Welcome to the world of AMATEUR RADIO!

Amateur (ham) radio is a fine hobby. It is enjoyed by all ages and varieties of people. In its most simple form, the hobby allows a citizen to talk to other hams using his own personal radio. The range can be short or long, depending on the frequency employed, considering the season, time of day and other exotics such as the 11-year SUNSPOT CYCLE. You can use voice, International Morse code, slow or fast (like a common TV) television, as well as other modes to communicate with other hobbyists. Many use their home computers as accessories as well.

See more information on what HAM RADIO is all about here. <--(Click on the link...)

The Cormac Propadex - Current Ionospheric Conditions:

Propadex is updated four times per hour

Eight hours of history is shown on the graph.

When the Propadex is high, it means the F2 maximum useable frequency is higher than average for this time of day.

Technical Details:

The Cormac Propadex is based entirely on the latest government reports for f0F2. This is the maximum useable frequency for the F2 ionosphere layer. Some government stations are updating this value 4 to 6 times per hour.

The Propadex value is the DIFFERENCE between the latest reported f0F2 value and the 60 day average FOR THIS SAME TIME OF DAY.

For example, if the Propadex shows as +110 at time 1700 Z, it means means the government monitoring station is reporting a maximum usable frequency 1.10 MHz higher than the 60 day average for this exact same time of day.

Currently, we are obtaining data from the U.S. Air Force Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) site in San Vito, Italy. We have found this site to be one of the most reliable with timely data.

The above is a picture of my MAIN ham radio station. It is located in our home's ground-level family room, where my Mac computer desk is located. The main radio (at the right) is an Icom IC-756 Pro-II, which is my main HF (High Frequency) radio. It covers all ham bands from 1.8 through 60 Mhz. To the left of the IC-756 Pro-II is an Icom IC-2200, which is my two-Meter (144 Mhz FM) radio. Below the IC-2200 is an Astron SS-25M DC power supply. The SHARP weather station on the left rounds out the setup. The two antenna switches on the wall allow me to select either the 160 Meter loop antenna or the 75/40 Meter dipole that are available at this end of the house. (In the CENTER position, the switched antenna is grounded for the safety of the radio.)

The item on top of the IC-2200H is an actual ARTIFACT from one of Northwest Airline's Boeing 747 airplanes! The red part is an actual piece of the skin from NWA's ship number 6622, which is now retired! (This fine item is on loan from our son, Nick, who is actively employed at good old NWA. -Only ACTIVE EMPLOYEES were given this fine item.)

Icom IC-746 radio modifications

Here are a couple of modifications (which I developed) to enhance the popular IC-746 radio... One increases the "too low" mic gain of the radio, and the second one allows the cooling fan to run at a very slow (QUIET!) speed whenever the radio is turned on, but still allows the higher speed, as needed.

The modifications are also listed on the Mods.dk web site. -This is an extensive collection of modifications for all kinds of communications equipment! <--(Click on the link...)

See the same modifications here on my web site. <--(Click on the link...)

Radio-GEEK stuff...

Near-Real-Time MUF Map map here. (It is updated every five minutes.) Here, you will see a recent high-resolution map of Maximum Usable Frequencies (MUFs) for 3,000 kilometer radio signal paths. It is also a map showing the current location of the auroral ovals, the sunrise/sunset terminator and the regions of the world where the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon (which estimates the gray-line corridor where HF propagation is usually enhanced). <--(Click on the link...)

Easy to make: CATV connectors for ham radio use!

Here is an easy-to-make adapter, for using inexpensive (free, mostly!) CATV cable for ham use. (I used common copper-pipe fittings, etc.)

My home made CATV connector instructions . <--(Click on the link...)

How To Get Started In Amateur Radio

Getting started in Amateur Radio has never been easier! You can usually find a ham radio class in your area sponsored by friendly volunteers who will help you learn the "ropes."

Entry-Level ham licence...

The Technician Class license NO LONGER REQUIRES A MORSE CODE EXAMINATION, and gives you all ham radio privileges above 30 Megahertz. You'll pass a relatively easy exam on radio operating practices, FCC rules and basic electrical theory. Technician Class operating privileges include FM voice, digital packet, satellite, television, single-sideband voice and several other interesting modes. You can make international radio contacts via satellites, using relatively simple equipment. The TECHNICIAN PLUS class of licence no longer requires a five word-per-minute code proficiency, and offers some limited HF (high frequency) priveledges, I believe.

Other levels of ham licenses...

Other classes of licenses offer HF (high frequency) bands of frequencies; The GENERAL and the EXTRA class licenses offer similar bands, but the Extra has exclusive rights to segments of some of the HF ham bands.

Where Do I Start?

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and others publish ham radio license study guides to help you learn the things you'll need to pass your exam and have fun with Amateur Radio. ARRL can also assist you in finding ham operators in your area who'd like to help you get started.

Radio Shack Stores also sell a very good reference book, NOW YOU'RE TALKING. This is a complete study guide for the Novice, Tech and Tech-Plus exams. (The book is published by the ARRL.)

The ARRL Educational Activities Department (EAD) distributes a "Prospective Ham Package" that is sent at no cost to you. The material describes Amateur Radio, popular ARRL study guides, and includes a list of your local ham radio clubs, ham radio classes and volunteer examiners in your area. Contact the ARRL for a "Prospective Ham Package", today!:

TOLL-FREE -- 1-800-32-NEW HAM (our New Prospect "Hot Line")

mail	  -- ARRL EAD, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111

phone	  -- (203) 666-1541

fax	  -- (203) 665-7531

e-mail	  -- pbudnik@arrl.org

(Make sure to include a specific request for the "Prospective Ham Package" and include your postal address because there is too much material to send via e-mail or fax.)