Volume 1, Edition 4
Release Date: 2023-07-25
Welcome
Last week was highlighted by the Youth On The Air (YOTA) Camp 2023 that was recently hosted at Carleton University in my home town of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Here are some of the highlights for this weeks Shack Notes.
- More End Fed Half Waves
- Amateur Radio Guide To Events and Clubs (Update)
- Youth On The Air (YOTA) Camp 2023
- .
/con
What I have been working on…
My Ham Workbench
This week on my ham work bench…
The End-Fed half wave 49:1 Balun for 5-35MHz that I picked up off of Amazon has been hanging in my backyard for a couple of weeks now. The radiator uses 14 AWG stranded copper wire by Southwire I bought through Home Depot (Canada) which I tuned using my trusty NanoVNA H calibrated for 3-300 MHz as well as 80/40/20/10 bands to hunt for the deepest nulls.
The linked end fed design has 20m and 10m segments connected using S-Hooks to take up the strain and banana plugs (male, female) to connect the two segments. While I was generally able to find nulls for 10m and 20m bands I think I am going to try some independent resonant radiators to see if I get better results.
While I was able to hear a number of potential contacts, I have not really exercised the antenna at this point.
VE3FCQ.ca Website
The transition from WP-Editor.md as my main markdown editor to the now embedded WordPress block manager has been beneficial. One of the block types is actually markdown, which can be inserted by using the /markdown quick key.
Both this Shack Notes entry and last weeks are using the block editor.
I have also been leveraging the functionality of the “embedded podcast” block, and I really like the final outcome, it looks pretty slick.
I added a couple of new PAGES that I intend to list various posts under:
- A parent page related to Amateur Radio Projects has been added with two sub pages
- Amateur Radio Community Projects
- Amateur Radio Workbench Projects
As I add more content, I will start to add details related the current and future projects I will have on the go.
Amateur Radio Guide To Events and Clubs
Feedback has slowed down from the initial early adopters. Next I will reach out to more clubs, organizations and event organizers for comments.
The following are some of the changes made to the guide this week:
- I added a new section for “Organization profiles” and migrated some of the existing organizations to this section. I settled on a slightly different template format that I like.
- I added a few new organizations in the process.
- My big future idea is that once I have the first version of the guide “complete” then I want to place all of the clubs, organizations and events on an interactive google map. I am a geographer after all so why not make a map.
I am now ready to expand the early adopter phase of this guide. If you want to be included in the next round then please consider joining the Shack Notes mailing list. Subscribers will be included in the next round of previews and feedback.
Operating
Operating: YOTA Camp 2023
Youth On the Air Camp is coming July 16 to 21, 2023
- By The time I finaly post this, The YOTA event will have wrapped up, so I will just list all of the activites I took part in over the whole week
- Check the RAC Website for the schedule of events for those outside of the YOTA event to connect with YOTA youth.
Sunday July 16, 2023
Monday July 17, 2023
- Hunted VE3YOTA on HF without any luck
- YOTA Camp 2023 Highlights-Mon
Tuesday July 18, 2023
- Watched the ARISS contact
- Watched the pico baloon launch
- Tracked the pico baloon VA3WGY-11 on APRS map
- Tried chasing 15 VE3YOTA stations for their double POTA activation but no glorry. Will try again Thursday.
- YOTA Camp 2023 Highlights-Tuesday
Wednesday July 19, 2023
- Hunted VE3YOTA on HF without any luck – AGAIN
- YOTA Camp 2023 Highlights-Wednesday
Thursday July 20, 2023
- Tried chasing 15 VE3YOTA stations for their double POTA activation but no glorry – AGAIN.
- Watched the POTA Satellite Activities
- YOTA Camp 2023 Highlights-Thursday
Friday July 21, 2023
For additional information and details about Youth On The Air Camps,
- visit YouthOnTheAir.org.
- Roger Egan, VA3EGY and Harrie Jones, VE3HYS: [email protected]
- Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG: [email protected]
- YOTA Camp 2023 – https://youthontheair.org/ottawa2023/
- Youth On The Air – YouthOnTheAir.org
New Hams Ottawa
The “operating week” typically wraps by attending the New Hams Ottawa Weekly Net (NHO) on Tuesday evenings. It is usually after these nets that I start reflecting on the previous week and planning for the next one.
This week we covered a post YOTA overview. Round table topics included:
According to the NHO logs we had 15 checkins this week:
| Net Control | VE3HYS – Harrie |
| Net Logger | VE3RXH – Rob |
| Net Note Taker | VE3FCQ – Dave |
| Call Sign Check Ins | Name |
| VE3YOTA VE3KJZ VE3OP VA3IEN VE3FCQ VA3EGY VA3TTM KO4VXD/VE3 KD2WTR/VE3 VA3TXL VE3JMR VA3WGY-11 KI5JXQ/VE3 KK7CFJ/VE3 | Harrie Bernie Craig Bill Dave Roger Thane Ethan Finn Tom Mark Phil William Abbey |
HF Operations
I did not get any HF operations in this week.
What I will be working on next…
My Ham Workbench
Work continuing on my ham work bench…
- Continue learning about EFHW’s.
- Might try tuning some single band elements
- Experimenting with different configurations (eg slopper, inverted L, inverted V, horizontal, vertical)
- I have a new radio I recently acquired that I will need to break out and share with subscribers. Stay tuned.
VE3FCQ.ca Website
- I am mostly doing small tweaks to format and layout. Now I need to focus on getting some more content up here.
- My current goal is to keep the ball rolling with the Shack notes.
- I will continue the process of closing down our old Mailchimp mailing list (16 subscribers left) and migrating them to the new Shack Notes Mailing List managed using Mail Poet mailing list (3 subscribers so far). Lots of work ahead.
Amateur Radio Guide To Events and Clubs
Still to come with the Amateur Radio Guide To Events and clubs…
- I will start to reach out to each club and organization to validate contact e-mails as well as perform some outreach and solicit feedback.
- Expand early adopters to the NEw Mailing List Subscribers. I would like to get to the point that new subscribers receive a link to download the guide.
- I also need to figure out initial format (PDF?) and where to host the preview version (google drive vs locally on the site)
- A feedback and input form would be useful eventually
- Of course we need some maps, this is a guide after all
- And then there are the graphics and photos for some visual attraction.
Operating
Amateur Radio Basic Qualification Exam Prep Course
This work has been on pause for a bit. Essentially where I am going next:
- I need to come up with some slides for an introduction
- Then we need an orientation of how to use the online course
- Start recording the videos for each instructional module (I already have the decks layed out)
- Find some folks willing to do some user and load testing.
- Find some early adopters to validate approach (non amateur radio operator types)
- Scale up module creation (Each module takes a while to create and there are 100 modules)
Dave’s Amateur Radio Podcast Playlist
This is the next installment of Dave’s Amateur Radio Podcast Playlist. I listen to a lot of Amateur Radio Podcasts and currently I use the PodcastAddict” android app for almost all of my listening.
This week I want to highlight a pair of podcasts that need to be considered together. The QSO Today Podcast and the Amateur Radio Workbench Podcast often cross promote each other and have invited each other to the other podcast to participate. So to understand the hosts and what they are trying to achieve you might consider subscribing to both.
The QSO Today Podcast is a special gem in the Amateur Radio and podcasting communities. Host, Eric Guth (4Z1UG) takes a long form interview approach to documenting the experiences of amateur operators from around the world using the power of story telling. Erics’ guests have made major contributions to the hobby of amateur radio and many have left their mark on the telecommunications and sound design industries at large. I feel as though all the QSO Today interviews I have listened to are an inspiration to us newer operators just getting started but can also inspire returning and seasoned hams by showing them how much further they can push the hobby. If you listen to enough podcasts in the amateur radio space it is only a matter of time before Eric Guth will either interview a host of another podcast you listen to or the guests from other podcasts. But I guarantee if you listen to a QSO Today interview of an operator you will feel as though you’ve known them your whole life. I actually wonder if it works the other way where Eric exposes the whole community to rare gems and shares them out to the community. Eric is a modest host and tends to play a supporting role, but don’t misunderstand Eric’s intentions and influence. Eric is the brain trust of the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo and has now created the QSO Today Academy.
Lets highlight some QSO Today Episodes by starting with highlighting the episodes where Eric interviews the hosts of the Ham Radio Workbench Podcast, the other side of the coin:
UPDATE: OOOPS for some reason the podcast episodes wont render in the embed player. I will try to fix this in the future. Adding it to the list tof things to investigate.
Episode 232 George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU – QSO Today Podcast – Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio
Episode 316 Michael Walker VA3MW – QSO Today Podcast – Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio
Episode 315 Mark Smith KR6ZY – QSO Today Podcast – Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio
Episode 383 Vince d'Eon VE6LK – QSO Today Podcast – Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio
Episode 416 Rod Hardman VA3ON – QSO Today Podcast – Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio
If the QSO Today Podcast is a long form interview format, then the Ham Radio Workbench Podcast might be considered an extra long free form social banter format. The unofficial but self promoted tagline for this podcast is “you will likely need a bigger lawn”. They might joke about needing a bigger lawn to listen to this podcast that is rarely less than1 hour and has been known to break to 2 hour mark on occasion. For example HRWB Episode 185 is a Field Day Debrief clocking in at 192 minutes, just a tad over 3 hours. Better sharpen that blade. I admit the I have mowed many a lawn while listening to HRWB. If you ever golf alone, just bring the podcast with you. It will be like having a peanut gallery in the cart with you the whole way. There are two major components to this podcast. The first half, “front 9” or near field is all about what is on the hosts workbenches. This can take a long time to get through as each host deep dives into their primary and side projects as well as recent experiences in the hobby. The second half, “back 9” or the far field is usually a feature focusing on a specific topic or perhaps learning something new from an invited guest. I highly recommend the Christmas stocking stuffer editions.
Like trying to list my favorite episodes of QSO Today, it would take a long time to compile an exhaustive list of my favorite HRWB episodes. But I thought it would be fitting to start by showcasing Eric Guth’s appearance on the show discussing ferrites and then get into the weeds from there:
UPDATE: OOOPS for some reason the podcast episodes wont render in the embed player. I will try to fix this in the future. Adding it to the list tof things to investigate.
HRWB 134 All About Ferrites – Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
HRWB 185 – Field Day Debrief – Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
HRWB037-2017 Christmas Shopping Show – Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
HRWB 184 – Radios and Rockets with Vance N3VEM – Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
HRWB 179 – HRWB Live Stream From The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo – Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
Tell me in the comments if you liked this section and I might continue updating it. Check out Dave’s Amateur Radio Podcast Playlist for all previously posted podcasts
This week I highlighted the following Amateur Radio Podcasts
| Title | Description | Host(s) | Status | Start Date | End Date | RSS Feed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The QSO Today Podcast | “QSO Today is a weekly conversation, or QSO, between amateur radio operators about ham radio. Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, hosts a new guest every week to talk about their ham radio journey, their specialized expertise in ham radio, and how amateur radio has impacted their personal and professional lives. QSO Today is targeted at anyone interested in amateur radio who wants to learn more about this fascinating hobby.” | Eric Guth (4Z1UG) | Active | 2014-07-12 | Current | RSS Feed |
| Ham Radio Workbench | “This is your bi-weekly deep dive on making, DIY, electronics, and technical topics of interest to the radio amateur. Join your host George KJ6VU and the HRWB team as they discuss current developments in ham radio while introducing listeners to a plethora of topics and skills such as test equipment, 3D Printing, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and more. Ham radio is a hobby of hobbies – George and team introduce hams of all ages to experimenting and learning within ham radio, which can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the hobby. We are proudly sponsored by Autodesk Eagle PCB design tools, Flex Radio and Digikey.” | George KJ6VU | Active | 2016-07-04 | current | RSS Feed |
The To Do list…
- FIX: Podcast episodes wont render in the embed player.
- Share more on Amateur Radio Online Course development.
- Figure out a good way to manage this To Do list. Maybe something like Trello or similar project board.
- Figure out a better way to expand the playlist other than a table, it does not auto-fit the screen well
- consider splitting out the Podcast Playlist to a separate blog post
- consider splitting out other key projects such as the online course and the club and event guide as separate pages/posts
- Consider a separate post per podcast and provide a bit more of a review
- Wish I knew how to maximize width of posts for desktop viewing (eg full width tables)
- Quit my day job
About Shack Notes
If you want me to expand on anything in particular then feel free to reach out through by leaving a comment. use the Contact Form or direct through e-mail.
If you find these posts useful and you want to receive regular updates when new shacknotes or other website content is added, feel free to subscribe to the Shack Notes mailing list. The plan is to regulalry update subscribers to the list.
Welcome back to Shack Notes, a category of blog posts here at the VE3FCQ Ham Shack. These Shack Notes are my way of documenting and sharing a historical record of my progress in the amateur radio hobby since first being licensed in 2020. The intended audiences include both the New Hams Ottawa Net community as well as the broader amateur radio community.
The notes will be fairly terse and typically point form. For those in the agile project management space you may recognize the format, as it mimics the 5 questions of scrum
Check out previous editions through the Shack Notes category
