Admin Jim
Admin
Forum Replies Created
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Truth be told, I have milliwatted but a long time ago. It was actually a fluke but I will leave that story for another day and another thread.
Stupid question I am sure, but are there QRPP HF contests out there? The problem is obviously that as soon as a bigger station comes back, the other milliwatters would never get in. So I guess it would have to be a I-was-heard only point system.
Beyond contesting though, my dad who lived and worked in the Arctic for much of his engineering career, used to tell me about these radios they would build and carry before I was born, and most of them were 1 watt radios. And for them it was not about ragchewing or even bragging rights, it was their only comms. This was long before satellite phones.
Methinks that in a couple of years that might be my pet project (this and next year’s projects are already booked!). I think I’d like to recreate my dad’s comms and go up North and see if I can contact anyone.
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I’m actually split. Sometimes I hear words, other times I hear letters. For instance, friends’ callsigns I hear as a word. Most Q-codes also. I also hear words towards the end of a sentence. I find myself listening to the first few letters and then ‘expecting’ certain words. Same applies to sending code. Q-codes, CQ, my callsign, all these are mentally pre-programmed in my head from head to start.
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To all who attended the 2025 Emcomm Station Meet at JHU/APL in Laurel, MD, thank you for coming out. For those who could not join us, you were missed.
(INFORMAL) AFTER ACTION REPORT
- The weather cooperated. The Tº was comfortably cool and the rain missed us.
- The location was perfect; abundant open space for portable stations, great parking area for mobile units, and the geese gave us permission to set up and stay.
- THANK YOU JHU/APL for your amazing hospitality. A special thank you to Javi W3JAV and the W3APL Club – and its members – for making the location happen.
- Donuts were good; coffee was not hot; apologies.
- Turnout was, considering the long weekend and change of date, very respectable; we had eight setups and about 80 people visited and engaged in in-depth conversations.
- Though this was not a transmitting event per se, several HF and VHF/UHF contacts were made.
- Thank you to the institutions that came out with large institutional vehicles. For such a small and new event, your presence was so very kind – Laurel, MCACS and Howard County, we’re talking about you.
- A final thank you to the volunteers (several from W3APL) who helped us set up and, yes, tear down.
Overall, the initiatives were very interesting. We saw a diversity of stations with a strong dose of ingenuity. In a real-world emergency, you would shine.
On behalf of Al KN3U MCACS, Javi W3JAV, and Jim K3MRI, thank you all for joining us.
Check out the photo gallery: https://ham.community/groups/emergency-communications-group/albums/8/
ham.community
Albums – Emergency communications group – Page 8 – Ham Community
Albums – Emergency communications group – Page 8 – Ham Community
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BUMMED. We decided to postpone to the rain date because the models showed there was a chance of rain in the mid-morning. Well, turns out that the models – every one of them – were inaccurate. At this point looks like if there is any rain whatsoever, it’ll come mid- to late-afternoon.
😠
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RE the 7300, it feels like almost a decade old, wait, it is! Incredible how time flies. As for the 705, I’ll tell you what I like: there’s a singular sensation associated with accomplishing the harder tasks in life and QRP is one of those. The feeling of going out into one’s garden—never mind the highest peaks—and cranking out five minuscule watts and getting a reply from someone a continent or ocean away. What I like about the 705 is that it both makes it ‘fun’ by virtue of its modern interface, but also easy by virtue of its integrated battery. I recently installed the simplest telescopic on-radio antenna, and with the on-board power (therefore lower power than if driving it with 12V) I got a contact in Cyprus from Annapolis (voice, SSB, 4/8ish signal both ways). To boot, the contact was a young lady operating on 25 watts albeit with a nice tree-connected end-fed. Talk about satisfaction. Next time I go out I’ll take a pic.
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Leon’s tenure is a rather impressive accomplishment but also I wish to commend you on the overall level of activity of the group. The newsletter clearly demonstrates how active MERT has become and remains. Indeed, it should be an inspiration for all emcomm groups around the country, whatever their affiliation whether that be ARES, MARS, or even some ad hoc local groups. Being a member of emcomm groups myself, I know how difficult it can be to motivate, train, and mobilize. Again, congrats on a job well done.
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I will admit my ignorance, I had heard of JOTA but not of SCOTA. What’s more, I don’t think I have that on the poster, so I’ll add it for this next version and for the new metal poster that’s coming out. Thanks for this!!
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Wow. I had no idea the history of the merit badge was so rich, and the PDF is insanely detailed; quite impressive.👍
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What a fascinating post! I have to admit, I had never even considered the idea of taking ham radio on a cruise ship, let alone all the challenges and nuances involved. Your experience really highlights how unique the hobby can be, and I imagine it requires a lot of preparation and flexibility.
I was especially intrigued by the rules you mentioned — especially about operating only from the Miami port or surrounding waters and the limitations on rig size. It really makes you appreciate how important it is to research each cruise line’s policies and port regulations ahead of time. I had no idea certain ports, like Cozumel, are a hard “no-go.”
The tips are gold, particularly about getting a balcony room and double-checking policies with the cruise line before you go. I can see how operating from a balcony would not only be more convenient but also make for an amazing experience with those ocean views. And the possibility of getting a bridge or radio room invitation? That is definitely a bucket-list moment for any ham operator!
Your post really got me thinking about all the logistics of portable operation in unconventional places like a cruise ship. It also makes me appreciate the creativity and determination of hams to make contacts no matter where they are. I might just add this to my list of future ham radio adventures.
73! 🚢
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Done. Decided to edit it 😎
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Hi Bobby. We have our own Ham Boutique magnets now also; see below.
As for 146.59, knowing Lind, that was just a typo. Lind is an old wolf who knows his stuff well I was going to edit it out but decided it was obvious.
Here’s the link to the magnets…
https://hamboutique.com/products/146-52-mhz-car-magnet
hamboutique.com
Are you an amateur radio operator who believes in the power of communication and community while on the road? Our .30 mil Car Magnet is designed for you! Proudly display your commitment to monitoring the 146.52 MHz frequency—the nationwide simplex … Continue reading
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Renamed it and updated the description. Better? Thoughts welcome 😎
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So, truth be told, I’ve been wrestling with this one for a while. As I’ve tried to find a new and more useful mission for Ham Community, I’ve had to decide what I wanted to keep, what it is I wanted to add, and what I wanted to delete. The new mission, as I currently envision it, is to work to create a place that is focussed on ham knowledge. That’s what the Ham Tournament site is about. That too is why I created Ham History. That’s also why I’m hoping to make Ham Journal into a force for knowledge. And yet, a few people have told me that what they like about Ham Community is that we come together in a spirit of friendship and respect with zero tolerance for trash talking, political confrontation, religious zeal, or any other type of discriminatory or inflammatory diatribe. So yes, in that spirit, it would be nice that we have a place to talk about photography, motorcycles, or repainting the house. But then where do we draw the line? Do we have a 2A section? As you’ll recall Lind, we had talked about this at length. Some wanted it, others did not.
This is my excessively long winded way of saying that I just don’t know… Any thoughts are welcome!!
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By the way, don’t forget to sign your support on https://14652.org
14652.org
14652.org is a public service website supported by Ham Community, promoting the responsible use of a national simplex calling frequency to enhance road safety and mutual assistance among amateur radio operators.
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Hi Lind.
Sorry for the lengthy reply, but it’s a really good question and many hams aren’t familiar with the concept.
The feature you are referring to is commonly called “dual watch”, “dual receive”, or “priority scan”, depending on the specific implementation and the manufacturer’s terminology. Here is a breakdown of these terms:
Dual Watch: The radio monitors one primary frequency while intermittently checking another frequency for activity. When a signal is detected on the secondary frequency, the radio alerts the user or switches to it.
Dual Receive: The radio can simultaneously monitor and receive on two different frequencies, often on the same or different bands. This is a more advanced feature and usually requires dual VFOs (Variable Frequency Oscillators).
Priority Scan: The radio scans a list of frequencies but gives priority to a designated “priority channel,” checking it more frequently for activity.
Radios with Dual Watch/Dual Receive
Here is a list of a few of the handheld and mobile rigs, I’ve also included a couple of base stations, that support dual watch or dual receive:
Handheld Radios (HTs)
1. Yaesu FT-5DR
• Dual-band (VHF/UHF) with dual receive capability. Monitors two frequencies simultaneously, including digital (C4FM) and analog.
2. Icom ID-52A
• Dual-band D-STAR digital and analog with dual receive. Simultaneous reception on two VHF/UHF frequencies.
3. Kenwood TH-D74A
• Dual-band with D-STAR support and dual receive. Supports simultaneous APRS tracking and voice monitoring.
4. Anytone AT-D878UVII Plus
• Dual-band DMR/analog with dual watch capability. Monitors two frequencies or time slots.
Mobile Radios
1. Yaesu FTM-300DR
• Dual-band with dual receive for analog and C4FM. Monitors two frequencies independently.
2. Icom IC-2730A (I have this one and love it. Not expensive and works great).
• Dual-band analog FM with true dual receive. Allows full independent control of both bands.
3. Kenwood TM-V71A
• Dual-band analog with dual receive. Cross-band repeat capability.
4. Anytone AT-578UVIII Pro
• Dual-band DMR/analog with dual receive. Monitors two frequencies or digital time slots.
Base Radios
1. Yaesu FTM-500DR
• Dual-band base/mobile with true dual receive. Supports monitoring VHF/UHF simultaneously.
2. Icom IC-9700
• Tri-band base radio (VHF/UHF/1.2 GHz) with dual receive. Designed for satellite and terrestrial operation.
3. Kenwood TS-2000
• Multi-band base radio with dual receive, including VHF/UHF. Capable of satellite and cross-band operation.
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Hey Lind. Good point. Let me think about this for a minute and revert.
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Hi Lind. Yup, there is. Just sent you a private message. You should get a notification. BTW, not happy with the current direct messaging system. Thinking of changing it. Jim.
PS. If you look at the bottom right of your browser, you should see the Messages/Groups buttons.
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Awesome idea but a little late. I know that many people who were coming now have alternate plans. This said, maybe we can plan for a Zoom a couple of days before the rain date event (11 October) to meet, discuss, etc…
Actually… done. I’ve scheduled a one-hour slot for Wednesday 8 October from 1900-2000 EST. Not everyone will be able to make it but for those who can… I’ll send out an email in a day or so to actually invite anyone who wants to come.
Meanwhile, for those who want the link (for 8 October), here it is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84535376006?pwd=AFeerLeusPWJbczo6ZuF7bzZrp6GjX.1
us02web.zoom.us
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.
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Absolutely… here goes. Note that as I type this, the page is still under development. It should be complete by COB tonight, tomorrow latest.
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I’ve tried to look up the possible discrepancies. I hope that these new instructions are correct. Again, if not, my apologies.
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My Call Sign
[MENU] → SET → My Station → My Call Sign
Enter up to six callsigns; Terminal mode (ID‑52A PLUS) has separate TM call sign setting.
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Enable Digital Repeater Auto‑Set (Optional)
[MENU] → SET → DV Set → Digital Repeater Set → ON
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Enter Repeater/Gateway Callsigns (if manual)
In DV Gateway:
[MENU] → DV Gateway → DV Gateway Connection → Terminal/Access Point → set RPT1 and RPT2 with repeater B and G suffixes.
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Store Repeater in Memory
Use MEMORY menu to assign frequency/callsign to a memory channel. Use imported lists if preferred.
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Connect to Repeater
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Set DV mode.
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Select memory channel.
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Hold PTT ~1 sec. Look for “UR?” or receipt of reply.
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Run Local CQ or Gateway CQ
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Set TO field: “Local CQ” for local repeater, or repeater callsign for gateway operation via DR/TO SELECT screen.
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Reflector Linking
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In DR/TO, set TO = reflector callsign (e.g. REFxxxY), then hold PTT. Must first unlink current reflector.
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Summary of Discrepancies
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Renamed “DV Gateway Set” → “DV Gateway”.
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Repeater callsigns are not under “DV Gateway Set” but under DV Gateway Connection.
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Digital Repeater Set is off by default; optional but useful.
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Terminal vs Normal mode has separate call sign memory.
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Reflector linking step clarified: TO field usage and unlink requirement.
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Sorry about that 🙁 I don’t have mine anymore so I can’t check which ones are wrong. I’ll try to get my hands on a manual and recheck. Again, apologies.
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I absolutely love stories of generational passion. I’m happy to call you a friend Bobby.
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RIP to our dear friend Frank AA4ZS. He truly was a lovely soul who did bring so many people together. Net runners, as I call them – operators who have the dedication needed to keep a net alive – are few and far between. Frank was one of them indeed.💌
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That’s a really great point Bobby, that there is a cutoff date to effortless learning. Another great point is that it has to be fun. Gets me thinking that even I have been focussing on the wrong age group. I think that we tend to default to teenagers assuming that the younger ones don’t yet have the necessary foundations. And yet, time and time again, we hear of pre-teens getting licensed. Maybe it’s time to create a learning program for them? If you think about it, our learning materials are very dry; let’s create something fun, colorful, exciting!! Food for thought for sure!!