Adventure science...

Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure science. — Edwin Powell Hubble

Edwin Powell Hubble

All you need in this life...

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure. -- Mark Twain

Mark Twain

Empires of the mind...

The empires of the future are the empires of the mind. -- Sir Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Churchill

December 13-14, 2014, Geminids

Cast your eyes toward the heavens this December 13-14, 2014 for a peak at the Geminids meteor showers.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Get your facts first..

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please. -- Mark Twain

Mark Twain

Investment in knowledge...

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. -- Benjamin Franklin

Beware of trying to build a society...

We must beware of trying to build a society in which nobody counts for anything except a politician or an official, a society where enterprise gains no reward and thrift no privileges. -- Sir Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Churchill

America's quiet warriors...

America's quiet warriors are the legion of ham radio operators, 700,000 of them, who are always at ready for backup duty in emergencies – amateur, unpaid, uncelebrated, civilian radio operators, during and after floods and fires and tornadoes. After the 9/11 attacks, hams were indispensable in reuniting friends and families. Most recently it was they who expedited the search for debris after the Columbia Explosion , and right now, at this moment, they are involved in homeland security to a greater degree than you would want me to make public. — Paul Harvey

ARRL Centennial QSO Party - NJ2X standing as of November 1, 2014

We have been enjoying the ARRL Centennial QSO Party since getting our station on the air August 15, 2014 after being off the air since the beginning of January 2014.  You can check your current standing on-line.  It is fun to watch your statistics grow.  Wish we would have been able to operate all year - would have made a big difference score-wise.

Working the W1AW portable stations is really fun.  Planning to pick up as many as possible between now and the end of the year.  NJ2X is in the top 32% for the Centennial Points Challenge (left) and the top 19% on the W1AW portable stations leader board (right).

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

On this day (November 1) in science history...

On this day in science history, November 1st, 1878, the first telephones are installed on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Alexander Graham Bell

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Difficulties in mathematics...

Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. — Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

Massive solar flare disrupts worldwide HF radio communication

Hams worldwide were having a great time today in the CQ WW SSB Contest (2014.10.25) on HF until about 17:00 UTC when a massive X-class solar flare caused radio blackout worldwide.  The sound of all the HF bands closing down was remarkable.  The only HF communication remaining active was via ground wave propagation.  The HF radio blackout started to lift about 18:30 UTC with the re-opening of the 10m and 12m bands and then the other bands over time.

X-class solar flare erupting 2014.10.25
Photo by NASA/SDO

Massive X3.1 Class Solar Flare 2014.10.24
Photo by NASA/SDO

So what does X3.1 solar flare mean?  Solar flares are classified as A, B, C, M or X according to the peak flux in watts per square meter (W/m2) X-rays near Earth, as measured on the GOES spacecraft.

Classification	Peak Flux Range picometre (W/m2)
A	< 10−7
B	10−7 - 10−6
C	10−6 - 10−5
M	10−5 - 10−4
X	10−4 - 10−3
Z	> 10−3

Within each class there is a linear scale from 1 to 9.n (apart from X), so an X2 flare is twice as powerful as an X1 flare, and is four times more powerful than an M5 flare.  X class flares up to X28 have been recorded.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Inventions have been the product of experiment and work based on physical reasoning...

Anyone who has had actual contact with the making of the inventions that built the radio art knows that these inventions have been the product of experiment and work based on physical reasoning, rather than on the mathematicians' calculations and formulae.  Precisely the opposite impression is obtained from many of our present day text books and publications. — Edwin Armstrong

Edwin H. Armstrong

Edwin H. Armstrong invented the regenerative circuit, superheterodyne circuit, superregenerative circuit, and FM radio. 

Simplicibus...

Simplicibus itaque verbis gaudet Mathematica Veritas, cum etiam per se simplex sit Veritatis oratio. (So Mathematical truth prefers simple words since the language of truth is itself simple.) — Tycho Brahe

Tycho Brahe

Phonetic Alphabet Viewer iPhone app for learning the international phonetic alphabet

There seems to be an app for nearly everything. Are you working on learning the international phonetic alphabet? Well it turns out there is an app for that too - the Phonetic Alphabet Viewer available on the iPhone. This is a very simple app that provides the student with an interactive visual method of learning. Simply touch a key to see the phonetic equivalent spelled on the screen instantly. The price is right too - FREE. The app also has solid customer ratings which is often a good indicator of product quality.

Go through the alphabet in sequence saying the phonetic equivalent in your head. Then press the letter to check if you have it correct. When you find a letter that you struggle with pause for a moment to repeat the phonetic three times while focusing on the word.

You will be speaking the international phonetic alphabet in no time. Practice, practice, practice, ...

Good DX and 73,

NJ2X (November Juliet Two X-Ray)

Light consists in the transverse undulations...

We can scarcely avoid the inference that light consists in the transverse undulations of the same medium which is the cause of electric and magnetic phenomena. — James Clerk Maxwell

2014 California QSO Party

The California QSO Party

1600 UTC October 4, 2014 to 2200 UTC October 5, 2014

Please see http://cqp.org/ for all the rules and details.  Hope to work you during the event.

From California, Good DX and 73, NJ2X

From failure to failure...

Success is going from failure to failure without the loss of enthusiasm. -- Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill

The first baby monitor

The first baby monitor was the "Radio Nurse" in 1937.  This device was inspired by the Lindbergh tragedy.  It is a beautiful design by Isamu Noguchi though technically the design was prone to problems (distortion and interference).

Radio Nurse circa 1937

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

October 7-8, 2014, the Draconids

Be sure to take a look at the night sky.  The Draconids meteor show will return to visit October 7-9, 2014.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Visually Learning Aid - International Phonetic Alphabet

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Pictures are also a great way to help learn the international phonetic alphabet.  Word association and visual images help promote retention in long-term memory.  Have fun!

International Phonetic Alphabet
Alphabet Phonétique International

Good DX and 73, NJ2X (November Juliet 2 X-ray)

Be courageous...

Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward! -- Thomas A. Edison

Thomas Edison

Seeming to do is not doing

Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing. -- Thomas A. Edison

Thomas Edison

Our greatest weakness...

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. -- Thomas A. Edison

Thomas Edison

Thunder is good...

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.-- Mark Twain

Mark Twain

What we know...

Science is what we know, and philosophy is what we don't know. — Bertrand Russell

The eternal in the transitory...

The aims of scientific thought are to see the general in the particular and the eternal in the transitory. ― Alfred North Whitehead

Trained intelligence...

In the conditions of modern life the rule is absolute, the race which does not value trained intelligence is doomed. ― Alfred North Whitehead

Quite indifferent...

“Nature is probably quite indifferent to the aesthetic preferences of mathematicians.” ― Alfred North Whitehead

August 10-13, 2014, the Perseids

It that time again, the Perseids meteor shower will return August 10-13, 2014.  Be sure to keep an eye on the sky.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

An adventurous looking listening post at Disneyland

On a recent trip to Disneyland we spotted this rather adventurous looking listening post in line for the Jungle Cruise attraction.  We really loved the way the canoe has been transformed and repurposed as a bookshelf with all manner of adventurous paraphernalia including two vintage shortwave radios.

The radio inside the canoe-bookcase with the black cabinet is a Hallicrafters model S-53A general purpose receiver covering 540 Khz to 54.5 Mhz in 5 bands (circa 1951 to 1959).  Like its contemporaries, the S-53A was designed to use tubes including the 6BA6 (mixer, 1st & 2nd IF amplifiers), 6H6 (detector), 6C4 (oscillator), 6K6GT (AF output), 6CS7 (AF amplifier, BFO), and 5Y3GT (rectifier).  The original price when this radio was introduced in 1951 was $89.50.  At nearly 20 lbs, this would have been a tough piece of gear to lug around the jungle (other than on a boat).

Disneyland Jungle Ride Listening Post

The grey radio on the desk is a National Radio model NC-125 receiver (circa 1950 to 1956).  This AM/CW/SSB radio receiver employed 11 tubes in its single conversion superheterodyne design and provided continuous reception from 560 Khz to 35000 Khz.  The tubes included 5Y3GT (rectifier), 6SG7 (RF), 6SB7-Y (oscillator / mixer), 6H6 (detector / AVC / ANL), 6SL7GT (phase shifter, boost / reject audio amplifier), 6SL7GT (first audio amplifier / CWO), 6V6GT (audio output), OA2 (voltage regulator).  In its day this radio sold for $149.50.  The matching speaker isn't pictured.  The vintage high-impedance headphones give it a functional appearance.  Weighing in at 32 pounds this radio would also have needed a boat to deliver it to a remote jungle locale which is fitting with the ride theme.

National marketing's description of the NC-125: "Now at last, you can get immediate delivery on the receiver that gives you more selectivity per dollar - the only receiver with the famed Select-O-Ject circuit built in ! And that's only one of the many fine features that make the NC-125 tops in receiver value ! Covers 550 kcs. - 36 mcs. in 4 bands. Voice, CW, NFM (with adapter). Edge lighted, direct-reading scale. Amateur, police, foreign, ship frequencies clearly marked. National Select-O-Ject built-in (rejects any selected audio frequency 45 db - boosts 38 db). Three microvolt sensitivity (for 10 db signal/noise ratio on 10-meter band). S-meter. AVC, ANL, ant. trimmer. Variable CW pitch control. Separate R.F. and audio gain controls. Volt. reg., stabilized oscillator. Jack for phono or NFM Adapter. Audio essentially flat to 10,000 c.p.s."

Disneyland Jungle Ride Listening Post - love the canoe transformed into a bookcase

Disneyland Jungle Ride Listening Post - this scene simply oozes adventure

There is a little AM radio on the upper left in the canoe.  Not sure what make and model it is.  Please send an email with the make and model if you know it.

If you find yourself in Disneyland, do wander over to the Jungle Cruise and have a look at all the interesting items as you snake through the queue.  It is more interesting and entertaining than the typical Disney line for radio enthusiasts.


Good DX and 73, NJ2X



NJ2X Kindle Edition is now available.



© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The death of knowledge...

“Not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance is the death of knowledge.” ― Alfred North Whitehead

Feeding a dog on his own tail...

It is curious to reflect on how history repeats itself the world over. Why, I remember the same thing was done when I was a boy on the Mississippi River. There was a proposition in a township there to discontinue public schools because they were too expensive. An old farmer spoke up and said if they stopped the schools they would not save anything, because every time a school was closed a jail had to be built.  It's like feeding a dog on his own tail. He'll never get fat. I believe it is better to support schools than jails. -- Mark Twain

"I believe it is better to support schools than jails"

July 29-30, 2014 Delta Aquarids

Keep your eyes on the sky July 29-30, 2014, the Delta Aquarids meteor showers will have returned.


Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Any intelligent fool...

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius --- and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." - Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

Imagination...

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

Contempt for authority....

“To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself.” ― Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T8D11)

Q) What is a "parity" bit?

A) An extra code element used to detect errors in received data


NJ2X Notes:
A parity bit is used to detect errors in a data transmission.  It is a simple technique.  With "even parity", the number of bits with the value one is counted and then the parity bit is set such that the sum of all the bits is even.  With "odd" parity, the number of bits with the value of one are counted and then a parity bit is set such that the sum of all the bits is odd. 

With even parity, the receiver then checks the parity count and confirms it is even.  If data is received that is not even, then the receiver recognizes that an error has occurred.

Even Parity Example:
00001111 = 4, parity bit = 0, sum of all bits is even
11001101 = 5, parity bit = 1, sum of all bits is even
11111111 = 8, parity bit = 0, sum of all bits is even
01111111 = 7, parity bit = 1, sum of all bits is even


NJ2X Kindle Edition is now available.

2014 Field Day Fun @ Monterey Bay Amateur Radio Association (N6IJ)

Field Day is FUN!  There is nothing quite like setting up and operating outdoors.

For some hams it is challenge of setting up temporary radio operations in the great outdoors.  For these amateurs, assembling the gear, hoisting and adjusting antennas, solving problems, and making everything work is what it is all about.

Other hams it is about lighting up the ether and operating in the wild.  For these amateurs, the fun is in making great contacts in the great outdoors with perhaps a bit of the old competitive spirit mixed in.

For Field Day 2014, KC2VSR, NJ2X, and KG6UBG set up two outdoor stations at the home of the Monterey Bay Amateur Radio Association (MBARA) headquarters in Marina, California.  We operated using the MBARA call N6IJ.  The site was formerly part of the Fort Ord military base which gave the operations a historical feel.

California weather is famously mild and we were not disappointed during Field Day 2014.  The skies were blue and there was a light cool breeze coming off Monterey Bay that encouraged a sweatshirt or jacket most of the day.  We we felt like we had little too much sun at the end of the day.  We forgot to pack sunscreen; though, we did remember to wear hats.

For antennas, we had a multi-band beam, a wire dipole, and NJ2X's portable rotatable dipole.  The beam was hoisted up onto a pole about about 15 feet and was used with the 20 meters station.  KG6UBG ran the 40 meters station through a ladder line fed wire dipole.  NJ2X and KC2VSR setup the portable rotatable dipole for use with  the 20 meters station.  We rotated the beam and dipole with the aid of ropes attached to the antennas.  A gentle pull on the rope and the antenna could be pointed in any direction.

NJ2X's Portable Rotatable Dipole in the bag

KC2VSR setting up the portable rotatable dipole

K2CVSR with the portable rotatable dipole up and ready for use (California blue sky)

KC2VSR with the 20 meters field day station

KG6UBG running the 40 meters field day station

A few lessons learned for next year:

START

1. Pack sunscreen - our wide brimmed hats alone didn't keep us from getting a little too much sunshine
2. Pack more snacks - we lost a bit of operating time making a mid-day food run
3. Encourage a few more folks to come out and play radio - the more the merrier
4. Fire up the grill - hot dogs and hamburgers would be terrific next year

STOP

1. Failing to inspect the antenna bag beforehand to make sure technical info and everything needed is inside - we discovered that we had not packed a manual needed to setup the antenna.  Through trial and error we figured out how to put up the mast and tune the antenna for 20 meters; though, at the expense of operating time.

CONTINUE

1. Bringing KG6UBG's Honda generator - small, quite, and ran flawlessly during the day providing power to our amateur radio stations
2. Bringing the rotatable dipole - setting up a temporary antenna is part of the field day experience
3. Setting up field day operations at the Monterey Bay Amateur Radio Association HQ - great location with plenty of room for operations, grilling, antennas, ...
4. Drinking plenty of water - hydration is extra important when outdoors in the sun and breeze
5. Pack a few spare batteries - 9v, AA's, ... handy when needed as proven by KG6UBG having a spare needed for our 20 meters station's SWR meter.
6. Bringing 2 meters HT's - handy for communications around the field day site

2014 is 100th anniversary of the ARRL so this year's field day was particularly important for many amateurs.  It was a memorable event for KC2VSR and NJ2X since it was our first in the great state of California and with the Monterey Bay Amateur Radio Association.  We enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to next year.

A special "thank you" to KG6UBG for helping pull together this year's field day.  It simply would not have happened without him.


Good DX and 73, NJ2X



© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T0B07)

Q) Which of the following is an important safety rule to remember when using a crank-up tower?

A) This type of tower must never be climbed unless it is in the fully retracted position


NJ2X Notes:
Crank-up masts are typically held in the extended position by a single cable.  If this cable were to break then the sections would collapse suddenly.  Crank-up towers must never be climbed unless it is in the fully retracted position.

Amateur Radio ARRL Field Day Food - QSL Quiche

Field day has a long tradition for great amateur radio fun combined with good eats.  It takes a lot of calories to setup a field station, operate for long hours, and talk to friends near and far.  Well maybe not all that many calories but tasty food definitely enhances the fun. 

Broccoli

As much as we do love grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, it is also fun to wow your friends with a dish that looks and tastes great (while also easy).  Here is an easy-to-make recipe that yields results sure to please 4 or 5 hungry hams - QSL Quiche.

6 ounces cooked ham, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
3/4 cup broccoli, cut into bite size
2 ounces Monterrey jack pepper cheese
2 ounces cheddar cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese
8 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
A dash of your favorite hot sauce

Step #1 Heat oven to 375°F and grease a 9-inch pie plate.
Step #2 Scatter ham, broccoli and cheeses evenly in pie plate.
Step #3 Whisk remaining ingredients in a bowl until blended.
Step #4 Pour ingredients into the pie plate.
Step #5 Sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese on the top (lightly).
Step #6 Bake 40 minutes or until firm. Cover top with foil if it starts to get too brown.
Step #8 Serve.

Voila!

Enjoy Field Day, 73
NJ2X

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T0B09)

Q) Why should you avoid attaching an antenna to a utility pole?

A) The antenna could contact high-voltage power wires

NJ2X Notes:
It is important to assure that antenna wires cannot come into contact with overhead power lines.  Do not attempt to attach antennas to utility poles since the antenna would be in close proximity to high-voltage power wires.

Archimedes was my ideal...

Archimedes was my ideal. I admired the works of artists, but to my mind, they were only shadows and semblances. The inventor, I thought, gives to the world creations which are palpable, which live and work. -- Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T8C10)

Q) How do you select a specific IRLP node when using a portable transceiver?

A) Use the keypad to transmit the IRLP node ID

NJ2X Notes:
IRLP =  Internet Radio Linking Project
IRPL is used to link amateur radio systems without the use of RF links, leased lines, or satellites.

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T0B08)

Q) What is considered to be a proper grounding method for a tower?

A) Separate eight-foot-long ground rods for each tower leg, bonded to the tower and each other

NJ2X Notes:
Lightning protection systems for towers and amateur radio equipment is good engineering.

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T8D07)

Q) What is PSK31?

A) A low-rate data transmission mode

NJ2X Notes:
PSK31 is a digital mode and a whole lot of fun.  All you need to get started with PSK31 is a computer, a program that supports PSK31 (many are free), and a transceiver.  PSK31 is great fun to operator.  Hope to see you on the waterfall soon.

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T8D09)

Q) What code is used when sending CW in the amateur bands?

A) International Morse

NJ2X Notes:
This is a fairly easy question to get right if you recognize that "CW" refers to Morse code.  If you know that then you can easily eliminate the wrong answers since none of them includes the word, "Morse".  CW stands for continuous wave and is often used interchangeably with the term Morse code.

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T8C08)

Q) What is required in place of on-air station identification when sending signals to a radio control model using amateur frequencies?

A) A label indicating the licensee's name, call sign and address must be affixed to the transmitter

NJ2X Notes:

§97.215 Telecommand of model craft. -

An amateur station transmitting signals to control a model craft may be operated as follows:
(a) The station identification procedure is not required for transmissions directed only to the model craft, provided that a label indicating the station call sign and the station licensee's name and address is affixed to the station transmitter.
(b) The control signals are not considered codes or ciphers intended to obscure the meaning of the communication.
(c) The transmitter power must not exceed 1 W.

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T0B04)

Q) Which of the following is an important safety precaution to observe when putting up an antenna tower?

A) Look for and stay clear of any overhead electrical wires

NJ2X Notes:
Contact with overhead electrical wires is a significant risk when putting up an antenna.  Ladders, masts, towers, coaxial cable, and antenna wire are all potential conductors and must be kept well clear of overhead electrical wires.

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T0B03)

Q) Under what circumstances is it safe to climb a tower without a helper or observer?

A) Never

NJ2X Notes:
Be safe and always have a helper or observer involved whenever climbing a tower.  The safety of the climber may depend on the aid of the helper or observer.

X-rays...I am afraid of them...

X-rays ... I am afraid of them. I stopped experimenting with them two years ago, when I came near to losing my eyesight and Dally, my assistant practically lost the use of both of his arms. -- Thomas Edison

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T9B05)

Q) What generally happens as the frequency of a signal passing through coaxial cable is increased?

A) The loss increases

NJ2X Notes:
Coaxial cable loss (attenuation) increases as the signal frequency increases.  RF power is lost in several ways:

• Resistive loss
• Dielectric loss
• Radiated loss



FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T9B06)

Q) Which of the following connectors is most suitable for frequencies above 400 MHz?

A) A Type N connector

NJ2X Notes:
The Type N connector is superior to the UHF connector.  The N connector is waterproof and preserves the impedance match of the cable.  The N connector works very well at UHF frequencies too.



N Connector (picture couresy of Joe Ravi CC-BY-SA 3.0)

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T0B06)

Q) What is the minimum safe distance from a power line to allow when installing an antenna?

A) So that if the antenna falls unexpectedly, no part of it can come closer than 10 feet to the power wires

NJ2X Notes:
Be safe and keep well away from power lines when installing antennas.

FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day (T8C07)

Q) What is the maximum power allowed when transmitting telecommand signals to radio controlled models?

A) 1 watt

NJ2X Notes:
Part 97

§97.215 Telecommand of model craft. -

An amateur station transmitting signals to control a model craft may be operated as follows:
(a) The station identification procedure is not required for transmissions directed only to the model craft, provided that a label indicating the station call sign and the station licensee's name and address is affixed to the station transmitter.
(b) The control signals are not considered codes or ciphers intended to obscure the meaning of the communication.
(c) The transmitter power must not exceed 1 W.