I finally decided the time had come, and I had the funds to give D-Star a try. The choice is one I am not regretting (so far).

I purchased the very rig in the photo, it’s an Icom IC-E92D. I should point out that in some countries this radio maybe referred to as IC-92AD but more or less it works the same.

Also as can be seen in the photo the radio doesn’t say D-Star. There is some issue in Europe & Africa which means they call it Digital and not D-Star.

I have mainly worked through GB7AU (www.77hz.com) repeater in Amersham and it’s also the site I used to be registered onto the D-Star system.

I have spoken to stations in other parts of England, Northern Ireland, and USA, as well as a friend locally used D-Star in simplex mode.

The clarity of audio is great when it works, but if you lose the signal slightly it breaks up so nothing is heard, or it’s a garbled mess, but generally it’s been working.

I have also this weekend soldered some more bits onto my MKARS80. I have a few friends who keep badgering me and asking if I am finished yet. This is my first build of something this complex.

Prior to this my most complex build was a morse oscillator I have also posted in this post.

I think I am doing well, and I offer this challenge. If you want to moan at me about how long this is taking (I started in July 2008), then you should build one yourselves first.

A quick calculation in Excel informed me I have completed over 80% of the kit. I have spoken to a friend as I need some un-enameled wire. I have some 22gauge wire from the kit, but my current soldering iron is not hot enough to melt the enamal.

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May 2009 update (or what have I been doing)

I have asked for 1,000 Luxury cards consisting of Full Glossy front image and single colour on the back.

The Photo is my own taken during a brief few days which almost closed London down due to lack of planning.

The box in the centre is for when I get around to ordering a Dymo Label printer, and made slightly bigger than size of see-thru labels I have seen on their site.

My congratulations on your design!
It is really professional, 100% suitable for processing.
73, Gennady

Even had above comment from the QSL printer as I sent my own card design to him.

Guess I have no excuses for not working HF now.

The Quality of the card image here is deliberately low (186Kb). The working file sizes were 20Mb front image & 9Mb rear image (4.9Mb & 3.5Mb flattened images sent to printer).

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New QSL Card Ordered (Finally)

I spend more time helping people with Hamtests.co.uk & hamradioforum.net than my own pursuits of that next elusive DXCC.

So have spent some time (and money) this week, trying to work K5D. But boy has it been tough.

To start with finding a place on the bands I can hear K5D. Usually I get static. The one time I can hear him he is working numbers. 5, 6, 7, 8 and that’s about an hour gone.

I also made a few purchases in case can try to work data as my setup wasn’t complete. From G4ZLP I ordered a Icom lead for my DigiMaster Comport, an Icom CI-V lead and a USB soundcard. All working great now, and good value at £31.47 ($45.50 approx) for the 3 items including delivery.

So hopefully with a few days left still of the K5D operation, I am still hopeful.

I also ordered (but not arrived) and CW key for my FT-817 & CW PC interface from BullDog iambic keys.

Finally sorted the blog out as an upgrade left the theme not working. Also my HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) text thing stopped working.

This is now uploaded to my mini Linux server and the one file is served from there. It’s now proudly on display at the top of the page above the header image.

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Trying to work K5D

I passed the Technician (31/35), but failed the General (19/35). Not surprising as I didn’t study for the General exam. Should have used our new site www.hamtests.net (although site wasn’t finished at the time).

Anyway, yesterday I was granted my vanity requested callsign.

I am now (when I visit the USA) WØTZO.

I must thank Adam, WY4N who suggested the callsign and also warned me when I mucked up the application for the vanity call.

I was for about 3 weeks KJ4ISR, but was not for me.

Hoping to use the WØTZO moniker in May as I am planning to go to Dayton.

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Welcome WØTZO

So I already have some plans for the coming year.

Firstly in the next few days I should have my new USA Technician Callsign. I will then apply for a Vanity call as I know which one I want.

I am saving some money in the form of Thomas Cook vouchers so I can hopefully get to Dayton in May. Adam WY4N has offered to pay for the hotel room (and his guests help with a small monetary donation, which is cool to me). Also need to save some spending money.

In the next few days I should be getting my newly purchased Yaesu FT-817. OK, it’s only 5w, but if at the time years ago I couldn’t have afforded the FT-897 I would have got the FT-817. I guess I have always wanted one.

Now, D-Star??? I was thinking about getting a D-Star radio, but as it’s still in it’s infancy I will leave this technology for now. Maybe later in the year I might look at this again, but for now D-Star is not for me.

Finally before I go some websites I am working on or am hosting, please check em out:-

• www.10metre.net Site for Home Counties 10 metre UK Net
• www.hamradioforum.net It’s a Ham Radio Forum
• www.hamtests.co.uk Our Award Winning UK Ham Radio mock test site
• www.hamtests.net Our new USA Ham Radio practice test site (launching soon)
• www.dxanywhere.com be informed of that elusive DX you need anywhere you are
• www.lidmag.com So bad, it’s good

And many more!

Have a Happy new Year, and keep reading.

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Usual new year post like every other blog

I entered in the Single Operator, All Bands Low Power (upto 100w) un-assisted category.

Here is the output from WinTest of my score breakdown. One thing is I was at the Radio Longer, but was tough getting people to hear me at times, so was actually more than the 4hr 36 listed below.

This was the first time I had used the G1ZQN callsign I had been issued by Ofcom after my Uncle passed away this year. It’s not an easy callsign to use. But I persisted.

Conditions were terrible I think. I know some people who did same category & power entries, and worked more, but I guess not a proper contester (yet). When was really bad I even watched DVD’s from LoveFilm.

Things I learned:-

• Need Antenna for 80m that works
• Need Antenna for 160m
• That the Club should have entered instead of just giving up this year
• Get a good night sleep if operating alone at usual hours, the big stations will still be there

That’s enough for now, want to get back to building my 80m Radio.

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest
Callsign        : G1ZQN
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay         : —
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/…  : 14
Locator         : IO91VJ
Operating time  : 4h36

BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG
————————————–
160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
80     5   2   5   0       5  1.00
40    24   4  15   0      38  1.58
20    29   6  19   0      33  1.14
15    15   4   6   0      21  1.40
10     7   1   1   0       0  0.00
————————————–
TOTAL    80  17  46   0      97  1.21
======================================
TOTAL SCORE : 6 111

Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations

Operators       : M0TZO
Soapbox         :

Powered by Win-Test 3.23.0       http://www.win-test.com

Countries worked (alpha-order):-

• Aland Is., Asiatic Russia, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canary Is., Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States & Venezuela.

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CQ World Wide SSB DX Contest 2008

Friday:- I left work about 4pm, slightly earlier than normal to catch the trains to Kings Cross / St Pancras International to meet Peter M3PHP as we would travel to St Neots on that same train. I got a slow train direct from East Croydon to St Pancras, but by the time I arrived at Kings Cross, I saw the train leaving. Next train was 20 mins later, so Peter & myself got a coffee and the next train was already at the platform.

We arrived about 6pm and got a taxi to the Wyboston Lakes centre and checked into the hotel room. After unpacking, we headed to the bar before dinner for a drink (ha-ha) or two. Dinner was about 8pm and consisted of a buffet with Roast Pork or Lamb or Beef Madras. I had the Madras.

After dinner we headed to the bar again for a few more drinks. The serving area at the bar closed at midnight, but we left gone 1am.

Saturday:- Woke about 7am and felt rough. After a quick shower headed to the restaurant for breakfast, full English of course. Peter & myself had decided to go to the Contest University lectures during the day, so headed off around 9am to find the room.

After a brief opening by Mark MØDXR, the first lecture was The Joy of Contesting, Lee Volante, G0MTN. This was a short overview of the lectures later in the day. After a short tea break the next lecture I attended was Contest Operating Procedures, Roger Western G3SXW. The first lecture had proved so popular, that tables had been moved forward, and more chairs brought into the room.

During one of these lectures, I showed to Pete how quickly Damn Small Linux had booted on my laptop, but quickly turned machine off as next lecture was starting. This was a mistake. I somehow damaged the Vista Master Boot Record (MBR) and could no longer boot into Windows, or Linux.

At about 12:30 we met in bar for a beer and a Steak Sandwich for lunch.

In afternoon I missed a few lectures to get laptop in working order by doing a system restore. Not great, but idea worked and laptop is usable again. No more Linux on the laptop, Windows Vista Home Basic will suffice.Once laptop was in a basic usable state, I decided to attended a few more lectures which were Contest Strategy, Dave Lawley G4BUO & Station Equipment & Layout, Paul Beecham, G6PZ. By this time I had been to 4 or the 7 Contest University lectures, so could collect a certificate.

Then was back to the bar before the DX Gala Dinner. The Dinner was a 3 course affair. The starter was some pâté with crusty bread. Sirloin Steak, roast potatoes & vegetables for main course, follow by a pudding of vanilla ice cream & warm pear tart. And then back to the bar. This time we were going to leave at about midnight. This didn’t quite happen when someone brought us a round just before the bar closed at midnight, and when he went back to get finals drinks and pay also brought a bottle of wine back to the table. It was nearly 2:30am when we finally headed to bed absolutely exhausted.

Sunday:- Someone how we were to breakfast earlier than Saturday morning by at least 15 minutes, but felt rougher. Full English breakfast again & lots of coffee.

The first lecture of the day was a talk by Eric Scace K3NA called Technology and Operating Procedures at VP6DX. It was about the planning of the VP9DX DXpedition and problems they faced and solved.

The Eric had a chat with Pete with me still trying to sort laptop out while enjoying another cup of coffee as I was still rough round the edges from the late night.

Dom Smith MØBLF was giving a talk entitled “Ham 2.0 – sharing amateur radio information across the Internet”. We were previously asked by Dom for input. Also Peter M3PHP had to give a short presentation on DXAnywhere. Not bad I think the idea up and Pete does the presentation. I must admit, I did help him tidy it up though. Shame also the wireless presenter gizmo I had ordered was sitting at home as hadn’t arrived before I left for the HFC. Oh well.

At lunch we tucked into another Steak sandwich, & a pint.

I had given up at this point trying to persuade Peter M3PHP to do his US FCC exam, so decided to go myself. I found the room, but had to wait for the main invigilator to return. Bad News…. I had delayed going so much that day waiting for Pete, that they had run out of the US Technician exams papers.

I did find out he would be at the Martin Lynch Hog Roast later in the year, and have decided somehow to get along to take exam. Also means for first time can see the Martin Lynch Chertsey site. Nearly 5 years as a Ham in London and not gone yet.

Last part of the day was the Raffle draw and farewell from the RSGB President, Colin Thomas G3PSM. Once again I didn’t win anything in the Raffle, but was the end to a great weekend. Hopefully will it be even better in 2009.

Shortly after Peter M3PHP, Iain M0PCB, Chole M0??? & myself jumped in a taxi back to St Neots station and were on our way back to London. From there we headed off in different directions with me taking the Northern line to London Bridge and a train to Sutton Common. Not the usual station I use, but Southern Rail in there wisdom decided to close a large section of the line between Streatham & Epsom.

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HF Convention 2008

The local club I usually op in this contest for due to a number of reasons not least a group has just got back from operating on Isle of Arran (Click Here for info). So I shall be doing the contest from my own QTH probably with my uncles old callsign.

Talking of which, about 2 weeks ago I sent a form, 2 letters (from my Granddad & myself) & a £20 cheque requesting my Uncles old UK callsign to Ofcom. He passed away in February and my family were happy for me to get the call.

So I now have G1ZQN as a callsign as well as MØTZO, 2EØTZO. M3TZO has currently lapsed, but shall attempt to get back soon. Why, because I can.

73 for now, and see you in the Test.

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Run up to CQ WW SSB contest

Contest         : IARU HF World Championships
Callsign        : M2W
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO)
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/…  : 27
Locator         : IO91VJ
Operating time  : 7h45

BAND   QSO DUP ITU  HQ  POINTS   AVG
————————————–
160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
80     3   0   1   2       5  1.67
40    21   0   4  13      33  1.57
20    79   0  10  23     201  2.54
15    27   0   4  10      55  2.04
10    14   0   3   6      28  2.00
————————————–
TOTAL   144   0  22  54     322  2.24
======================================
TOTAL SCORE : 24 472

Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations

Operators       : M0TZO

Powered by Win-Test 3.21.0       http://www.win-test.com

Was active in the IARU HF World Championships as M2W from Midday (UTC) Saturday 12th July – about 8am (UTC) Sunday 13th July, by which time I was knackered.

I could have probably done as little better, but was also looking after my 9 year old nephew.

Was my first big scale HF contest on my own, although I was going to do with Peter M3PHP, but he had a medical emergency (he is better now).

Equipment used:-

• Icom IC-756ProIII
  • Yaesu FT-897 for a few contacts on 80m as had better ATU
• Icom SM-20 Desk Mic
• WinTest Logging Software (but RigExpert S/D wouldn’t work, so manual band changes)
• Laptop to keep Nephew amused for hours quietly

OK, wasn’t the best entry, and will not win any awards, but I did better than my CQ WPX entry were I got Zero entries.

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M2W in IARU HF World Championships

Well, a couple of weeks ago my granddad said was some stuff in car & could I help him with it. I was expecting him to bring up a UPS unit. Was I wrong.

There was boxes with a complete setup for an Icom IC-756PROIII HF Transceiver (the ProIII, matching Speaker, PSU, & Microphone). The IC-737 was swiftly replaced in the shack, and by end of that Saturday evening, James M0BOV had helped me sort audio levels, & I took part in the 10m Saturday Home Counties net.

It’s a fantastic radio. Should be as new would cost £1,800. For me the Scope is and the filtering are it’s best features, but it has so much more. Anyway this it not a review, but merely to inform readers of the latest shack additions.

Also if all goes well (lets not think of CQ WPX earlier this year), then Peter M3PHP & myself should be operating in the IARU Contest on 12th/13th July 2008.

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Icom IC-756PROIII