The NW7US Beacon
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This is a demonstration that I created of the digital mode, “JT65A”, which is designed for use on the shortwave (High Frequency, or HF) amateur radio bands. JT65A is a “contact” protocol rather than a conversational protocol. This video shows me making a single contact on shortwave.
Please visit the following website for complete details on the protocol and how to use the mode:
Watch it now: an hour-long exploration of our Sun — you know, that star that I am so passionate about.
The Sun contains 99.9 percent of all the matter in our solar system. It sheds hot plasma at nearly a million miles per hour. The temperature at its core is a staggering 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. It convulses, it blazes, it sings. You know it as the Sun.
Scientists know it as one of the most amazing physics laboratories in the universe. Now, with the help of new spacecraft and Earth-based telescopes, scientists are seeing the Sun as they never have before and even recreating what happens at its very center in labs here on Earth. Their work will help us understand aspects of the Sun that have puzzled scientists for decades. But more critically, it may help us predict and track solar storms that have the power to zap our power grid, shut down telecommunications, and ground global air travel for days, weeks, or even longer. Such storms have happened before—but never in the modern era of satellite communication. “Secrets of the Sun” by NOVA PBS reveals a bright new dawn in our understanding of our nearest star—one that might help keep our planet from going dark.
Please visit: http://SunSpotWatch.com
If you really like it, please purchase the DVD so you can have your own HD copy. Here’s the purchase link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/secrets-sun.html
(I don’t make any money off of this. I just support PBS).
(Source: sunspotwatch.com)
Happy Birthday, Samuel F.B. Morse!
We have a birthday anniversary, today! Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791 – April 2, 1872) was an American contributor to the invention of a single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs, co-inventor of the Morse code, and an accomplished painter. Samuel F. B. Morse was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the first child of the pastor Jedidiah Morse (1761–1826)—who was also a geographer—and Elizabeth Ann Finley Breese (1766–1828).
Samuel was a student at Yale College. During his time there, he became interested in both painting and electricity (the new area of science that was just emerging on the scene). After Morse graduated in 1810, he concentrated on painting. He become a well-known portrait artist.
In 1825, the city of New York commissioned Morse for $1,000 to paint a portrait of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, in Washington. While Morse was painting, a horse messenger delivered a letter from his father that read one line, “Your dear wife is convalescent.” Morse immediately left Washington for his home at New Haven, leaving the portrait of Lafayette unfinished. By the time he arrived, his wife had already been buried. Heartbroken in the knowledge that for days he was unaware of his wife’s failing health and her lonely death, he moved on from painting to pursue a means of rapid long distance communication.
On the sea voyage home in 1832, Morse encountered Charles Thomas Jackson of Boston, a man who was well schooled in electromagnetism. Witnessing various experiments with Jackson’s electromagnet, Morse developed the concept of a single-wire telegraph, and The Gallery of the Louvre was set aside. The original Morse telegraph, submitted with his patent application, is part of the collections of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. In time the Morse code would become the primary language of telegraphy in the world, and is still the standard for rhythmic transmission of data.
Samuel Morse received a patent for the telegraph in 1847. The “International Morse Code” is now in use by various services, including amateur radio (Ham radio).
More information on Mr. Morse is at the Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Morse
This is an excellent video that shows the Doppler influence on radio propagation via the ionosphere… very informative!
(Source: youtube.com)
Imagine running your QRP (low-power) amateur radio transceiver, powered by this cool technology! This rocks!
(Source: g.nw7us.us)
On 23 January 2012, a magnitude M8.7 (M9-class) X-ray flare erupted in NOAA Active Sunspot Region (AR) 1402. The long-duration flare peaked at 0359 UTC. This flare triggered a proton event, resulting in an S3 (Strong) Radiation (Proton) Storm and a Polar Cap Absorption (PCA) event over the polar regions.
This PCA event caused a complete radio blackout over high-latitude and polar regions. This results in any trans-polar radio paths to become as dead as a rock.
This solar proton radiation storm is the strongest since September, 2005, which was during the last solar sunspot cycle, Solar Cycle 23. An S3-level radiation storm causes airlines to divert air traffic away from the polar regions. This level of a storm could also cause satellite issues, with GPS and communications being affected. Additionally, those living and working in polar regions must take precautions not to be exposed to this radiation.
At the end of the video, you will see the Coronal Mass Ejection that was released by this flare. This is a fast-moving CME and it is expected to arrive at Earth on January 24, 2012, triggering a G1 to G3 level geomagnetic storm.
X-ray flares are huge explosive releases of energy, including X-ray and light energy. This light and X-ray energy reaches Earth at the speed of light—eight minutes later. When it reaches Earth, it causes the ionosphere to become highly energized, so much so that the D-region (the lowest region) absorbs shortwave, and medium wave, frequencies, blocking them from going any further (and being refracted or propagated long distances around the world).
Credit: NASA SDO / AIA / LASCO / STEREO
(Source: youtube.com)
True Visionaries of the Future, in 1922
For what it is worth, there were moments of incredible vision and clarity in the magazine staff of “Radio News”. Here is an example. On the cover of the January 1922 edition, this picture predicts a time in the future when radio will become the “Street Organ of the Future.” Remember the Boom Box craze of the 1980s? And, now, as we have all our personal devices? This was truly visionary, back in 1922.
The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio
So many people still look at ham radio as ancient and obsolete. However, we have our own satellites, we create new and innovative communications protocols, we build and invent new electronic devices, and that’s just a sampling of activity. We’re also not just about emergency communications, though that is a definite service we provide. We are a community of scientists, astronauts, teachers, students, wives, husbands, children, and clubs. Check out this video, and share it around.
This video, “The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio,” is an 8-minute video released by the ARRL that follows some of the innovative, imaginative and fun ways “hams” use radio technology in new and creative ways. The presentation is directed toward the DIY (do it yourself) movement, which is inspiring a new generation of creators, hackers and innovators. The message should be helpful for existing members to shape the ways they understand and talk about ham radio. For more information and related resources, visit http://www.arrl.org/wedothat-radio-org
From my friend, Bill:
This video took us the last 14 months. It is now available for viewing on YouTube. My personal thanks to everyone involved in its production for making it a reality. You are all listed in the credits (and I pray I didn’t forget anyone). Special thanks to our Director Dave Bell, W6AQ; our Writer Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ and our Principal Cameraman Dave Booth, KC6WFS who freely donated their time and creative talent to this project. We sincerely hope that all of you will enjoy it.
If you are interested and want to ask me about it, feel free to contact me. You can also follow me on Twitter - @NW7US - while I have a set of topics about which I typically tweet, amateur radio is on the top of my list. Just Tweet me your question. I’ll do my best to answer you. - Tomas, NW7US
(Source: nw7us.us)
Erasing A CD and DVD With Spark Gap / HV
The reflective metallic layer on the disc is literally obliterated by the spark gap. The spark gap follows the path of least resistance. The CD recording medium is conductive, so it arcs to the nearest point, vaporizing it until nothing is left.
Here is the same process, used on a commercial DVD:
Pretty cool stuff. To accomplish this, a high-voltage transformer is used (TV), and small motors powered by battery. See the following:
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