HEMA Award Scheme Updates
October 3, 2023The HEMA Summit award scheme is slowly expanding with Cyprus, East Malaysia and West Malaysia being added to it and the first activations occurring from these regions in the last few months.
There's been the first World HEMA Day on September 1st/2nd. There was a good response and all certificates have been sent out. Congratulations to Bill M0DXT and David M0YDH as joint top scorers. It looks like it will be run again around the same time next year.
A Smartphone App for Android smartphones "HEMA Assistant" is in the testing phase and spotting and listing spots with the app are working. Other features are still under development.
If you want to learn more about this amateur radio portable operating scheme and to check if there is a qualifying summit (or summits) near you please go to www.hema.org.uk.
73 Ed DD5LP
Source: HEMA open_in_new
ISS SSTV Event October 3-5
October 2, 2023R4UAB reports that from October 3, 2023 to October 5, 2023 images will be transmitted from the International Space Station via the SSTV protocol as part of the “About Gagarin from Space” experiment. The topic of the program is the first artificial Earth satellite, amateur radio satellites, school satellites. SSTV images will be transmitted on 145.800 MHz using a Kenwood TM-D710 transceiver. They are expected to use the PD-120 SSTV format. The scheduled start of transmission is October 03, 2023 at approximately 14:40 UTC. The end of transmission is scheduled at October 05, 2023 at approximately 18:15 UTC.
Source: AMSAT open_in_new
Hot Iron Newsletter for Amateur Radio Operators
October 2, 2023Frank (W4NPN) along with Peter (G6NGR) produce the quarterly amateur radio newsletter Hot Iron. Each issue is full of technical projects and commentary from antennas to transmitters to power supplies.
Going on 10+ years, each newsletter is available in PDF format.
Source: W4NPN open_in_new
MMDVM-Based Projects to Merge Into One Open-Source Project
September 29, 2023From ARDC:
Funded by a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Jonathan Naylor (G4KLX) has been hired as a full-time software developer. Jonathan is a pioneer of digital voice software, developing software for D-STAR, DMR, System Fusion, M17, NXDN, P.25, and POCSAG.
With a full-time software developer dedicated to the MMDVM project, many important tasks can be carried out, such as:
- Bug mitigation
- Improving the core code module (MMDVMHost) relating to both the display interfaces and digital modes
- Adding support for industry standards, such as Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), which is analogous to a fast and reliable texting system that allows devices to communicate efficiently
- Creating a web-based configuration and monitoring solution
- Creating a portable UI on additional hardware platforms
- Adding KISS/AX.25 packet support along with higher speed data rates to run on existing MMDVM hardware
- Porting firmware to next generation microcontrollers
Work has started on the aforementioned software upgrades to MMDVM, and many of the long-term bugs in the software have been fixed. Regarding their progress toward improving MMDVMHost, they have added support for AX.25, and they now provide full support for amateur-driven M17 digital voice protocol.
Work is currently underway to develop 9600, 19200, and 38400 baud packet modes that support narrow bandwidth using a modulation (4FSK) similar to Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). The packet modes include support for IL2P, which is a new link layer protocol with integral forward error correction (FEC).
To learn more about the MMDVM project, visit mmdvm-project.org.
Source: ARDC open_in_new
International Enigma Reloaded Event
September 26, 2023The Enigma Reloaded International Event takes place September 29 through October 7, 2023. This is the 7th year of the event in which hams attempt to contact as many activating stations as possible for a chance to win the overall award. Participation certificates will also be available.
The main idea behind the Enigma event is to involve people all over the world, and specifically young people, in focusing their attention on the importance of the scientific research in general and specifically on cryptography, as main driver of most of the crucial events at the end of World War II...
Source: Enigma Reloaded open_in_new
Come and Get Wyoming Special Event
September 22, 2023The Shy-Wy Amateur Radio Club will be hosting the "Come and Get Wyoming" special event station W7Y from September 22 through October 2, 2023.
This will be a multi-band and multi-mode event. The schedule is available to view. QSL certificates and cards will be available.
Source: Shy-Wy Amateur Radio Club open_in_new
The Online Radio Club MX0ONL
September 19, 2023The Online Radio Club (MX0ONL) was formed in 2018 to promote all aspects of radio activities, especially for those unable to meet regularly at a specific physical location (hence “online”).
Online meetings are held over Zoom every Thursday evening 1930-2100 UK time.
The club also runs a multi-protocol reflector:
- DSTAR Reflector XRF994 B / DCS994 B / REF994 B
- DSTAR SmartGroup TORC2
- DMR via XLX or BrandMeister 2348140
- Yaesu System Fusion Room 37815
- Echolink Node 592933 (MX0ONL-L)
- AllStarLink Node 52585
- AmateurWire VOIP 90020
Source: The Online Radio Club open_in_new
Ham Imports Radio Library
September 17, 2023Ham Imports is a comprehensive database of Chinese radio manufacturers. The website makes comparison between radios easy. Each entry features a pricing guide, photos, specifications, a lengthy description, and video reviews.
CREATE TABLE dailyextremes(date text NOT NULL, temphigh integer NOT NULL, templow integer NOT NULL, presshigh integer NOT NULL, presslow integer NOT NULL);
Source: Ham Imports open_in_new
Wisconsin POTA Campout October 13-15
September 16, 2023The inaugural Wisconsin Ham Radio POTA Campout will take place October 13-15 2023. The event will take place at the Clear Lake Campground in the Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest (K-7260).
This year we are opening up our campout to the greater POTA community. This event will be part social activity and part Parks on the Air activation. You can activate as little or as much as you want, in whatever mode you choose. The sky is the limit.
Source: KB9VBR open_in_new
OK2KKW The Czech VHF UHF Ham Radio Contest Club
September 16, 2023The Czech VHF/UHF Ham Radio Contest Club (OK2KKW) has been around in one form or another for 33 years. They boast an impressive record and have hosted several expeditions over the years.
The OK2KKW homepage features a heavy dose of ham radio news, so be sure to check back often!
Source: OK2KKW open_in_new
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