On Monday, September 2, 2024, my good friend Vlado (N3CZ) and I spent Labor Day morning playing POTA. Our first activation was at Lake James State Park, using the new CFT1 QRP transceiver. It was a lot of fun–you can read the field report and watch the video by clicking here. For the second activation, … Continue reading QRP POTA: Pairing N3CZ’s Homebrew Transceiver with the TennTennas 49:1 EFHW!→
Ergonomics and Radio Buttons By Bob Colegrove Am I being too picky? Are the buttons on some newer portable radios hard to press? I’ve read many reviews and watched as many videos, but haven’t encountered many complaints about this. Perhaps it’s an age-related affliction. The most succinct description of the problem was expressed in the […]
by Dan Robinson The explosions/detonations of HT radios targeting the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon continue to make headlines, with latest reports digging into the origins of the units and containing reaction from ICOM. This story is one of those rare occasions when the radio manufacturing industry is thrust into the spotlight. Reuters reported that: […]
I’ve had a production unit of the Xiegu X6200 since June of this year and have made several field reports using it for both SSB and CW. You may have noticed, though, that I haven’t used it much in the field since June. The reason? I’m primarily a CW operator, and the original firmware had … Continue reading Xiegu X6200: Does version 1.0.1 firmware fix CW keyer timing?→
Labor Day weekend turned out to be full of labor here at QTH K4SWL. My wife and I had numerous projects to tackle, and my daughters had various activities scheduled as well. By Sunday, my wife looked at me and said, “You need a break. Why not spend tomorrow catching up on POTA?” That was … Continue reading CFT1 QRP: Labor Day Morning POTA with Vlado at Lake James State Park!→
Yesterday morning, around 12:00, I picked up a DHL parcel containing the Venus SW-6B. I was so eager to test it in the field that I dropped my lunch plans, took the SW-6B home, opened the box, and quickly attached Anderson Powerpole connectors to the supplied power cable. I didn’t have time to do anything … Continue reading The New Venus SW-6B QRP Transceiver: First POTA Activation and Field Test!→
Many thanks to Christian (IX1CKN) who shares the following field report: How the Red Corners uSDR+ Performed on Its First Field Test by Christian (IX1CKN) 24 QSOs in 104 minutes at 5 watts—how would you rate that? The answer isn’t exactly scientific, as it depends on personal opinions, habits, and the unique propagation conditions during the activation. … Continue reading Christian takes his new “Red Corners” uSDR+ on a POTA shake-out activation→
Identify the Radio! SS-GB is a British mini-series from 2017 in which a British homicide detective investigates a murder in a German-occupied England in a parallel universe where the Nazis won World War II. The show reminds one of the fantastic Man in the High Castle which ran from 2015 and 2019 and similarly created […]
When I was 14, I had to make a power supply for a Heath HW-32A. Mine ended up working, but it was nowhere near as nice as Mr. Carlson's BC-348 supply (shown in the video above). I didn't have a sand blaster, nor a drill press, nor much of anything else, really.
But hey, don't real boatanchor hams use Greenlee chassis punches? What's with the drill press and the hole saws?
Note that Mr. C takes care to make sure that the rectifier tube is in the proper angle FOR OPTIMAL VIEWING. That's some serious attention to detail OM. And whoa, DELICATE SURFACE MASKING TAPE from 3M? Respect! Also, era-specific looming material.
His point about the importance of the cardboard washers in the power transformer was really useful. I hadn't thought about that.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steffen Schultz, who writes: Hello Thomas, As a regular reader of your blog, I was fascinated by the reports on the XHDATA D-220 [affiliate link] and ordered a black one. I was not disappointed. Of course it’s not a DXing machine, but finally we have a device wich reaches […]
Also Check Out a Handy Beacon for Home and Road Emergencies
Back in 2022, DX Engineering was excited to add a varied selection of highly respected Eton devices to its lineup of more than 175 manufacturers whose products are available at DXEngineering.com.
As fans of DX Engineering already know, the company carries many items that have applications that stretch outside of amateur radio, including coaxial cable prep tools, soldering equipment, coaxial cable assemblies, equipment cases, and even the DX Engineering ISO-PLUS Ethernet Filter, which has found a legion of enthusiasts in the audiophile community.
While Eton’s high-quality Elite Series shortwave radioscertainly fall under the amateur radio umbrella, the Palo Alto, California-based company also makes gear with a broader appeal to families who want to be ready for unexpected emergencies, or hams who want to be fully equipped at home or during their portable ops. Choose from:
The 7.125-inch-tall unit features durable aluminum construction, foldable reflective tripod legs, a bright one-watt LED spotlight, and three LED flashing beacons that can be easily activated during emergencies by turning its hand crank. Two minutes of cranking typically produces 15 minutes of usable power. With both input and output USB charging, you can even charge your smartphone to make an emergency call or text your family to let them know you are safe. It comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, carrying pouch, and car power adapter.
The latest addition to the Eton lineup, the Odyssey Multiband Bluetooth Emergency Radio makes a useful companion for outdoor adventures and emergency preparedness needs. It provides AM/FM/Shortwave/Weather band coverage, allowing you to stay connected to broadcasts from around the world and ensuring that you’re never out of touch with the latest news and weather updates. You receive NOAA Weather Alerts to keep you abreast of severe weather conditions in your area.
(Image/DX Engineering)
Multiple power options are available, including its 2000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery and high-efficiency solar panel charging that keeps the radio ready when you need it most. You can also use 3 AAA alkaline batteries as a backup power source (not included).
The Eton Odyssey offers versatility with a 5V 1.0A USB output for charging smartphones and other devices. Hand-crank charging yields 10 to 15 minutes of music, weather updates and news, along with one minute of talk time.
The radio features a digital tuner and display for precise station selection and tuning. It also includes Bluetooth connectivity, making it an all-in-one entertainment and communication device. The IPX4 weather-resistant design ensures durability in various conditions, while the bright LED flashlight, LED beacon, and siren provide essential visibility and signaling in emergencies.
Additional features include a DC power input via the included USB-C cable, an AUX-IN jack, headphone jack, alarm clock, and digital clock. The included carabiner allows you to conveniently clip it to your belt or go-bag. For added security, its SOS emergency beacon and siren are invaluable tools for getting help when needed.
On Friday afternoon (August 16, 2024), after dropping off one daughter at her volunteer job and the other at Shakespeare class, my wife and I had about 90 minutes of free time before the next scheduled activity. We opted to visit the Sycamore Flats Picnic Area in Pisgah National Forest (US-4510) so that I could … Continue reading KH1 to the Rescue! A postcard field report from Pisgah National Forest.→
My buddy Jonathan (KM4CFT) made a big announcement this morning. He’s been working tirelessly since the start of the year, designing and testing a brand-new field-portable CW transceiver he’s dubbed the CFT1. As of this morning, you can purchase the transceiver kit on HamGadgets.com. A little backstory Jonathan first mentioned his plans to design a … Continue reading Introducing the New CFT1 Five Band Portable CW Transceiver Kit!→
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Aaron Kuhn, who shares the following guest post: Live Baseball on the Radio: Radio Selection Considerations In recent years, I’ve enjoyed attending minor league baseball games in my region. One of my favorite aspects of live baseball is bringing a radio to listen to play-by-play commentary. Experiencing the game in person while […]
Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dennis Dura, and Alan for the following tips: Radio Apocalypse: HFGCS, The Backup Plan For Doomsday (Hackaday) To the […]
My buddy, Jonathan (KM4CFT), is close to releasing a new CW Field Transceiver kit he designed for POTA, SOTA, and pretty much any other field radio activity. Today, he shared the following photo, which is a bit of a teaser: Those of you who attended Four Days in May this year may have already gotten … Continue reading KM4CFT Teases a New CW Field Radio!→
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and supporter, Dan Robinson, who shares the following review: Tecsun Delivers The S-2200X – New Life For A 16-Year-Old Cabinet Design by Dan Robinson Note: Please see an addendum of updates at the end of this post. Some months ago, I learned from Anon-co that Tecsun planned to release an […]
If you listened to the latest Ham Radio Workbench Podcast episode–our Field Day Debrief–you will have heard that my Field Day was a pretty low-key event. Originally, I had hoped to fly out to Oregon and hang with my friend George (KJ6VU) and his radio club, but there were just too many family activities happening … Continue reading Field Day: It’s all about the audio…→
Login
