Amateur Radio Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
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2 answers

Ladder line vs twisted pair: where do the losses actually occur?

I don't understand why 14 AWG XHHW-2 wire would work fine when used in ladderline for high-power HF transmission, but the same wire would exhibit higher losses when used in a twisted pair configuration. Can anyone explain to me why ladderline has…
Mark K1LSB
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Statistics on ham operators age, internationally

Are there statistics that cover more than the USA regarding how the age of licensed amateurs members of national ham organizations is distributed? All I get are questionable sources on the internet for average ages, but I'd actually be interest in…
Marcus Müller
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Coax in the wall, or around the house?

I am mounting a hex-beam antenna to the peak of my house (assuming that I can find someone with a cherry-picker or a scissor-lift that can help me get it up there). Right at that end of the house is an open vent into my attic, which is easily…
Don Levey
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Can I improve reception with a more sensitive antenna / preamplifier / better feedline?

I am trying to receive a station, but I can only barely hear it through the noise. Will doing anything that increases the signal from my antenna help, such as: using a more sensitive antenna adding a preamplifier installing a shorter or higher…
Phil Frost - W8II
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2 answers

How to design a Local Oscillator for a radio receiver?

I have decided to design a Medium Wave radio with discrete parts which won't include much complex ICs or schematics . I am thinking of designing the radio in Heterodyne mode. Which requires an oscillator for resonance and mixture. I think Hartley…
CoderBittu
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Antenna tuning confusion - help!

In a recent discussion with a fellow ham about where to use a RigExpert antenna analyzer for tuning an antenna for minimum SWR, we couldn't decide if "antenna only" or "feedline+antenna with the analyzer at the transmitter end". For example, if I…
K4JUL
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Optimizing Half-Duplex Sequencing: Consolidating RF and Power Connections with Bias-T and VOX

I've successfully implemented a half-duplex sequencing mechanism, which I've illustrated below. The outdoor components are represented in green. In my current setup, I utilize a PLC to control both an HPA (Kuhne) and an RF Switch (Radiall). The…
Moses Browne Mwakyanjala
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2 answers

Can APRS and other AX.25 packet-based systems (ie. a BBS) use the same frequency?

I realize that it is technically possible to multiplex APRS and other AX.25 traffic on a single frequency, but I'm wondering if this is frowned upon or not. My hunch is that it is, but I wanted to see what other folks had to say as well. My use case…
Andrew Young
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What was the first QSO by an astronaut? Was it code or voice?

Discussion under this answer to Could amateur radio operators or others contact the ISS against NASA's wishes? in Space Exploration SE explore some activity from the Mir and ISS stations and the Space Shuttle, but I'm curious about the first proper…
uhoh
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GNU Radio and OsmoSDR AGC for Hack RF

I am trying to construct an automatic gain controller for my HackRF when in receive mode. I am using the gr-osmosdr block in GNU Radio to interface with the HackRF. I am then running my received I and Q signal into a squaring block, and then an…
Severe-Building-8307
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Repeater signal drops at regular interval

Relatively inexperienced ham, starting to call into local nets. With two of the local repeaters the signal drops at regular intervals, approx every 15 seconds. I’ll have a strong signal and then nothing for a fraction of a second. I’m on a HT with a…
mbond
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What does <...> mean in FT8?

I caught this in FT8, did someone just enter <...> as their call sign or is this code for something?
Pablo Fernandez
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Is it possible to comply with FCC regulations using a mode that takes over ten minutes to send a call sign?

Is there any legal way to use an extremely slow mode that takes over ten minutes to send a call sign?
Someone
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Antenna Design for specific directions

I am designing an antenna for a device and was hoping to gain some insight in the correct design direction for the antenna. The Idea: A receiver & antenna that fits in a 6" diameter by 3" deep cylinder. Known: Frequencies range from 162.400 to…
Josh Cox
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Transceivers connectable with bluetooth hearing aids

I'm a rower in the Netherlands. Rowers are typically coached via transceivers or a megaphone. I am hearing impaired and I will get new hearing aids soon. These will be equipped with bluetooth. My question is: are there transceivers that are…
Tijmen
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