ER-1 Means Battery Starting To Fail I noticed a “ER-1″ while powering my HTX-202. This could be an indication of error in the operation memory. This can be caused by a low lithium backup battery, or can be caused by static discharge. To clear the error, turn off the unit. Then press FUNCTION and CLEAR [...]

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By Ron Hege, K3PF Element Trimming For this job, a fine-toothed saw works well. (Caution: During the following steps, be sure that you cut half the total amount from each half [ie, each side] of an element.) For operation at the low end of the band (144 MHz), cut the 66-inch element to a total [...]

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By Ron Hege, K3PF In a matter of a few hours, you can easily build a broadband, 2 meter Yagi. The antenna offers a gain of about 10 dB, is lightweight, mechanically strong and rivals the performance of similar commercial antennas. You can modify a RadioShack FM broadcast receiving antenna (RS 15-2163). (Or you can use [...]

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The Tower That Broadcasted The World’s First Television Program On November 2, 1936, BBC engineers at Alexander Palace transmitted what is often claimed to be the world’s first television program. However, the world’s first public television transmissions had begun in Berlin, Germany, the previous year. Adolf Hitler became absolutely furious, upon hearing BBC boasting the [...]

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Icom HM-133 Mic Problems Again The Icom HM-133 PTT switch is notorious for not working properly. For the most part, I’ve had good luck with mine. However, the mic on my Icom IC-2200H started to act up on me. I think I may have found the fix. Okay, the first thing to do is take [...]

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Tools I Used To Call NA1SS After several years of trying to contact NA1SS, I finally found success. It’s quite an experience to make contact with a dedicated astronaut or cosmonaut that is orbiting around our planet. I’ve also seen the space station in the sky. That’s quite an experience as well. Exhilarating. Unique. Track The ISS: [...]

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EchoLink Conference Server-NODE 355800 On Saturday August 14, 2010, DODROPIN kicked off their fourth year of activity on EchoLink. EchoLinksters can check in at the DODROPIN Conference on Node 355800. *DODROPIN* Net Schedule Saturday 9:00 PM Eastern | *DODROPIN* Saturday Night Net/Newsline Sunday 8:00 PM Eastern | OCARC Sunday Nite Net Monday 8:30 PM Eastern [...]

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Waiting For The Solar Wind To Arrive KP Index – Begin (3 hour data) NOAA POES Auroral Activity: NOAA NOAA 27 Day Outlook: Get Report Aurora Photos: Photo Gallery SWPC Tips: Viewing Aurora WEBCAMS 1. Talkeetna – TAT’s Web Cam 2. Minnesota – Isle, MN Chapman’s Mille Lacs Resort 3. Turnagain Arm – Southcentral Alaska 4. [...]

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Any Ham Radio Club Is Welcome To Set Up Special Event WELCOME: Railfans come in all sizes!  Railfan friendly train watching locations available! Amateur Radio Amateur radio operators may communicate locally on 146.555 MHz FM-Simplex. Any “ham” radio club is welcome to set up a special event from here, however you’ll need your own electrical power, get [...]

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The Last In Europe To Have Digital Voice Modes All other countries in Europe have D-Star (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio). That is, with the exception of France. Digital voice modes such as APCO25, MOTOTRBO, TETRA and D-STAR with Internet access are prohibited in France at this current time. According to the DR@F website: [...]

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