Tag: antenna

LHS Episode #067: The Left Hand of ARES

Posted on by Russ Woodman

And we are back. In this installment, Richard tells us all about his renewed interest in emergency communications and his dealings with ARES in the Texas county where he now lives. On the Linux side of things, Russ talks about some security issues: the hacking of kernel.org, emacs violates the GPL and how to get cheap certificates for your Web sites. Throw in a dash of humor, some general screwing around and you have the formula for pretty much every episode of Linux in the Ham Shack. Thanks for sticking it out with us, everyone. We love each and every one of you.

73 de The LHS Guys

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

LHS Show Notes #057

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Introduction:

Announcements:

Topics:

  • Richard and Russ talk about the origins of the LHS podcast name. See Linux on the Desktop podcast.
  • Richard talks about how to build a Delta loop antenna, and using a piece of 75 ohm coax to act as a matching transformer between the antenna and the 50 ohm feed line. He also describes velocity factor for coaxial cable. Here's an illustration of a 20m Delta loop similar to what Richard describes.
  • Just for fun: Fab's Crap Alert
  • linSmith, in the Debian repositories, is a program for plotting Smith Charts, and more.
  • Richard then talks about Henry Allen W5TYD, formerly K5BUG, of Texas BugCatcher antenna fame, and the inductors he wound around Plexiglas forms. (Henry ceased production of his antennas in 2009 and has retired. -Ed.)
  • Russ uses an Alpha Delta DX-CC multiband dipole, in preference to a G5RV dipole.
  • Other antennas mentioned:
  • Impedance of transmission lines: 50 ohms for communications coaxial cable, 75 ohms for cable TV coaxial cable, 300 ohms for the old TV twinlead, 450 ohms for window line, and typically 600 ohms for ladder line.
  • Richard explains Standing Wave Ratio (SWR).
  • Richard relates an Field Day story from several years ago... Commodore-64 running packet radio on the tailgate of a truck in 100-degree heat, and burning up the C-64.

Feedback:

  • Audio feedback from Frasier K. thanking our hosts for the podcast. He's currently studying for his ham license via HamTestOnline, and learned about Linux from the podcast. He's now running Ubuntu 10.10 on his laptop and rockbox on his iPod. He'd like some sort of automatic calendar reminder service to alert him when a new episode will be recorded. Thanks, Frasier, and we'll look into that.
  • Mitch, KC2MBN, says that he enjoys the podcast. He's now an Extra class licensee, but is new to Linux. He recently tried dual-booting Windows 7 with Pinguy OS and reports some troubles, and asks for some recommendations for a distro. Thanks, Mitch. If you have a spare machine, it would be better to run Linux on that rather than going to the trouble and risk of dual-booting. You might try actual Ubuntu, Debian or Linux Mint. Crunchbang Linux is also easy to install, as is PCLinuxOS.

Contact Info:

  • Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com, Russ at k5tux@lhspodcast.info, or both at the same time at info@lhspodcast.info.
  • Listen to the live stream every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central time. Check the LHS web site for dates.
  • Leave us a voice mail at 417-200-4811, or record an introduction to the podcast.
  • Sign up for the LHS mailing list.
  • Sign up for the MAGNetcon mailing list.
  • LHS merchandise is available at the SHOP! link on Web site. Check out the Badgerwear or buy one of the other LHS-branded items at PrintFection.com/lhs or Cafe Press. Thanks!
  • Thanks to Dave from Gamma Leonis for the theme music.

Music:

  • "Bad Boy (For You)" by Rebolt from the album "Made in Spite EP" courtesy of Jamendo.
  • "Daylight" by Singleton from the album "The High Seas" courtesy of Jamendo.

LHS Show Notes #040

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Announcements:

  • Resonant Frequency is back in production! Check out rfpodcast.info for more information and look for the latest episode, #41, in the usual places.
  • Look for LHS merchandise at https://cafepress.com/lhspodcast and at https://www.printfection.com/lhs. A little bit of each purchase goes to help with the podcast expenses.
  • We're planning a future episode about Orca - a text-to-speech application for Linux. If you or someone you know is using Orca or another text-to-speech Linux application, share your experience! Contact Russ or Richard with any information you might have.
  • Visit the LHS channel on IRC at irc.freenode.net, channel #lhspodcast.
  • Look for random LHS episodes and music on the streaming audio links on the LHS web site.
  • Russ will be speaking at 2:00pm on Saturday, June 12th, at the SouthEast LinuxFest, June 11-13, 2010, at the Marriott at Renaissance Park hotel in Spartanburg, SC. He will be giving a talk on Linux and Ham Radio.
  • Russ will be starting up a mailing list for LHS show information. Watch the LHS web site for information on signing up.
  • Thanks to Rich, KD0BJT and Brady, KD0BJS of the Low SWR Podcast for recording an introduction to this episode.

Feature:

  • Richard discusses installing an HF rig in his vehicle.
  • Always connect the radio directly to the battery. You'll have more current available and less noise.
  • Look for rubber grommets in the firewall to pass your wires into the passenger compartment.
  • Warning! Not all Powerpole connectors are Anderson Powerpole connectors! Some hamfest specials look the same, but don't work as well.
  • Most mobile 40m and 75m antennas are not very broadbanded, so you will probably need an antenna tuner to cover the whole band.
  • Richard digresses into a brief discussion of Ubuntu 10.04. Russ was in a recent episode of the Fresh Ubuntu podcast.
  • Russ likes the looks of the Scorpion Black Widow HF antenna.
  • Welcome to K5AVJ who is running Linux Mint, and to VE2XPL, running Ubuntu 10.04.

Feedback:

  • Gary, KE2YK, writes about the discussion of ebook readers in Episode 31 and suggests this link to an old Radio Shack catalog as an example of a compromise between electronic and paper media. Visit Gary's Random Oscillations blog, and his online store at https://www.ehamstore.com/.
  • Andy, OE4DNS, recently became a ham, is an avid Linux user, and just discovered the podcast. He's a member of of the Metalab hacker space in Vienna, Austria. Andy responds to a question in Episode 37 from KJ4UHI about Morse code programs for Linux, and Andy suggests the Learn CW Online website provided by DJ1YFK. You can even export practice sessions to .mp3 files. Andy also recommends finding a hacker space in your area at the Hackerspaces web site. Fabian Kurz, DJ1YFK, is also the author of YFK Log. VE2XPL in the chat room also likes the Learn CW Online web site.
  • Tom is a first-time listener to the podcast with Episode 37, and thinks we spent too much time promoting merchandise.
  • Bruce, VE2GZI, writes to say thanks for the podcast and looks forward to seeing us at Dayton.
  • Albert commented on the web site that we should let The Linux Link site know about the new LHS web site and feeds.
  • Darryl, VK5HZ, just caught up to Episode 33. He'd love to have LHS visit the linux.conf.au conference held in January each year. In 2011 it will be in Brisbane, Queensland.

Contact Info:

  • Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com, Russ at k5tux@lhspodcast.info, or both at the same time at info@lhspodcast.info.
  • Leave us a voice mail at 888-455-0305 or 417-429-4069, or record an introduction to the podcast and have a chance at winning $25.

Music:

LHS Episode #040: HF in the Mobile Shack

Posted on by Russ Woodman

It's a couple of days since the end of the 2010 Dayton Hamvention. Cheryl and I would like to send out a special thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth while we were there. We met a lot of interesting folks and had a great many thought provoking conversations. It was our first time so we didn't know we'd be out in the sticks, so to speak, but we still had a lot of traffic and a lot of fun.

Now that I'm home and most of the work that piled up on me while I was away has been tackled, I got the podcast we recorded before the event finished and here it is.  There's no Dayton content this time around. That will come next time. The drawing for the Alinco radio and the other Linux in the Ham Shack swag will happen on Friday and we'll announce all the winners in the next show and on the Web site so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, enjoy some interesting feedback from listeners and some insight into Richard's latest mobile rig install. Keep the feedback coming, visit our Printfection and Cafe Press stores and pick up an item or two, and get ready for next year in Dayton. Linux in the Ham Shack will be back.

73 de The LHS Guys

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

LHS Show Notes #028

Posted on by Russ Woodman

Contributors:

  • Russ recommends the movie Carnival of Souls.
  • Wish Russ a Happy Birthday on December 5th!
  • Jos invites everyone to attend Camp KDE 2010 in San Diego, CA on January 15-22, 2010.

Announcements:

  • Donations from Paul KC9QYB, Joel, and Walter. Thank you! (And congratulations to Paul on getting his Technicians license!)
  • A Google alert says the LHS website showed up in linuxzine.com, probably because of our sponsorship of Linux Mint.
  • You can leave feedback via our toll-free telephone line at 888-455-0305.

Links and Notes:

  • Richard talks about using an old Dell Latitude laptop for mobile operations. After many trials and tribulations and resetting the BIOS, he managed to install Xubuntu, and has D-RATS installed.
  • Russ installed Ubuntu 9.10 on a machine. He tried 64-bit Linux Mint 7, but it failed.
  • Richard wanted to run DSL or Puppy on the Latitude. DSL booted, but he couldn't get the network card to work.
  • From the chatroom, N3JIM asks what virtualization software Russ is using. Currently, VMWare Server 2.02, but it doesn't play nice with newer kernels. So, Russ is planning on moving to Sun's VirtualBox.
  • Matt points out that Ubuntu will remove Gimp from the default installation beginning with Ubuntu 10.04.
  • Short Wave Listening, a topic suggested to Russ at Ohio Linux Fest.
  • Receivers: Ten-Tec RX-320D, a PC-controlled, shortwave receiver. Ten-Tec supplies Windows software, but there is a Linux program, too.
  • An article describing the receiver and it's application.
  • Other radios are available from Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, and C. Crane.
  • Russ talks about the Radio Shack DX-440 shortwave receiver he used (aka Sangean 803A).
  • Digital Radio Mondiale
  • Time Synchronization Stations - you can syncrhonize your PC clock to a national standard: WWV, CHU.
  • Software: MultiMode 5.9.2 (for Mac OSX), fldigi, Radio Explorer.
  • Things to hear: Numbers stations, Letter stations.
  • Antennas: very similar to what you would need for a transceiver. Random wires and tuned dipoles, will work, too. Look for a receiver that has an external antenna jack.
  • Where to listen: Amateur radio bands, international broadcast bands.
  • QSO Radio Show can be heard Tuesdays from 05:00PM to 07:00PM ET, 2100 to 2300 UTC at 7415KHz (WBCQ radio).
  • Coast to Coast AM
  • Check Amazon for antennas, receivers, and SWL-related books. (Remember to use our Amazon link for your purchases.)
  • Passport to World Band Radio (Also available at Amazon).
  • KO4RB asks if we've had any specific experience with an active antenna for shortwave listening.

Music: