RadCom November 2013, Vol. 89, No. 11

| October 25, 2013

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Cover of November 2013 RadCom - The FUNsat satellite. Photo: AMSAT-UK

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Contents RadCom November 2013

News and Reports

  • 6 RSGB Matters
    Including advanced information on the forthcoming Licence Review, a donation to the RCF, Board changes, QSL matters, New Members and Congratulations
  • 10 News
    Amateur radio news
  • 11 Centenary Matters
    Latest news on the RSGB Centenary celebrations and where to find G100RSGB this month
  • 82 Around Your Region
    Clubs news and planned events around the country

Reviews

  • 23 Hilberling PT-8000A
    Peter Hart, G3SJX gets to grips with the long-awaited heavyweight HF, 6m, 4m and 2m transceiver first announced in 2007
  • 77 Book Review
    The ARRL Handbook 2014 and the Haynes Linux Manual examined by Giles Read.

Technical Features

  • 16 Moving On
    More on dipoles – including off-centre fed types – by John Welsh, G0NVZ
  • 18 Homebrew
    Eamon Skelton, EI6GQ makes the receive converter stage for the 70cm transverter project
  • 40 Design Notes
    The PowerPole connector standard, protection from accidental polarity reversal and more with Andy Talbot, G4JNT
  • 46 More on how the VSWR meter works
    Reg Irish, G4LUF expands on his earlier with a look at the tandem match
  • 47 The KN-Q7A 40m QRP SSB transceiver kit
    John Heath, G7HIA as inspired by a RadCom article to get his trusty soldering iron out and have a go at building this popular amateur rado kit from China
  • 55 Signals viewed in the waterfall display
    Many signals have characteristic visual signals when viewed using a software defined receiver display writes Andrew Churchley, G4EAQ
  • 60 GB7TD – a digital repeater
    John Barraclough, G0SJB explains how the UK’s first amateur MotoTRBO Digital Mobile Radio repeater came into being and it allows two simultaneous QSOs on the same channel thanks to time division multiplexing

Features

  • 13 FUNcube Launch
    AMSAT-UK’s homegrown amateur and educational satellite is due for launch on 21 November writes Graham Shirville, G3VZV
  • 30 Amateur radio in 1926
    Tony Preedy, G3LNP expands on the 1926 G5KU article that was reprinted in the Centenary edition of RadCom
  • 31 Getting started in QSLing
    Independent QSL manager Tim Beaumont, M0URX looks at responsible QSLing and getting the best QSL card return rates
  • 38 National Hamfest Report
    It was the best National Hamfest yet, reports Giles Read, G1MFG
  • 42 National Field Day
    Quin Collier, G3WRR says this year it was sunny for a change but the work – and the fun – remains the same as ever
  • 62 GB100RXY activation
    Dave Latimer, G3VUS describes how Furness ARS celebrated 100 years of amateur radio in the area
  • 72 Operating G(W)100RSGB
    More stories from the clubs who have operated the RSGB’s Centenary station

Regulars

  • 91 Advertisers index
  • 35 Antennas, Peter Dodd, G3LDO
  • 76 ARDF, Bob Titterington, G3ORY
  • 48 AT V, Dave Mann, G8ADM
  • 69 GHz Bands, Dr John Worsnop, G4BAO
  • 64 HF, Martin Atherton, G3ZAY
  • 92 Members’ Ads, Rallies and Events, Silent Keys and Special Event stations
  • 79 Propagation, Gwyn Williams, G4KFH
  • 95 RSGB Contacts
  • 74 Sport Radio, Steve White, G3ZVW
  • 96 The Last Word
  • 66 VHF/UHF, Richard Staples, G4HGI

Category: RadCom