I, too, am old.
I start as an Icom fanboy, so naturally have 3 #DSTAR capable radios and am currently admin of "VE2RM B" (and formerly "W5TC B").
DMR, which unlike D-STAR & #YSF doesn't encode callsigns, has *one* advantage over the others: TDMA.
Otherwise, it shares the same issues w/the others: proprietary codec & over-reliance on commodity internet for linking.
Never copied YSF, but I never really heard a difference between DMR & D-STAR (or even P25).
I don't have one of Callum's antennas but I kinda want one. I do watch a lot of his YouTubations (a LOT) and I get a good vibe from the guy - no crazy promises. Hope you have fun with it when you get it!
Seems we can see the power outtage in Spain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_European_power_outage) also in ham radio (see picture from https://pskreporter.info)
I guess we need to stock more batteries...
Wonder how ham radio emergency services are working there. Maybe @notfunk can get some insights after the situation is over.
Narrow band SSB never took off. Maybe because the big manufacturers never included it and we all know all ham radio operators are now appliance operators.
https://www.qsl.net/vk5br/TransmissionSystems/NarBandVoice.htm
Adding parallel circuit allows for the Lambda Diode to oscillate at a frequency determined by the LC resonance frequency. The result is an absolutely beautiful sine wave 
Note how the oscillation starts, once the supply voltage crosses where the current starts to decrease, ending up at the ‘negative resistance’ portion of its characteristic.
This is likely the easiest and most clean oscillator I ever built 
I wonder if you can use a crystal or crystal f it would get damaged from the drive level 
Maybe one of those vintage ones..
The ‘Lambda Diode’ circuit, made from two J-FETs (one P- and one N-Channel) exhibits ‘negative resistance’ and has a ‘hysteresis’ curve when viewed on a curve tracer. A bit like a ‘tunnel diode’, actually.
Circuits like these were a common way to make an oscillator from just a few components, as my next post will show.
I always end up using my analogue #Hameg scope for curve tracing in X-Y mode, it works a lot better than any of the digital scopes I have 
In fact, I have yet to experience a digital scope with even a half-decent X-Y mode..
Thanks for the inspiration @va3db 
We might have skipped the valve/tube era if not for those pesky kids!
https://earlyradiohistory.us/1924cry.htm
I tried lesson 2 on LCWO and increasing from 2 to 3 characters at 20 WPM for 1 minute. Oof. That's going to take me a while. I will start off great, but then I'll miss a character... I'll get back on track, but the next character I miss, I will go completely off the rails and can't recover.
For 2 characters, I went 2 minutes with only a single error. So, I went for the next lesson and nope. I tried that a few times. Now, I'll go to Morse Mania and practice on that app for a few minutes.
Good thing people with ADHD have auditory processing issues... that'll help me. /s
If you're going to be in the car (locally), what do you normally do? Have your radio scan your fave repeaters? Let it scan all the ham frequencies to see what you can get? Or do you pick a frequency that's where people can "find" you. Even if you're not mobile, do you pick a "favourite" for when you just want to do simplex?
Setting up my "station" on my back deck. I don't know that I'll make my first contact today. I still just want to listen to see how people interact. I set it up out here yesterday, but only for a little while. I have heard 0 from the closest repeater, which I think I have line of sight to—except it may be on the other side of a building.
I have my old scanner looping through all of the ham frequencies because it can scan through much faster than my HT, which is only looping through the best repeaters—only from what I know from yesterday.
Going to have to figure out something for when I'm inside because I surely have a lot less reception inside than out here. Also considering I only have a wee 5W HT, I'm not sure how well a long coax will work to get outside. The antenna I am using now is just a little 15" whip antenna on a mount for the car. Not the greatest, but all the budget will allow for now.
I’ve had one of his antennas in a box for years. It, too, will likely end up in a tree as well. Same as my Ed Fong j-pole … maybe on the same string.
( 𝗦𝗞 ) 𝗧𝗮𝗱 - 𝗞𝟳𝗥𝗔 𝘆 𝘀𝘂 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘁í𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗰𝗶ó𝗻 𝗪𝟭𝗔𝗪 https://buff.ly/zZiK2nZ #hamradio #dx #hamr
Looks like my first task, then, is "get a picnic table". I appreciate all the input!
What is a good antenna dual band (2m/7cm) for living in a hole on a rental property where I can't install anything permanent? I don't have an unlimited budget, but a couple hundred's not out of the question. Even if I need to learn to make something myself as long a simpleton like myself can do it. I don't have a soldering iron, yet, so if that's a requirement, that's a part of the budget.
My longtime pal and nemesis, 
, is all over the damn place this morning. Have I taken my medicine today?
I keep hitting refresh on the FCC licensing page, wishing my "pending" would turn into a "granted". Don't think my anti-social self won't be plastering my call sign on everything. I am a nerd and this is an area in which I am not yet a nerd, and I want to be. Always found it (radio) fascinating. Always wanted to learn electronics, but never did anything about it.
, 
don't let this be an ADHD hobby.
I was given a list of local repeaters in my area, #PGH, but I haven't picked up anything. There's a repeater 1.25 km from my house, but the damn thing is on the other side of a building and I probably don't even have line of sight to the building.
Today, we're in our former, former city, wrapping up some stuff. I programmed repeaters for /this/ area, but no luck as of yet to hear anything. I'm also in a hotel and haven't ventured outside, yet.
Has anyone ever set up a repeater system with a single antenna feeding two or more repeaters? How did you do it? #hamradio #hamr #amateurradio
Lol!
Seriously, you can spend what you want. We are in an era of $30 handi-talkies if that's your thing ... or ~$100 QRP CW rigs if *that's* your thing ... and wire antennas are pretty cheap.
But you can also spend north of $5000 on an HF rig ...
@chigh WAHOO! Congratulations!
Now, how can we most efficiently spend your Radio Money? 
@kd8lci That's all you need. FRN and ULS are different databases (and were long before the cheeto was let loose) so one doesn't actually affect the other. Part 97 requires you to be up to date in ULS ... which you wlll be once the VEC processes your paperwork. But you DO need to use your existing FRN. And then, after the test is over and you have unclenched, you can fix it in CORES. You know, assuming CORES or anything else survives the week.
