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, 31 Jul 2010

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.

This weekend's AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium to be webstreamed
The 2010 Space Colloquium - the 25th held by AMSAT-UK, is taking place this Saturday and Sunday, July 31 and August 1, at the Holiday Inn in Guildford, England. You can watch it live on the web!..more

Smart Metering Implementation Programme Consultation
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is holding a consultation on Smart Meters. There are fears the meters could use polluting Power Line Communications (PLT/PLC)..more

Vanuatu DXpedition gets YJ0VK callsign
This DXpedition, with a team of four Australian radio amateurs, will be operating for six days, 0001 UTC on 27 August through to 0100 UTC on 2 September..more

Dave Raycroft's ICPO Bulletin
ICPO - Islands, Castles and Portable Operations. Probably the most comprehesive ham radio activity listings available anywhere on the internet..more

Digital TV and Radio - What's Next?
On Tuesday August 3, Murray Niman, G6JYB, will give a talk to the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) titled Digital TV and Radio - What's Next?..more

DX News from the ARRL
The American Radio Relay League's round-up of the forthcoming week's DX activity..more

Ofcom update: Providing spectrum information
The UK regulator Ofcom has published a statement setting out its policy on making Wireless Telegraphy licence information available to the public..more

GB2VET special event station
Special event station GB2VET is operating on 31 July and 1 August, 2010 celebrating the army, navy and air force reunion at East Park, Holderness Rd, Hull, East Yorks..more

DIY satellites let you find your own space
National Public Radio (NPR) has broadcast an item on DIY satellites in which Audie Cornish interviewers one of the early purchasers of these $8000 TubeSat kits..more

Namakan Lake islands activation
From 30 July to 1 August, 2010 Bob, KD0GAF/p will activate several islands in Namakan Lake, located in the Voyageurs National Park (WFF KFF-067), St. Louis County, Minnesota..more