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TRANSCRIPT
C O N T E N T S
All about Antennas: Part 1 ......................................... 12By Bob Grove W8JHD MT Publisher, Bob Grove W8JHD, focuses on the basics of the antennas that hams and shortwave listeners alike take for granted. In the first part of this series, Bob looks at the essential radio wave, propagation, and antenna patterns.
TCAS Technology ......................................................... 15A low-cost, no-license communications method revisitedBy Peter Mac Dougall EI/G7VEW In our rush to embrace digital technology some very useful communica-tions concepts get swept aside. Peter urges readers to take another look at a standby technology that never goes out of style.
Amateur Radio Weather Watchers ............................. 16A National Public ServiceBy Gregory Smith WB2PPQ April weather is unpredictable with many parts of the U.S. still not out of threat of snow while others are dodging severe thun-derstorms. Greg writes about the National Weather Service’s SKY-WARN program and tells where to tune when the weather gets rough.
First Person Radio ...................................................... 19Crystal Set Leads to Lifelong Hobby and Career By Maury Midlo What started with a crystal set for a boy, ended up as a lifelong hobby that led Maury to VHF/UHF communications in the service and to a satisfying career at a major AM/FM/TV station.
Vol. 29 No. 4 April 2010001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 001011010101010100111101010110110101010100101001010110010010010011001010011001010101010100101 00101101010101010011110101011011010101010010100101011
Volume 29, No. 4April 2010
U.S. $6.95Can. $6.95Printed in theUnited StatesA Publication of Grove Enterprises
Scanning - Shortwave - Ham Radio - Equipment Internet Streaming - Computers - Antique Radio
®
In this issue:• Learning Antenna Basics• SKYWARN: A National Public Service• TCAS Technology: Old Tech Can Work!
Can DRM Save
Shortwave?
Logitech Squeezebox Radio ........................................ 67By Loyd Van Horn W4LVH The latest in Internet radio from Logitech is loaded with features. Loyd says, “If you’ve been holding out and waiting for the perfect WiFi radio to come along, wait no further, this is it!”
R E V I E W S
Chasing DRM.......8The Elusive Dream of Digital Audio via ShortwaveBy Ken Reitz KS4ZR, Ken Barber W2DTC and Dave Schmarder N2DS Long after satellite TV, musical re-cordings, terrestrial TV, satellite radio and even terrestrial radio have carved niches in the digital world, shortwave radio continues to meander at a snail’s pace towards a digital future. And, even though its platform, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), was launched before most digital services we take for granted today, shortwave’s digital future remains uncertain. This month MT examines the 12 year wait for shortwave broadcasting to find its digital voice. In this progress report, Ken Reitz KS4ZR looks at where we are on the road to digital shortwave and reviews the first stand-alone, portable DRM shortwave radio. Ken Barber W2DTC finds a way to hear DRM broadcasts without modifying his computer-based shortwave radio. And, Dave Schmarder N2DS shows how to home-brew a tube-fired, DRM converter that works!
On Our CoverContinental Electronics’ 418DRM 100 kW transmitter for DRM shortwave broadcasts (Courtesy: Continental Electronics); WiNRADiO tuning page (Courtesy: WiNRADiO); UniWave Di-Wave 100 portable shortwave radio (Courtesy: Universal Electronics)
4 MONITORING TIMES April 2010
Departments
Communications ...............................6
Letters .............................................74Edited by Rachel Baughn KE4OPDFuture of Shortwave Radio; Carole Perry WB-2MGP Honored; More on Wullenweber Anten-nas; In Memoriam
Stock Exchange ................................76Advertisers Index .............................76
First Departments
Getting StartedScanning Report ..............................20By Dan VeenemanWhat’s the Frequency, Dan? Ask Bob ...........................................23By Bob Grove W8JHDMetal shield on cell phone; Antenna impedance; Sideband on GMRS; Indoor SW antenna Utility World ....................................24By Hugh Stegman NV6HIsraeli “Numbers” - A New 20 Meter Mystery Digital Digest ...................................27By Mike ChaceAround the World in one Digital Column
On the Ham Bands ..........................28By T. J. “Skip” Arey N2EITo QSL or Not QSL…That is the Question Beginner’s Corner ...........................30By Ken Reitz KS4ZRYour Antenna is Up - Now What?
Programming Spotlight ....................32By Fred WatererTouring Radio Taiwan International
English Language SW Guide ...........34
Table Of COnTenTs
Second Departments
QSL Report ......................................47By Gayle Van Horn W4GVHRadio Prague: Still Going Strong
MTXtra Shortwave Broadcast Guide .48Portuguese/Arabic Languages
Computers and Radio ......................52By Brian Wood W0DZMaking a Better Mousetrap?
Milcom ............................................54By Larry Van Horn N5FPWThe Military Weather Channel
AM Bandscan ..................................56By Doug Smith W9WIGoing, Going, Gone
BOATS, Planes, Trains ......................58By Ron Walsh VE3GO“The Times they are A-Changin’!”
Below 500 kHz ................................60By Kevin Carey WB2QMYFavorite Bookmarks
Technical Departments
Antenna Topics ................................62By Dan Farber AC0LWThe Humble Dipole Radio Restorations ...........................64By Marc Ellis N9EWJThe BC-344 Fails an Unexpected Smoke Test
On the Bench...................................66By Walter Lindenbach“Sky-wires and Inhalers” Part 7: What is a Decibel
Globalnet ........................................70By Loyd Van Horn W4LVHWhat is Internet Radio?
What’s New ....................................72By Larry Van Horn, N5FPWNew Icom Portable Receiver; AOR AR2300 “Black Box”; Interactive Police Scanner iPhone App; 2010 Beacon Handbooks
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