFICIAL SHORT WAVE RADIO MANUAL
excellent framework textbook to nelp novice, instructor and beginner alike !- WORLD AT THEIR FINGERTIPS (RSGB)
excellent basic reference work SETTING UP All AMATEUR RADIO STATION BP300
, the fascinating history. techniques equipment
101 pages £650 I D Poole
used and pesssralities tencid amateur radio ken the very beginnings of the hobby
Ian Poole G3VWX provides a nelptul guide for anyone setting up an amateur radio
to the late 1960s John Clarricoats G6CL
WIFB'S HELP FOR NEW HAMS (ARRL) station and covers station design construction antenna, equipment lay -out and
307 pages EEC°
Doug DeMaw WIEB the construction and use of basic test eougment and helpful on the air' operating
this book covers everything from getting acquainted with new equipment to hints 81 pages £395
constructing antennas. station layout, interference and operating problems to on
the -air conduct and procedures
coons 08 95 Maps and Log Books Packet
AMATEUR RADIO LOGBOOK (RSGB) PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PACKET OPERATION IN THE UK
Callbooks This standard spirally bound amateur radio log book has 100 pages and is marled Mike Mansfield G6AWD
out wan the faunal required in the UK Thee are columns for date, lime (UTC), Introduces the concept of packet radio to the beginner Prcecern areas are discussant
RADIO AMATEUR CALLBOOK INTERNATIONAL LISTINGS Ireddarlry 00wer wpuiedl,alled reports. OSL information and and suggestions made for solutions to minimise them Deals with the technical
1995 aspects of packet taking the reader through setting up and provides a
73rd Edition comprehensive guide to essential reMrence maleria 2211 pages £995
The only publication listing licensed radio amateurs trecughout the world. Also NORTH ATLANTIC ROUTE CHART
includes DXCC Countries list, standard time chart, beacon lists and much more this is a live -colour char; designed tor Me AEC in monitoring transatlantic lights PACKET: SPEED, MORE SPEED AND APPLICATIONS tawcv
Deer 1400 gages £20 95 Supplied folded there is a lot to see, learn and do win packet You Opel need lo be a guru to loin
740 x 520mm £6.50 in the fun This collection tit articles and updates linen ARK Computer' NeArotkog
RADIO AMATEUR CALLBOOK NORTH AMERICAN Conlerme Pmaiedings IAPR's Paler Status Register, OEX, QST ant ARRL
LISTINGS 1995 QTH LOCATOR MAP OF EUROPE Handboar promises an exerting rldr, nr Prth packereers and future packeteers
r.sa Editiar. This comprehensive map of the European callsign area has now been updated and Hang onto your seat and slart-uc ie 1 td pages E12 95
Wings of US amateurs (including Hawaii Also contains standard time chart, enhanced. This well thought cut. coloured map covers from N Africa to Iceland and
census of amateur licences of the wont! OSL bureau etc from Portugal in the west to Iran in the east Folds to it into Me 145 x 240mm clear YOUR GATEWAY TO PACKET RADIO
Over 1400 pages. £2095 envelope. Stan Horzepa WAI LOU
1080 x 680rnm £595 What is packet radio good for and what uses does it have for the 'average' amateur,
What are ptolocols? where, why. when? Lots of the mos! asked questions are
Computing RADIO AMATEURS MAP OF THE WORLD answered in this useful book k included details of nehvoncing and space
This a brightly coloured map clearly show rig callsign prefixes fon the work, and is communications using packet 278 pages. £8.95
AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS JP -to -date with recent European boundary changes Supplied folded in a clear
BP177 blot a wallet YOUR PACKET COMPANION
H A reurpiit Steve Ford WB81MY
Details at various types of modern and !ter applications. plus how to interconnect This American book goes to considerable lengths to explain in simple terms now
computers. moderns and the telephone system Also networkirg systems and RTTY RECEIVING STATION LOG BOOK (RSGB) the radio amateur or gel going on packet, now it works and eat the various
72 pages £2.95 £3 vii systems are There are chapters dealing with assembling a packet station, sending
Hints and ideas on hue Is sse Igoe lest equiprrenl you rave. to check out. or fault NEWNES AUDIO AND HI -Fl ENGINEER'S POCKET BOOK RCA TRANSMITTING TUBES
find on electronic carrels Many diagrams of typical waveforms and circuits, Second Edition (Original Publisher Radio Corporation of America)
rr; la 1. expect with party ar faults or Vivian Carel Re published by Antique Electronic Supply (Arizona)
A connote collection of practical and (elevent data for anyone working on sound This is a stiff covered papetacked novel -sized book And II you've got an interest in
systenks The topics covered include micrenores, gramophones compact discs transmitting with valves this is a useful reference source foe -valves up to 4kW
MORE ADVANCED TEST EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTION tape recordinghign quality radio, amplifiers, loudspeakers and pubic address input The RCA authors have included some interesting practical circuits using heir
B 210 pages £1095 valves, including some for s s b v h I and others Highly recommended reference
R A Penfold source 318 pages E9 95
A follow on from Test Equipment Construction 03P248I tn,s book looks at digital NEWNES ELECTRONICS ENGINEER'S POCKET BOOK
methods DI measuring resistance. voltage current capacitance and Irequency Also
covered a lasting sert-conduttors, along with test gear for general radio related ..1 ecaurne is packed with iclouratiun *Nob everyone involved
topics 102 pages 43 50 mi )
' 7 indispendabe This pock is an invaluable cOMPerldium of
Projects
aar. rrn Mr,-.rin- non students and service personel
MORE ADVANCED USES OF THE MULTIMETER 8P265 wit' 306 pages Et) 95 COIL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANUAL BP160
B B. Babani 106 n..
Tr.is bock is prima' y l',!encled as a It Ow to 1343239, Getting t^e most ham POWER SUPPLY PROJECTS BP76
your Muff merter By using the leeches described in this book you can lest and R A Reinhold HOW TO DESIGN AND MAKE YOUR OWN PCBs BP121
analyse the performance of a range 01 components with lust a multi -meter (plus a This book gives a nu, supply designs including simple unstabiliSed R A Penfold
very few inexpensive components in some cases). The simple add-ans described types hiked voltage regulated types and variable voltage stabilised designs. The purpose of this book s rarrii iarise me redder with both sImple and more
extend the capabilities of a multi -meter to make it even mare useful 89 Pares £2 50 sophisticated methods of piodun.rig pcbs The emphasis nt Me nook is very much
ta.ses F3 on the practice' ' ' :: ).r E2 50
PRACTICAL ELECTRONIC FILTERS BP299
PRACTICAL TRANSMITTERS FOR NOVICES MORE ADVANCED POWER SUPPLY PROJECTS BP192
John Case GW411WR A user.11 erereduchun to die complex world or filters arc their design where the A A Pentold
Trims book contains a selection of 'easy to build' transmitter designs which are author avoids tne maternarioai acornach The dewy of fillers. their design and a The practical and theoretical aspects 0) the crcuits are coveted in some detail
suitable 'or the UK Novice bands (including microwaves) Although the book is l'r 11,1s are provided. 189 pages £495 Topics include siva., A.' racking
primarily aimed at Novices it should also interest any amateur who is building regulators and on-
transmitters for the lust time. Chapters include Methods of construction Amplifiers PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS
and lifters, Tools and how to use them and Suppliers of components and many HANDBOOK PROJECTS FOR RADIO AMATEURS AND SWLS BP304
more 126 pages £9.00
IT 11 I NEW
tan S
the oesi ma um idbook on electronics you can buy.
Illy I ki Ira S.r.ry rrorrn --) -,-,..chOn and use of radio frequency and
TEST EQUIPMENT FOR THE RADIO AMATEUR SO clams the sleeve notes or the 4th edition They're not 111 \ 111(1111k intermediate 'requenca projects and a.,dio trequenCy violets Under the lust
Clive Smith G4F /H far of the mark either. the volume covers a wide range treading ideas .nopde a orysta! calibrator an antenna turnng unit, a wave trap, a
In its 3rd edition. this Onto On.y.do..) "s,y eum, of5miet proleol designs of disc.plines These include passive and alive discrete b f o and '4' On the audio Side propels include a ban:Mass filter
-
for !he !ado amateur. complete with p c c template 6n the rear a'the book) Areas components c s both analogue and digital !eluding a by -pas! n r.-
decoder ark many other practical ideas and
covered include current and voltage measurements osci loscopes frequency, r f WI) and D/A Microprocessor and systems Much .7:1 92 Pages £3 95
antenna and transmission lire measurements reference data is also included. A book worthy of space
170 pages £900 In you.] hrasy 439 pages F13 95 SHORT WAVE SUPERHET RECEIVER CONSTRUCTION
BP276
TEST EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTION
BP248. R.A.Penfold "..""S 1,15E'l bold 'rum antenna 'n augur. described in
VHF Describes, in detail how to construct some simple and inexcenSive. at extremely
useful, pieces of test equipment. Shipboard layouts are provided for all designs
ALL ABOUT VHF AMATEUR RADIO logether with wiring diagrams where appropriate plus notes on their construction
SIMPLE SHORT WAVE RECEIVER CONSTRUCTION
W I Orr W6SAI and use 104 pages E2 95
BP275
Written in non -technical language. r s mites information covering
important aspects of irh I. radio and tells you where you can find additional data If WIFB's DESIGN NOTEBOOK (ARRL) Bacre rosu..15 rig pruieols and Iasi-alias, :he aurcor pro oes essential
you have a scanner, you'll find a lot of interesting signals in the huge span of Doug DeMAW WIFB information on theory, propagation receiver designs and techniques Finally, the
frequencies covered. 100-300MHz 850. 420, 932 6 1250MHz bands this book is aimed at the non -technical amateur who wants to build simple protects author provides design for arid describes the construction of practical receivers.
163 pages CI 50 and obtain a basic understanding of amateur electronics Your workshop does not 88 pages. £3.95
RoIpX1:0
Binders
PW SERVICES
Queries:
PW can provide a choice of binders for readers' use. Plain blue binders are available, each holding 12
issues of any similar At format magazine. Alternatively, blue binders embossed with the PW logo in
silver can be supplied. The price for either type of binder is E5.50 each If1 P&P for one. E2 for two or
morel
Send all orders to PW Publishing Ltd., FREEPOST, Arrowsmith Court, Station Approach, Broadstone,
Practical Wireless, Dorset BH18 8PW
PW Publishing Ltd., Arrowsmith Court,
Station Approach,
Broadstone, Dorset BH18 8PW.
Constructional Projects
Components for PWprorects are usually readily available from component suppliers. For unusual or
specialised components, a source or sources will be quoted.
We will elways try to help readers having dtfficulbes with Practical Were/ass project, but please note the Each constructional project is given a rating to guide readers as to the complexity.
following simple rules: Spinner: A project that can be tackled by a beginner who is able to identify components and handle a
1, We cannot deal with technical queries over the telephone. soldering iron.
2: We cannot give advice on modifications either to our designs. to commercial radio. TN/ or electronic Intssmothato: A fair degree of experience of building radio or electronic projects is assumed, but only
equipment. basic test equipment will be needed to complete any tests and adjustments.
3. All letters asking for advice must be accompanied by a stamped sell -addressed envelope for envelope Advanced: A project likely to appeal to the experienced constructor. Access to workshop facilities and
plus IRCs for overseas readers) test equipment will often be required. Definitely not for the beginner to attempt without assistance.
Make sure you describe the problem adequately, with as much detail as you can possibly supply.
5: Only one problem per letter please.
DISTANCE IS NO OBJECT
DoWI-
-ONNOS
AL ill IN NOVEMBER'S PIM
2
owl
OCTOB YOUR
PEACEYt 'DXpertise With Devereux'
Mike Devereux G3SED takes time off from Nevada Communications to share
0110E111°1i" his world-wide travels with the Camel Trophy DXpeditions.
Bru"ing The 100 n 111 e r
Join well known DXer Chris Page 64BUE as he describes how you break
the 100 countries barrier and go on to the coveted 'Honor Roll' when you
work 300 DX countries.
Build The High Fly ,illtenn
You too can work that DX when Mot Goom 6411MW describes his
successful shortened dipole system.
lex
PW's Tex Swann G1TEX has been on holiday with the FT -TOR hand-held
transceiver and describes his experiences while reviewing two interesting
alternatives from Taesu.
,1 IIIU:.
Regular PW author Leighton Smart GWOLBI goes mobile in the Welsh
Valleys with a friend to review the FT -8500 v.h.th.h.f. transceiver.
WANTED
We BUY and SELL attain .% used
JAYCEE KANGA PRODUCTS TENNAMAST
Amateur Radio's ELECTRONICS LTD For QRP kits SCOTLAND
Send an SAE for our list or telephone for 20 Woodside Was, Gkirothes, Fife 101 51:11:
a quote on your unwanted equipment. A variety of kits for RECEIVERS. Masts from 25ft 40ft
Tel:1015921756962 (Day or Night)
ou.H-o". K 131-11,1X1 sunin .1 Anson. Fax No.1015921610451
TRANSMITTERS & TEST GEAR.
Adapt -A -Mast
KP Trading, Seaview House Open: Tues-Fri 9-5) Sal 9.4 Send an AS SAF. fi* gPee rI pi' r,J win t dialogue
Crete Road East, Folkestone CT18 7EG KENSVOOD. YAESU a ICOM APPROVED DEALERS Seai leo House, Crete Road East
Tan 01303 891106 A good stock of new and secondhand lolkestoocallI7E6 1015051503824
4KP Truth, r, v wirtuban el KANGA PROIWCIS, equipment always in stock lean A131049114 ISISIMA SI Slain. Road. Ruth. %rhire. k %15 2111
The international group for all WEATHER SATELLITE enthusiasts ELECTRONICS Phone for a
most courteous quotation
RIG publishes a quarterly Journal containing many images from
space. some in colour Orbital elements and predictions Articles VALVES 081-743 0899
about the interpretation of weather images. equipment
construction and software and all the news of weather satellites. & SEMICONDUCTORS Fax: 081-749 3934
RIG supplies (to members only) receivers etc at a discount
Remolc Irdg, c; Or .r.Jc shareware of relevant programs images on disk and CD-ROM We are one of the largest stockists of valves etc, in the U.K.
Send for free information Pack (UK readers SAE please) to - 170 GOLDHAWK ROAD
RIG -Pa. PO Box 142 R1CKMANSWORTH Herts WD3 4RO, England COLOMOR (ELECTRONICS) LTD. LONDON W12 8HJ
Index to Advertisers
AH Supplies 52 Howes. CM 44 RAS Nottingham 52
IC-VV3IE
4
LL
.1t
T ' I packages':
Slim compact dimensions unlike other bulky dual-
band handhelds.
Memories can be displayed by frequency or channel
number with dependable EEPROM memory back-up.
2 dials give independent tuning of VHF and UHF
bands.
The alphanumeric display can also be used to create
CD - =
DTMF Tx or Rx messages up to 6 characters for simple
paging.
111/.11U
11th
Catalogue available at branches of WH SMITH, John Menzies and Maplin stores nationwide, or
order direct NOW on 01702 554161
Catalogue Mail order Price £3.45 (inc p&p). Prices depicted are from the 1996 Maplin Catalogue and are inclusive of VAT.
All items are subject to availability. E & OE. Maplin Electronics, P 0. Box 3, Rayleigh, Essex, England SS6 EILR.