Yap Island - V63 - OC-012 :

Four members of JA1ZEK, Yamakto ARC, will be operate from Yap Island (OC-012) between June 22nd and June 29th. This is their 19th DXpedition since 1993. At 2008 April, they had visited Yap Island but their QTH was very poor for DX operation.

This time they could find a good hotel. Operators are Sasi JA1KJW, Hase, JK1EBA, Karl JA3MCA, Kund JA8VE and Mat JA1JQY.

Their callsign and QSL information are:

V63JQ(via JA1KJW)
V63AKA(via JK1EBA)
V63MCA(via JA3MCA)
V63VE(via JF1OCQ)
V63JY(via JA1JQY)

They bring five TRX and one 500W amplifier, and will operate 6m to 160m,SSB,CW,RTTY.

They will keep 24 hours operation at least two bands with 6m beacon, but maximum five bands operation.

Tnx: Maurice, F5NQL / SRT-DX

Courtesy : VU2TS, OM Ganesh

More iphones HAM Application :

Yesterday after posting iphone application I got a comment from Tim which he has recommended. I would like to share Tim's comment for the same.

There are a couple of other iPhone apps for Ham Radio which I like a lot. The first is the Echolink application, which allows you to link to Echolink stations and repeaters from your iPhone. It's free.

iBCNU is fun as well. It's an APRS client for the iPhone and enables you to to send position reports and messages to the APRS network. It's not free, but good value in my opinion.

73, Tim, G4VXE

Thanks for sharing Tim.

iPhone HAM Apps :

If you have an iPhone, there are at least a handful of apps I think you'll find of value.

1) iCluster - this one cost 99 cents, but well worth it. It gives you clustering, across all bands, or you can specifi a particular HF band. Excellent tool if you are portable, mobile, etc.

2) Quick QRZ - if you can't remember all 300+ DXCC prefixes, this one will help you figure out whether the guy at the other end of the pileup is one that you need. Free.

3) Ham for iPhone - not a lot here, it is also free, but it is a quick way to get info on Sun Spot cdx.

Courtesy : OM Trent, N4DTF

Satellite Tracking Software :

I use Sat Scape. It requires a first time set up, but it is well worth it. You can even set it to alert you in a computer generated voice when the satellite will be within radio range. You can also configure it to track only the satellites you are interested in.

Here is the link http://www.satscape.co.uk/main/modx/index.php?id=50

Dipole Article :

K4DPK has an article on eHAM.net regarding building your first HF dipole antenna. For detailed info log on to http://www.eham.net/articles/24060

This type of antenna is frequently recommended by the Elmer's here and Phil describes a good technique for zeroing in on a low SWR for your new antenna.

Courtesy : N9PUZ, OM Tim

SDR Transceiver 1-1100 MHz :

Check out this interesting link on SDR :

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2010/transfox.htm

Courtesy : VU2PEP, OM Paddy

Antennas :

Check out this link:

http://yl3geg.times.lv/antenas.htm

Courtesy : VU2P2EP, OM Paddy

Scottish Islands Amateur Radio Challenge :

24-hour Scottish Islands Amateur Radio Challenge

Bob, GM0DEQ will be activating up to 15 Scottish islands within 24 hours in June using a sea plane as transport.

His callsign will be GB4DTD (Dawn To Dusk).

Activity will be on the HF bands, 40-10 metres.

QSL via GM0DEQ.

The island list is subject to change due to a few factors governing their sea plane transport. The departure date will be subject to WX too, and will be from Monday, 14th June 2010, onwards as close to the longest day to maximize daylight flying.

List of islands:

Islay (EU-008, IOSA NH22, SCOTIA CS25, WLOTA LH-1826);
Jura (EU-008, IOSA NH21, SCOTIA CS28, WLOTA LH-3078);
Colonsay (EU-008, IOSA NH19, SCOTIA DI05, WLOTA LH-1574);
Tiree (EU-008, IOSA NH04, SCOTIA DI10, WLOTA LH-2232);
Coll (EU-008, IOSA NH05, SCOTIA DI12, WLOTA LH-2123);
Barra (EU-010, IOSA OH11, SCOTIA HI02, WLOTA LH-3126);
Lewis (EU-010, IOSA OH01, SCOTIA HI21, WLOTA LH-1477);
Hoy (EU-009, IOSA OR06, SCOTIA OI06, WLOTA LH-2463);
Orkney Mainland (EU-009, IOSA OR01, SCOTIA OI14, WLOTA LH-1652);
Papa Stronsay (EU-009, IOSA OR08, SCOTIA OI18, WLOTA LH-2271);
Sanday (EU-009, IOSA OR10, SCOTIA OI30, WLOTA LH-2735);
Eday (EU-009, IOSA OR11, SCOTIA OI27);
Westray (EU-009, IOSA OR02, SCOTIA OI31, WLOTA LH-0945);
Papa Westray (EU-009, IOSA OR03, SCOTIA OI32);
North Ronaldsay (EU-009, IOSA OR04, SCOTIA OI33, WLOTA LH-0778).

Further information will be published, when available, at : www.gdram.com

Project AGORA :

See this interesting link

http://sites.google.com/site/projagora/home

HERMES is the first Internet-to-Orbit voice/data gateway, a system capable of connecting Internet users and spacecrafts in space, manned or unmanned, like satellites.

Using HERMES a user anywhere in the world can received the live signal of satellites passing trough the range of the HERMES-A ground station, located on Guayaquil, Ecuador. The maximum tested range of this ground station is 6000km line of sight.

HERMES has 4 modes of operation:

MODE A (Alpha): Reception of data from orbit and relay trough Internet.

MODE B (Beta): Uplink/downlink full duplex connection between computers on the Internet and orbiting spacecrafts.

MODE C (Gamma): Half duplex voice conversation between any computer on the Internet and manned spacecrafts.

MODE D (Delta): Automated APT signal relay from weather satellites to any computer on the Internet.

Courtesy : VU2IIA, OM Mahesh

Visit To Hong Kong, Macau & Shenzhen :

Hong Kong, Macau & Shenzhen Click on the image to see the album

Online HF Propagation Application :

VOACAP Online, a Web-based propagation prediction application, is now up and running and making HF propagation predictions between any two points on the globe. (VOACAP is arguably one of the best HF prediction engines available today).

Just enter the coordinates of the transmitter and receiver sites and VOACAP Online uses the Voice of America Coverage Analysis Program (VOACAP) to calculate the maximum usable frequency (MUF) of the HF path between the sites. The results of the calculated prediction display a “circuit reliability” graph that indicates the probability of achieving a CW-grade transmission between the transmitter and the receiver.

If you’re Lot sure of a transmitter’s or receiver’s coordinates, you can use the Google Maps-based QTH locator to obtain that information. The VOACAP Quick Guide has loads of information about VOACAP including links for downloading the application.

http://www.voacap.com/prediction.html

Courtesy : VU2HVK, OM Harsha