The EI2KM contest team - CQWW CW 2015

CQ TEST . . . EI2KM team and supporters during the CQWW CW contest.

This is a photo taken during the CQWW CW contest with the EI2KM team at the QTH of Doug EI2CN in County Louth. From left to right are Brian EI8EJB, Declan EI6FR (with headphones, operating the radio), Stephane F5UOW, Anthony EI2KC, Adrian EI2KJ (seated with beard in foreground), Alain EI2KM/F8FUA and Doug EI2CN.

Below you can see some more videos from the contest. The first one shows me operating on 80 metres, using (for the first time) a four-square receive antenna. What a joy that was!

And in this video shot by Alain EI2KM (F8FUA) you can see a better view of the station.

Got the Signalink USB and IC706MkII working together

Inspired by my recent trip to Gola with the EJ7NET team, where we mostly used small rigs, I am aiming to set up an entire portable station - something that I could bring on such a trip. I have the IC-706MkII. I have the LDG auto tuner. I have the K9EL keyer. I don't have a small switchmode PSU - I had to borrow one for the trip. But I dearly wanted to get digi modes up and running. I never knew, however, that it would be so easy!

The "portable" station set up in the shack. Icom IC-706MkII, LDG auto tuner,
Signalink USB and Winkeyer USB.

I looked up the Tigertronics website and opened the Signalink USB up and re-wired the jumpers. They had been wired for my old Yaesu FT-1000MP, which I sold a couple of years ago. What I didn't realise was that I could use an ordinary RJ45 ethernet cable to connect the Signalink box to the rig. The beautiful thing (one of many) about the IC-706MkII is that it has TWO microphone sockets - one underneath the front of the rig, and one at the rear. The upshot is that I can keep the microphone connected at the front and the digital cable connected at the back - there's no need to unplug one to use the other.

So I connected everything up and downloaded fldigi. I didn't want to use HRD because it's already interfaced with my Icom 756PRO. Within minutes I had fldigi installed and running - and decoding signals from the IC706MkII via the Signalink. Wow. But it got better . . .

A screen shot of fldigi. I haven't used it much yet, but I already like it. 

I decided to try to CQ - on low power, which I think was either 5 or 10 watts - using PSK31. Immediately an EA2 came back to my call! I hadn't even set up the macros, so I had to manually type out my QSO. But I didn't mind. I was so delighted to get the digital modes running so easily.

I haven't been using fldigi for long - but I already like it. The installer was less than 5MB. It's a free program. It was easy to install and easy to get going. The macros are very easy to set up. I like the fact that it has a sort-of "super browser" (like HRD) built in, on the left-hand pane, showing live decoding of the various signals on the waterfall.

So a couple of things remain outstanding before I can say I have a fully portable station. I need a small PSU. I also need something like a Sota pole and an antenna - preferably a multi-band dipole such as the "Iona Dipole" that Gordon GM7WCO used on Gola. Then I will be completely set up. Oh - I also need a case or box in which to put all the equipment. But I will figure that one out in time.

Comreg publishes new amateur station guidelines

Comreg, the Communications Regulator, who govern the Irish amateur radio service (among many other communication services), have just published the updated Amateur Station Licence Guidelines. Two very notable changes include the increase of the power limit on the 10Mhz band (30 metres), from 100 watts to 400 watts, and also the allocation on a secondary basis of 472-479 Khz for use with CW, QRSS and narrow band digital modes. The maximum power allowed on this MF allocation is 5 watts (7 dBW).

If my calculations are right, that means the wavelength on 472 Khz is 220 metres, meaning if you wanted to put up a quarter-wave dipole for that band you would need 55 metres (181.5ft) of wire!!

Also, under section 8.2, maritime mobile operation is allowed.

Under section 8.1: Land Based Mobile Station Operation the following is interesting to say the least:


67. An Amateur Mobile Station may not be established or used at sea (other than
as part of Maritime Mobile Operation) or within any estuary, dock or harbour
or in the vicinity of an airport or radio navigation installation.

Also interesting is a five-year timeout on Silent Key callsign applications (where next of kin want to apply to retain or re-enact the callsign of a deceased relative):


53. The only exception to the rule that Amateur Station call-signs issue for the
lifetime of the Amateur Station Licensee is that a “silent key” call-sign may be
transferred to an immediate next of kin of a deceased Amateur Station
Licensee. Such a transfer will only be permitted where that the call-sign in
question had not lapsed within the lifetime of the deceased Amateur Station
Licensee and an application to obtain the call-sign is made within five years
(10)
of the date of death of the Licensee. "Next of kin" for these purposes means a
child, grandchild, sibling or spouse of a deceased Amateur Station Licensee.
Further, a next of kin who applies for such a call-sign must hold a valid
Amateur Station Licence or have passed a HAREC exam.


(10) All files relating to cancelled licences are destroyed after five years in accordance with ComReg’s Data
Protection guidelines

The new Amateur Station Licence Guidelines can be viewed on the Comreg website here: http://www.comreg.ie/publications/amateur_station_licence_guidelines.583.104272.p.html 
http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg0945R1.pdf