WELCOME TO MY RADIO SHACK !
"Why has this discipline of radio - at one time the very
heart of electronic technology - come to the point where people consider it
an arcane science ? I have been forced to consider what first attracted me to
radio during my formative years. I liked radio because it was aesthetically
appealing. I was not nearly as impressed by the capabilities of radio as by
the very nature of radio. Radio is great, not because of what it does, but
because of what it is. Nobody buys an original Da Vinci painting to cover a
hole in the wall. By the same token there are other means of communication
that are more efficient than bouncing signals off the ionosphere; but the very
fact that we can bounce signals off the ionosphere makes it worth the effort
... Maxwell's equations appeal to the body, soul and spirit. Sine waves are
veritable works of art. Antenna radiation patterns are beautiful ... It is
incumbent upon radio initiates to convey the mystique and aesthetic aspects
of our hobby to newcomers. To fail to do so is to doom our hobby and the radio
profession to the status of a lost art."
Eric Nicols, KL7AJ
"I don't believe in magic, but I do know that sitting in
my car in the middle of Mississippi and listening to a signal that traveled
more than a thousand miles, over nearly a dozen states, and came down into my
car through a metal pole antenna and two paper-cone speakers, was as near to
a magical experience as ever I'm likely to have."
Richard Rubin, "It's Radi-O! The Medium That Can Turn
Anywhere into Somewhere"
STATION DATA
Callsign:OPERATOR'S BIOGRAPHY
I came on Earth on 15 December 1956 in the town of Pforzheim in Southwestern Germany, "Gateway to the Black Forest" and only 25 km away from the University of Karlsruhe where Heinrich Hertz proved the existence of electromagnetic waves in 1886. As a young boy my grandfather's radio fascinated me, with the glowing tubes inside bringing voices and music a long way from all these strange places printed on the dial. I discovered spooky number stations and heterodynes of CW signals and soon I was smitten by the magic, spirit and soul of RADIO.
In memory of my late uncle Fritz Hauff, W3NZ, who was a true cousin of my
grandmother and a passionate and exceptional radio amateur. This picture
shows OM Fritz in his 1950 radio shack in Royersford / PA when he held his
first callsign W3GHS.
IT'S A SMALL WORLD !
(by W3NZ, from the FOC News Sheet #666, April 2005)
At 2200z on 9 October 2001 I checked 20 meters. Signals from Europe were strong
but not plentiful, and in my pet spectrum (14022 - 14030 KHz) the CQ from DJ5IL
was outstanding and snappy. I gave my call once and he bounced back to me with
flawless CW. "TNX OM for call, you are 599 and my name is Karl, the QTH is
Pforzheim, at the north end of the Black Forest. BK".
I said, "Many TNX Karl, you are also solid 599, my name is Fritz. I know the
Black Forest well, my mother came from Haiterbach and years ago I had some
relatives in Pforzheim. I am not sure of their name, but believe it was Karl
Fischer, he was married to my cousin Kaethe Klenk and he had a store selling
watches and clocks. Would you know them or of them? BK".
Karl replied. "Solid copy Fritz. My name is Karl Fischer and the store is
still in the family. We are related, I am 45 years old and I never knew my
grandfather Karl Fischer, he had died before I was born. How about it?".
By that time my mind went almost blank. A good CW operator in the relationship
was too much for me to contemplate. We exchanged e-mail addresses and
signed.
After I told my wife Jean this story, her eyes opened wide and she said,
"It's hard to believe, it is a small world !".
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH RADIO !
(by W3NZ, from a personal letter)
I was ten years old - back in 1921 when I saw and heard my first radio. It was
a home built 3 tube breadbord set.
I was hooked !
It was an adventure for me to build a little crystal set. The big expense was
a pair of Siemens earfones and the cotton covered wire for the coil and the
aerial. It took a few days before the miracle happened - I heard Stuttgart.
Was I ever excited! " Mom, hurry up and listen! " She arrived, I put the
earfones over her head. Her cheeks turned white and after a few seconds she
hollered: "Get this thing out of this house, it is the work of the devil !"
A week later she had a change of mind - after she found out that her preacher
also had a
RADIO.
It was the beginning of my life long passion !
CLASSIC HAM SHACKS
Back in the early days of radio, the equipment was highly experimental and all home-built. Until the electron tube was invented, radio transmitters used a noisy and dangerous rotary spark-gap to generate radio waves and so they were often housed in a separate outbuilding or shed. At that time, wireless radio equipment aboard ships was generally housed above the bridge in a wooden structure which became known as the "radio shack". In amateur radio terminology, the radio room is often called "ham shack". This slideshow turns back the dial and puts the spotlight on classic ham shacks of a bygone era. Stop by from time to time for spotlights on other radio themes ...
Move the pointer (mobile devices: tap) into the above slideshow
to pause and out of it to continue autoplay. While paused an info
window for the current slide can be opened by clicking (tapping)
on the blue "i"-square in the lower right corner and closed by
clicking (tapping) into the window to pause further or by moving
the pointer (tapping) out of the image to resume autoplay. Go to
a particular slide by clicking (tapping) on its index number.
This chapter presents articles, essays and features dealing with Technical, Operational, Historicaland Regulatory aspects of amateur radio. The layout of some of the available PDF files is my reminiscence of the "ham radio" (HR) magazine, which was founded by Skip Tenney, W1NLB, and Jim Fisk, W1HR / W1DTY and published from February 1968 to June 1990. In its time HR was the preeminent technical magazine for amateur radio, it had no peers and to this day published some of the most cutting edge articles in amateur radio history. Feel free to download and circulate any of the material presented here ...
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TECHNICAL
The suffix "-rama" stems from the Ancient Greek word "οραμα" which means
"wide view". In order to complement my article
"All about Squeeze-Keying" with a useful practical device I developed
the unique PIC-based multi-mode Morse code keyer "Keyrama". It enables the
operator to get a wide view of the different keying modes, to compare its
correct emulation and timing of the original twin-lever modes with the
behaviour of other keyers, to follow the visualized action of the
dot/dash-memory and to find out to which extent his specific keying
technique really makes use of it ...
KEYRAMA
Programmed PICs 16F684 are available from the author, the
firmware hex-file
can be downloaded for personal non-commercial use. The actual version is
dated 11-10-2020, some minor bugs have been corrected and so if you are
using an older version please update your "Keyrama" keyer.
An improved PIC-based capacitive sensor-paddle for electronic Morse code
keyers. Early sensor-paddles used by radio amateurs worked with the skin
resistance, which is a widely varying parameter and makes two electrodes
necessary. They were notoriously unreliable and no pleasure to operate,
and that's why they gained a bad reputation. Being a passionate high-speed
CW operator, in the late 1990s I had the idea for a sensor-paddle based
on the self capacitance of the human body to virtual ground ...
CAPKEY+
(in German only)
DIFONA HF-P1
Diese kleine zerlegbare Vertikalantenne erlaubt Amateurfunkbetrieb auf allen
KW-Bändern mit maximal 150 Watt Sendeleistung und bietet sich mit einer
Transportlänge von 37 cm insbesondere für den Portabelbetrieb an. Ein
Vergleichstest ...
(in German only)
ENERGIEFLUSS AUF ÜBERTRAGUNGSLEITUNGEN
Wohin geht die Leistung, die von einer fehlangepassten Last am Ausgang einer
Übertragungsleitung reflektiert wird ? Jahrelang war ich der Ansicht, daß sie
am Generator total re-reflektiert wird, so wie es von Walt Maxwell, W2DU,
ursprünglich propagiert wurde, und meine Darstellung dieses Modells war hier
zu finden. Inzwischen bin ich zu einer anderen Überzeugung gelangt und warum
das so ist, wird hier erklärt ...
(in German only)
ENERGIEFLUSS UND VERLUSTE AUF ÜBERTRAGUNGSLEITUNGEN
Kondensierte Form des Artikels "Energiefluss auf Übertragungsleitungen",
ergänzt um die Begründung und Berechnung des Zusatzverlustes ...
Add a new dimension of CW perception to your receiver by incorporating this
simple audio device for pseudo-stereo reception of radio telegraphy signals.
The sound does not seem to originate from the earphones as usual, but from
the inside of your head. Multiple CW signals in the receiver passband seem
to be spreaded out holding specific positions, while static crashes appear
randomly distributed throughout the entire space - a spatial sound sensation
with depth and presence that makes CW copy unique ...
THE CODEPHASER
I recorded a few moments on the 40m band to demonstrate the effect of the
CODEPHASER. Before you listen to the demo, please note that it is absolutely
necessary to use stereo headphones - PC loudspeakers definitely don't work !
Don't expect astounding but rather subtle effects, since spatial sound
sensations are the normal condition for our auditory system. Close your eyes
while listening in order to focus exclusively on the sound. And certainly it
will take some time and several listening sessions before you can fully
appreciate this new dimension of CW reception. The demo consists of 9 radio
clips:
Clip #1 (39 sec.):
Sweep across the 40m CW band. The clip starts monaural, after 15 sec. the
CODEPHASER is switched in and the signals now appear on the right moving to
the left with increasing pitch ...
During the following clips, the CODEPHASER is switched in and out alternately
(the switching moment can be identified by a short popping noise):
Clip #2 (18 sec.), Clip #3 (30 sec.), Clip #4 (31 sec.):
CW pile-ups. A wide filter is used to enhance the spatial effect. Pay special
attention to G3PHO in the first and F6COW in the last pile-up ...
Clip #5 (16 sec.), Clip #6 (19 sec.), Clip #7 (10 sec.):
FSK-signals. Though it makes no sense to listen to them, they sound quite
interesting through the CODEPHASER ...
Clip #8 (18 sec.), Clip #9 (18 sec.):
SSB-signals.
Please listen now to the CODEPHASER sound demo
Extremely small and highly efficient - These two properties of a fictious
superantenna sound very attractive, not only to us radio amateurs.
Unfortunately, they are physically competing since the smaller the antenna
copared to the wavelength, the smaller the radiation resistance. And because
in real antenna systems the losses increase with decreasing radiation
resistance, efficiency drops with reduction in size. See my detailed
analysis of the DL7PE-MicroVert and it's derivatives and learn how the
MicoVert really works (in English and in German).
HOW THE MICROVERT REALLY WORKS
(Java-Script, in German only)
BALUNS UND TRAFOS MIT RINGKERNEN BERECHNEN
OPERATIONAL
Radio amateurs invented and pioneered electronic Morse code keyers, but today
their knowledge of the different twin-lever keying modes is sparse. Here is
a review and thorough explanation ...
ALL ABOUT SQUEEZE-KEYING
HISTORICAL
The prolific radio raconteur, whose easy storytelling style earned comparisons
to Mark Twain and who was described as "the first radio novelist", captivated
a generation with his stories and inspired a new generation of spoken narrative
artists. Shep was an American original, a radio and TV personality, humorist,
writer, actor and musician. The art, wit and humour of Jean Shepherd which has
entertained for so many years lives on in the recordings of many of his radio
shows, which can be found on the web as public domain. Some of these recordings
reflect his genuine an deep-rooted passion for the science, spirit and soul of
Radio and especially for Amateur Radio and CW. It is my pleasure to present you
a few of these recordings which I have compiled and remastered ...
A TRIBUTE TO RADIO LEGEND JEAN SHEPHERD (W9QWN, K2ORS)
Die << Rote Kapelle >> war das wichtigste und
erfolgreichste Nachrichtennetz im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Sie spannte ihre Fäden
über das ganze besetzte Europa, ja sogar bis in das Machtzentrum des Dritten
Reiches, und trug entscheidend zum Sieg der Alliierten bei - doch die meisten
ihrer Mitglieder opferten dafür ihr Leben. Dieser von den besten Agenten des
sowjetischen Geheimdienstes aufgebaute Spionagering wurde von einem Mann
geleitet, dessen Deckname allein schon sein Format kennzeichnet: Le Grand
Chef. Der Allgemeinheit fast unbekannt, gilt er unter den Spezialisten
als ein Spion vom Range eines Sorge, Abel oder Philby, ja vielleicht als der
größte von allen. Im Fachjargon der deutschen Geheimdienste bezeichnete man
den Chef eines Spionagenetzes als << Kapellmeister >>.
Er dirigiert das Spiel seiner Musiker, und unter ihnen ist ein besonders
wichtiger Solist: der << Pianist >>, der Funker. Als
Hitler von den Geheimsendern erfuhr, die in Berlin, Paris, Brüssel und
Amsterdam unter dem Taktstock des großen Chefs konzertierten, setzte er ein
Spezialkommando der Gestapo auf die Rote Kapelle an ...
DIE ROTE KAPELLE
1972 wurde von der ARD die vom WDR produzierte 7-teilige Fensehserie
"Die Rote Kapelle" ausgestrahlt, die gelungene filmische Umsetzung
der wahren Geschichte dieser legendären Spionageorganisation. Damals war ich
gerade mal 15 Jahre jung - aber so fasziniert von dem Film und von seinen
"Pianisten", dass ich schon ein Jahr später meine Lizenzprüfung als einer
der jüngsten Funkamateure in Deutschland abgelegt habe. Vor einigen Jahren
habe ich die Tonspur des Fernsehfilms überarbeitet, von mono in pseudo-stereo
gewandelt, und aus Segmenten daraus zusammen mit anderen Tondokumenten diese
Audio-Collage komponiert - Ich wünsche eine Stunde und zwanzig Minuten
spannende Unterhaltung !
"High-frequency engineering utilizes energy transmission lines which are comprised of two parallel conductors carrying high frequency in anti-phase so that their external fields compensate and no radiation is present. If, however, the geometrical lenghts of these energy transmission lines are in the order of a wavelength with external fields being present, it is possible that the conductors also carry in-phase currents in addition to the anti-phase currents. This is the case, for example, in arrangements which are used to feed antennas ... These in-phase currents result in radiation of the energy transmission line ... In order to prevent these drawbacks, it is suggested to include means by which anti-phase currents are allowed to flow unhindered through the parallel conductors whereas in-phase currents are hindered ... an arrangement of coils is inserted which consists of two coils wound into each other in the same sense thus being tightly coupled. The inductivities of the coils cancel for the anti-phase currents from the transmitter so that energy flow in that wanted direction is unhindered. But for the in-phase currents which are induced by emission of the antenna the inductances sum up so that these currents encounter a high resistance and thus are hindered ..."
REGULATORY
(in German only)
SCHUTZANSPRUCH UND SCHUTZKRITERIEN DES RUNDFUNK- UND
AMATEURFUNKDIENSTES
Während mit der weiten Verbreitung billig produzierter Geräte und physikalisch
unvernünftiger Technologien - wie z.B. "Powerline Communication" PLC/PLT -
der Elektrosmog stetig zunimmt, ignoriert die Bundesnetzagentur BNetzA ganz
im Sinne von Industrie-Lobbys immer mehr ihren Gesetzesauftrag zum Schutz der
Funkdienste vor elektromagnetischen Störungen. Es scheint notwendig, die
Grundlagen dieses Schutzauftrags zu beleuchten ...
THE MEDIUMWAVE TRANSMITTER MÜHLACKER
Mühlacker is like Beromünster or Hilversum, on the scales of old radios the names of these unknown places can be found next to London, Paris or Moscow. And though such devices today can only be rarely found at places like attics or junk dealers, these names have burned themselves into the collective memory of radio enthusiasts. The small town of Mühlacker is located in the Southwest of Germany, almost exactly halfway between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart and only some 12 km away from my hometown Pforzheim. Here in the year 1930 the first high-power broadcasting transmitter in Germany and presumably in whole Europe came into existence, which aired a multitude of radio programs for more than eight decades. The following slideshow turns back the dial and tells its fascinating history ...
This chapter presents audio clips of worldwide
Amateur Radio,
Broadcasting,
Utility and Spy Number
Stations. Stop by from time to time for new radio recordings ... Click
on a station identifier to play the audio clip and listen to the MAGIC
SOUNDS OF SHORTWAVE RADIO - Enjoy !
AMATEUR RADIO STATIONS
DJ5IL my own CW signals recorded by Don, WB6BEE, in Pagosa Springs / Colorado during our QSO. 19-10-2020, 14:26 UTC, 14 MHz.
VU2DK a well-known voice on the bands: op. Zal, QTH Poona near Bombay / India, here in QSO with DK5EC (op. Karl, QTH Bonn / Germany). 11-02-2011, 11:02 UTC, 21239 KHz, S9.
VK2GND op. Mark, QTH Hornsby / Australia, pushing 1 KW into two stacked 3-element Yagi antennas, in QSO with VU2XO (op. Patel in India). 10-01-2011, 13:30 UTC, 14273 KHz, S9 (short path).
ZL2JBR - QRP test John asks his QSO partner DL1DH in Germany to reduce power and copies his 1 Watt Signal still perfectly well with S3 in New Zealand, a distance of nearly 20.000 Km - really incredible ! 17-01-2011, 11:10 UTC, 14215 KHz, S9+10dB (short path).
ZL2JBR op. John, QTH Wellington / New Zealand. 21-12-2010, 09:25 UTC, 14215 KHz, S9, (short path).
HB9QQ calling "CQ DX" from Switzerland in CW on the 17m band, with echo signals due to multipath-propagation (... he worked many Japanese stations afterwards). 07-11-2004, 09:10 UTC, 18087 KHz.
BROADCASTING STATIONS
"Radio Kitaia" the Russian program of "China Radio International" CRI. 13-02-2011, 09:00 UTC, 15340 KHz.
China Radio International (CRI) with echoes caused by multi-path propagation. 20-12-2010, 10:20 UTC, 15440 KHz.
Deutsche Welle (DW) with strong echoes caused by multi-path propagation. 07-09-2010, 15:30 UTC, 6075 KHz.
Voice of Russia interval signal and anouncement "Hier ist Moskau ..." ("Here is Moscow ...") starting the German programme, 01-06-2004 15:00 UTC 7330 KHz.
AIR India with a typical music program. 06-07-2004, 13:52 UTC, 11585 KHz.
Radio Tashkent interval signal and announcement, exotic sounds from the capital of Uzbekistan on the Great Silk Road in Central Asia. 07-07-2004, 14:30 UTC, 17775 KHz.
BBC World Service time signal and announcement. 07-07-2004, 15:00 UTC, 15565 KHz.
UTILITY & SPY NUMBER STATIONS
38702 77026 ... yes, there are still spy number stations active in CW like this one ! After the automatic transmission of number groups, the operator seems to wait for confirmation by the target station and uses the straight key to ask "QRV ?" ("are you ready ?"). 27-03-2011, 08:17 UTC, 14937 KHz, S9+20dB !
846 846 ... Russian spy number station. 12-01-2011, 10:15 UTC, 14280 KHz.
Echo Zulu India spy number station (ENIGMA classification: E10). It is generally believed that MOSSAD (the Israel Intelligence Service) operates these stations, transmitter sites include Israel and their embassies and consulates. E10 is characterized by a female voice repeating a three letter phonetic phrase. This can go for hours before the message is sent, which consists of blocks of phonetic letters. 03-07-2004, 07:00 UTC, 11565 KHz.
39208 ... another spy number station playing xylophone - spooky ! 05-07-2004, 15:10 UTC, 11545 KHz.
"Only a harmless radio amateur ?
You're kidding, madam, the whole NATO fleet just left their ports ..."
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