It’s the FIELD DAY !

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Jun 28,2008

Ham Radio organisations world wide hold a contest every year called a field day.  Essentially it’s a contest of which club can get the most contacts in a 24 hour period, using only TEMPORARY INSTALLATIONS.  In the case of my ham radio club, this means we will be setting up in a Park in St-Eustache and using electricity from generators.  All the antenna’s and stations will be put up about an hour before the contest starts.   Then the stations will be manned at all times for 24 hours.  (I guess I will get a few hours sleep in my car!)

I will post pictures after !

If anyone wants to come, it’s from Saturday 10am until Sunday at 10am.

Here’s the link to the map of where we’ll be!

EDIT : It turns out the field day is only at the same time in the Canada and the US.  Also, my ham radio club has changed in the sense that it only had 1 station, and we were setup inside the chalet of a park where we had access to electricity.  It’s legal in the contest, it just means we get less points per contact. A video slideshow will be put online in the days that follow.

Listening to orbiting satellites and space shuttles

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Jun 1,2008

One of the things I’m most interested in with Ham Radio, is Satellite Communications. There are satellites in space that contain repeaters that enable ham’s with the right equipment to communicate incredible distances in voice mode, Morse Code, and Packet Radio.

With the right equipment (Meaning Radio’s that can tune to the right frequencies and good antenna’s) you can also listen to the Space Shuttles communications with Ground Control. Most astronauts are also Ham radio operators and they often spend some of their “free time” in space talking with other ham’s down on earth.

Read the rest of this entry »

My Ham Radio License plate has finally arrived !

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: May 25,2008

In Quebec, the province I live in, there’s no such thing as personalised license plates for your vehicles. With one exception : HAM RADIO OPERATORS. We’re allowed to have license plates with our Ham Radio callsigns on them.

So, in the end of January I ordered my Ham Radio license plate for my car. Although I knew it would take a while, I’ve been checking the mail every day with hopes that it would be there.

Last week it finally arrived. I haven’t yet gone to make it legal so it’s not ON the car, but I enjoy looking at it. It took over 4 months, but that’s how long they said it would take, so it’s ok !

Montreal Amateur Radio Club Hamfest 2008

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Apr 12,2008

A hamfest is basically a flea-market (or swap meet) for Ham Radio operators. It’s filled with all kinds of techie toys and gadgets. The things for sale vary from specialized top of the line equipment, to old antiquated “stuff”. Cable, computer parts, EVERYTHING you might need for Ham Radio, all this at REALLY REALLY low prices.

This is the first time I went to a M.A.R.C Hamfest. It was near my house so there was nothing to lose. I must admit that it doesn’t compare to the hamfest’s that my ham radio club does. (C.R.A.L.L : Club Radio Amateur Laval Laurentides) This hamfest has about one third the space that the Laval one has, and most of the tables / people there selling stuff were at the Laval one also which was only a month ago.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Amateur’s Code

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Mar 11,2008

The Radio Amateur is

CONSIDERATE…never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.

LOYAL…offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, and the American Radio Relay League, through which Amateur Radio in the United States is represented nationally and internationally. (In my case the Canadian and Provincial Equivalents)

PROGRESSIVE…with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station and operation above reproach.

FRIENDLY…slow and patient operating when requested; friendly advice and counsel to the beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.

BALANCED…radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.

PATRIOTIC…station and skill always ready for service to country and community.

–The original Amateur’s Code was written by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, in 1928.

Ham Radio Update

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Mar 9,2008

I have had my Ham Radio now for a couple of weeks. I’m very happy with the Yaesu Ft-2800m. I have discovered a bunch of new repeaters, since I am ideally located in the southern tip of Montreal Island, near the water, so I have access to the south shore and west island.
One of the more interesting repeaters for me, is on Mount Sutton, which enables me to talk to people in Vermont and Burlington. I’m not used to doing Ham Radio in english, (since I only do VHF and that’s more local) but it’s very very nice.

I was worried about my J-Pole, since it’s the first antenna i’ve ever built myself, but the results have been extraordinary. I have yet to get a single BAD SIGNAL report from anyone, however I look forward to testing / tuning it with a proper SWR meter.

I would really like to contact the International Space Space, and have tried a few times, but so far I have not picked up ANYTHING on the ISS frequencies when it’s passing over me. (Although I only have access to the VHF frequencies, UHF would help alot) Every time it’s passed over me so far has been during the day, which is not the best time for Satellite / space communications.

It’s also been very nice talking to a few people that I remember (and they remember me) from 10-12 years ago when I was a very active Ham Radio operator. (And one of the youngest in Quebec, at the time using the callsign Ve2 JAZ .

There was a large snowstorm last night (March 8, 2008) and the city’s of St-Jerome and Dorval called for Ham Radio operators to be onsite at Transport Quebec locations and City Hall’s for emergency communications. I was unable to participate since those cities are kind of far, and the road conditions were VERY VERY bad. (Which is why the Ham Radio operators where called in in the first place) . Too bad though, I love those kinds of events. I’m not quiet ready to pack-up and leave to do emergency communications yet anyways.

The Ham Radio has arrived !

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Feb 24,2008

I will go into more details later. I have spent the week getting supplies and learning how to build myself a J-Pole antenna for my Ham Radio that was now confirmed for arriving at my apartment on Saturday afternoon.

I had never used a blowtorch before, so I was a little nervous, but there’s nothing to it, it’s literally just like soldering … on a larger scale …

I’ve been getting GREAT reception and people are saying i’m coming in loud and clear from repeaters all over !

Here are a couple of pictures of the antenna that I built 100% on my own, as well as a bad pic of my new “ham shack”

Notice the tops of the tree’s on the left.  I’m on the 3rd Floor.

I’ll eventually post something about how i made the J-Pole, in detail, and a review of my Yaesu FT-2800M. Thanks for reading and 73’s from VE2RIF !

WOOHOO ! Ham Radio has come in !

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Feb 20,2008

I do not have it in my hands yet, but the Ham Radio that my friend ordered for me has arrived and is now at my mothers house. (My friend is my mum’s neighbor, in Blainville) Since I don’t have an antenna yet, and since my car isn’t a great one, I will wait until the weekend for her to bring it to me. I can’t wait to see it / use it !!!

I will try and get the parts to make myself a J-Pole today…. and I’ve gotta learn to weld … hmmmm … lets hope it’s like soldering.

Anyone reading this in montreal with a swr meter ???

73’s de VE2 RIF …

VE2 Licence Plate and VHF Mobile Radio

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Feb 5,2008

I’m pretty excited to get back into Ham Radio. It’s like a long lost friend. I’ve recently ordered my personalized VE2 RIF Licence plate (In quebec, there’s no such thing as personalized licence plates EXCEPT for ham radio operators, so it’s very cool) Unfortunately, it’ll take about 6 months to get it.

I also mentioned before I was looking for a Mobile VHF Radio. A ham radio friend, VE2ION, is arranging for a yeasu ft2800M to be shipped from the States for me at a great price. It hasn’t been ordered yet, so i’ll keep my fingers crossed that they’re not out of stock, or the price hasn’t gone up or anything.

Feel free to comment or email me if you have any questions !

VE2RIF @ TECHIENATION . COM (remove the spaces)

Ham Radio - Amateur Radio

• Author: DigitalMind
• Filed under: Ham Radio
• Date: Jan 31,2008

Ham Radio is what started it all for me. As a young boy, I loved walkie talkies. Most games I had with my friends involved walkie talkies. Over time I had accumulated tons of those fisher price handhelds that I incorporated into those childhood games of hide and seek, spy, WHATEVER. I must have been asking for those things every christmas because I had all kinds.

From the WikiPedia :
Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service that uses various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self-training. A participant is called an amateur radio operator, or a ham.

Amateur radio operators enjoy personal wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications if necessary, while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. An estimated six million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.[2]

The term “amateur” is not a reflection on the skills of the participants, which are often quite advanced; rather, “amateur” indicates that amateur radio communications are not allowed to be made for commercial or money-making purposes.

Read the rest of this entry »