Sark-110 V0.10.xx Firmware update

Ive been pre-occupied with other things and not gotten around to updating the firmware on my Sark110 for a long time (>12 months at least). I seem have missed V0.9.xx completely still being on V.0.8.7.xx. But i just found a few seconds of “free time” and went about installing the latest firmware upgrade, this V0.10.xx…

Icom IC-2820H Replacement GPS Antenna

i happened to come across a second hand Icom IC-2820H Deathstar radio recently at a very good price and purchased it for the shack/one of the cars. BUT… it was missing the GPS antenna to allow DPRS (aprs for Dstar) and other positioning functions this radio offers. The GPS unit is supplied with the UT-123 Dstar…

Spring VHF/UHF Field Day 2014 VK3ER

As normal, the EMDRC club station VK3ER/P headed to our normal contest location at Mclaughlins Lookout in the wombat state forest for the SpringVHF/UHF field day 2014. The team for Spring consisted of our normal operators. Peter, Mike Jonas and Jack, we had help from Greg and Michael, and I was able to assist for for the…

Summer VHF/UHF Field Day 2014

Last weekend, I assisted EMDRC in the summer VHF/UHF Field day contest 2014. We headed to the normal location of McLaughlin Lookout in the wombat state forest around 80km west of Melbourne. I started work early on the friday, and managed to head up mid afternoon. I arrived around mid afternoon, with others having turned up…

50MHz Lunchtime Opening.

Sometimes, the magic band is just that, Magic. I was at home on my lunch break, and VKLogger suggested conditions were good, so i connected the OCF dipole and changed to 50MHz, to discover and work ZL2WHO – Mark in Palmerston on the north island, as well as into Vk5/7/4 and 2.. Not bad for…

Spring VHF/UHF Field Day 2013

This year, I assisted the VK3ER/p (EMDRC) team comprising of Peter – VK3QI, Jack – VK3WWW, Mike VK3AVV and Jonas VK3VF in participating in the Spring 2013 VHF/UHF Field Day. The club has been a very active competitor in this contest over the years, and we have a very good spot at Mclaughlins Lookout near Blackwood…

Baofeng UV-5RE

Ticket Green D43, Green D43, as i quickly check my tickets, I won.. EMDRC club has a raffle each meeting, 3 tickets for $5 with a good selection of items raffled throughout the year typically around the $50 mark. My Prize this time, a cheap and cheerful Baofeng UV-5RE hand held, pre programmed and ham band…

DUBUS Magazine Free Download

DUBUS magazine is an international amateur radio magazine intended for the serious VHF and up operator. Published in Germany, it is fully bilingual (English/German). There are four issues a year, each of over 100 A5 pages which are devoted to a mix of state-of-the-art technical articles and DX operating news. Ive always been interested in the…

Idiots guide to 144Mhz WSPR

WSJT, MAP65, WSPR, and WSJT-X are open-source programs designed for weak-signal digital communication by amateur radio.  Normal usage requires a standard SSB transceiver and a personal computer with sound-card. WSPR (pronounced “whisper”) stands for “Weak Signal Propagation Reporter.” This program is designed for sending and receiving low-power transmissions to test propagation paths on the MF and HF and VHF/UHF…

Wouxun KG-UV6D

Cheap and Cheerful. The new world order in Ham radio gear. In the last couple of years, a range of cheap ham radios have started to come out of china. These radios were not great a couple of years ago, but now they offer good performance for not a lot of money. I was looking…