I t Aint Your Grandpas Radio Ham Radio & Your Com puter A BRI - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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I t Aint Your Grandpas Radio Ham Radio & Your Com puter A BRI - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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I t Aint Your Grandpas Radio Ham Radio & Your Com puter A BRI EF PREVI EW TO W HET YOUR APPETI TE Presented by Chuck Sprick KE5RAD Northeast Harris County AEC 1 June 1, 2008 A Technological Playground It aint your

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June 1, 2008

I t Ain’t Your Grandpa’s Radio

Ham Radio & Your Com puter

A BRI EF PREVI EW TO W HET YOUR APPETI TE

Presented by Chuck Sprick KE5RAD Northeast Harris County AEC

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A Technological Playground

  • “It ain’t your grandpa’s ham radio!”
  • Hams have always pushed the technology envelope
  • Increasing number of new hams each year
  • Attracted by the technology
  • Hundreds of uses for computers in our hobby
  • A quick look at just a few I’ve found
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Overview

  • The Internet as a source of information
  • Memory channel and menu programming
  • Computer control of transceiver
  • Propagation information (HF Radio)
  • Miscellaneous goodies
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Questions Answered

  • Internet is a wealth of information on amateur radio
  • ARRL website is a good starting point http://www.arrl.org/
  • eHam is another good place to look http://www.eham.net/

– Articles and News – Product reviews – Ask the Experts (Elmer’s forum)!

  • Yahoo Groups http://groups.yahoo.com/

– Almost any subject imaginable – Post questions, browse answers, help others

  • Numerous other specialized websites
  • Google search by subject or key words
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Memory Channel & Menu Programming

  • A great time saver
  • Keep different files for different areas or events

– Travel (ARRL TravelPlus software - repeaters) – MS-150 Frequencies

  • Enter data into a spreadsheet format and upload to radio
  • Once file is built, it’s easy to edit and update
  • Free programs from manufacturers
  • Third party programs ($25 - $35) -- More features, easier to use
  • Limitations

– Most don’t import other formats easily (Excel, .csv, etc.) – Each manufacturer uses proprietary format – Limited interchangeability among radios

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What You Need

  • Radio with a communications port
  • Computer with Internet access and a serial port

– Getting harder to find new computers with serial ports (Dell still offers) – Radio manufacturers haven’t moved to USB yet – Serial to USB adaptor may work

  • Belkin’s often don’t
  • Cable to connect radio to computer

– Manufacturer and rig specific – Expensive to buy ($50 +/-) – Build your own

  • Pin-outs available on Internet
  • Software
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Sample Programming Software Kenwood D710

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June 1, 2008

ICOM 208 Programmer (BT Systems)

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Run Your Rig With A Mouse ?

  • Radio control software

– Available for many newer radios – Some manufacturers offer their own control programs – Need similar / same ports and cables used to program menus & channels

  • Operate your radio without touching it

– On screen display – Keyboard / mouse

  • Easy to make changes and adjustments to radio features

– Easier to see and use – Point and click vs. button pushing and knob twisting – Much bigger display than on rig

  • Additional linked programs built in or linked to control program

– Logbook – Contact lookup – Mapping – Digital modes – Many I’ve not discovered yet!

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Run Your Rig With A Mouse

  • Ham Radio Deluxe - THE DEAL !!!!!

http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/

  • It’s Freeeeeee !!

– Shareware, donations encouraged

  • Customizable display format , colors,

fonts, shapes, bandplans, scan regions, etc.

  • Programmable buttons for rig functions
  • Built-in database for settings , logbook
  • Built-in templates support numerous

radio models

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Ham Radio Deluxe Control Screen Kenwood TS-2000

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June 1, 2008

HRD - Custom Format Screen

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June 1, 2008

HRD Logbook

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HRD Logbook Add A Contact

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Ham Radio Deluxe Google Lookup

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Google Earth Plots Your Contacts

Zoom In for closer look.

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HF Propagation Data

  • Google Search is the place to start
  • Numerous technical articles on ionosphere and theory of

propagation

  • Google Earth Ionosphere Add-in

– http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/30apr_4dionosphere.htm?list8 00126

  • On-line, real time data and tools

– http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/7/1 – http://terra1.spacenvironment.net:16080/~ionops/commStatus_NorthAm erica.html

  • Graphic overlays on map displays
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Google Earth Ionosphere Add-In

Maximum Usable Frequency Total Electron Count

Kingwood

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HF PROPAGATION TOOLS http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/7/1

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HF PROPAGATION TOOLS http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/7/1

Houston

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Miscellaneous Goodies

  • Ham Info Toolbar (IE toolbar)

– http://www.haminfobar.co.uk/

  • Numerous useful calculators
  • CW practice software
  • APRS *
  • Logging Software *

* Future Training Topic ?

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Final Thoughts

  • If you can imagine it, it’s probably out

there!

  • Go Googling and when you find a goodie

share with us, please.