RadCom January 2014, Vol. 90, No. 1

| December 17, 2013

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Cover of January 2014 RadCom - The new Yaesu FTDX300

News and Reports

6 RSGB Matters
Including encouragement by the Chairman to broaden our horizons, Club of the Year, FUNcube-1 launch day report from the NRC, RSGB election vacancies, Litmus Test results to Ofcom, QSL matters, New Members and Congratulations
10 News
The forthcoming Bath Buildathon and the 2014 CDXC DX Marathon
82 Around Your Region
News from clubs around the country and the events they’ve got planned this month

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Reviews

13 Yaesu FTdx3000
A mid-range HF-6m transceiver with a crisp eye-catching display, excellent tuning drive and built-in RTTY, PSK and CW decoders writes Peter Hart, G3SJX
30 bhi 10W DESKTOP speaker
Steve Nichols, G0KYA is impressed by the latest innovative noise cancelling product from this British manufacturer
46 Alinco DX-SR8E
Graham Coomber, G0NBI looks at the new entry level 100W HF transceiver from Alinco that could be just what a newcomer needs
75 Book Review
The editorial team’s three favourite books from 2013 plus three highly commended runners-up for your consideration

Features

23 One future for amateur radio?
Professor Peter Cochrane builds on his address at the Centenary Dinner and presents a breathtaking possible future for amateur radio
68 Operating G100RSGB
More stories from the clubs who have operated the RSGB’s Centenary station
70 RSGB Convention
Elaine Richards, G4LFM reports on the stunning success of the RSGB 2013 Centenary Convention
78 Robert Webster Ford, AC4RF, SK
Roger Croston salutes the passing of a legendary amateur with a fascinating history who was revered by the people of Tibet
87 The 1st SOTA International Cycling Weekend
Richard Newstead, G3CWI takes to two wheels to get out portable on the hilltops

Members’ Special Offer

47 Alinco DX-SR8E HF transceiver
A very special offer to Members – £120 off this newly-introduced transceiver

Technical Features

18 Homebrew
Eamon Skelton, EI6GQ designs the SSB and CW IF filters for his LF/MF transceiver project
32 Getting Started in… SMT
There’s no need to be concerned about surface mount technology says Sam Jewell, G4DDK
40 Design Notes
Special techniques for using direct digital synthesisers at microwave frequencies with Andy Talbot, G4JNT
42 Arduino directional power meter
Mark Jones, G0MGX brings the power of the Arduino microcontroller to bear on measuring RF power and VSWR
48 Moving On
A slightly tongue in cheek look at the units ofmeasurement we all use by John Welsh, G0NVZ
56 Operating on the 472kHz band
In the second and final part of his article Mike Dennison, G3XDV looks at practical equipment and estimating your EIRP
60 The Skeleton HF beam antenna
Tony Preedy, G3LNP shares his straightforward 2-ele HF antenna that offers good performance over many bands

Regulars

91 Advertisers index
36 Antennas, Peter Dodd, G3LDO
27 AT V, Dave Mann, G8ADM
66 GHz Bands, Dr John Worsnop, G4BAO
62 HF, Martin Atherton, G3ZAY
92 Members’ Ads, Rallies and Events and Silent Keys
79 Propagation, Gwyn Williams, G4KFH
95 RSGB Contacts
72 Sport Radio, Steve White, G3ZVW
96 The Last Word
64 VHF/UHF, Richard Staples, G4HGI

Category: RadCom