ARRLWeb: December 2006 QST Feedback

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ARRL's VHF Digital Handbook -- Dive into the digital radio universe!

VHF/UHF Handbook--Second Edition -- THE guide to theory and practice in the VHF and UHF bands

Microwave Projects 2 -- More innovative projects: transverters and transmitters, preamplifiers, power amplifiers, filters, and more.

ARRL's VHF/UHF Antenna Classics -- Practical designs and construction details from the pages of QST.

The ARRL UHF/Microwave Projects CD -- Practical projects, design and construction ideas for UHF and Microwave Experimenters

December 2006 QST Feedback

Some key information required for construction was inadvertently left out of "An Antenna Impedance Meter for the High Frequency Bands" [Nov 2006, pp 28-32]. This information can be found on the ARRLWeb.

The Nov 2006 cover notation for the Timewave antenna analyzer should read, Timewave TZ-900 AntennaSmith^TM.

In the sidebar to "Sun, Wind Energize Club Repeater [Nov 2006, p 46], the text should read, "The power in the wind rises as the cube of the velocity..."

Dave Bernstein, AA6YQ, the developer of PropView, provided these comments on the description that appears in "HF Propagation Software -- A Look at the Field" [Oct 2006, pp 42-43]:

PropView

The PropView screenshot used in the article shows the critical frequencies but not the open bands. This is a view is one might choose when trying to better understand HF propagation, but not when using PropView for its primary purpose: to identify the best bands and times to work a sought-after DX station. A PropView forecast showing short-path openings between my Boston-area QTH and the forthcoming DXpedition to the Laccadive Islands is shown here; the thicker the line, the more probable the opening.

The review says, "Enter latitude and longitude of both ends of the circuit, the antenna take-off angle, power, noise level, SFI and desired availability." It fails to mention that PropView automatically interoperates with DXView (another member of the DXLab Suite), allowing the user to specify the location of the DX end of the circuit by entering a call sign, a DXCC prefix, an IOTA tag, or a grid square -- or by simply clicking a location on DXView's world map. DXView further augments PropView by using the geomagnetic K-index to visually depict interaction between a signal's path and the auroral ovals. Interoperation with complementary applications was discussed in reviews of other applications, but omitted for PropView.

The review fails to mention PropView's NCDXF/IARU beacon monitoring capability, which includes the ability to automatically QSY one's transceiver (via Commander, another DXLab application) to monitor a specified set of beacon/band combinations. By comparing the forecast for a relevant beacon with received signal levels, one can calibrate the propagation forecasts for nearby locations.

In "Learning to Live with a Linear" [Jul 2006, p 38], the reference to "Getting to Know Your Radio," should be to the column on page 48 of the Aug 2006 issue.

In the "Product Review -- ICOM IC-R1500 Communications Receiver" [Oct 2006, p 70, Table 1], the frequency range shown as "2853-2669" should be "2853-2869" MHz.

Update: The ARRL Homebrew Challenge (HBC) announced in the Aug 2006 issue [p 20] and expanded in Oct 2006 [p 57] has generated considerable interest and discussion. There have also been a number of requests for clarification of the rules. The HBC Web site (www.arrl.org/qst/hbc/) has all the clarifications with changes noted in bold text. A particularly significant question had to do with operational modes, and yes, the homebrew station must be able to operate in both voice and CW modes. Check the Web page frequently for updates and clarifications.

In "Emergency, Emergency, Emergency" [Public Service, Nov 2006, p 85], the regular Monday net control operator of the Alaska Pacific Emergency Preparedness Net is actually Rollo Van Slyke, N7JQ, of Burley, Washington.