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What Everyone Else is Reading

What Modes/Bands Will You Use IN BETWEEN Solar Cycle 25 & 26?

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What Bands/Modes Will You Use IN BETWEEN  Solar Cycle 25 & 26? As we continue to experience unpredictable HF propagation of Solar Cycle 25, it is not too early to start thinking about the bands and modes that you might find to be the best to operate as we move to that IN BETWEEN period of Solar Cycle 25 & 26.  The last few weeks have been rather challenging on the HF bands with lower Solar Flux Indices and lower Sun Spot numbers and consistent high Solar Winds.   As an avid QRP operator it can make for some dismal days. So here is part of my plan for the impending lull of favorable HF band conditions. It was during in between Solar Cycle 23 and Solar Cycle 24 when I became acquainted with an operator who had become frustrated with trying to make SSB/CW contacts with his FT-817 which he rarely used and was eager to get rid of it. I felt bad about the price he asked for as I knew he could get more but he was VERY eager to be relieved of the FT-817. After receiv...
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"JTTY": A NEW Tool In Our Ham Radio Box!

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I had to get the word out about this new tool for our ham radio box.  This mode falls somewhat inline with my previous blogpost about what bands/modes you may use in between Solar Cycles.  JTTY falls into that category. What is JTTY?  JTTY is NEW part of the WSJT-X suite of Digital Modes.  It is keyboard-to-keyboard Digital Mode transmissions without synchronized time slots as we have been accustomed to with FT4 and FT8 transmissions. That means you can start fast RTTY-style real-time operator-to-operator chats or contest style exchanges at ANY time. This mode uses uses 4-tone GSFK with a bandwidth of about 125 Hz  to 127 Hz, which can deliver about 30 WPM random text and up to 60 WPM for contest exchanges. For 20 meters the QSJT-X teams suggest starting at about 14.090 MHz.  Other suggested frequencies can be found at the following link by  DX Zone JTTY Frequencies Robert W5ITR  " Digital Rancher " has compiled a couple of YouTube videos about th...
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Bye Bye Bye Windows

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For several months I had planned to make a change of Operating System for my non-ham radio tower computer. I had purchased a couple of portable Multi TeraByte Portable Hard Drives and a 138 TB SSD drives to backup that computer. During a September thunderstorm a nearby lightning strike fried the motherboard in that main computer. The strike didn't bother my router, television or my Ham Radio computer. It is weird how electricity can effect some items but not others. Like many of you, I've become tired of Windows restarts happening right in the middle of something I'm doing.  I'm finally making the switch to the Raspberry Pi OS for Windows. I'm disappointed with myself in respect that in aging I've gotten used to some of the conveniences of today's technology.  And one of those has been becoming too comfortable with MicroSoft and Windows.  As a result; my programming skills have eroded over the years and I have spent most of this summer trying to replenish so...
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