TRANSMITTER FROM A CFL

Turn a 'low energy' light bulb into an 80m transmitter!

'Low energy' light bulbs are renowned for causing radio interference but they can be put to good use. A website describes how to turn one into a transmitter for the Amateur Radio 80m band.
Michael Rainey, AA1TJA's website describes how to convert a compact fluorescent lamp -- in this case a TriMax Electronic Fluorescent Lamp -- into a 1.5 Watt QRP CW transmitter for 3.5 MHz. Indeed, Michael goes on to say "a perfectly serviceable transmitter may be constructed!
The only additional components required were the quartz crystal, and four of the five components needed for the output low-pass filter. The resulting transmitter produces up to 1.5 Watts on 80m.

More information is on Michael's Website.

A few words of caution regarding the handling those compact fluorescent lamps or any fluorescent lamps for that matter. The glass section of these lamps contain some pretty toxic chemicals that you will really not want to come in contact with. Also, be very careful to avoid shattering the glass as its very easy to suffer a deep gash from the shards and find yourself in a hospital emergency room as a result. That said, a link to the website that Graham refers to can be at http://mjrainey.googlepages.com/dasderelicht

(Southgate)

BROADCASTERS SOON TO CLEAR PARTS OF 40 METERS

Ham radio should soon have less interference to contend with on 40 meters. This if all goes as its supposed to in about six months time when those powerful shortwave broadcast stations are supposed to move away from 7.1 to 7.2 MHz as that spectrum fully reverts to the Amateur Service.

By way of background, before 1938 there was an exclusive amateur allocation of 7.0 to 7.3 MHz. But due to world unrest that band parcel was taken away to accommodate propaganda broadcasting in the lead up to World War II.

It had been thought it would be returned to the Amateur Service afterward, but its use for broadcasting continued due to the Cold War. In fact broadcasting increased the size of its primary allocation. While in some parts of the world radio amateurs managed to retain 7.0 to 7.3 MHz only the bottom third was amateur exclusive and the remainder shared with shortwave broadcasters.

So, the International Amateur Radio Union mounted a campaign for the 40m band to be return globally to the Amateur Service. Its case stated that such as change would ensure effective communications support particularly in the event of natural disasters.

The I-A-R-U pursued the issue at the World Radiocommunications Conference in 2003. There its work gained 7.1 to 7.2 MHz worldwide for the Amateur Service. It also got an extra 100 kilohertz added on the exclusive allocation, while sharing between 7.2 and 7.3 MHz continues.

GREENLAND GETS 5 MHZ ALLOCATION

Hams in Greenland should soon be on 5 MHz. This, following reports that government regulators in Greenland has approved the use by radio amateurs of seven spot frequencies in that band.Peter Thulesen is OX3XR. He reports that the Greenland Telecom Administration has approved the use by hams of these center frequencies of 5260, 5280, 5290, 5368, 5373, 5400, 5405 kHz.No effective date was included in Thulesen's information. More should be available at www dot tele dot gl/uk/index.htm

(Southgate)

2008 INTERNATIONAL DX CONVENTION IN VISALIA.

Mark down April 25th, 26th and 27th for the 2008 International DX Convention. This year the host is the Southern California DX Club but the venue remains the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Visalia, California.Those new to ham radio may not be aware that the International DX Convention is the world's premier gathering of D-X operators that attracts the top operators from the US, Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania and any other spot you can think of. Also on hand are the worlds top DXpedition operators to share the inside stories on how they managed to put some rare location on-the-air.If you have even a passing interest in D-X operation, this is a show you won't want to miss. Again the dates are April 25th to the 27th at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Visalia, California for the 2008 International D-X Convention. More will be on-line at http://www.dxconvention.org/.

Delhi & NCR Hams Get-together

Dear Friends,

On 24th of February, 2008 we Delhi and National Capital Region Hams went for a picnic-cum-field day at Bhuwaneshwari Temple, Gurgaon-Sohna Road, Gurgaon. The temple has a huge open ground where we did an antenna assembly. It was a very quiet, spacious grounds with lots of greenery, hills for trekking, shaded area and lots of peacocks moving around.

The main organiser of this get-together was OM Bharat (VU2BDX) and OM Rajesh (VU2OEC). I really thanks to them for nice and appropriate arrangements.

During the activity, I have taken some still photographs. Which you can see at http://picasaweb.google.com/vu3orn/DelhiNCRHamGetTogetherOn24Feb2008?authkey=bFWA68BY-q8

My friend Alokesh Gupta a SWL, who also attain the field day. You can see his photographs at http://picasaweb.google.com/alokeshgupta/DelhiHamsPicnicFeb2008

Some other pictures you can see at VU2GTI's webpage http://www.vu2.in/

Three small moving clips also you can see -

1) When homebrewed J-Pole 2 Meter Antenna testing on air - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki1zgqbO_40
2) Discussion for future activities - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5Zl1DxQ6gs
3) Discussion for advantage & Disadvantages of BITX & ATS-1 assembling HF TRX - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmeBupFjryc

Hoping that you enjoyed our activities.

73 for the time being and happy Hamming.

Ray (VU3ORN)
New Delhi.

BES EXPO 2008

Dear Friend,

BES EXPO 2008 is the Conference and Exhibition on Terrestrial & Satellite Broadcasting. It held from 23rd to 25th February, 2008 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. It is the 14th in the series of expos being organised by the Broadcast Engineering Society (India).

Exhibiting companies - included those from Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel,Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Taiwan, U.K. and U.S.A.

While I attain the Exhibition, took some photographs, which you can see here http://picasaweb.google.com/vu3orn/BESEExpo2008. Click on any photgraphs to view larger.

Brochure for BES EXPO 2008 http://www.besindia.com/Brochure%20BES%20EXPO%202008.pdf

With best regards,

SPRATLY ISLANDS COMING OIN THE AIR

If you have waited a ham radio lifetime to work the very elusive Spratly Islands, wait no longer. This with word that Ed Sawyer N1UR and his wife Christine, KB1PQN are expected to be active portable 9M6 from the Layang-Layang Island Resort in the Spratly Islands. This, between 0800 UTC on , March 22nd through midnight UTC on March 30th.The duo have already received their licenses. Once they get permission from the Navy, they will apply for a special 9M0 callsign. Activity will be on 160 through 10 meters, on CW and SSB. 100 watts to omnidirectional verticals will be used from the near-by beach and the operators will be moving bands frequently to take advantage of changing band conditions and openings. Sunset on Spratly is 1040 UTC with sunrise at 2240 by the middle of that week.QSL cards for either operator go via Bob Tomkovich, Jr., K2RET, 405 Hemlock Dr., Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734 in the USA. More information is on line at www dot n1urspratly dot com.

(OPDX)