Upgraded vk3ye.com website

Enjoy reading about diverse facets of amateur radio? Like building projects? Sometimes find my videos hard to find? If any of these applies to you check out my upgraded website at https://vk3ye.com .

A lot's been done. For a start the technical section has been expanded with more articles about more aspects of electronics and radio. Join me as I dismantle and explain various pieces of gear, ranging from consumer to professional. There's features on electronic parts you can get for free or very cheaply. And components and what they do get a new section with pointers to numerous videos. 

The 'Beginner and General' section has also grown. This has many more articles on more topics including newer digital modes. Some older articles have had updates. You can read more reviews, with this section better organised. 

Antennas and projects are two of my site's popular sections. Much more has been added, incorporating much material that first appeared here on The Daily Antenna. Examples include using sports oval lights as antennas, Rowland Rings, quick antennas for the higher HF, VHF and UHF bands and more. The projects department also has items added in all sections. 

To cap it off, everything's on a faster and better server. Links from the old Alphalink url have redirects but if you do have a website that links to it please change them over to the new vk3ye.com address.

Happy reading and building! 

My six most viewed videos

What are my video viewers most interested in? Fortunately YouTube allows sorting of videos by popularity. Antennas seem to be a common thread, especially magnetic loops. People also like crystal sets. Anyway here's the top six. Happy viewing! 

1. 100w magnetic loop

2. Homebrew software defined radio

3. Choke 'balun'

4. Triband end fed half wave

5. A demonstration of a crystal radio

6. My favourite magnetic loop for HF pedestrian mobile (actually no longer my favourite as I since built a newer lighter one of aluminium described in another video)

Final note. After about 18 months of writing this blog I've decided to cease adding to The Daily Antenna blog. I've enjoyed it, but as you might have noted from the decreasing frequency of posts, it was becoming somewhat of a chore to come up with material. Taking time that I'd rather spend doing experiments to make videos about. Thanks to you all for reading and commenting. I'll continue to be active with the following: 

VK3YE website

VK3YE YouTube

VK3YE Radio Books on Facebook

Some radio related Facebook groups

If you're on Facebook here's some groups that may be of interest.

Ham Radio Homebrew https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ham.Radio.Homebrew/

Ham Radio Homebrew Corner https://www.facebook.com/groups/hamradioconstruction/

Amateur Radio QRP https://www.facebook.com/groups/qrpradio/

Making antennas for amateur radio https://www.facebook.com/groups/388985131912074/

Radio receiver kit and circuit construction https://www.facebook.com/groups/141931123174948/

Portable antenna tips and techniques https://www.facebook.com/groups/1200545163358449/

DIY cheap electronic kits and projects https://www.facebook.com/groups/147858562595896/

CW Morse Code fans https://www.facebook.com/groups/46861088039/

Magnetic loop antennas https://www.facebook.com/groups/861746933918546/

Crystal set radio group https://www.facebook.com/groups/crystalsetradio/

These are good places to ask questions and see what others are up to. If there's others you like please mention them in the comments below. Note that some groups are public while others are private so you may need to apply and answer a question or two to prove you're not a spammer.

Now's a great time to be reading books. Especially with not much else to do. 

Browse my full range of books here. 

439 MHz FM: How far can you talk on a cheap handheld?

A few days ago I went for a walk along the beach. Taking my handheld. There was activity on 439 MHz, the main FM simplex frequency. A 46km contact was made despite being low and just having the handheld's standard antenna. More here!

PS: Into low power amateur radio? Minimum QRP is the top-selling manual on the equipment, antennas, operating and strategy of successful QRP operating. It's available for under $US 5 each in electronic form. Or you can get a paperback version. Visit VK3YE Radio Books to find out more. 

151 MHz wireless microphone range test (and how I got started in amateur radio)

I like little radio transmitters. I found a little one in a box of junk from a hamfest last year. It turned out to be more interesting than expected. It was an FM wireless microphone on 151 MHz. Fortunately I have equipment and antennas that can receive on that band so I did some range tests. 

The first two tests were done with the transmitter fixed and me walking around with the receiver. I used both a VHF handheld and an FT817 on SSB with a small beam. Understandably the latter gave longer range. 

The third test was with the FT817 (on FM) connected to a home station antenna and me walking around with the wireless microphone transmitter. This took advantage of the 817's better sensitivity. In this video I also talk about how I started in radio. As the video's unedited I drop out as I walk further away. Then I come good as I return.

PS: Enjoy reading? Consider this selection of amateur radio books I have written. They are available in ebook or paperback. 

    

VK5WAT QRP new and old modes activity - May 2020

Video shows some QRP with new and old modes. Both with homebrew rigs.

PS: Into low power amateur radio? Minimum QRP is the top-selling manual on the equipment, antennas, operating and strategy of successful QRP operating. It's available for under $US 5 each in electronic form. Or you can get a paperback version. Visit VK3YE Radio Books to find out more. 

Becoming a Radio Amateur in Australia

Different countries have slightly different arrangements for becoming licensed as a radio amateur. However they all generally have an exam followed by a call sign application followed by a license. Here's Australia's procedure. 

If this topic interests you there's more detail in the Australian Ham Radio Handbook. This is available from Jaycar as a paperback or Amazon as an ebook. 

How much power is your QRP antenna coupler losing?

Get a rough idea with this back to back test.

PS: Enjoy reading? Consider this selection of amateur radio books I have written. They are available in ebook or paperback. 

    

Now on LBRY (housekeeping)

If you haven't heard of it, it's an alternative to YouTube. If you're on it then so am I.

My channel is here: https://lbry.tv/@vk3ye:3

It's mainly for backup purposes and my videos will continue to be hosted on YouTube.

PS: I've done a few videos featuring Baofeng rigs lately. You might enjoy this teardown of them. https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/teardown-tuesday-baofeng-amateur-radio-transceiver/

How far can you talk on 2m FM simplex with a handheld transceiver?

Cheap Baofeng handhelds sometimes get a bad rap. And the antenna that they (and other handhelds) come with doesn't make the transceiver that good for simplex unless you're elevated. But if you can put on a good antenna then you can have better luck. Enjoy this video where I give it a range test from the beach.  

Now's a great time to be reading books. Especially with not much else to do. 

Browse my full range of books here. 

7 transistor 7 MHz 700mW FT8 and JS8 DSB transceiver

Super simple. Direct conversion/DSB for two popular digital modes on 7 MHz. Under 1w output but gets good results. A lot of similarities to my Beach 40 DSB rig. Video discusses QRP PA design so could be worth watching even if you're not into digital modes. 

PS: Into low power amateur radio? Minimum QRP is the top-selling manual on the equipment, antennas, operating and strategy of successful QRP operating. It's available for under $US 5 each in electronic form. Or you can get a paperback version. Visit VK3YE Radio Books to find out more.