Amateur Radio Information & Links

Software

RoverLog

A great logging program for VHF contesting, not just for rovers. Integrated scoring, GPS interfacing, band switching, rig interfacing (IF rig aware), rotor control, keyer, and much more. Best of all, it runs in TCL, so Linux users can use it too!

Web Page Download Page
Yahoo group
various patches for features I've added to RoverLog including: Yeasu FT-897D CAT communications, contest .ini files for distance based scoring in the spring sprints, a distance in km display in the calc window, and support for various Linux specific serial ports I've come across.

Linux Notes:

You will have to run "dos2unix *.tcl" to switch the TCL scripts from DOS linefeeds to unix linefeeds. Unzipping the package with "unzip -a" may work as well, but I unsure if this will have a bad effect on some of the text config/ini files as well
Debian users: dos2unix is provided by the package tofrodos
You will have to run "chmod +x *.tcl" as well

LinLogBoook

Possibly an abandoned project, provides a gtk gui to a sqlite3 db that is very configurable and extensible.

Sourceforge page
Documentation
Pay close attention to the section under "Update Basetables" that details how to "expand the features of your logbook by inserting additional columns" under Section 7.2 Edit Menu
Logging notes - details and instructions on how I flow my logs from RoverLog to LinLogBook, and export to Logbook of the World, as well as links to the scripts I use to re-format the logs at various steps
My LinLogBook SQL definition file - adds some extra columns for state, county, dx, call used (my call changed, and I operate portable), as well as adding UHF and microwave bands and some modes.
My LinLogBook SQL views definitions - I added some primitive support for tracking worked all states and VUCC. I'm a SQL newbie, so I sure there are better ways, but this works for me.
A quick and dirty shell script hack to query the LinLogBook SQL database for best dx, worked all state status, and VUCC status by band and generate an HTML page with the results.

Logbook of the World

Debian: install package trustedqsl

gpsd

ntpd can use a GPS managed by gpsd as clock source using a shared memory interface, try the following lines in /etc/ntpd.conf:

# gpsd

server 127.127.28.0 minpoll 4 maxpoll 4
fudge 127.127.28.0 time1 0.384 refid GPS

# gpsd PPS

server 127.127.28.1 minpoll 4 maxpoll 4 prefer
fudge 127.127.28.1 refid GPS1

gpsd flags - I'll have to check my notes. ntpd seems to want at least:
```
gpsd -n
```
or
```
gpsd -n -N -D4 /dev/ttyS0
```

Other Software

az_proj - Software to generate extremely configurable azimuthal projects maps - add range rangs, grid squares, graids worked by band/propagation mode, hilltop locations, and much more.
SPLAT! - RF Signal Propagation, Loss, And Terrain analysis tool.SRTM3 v2.1 elevation data.Census US county boundary info Census US cities data
K1RA's cabrillo log to google map software - Very nice!. Be sure to click on the link marked "Click here to View a Larger Map with Verbose Grid List" for a larger map, along with checkbox options on the left pane. [Broken link? try this link]

Propagation

Predictions / Conditions

Resources

Tropo Scatter - Good discussion from UK-SMG
A nice introduction to VHF/UHF contesting targeted towrds the beginner, by KC9BQA.

Contests

My Contesting Page

Station

Band	Rig	Power	Antenna
HF	Yaesu FT-897D	5-100W	Buddipole
6m	Yeasu FT-897D	5-100W	Homebrew 3 element
2m	Yeasu FT-897D	5-50W	6 element Directive Systems "Rover Special"
1.25m	DEMI 222-28, Yeasu FT-897D	5-10W in / 10-20W out (25-35 max if retuned)	10 element Directive Systems "Rover Special"
70cm	Yeasu FT-897D	2-20W	Directive Systems 11 element
33cm	Kenwood TR-751A/ Demi 902-144 / ? Amp "Mini Borg Cube"	10W/37W	Directive Systems 3319LY 19 element looper

Equipment

Max Gain Systems fiberglass push-up masts - WA2IID uses these to good effect. Looks like a good system for portable operation.
Green Heron Engineering RT-21
Ironworks design ConnectQuick - Allows quick and easy mounting of antennas - excellent for portable work. Also allows me to swap antennas on the mast between contests in a simple modular way.
Buddipole antennas
- 6m 3 element beam - made with a few extra purchased buddipole parts. I have used one to good effect.
  - IT collars are useful to keep the elements from rotating. The are available in the pulldown on the IT Adapter page.
  - KG6WTF's original website about the 3 elemet 6 meter beam
  - Notes on assembling them beam. Same notes in text format
- Buddipole in the Field - a nice companion manual. Definitely worth the purchase price to have a printed copy to throw in the buddipole bag and bring in the field

Projects

W1GHZ transverters - purchased in 2009 in group buy from 4 state microwave group
- 720 LO - complete
- 2304 transverter - working on LO section

Clubs

North East Weak Signal Group
SMIRK - Six Meter International Radio Klub

Roving

Manufacturers

DownEast Microwave Catalog
Directive Systems - Great antennas built to withstand New England winters. The "Rover Specials" are great for portable work.

Dealers

DX Engineering - Source for excellent stainless steel U-Bolt saddle clamps. The also have a set of easy to use coax cable prep tools.
Blue Sea Systems - Actually a boating equipment vendor, but they supplies many devices for DC and AC distribution, fusing, and switching. There are many good technical resources on the site for configuring multiple switchable (and automatically switchable) battery banks, as well as selection of wire sizes and fuse sizes for high current DC runs. It seems a rover vehicle is very similar to a boat, electronically.

Photos

2010 Spring 144MHz sprint FN32mc Granville, MA looking northeast (if you look closely in the distance above the sign, you can see the smoke from the Tekoa Mountain brush fire). Lo-res (162x121) Med-res (648x484) Hi-res (2592x1936)

References

VHF/UHF Long Yagi workshop - A lot of good hints on design and construction techniques for long VHF/UHF yagis.
A nice writeup on using inexpensive laser pointers and aiming devices to build an AM/PWM voice modulation system capable of a 107mi QSO!.
N3FTI LPT interface
K8GP MOASU(mother of all switching units)

Biography

First licensed as N1QLM in 1993 as Tech Plus (with code)
Son of KB1MU (ex-WB1BPJ)
Renewed license and upgraded to extra in 2003
Borrowed use of a "Get On The Air" Station from N1DPM in the 2009 January VHF contest, rekindled interest in the hobby (thank you Fred)
Issued vanity callsign AA1I in April 2010
July 2010 - issued SMIRK number 6855

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