VHF Propagation   Do you want to know if the VHF bands are open?  Take a look at this hourly updated map to find out.  http://aprs.mennolink.org/ This map shows actual radio propagation from stations operated near 144 MHz. It uses data gathered by Automatic Packet Reporting System-Internet Service (APRS-IS) from packet stations in the amateur radio service. The map shows activity that has happened … Continue reading VHF Propagation

For those of you interested in 50mhz and above.....Archive of several dozen technical presentations is available on the 50 MHz and Up Group for your stay-at-home reading pleasure.  It is at http://50mhzandup.org/archive.html and includes info on our 10 GHz linear translator, talks on building 10 thru 122 GHz radios, IF SDRs, EME rover stressed dishes, waveguide transitions … Continue reading Interested in 50 MHz and above?

KC3CIB is creating an email group list for future Skeds (schedule) on some of the bands If you want to be included in the list, please email KC3CIB (see qrz)

200th session of the RT SPECIAL EVENT THE 200th Session of the RT! Join Joe, W3GMS, as he hosts the Thursday Night RT on 146.985, Thursday @ 830 pm Eastern Time. Check out the new forum https://w3gmsrepeater.forumotion.com 146.985- MHz; TX PL 100.0 RX PL 94.8 (RX PL is NOT required, Optional) Technical questions can be asked during … Continue reading RT #200 SPECIAL EVENT

Photos of removal of a 60 ft one piece tower.  Thank you for all those that came out to help W3NTB, the new proud owner. click here: 985 Repeater users in action

Article submitted by K3DZM While pondering a portable antenna the other night, I decided I wanted to build such a beast with parts that were staring me in the face!  It was partly an antenna in theory with material creativity mixed in.  The antenna was not designed to be a permanent outside antenna, since the materials in … Continue reading Cheap Portable Multi-band Antenna by K3DZM

RST REPORTS AND HOW TO GIVE THEM This guide is for HF.  For giving signal reports on a repeater see: Giving Signal Reports when going thru a Repeater What Does RST mean? How do I give a proper RST report? The acronym RST stands for: Readability – Signal Strength – Tone If you’re operating phone or voice, you’ll … Continue reading RST Reports and How To Give Them

It is important, if you're using a dipole antenna fed with open wire line feeders, to try and keep the antenna balanced. The first rule is to make sure both sides of the antenna are the same physical length. Sometimes, even when doing that, the antenna will not be balanced due to the asymmetrical issue. … Continue reading Why Open Wire Fed Dipoles Need To Be Balanced

 Tech Tip #1 Giving signal reports when going through a repeater  by W3GMS on Sun 16 Feb 2020 - 13:22 Keep in mind, when your working a station on the repeater and he is changing his output power, giving an "S" meter report really does nothing. Your "S" meter is listening to the repeater and due to … Continue reading Giving Signal Reports when going thru a Repeater

Does it matter how long my coax line is? Ideal world: No. Real world: Very possibly. Unless you have a near-perfect 1:1 SWR at the antenna or unless you're intentionally making a feedline-based matching system, you do not want your feedline to be a quarter wavelength long at your operating frequency or any ODD multiple … Continue reading Does it matter how long my coax line is?