Amateur Radio as a hobby
The absolute beauty of amateur radio is that it is not a single hobby it is virtually limitless in scope.

When I first set up DigitalHam I had recently discovered APRS and the entire focus of the site was devoted to that. I threw in a little PSK31 related info too because as that used computers it seemed to fit in with the digital part of the site name. Next up came the aquisition of a weather station which with a little bodging I was able to use to produce a weather feed through UIView to the worldwide amateur APRSserv network.

Well I still run UIView 24x7 and I've fitted my TMD700E into my latest car and fire it up most times I'm driving but my focus has now moved on to polar orbiting weather satellite reception. This is still radio related but doesn't need a Ham licence or indeed a licence of any sort to persue - no matter to me it is still a part of amateur radio. Having produced a turnstile for reception I was a little disappointed with the results and the next project was a Quadrifilar Helix or QHA constructed using 8mm microbore tubing from plans found on the web. I suppose once I am happy with the results my attention will move on again but where I currently have no idea.

The only real limit to Ham Radio is finding the time and having the imagination. Who knows - maybe next year I'll finally have set up a decent HF antenna system and actually be able to talk across the world. Maybe I'll have found the time to use that Morse Tutor I bought on eBay a few years back and return to the ultimate Digital communication system that hams have used since the hobby first began!!

False colour composite satellite image
Precipitation enhancement Sat, 28 Jan 2012

The 137MHz homebrew quadrifilar helix or QHA and turnstile pictured on the left was used for APT weather satellite reception. This antenna was damaged during a station move and has been replaced with the third incarnation of my homebrew turnstile design. NOAA satellite signals are received using a R2ZX specialised satellite receiver and the R2ZX audio output signal is fed to a normal PC soundard from which WXtoIMG software creates the sort of image you see above.

Olympics Special Calls and the use of the Olympics logos
Although Ofcom have now granted permission for UK radio amateurs to use special prefixes this permission does not extend to use of the various logos associated with the Games..more
27-Jan-12 15:17:15 GMT

Museum remembers radio enthusiast who heard Titanic’s call for help
Artie Moore was in his South Wales bedroom when he leaned the Titanic was sinking - two days before the news reached the UK..more
27-Jan-12 15:17:15 GMT

US county seeks amateur radio volunteers for emergency role
Jo Daviess County is hoping to create a pool of volunteer amateur radio operators, who can play a vital role in disseminating information to the public during emergencies..more
27-Jan-12 15:17:15 GMT

Youngsters to get studio chance
Out-of-work teenagers will learn how to make their own radio programmes at a Keighley music studio..more
27-Jan-12 15:17:15 GMT

New Board Activity web feature on RSGB website
Read about some of the activities and decisions of the RSGB Board in this running log..more
25-Jan-12 13:50:12 GMT

WRC-12 news and reports from the RSGB
For the duration of the The World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12), Colin Thomas, G3PSM will be giving an amateur radio perspective on the proceedings of the conference..more
25-Jan-12 13:50:12 GMT

Sunderland lifeboatmen ready for fundraising drive
At the weekend, radio enthusiasts took to the airwaves for SOS Radio Week, which aimed to raise awareness of the main event on Friday..more
25-Jan-12 13:50:12 GMT

Schools' communications satellite to put the fun back into science lessons
The January edition of Electronics Weekly carries an article on the AMSAT-UK FUNcube amateur radio satellite..more
25-Jan-12 13:50:12 GMT

SumbandilaSat beyond repair
South Africa’s second satellite, SumbandilaSat, is no longer fulfilling its main purpose due to technical problems and is essentially beyond repair, its maker SunSpace says..more
25-Jan-12 13:50:12 GMT

RS-39 Chibis-M deploys tonight
The satellite should be deployed from Progress M-13M into a 500 km orbit on January 24 at approximately 23:18:30 UT..more
24-Jan-12 13:05:11 GMT