NA4DA – Andy Allen

Author: NA4DA

  • Report from the World’s Largest Hamfest

    Report from the World’s Largest Hamfest

    Radio amateurs from around the world descended on Xenia, Ohio, last weekend for Hamvention® 2026. The three-day event featured five indoor exhibit halls for vendors and organizations, four parallel tracks of forums, and a massive flea market that filled the infield of a horse racing track and spilled over into surrounding areas. In addition, Hamvention served as the anchor for a variety of outs…

  • End-Fed Antennas for Amateur Radio: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

    End-Fed Antennas for Amateur Radio: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

    Few antennas in amateur radio stir up as much debate as the end-fed antenna. Mention one at a club meeting, and you will immediately hear wildly different opinions. One ham will praise it as the greatest invention since coaxial cable. Another will claim it turns every appliance in the house into a touch lamp. A third will mutter, “common-mode current,” shake their head, and walk away.

    The truth, as usual in ham radio, lies somewhere between engineering and sorcery.

    End-fed antennas have become popular because they solve a problem nearly every amateur eventually faces: How do you get an HF antenna on the air when you do not have enough space, towers, trees, or cooperative neighbors? The appeal is obvious. One wire. One support point. Easy installation.

    In other words, the end-fed antenna is the radio equivalent of duct tape. It may not be elegant, but it gets the job done.

    The Good

    The biggest advantage of an end-fed antenna is simplicity. A half-wave wire fed at one end can be installed in places where center-fed antennas become impractical. If you only have one tall tree instead of two, an end-fed may be your solution. Toss a wire into the air, connect a matching transformer, and suddenly you are working stations hundreds or thousands of miles away.

    Portable operators love end-fed antennas. Hikers, Parks on the Air® enthusiasts, and emergency communicators appreciate that an end-fed antenna packs easily in a go-kit. A lightweight wire and transformer can be deployed quickly, without requiring much hardware or patience to assemble.

    Another benefit is versatility. Many end-fed half-wave antennas can operate on multiple bands with relatively low SWR. A 40-meter end-fed half-wave, for example, may also work reasonably well on 20, 15, and 10 meters. That makes it attractive to operators who want multiband capability without having to build separate antennas for each band.

    And despite endless Internet arguments, end-fed antennas often work surprisingly well. Sometimes very well. Hams love debating theory, but the station on the other side of the QSO only cares whether your signal arrives above the noise. Many operators have earned DXCC, worked contests, and broken pileups using nothing more than an end-fed hanging from a branch.

    Stealth is another huge benefit. Thin antenna wire is nearly invisible. In neighborhoods controlled by homeowners’ associations, where a visible antenna may trigger emergency HOA meetings and dramatic Facebook posts, an end-fed can quietly disappear into the trees. Some operators hide their antennas so effectively that even they can’t find them.

    The Bad

    Unfortunately, the laws of physics eventually come into play. The biggest issue with end-fed antennas is that “end-fed” does not mean “magic.” The current still needs a return path. In a center-fed dipole, the currents balance naturally between the two halves of the antenna. In an end-fed system, the radio, feedline, ground, counterpoise, or random household wiring may become part of the antenna whether you intended it or not.

    This is where common-mode current enters the story like an uninvited guest. Without proper choking or grounding, RF current can travel down the outside of the coax shield. The feedline radiates. Computer speakers begin reproducing conversations from stations in Djibouti. Motion sensors activate mysteriously at 2 a.m. Don’t blame the antenna—the problem is poor management of RF currents.

    end fed antenna deployment illustration
    (Image/K8MSH)

    Matching can also be tricky. The feedpoint impedance of an end-fed half-wave antenna is very high, often several thousand ohms. That is why most systems require a transformer, commonly a 49:1 or 64:1 unun. If the transformer is poorly designed, losses increase and heat becomes a problem.

    In ham radio, the phrase “the transformer gets a little warm” often translates to “you may want to keep a fire extinguisher nearby.”

    Bandwidth can present another issue. Some end-fed antennas exhibit narrow operating ranges, especially on lower bands. Operators may find themselves adjusting tuners or compromising on performance.

    Then there’s the matter of noise. End-fed antennas sometimes pick up more local electrical noise than balanced antennas. Because the feed system may interact with nearby wiring and structures, urban operators occasionally discover their antenna receives every switching power supply within three counties. If you have ever heard a mysterious buzzing sound every evening precisely at sunset, congratulations. Somewhere nearby, an LED fixture is preparing to light up the darkness.

    The Ugly

    The ugly side of end-fed antennas is the mythology surrounding them. Few antenna types inspire more exaggerated advertising claims. Reading some product descriptions, one might conclude that a 29-foot wire and a magic 9:1 unun can outperform a full-size beam on every band simultaneously, while also curing lower back pain and improving your memory.

    Reality is less dramatic. No end-fed antenna can repeal the laws of antenna physics—a compromised antenna is still compromised. Efficiency, radiation pattern, and losses still matter. A short wire on 80 meters remains a short wire on 80 meters, no matter how convincing the marketing language becomes.

    Another ugly truth is that many operators install end-fed antennas with absolutely no understanding of counterpoises, choking, or RF management. The results can be unsettling. Entire stations are accidentally included in the radiating system. At lower power, this may cause mild weirdness. At higher power, it becomes a science fiction event.

    Stories abound of operators triggering touch lamps, rebooting computers, opening garage doors, and causing voice assistants to respond to random RF noise. Somewhere, at this very moment, an end-fed antenna is probably convincing a smart refrigerator to lower the temperature in the vegetable bin.

    Portable operators sometimes discover another ugly reality: support trees are not always cooperative. The classic “throw a line over a branch” technique occasionally evolves into “throw a line over every branch except the correct one.” Entire afternoons have disappeared while hams attempt to rescue ropes, weights, and their dignity from trees.

    And then there is the operator confidence effect. Once a ham successfully works DX with a wire installed at a ridiculous angle, they begin to believe antenna geometry no longer matters. Soon, the antenna resembles modern abstract art. The wire droops across fences, zigzags through trees, loops around gutters, and terminates somewhere suspiciously close to the barbecue grill.

    The operator proudly declares, “Works great!” And somehow—annoyingly—it often does.

    Final Thoughts

    End-fed antennas are not miracle devices. They are practical tools with real strengths and real compromises. When properly designed and installed—with adequate choking, grounding, and realistic expectations—they can perform remarkably well. For many operators, especially those with limited space or portable operating needs, end-fed antennas open the door to HF operating that might otherwise be impossible.

    These antennas are approachable, affordable, and effective. But they also reward understanding. The more you learn about feedlines, impedance transformation, common-mode current, and antenna placement, the better your end-fed antenna will behave.

    In amateur radio, there is an old truth: Every antenna is a compromise. End-fed antennas compromise in particularly creative ways.

    The post End-Fed Antennas for Amateur Radio: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly appeared first on OnAllBands.

  • Outstanding Contesters and DXers Recognized

    Outstanding Contesters and DXers Recognized

    Post Content

  • C8K – Mozambique DXpedition

    [REFRESH/ DXPEDITION INFO] – by Czech DX Team.  – Arrival: November 9th. Departure: November 20th.  – Time schedule: Building / limited on air activities November 10-11th, full operation planned from November 12th till 18th , dismantling/limited on air activities November 19, 20th 2026.  – Operators: Petr OK1BOA, Petr OK1FCJ, Palo OK1CRM, Pavel OK1GK , Ruda OK2ZA, […]

  • Tom Salzer KJ7TRandom Wire 183: Upgrading your MMDVM hat​Random Wire℠

    Tom Salzer KJ7TRandom Wire 183: Upgrading your MMDVM hat​Random Wire℠

    0 ~ QRV: Ready?

    Hamvention

    How was Hamvention? I wasn’t able to go, but during the event, I got emails from ham friends who were there. It sounds like it was a grand time.

    As I expected, Yaesu did announce the new DR-3X repeater series. I’m sure we’ll be learning how some of the new/advanced features play out and what that means for your existing Yaesu radios.

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    1 ~ Thank You to…My Local Club Members

    When I was a brand new ham with a shiny Technician ticket, I had a handheld transceiver. With that, I participated in nets on the local 2 meter repeater and worked satellites with a handheld Yagi antenna. I got a lot of mileage out of very little gear and I learned a lot.

    Today, I want to say thank you to my club members — the ones who helped me get started, who encouraged me along the way, and who continue to help others join and enjoy this great hobby.

    There really are too many to list, but some stand out for me. (If I left you off the list, I blame age and memory!) Some of the folks who have been impactful in my amateur radio journey include:

    • Gary AC7VA — That free MFJ antenna tuner made it possible for me to get on HF once I built my antenna and got an HF rig!

    • Lee W7FBI (SK) — I have an old Kenwood TS-520S I bought from W7FBI (SK) in good but “well loved” condition. It still has Lee’s #2 pencil marks on the Drive dial. I enjoyed this radio very much during the earliest part of my amateur radio journey, getting on HF with a homemade off-center-fed antenna.

    • Dave N7HT — I never — never! — would have been able to get my Extra Class ticket without his tutelage. His patience with me was astounding. I didn’t understand most of the terms so he built my knowledge from the ground up.

    • Brian NT7Y — Brian held the club together during the challenging Covid years and I usually chat with him in person every week.

    • Jeff W7NEE — Leading the charge into digital radio for our local ham radio community, including standing up a YSF/WiRES-X repeater.

    • Ben AB7I — Club president for several years, expanding meeting content and pulling in new members. A local POTA master.

    • Anne AI7PS — She has picked up the POTA torch and is running with it!

    There really are many other folks who have been great to me. I feel lucky to be part of such a great group of amateur operators who also like to help others.

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    2 ~ No M17 Net on Saturday

    It is Memorial Day weekend. Last Saturday, Jeff AE5ME announced there would be no M17 net on Saturday, May 23, because of the Memorial Day weekend. This net is normally held every Saturday at noon Central time and is carried over America’s Kansas City Wide Network.

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    3 ~ New on EtherHam

    It was another big week for deeper content on EtherHam.com with five new articles: three articles relating to Raspberry Pi computers, one about selecting a computer for your home AI platform, and a very deep dive into updating a stubborn MMDVM hat.

    • Headless Raspberry Pi 4 in the Home Lab: A Practical Setup Guide — “Setting up a headless Raspberry Pi 4 as a utility machine in the home lab sounds straightforward — until you’re forty-five minutes in and wondering why you can’t connect to your own machine. This guide covers OS selection, SSH, IP reservation, RustDesk remote desktop, firewall setup, and a few hard-won lessons about dummy plugs and drifting IP addresses.”

    • How to Back Up and Restore a Raspberry Pi microSD Card with Win32 Disk Imager — “MicroSD cards fail. If you run Raspberry Pi-based AllStarLink nodes long enough, it’s not a matter of if — it’s when. Win32 Disk Imager is a solid free tool for creating and restoring card images, but the interface offers almost no guidance and there’s a gotcha when restoring to a replacement card that trips up a lot of people. This guide covers the complete workflow, including a tool called PiShrink that most Pi users probably don’t know about.”

    • You Want a Home AI Machine. You Can’t Find a Mac Mini. Now What? — “The standard advice for running AI locally has been consistent for over a year: get a Mac Mini M4. Apple Silicon’s unified memory architecture is well-suited to the task, Ollama works out of the box, and the thing runs nearly silently. The problem is that right now, in mid-2026, Mac Mini M4 models are scarce and expensive — $1,000 or more if you can find one at all. The eBay refurb play that used to work on Apple hardware? Gone. So let’s talk about what you can actually buy today.”

    • Undervoltage Shutdown Monitor for Raspberry Pi AllStar Nodes — “Most inexpensive USB power banks aren’t true pass-through devices — connect or disconnect a charger while the Pi is running and you’ll get a hiccup just long enough to cause an unclean shutdown and risk microSD corruption. Here’s a lightweight bash script and systemd service that uses the Pi’s built-in vcgencmd to detect undervoltage and shut down cleanly before the bank dies completely.”

    • Unlocking the “Locked” MMDVM Dual Hat: A Firmware Recovery Guide — “If your MMDVM Dual Hat hotspot is throwing a “locked by vendor” firmware update error, don’t order a new board yet. There’s another way in — and it involves a $10 tool that embedded developers use every day but most ham operators have never heard of. This guide walks you through the complete procedure for recovering and updating your board’s firmware using an ST-Link V2 programmer, written by a ham operator who learned it the hard way so you don’t have to.”

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    4 ~ Gear

    Another AllStar Node

    Since I had put together the Raspberry Pi 4 for an EtherHam post, I decided to purchase another AllScan UCI80M and Motorola microphone to make a new AllStar node. It took just a few minutes because I already had the Raspberry Pi 4 built and configured.

    There are three layers in this stack: hardware, software, and configuration settings. The resources I used for this build are documented in these four EtherHam posts:

    I now have an AllStar node that announces the IP address when it boots up and I can shut it down with three clicks of the speaker-mic. I also installed one of my favorite AllStar apps:

    I set up this node to use my home wifi or my cell phone when the phone is in hotspot mode. When I travel, I’ll hear the IP address of the connection with my phone, allowing me to open AllScan on my phone.

    AllStar Node: Case With UPS

    I continue my experiments with using a battery system to power an AllStar node. In fact, I wrote up my work about a shutdown script that is supposed to safely shut down my node when the battery voltage starts to sag. Unfortunately, my premise was faulty. I expected USB power banks would show declining voltage as they neared exhaustion. That’s not what happened. The onboard battery management system on these USB banks has maintained voltage until it couldn’t any longer, then it abruptly shut down the power bank.

    Aligned with my interest in using a battery with an AllStar node, I ordered a Pi-Shop Raspberry Pi 4 case with room for an uninterruptible power supply hat. This will be for an AllStar node that will be used at home and mobile. The reason for the UPS is to allow me to disconnect the node — while it is running — and move it to the vehicle without shutting it down.

    This package is scheduled to arrive next week. I’m looking forward to putting it together. I continue to experiment with USB power banks as a power source for an AllStar node, but building a system with a built-in battery just makes sense.

    Running rtl_tcp.exe as Service on Windows 11 Pro

    If you’re using an RTL-SDR dongle as a network source for SDR++ or other software, you may want rtl_tcp to start automatically when your PC boots — without having to remember to launch it manually. The obvious solution is to register it as a Windows service. The problem is that rtl_tcp.exe is a console application, not a proper Windows service, and the Service Control Manager expects a program to “check in” after launching. When it doesn’t, you get Error 1053 and the service dies.

    The fix is a wrapper called WinSW (Windows Service Wrapper), available at https://github.com/winsw/winsw/releases. Drop WinSW-x64.exe (renamed to winsw.exe) in the same folder as rtl_tcp.exe, then create a simple XML config file (named winsw.xml) alongside it:

    <service>
  <id>RTL_TCP</id>
  <name>RTL_TCP</name>
  <description>RTL-SDR TCP Server</description>
  <executable>C:SDRPPrtl-sdrrtl_tcp.exe</executable>
  <arguments>-a 192.168.68.65</arguments>
</service>

    From an admin PowerShell in that folder, run .winsw.exe install followed by .winsw.exe start. Your RTL-SDR TCP server will now survive reboots on its own.

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    5 ~ If You Want to Work the ISS on APRS

    It appears the only working APRS radio on the ISS at the moment is the Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module, call sign RS0ISS. More information is available on the ISS Ham Radio Status page. and you can check recent activity on APRS.fi.

    As of now, the active ISS APRS station is:

    • Callsign: RS0ISS

    • Frequency: 437.825 MHz FM

    • Mode: 1200 baud APRS packet on 70cm/UHF

    If you plan to work the ISS on APRS, remember that Doppler correction matters much more on 437.825 MHz than it did on 145.825. This means pre-programming multiple memories (±10 kHz steps) is now much more important for successful packet decoding.

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    6 ~ Short Stack from the Interwebs

    Radios & SDR

    • I turned my browser into a worldwide radio scanner, and I wasn’t ready for what I heard — “Then I discovered KiwiSDR, which made radio scanning and OSINT way more approachable. It takes a High-Frequency (HF) receiver a step further and adds a built-in Ethernet port and web server, making it visible and controllable online. Now, instead of needing expensive transceivers, I can open a browser and control radio receivers that other people have already set up, connected to real antennas, across the globe.”

    • Comparing the Icom R75, JRC NRD-545, Yaesu FTDX 1200, and Perseus SDR on Shortwave — “For shortwave listeners and radio hobbyists trying to decide between a tabletop communications receiver, a ham transceiver, or an SDR setup, this comparison offers practical insight into how these radios perform in actual listening conditions rather than on paper specifications alone.”

    Digital Radio

    Antennas

    Computing & Artificial Intelligence

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    7 ~📋Digital Radio News Digest

    Summary

    Recent developments in amateur radio digital voice and VoIP linking modes include updates to AllStarLink, with new API and automation features, as well as discussions on M17 packet mode data and activity at Hamvention. Additionally, there have been updates to the MMDVM Host and app_rpt software. The OpenRTX firmware has also been updated with a new ADC driver for the AT32F423.

    Per-Mode Breakdown

    DMR

    The MMDVM Host software has been updated to modify the JSON to be more consistent. A new Brandmeister DMR app for Windows/Linux called VoxDMR has been announced on Reddit.

    D-STAR

    There is no significant recent development for D-STAR in the collected items.

    YSF/C4FM/WiRES-X

    There is no significant recent development for YSF/C4FM/WiRES-X in the collected items.

    M17

    The OpenRTX firmware has been updated with a new ADC driver for the AT32F423. The M17 Users Groups.io has discussed various topics, including M17 packet mode data, activity at Hamvention, and the use of the MMDVM_HS_Dual hotspot in M17. The m17-gateway has added SX1255 HAT support and an experimental messaging bridge.

    VoIP Linking

    AllStarLink has introduced a new API and automation features, including a REST API and guarded AI tool access for ASL3 nodes. The app_rpt software has been updated to version 3.9.1, with additional commits to fix issues with locks and Echolink audio processing. The Amp-ASL amp-server has also been updated with several commits to fix defects and improve functionality.

    Cross-Mode Developments There are no significant cross-mode developments in the collected items.

    Generated: Last run: 2026-05-21 17:16 UTC — 50 items collected
    Download the collection (with URLS): https://etherham.com/download/179602489/?tmstv=1779385736

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    8 ~📡Band Conditions This Week

    Conditions have settled nicely heading into the weekend, with a current K-index of 1 and a predicted A-index of 7 pointing to quiet, stable propagation — good news for anyone planning some air time. With an SFI of 93, the higher HF bands aren’t exactly on fire, but 40 and 20 meters should be reliable workhorses for both regional contacts and modest DX, and 80 meters will reward the night owls. Worth noting, though: the week wasn’t all smooth sailing — that 7-day max K-index of 6.3 means we had at least one genuine geomagnetic storm roll through, so if your logbook looks a little thin from mid-week, that’s likely why.

    By the way, May often coincides with strong sporadic-E propagation in the Northern Hemisphere.

    • Solar Flux Index (SFI): 93.0 — Fair — lower bands performing better

    • K-Index (current): 1.0 — Quiet — excellent conditions

    • K-Index (7-day max): 6.3 — Storm conditions — significant HF disruption

    • A-Index: 7 — Quiet (predicted)

    • Sunspot Number (NOAA/USAF daily): 20

    • Sunspot Number (SIDC daily EISN): 87

    • Active Solar Regions: 8

    Source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (swpc.noaa.gov) + SIDC (sidc.be).
    Generated: 2026-05-21 17:02 UTC

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    9 ~ 📻This Week in Radio History

    May 18, 1980 — Mount St. Helens Eruption and Emergency Communications

    The eruption of Mount St. Helens knocked out telephone infrastructure across a wide area of southwestern Washington, and amateur radio operators stepped in — supporting search and rescue coordination, damage assessment reporting, and liaison with government agencies. What’s less widely remembered is that hams had been providing informal communications support during the weeks of precursor activity beforehand, as earthquakes and steam venting drew researchers and observers to the area starting in late March. The mountain gave plenty of warning; people were already watching it closely when it finally let go.

    I am sharing this because it was impactful to me but not in the way you might think. The month before Mount St. Helens erupted, I had moved to Nevada to take a job as a mining geologist. As a geologist, I had watched for an eruption for years. I was tremendously disappointed to have missed this one.

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    10 ~ QRT: End Transmission

    Another thank you

    Hiding in my emails late last week was one from Michael, noting his donation to support the Random Wire and EtherHam, and telling me a bit about himself. If you’ve donated support for the Random Wire and EtherHam and I didn’t get in touch, please reach out to me. Michael, I’m glad I saw your message! I do want to say thank you because I appreciate the support very much. It helps.

    Still working on the TIDRADIO TD-H9 radio

    I’m still trying to figure out automatic beaconing on the TD-H9 radio. It’s mysterious. It beacons sometimes, but not predictably. I thought maybe it has Smart Beaconing built in, which would mean it would slow down beaconing while stationary and increase the frequency of beacons while moving. Nope, that didn’t happen. The beacon timing setting is also a bit of a black box as it doesn’t seem to make a difference what I enter there. I think my next angle is to install firmware updates and start over. The radio does beacon, but I can’t tell why it sometimes does and sometimes doesn’t.

    Websites crashed

    Several of my WordPress websites crashed this week. It turns out that one plugin was responsible for all of those white screens with the “critical error” message displayed. I found a couple of other helpful plugins: one that will automatically identify and disable a plugin that causes fatal errors and another that allows you to easily rollback a plugin to an earlier release. And then a fourth website crashed, but this time I was prepared. Five minutes later, it was running smoothly again. That felt like success.

    Installed Open Media Vault

    I did have fun — and learned a ton — by installing Open Media Vault on a Raspberry Pi 4 with an NVMe drive. I’m using an external USB drive for the file shares. This is preparation for installing and configuring OMV on my Proxmox server. First, I need to acquire a larger external drive so my daughter and I will have plenty of storage space!

    A Bittersweet Memorial Day Weekend

    Every year around Memorial Day, a few of my siblings and I make the trek to the other side of Washington State to take care of family graves. It’s an event that brings us closer together. Last year, I missed it because my spouse had a major medical event. This year I will miss it again because the medical condition has not resolved. My younger sister’s husband is also having some issues, so this year, she’ll miss it. I know all of our relatives in various cemeteries would understand. Me? I get a deep sense of peace visiting my grandparents, my mom and dad, my aunts and uncles and cousins. The great-grandparents. I will see them all again, and just wish conditions were right to visit them this year.

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    73, and remember to touch a radio every day!

    Tom Salzer KJ7T

    https://www.qrz.com/db/KJ7T

  • JY80ID – Jordan

    Jordan is set to mark the 80th anniversary of Independence Day with a nationwide programme of celebrations and cultural events taking place from May 23 to 25 across all governorates. During the period, look out for special event callsign JY80ID. QRV on HF bands. QSL via QRZ.com.

  • More About WinLink Express: A Look at Modems, Including the PXdragon DR-9400

    More About WinLink Express: A Look at Modems, Including the PXdragon DR-9400

    Much of what we talk about in amateur radio centers around a “bad day” scenario. Whether it’s a natural disaster, infrastructure failure or political unrest, we extol the virtues of how amateur radio will save the day. As amateur radio operators, we like to boast about how we have redundancy in our power system and a contingency plan for almost every situation.

    The problem is, many of us get tunnel vision and lock in on a single modality. The result: We miss out on a lot of other great ideas. I have said it before–I definitely have more than one wrench in my workshop toolbox. Why would you not have more than one tool in your emergency communications toolbox?

    The tool we are going to talk about again today is WinLink Express. WinLink is an email client much like Outlook. It allows licensed amateur radio operators to send and receive emails via RF, HF/VHF/UHF rather than through a traditional internet service provider. This allows for transmission of information, forms, and even pictures via email when it would otherwise not be possible.

    WinLink has a network around the world of amateur radio volunteers who operate “gateway stations.” These stations are the tie that binds your RF signal to the internet. Using the WinLink software, you format your message just like you would using your current email client and post your composed emails to your outbox. They are stored there until the next time you connect to a gateway station.

    This next step is where the waters get a little muddy for some folks. In addition to WinLink software, you will need a modem to connect to the gateway station. When choosing a modem, you have the option of a hardware modem or a software modem. 

    I recently had the opportunity to test the PXdragon DR-9400 Modems from SCS. The DR-9400-BTWF PACTOR 4 Modem model comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built in. I had always used software modems, which we will discuss shortly. The DR-9400 was like going from DSL to Fiber internet.

    SCS PX Dragon Module
    (Image/SCS)

    My transmissions sent and received were 25-50% faster using the PACTOR 4 protocol and the hardware modem. The DR-9400 is backward compatible with PACTOR 1-3 as well. Even with those older protocols, the hardware modem made things considerably faster. WiMo and SCS are working with volunteer gateway station operators to make the new technology available to them. 

    a single cable adapter
     
    Digital Mode Audio Interface Cables and Control Cables for the DR-9400 PACTOR Modems are available at DX Engineering. (Image/SCS)
    a pair of cable adapters
    These DIN Adapter Cables for legacy PXdragon to the DR-9400 are available at DX Engineering. (Image/SCS)

    The majority of non-gateway station operators use software modems. There are several on the market. Most software modems have a free version and a paid version that offers upgraded speed capabilities. I mainly use Ardop, which is built into WinLink and Vara. Although they offer free versions, like WinLink, I am a strong believer that if something is working for you and you use it to your benefit, then the developer is entitled to a little compensation. After all, where would we be in amateur radio without the innovators working hard to develop and maintain products for us.

    After you install your software modem(s), you set it up like any other “digital mode software.” You point the software to the appropriate COM port and set up your audio settings. If you are setting up your radio to talk to your computer for the first time, it is IMPERATIVE to install the manufacturer drivers for your radio on your computer BEFORE attaching the USB cable for the first time!

    Once the modem and the radio are talking, you simply open a WinLink session on the appropriate modem. I know this is extremely simplified, but there are a ton of YouTube videos on this topic, and I want to focus on the importance of WinLink.

    Now that the session is open, you simply choose one of the available gateway stations. WinLink updates the gateway station table when you log on if you have internet. The stations are listed in order of propagation from good to poor. It is as simple as choosing the gateway station and pressing start.

    The software will call the gateway station and make the connection. Once connected it will send any messages in your outbox and retrieve any messages from your inbox. Once all messages have been sent and received, it will say goodbye and disconnect. Simple as that.

    I must mention that WinLink software will do more than just send and receive emails. It contains a plethora of pre-programmed forms such as the National Incident Management System Incident Command System forms, Geospatial Information System forms, and on and on. The forms library is kept current and updated as you log into WinLink with an internet connection present.

    You can choose the appropriate form being requested from your served agency, fill in the blanks based on the paper copy they have hopefully supplied you with, and post it to your outbox. The next time you connect to the gateway station, it will be transmitted to the agency you addressed it to, just like you emailed or faxed the paper form.

    WinLink also has a Peer-to-Peer function. You and another party/agency can connect to your best matching gateway station and have an “instant message” type of conversation. And again, this can all be done outside of any local infrastructure.

    I strongly encourage you to look into adding WinLink to your arsenal. But it is not enough to install it and carry on as normal. You need to practice. There are WinLink nets that meet weekly or monthly. Practice during your state’s Simulated Emergency Test as well.

    As you think about stocking your EmComm toolbox, please carefully consider WinLink Express as one of those tools. 

    Until next time when we’ll look at NBEMS, 73 de AC8OW

    The post More About WinLink Express: A Look at Modems, Including the PXdragon DR-9400 appeared first on OnAllBands.

  • CY0S – Sable Island

    [QSL PREVIEW & UPDATE] – by Murray, WA4DAN. The CY0S DXpedition team approved the third and final proof of the CY0S QSL card. The card has a double fold with six panels. Franklin Printing in Zanesville, Ohio, designed and will be printing our special cards. Franklin Printing has produced our teams’ cards since our 1992 […]

  • V73LM – Kwajalein Atoll, R.M.I

    Lee, KO4CRN is currently based in Kwajalein Atoll for work. He applied for a Marshall Islands license and is now QRV when time permits as V73LM. He uses the Kwajalein radio club’s equipment when active. Look for him on 20m SSB.

  • DX-World Weekly Bulletin

    [#664] The latest FREE NON-SUBSCRIPTION DX-World Weekly Bulletin written by Bjorn ON9CFG is available to download. Click below to get the newest jam-packed edition which this week runs to 16 pages. Previous bulletins can all be found here. Please contact Bjorn with any updates or errors. DOWNLOAD THE LATEST BULLETIN =====