Radio User

wiessala@hotmail.com Hello and a warm welcome to the December edition of RadioUser. Alas, as many of you will know by now, this is also the final issue of this magazine. From January 2023, RadioUser is merging with our larger sister magazine, Practical Wireless. I wish my colleague, friend and fellow editor Don Field G3XTT the very best and lots of success in this new venture. Don writes about Newark 2022 in this issue too. Here at RadioUser, we have been more than a bit mindful of the transition, and two of our features this month are leading you gently into the field of amateur radio. First Steve Hartley explains the hugely popular method of QRP (low-power) operation; and second, Tim Kirby shows you how you can listen to Radio Amateurs…

We don’t have to tell you, times are tough and sadly this means that we need to make changes to RadioUser. The magazine in your hand will be the last RadioUser in its current format as a standalone monthly magazine. However, the good news is RadioUser is not gone for good. We plan to merge it with Practical Wireless magazine where some of your favourite RadioUser articles will be published in the future. To continue to read the content you’ve come to know and love, you will need to pick up the January 2023 issue of Practical Wireless. Past issues of Radio User will still be available to purchase and download. Please visit our website bit.ly/ru-archive-cd for more information If you’re a current subscriber to RadioUser, we have sent a…

RadioUser STOP PRESS! New at ML&S: The Digirig Mobile Interface The new DigiRig Mobile is a digital modes interface for amateur radio. It combines audio codec, serial CAT interface and PTT control. At the time of writing, these were the advertised specifications of the device: Combines audio codec, serial CAT interface and PTT switch. Supports fully-featured CAT interface: PTT, bands, tuning etc. (not just VOX-based PTT). Uses a single USB connection minimizing the cables mess. Serial CAT port can be configured for logic levels, RS-232, CI-V or TX-500 (learn more). Works with all major OS flavours: Windows, macOS and Linux. Permanently available independently from the CAT port an open collector PTT switch controlled by the RTS signal of the COM port to interface HTs and mobile radios. Auxiliary connection points…

RadioUser STOP PRESS! The new C. Crane CC Skywave SSB 2 offers versatility, portability, good frequency coverage, and excellent overall performance. Click on the USB, below, to read a review of this new portable. The receiver offers several improvements: The new Short |Wave antenna jack can significantly improve SW reception when used with an external antenna. The new micro-USB connector now works well from any USB port, along with improved in-circuit battery charging for optional ‘AA’ NiMH rechargeable batteries. Other upgrades include a higher-quality speaker, along with slightly more audio amplification. Longer feet on the bottom of the radio for better stability […]. (SOURCE: C.Crane | SWLing Post) https://tinyurl.com/bddjm9cz https://tinyurl.com/bdhj3fvk https://ccrane.com/cc-skywave-ssb-2-with-am-fm-sw-wx-and-aviation-bands…

Jörg Klingenfuss writes: “The maximum of the current solar cycle 25 is expected for mid-2025. Sunspot numbers have quickly ramped up and are already exceeding predictions. We’ll see good to excellent high-frequency (HF) long distance propagation conditions throughout 2023 and far beyond.” Check out the link to the more than 600 Kiwi SDRs available via the URL, below. KF have hundreds of pertinent screenshots in their brand-new 2023 editions, and the firm also offers a hot frequencies website! The new Klingenfuss publications for under your Christmas Tree are out now and include: (Source: Jörg Klingenfuss) https://www.klingenfuss.org/homepage.htm OFCOM FINDS GB NEWS RADIO IN BREACH OVER ELECTION DISCUSSION: GB News Radio has been found in breach of the broadcasting code Rule 6.0, for not providing notification of all…

RadioUser STOP PRESS! The SWLing Post has recently shared a user review, by 13dka, of the revised version of this popular little receiver (from Belarus). The reviewer pointed out that, “The Belka offers true all mode (including NFM and CW) reception with a proper 400 Hz CW filter and individual settings for the low and high filter slopes for AM, FM and SSB. It has an AM sync detector and comes with a 0.5ppm TCXO-controlled local oscillator for absolutely spot-on, calibration-free frequency precision and stability, which makes SSB or ECSS reception of broadcast stations a pure joy. The second iteration “Belka DX” brought a slightly extended coverage down to 1.5 MHz and an I/Q output for panadapter display and/or processing via your favourite SDR software. All Belka radios are quiet…