---

From: "Jardy Dawson JARDY72@... [FT-60]"
To: "FT-60@..."
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 2:22 PM
Subject: Re: [FT-60] UK FT60R to US Spec?

?

Check for info.

Jardy Dawson

WA7JRD Ham Radio

Sent by underground messengers via the worm people.

On Jun 10, 2014, at 13:13, "g8osn@... [FT-60]" <FT-60@...> wrote:

?

Has anyone worked out how to convert a UK FT60R to US spec, please?

All I can find on the internet are details to extend US spec. radio coverage. This may work on

UK spec and do the job, has anyone tried that? (removing R1164)

I would like to use the radio on trips to the USA.

73

Brian

G8OSN/W8OSN

?

Has anyone worked out how to convert a UK FT60R to US spec, please?

All I can find on the internet are details to extend US spec. radio coverage. This may work on

UK spec and do the job, has anyone tried that? (removing R1164)

I would like to use the radio on trips to the USA.

73

Brian

G8OSN/W8OSN

Neil,
You say you passed the “Basic” exam. Do you mean the Technician exam?
Do you have a CW rig in mind or are you just working on learning Morse Code right now? I find the Pixie 2 a rather interesting flea powered transceiver. I also see at least one web based company willing to teach me Morse Code in exchange for $$.
73,

Rick
*From:* FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
*Sent:* Sunday, June 08, 2014 9:22 PM
*To:* FT-60@...
*Subject:* [FT-60] Re: general question
Hi all:
I'll still a newbie; only 13 months at the radio. I have been aware of amateur radio for 40 years - a friend, and then an employer, were both hams, but I didn't have much to say, so never pursued it.
In January 2013, I heard of a local class, and decided to enrol to keep the little grey cells busy. I passed the exam, and bought an FT-60 as soon as I could. It's a sturdy, capable radio, and I love it. But it does get warm during extended conversations.
I wanted to use the radio for emergency communications at one particular location, but there are no repeaters that I can hit, so I'm now looking at HF to deal with emergencies there (it is 40km south of Lloydminster SK, about 3 km east of the middle of nowhere).
Since I passed the Basic exam, I have been using my new skill for public service and personal communication with friends, and I'm ready to help with emergencies; no emergencies yet, thank goodness, but new friends abound, and I have recanted made contact with a friend of the former employer. He used to come to the store on Saturdays to meet the boss and several other hams.
I'm also working on CW, as gain to keep the little grey cells working.
73,
Neil Slater
VA5SCA
SKCC 12198
Sent via Morse Code, assisted by slide rule and abacus.

On Jun 10, 2014, at 1:44 AM, FT-60@... wrote:

Posted by: "Rick - yahoo"
Date: Mon Jun 9, 2014 8:00 pm ((PDT))

Neil,

You say you passed the "Basic" exam. Do you mean the Technician exam?

Do you have a CW rig in mind or are you just working on learning Morse Code
right now? I find the Pixie 2 a rather interesting flea powered transceiver.
I also see at least one web based company willing to teach me Morse Code in
exchange for $$.

73,

Rick

?

?

?

Hi Rick:?

Well, I became a ham last November, to go fly a high-altitude balloon for my daughter's high-school science fair (she took first in state in the Earth and Planetary Science category, and even got on TV).? BTW, I am also in the Phoenix area, and have been out with Jack's folks on one of their launches -- so you are with a school flying experiments on ansr periodically?? Which school?

I have also been around hams for years, but the code requirement kept me from getting motivated years back, and then life just got busy.? But I now plan to learn more and maybe try some HF stuff.? I am also helping my 14yo son to get his license this summer.

I have also collected teletype machines for years (M14/15/28/31/33/35...) and am moderator of a tty email list called greenkeys.? I have a horribly-ancient and incomplete site at , which desperately needs a wordpress makeover (on my to-do list).

Also, I would also like to try some rtty with a real tty machine and a couple of other tty guys around here.? I have an old HF transceiver and a dovetron TU (that needs to be fixed first, or I need to build a modern version).? Would also be interesting to try rtty on a 2m freq that allow data.

Anyway, that is my ham story so far.

BTW, your comment about CW having a theoretical bandwidth of zero is not correct.? True, a constant carrier has zero bandwidth, but once you key it on and off is is a form of AM.? If you watched on a spectrum analyzer you would not simply see the carrier line going up and down.? You would see sidebands splattering on both sides as you key, you would see the carrier-only line as you held it down, and sidebands briefly again as you release.? If you are keying at a fixed frequency, say 20 Hz, you have sidebands at carrier +/- 20 Hz (AM mod is just a mixer).? Since you are keying with varying pulse widths, your sidebands will have a range of components up to the highest freq.? You can suppress the carrier, since the information is in the sidebands, and since the upper and lower sb have the same data, you can filter one of those out as well (SSB suppressed carrier) -- this can reduce cw bw to a pretty low slice, but never down to zero.? Also, the keying waveform is usually configured in a real cw tx to shape the keying edges with an S-shaped transition and not a hard edge -- this produces more-pleasant receive cw I am told, but that keying transition further complicates the freq content of the sidebands.? That is how I understand it at least -- if anyone has corrections, please let me know.

gil, af7ez

-----

>I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a
>ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife
>actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit
>design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of
>being a ham.
>...
>My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get
>their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights
>(/ ). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I
>didn't have my license.
>
>So what makes you guys "tick"? ? What got you interested in being a ham?

----------

So other than the fun of doing it, is there any advantage to using MCW?

?

Rick

?

From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2014 4:35 PM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: Re: [FT-60] just to verify (CW over FM rig)

?

?

CW (unmodulated carrier) on in squelched FM sounds like bursts of silence. What you hear is MCW -- the transmitter is keyed and the the tones are transmitted the same as voice.?

Try monitoring the CW beacon on one of the satellites.?

?

?? ? ? ?

This message was delivered by flying monkeys!

On Jun 7, 2014, at 17:11, "'Rick - yahoo' rgsparber.ya@... [FT-60]" <FT-60@...> wrote:

Anthony,

?

Ah, I should have read a bit further before posing my question.

?

Since I do hear Morse Code on my scanner, I guess I should conclude that these people are actually using MCW and not CW. Is that right?

?

Rick

?

From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2014 8:53 AM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: Re: [FT-60] just to verify (CW over FM rig)

?

?

As far as I understand this, the "real" CW transmitters would just transmit the carrier at a constant frequency and filter heavily to produce these 100 Hz bandwidth signal after you modulate it on and off to transmit your code.

If instead you put a code-modulated 1KHz tone into the SSB transmitter, it should be about the same in the ideal world, but might be somewhat more than 100 Hz bandwidth because of higher complexity or less accurate filtering. That utilized 100 Hz-wide spectrum will be 1 KHz higher than what you see on your VFO.

Now if you feed a 1 KHz tone into an FM transmitter, the math is much more complex there, it includes your tone volume and FM deviation and the transmitted audio frequency signal bandwidth i.e. 100 Hz (or frequency, i.e. 1 KHz?). And I don't fully understand that math. But I would expect the resulting RF bandwidth to be about 10 kHz.

Another option you mentioned, if you short your microphone input and just modulate with your PTT, then in theory this should simply transmit on and off the carrier, that would not deviate, because the mic input is null. And that would be near the real CW transmitter, just not as accurate. Please somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I might still expect some frequency deviation (or not?, why?). Also, the downside of this method is that now only people with SSB/CW receivers would be able to hear you. People with FM rigs will see squelch open/close as you transmit, but won't get no audio.

73
Anthony VA3IDL

---

From: "'Rick - yahoo' rgsparber.ya@... [FT-60]" <FT-60@...>
To: FT-60@...
Sent: Friday, June 6, 2014 8:48:48 AM
Subject: RE: [FT-60] just to verify

?

I think you are saying to transmit unmodulated carrier for silence and a tone which would shift the transmitted frequency from the unmodulated value. It is my understanding that CW would represent no tone as no carrier. So the two methods should sound the same at the receiver but would have different RF signatures. I read () ?that the needed bandwidth for cw is less than 100 Hz and ideally the bandwidth is zero because the carrier is just being turned on and off.

?

If I fed in a 1 KHz tone into my FT-60 to generate a dot or dash and fed in nothing for silence, then the bandwidth would be 2 KHz for FM or 1 KHz for SSB. Is that right?

?

Am I all wet here?

?

Thanks,

?

Rick

?

From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2014 12:51 AM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: RE: [FT-60] just to verify

?

?

It's an FM rig. If you want to send cw, like as in a beacon, use the audio input with a tone.

---

From: FT-60@...
To: FT-60@...
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 12:15:25 -0700
Subject: [FT-60] just to verify

?

?

I carefully read over the table of contents of the FT-60’s user manual and found nothing about connecting a key in order to transmit CW. Am I missing something?

?

Thanks,

?

Rick

?

?

?

?

Anthony,

?

Ah, I should have read a bit further before posing my question.

?

Since I do hear Morse Code on my scanner, I guess I should conclude that these people are actually using MCW and not CW. Is that right?

?

Rick

?

From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2014 8:53 AM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: Re: [FT-60] just to verify (CW over FM rig)

?

?

As far as I understand this, the "real" CW transmitters would just transmit the carrier at a constant frequency and filter heavily to produce these 100 Hz bandwidth signal after you modulate it on and off to transmit your code.

If instead you put a code-modulated 1KHz tone into the SSB transmitter, it should be about the same in the ideal world, but might be somewhat more than 100 Hz bandwidth because of higher complexity or less accurate filtering. That utilized 100 Hz-wide spectrum will be 1 KHz higher than what you see on your VFO.

Now if you feed a 1 KHz tone into an FM transmitter, the math is much more complex there, it includes your tone volume and FM deviation and the transmitted audio frequency signal bandwidth i.e. 100 Hz (or frequency, i.e. 1 KHz?). And I don't fully understand that math. But I would expect the resulting RF bandwidth to be about 10 kHz.

Another option you mentioned, if you short your microphone input and just modulate with your PTT, then in theory this should simply transmit on and off the carrier, that would not deviate, because the mic input is null. And that would be near the real CW transmitter, just not as accurate. Please somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I might still expect some frequency deviation (or not?, why?). Also, the downside of this method is that now only people with SSB/CW receivers would be able to hear you. People with FM rigs will see squelch open/close as you transmit, but won't get no audio.

73
Anthony VA3IDL

---

From: "'Rick - yahoo' rgsparber.ya@... [FT-60]" <FT-60@...>
To: FT-60@...
Sent: Friday, June 6, 2014 8:48:48 AM
Subject: RE: [FT-60] just to verify

?

I think you are saying to transmit unmodulated carrier for silence and a tone which would shift the transmitted frequency from the unmodulated value. It is my understanding that CW would represent no tone as no carrier. So the two methods should sound the same at the receiver but would have different RF signatures. I read () ?that the needed bandwidth for cw is less than 100 Hz and ideally the bandwidth is zero because the carrier is just being turned on and off.

?

If I fed in a 1 KHz tone into my FT-60 to generate a dot or dash and fed in nothing for silence, then the bandwidth would be 2 KHz for FM or 1 KHz for SSB. Is that right?

?

Am I all wet here?

?

Thanks,

?

Rick

?

From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2014 12:51 AM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: RE: [FT-60] just to verify

?

?

It's an FM rig. If you want to send cw, like as in a beacon, use the audio input with a tone.

---

From: FT-60@...
To: FT-60@...
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 12:15:25 -0700
Subject: [FT-60] just to verify

?

?

I carefully read over the table of contents of the FT-60’s user manual and found nothing about connecting a key in order to transmit CW. Am I missing something?

?

Thanks,

?

Rick

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Gil,

?

Ah, you answered a few questions that were puzzling me. So you are told test results immediately and the FCC posts your call sign within a few weeks. Nice to know.

?

Thanks,

?

Rick

?

From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 8:09 AM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: [FT-60] Re: FT-60R $174.95 at HRO!

?

?

I will second the vote for gigaparts -- I got my FT60 there, and they were fast and on the ball.

?

I also second the recommendation to take more than just your tech test, as it costs nothing more that day. ?I studied for my tech until I was hitting good scores, and studied a bit of the general just before going for the test. ?First test I had taken in 30 years. ?I got 100% on the tech, so they asked me if I wanted to take the general. ?I had nothing to lose so I did. ?I got 100% on it so they asked me if I wanted to take the extra. ?Now I had not even peeked at any extra questions, but I am also an EE so I figured I had a shot. ?Did not do as well on the extra test. ?Only got 87%. ?But they said that was good enough, and a week or so later I was AF7EZ. ?So try them all, you have nothing to lose but a few more minutes.

?

Gil

?

Jack,

Which hill?? White Tanks? McDowell Mtn? South Mtn?? There are a lot of mountains here.? Most with antennas on them.

I just thought he was referring to a specific location with more than usual amount of antennas on it.? Perhaps it is something special in the ham world.? I am new to the area.

- Mike




At 06:13 AM 6/6/2014, you wrote:

?

Look on top of the hill.? Those are not flag poles.

Jack, ae8p



On Jun 6, 2014, at 12:49 AM, Michael Lynch lynchmf1@... [FT-60] <FT-60@...> wrote:

Rick,

I got my ticket primarily to use the radio for emergency communications when we travel.? My wife and I took a 4-day trip thru northern CA a year ago and I realized that most of the trip we had NO cell phone coverage.? In the event of a breakdown, we had no comms.? We were on back roads, which is also the way we like to travel all over on our touring motorcycle.? Since there are repeaters everywhere, I figured that a ham radio would be the way to go.

I have to admit that I have little to no experience yet.? With a home sale and move out of state, among other things, I have not had the time to get my feet wet.? I, too, need to seek out an Elmer for some helpful advice.

Hey, I'm retired and in the Phoenix area, too.? Where is this "antenna farm" that you referred to?

- Mike




At 06:59 AM 6/5/2014, 'Rick - yahoo' rgsparber.ya@... [FT-60] wrote:

?

I have been around hams all of my life. Growing up, two houses down was a ham. My brother-in-law has been a ham since he was in high school so my wife actually picked up a lot of information from him. I studied analog circuit design and RF in college. So I understand some of the technical aspects of being a ham.

?

What I do not fully understand is what motivates people to be hams. I know each person probably has a different reason from survivalist to helping out in an emergency to social.

?

My immediate motivation is because some of my students are required to get their license in order to operate APRS during weather balloon flights ( ). It was getting embarrassing to tell them that I didn???t have my license.

?

So what makes you guys ???tick???? What got you interested in being a ham?

?

I do hope my question does not offend anyone. That was not my intent.

?

Thanks,

?

Rick

---

Posted by: "Rick - yahoo" <rgsparber.ya@... >

?

Rick:? Our group here in Florida tests on the First Saturday of each month and we mail the results the same morning.? Usually, the call sign is issued and in the FCC data base on the following Monday....Tuesday at the latest.? I was one of those back in the 60's that passed the test and waited, what felt like an eternity, before receiving my call sign.? In today's age computer age, the FCC is very quick to?issue and post new licensees, rather than performing those duties by hand in the old days. We have many people who take the Technician exam and immediately after passing it, we give them the General exam.? Today, 3 out of 4 passed the General on the same day as the Technician.? Keep in mind the pool of questions for Technician class?will change on July First, and the new pool has been released and can now be found online. The Gordon West series of study books are simple to understand and adequately explain the questions when you are stuck and scratching your head.? They seem to be much better than others out there because of Gordo's talent and ability to simplify.

Good Luck.

73

John

KU8Q

?

In a message dated 6/7/2014 10:30:05 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, FT-60@... writes:

?

When I took my exam back in 1986, I remember knowing my call sign at that time. Still had to wait for the physical license to arrive but I was "legal" right away and headed to HRO to get my first radio.?

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 6, 2014, at 5:52 AM, "'Rick - yahoo' rgsparber.ya@... [FT-60]" <FT-60@...> wrote:

?

Gil,

Ah, you answered a few questions that were puzzling me. So you are told test results immediately and the FCC posts your call sign within a few weeks. Nice to know.

Thanks,

Rick

From: FT-60@... [mailto:FT-60@...]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 8:09 AM
To: FT-60@...
Subject: [FT-60] Re: FT-60R $174.95 at HRO!

?

I will second the vote for gigaparts -- I got my FT60 there, and they were fast and on the ball.

I also second the recommendati on to take more than just your tech test, as it costs nothing more that day. ?I studied for my tech until I was hitting good scores, and studied a bit of the general just before going for the test. ?First test I had taken in 30 years. ?I got 100% on the tech, so they asked me if I wanted to take the general. ?I had nothing to lose so I did. ?I got 100% on it so they asked me if I wanted to take the extra. ?Now I had not even peeked at any extra questions, but I am also an EE so I figured I had a shot. ?Did not do as well on the extra test. ?Only got 87%. ?But they said that was good enough, and a week or so later I was AF7EZ. ?So try them all, you have nothing to lose but a few more minutes.

Gil