At our monthly club meetings we have a short 5 minute “look-see” at new cool products (or old products that are still cool). If you have any suggestions for future CPR items to be shared during our meetings, drop a line to Dave Wickert, AE7TD dwickert@hotmail.com
Previous CPRs are:
September 2018:
- Shack “building blocks” for desks
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ham-Radio-Bench-Mount-Rack-Stack-or-Holder-Kenwood-Yaesu-Icom-Mike-Antenna-CB/223001012237
(courtesy of Larry Kilbride KI7GST) - Wire antennas — “linked” dipoles
https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/band-hopper-iii-three-band-linked-dipole/
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD) - Speaker wire antennas — How to build and How to deploy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqh0Ntus5G0 (build)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Ce7DWzr2g (deploy)
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD) - Low-tech soldering — Waterproof Solder Seal Heat Shrink Butt Connectors with Soldering Sleeve
https://www.amazon.com/HOODDEAL-Waterproof-Solder-Connectors-Soldering/dp/B00ESXX74G
https://www.dxengineering.com/search/new-product/yes/product-line/dx-engineering-heat-shrink-self-solder-wire-splice-connectors
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD) - Idea for a soldering activity at a club meeting: Build a battery load kit
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/sbm-load-kit
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD)
August 2018:
- Handheld Radio Field Guide Instructions: Front Panel Programming by Andrew Cornwall
https://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Radio-Field-Guide-Instructions/dp/099966090X/
(courtesy of Bill Thomassen N6NBN) - Yaesu’s new FT-4XR Dual Band 5W VHF/UHF Handheld Transceiver $102
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-016123
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD) - Sabertooth Wire — Oh boy . . . I wish it was true
http://www.lakewashingtonhamclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SabertoothAntennaWire.pdf
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD) - CountyComm GP-5/SSB GEN 3 $90 radio — very interesting ability to monitor SSB DX ham bands
https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0906.html
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD) - Electronic Resistor Wall Clock — do you remember how to read resistor color codes?
http://www.hamcrazy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=32&products_id=306
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD)
May 2018:
- Eclectic gifts for the ham and others enthusiasts!:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/182518503/8163264128gb-orange-pentode-radio-vacuum
https://www.etsy.com/listing/270724735/personalized-amateur-radio-service?ref=related-2
https://www.etsy.com/listing/279363178/personalized-amateur-radio-service
https://www.etsy.com/listing/589257076/steampunk-vacuum-tube-green-led-night
https://www.etsy.com/listing/556175595/ham-radio-operator-shirt-the-best-ham
https://www.etsy.com/listing/590523592/ham-radio-operator-tumbler-cup-ham-radio
And for the XYLs among us:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/286480885/over-and-out-1930s-dictionary-pages
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD) - Keep your push-up mast up! First, try the “top” section:
https://www.dx-wire.de/lng/en/fiberglass-poles/accessories-for-fiberglass-poles/rubber-profile-12m-grey.html
Then try the bottom section:
https://www.m0mcx.co.uk/store/products/dx-commander-stay-up-kit-hose-clamps-and-collars/
or
https://www.spiderbeam.com/product_info.php?info=p57_Clamp%20set%20for%2012m%20fiberglass%20pole.html
(courtesy of Dave Wickert, AE7TD)
Apr 2018:
- An Overview of Amateur Call Signs Past and Present (QST May 1994) presents an interesting picture of how call signs were issued — Note: this period is immediately prior to the vanity call sign system starting — WOW!:
https://archive.org/details/AnOverviewOfAmateurCallSignsPastAndPresent/ or here (locally).
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD) - Lido Mounts has an interesting new “wedge” car seat mount. Take a look at it:
http://www.lidomounts.com/page/subpage/hamradiomounts/lm-wedge.htm
it just might fit your need for a temporary mounting solution.
(courtesy of Dave Wickert, AE7TD) - “Klickstands” from Hardened Power Systems is a universal tilting accessory for anything metal: https://www.portableuniversalpower.com/klickstand/ $24
(courtesy of Dave Wickert, AE7TD)
Mar 2018:
- Mike and Key Hamfest is photos are here:
http://www.lakewashingtonhamclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MikeAndKeyHamfest.pdf
(courtesy of Dave Wickert AE7TD, and Vlad Dovgalecs KI7UBL)
Feb 2018:
- Pocket oscilloscope, multimeter, and logger that fits in a pocket. Display and
controls are via smartphone:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pokitmeter/a-multimeter-oscilloscope-and-logger-that-fits-in?ref=discovery
(courtesy of Ron Bailey, KF7REH) - Tool for tightening BNC connectors: Firmly holds the female end of a BNC connector while tightening the nut or when screwing a BNC directly into a threaded hole
https://www.mathews-engineering.com/store/p3/BNC_Tool_-_Connector_Tightening_Wrench.html
(courtesy of Dave Wickert, AE7TD) - ZUMspot Pi Zero board — the coolest, smallest hotspot in the world. Paired with a RPi Zero W, it is about as large as your thumb. Supports DMR, P-25, D-Star and System Fusion 🙂 .
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-015994
(courtesy of Dave Wickert, AE7TD)
Jan 2018: (all courtesy of Dave Wickert, AE7TD)
- New base mount with speaker mic holder:
http://www.lidomounts.com/page/subpage/homepage/base-id5100.htm - Rubber lined zip-ties:
http://kf7p.com/KF7P/Grip_Lock_Ties.html
(great for sensitive applications or those with a lot of vibrations) - PicoAPRS — smallest APRS tracker and TNC available — very, very cool
http://www.wimo.com/picoaprs-mini-aprs-transceiver_e.html
Nov 2017:
- Antenna disconnect when radio is turned off
http://www.Paradanradio.com
(courtesy of Don Sayler, W7OXR and Dave Wickert, AE7TD )
Sept 2017:
Microphone ideas:
- A very cool home-brew magnetic solution for mounting in your car:
(courtesy of Brian Calvery, AC7BK )
Counter-sunk ring magnet and disc magnet:
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=RC22CS-S
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DC3
Adhesive:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01863G5Q0/
Photos are here - Add a microphone clip to your existing mount in your car:
http://www.lidomounts.com/catalog/item/9061212/10343031.htm - Base station mounting ideas:
http://www.lidomounts.com/homepage/base-id5100.html
http://www.niftyaccessories.com/ID-5100_desk_stand.php
Power your HT:
March 2017:
First, some “fun stuff” for you:
- http://www.hamcrazy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=35&products_id=326 (Hitch cover w/ monitoring frequency or call sign $13)
- http://www.hamcrazy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_21&products_id=199 (a copy of your license for your wallet $13)
Second, clean up your shack to your XYL’s expectations:
Don’t break through walls . . .
- http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/antsup/2750.html (for side-opening windows, 0.5dB loss)
- http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4602 (for vertical windows, several models from MFJ, look at 3:15 min mark in video)
Cable management: (make sure you have separate runs for RF and power/etc.)
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013X0H4JI/
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TBMTM2A/
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B7CUX9M/
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KVF7GK0/ (maybe too small for some antenna cables)
Power management:
- http://www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=rr_4007u (great for mobile as well)
- http://www.westmountainradio.com/rigrunner.php (many models of RigRunners)
- http://k9jeb.com/PDC.aspx (locally designed and built in Redmond — John also has very cool J-poles reviewed earlier)
Antenna storage:
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NDEXHOQ/ (yellow sample in-person)
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012B5MB2G/ (larger size)
Finally, while travelling, have some additional organization:
February 2017:
- https://www.amazon.com/Ham-Radio-Dummies-Ward-Silver/dp/1118592115/ Book: Ham Radio for Dummies — the best source for answering the age old question: “Why Ham Radio?”
Antennas: (wire and accessories)
- http://www.2wayelectronix.com/ (Slim Jim j-pole using ladder line) — great for a portable VHF/UHF emergency antenna, particularly for getting extra range out of your HT
- http://k9jeb.com/JPole.aspx (just mount it at the top of a PVC pole) This is the way that we mounted our antennas at WashJam along with furniture-grade PVC poles from http://www.formufit.com/
- http://www.lnrprecision.com/store/#!/EF-QUAD/ (Great multi-band end-fed antenna)
- http://hamcall.net/7bandocf.html (Buckmaster Off-Center Fed OCF Dipole) if you have room for a full length dipole, but would like multiple bands
- http://www.alphadeltacom.com/pdf/prices_switches-3.pdf (3-way coax antenna switch with gas discharge tube, aka fuses). For more detailed info on GDTs, look here for a February 2017 QST article. A cheaper “little brother” is available from MFJ here.
Fun stuff:
- http://www.hamthreads.com/ (cool clothing and ARES gear — particularly the neon yellow hat)
January 2017: (our first session)
Trends in Radios:
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYIDJI3/ (20-50W Chinese mobile radios break into the market for sub-$100)
- https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-5X3-Watt-Tri-Band-Radio/dp/B01J2W4JUI/ (BaoFeng tri-band version of 5R5 $60)
- https://www.gigaparts.com/kenwood-th-d74a.html (New Kenword tri-band w/ DSTAR $610)
- https://www.gigaparts.com/icom-id-51a-plus.html (While supplies last, $365; not PLUS2 $510)
Stuff to store/transport your radio:
- http://www.tac-comm.com/ (nice carrier for equipment)
- http://www.nrs.com/product/28572/aquapac-small-vhf-classic-228 (waterproof bag)
- http://www.proclipusa.com/ (solid mobile mounting brackets for car/truck)
- http://www.niftyaccessories.com/ (radio stands but also radio guides, band guides, books, etc.)
Knick knacks and fun stuff:
- http://www.hamcrazy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=3 (Acrylic call sign)
- http://www.hamcrazy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=194 (FCC license frame w/ signature)
- http://www.hotpresstshirts.com/hat%20embroid%20thumbs.htm (ham hat w/ name and city)