Earthlings and Astronauts

This is a must-read article for hams, "Earthlings and astronauts chat away, via ham radio" by Samantha Masunaga

No doubt it will inspire you to learn more Amateur Radio on the International Space Station.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Evaluating Radio Fox Hunt Alternatives for a Scout Troop

During the Summer of 2020, I taught the Radio Merit Badge for a troop of enthusiastic Scouts.  The scouts had a great time setting up a wilderness radio station and operating on HF, VHF, and UHF.  Part of the curriculum included discussing various radio related activities that amateur radio operators participate in.  The scouts were really excited to learn about amateur radio fox hunting (also known as amateur radio direction finding).  The scouts asked if they could organize a radio fox hunt for the troop sometime.  The answer was of course was an equally enthusiastic, "Yes!"  (I only needed to figure out how to do it first).

Radio fox hunting (also called amateur radio direction finding or radio orienteering) is a challenging amateur radio sport that combines radio direction finding with orienteering map and compass skills.  Radio fox hunting is a timed race in which competitors use a topographic map, a magnetic compass, and radio direction finding apparatus to navigate through diverse wooded terrain while searching for hidden radio transmitters.

The objective of this hunt is to have fun using leadership skills in an inter-patrol competition while also developing radio direction-finding skills.  Teamwork, skills, and speed are all advantages.

When I started working on an approach for a radio fox hunt I began with the end in mind by drafting a set of requirements:

• Waterproof - We don't get much rain here in Northern California.  However, we can experience huge downpours during the rainy season that starts with the onset of Winter.  The  electronics need to stay dry rain or shine.
• Sufficient Battery - The transmitter equipment for the hunt will transmit on a 50% duty cycle for the duration of a hunt and demonstration / practice prior to the hunt.  The total operating duration will likely be between 120 minutes and 150 minutes.  The transceiver will likely be run on low power.  Battery storage that will support 4 hours would probably be good enough.
• Stealthy - The fox transmitter will need to be hidden from view from both hunters and passers by.  The transmitter profile needs to be discreet and easily hidden behind weeds or inside a bush.  Camouflage or dark color would be appropriate.
• Labelled -  The transmitter needs to be labelled to inform a finder of its purpose in the event of accident discovery.  The label will also help a radio fox "hound" quickly confirm she has found the transmitter during a hunt.
• Secure - Provide the ability to secure the radio fox transmitter to a tree with a bicycle cable lock to deter theft.
• Auto ID - The fox transmitter needs to be able to identify the call sign every 10-minutes per FCC rules.
• Intermittent Transmission - The fox transmitter needs to alternate between sending a signal for the hounds to locate and then going idle with no transmitted signal.  A 50% duty cycle of 15 seconds on and then 15 seconds off would be about right.
• Lightweight - The fox transmitter device needs to be relatively lightweight to promote easy portability as part of backpacking outing or hike.  This limits the weight to a couple of pounds maximum.

Armed with requirements, I researched various options for setting up a radio fox transmitter.  I identified three basic alternatives:

1. Transceiver + radio CW beacon - Use a 2m handy-talkie as a transmitter interfaced with a CW beacon controller.
2. Transceiver + radio fox controller - Use a 2m handy0talkie as a transmitter interfaced with a fox controller.
3. Dedicated integrated radio fox transmitter - These are special purpose radios with a built-in radio fox controller.

Option 1: Transceiver + Radio CW Beacon

Pros

• Lowest cost since existing equipment could be repurposed
• Easy to setup
• Flexible frequency and power (determined by the transceiver)
• CW beacon could be paired with different radios

Cons

• Not a commonly adopted approach for radio fox hunting
• A CW signal could be more challenging for new fox hunters to locate with rudimentary techniques such as body fading.
• Requires an additional battery pack
• Requires a waterproof container to deploy

Option 2: Transceiver + Radio Fox Controller

Pros

• Proven effectiveness in radio fox hunting
• Likely easier for new radio fox hunters to locate with rudimentary techniques such as body fading
• Flexible frequency and power (determined by the transceiver)
• Fox controller could be paired with different radios

Cons

• Additional expense in purchasing a radio fox controller
• Requires an additional battery pack
• Requires a waterproof container to deploy

Option 3: Dedicated Integrated Radio Fox Transmitter

Pros

• Proven effectiveness in radio fox hunting
• Smallest physical size and lightest weight - easiest to hide - stealthy
• No additional battery pack required
• No additional waterproof container required

Cons

• Additional expense in purchase a integrate radio fox transmitter
• Highest cost approach
• Low power with no options
• Fixed frequency / less flexible in terms of frequency

After considering the pros and cons of the three options, I decided to start with Option 1 by pairing a vintage 1990's 2m Kenwood HT with an existing CW-keyer that I had available in the shack.  This option would provide a zero-cost opportunity to experiment with using a CW beacon for radio fox hunting.  In my next post in this series, I will share how I configured my first fox transmitter and what I learned in the process.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Radio Merit Badge at Camp Lehi

The Radio Merit Badge is earned by approximately 6,500 Boy Scouts in the US each year.  The Radio Merit Badge requirements are demanding and require both classroom learning as well as applied learning in front of a radio.  I really like the design of the merit badge with its hidden Morse code message and lighting bolts.

Radio Merit Badge

I had an opportunity to teach the radio merit badge at a recent Merit Badge Pow Wow at Camp Lehi here in the Bay Area.  My co-instructor for the course was Ray Wentz, W6LPW.

Camp Lehi is a beautiful location in the Santa Cruz mountains

The night before the course the Merit Badge Pow Wow organizer (Jon) and I installed three antennas: a 40 meters home-brew wire dipole, a 20 meters rotatable dipole, and a vhf/uhf antenna.  We setup the radios and class room in the great outdoors under a couple of canopies.  Power was provide a generator.

Rotatable Dipole and VHF/UHF antenna 

Home brew 40 Meters wire dipole between two trees

The 40 Meters wire dipole worked really well for the scouts.  They made contacts with 100W into the North Carolina to the East, Vancouver to the North, San Diego to the South, and Hawaii to the West.  We were using a Kenwood TS-480SAT.  It was a lot of fun to see the scouts make their first radio contacts ever.

Ray tried several times to call on the local repeater using his HT and found no one to talk to.  Fortunately 40 Meters was in good shape and there plenty of hams for the scouts to talk to.

The rotatable dipole was not functioning properly.  I had brought my antenna analyzer and measured SWR exceeding 3.0.  We didn't have time to determine where the failure was occurring in the system.  That will be a job for another day back at the shack.

A big thank you to the patient hams who talked the scouts and helped them log their first contacts.  This event helped create interest in radio.  Several of the scouts mentioned their interest in studying for their own amateur radio licenses.  Support your local scouting organization and radio merit badge, jamboree on the air, and other outstanding programs.

Good DX and 73,
NJ2X

Field Test: Nomad 7 Solar Panel Performance

This article is part of a series about using the Nomad 7 Solar Panel for amateur radio use on backpacking trips.  Be sure to review our prior article, "Project: Regulating the 12v Output of the Nomad 7 Solar Panel".  In this article we bring the project together with a field test during a high adventure backpacking trip in the Californian Sierras.

Golden Trout Wilderness

The Adventure

Our hiking group decided to take a 5-day / 52-mile (83.7 km) hike through the Golden Trout Wilderness located in the Sierra Nevada range in California.  The Golden Trout Wilderness is 474 mi² (1227.65 km²) (303,511 acres) of rugged mountainous beauty.  The wilderness is named for and protects the habitat of golden trout which is California's state freshwater fish.

California's state freshwater fish the golden trout.

Elevations range from about 680 feet (210 m) to 12,900 feet (3,900 m).  An abundance of wildlife inhabit the Golden Trout Wilderness including Monache deer, Sierra Nevada red fox, pine marten, cougar, black bear, rattlesnake, and scorpions.  We would be off the grid completely for the duration of our 52-mile trek.  No electrical power.  No stores or restaurants.  No mobile phone service.   Perfect!

Scorpion encountered while trekking in the Golden Trout Wilderness

This meant that each member of the team would need to pack what he would need to survive for 5-days in the wilderness.  Here is what I stuffed into my backpack:

• Topographical map
• 1 gallon zip lock bag to keep the the map dry
• Compass
• Small tube of sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Fleece jacket
• Rain shell
• Boonie Hat
• Quick drying pants that convert to shorts
• Headlamp
• First aid kit
• Waterproof matches in a waterproof container
• Small butane lighter
• Knife
• Dehydrated food for 6 days
• Trail snacks
• Bear canister
• Hip canteen
• 1.5 liter water bag
• Water purification chemicals
• Tarp
• 550 cord
• 2 trekking poles
• Bivy
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• 2 pairs of wool socks
• 2 wicking undershirts
• 1 quick-drying shorts
• 2 wicking long sleeve shirts
• Fuel canister
• Backpacking stove
• Small foil pack of chili peppers
• Whistle
• Cook pot
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Liquid soap
• Baby wipes
• Ultralight super absorbent towel
• Toilet paper
• Trowel
• Kenwood TH-F6A tri-band HT
• Nomad 7 Solar Panel (modified and regulated)
• iPhone for pictures
• Earbuds

My backpack weighed around 38 lbs. at the start of our journey.  Weight is extremely important on a long trek with significant elevation changes.  Every bit of additional weight requires more energy from the backpacker.  The weight is most apparent when climbing several thousand feet in elevation.

We knew we would be isolated throughout our trek.  Our adventure was scheduled to start immediately after the mountain roads became clear of snow so we were pretty sure we wouldn't encounter very many people (if any).  Communication is critical in an emergency situation. 

Emergency Communication Gear

We had two hams in our group so we naturally decided to pack a set of two-way radios and solar power.  The Kenwood TH-F6A HT radios would allow us to maintain communication with each other if we became separated or if someone had to hike out to get help.  The radios would also provide the possibility of calling help directly from a mountain peak through either a repeater or another amateur radio operator.  

Kenwood TH-F6A Tri-band HT

We packed our Nomad 7 solar panel that we had modified to provide output via Anderson Powerpole and a pigtail suitable for the Kenwood HT's.  The solar panel would allow us to keep our radios and mobile devices charged for the duration of the trip. 

Nomad 7 Solar Panel and Kenwood TH-F6A

Field Test Results

Our Kenwood TH-F6A radios worked great during our trip.  We used them to maintain communication between the front and back of our group while hiking.  We also used them to maintain communication when exploring the area around camp.  Fortunately, there were no emergencies during our adventure.

On two occasions we inadvertently and unknowingly dropped our radios while crossing obstructions.  In both instances we noticed the radios were no longer attached to our packs and quickly retraced our steps to recover the radios.  The Kenwood TH-F6A is well-built and suffered no damage from either incident.  From this experience, we learned that clipping the radio to the pack is insufficient for securing it.  We improvised lanyards from lengths of 550 cord to positively attach our radios to our packs.  The lanyards allowed the radios to be used while hiking without the risk of falling off and becoming lost along the trail.

We are blessed in California with an abundance of sunshine which we harnessed with our Nomad 7 solar panel to recharge our iPhones and Kenwood TH-F6A.  We chose to recharge one device at a time so as to minimize the charging time.  In full-sun, the Nomad 7 seemed to recharge our iPhones at about the same rate as we would have experienced plugging them into a wall socket charger.  The Nomad 7 did a great job of recharging our Kenwood TH-F6A for the first few days.  On our last day, while recharging our Kenwood F6A via the Nomad 7 solar panel, the radio stopped charging and would no longer power-on.  We believe the unregulated (15vdc in full sun) output of the solar panel was the cause.  For more on this read our article Project: Regulating the 12v Output of the Nomad 7 Solar Panel.

We decided to protect our remaining radio from damage by not connecting it with the solar panel for the remainder of our trip.  Having at least one functioning radio in the event of an emergency was our priority.

We tried recharging while hiking by tying down an open Nomad 7 to our backpack.  This didn't work very well as were constantly moving in and out of sun and shade.  We found it more effective to recharge when stopped on breaks, lunch, or while setting up camp.  Being stationary allowed us to orient the solar panel to maximize sunlight exposure.

The Nomad 7 is very well made and durable.  We gave ours some unintended rough treatment while backpacking and it kept working the entire trip.  This is an important quality in any backpacking gear.  Packs and their contents tend to get knocked around a bit while trekking.  

Even though we didn't have an emergency, it was comforting to know that we could recharge our devices during our 5-day trek through the Golden Trout Wilderness.  Our batteries would certainly have been depleted after 5-days of usage had we not had a solar panel in our packs.  We really enjoyed being able to shoot photographs to our hearts content with our iPhones without worrying about running out of power.  At 1.4 lbs, the Nomad 7 solar panel was definitely worth the additional weight.  We were disappointed to have one of our Kenwood radios stop working as a result of charging it from the unregulated Nomad 7 solar panel.

Mountain meadow in the Golden Trout Wilderness

When we returned home, we subsequently went to work to solve the issue by regulating the output of the solar panel at a lower safer voltage (see Project: Regulating the 12v Output of the Nomad 7 Solar Panel).  We are looking to our next adventure and packing our (now regulated) Nomad 7 solar panel.  We know we now have the perfect backpacking adventure amateur radio and solar power setup.

See you on the trail.  73.

NJ2X

Articles in this series:

• How to setup backpacking tarp shelters (A-Frame, Lean-To, and C-Fly)
• A Ham's Complete Backpacking Checklist for Northern California
• Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Requirements
• Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Alternatives
• Project: Hacking the Nomad 7 Solar Panel for Amateur Radio Use
• Project: Fabricating a Anderson Powerpole to 3.4mm dc connector for the Kenwood TH-F6A
• Project: Regulating the 12v Output of the Nomad 7 Solar Panel
• Field Test: Nomad 7 Solar Panel Performance

Other related articles on NJ2X.COM

• Project: Anderson Powerpole Polarity Checker
• Project: Tiny Mint Tin Switched 9v Battery to Anderson Powerpole
• Project: PicoKeyer Plus Kit
• How To: Lock Together Anderson Powerpole Connectors
• Project: Anderson Powerpole to 2.1mm Connector Pigtail
• Project: Car power adapter to Anderson Powerpole

© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2016.

Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Alternatives

In our prior post (Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Requirements) we discussed our requirements for powering our electronics in the backcountry including an HT and an iPhone.  We defined our requirements in the form of a user story with acceptance criteria.

USER STORY: As a backpacker, I need a way to use my TH-F6A radio and iPhone 6 during my backpacking trip and not run out of battery before the end of the trip so that I can have fun with the devices during the trip and have them ready for use at any time during the trip in the event of an emergency to call for help.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA:

• Must allow the backpacker to use the device a little or a lot as needed.
• Must be flexible enough to allow the backpacker to use the solution regardless of duration (our typical backpacking adventures range from from 1 night to 15 days).
• Must not add significant weight to the pack (i.e. < 1.5 lbs / 0.68Kg).
• Must be able to maintain power for an iPhone via the USB connection (5Vdc USB power).
• Must be able to maintain power for a Kenwood TH-F6A via the 12Vdc connection.

In today's post, we will explore potential alternative solutions and compare them against our requirements.

Option 1: Conserve the battery

Pros

• Practical approach
• No cost
• No added weight

Cons

• Conserving the battery means using the devices sparingly over the trip.  For the iPhone it means leaving the device powered off during the hike and powering it on when needed.  Not very convenient for snapping photos while trekking.  Keeping the HT powered off is a bit more feasible.  However, we like to use the radios in our backpacking group to keep the front and rear in communication as we go to since we tend to string out a bit.
• This approach doesn't meet our acceptance criteria of being able to use the devices as much or as little as needed during the trek.

Option 2: Pack extra batteries

Pros

• Provides additional power when needed and quickly.
• Cost is within reason.  A TH-F6A HT battery would be around $36 for 4000mAh.  The mophie powerstation plus 3x with Lightning connector retails for $99.
• Packing one set of batteries would meet the weight limit acceptance criteria.

Cons

• On longer trips, one set of extra batteries may not be enough.
• Some conservation of battery power is still required.

Option 3: Pack a portable generator: BioLite Wood Burning Campstove

Pros

• Claims to provide portable power (USB).

Cons

• The BioLite Wood Burning Campstove had mixed reviews on Amazon.com.
• Heavier than our acceptance criteria (2.07 lbs/0.94Kg > limit of 1.5 lbs/0.68Kg)
• Can recharge via USB only.  It does not provide 12Vdc recharge capability.

Option 4: Pack a portable generator: K-TOR Pocket Socket Hand Crank Generator

Pros

• Possible to recharge both USB and 12Vdc batteries.
• The weight is under the limit per our acceptance criteria (1.0 lbs/0.45Kg < limit of 1.5 lbs/0.68Kg)
• Cost is reasonable at $54.00 on Amazon.com

Cons

• The K-TOR Pocket Socket Hand Crank Generator had mixed reviews on Amazon.com.  From the reviews is sounds like hand cranking is laborious and takes a long long time to recharge.  This is a material consideration since backpacking can be physically exhausting.  Having difficulty imaging cranking for hours after a day of backpacking 16 miles with elevation changes.
• Requires packing the transforms for iPhone and HT.  This adds additional weight.

Option 5: Pack a solar panel: Goal Zero Nomad 7

Pros

• Recharges USB devices.
• Recharges 12Vdc devices.
• Lightweight at 1.4 lbs/0.64Kg which is less than our acceptance criteria limit of 1.5 lbs/0.68Kg.
• Easy to use and requires no physical effort to generate power.
• Cost is reasonable at $77.31 on Amazon.com
• Solid reviews on Amazon.com.
• Well made and durable.

Cons

• Need direct sunlight to recharge.  We have sunshine in abundance here in California so this isn't a material concern.

Option 5: Pack a solar panel: Goal Zero Nomad 7 is the clear winner among our alternatives.  It fits the requirements very well.  We are looking forward to putting it to the test.


In our next post in this series, "Project: Hacking the Nomad 7 Solar Panel for Amateur Radio Use" we will show step-by-step how we modified our Nomad 7 to make it more convenience to use with our Amateur Radio setup.

We will review how well the whole setup worked on a challenging backpacking backcountry adventure in our final post in the series.


Good DX and 73, NJ2X


NJ2X.COM is now available on Kindle!

Articles in this series:

• Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Requirements
• Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Alternatives
• Project: Hacking the Nomad 7 Solar Panel for Amateur Radio Use
• Project: Fabricating a Anderson PowerPole to 3.4mm dc connector for the Kenwood TH-F6A
• Project: Regulating the 12v Output of the Nomad 7 Solar Panel
• Field Test: Nomad 7 Solar Panel Performance

© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2016.

Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Requirements

So how do you bring an iPhone and HT on a backpacking trip and use them without running out of battery before the end of the trip?  In this post, we explore this question and the related requirements.

We have been doing a lot of backpacking lately in the mountains of Northern California.  Backpacking is great exercise, physically challenging, and a great way to immerse yourself in nature.  A backpacker must carry everything needed for the trek including food, water, shelter, clothing, first aid, and personal items.  Our 3-day/2-night pack weighed in around 30 lbs / 13.6 Kg.  Weight comes at a big cost to a backpacker, so the objective is to minimize.

When trekking in the backcountry there is often no mobile phone coverage.  Mountain peaks sometimes provide a line of sight to a faraway cell tower which can yield one or two bars of signal.  In our experience, the valleys are barren of mobile phone signal.  We still carry our cell phones on backpacking trips because the phone provides a good camera and can also serve as a potential emergency communication device.  Being able to summon help when you need it most is invaluable.

Amateur radio VHF/UHF repeater coverage in the backcountry is more readily available than cell phone coverage in the places we have been hiking.  This makes the amateur VHF/UHF HT a valuable companion on a backpacking trip.  In an emergency situation, communication can make a tremendous difference in the outcome.

We programmed our Kenwood TH-F6A tribander radios with as many repeaters as we could covering the areas we like to travel and backpack in Northern California.  The TH-F6A transmits 5W on the 144 MHz, 220 MHz, and 440 MHz amateur bands. We also programmed them with the various simplex calling frequencies.  We bring them on every trip.  Sometimes we also use our TH-F6A with our TinyTrak4 TNC and GPS for APRS tracking.  The TH-F6A has a wide-band receiver which allows us to listen to broadcast radio in camp (AM/FM).

Kenwood TH-F6A Triband VHF/UHF HT is perfect for backpacking

The challenge with bringing electronic devices on a backpacking trip is using them without running out of power before the trip ends.  We don't simply want to throw the devices into our packs powered off during the trip in order to save the battery.  So what are the requirements for the solution?  We defined our requirements in the form of a user story with acceptance criteria:

USER STORY: As a backpacker, I need a way to use my TH-F6A radio and iPhone 6 during my backpacking trip and not run out of battery before the end of the trip so that I can have fun with the devices during the trip and have them ready for use at any time during the trip in the event of an emergency to call for help.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA:

• Must allow the backpacker to use the device a little or a lot as needed.
• Must be flexible enough to allow the backpacker to use the solution regardless of duration (our typical backpacking adventures range from from 1 night to 15 days).
• Must not add significant weight to the pack (< 1.5 lbs/0.68Kg).
• Must be able to maintain power for an iPhone via the USB connection (5Vdc USB power).
• Must be able to maintain power for a Kenwood TH-F6A via the 12Vdc connection.

Now that we understand our requirements, we are ready to explore potential solutions in the next article.


Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Articles in this series:

• How to setup backpacking tarp shelters (A-Frame, Lean-To, and C-Fly)
• Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Requirements
• Backpacking Amateur Radio Power: Alternatives
• Project: Hacking the Nomad 7 Solar Panel for Amateur Radio Use
• Project: Fabricating a Anderson PowerPole to 3.4mm dc connector for the Kenwood TH-F6A
• Project: Regulating the 12v Output of the Nomad 7 Solar Panel
• Field Test: Nomad 7 Solar Panel Performance

© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2016. 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.

Program that HT and get on the air!

An amateur radio HT or handy talkie isn't of much use if you don't use it.  Perhaps it could be an unusual paperweight or interesting desk ornament.  They do look nice sitting on the desk in the shack in a sad inert, powered off, dust-collecting way.  Our two Kenwood TH-F6A HTs were mostly idle due to having relocated across the country to California.

The radio memories had been programmed chock-full-o-stations located on the East Coast (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and the Eastern Seaboard).  None of the repeaters in the radio memory were accessible from California.  Lack of useful programming was main reason our HTs weren't getting used.  Turn on the radio and there was simply no way to contact anyone other than via simplex communication.

The Kenwood TH-F6A is a compact and very capable radio.  It transmits 5W on 144/220/440 MHz and includes a wide-band receiver.  You can really pack the radio's memory with stations given its 435 PC programmable memories.  The radio has all kinds of really great features, and it has been reliable since purchased back in 2007.

Kenwood TH-F6A HT (Handy-Talkie)

We decided it was time to get our Kenwood TH-F6A radios back on the air and that meant reprogramming them with California stations.  The first thing we needed to do was to locate the radio's programming cable.  If you have ever moved, then you know how much fun it can be to locate a particular item in the new home.  The memory of where it was located at the old residence is usually vivid and the location in the new home tends to be a mystery.  Is it still in a box or in some drawer or perhaps in the attic?  After much searching in all the wrong places we found the cable logically stored on a desk near the computer.

TH-F6A Programming Cable

Lesson learned: always start the search with the most logical place to store the item.

The next step was to load the latest version of the free Kenwood programming software (MCP-F6F7) onto the PC.  This was very easy since the software is available for download on the Kenwood website.

Whenever reprogramming a radio, we always make a backup of the radio's memory first.  You never know when you may need to reference or revert to an earlier memory configuration.  This is very easy with the Kenwood MCP-F6F7 software.  We simply connected the radio to the cable and the cable to the computer and then read the radio's memory (from the menu: Radio --> Read --> All).  Once you have read the memory contents save it as a file on the PC (from the menu: File --> Save-As).

Our next step was to delete all of the undesired East-Coast stations from the memory we just read into the Kenwood MCP-F6F7 software.  It is much easier to delete the stations using the PC software than directly on the radio.  Just click on the memory item then right click and select, "delete" from the from the pop-up menu.  Memory items can only be deleted one memory at a time which worked fine.  It would be nice if you could select and delete a range of memories.  C'est la vie.

Once we had cleaned up our memory, we then resorted the remaining memories by name to organize them and make them contiguous from memory 1 (menu option: Edit --> Memory channel Sort --> Memory Name).  This provides a nice clean set of memories to program in the software.

The next step was to locate California area repeaters on the three bands that the TH-F6A can operate on (144/220/440 MHz).  There are a variety of repeater reference guides available.  We use the RepeaterBook.com website and iPhone app.  The iPhone app is quite handy since it works with or without an Internet connection.  RepeaterBook allows you to search on wide area coverage repeaters.  These are particular useful repeaters, so we targeted these specifically.

Using RepeaterBook.com we searched for repeaters in various areas that we frequent or intend to visit and programmed them each into the Kenwood MCP-F6F7 PC software.  This is really easy to do by double clicking on an empty memory and then filling out a simple form.

MCP-F6F7 PC Software - adding a repeater to memory

The TH-F6A has an LCD screen and allows for station memories to be named.  This is helpful though the real estate for a memory name is limited to eight characters.  Making eight characters understandable requires creativity.  A number of years ago, we came up with a coding standard for our station memories that is surprisingly simple and effective.  After programming, we handed the HT over to another local ham who was able to scroll through the memories and translate (name and city) all but one.

• 2-digit state code (e.g., CA - California)
• Use a capital letter to indicate the start of a new word
• Eliminate vowels since it is proven that people can read most words effectively without them
• Numerous California cities begin with the word, "San" so abbreviate this to a single letter "S"
• In this example, "CASFrncs" denotes California, San Francisco

We were rewarded for several hours of station searching and programming with a nice long list of California repeater programmed into the MCP-F6F7 Software.  After programming, we sorted the list again by name so that all memories would be organized logically (menu path: Edit --> Memory channel Sort --> Memory Name).  We then saved the programming on the local PC under a different file name than our backup.  We use a simple and effective file naming convention to organize our files.  Each file name includes:

• YYYYMMDD
• Name of the radio
• State or location
• Version (we only use this if there are several versions on a given day)

Applying this naming convention we named our file, "20150815 TH-F6A CA".  A little forethought saves time down the road.

The next step was to load the programming from the Kenwood MCP-F6F7 PC software to the radio.  Turn off the radio before plugging in (or removing) the cable to avoid damaging the radio (power is present on some of the jack connections).  Once the cable is connected to both the radio and computer, turn on the radio.

On the radio, use the menu to find the parameter, "SP/MIC Jack9" and set it to, "PC".  Exit the menu on the radio.

Next, from the Kenwood MCP-F6F7 PC Software select the menu option, Radio --> Write --> Memory.  This will initiate uploading the memories to the radio.  If you get a "Communication Timeout Error" then check your COM port settings on your PC.  The following settings generally work:

• 9600 Baud Rate
• 8 Data bit Rate  
• None Parity
• 1 Stop Bits
• Xon/Xoff Flow Control

If you receive an error message, "The radio is invalid please check and try again" then check your cable connection into the radio.  We found that our cheap cable was a little finicky on one of our TH-F6A radios but not the other.  If we angled the connector out at the top a tiny bit it would work better than when fully inserted.  Results may vary.  Remember to power down the radio before inserting or removing the connector.

We gave both newly programmed TH-F6A radios a good testing on our local repeater by cruising around the area on a motorcycle with our HT to see if we could maintain contact through the repeater at various locations.  For safety purposes, we would stop and park the motorcycle before attempting the contact.  Test results:

• Home - full quieting
• Local grocery store - full quieting
• State Park Entrance nearby - full quieting
• End of the road in the State Park - DEAD SPOT - no area repeaters could be reached and no mobile phone service
• Fruit stand in neighboring village 17 miles away - full quieting - a happy surprise

2003 Suzuki VL800

We had a lot of fun with our motorcycling HT/repeater coverage test.  We were very pleased to find excellent local repeater coverage at each destination with only one dead spot on the trip.  Most of all, we were thrilled to have our two HT's returned to full operating status instead of sad (though cool looking) inert dust collectors.

Do you have an inert dust collector HT on your desk?  If yes, we hope we have inspired you to take action - charged it up, program it, and get back on the air.  We look forward to our next contact with you either on an HT (or the HF bands).

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Ham it up when travelling to Walt Disney World

Planning a trip to Disney World?  If yes, hear is a little secret.  You can ham it up in Disney World by simply packing your HT.  There are two repeaters right on the Walt Disney World property (2m FM and 440Mhz D-Star). 

In our family, we have several licensed hams and found our 2m FM HT's indeed handy for staying in communication with each other while having fun in Disney World.

Disney Emergency Amateur Radio Service
2m FM

147.300 + .600 PL Tone 103.5
Echolink Node 632802

440 MHz D-Star

442.000 + 5.000
WD4WDW B
Gateway Enabled


Good DX and 73, NJ2X


Related articles on NJ2X.com:

• Flying With an HT

FT-8800R Back On The Air

We finished reprogramming our FT-8800R dual band mobile radio tonight.  After installing it we turned it on, hit scan, and immediately found a local net to join in.  Programming software makes the job so much easier than manual entry via the radio controls and menus.  What a bother it would be to upload several hundred frequencies manually.

In this day and age of cheap and plentiful memory and internet enabled devices, it is fairly easy to image radios in the near future coming pre-programmed with software that automatically keeps them synched with all repeater information - anywhere in the world.  Why not?  Since we are dreaming a little.  How about unlimited text labelling for each memory.  6 characters simply doesn't cut it.  Why only 6?  Why not 66, or 266, or even unlimited?  The memory certainly wouldn't add much cost.

G4HFQ Software - Excellent Experience

We had a really great experience recently with G4HFQ Software.  We needed a little assistance with a program that we had purchased from Bob back in 2008 for programming our trusty FT-8800.  We sent an email and Bob responded almost immediately with just the right help.  Bob's software works very well and the service is tops.  Highly recommended.

Kenwood TH-22AT

We picked up a pair of Kenwood TH-22AT 2m handi-talkies at a yard sale for a good price.  The pair came with drop-in charger and spare battery pack.  Very durable feeling to the radio.

Kenwood TH-22AT 2m HT

Kenwood put a lot of great features into this radio for its vintage.  Having been a TH-F6A owner for several years, the TH-22AT seems surprisingly rather familiar.  The TH-22AT includes 40 memories which is a must on a VHF HT.  The programming is bit clunky though manageable.  It only took a minute to figure out the 10 steps to enter a repeater into memory.  Here are the actual steps we took to program a repeater (145.25 MHz) with a tone frequency of 131.8 into memory number 33.

1) Press VFO
2) Enter the frequency by turning the dial until the screen displayed 145.25
3) Press T/CT
4) Press and hold F for more than 1 second
5) Press T/CT
6) Select the tone frequency by turning the dial until the screen displays 131.8
7) Press T/CT
8) Press and hold F for more than 1 second
9) Select the memory number (0 to 39) using the dial until the screen displays 33
10) Press MR

Violà!

The TH-22AT has the same standard Kenwood headphone / speaker jack configuration as our TH-F6A.  This means we will be able to use the TH-22AT with our APRS TNC plug-and-play.

Looking forward to using this radio as a spare, as a APRS tracker, and radio fox-hunting transmitter.


© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2012

FCC Amateur Radio Technician Class License

An FCC Amateur Radio Technician Class License provides privileges that include all VHF/UHF amateur bands as well as limited operations in certain HF bands (80, 40, 15m bands using CW and 10m CW, voice, and digital modes). 

Some of the activities that Technician licensees enjoy:

• Using a small 2 meter band hand-held radio to communicate with other hams in and around their local area.
• Operating with different modes such as FM voice, digital modes with computers, television, single-sideband voice, and Morse code.
• Making international radio contacts via satellites.
• Making contact with astronauts on the international space station.
• Building and using radio equipment - DIY.
• Experimenting with antennas, radios, modes, ...
• "Fox hunting" which is a sport where participants use radio direction finding equipment to locate hidden transmitters.
• Setting up a location reporting radio (APRS) which uses a radio and GPS.
• Volunteering with local emergency response organizations to provide radio communication services.
• Having access to communication and information sharing capabiltiies during times of disasters and infrastructure outages.  See our article: Prepper Essentials: Communication and Information
• Having fun on the air!

In order to obtain an FCC Amateur Radio Technician class license, you must first pass a 35-question multiple choice examination known as "Element 2".  Morse code is no longer required for any of the FCC Amateur Radio licenses.  The FCC Technician License exam covers basic regulations, operating practices and electronics theory, with a focus on VHF and UHF applications.

If you are interested in becoming involved with the great hobby of amateur radio (or ham radio) studying for and then taking the FCC Amateur Radio Technician Class License Exam is your ticket.  The ARRL offers many excellent resources for those interested in the hobby.  The hobby is seeing record high numbers of license holders.

NJ2X.com posts a free "FCC Technician Exam Question Of The Day" every day to help people learn about the test questions, test answers, and get ready to earn their ticket.  If you know of someone studying for the exam be sure to share our link with them.


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By Michael Maher (NJ2X)

© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2012. 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.

Flying With An HT

In this day and age of increased airport security and frequently changing TSA rules,  many hams are understandably unsure if they are permitted to travel with their amateur radio transceiver / HT when flying.  We have travelled by air with our trusty Kenwood TH-F6A HT domestically and internationally many times without issue.  However, we did so only after researching the topic thoroughly to avoid problems.  The bottom line is: educate yourself, travel smart, and enjoy travelling with your radio.

There are several considerations regarding travelling with an amateur radio or HT. 

Consideration #1) Follow the FCC part 97.11 rules related to stations aboard aircraft.
Part 97 : Sec. 97.11 Stations aboard ships or aircraft. (a) The installation and operation of an amateur station on a ship or aircraft must be approved by the master of the ship or pilot in command of the aircraft.
(b) The station must be separate from and independent of all other radio apparatus installed on the ship or aircraft, except a common antenna may be shared with a voluntary ship radio installation. The station's transmissions must not cause interference to any other apparatus installed on the ship or aircraft.
(c) The station must not constitute a hazard to the safety of life or property. For a station aboard an aircraft, the apparatus shall not be operated while the aircraft is operating under Instrument Flight Rules, as defined by the FAA, unless the station has been found to comply with all applicable FAA Rules.

Consideration #2) Carry on versus checking.

• Common wisdom is that it is safer for your HT to travel with you in your carry-on bag.
• Checking your HT brings with it a risk of physical damage from rough handling or possibly theft.
• Some hams disconnect their HT's antenna as a precaution against breaking off the sometimes-fragile connector.  SMA connectors are notoriously fragile.
• The TSA's website offers guidance regarding safe travel with devices having batteries.
• "Keep batteries and equipment with you, or in carry-on baggage - not in your checked baggage! In the cabin, flight crew can better monitor conditions, and have access to the batteries or device if a fire does occur."

Consideration #3) Use of HT while on board the aircraft.

• Common sense is simple - keep your HT powered off while on board an aircraft.
• Generally, airlines prohibit turning on radios (i.e. radios are not approved electronic device).
• Consult with FCC part 97.11 rules.
• Consult with FAA part 91.21 rules.

Sec. 91.21 Portable electronic devices
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the operation of, any portable electronic device on any of the following U.S.-registered civil aircraft:
(1) Aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate; or
(2) Any other aircraft while it is operated under IFR.
(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to--
(1) Portable voice recorders;
(2) Hearing aids;
(3) Heart pacemakers;
(4) Electric shavers; or
(5) Any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
(c) In the case of an aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate, the determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that operator of the aircraft on which the particular device is to be used. In the case of other aircraft, the determination may be made by the pilot in command or other operator of the aircraft.

Consideration #4) Documentation.

• When travelling domestically, you may not need to carry your FCC license.  However, it certainly wouldn't hurt to bring it with you and it may actually help if you find yourself trying to explain your HT to airline or TSA personnel.
• When travelling internationally, bringing your FCC license is both prudent and often necessary per the laws of many countries.
• It is important to consult with the laws of the countries you intend to travel through.
• In certain parts of the world, it is possible to be challenged when crossing borders regarding your ownership or place of purchase of an expensive piece of equipment (like a radio).  In these circumstances it is valuable to have a copy of your receipt.  This will help you prove you own the item and that you purchased in your home country.

Consideration #5) Is it worth the bother to bring an HT on a trip?

• In our opinion, travelling with an HT is very enjoyable to travel with and definitely worth bringing.
• It is fun to work local repeaters and make contacts with an HT.
• It is fun to listen to local broadcast radio if your HT includes a wide band receiver.
• It is fun to travel with other hams who also have their HT's and stay in contact while in your destination.
• It is fun to use APRS to report your position and other information while travelling.

We hope you find this article an informative and helpful guide on how to educate yourself to make your own decision on travelling with an amateur radio transceiver or HT.  As we write this article we are enjoying listening to a lively discussion on a 2m net via our HT while on a trip.  Having travelled extensively with our HT, our motto is, "don't leave home without it".

Happy Trails and 73,

NJ2X


Related articles on NJ2X.com:

• Ham it up when travelling to Walt Disney World

Be sure to check out the NJ2X.com Kindle edition. 

© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2011. 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.

Operating Far Afield

Our first love has always been the great outdoors.  We enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, photography, camping, and a myriad of other outdoor activities.  As the saying goes, a bad day in the field is better than any day in the office.

Amateur radio and the pursuit of the great outdoors make a wonderful combination.  At its most basic level, all it takes to combine the two is to bring a radio with you when you head out the door.  The current crop of HTs (Handy Talkie) are amazingly lightweight and portable as compared with the "bricks" or man-packs of earlier generations.  Contemporary HTs are easily slipped into a jacket, vest pocket, or onto a belt without adding bulk or much weight.

The big advantage of an HT is that it is a completely self-contained hand-held station with a mic, speaker, receiver, transmitter, and antenna.  Most commercial HTs operate in the VHF (2m / 6m) and UHF (220Mhz and 440Mhz) range.  Though there are HT's available covering HF (10m and 40m).  We often bring our Kenwood TH-F6A on our expeditions.  It is a great little radio and covers three bands 144Mhz, 220Mhz, and 440Mhz.

The most common use of an HT is to communicate via a repeater.  The repeater helps extend the effective range of communication for relatively low wattage HTs (typically 5 watts or less).  Repeaters are quite useful; however, a contact made via repeater in most cases is disqualified from contributing toward an award or contest.  Simplex (station-to-station) and satellite operations with HT's are also popular with the added advantage that these contacts typically do qualify toward awards and contests.

When operating with intention of earning credit toward an award or in a contest, an essential requirement is to log the contact.  Minimally you need a writing instrument, paper, and a time reference.

For logging we use the same pencil we used in college, a 0.7mm Pentel mechanical drafting pencil.  It is durable, reliable, erasable, economical, writes in any orientation, clips to your pocket, and the 0.7mm lead doesn't break easily.  We have found that pencil holds up better in wet conditions (less messy) as compared to ink.

For manually logging, we have tried everything from lined paper to paper logbooks.  Rain and snow are rather unkind to paper logs.  Our solution to logging in wet conditions in the field is a 3x5 inch water-proof, tear-proof, spiral bound log book.  It works perfectly with pencil.  Each page has a printed header, so you capture the contact information in a uniform manner.  The size is nice too.  Easily fits into a jacket or pants pocket.

When verifying a QSL, date and time are important.  Hams long ago adopted UTC as a standard for logging contacts.  UTC allows hams in two different parts of the world to document the same date and time in their logs and QSL's.  At home, our computer logging program automatically logs the contact at the correct date / time in UTC.  However, in the field, it is up the operator to log the contact in UTC which requires either a clock set to UTC or a calculation to convert from your local time to UTC.  Even though the conversion is fairly easy, it is still easy to get confused in the heat of operations and log the contact incorrectly.  Of course, you could bring your computer with you at the expense of weight, complexity, and risk of damaging the relatively fragile device.

We discovered a wonderful watch from Timex which solves this problem.  The Timex Expedition watch offers dual-time zone capabilities in an attractive and rugged package.  We use the dial-hands for local time and set the second integrated LCD watch to UTC in the 24hr format.  The indigo feature lights up the watch face which is handy in low-light conditions.  All-in-all this watch keeps UTC on our wrist at all times and makes accurate logging a breeze.  We also appreciate that it looks great too.

One of our very favorite amateur radio activities in the outdoors is operating from a mountaintop.  The distance a low power HT can obtain with a clear line-of-sight from atop a mountain is remarkable.  This summer we made several 2m contacts from Cadillac Mountain in Maine with our HT.  A few years ago we operated from the summit of Mount Washington at 6288ft.  There really is nothing quite like working stations with a view from the top of the world.

Hope this has inspired you to get out-of-doors with your portable radio and make some contacts.  Ham radio and the great-out-doors go well together.  Keep it simple and travel light with an HT, waterproof log, and a pencil.  Don't let the bulk, expense, and weight of elaborate stations, antennas, power sources, computers, and all the other trappings keep you indoors.

Related articles:

• An American Ham in Canada

• Flying With An HT