President McKinley AM/SSB - New 2017 CB Radio Review

Video:YouTube/cbradiomagazine

TYT MD-9600 DMR Radio: First Look/Testing

Video:YouTube/AirWavz KG4VDZ

A first look at the new TYT MD-9600, a radio which looks as if it will be very popular amongst DMR users.

Retevis RT21 Production Process

Video: YouTube/Ailunce

Saving Lives With Amateur Radio

Video:YouTube/M6 MGE

A video from Mike, M6MGE, which highlights a unique feature of Amateur Radio and radio communications in general, the ability to assist in an emergency and in this case quite possibly saving a young girls life.

The video is fairly self explanatory and worth watching right to the end. Mike took the emergency call via the GB3WR repeater located on the Mendip Hills in South West England, and proceeded to contact the emergency services. 

I personally think that Mike did a fantastic job here and to be honest I'm not sure that I could have been so calm and professional in such circumstances.

Very well done Mike you are a credit to the hobby!

   

Yaesu System Fusion II FAQ's

Following the news on the blog that Yaesu are planning an update to their System Fusion radios they have posted some FAQ's on their USA Facebook page which gives an insight into their plans:

(Click to enlarge)

Yaesu FT991 VHF UHF Extended Transmit

Video:YouTube/Jed Deadlock

An interesting video which appears to show a way to change a European FT-991 to the USA operating version with expanded 2m and 70cm coverage.

Please be aware you may damage your radio and I DO NOT recommend modifying radios so you do so AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Yaesu Announces System Fusion II

So it would appear that Yaesu are about to make a major update to their C4FM Digital range of radios as an advert has appeared online which seems to be advertising 'System Fusion II'

   (Click To Enlarge)

As you will see at the bottom of the advert it states that 'Firmware updates will enable System Fusion II compatibility with all existing C4FM products" so if, like myself, you have a C4FM enabled radio be on the lookout for some updates hopefully in the near future!

As to what System Fusion II offers.... Only time will tell!

Space Station YOTA Contact 08/08/2017

Following a failed attempt at 18:38 GMT the RSGB/YOTA team made a successful contact with the Space Station on the next pass at 20:15 GMT.

Contact as heard by M0UKD who lives close enough to the ground station to hear both sides of the contact:

And as heard by Carl Gorse in the Teesside Area of the UK:

Space Station Contact Fails Due To Technical Problems

Unfortunately, this evenings scheduled Space Station contact at 19:38 hours BST failed due to technical problems!

The RSGB/YOTA team attempted to make contact for several minutes before reluctantly having to give up. 

Below is a short clip from the RSGB live stream:

UPDATE: A second attempt was made during the next flyover and this time a succesful contact was esablished - Video will appear on the blog in due course.

Mobility Scooter Mobile!

An interesting idea from "Mikedabike Faulkner" on Facebook who is now able to operate Mobility Scooter Mobile!

New Version CRT SS9900 @ Knights

Breaking news today is that Doug at Knights Electrocom in the UK has the latest version of the CRT SS9900 in stock.

Vortex Q82 MKII Antenna Review (Part 2)

Video:YouTube/M0OGY

More from Dave and his massive erection!

Radioddity GD-77 Dual Band DMR Handheld Only £76.99!

Seen on Amazon UK at  what appears to be a very reasonable price. Not seen or tried one of these yet so cannot comment on performance but it might be worth a punt!

Upcoming Space Station Contact

An International Space Station ARISS contact is planned for astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZ0JPA, using the call sign NA1SS and the Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) event, call sign GB4YOTA, taking place in Gilwell Park, UK.

The contact is scheduled for Tuesday 8th August 2017 at approximately 18:38 GMT/19:38 BST. This will be a direct radio contact, operated by GB4YOTA.

Signals from the Space Station can be recieved on 145.800Mhz FM across much of Europe.

GB5RC - Radio Caroline Special Event Station

Celebrating 50 years of offshore radio broadcasting listen out for a special event station located on board The Ross Revenge near Bradwell-On-Sea in Essex, UK, the home of Radio Caroline. 

Operating on 80m, 40m, 20m, and possibly on other bands depending on conditions, the station with the callsign GB5RC will be active until the early hours of Monday morning (07/08/2017).

More information can be found here: CLICK

Vortex Q82 MKII Antenna Review (Part 1)

Video:YouTube/M0OGY

Dave takes a look at the new Vortex Q82 MKII antenna.

New President JFK II A+ 10M Radio

New from President USA is the President JFK II A+ AM/FM 10M radio with a nice 50 watts output!