29 April 2016

CB Radio Skip 28/04/2016



The bands have been very quiet for many weeks so it was nice to hear a little activity yesterday! 

CRT Megopro Now Available @ Knights £79.50


Knights Electrocom appear to be the first UK retailer with the new CRT Megapro in stock. Priced at £79.50 this radio is likely to do very well. Limited stock at the moment so if you fancy one get your order in ASAP!


Knights website: LINK

Contact details:

Knights Electrocom Ltd
11 King Edward Street
Kirton in Lindsey
Lincolnshire
United Kingdom
DN21 4NF
Tel: (01652) 648378


Specifications:

Norm CITIZEN BAND
Mode AM / FM European Multinorms
Power 4 Watts AM / 4 Watts FM
Input voltage 12 - 24 Volts
Channels 40
Memories 16 to use the DTMF codes
S-METER Yes ( TX / RX )
SQUELCH Manual or Automatic (ASQ)
ROGER BEEP Roger beep : 8 possibility
CTCSS / DCS (encoder/decoder) Yes : sub-audio code to activate repeater like selective tone
DTMF (encoder) Yes : tones selected to activate repeater, internet gateway and other items
Filters NB/HI CUT Yes : noise filters
DOUBLE WATCH function Yes
SCAN function Yes : automatic search of busy channels
COMPANDER function Yes : TX with a clear voice
Various functions Direct access to channel 9/19
Bonus Detachable power cord with plug + Jack plug for external loud speaker + Jack plug for external S-METER
Mike UP/DOWN selection + multifunction keys + DTMF inclused + 6 pins plug in front pannel. (Standard microphones CRT 520 P6 and CRT 518 P6 compatible)
Display LCD display : 7 colors (LOOP function to change the color every second)
Options Programming cable + software + din plate iso
Programmable by software Yes
Size 139 (l) x 184 (L) x 37 (H) mm
Weight 850 gr
Guaranty 2 years

28 April 2016

NEW: CRT ONE N With S/METER!



The CRT ONE has been around for a while and is a cracking little radio but it lacked one feature, it didn't have an S-Meter. Indeed when I was recently looking for a small radio the very reason I didn't buy a CRT ONE was the lack of the meter, I went for the Albrecht AE6110 which is basically the same radio but with the S-Meter.

Well the video below from CRT FRANCE shows a new version of the radio - The CRT ONE N, which now includes a redesigned display with a signal meter.

So a great little radio becomes a perfect little radio now!


Video:YouTube/CRT France

Price is listed as 69 Euros (£53)

27 April 2016

Tim Peake's Next Contact Announced


Tim Peake's next school contact has been announced on the ARISS website:

"The ARISS UK Operations team are delighted to announce that the ARISS Schools contact between Ashfield Primary School in Otley, West Yorkshire has now been confirmed for Thursday 5th May at 0808utc  (that’s 0908 BST/local time!) with Tim Peake on the International Space Station"

You should be able to hear Tim across the UK and Europe on 145.800MHz on a handheld radio or scanner.

25 April 2016

Tim Peake Heard On The Space Station 25/04/2016 (Yaesu FT-857D)




... and the same contact heard on my Wouxun KG-UV9D which was connected to a second antenna....

Reminder: Tim Peake Today (25/04/2016)


Just a quick reminder that you should be able to hear Tim Peake talking from the International Space Station at 13:02 BST (12:02 GMT) today on 145.800MHz as he makes contact with another school in the UK.


23 April 2016

Tim Peake Heard On The Space Station 23/04/2016 (Yaesu FT-857D)



Sounds like Tim Peake had a few problems making contact this time, with the school having to change frequencies a few times before contact was made.

20 April 2016

Listening To Tim Peake - What A Difference A Beam Makes!!!!


Video: YouTube/M0DAD

This has to be one of the best recordings of Tim Peake I've ever seen/heard and it shows what a big difference using a small handheld beam antenna makes. 

Another Tim Peake School Contact Announced!


A further planned school contact has been announced:

"The ARISS UK Operations team are delighted to announce that the ARISS Schools contact between The Derby High School in Bury has now been confirmed for Monday 25th April 2016 at 1202UTC  (that’s 1302 BST/local time!) with Tim Peake on the International Space Station"

...and of course don't forget that Tim is scheduled to contact Wellesley House School in Broadstairs Kent on Saturday 23rd April 2016 at 1210UTC (that’s 1310 BST/local time!)

16 April 2016

A Bobtail Antenna For 432 MHz


Video: YouTube/VK3YE

An interesting and easy to build antenna for 70cm.

FT-891 - New Radio From Yaesu?


This photo, which has appeared on several radio forums in the past few days, is reportedly showing a new radio from Yaesu. The Yaesu FT-891.
  
(Click Images To Enlarge)


Documentation also appears to show that the radio is for HF and 6M.



The power requirements are 13.8V and 23 AMPS, suggesting that the radio will have 100w of power on transmit.

Now we just need to know the price......!

Tim Peake - TWO School Contacts Announced!


The next TWO school contacts with Tim Peake on board the Internation Space Station have been announced:

"The ARISS UK Operations team are delighted to announce that the ARISS Schools contact for St Richard’s Catholic College, Bexhill on Sea has been confirmed for Monday 18th April 2016 at 14:56 UTC (that’s 15:56 BST)  with Tim Peake on the International Space Station."

and

"The ARISS UK Operations team are delighted to announce that the ARISS Schools contact for Wellesley House School in Broadstairs Kent has now been confirmed for Saturday 23rd April 2016 at 12:10UTC (that’s 13:10 BST/local time!) with Tim Peake on the International Space Station."


Listeners in the UK and across Europe should be able to hear Tim on 145.800Mhz FM

12 April 2016

Tim Peake's Next School Contact Announced!


"After a much needed break, the ARISS UK Operations team are delighted to announce that the ARISS Schools contact for Wellesley House School in Broadstairs Kent has now been confirmed for Saturday 23rd April 2016 at 1210 GMT (that’s 1310 BST/local time!) with Tim Peake on the International Space Station"


More information on the Principia mission website: LINK


Wouxun KG-UV9D Unboxing

Ofcom Updates Guidance For UK Licensees

OFCOM has published updated guidance for UK licensees. The information aims to clarify recent changes to the Amateur Radio licence terms and conditions and can be found by following this LINK

 

Wouxun KG-UV9D Now In Stock @ MLS


Just a heads-up for those of you who like myself have been waiting for some time to get their hands on this handheld, Martin Lynch & Sons now have them in stock.

Priced at £109.99 for the standard handset or £149.95 for the PROPACK which includes a load of accessories.

Radio: LINK
Propack: LINK



8 April 2016

Baojie TM-218 VHF/UHF Mobile Radio



Another interesting item spotted on eBay, the Baojie TM-218. A tiny little radio that should fit perfectly into any vehicle, with up to 25 watts of output power and the all important 6.25Khz step!

Price is around £65

Feature:
  • Dual display, dual standby & Dual Track
  • Frequency adjusting
  • Working mode selecting
  • Scrambling encryption function
  • Voice companding function
  • Frequency/Channel scan function
  • Reverse frequency setting
  • Busy channel lock-out (BCL)
  • Time-out timer (TOT)
  • High/low power selectable
  • CTCSS/DCS encoding and decoding
  • Broadband (Wide)/Narrow band (Narrow) selectable
  • Frequency Step Selectable 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25/50KHz
  • Level Threshold “Squelch” adjustable from 0 to 9
  • Tri-color background light selectable
  • PC software programmable
  • FM radio function
  • Operation for manual channel memory and delete
  • Automatic lock-out
  • DTMF signal setting
  • DTMF signal
  • PTT ID Setting
  • Remote control function
  • Remote monitoring
  • Remote stun
  • Remote kill/shaking
  • Remote reliving
  • Alarm function
  • Group calling function
  • Team calling function
  • Selected calling function
  • Function key guide voice(BEEP)
  • SFT/Slip frequency direction
  • OFFSET/Slip frequency
  • 1000Hz/1450Hz/1750Hz/2100Hz selecting
Specification:
All of our item are brand News
ModelTM-218
ColorBlack
Frequency RangeUHF:400-480MHz&VHF:136-174MHz
SystemF3E(FM)
Channel capacity256
Input voltageDC13.8V(±15%), negative grounding
Output powerH:25W, M:10W, L:5W
Channel Spacing12.5KHz/25KHz
Frequency Spacing2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/15/25/50KHz
Squelch wayCTCSS/DCS/DTMF
Antenna impedance50 ohm
Frequency stability±2.5ppm @ -10°C~+60°C
Working temperature-20°C~+60°C(-4°F~+140°F)
Max. Frequency deviation±5KHz
Noise radiation<=-60dB
Flexibility<=0.2Uv(12dB SINAD)
Max. Audio output2W @ 8 ohm 5% distortion
Working currentReceive0.3A(SQL)
Transmit5A(Max.)
Dimension105*30*106mm(width*hight*depth not including the outparts)
WeightAbout 0.5kg
Package Includes
  • 1 x New Black TM-218 Machine
  • 1X Handheld Microphone
  • 1X Mounting bracket
  • 1X Power cable
  • 1XUser's manual
eBay link: Click HERE
 



5 April 2016

CRT 2000 Price Revealed?


It would appear that the price of the new CRT 2000 has been revealed!

German website "Bensons-Funktechnik" has the radio, under the Team brand, listed for 139 Euros which equates to £112

Link to website: CLICK HERE

The website also appears to indicate that they expect the radios to arrive in July.



New Radio - Alinco DR-735E



Seen on Nevada's website (LINK)

New Dual Band VHF/UHF Mobile with remote head facility - arriving end of April

Full Duplex
Cross Band repeater function
Extended RX 108 - 174 MHz, 400 - 479 MHz 
Large Display with "rainbow" of colour options
1,000 Memories
Scan facility
Power 50/20/5w output
Computer programmable with free downloadable software
Internal duplexer allows single antenna socket for Dual Band antennas

lots lots more!

PRICE: £269.95

3 April 2016

TX Factor


For those of you who haven't already discovered this excellent show, the TX Factor is a professionally produced High Definition show about the world of Amateur Radio. 

Now in it's third year there are TEN full episodes along with a few shorter EXTRA episodes to watch. 

Episode 10 is the latest show and is available to watch below:

"In this episode the sky's the limit as Mike Marsh discovers when he returns to his old school! We visit Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall and return to the site of Marconi's early test transmissions. Bob McCreadie checks out the FT-991 all-band transceiver from Yaesu"


The full episode play list is available HERE and the TX Factor website can be found HERE

Meet the presenters . . .

Bob McCreadie G0FGX
Bob McCreadie G0FGX

Bob began his broadcasting career in the Arabian Gulf as a presenter on Radio Bahrain and as a news reporter for the TV service. That's also where he held his first amateur radio licence as A92CX.

Bob returned to the UK in 1986 to become G0FGX and to begin his UK radio career which has involved presenting and management roles at several of the west country's leading commercial radio stations.

Bob is currently the Morning Show presenter at Radio Plymouth www.radioplymouth.com
yet also finds time to write and publish children's books. www.fredthefabulousflamingo.co.uk

Bob's amateur radio interests are very broad: he's active on HF, VHF and UHF and particularly enjoys working through satellites and operating mobile.

"I would describe myself as a real technophile; I love anything to do with science and technology, so amateur radio is the perfect hobby for me," says Bob. "After a hard day at work talking to people on the radio I can come home and . . . talk to people on the radio!


Working on TX Factor is a fantastic opportunity to combine my broadcasting experience with the hobby I am so passionate about."

Mike Marsh G1IAR
Mike Marsh G1IAR

Mike has been a music industry professional for over 30 years having started as a trainee recording engineer in a multi-track studio in Devon. "As a kid I grew up loving music and pushing buttons so it seemed like an ideal job!"

In the early 90s Mike fulfilled his ambition to broadcast in wideband FM mode by becoming a weekend radio presenter on one of the largest commercial radio stations in the south-west of England. "Radio was great fun. I presented a variety of shows including The Saturday Night Dance Party, the Saturday sport show and the Sunday morning breakfast show.

Mike is now senior mastering engineer at The Exchange Mike Marsh Mastering Studios in Exmouth, handling releases for record companies and international artists including Elton John, Depeche Mode and Oasis.


"I'm active on most bands and getting to grips with the world of digi-modes. I'm still eager to get my first QSO logged with the ISS but that's another box yet to be ticked!


I love all my hobbies but radio is probably the one I've enjoyed for the longest time. That's why I'm super excited to be part of TX Factor, helping to make programmes about the fast-changing world of technology and amateur radio in the 21st century."

Nick Bennett 2E0FGQ
Nick Bennett 2E0FGQ

Nick began his broadcasting career in the pioneering days of commercial radio in Plymouth and Exeter during the seventies and eighties. Although a broadcast engineer and studio technical operator Nick was equally at home in front of the microphone presenting a rock show for 12 years.

Nick's own broadcast engineering company Media Concepts designed, installed and maintained broadcast radio stations for the Orchard Media Group overseeing the construction and subsequent refurbishment of its portfolio of radio stations. He later joined the GWR Group as regional chief engineer and gained responsibility for maintaining the Group's six south-west studio centres which provided seven programme services feeding 14 FM and AM transmitters via a proprietary digital distribution and satellite network.

Nick also worked as a studio sound supervisor on one of the UK's largest regional ITV stations and today spends his time as a freelance TV and film sound recordist and documentary producer.

Nick says, "If the TX Factor filming schedule allows, I promise to attempt the Full licence sometime in 2016! I tend to operate on most bands and modes, but love the unpredictably of 6 metres and 2 metres during a lift. I'm also a keen SOTA chaser."


1 April 2016

Yaesu Spring Cashback Offers @ Martin Lynch & Sons


Some cracking offers available on Yaesu radios at Martin Lynch and & Sons:

FT-DX5000 - £240 Cashback
FT-DX3000 - £160 Cashback
FT-DX1200 - £80 Cashback
FT-991 - £80 Cashback
FTM-400 - Free Microphone

I know the FT-991 is a radio wanted by many and after cashback this radio will now only cost you £909.95 - Sounds like a bargain to me.....!

Anyway here's the LINK