Tag Archives: Ham Radio Workbench

Register and join us at the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo!

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The 2023 QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will be held on March 25 – 26 and I would encourage you to register now.

I have attended every QSO Today Visual Ham Expo since Eric (4Z1UG) created this brilliant virtual event. The online platform is quite easy to use and there are loads of fascinating topics from a wide variety of presenters.

Click here to check out the presentation list.

I applaud Eric for championing radio topics that are open and accessible to Technician (and equivalent) class operators.

Twice before, I haven’t been able to attend the Expo sessions live (due to my schedule) but I register anyway! Why? Eric archives and provides all of the presentations in video format on-demand for Expo attendees after the event has ended. I simply log in and work my way through presentations over the course of a month, one morning coffee after another! The gift that keeps on giving!

These presentations are a shorter format and (I find) focus less on general topics covered elsewhere; they’re truly unique to the Expo.

This is one of the main reasons I register for the QSO Today Virtual Expo: I want to support a platform that produces brilliant ideas, innovations, and encourages a wide radio of radio activities!

Click here to check out the Expo and register.

I have no idea how Eric puts all of this together, but I’m glad he does and we all benefit from it.

Ham Radio Workbench Podcast at the QSO Today Virtual Expo!

Join us for a live recording of the Ham Radio Workbench podcast as we help kick off the Expo on March 25, 2023 starting at 1:00 UTC (March 24, 2023, 6:00 PM).

Click here for the schedule.

Eric also shared the following preview of the Roundtable Lounge that allow Expo participants to hang out in real time and move from table to table fluidly.

Here is what the Ham Radio Workbench table will look like (20 seats):

I’m really looking forward to this event! I hope you’ll join us.

Click here to register for the Expo!

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Ham Radio Workbench episode explores Diversity Reception

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The SDRplay RSPduo

I just finished listening to the most recent episode of the Ham Radio Workbench with John Fallows (VE6EY) as a guest.

John is an SWL and Ham Radio operator and speaks at length about how he uses diversity reception to mitigate persistent local RFI (radio frequency interference).

If you have persistent issues with radio interference or if you’ve been curious about using diversity reception for mediumwave and shortwave DXing, I highly recommend listening to this episode. John has been known to frequent the SWLing Post and actually comes into the discussion primarily from an SWL’s perspective.

If you’ve tried diversity reception or a noise-cancelling system like the Timewave ANC-4+ in the past with mixed results, you’ll definitely benefit from listening to John’s best practices.

In addition, John points out that the excellent SDRplay RSPduo is a very affordable way to explore proper diversity reception.

How effectively can you mitigate RFI with diversity reception? Check out this video on YouTube queued up to the point where John does a live demo with his Anan SDR and loop antennas: https://youtu.be/vu8D87aVUTQ?t=2011 (I also recommend watching to full video presentation for even more detail.)

I’ve embedded the audio for the Ham Radio Workbench podcast below, but you can also find it along with show notes on the Ham Radio Workbench website.

Ham Radio Workbench is one of my favorite podcasts; if you like exploring a wide variety of technical topics, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s available on all podcasting platforms.

Also, check out John VE6EY’s YouTube channel and web site/blog.

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Eric Swartz (WA6HHQ) on Ham Radio Workbench

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Eric McFadden (WD8RIF), who notes that Elecraft co-founder, Eric Swartz (WA6HHQ), is featured on the latest episode of Ham Radio Workbench. Here’s the description of the interview provided by Ham Radio Workbench:

Eric Swartz WA6HHQ, co-founder of Elecraft, joins us to guide our understanding of RF receiver performance specifications. Eric introduces us to common receiver specs such as Sensitivity, Noise Floor, Dynamic Range, Intermod Dynamic Range, Phase Noise, and RMDR. He tells us what they mean in real-world receiver performance terms, how they are tested, and whether it’s better to have a higher or lower number in each one.

Eric’s interview starts around 1 hour 9 minutes into the show:

Click here to listen via Ham Radio Workbench’s website.

That was a brilliant overview! Many thanks, Eric, for the tip!

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