I recently spent some time in Central Pennsylvania at my daughter’s house. Since I was going to be there a while, I brought along my Raspberry Pi hotspot. While I’m not really active in digital voice modes (or any voice modes, for that matter), there are a couple of DMR nets I like to check into each week.
One issue I ran into in the past, is that my hotspot refuses to connect to their Wi-Fi network. Their Wi-Fi SSID has both an apostrophe and a space in it, so I’m guessing that’s the issue. I could have connected the hotspot directly to their router via an ethernet cable. Because of their router’s location, I would have had to move some furniture and put the hotspot in an awkward location. So, this time around I brought a little travel router to try another approach.
Back when I was working, I had a TP-Link Nano router that I took on business trips. Typically, I would connect it to an Ethernet port in my hotel room to create a personal Wi-Fi network for my laptop and phone. A while back, I upgraded to the newer (and faster) TP-Link TL-WR802N travel router. I don’t travel nearly as much these days, so the new router hasn’t seen much use.
I brought the travel router along on this trip to create a wireless bridge from the house’s Wi-Fi to my personal Wi-Fi. The router’s Wi-Fi network has an SSID that my hotspot likes. I haven’t used that mode much, so I had to resort to the user manual to refresh my memory on how to set this thing up.
Actually, it was pretty easy to set up. It was simply a matter of connecting my laptop to travel travel router’s Wi-Fi to access the admin functions. From there, I set it up in the “Hotspot Router” mode. Then, I scanned to find the house’s Wi-Fi network and logged into it.
Testing the internet connectivity with my laptop, the speed looked good. I had previously added my travel router’s SSID and password to the hotspot, so soon after powering up I was hearing the sounds of DMR coming from my HT. This configuration worked great, and I successfully checked into a few nets during the week.
The next time I go out there to visit, I’ll just need to power up the router and the hotspot, and everything should work. (Knock on wood)
No ground-breaking technological advances here. I just love when a plan comes together.
73, Craig WB3GCK
[Disclaimer: I have no monetary interest in this product, and there are no affiliate links in this post. I’m just a satisfied owner.]
Seasoned operators will tell you that an antenna analyzer is one of the most important performance-enhancing items to take along with you for ARRL Field Day. If you haven’t added one to your arsenal of testing gear, it’s an upgrade that should be high on your list as Field Day approaches.
Mark, K8MSH, highlights their many uses and practicality for Field Day ops in his excellent article, Proper Use of Antenna Analyzers for Ham Radio Operators:
“As a lightweight, self-contained unit, the analyzer has a built-in low-power signal generator which allows testing beyond the edges of the amateur radio bands and doesn’t interfere with other stations on the air. With measurement and display systems combined into a small package, plus built-in battery power, they’re perfect for use in the field.”
The Hams at DX Engineering—active operators with more than 1,000+ years of combined experience—have been successfully using antenna analyzers for years. If you’re new to antenna analyzer shopping, they can help you choose the model that’s best suited for your setup and budget. The great news is that DX Engineering carries a wide range of Field Day-friendly antenna analyzers and accessories that will become essential year-round tools long after Field Day is over.
These versatile workhorses perform a variety of functions, including measuring the capacitance or inductance of reactive loads, checking coaxial cable assemblies, tuning an antenna to resonance, and performing antenna SWR and impedance measurements. (Read this article on How to Test Coaxial Cable for details on one of their many uses.)
You’ll find an excellent selection of antenna analyzers at DXEngineering.com. Here are a few options:
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RigExpert has been producing and refining their popular antenna analyzers since 2003. The devices are available in a range of frequency coverage and prices.
Choose from the AA-35ZOOM (0.06 to 35 MHz—shown below), AA-55ZOOM (0.06 to 55 MHz), AA-650ZOOM (0.1 to 650 MHz), AA-1500ZOOM (0.1 to 1,500 MHz), and the AA-2000ZOOM (0.1 to 2,000 MHz) models featuring bright LCD screens that provide graphic illustrations of SWR, impedance, return loss and more; the ability to connect with a PC or Mac for further functionality; and a zoom-in function to get a closer look at graphic points.
What do Hams Say About the RigExpert AA-35ZOOM Antenna Analyzer?
Five Stars: “I now concur with everyone who says one of these is an “indispensable” essential for any station. I set up my first HF station and a multiband trap dipole, tuner, and digital SWR/wattmeter. I ran for a month and then finally bought this as I struggled to understand an issue tuning up on 80M. I connected this to my antenna and PC and boy did I learn a lot in a hurry! Although I was making QSOs on multiple bands and my SWR meter generally gave readings in the “acceptable” range, within five minutes of powering up this RigExpert I discovered that my antenna’s resonance points were below the CW portions of nearly every band. Very easy to learn and use for basic functions, and very necessary for optimizing the locating, orientation, and length of dipoles (and I’m sure many other antenna types).”
Adam, DX Engineering customer
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Models AA-230ZOOMBT (0.1 to 230 MHz) and AA-3000ZOOM (0.1 to 3,000 MHz) come with built-in Bluetooth wireless communications that enable you to work with a Bluetooth-equipped smartphone, tablet, or laptop. The AA-3000ZOOM model also features a large 800 x 480 pixel color TFT display with BlanView® technology, which enables the display to create high contrast and crisp images even when sunlight hits its surface directly.
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RigExpert “Stick” antenna analyzers with integrated Bluetooth technology offer similar functionality but in a lighter, more compact package for easier transport in the field (7.3″ x 1.6″ x 1.3″; 6.5 ounces).
DX Engineering carries these stick models:
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Add more functionality to your RigExpert antenna analyzer with a DX Engineering OSL (Open-Short-Load) Calibration Set that allows the measurement reference plane of AA-55ZOOM and higher analyzers to be moved to the far end of the transmission line for accurate measurement of any antenna in its proper operating location.
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Also available is Comet’s popular CAA-500MARKII Antenna Analyzer (1.8 to 500 MHz), featuring a cross-needle analog function and full-color TFT LCD that shows SWR and total impedance with R and X values.
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For easy transport in the field, consider an analyzer/case combo that pairs a RigExpert or Comet antenna analyzer with a NANUK case in your choice of colors.
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Also check out mini vector network analyzers from Chelegance and WiMo available at DXEngineering.com. Below is the Chelegance JNCRadio 3G Portable Vector Network Analyzer, which features 50 kHz to 3 GHz coverage. The unit can be used for measuring SWR, impedance, reactance, phase, delay, and Q factor of RF circuits, filters, duplexers, amplifier strip lines, cables and antennas, and many other applications. It displays in linear, polar, and Smith Chart plots.
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Since Field Day preparation never stops, visit DXEngineering.com today for everything you’ll need for a successful weekend, including coaxial cables, solar panels, and much more.
The post Field Day Gear Series Part 4: Antenna Analyzers appeared first on OnAllBands.
I was first bitten by the parks bug, taking part in ARRL’s National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) program in 2016. When NPOTA ended, I started activating parks under the World Wide Flora & Fauna (WWFF) program. When Parks on the Air (POTA) came along, I started submitting my logs to both programs—and still do.
Since POTA and WWFF are separately administered, there are some significant differences between the two programs. One notable difference involves the park designators. In some cases the park numbers are the same, but often they’re different. For example, the designator for PA 246 State Game Land is KFF-5862 in WWFF and US-8941 in POTA. Sometimes a park will be in one program but not the other.
Fortunately, Al Zelna N3KAE has provided an online tool that makes it easy for “dual activators” to cross-reference the WWFF and POTA park designators in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the CQ Parks.net website to check it out.
If you aren’t familiar with WWFF, it’s the original Amateur Radio parks program. In its current form, WWFF dates back to 2012, but it has roots going back to about 2008. While POTA has seen tremendous growth since its inception, WWFF is still very popular in Europe and other parts of the world. When band conditions are good, a spot on the WWFF site or a DX cluster will often generate a European pile-up. It sure is fun having a bunch of DX stations chasing my little QRP station.
Have fun out in the parks, however you activate!
73 & 44, Craig WB3GCK
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