"AMATEUR
RADIO
-
THE
GREATEST
OF
ALL
SCIENTIFIC
HOBBIES"
I.A.R.U
LINKSTip: Use your browser's Find function to search for your key words. Use "Control F" (ctrl + F) to activate the function. This page contains links to retailers,
products
and manufacturers, many I have used personally and can recommend
and others that I feel offer something of interest.
Those links that are in bold typeface are sites and companies
that
I have used personally and can wholeheartedly recommend. Other links
that are not in bold are either well known or that are recommended
elsewhere or offer a service of particular value.
Please let me know if you find this page helpful! Contact. 73 de
M0MTJ
SOTA WATCH:http://www.sotawatch.org/ Humps Excluding Marilyns Awards (HEMA) - Summitsbase Awards. HuMPS = Hundred Metre Prominence. Therefore qualifying hills must have at least a 100 metre prominence but must not be SOTA Summits (i.e. not Marilyns): http://www.summits.org.uk ("HOTA, Humps On The Air")
AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS:
TELFORD & DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY - G3ZME G6ZME - TDARS: Meets Wednesday evening 7:00 to 10pm unless otherwise stated in the programme RSGB National Club of the Year 2011 Telford & District Amateur Radio Society,
Little Wenlock Village Hall,
Malthouse Bank,
Little Wenlock,
TELFORD. TF6 5BG http://www.tdars.org.uk
WOLVERHAMPTON AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY Meets at the Wolverhampton Electricity Club at 7:30pm every Thursday.
Wolverhampton Electricity Sports and Social Club, 'The Electric Club',
St. Marks Road,
Chapel Ash,
Wolverhampton, WV3 0QH http://www.wolverhamptonars.co.uk/
DUDLEY & DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY The club doors are normally open from about 7.15pm onwards on a Tuesday evening. Planned events normally start around 8.00pm.
The Old Ruiton Windmill
Vale Street
Upper Gornal
West Midlands
DY3 3XF http://www.dadars.co.uk/
"PowerLine Networking Adapters" & other PLA / PLT
INTERFERENCE:
The
precious radio spectrum from 2 MHz to 330 MHz is under threat from
Power Line Network adapters - PLT / PLA - supplied by, among others,
BT, BT Vision, Comtrend, and Belkin etc. These devices are not
compliant with the
Wireless Telegraphy Act - yet the UK's inept and useless radio spectrum
'regulator' fails to act. Ofcom's incompetence and willful neglect must
be challenged. Please Donate to the Spectrum Defence Fund: Donate
here
GRID SQUARE MAPS
- ITU ZONES - CQ ZONES - CALL
SIGN MAPS .
GRID SQUARE MAPS
FIND YOUR W.A.B. GRID SQUARE LOCATOR
Find your National Grid Reference (NGR) here by clicking "Click here to convert coordinates": www.streetmap.co.uk This will help you find your IARU Grid Square Locator and your WAB Locator e.g. the National Grid Reference of SK113002 would convert to the WAB (Worked All Britain) locator of SK10 derived from SK113002. Visit the Worked All Britain website here: http://wab.intermip.net
F6FVY has helpfully produced this Google Maps function
that will identify your IARU Locator by simply clicking on your QTH
location on the map. See this website here: http://f6fvy.free.fr/qthLocator/fullScreen.php
CASTLE ELECTRONICS - Servicing, component level diagnostics and full factory alignments:
Geoff GW4AQU, Tanybryn, Pool Road, Llanfair Caereinion, Nr Welshpool, Powys, SY21 0HN. UK http://www.hamradiosales.co.uk/CASTLE-1A.htm
WORSLEY COMMUNICATIONS - Suppliers of Amateur Radio equipment and CLARK pump up masts & towers:
Robin C. Worsley G0MYR. OMARU, Pennance Road, Lanner, Redruth, Cornwall, TR16 5TQ. UK http://www.hamradiosales.co.uk/
RADIOWORLD,
34 - 42 Brook Lane, Great Wyrley, Walsall. WS6 6BQ Tel: 01922 417829
Wide range of stock, a recommended visit for radio amateurs in The Midlands: http://www.radioworld.co.uk/
MOONRAKER,
Moonraker (UK) Ltd, Cranfield Road, Woburn Sands, Bucks. MK17 8UR. Tel:
01908 281705
Manufacturers of antennas and associated products. Wide range, good
quality, excellent fast service, highly recommended: http://www.moonrakerukltd.com/
HAYDON
COMMUNICATIONS, Unit 1, Purfleet Industrial Estate, Aveley,
South Ockendon, Essex RM15 4YA
A very useful range of amateur radio products, particularly antenna
related accessories. Friendly service, recommended. http://www.haydon.info/
KZJ
Communications (DeeComm) (Haydon West Midlands), Unit 1, Canal View
Industrial Estate, Brettell Lane, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, DY5
3LQ. Tel: 01384 481681. A good & interesting range of products,
great service, fast delivery, recommended. Has a good shop on EBAYat http://stores.ebay.co.uk/kzjcommunications
W.H. WESTLAKE
- for wire, cable,
connectors & components - Magical service
and advice from Henry
Westlake -
Supplies Westflex103 very low loss coaxial cable and many other wires,
cables and feeders. Highly recommended! http://www.whwestlake.co.uk/
WATERS
& STANTON, WSPLC, Spa House, 22 Main Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5
4QS. Tel: 01702 206835
Wide range of products. Good service with very quick delivery. http://www.wsplc.com/
MARTIN LYNCH & SON: Full range of amateur radio products, good
service, recommended. http://www.hamradio.co.uk/
NEVADA RADIO - Amateur Radio specialists - Helpful friendly service and quick delivery: http://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/
GAREX - A British manufacturing company. Suppliers
of Patch Leads, Components, Aerials, VHF UHF Accessories & PMR http://www.garex.co.uk - NOTE: business sold to Spectrum Communications in December 2011 see: http://www.spectrumcomms.co.uk/
DIODE COMMS - 40 Morrison Road, Darfield, Barnsley,
South Yorkshire.
S73 9ED. Tel: 01226 754222. A range of products including coaxial
cables. http://www.diodecomms.co.uk
HAMWORLD - Amateur Radio dealer for radios, antennas and accessories in Llanharan, South Wales: http://www.hamworld.co.uk
RADIOZING, Sanzing Ltd, The Granary, Brewer Street, Bletchingley, Surrey. RH1 4QP Contact: Simon Worsley, G7IJ. Telephone: 0207 183 1405 High Quality, Heavy Duty, Galvanized Steel Telescopic Masts and Optima HF Multimode Mobile Transceivers. http://www.radiozing.co.uk
ROSSCOMM Radio Communications - suppliers of antennas, antenna
products, baluns, amateur radio manuals, modules and spares. UK
distributor of GWhip antenna products: http://www.rosscomm.co.uk
Other
useful
sources
of
radio
related
equipment,
hardware
and
accessories:
KNIGHTS
ELECTROCOM, 11 King Edward St., Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, DN21
4NF. Tel. (01652) 648378
Primarily an expert CB retailer, but also offers amateur radio
products,
connectors, microphones, antennas tuning units, antennas, spares,
components and more. Superb service, very highly recommended. http://www.knights-cb.co.uk/
ROCKET RADIO,
Letchworth. Tel: 01462 67548 - Great guys to deal with,
highly recommended: http://www.rocketradio.co.uk/
Also has a good shop on EBAY
TRUCK KING,
PO BOX 8913, Newark, Notts, NG24 9BX. Tel : 01636 676 898
Primarily an expert CB retailer, but also offers a wide range of
amateur radio related
products. Excellent service. http://www.truck-king.co.uk/index.html
SPECTRUM
COMMUNICATIONS, 12 Weatherbury Way, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1
2EF. Tel: 01305 262250:
For a wide range of amateur electronic equipment and accessories,
including HF Traps and G4CFY / G2DYM Aerials
based on W3DZZ designs. Excellent helpful
service from Tony Nailer G4CFY at Spectrum Communications: http://www.spectrumcomms.co.uk
G WHIP ANTENNA PRODUCTS -
Portable, Mobile and reduced size HF antennas and professional grade Baluns & Ununs. Excellent quality products and Top Service. British
manufacture. http://www.gwhip.co.uk/
W.H. WESTLAKE
- for wire, cable,
connectors & components - Magical service
and advice from Henry
Westlake -
Supplies Westflex103 very low loss coaxial cable and many other wires,
cables and feeders: http://www.whwestlake.co.uk/
KZJ
Communications (DeeComm) (Haydon West Midlands), Unit 1, Canal View
Industrial Estate, Brettell Lane, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, DY5
3LQ. Tel: 01384 481681. A good & interesting range of products,
great service, fast delivery. Has a good shop on EBAY at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/kzjcommunications(Old website was http://www.kzjcommunications.com/ )
SANDPIPER AERIALS, A very
interesting range of amateur radio aerials
including the V and MV range plus many other designs including mobile
aerials for HF and VHF / UHF.
Well worth a look. http://www.sandpiperaerials.co.uk/
NUXCOM.de - Suppliers of parts and raw materials kits for Yagi antennas
designed by Martin Steyer DK7ZB [Excellent Resources] http://shop.nuxcom.de
VPA SYSTEMS by SQ9VPA - Suppliers of a wide range of complete Yagi
antennas designed by Martin Steyer DK7ZB [Excellent Resources] http://www.vpa-systems.pl
HAM RADIO SHOP - Suppliers of DK7ZB designed self assembly Yagi Antennas and other antennas from VPA. Fast and efficient service. http://ham-radio.urbasket.eu
DX-WIRE - Supplies HEAVY DUTY
telescopic GRP poles and many other essential antenna building
accessories including Insulators, Ingenious Dipole Centres, Guy Lines,
Pulleys & other Accessories, Twin Lead, PTFE Teflon Coax, Teflon
Litz Wire and more: http://www.dx-wire.de/brit/
AERIAL PARTS Of Colchester -
Supplies aerials and associated hardware for amateur radio
aerials and antennas, e.g. boom to mast mounting plates, for round or
square boom; coupling plates for boom to boom connections; nylon
tower-top mast bearings, element mounts, plastic end caps; power
combiners for 4m, 2m, 70 and 23cms and much more: http://www.aerial-parts.co.uk
hofi
Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG - Hofi, manufacturers
of Hofi RF switches, Versatower and Fritzel antennas. Fritzel supply
H.F. beam, vertical and wire antennas including Fritzel dipoles and the
famous Fritzel FD4 and FD3 multi band Off Centre Fed Dipoles ("Windom" style) antennas. http://www.hofi.de
Radio Works - amateur radio antenna manufacturer and supplier of the
Carolina Windom Off Centre Fed Dipole (OCFD)
antennas http://www.radioworks.com/
Buxcomm
- Suppliers of off centre fed dipole (OCFD / "Windom" style) and other
amateur radio antennas, accessories, ham products and
information http://www.buxcomm.com
Buckmaster / Hamcall - Suppliers of off centre fed dipole (OCFD / "Windom" style)
antennas and antenna accessories and cables http://hamcall.net/
Radio Wavz - wide range of amateur radio antennas - End Fed Zepp,
OCFD ("Windom" style), G5RV, Dipoles, multi band dipoles,
Double bazooka, Baluns and accessories including the Hyper Hanger http://www.radiowavz.com
HyPower Antenna Company, Bethlehem, PA - Dipoles, Shortened Loaded
Dipoles, Fan Dipoles, Off Centre Fed Dipoles, Delta Loops, QRP, Stealt
and Low Profile Antennas plus Antenna Information: http://www.freewebs.com/hypower/
Antennas.US - Military Antennas, Amateur Radio Antennas, Mobile Radio
Antennas, GPS Antennas, Satellite Antennas, WLAN/Wi-Fi/WiMax Antennas,
Cell Phones, TV, HDTV Antennas http://www.antennas.us/
Sellers of Telescopic
Poles on Ebay include: BowmanArcher,
Redwoodbunny,
neil400mmlense,
SkyBlue
Leisure & others.
Strong High Quality Fibreglass Telescopic Poles
HEAVY DUTY telescopic GRP poles and many other essential antenna building accessories including Insulators, Ingenious Dipole
Centres, Guy Lines, Pulleys & other Accessories, Twin Lead, PTFE
Teflon Coax, Teflon Litz Wire and more:: http://www.dx-wire.de/brit/
HEAVY
DUTY professional telescopic poles (12m / 40ft) or (18m / 60ft) and
(26m / 85ft) high strength fibreglass poles for quick portable wire
antennas Super Quality and high strength from Spiderbeam Antennas: http://www.spiderbeam.com/
G4ZLP - ZLP Electronics manufacturers of a wide range of different interfaces and cables:Rig Control;
interfaces that connect between a Serial Port or USB port on the
computer to the C-IV or CAT (TTL) port on the transceiver. Data Modes;
a range of sound card interfaces that can connect between the PC's own
sound card, or have a high quality built in sound card. Radio Programming; supply a range of cables for radio memory management and cloning etc - plus a huge range of other associated accessories. http://www.g4zlp.co.uk
INRAD -
International Radio: Supplier of custom designed, high performance
quartz crystal filters for communications receivers and
transceivers...and more! http://www.inrad.net
LDG Electronics - High quality auto antenna tuning units and other
accessories including meters, baluns, ununs and the
all-band range of S9 antennas: http://www.ldgelectronics.com
BYERS CHASSIS KITS. (USA) A range of boxes, panels, brackets,
small sheets, custom enclosures & chassis kits.
Contact Charles Byers K3IWK, 5120 Harmony Grove Road, Dover, PA 17315.
Phone/Fax (717) 292-4901 (Phone between 6:00 - 9:30 P.M. EST --- Fax 24
HRS) http://home.flash.net/~k3iwk/
Manual Cabrillo format Contest Logging - not from a software program but instead via an html web page:
Use these forms to manually enter log data to produce a Cabrillo file
and submit it to a contest sponsor. The forms are designed for
contesters who used paper logging or logging software that doesn't
produce a Cabrillo file:
ZLP Electronics provide
excellent interfaces that connect between a USB port on the computer to
the C-IV or CAT port on the transceiver. This seems to me to be the
most elegant solution.
For Icom radios: The miniature USB dongle "USB CT17 CAT
Dongle Interface" or the more substantial "DigiMaster Single USB CT17
CAT Interface". Based on FTDI's 232 chip for maximum performance and
reliability and powered from the PC's USB port, these can be connected
to the Icom Communication interface-V (CI-V) port
on the IC-706mk2G using the ZLP Electronics I1 cable, suitable for any
Icom that uses the CT17 / C-IV ). (This interface can also be used with "Y1", "Y2", and "Y3" cables for Yaesu radios. http://www.g4zlp.co.uk
For Yaesu radios: The miniature USB dongle "USB CT62 CAT
Interface" or the more substantial "DigiMaster USB CT62 CAT Interface".
Based on FTDI's 232 chip for maximum performance and reliability and
powered from the PC's USB port, these can be connected to the FT-857D /
FT-897D with the Y3 cable to the 8 pin mini-DIN data port or
alternatively with the Y4 cable to the MIC socket. http://www.g4zlp.co.uk
For Kenwood radios: ZLP Electronics supply the DigiMaster USB IF232 CAT Interface that can use the.KENWOOD 6 pin standard size din plug: TS-440, TS-450, TS-680,
TS-690, TS-711, TS-721, TS-790A, TS-811, TS-850, TS-940, TS-950, R-5000
and also the The DigiMaster Kenwood TS50 / TS60 USB CAT Interface for
the TS50 and TS60.http://www.g4zlp.co.uk
USB Port to RS232 Serial
Interface Converter Cable at http://www.ftdichip.com - select
the US232R-10 for the 10cm long cable or the US232R-100 for the 100cm
long cable: http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/USBRS232.htm
CRC-COVWEB Radio Coverage Prediction: Longley Rice web based, on-line pixel plotting facility from the Communications Research Centre (CRC):
(Note: I found that to obtain reasonably realistic plots that
a Confidence Level of about 90%, Time Availability of about 90% and
Location Availability of about 90% shoudl be used). http://lrcov.crc.ca/main/index.php
Click this link to go to another page containing links to more general computer software.
Please Note that the page contains information that has been taken from
an old page that I was about to
delete, but I thought I would save some of the information here as it
may still be useful - it contains links to other software that I have
either use currently or have used previously - therefore some of the
information and links may be
out of date, but I will try to update it in due course... Go to page >
W.H. WESTLAKE
- for wire, cable,
connectors & components - Magical service
and advice from Henry
Westlake -
Supplies Wesflex103 very low loss coaxial cable and many other wires,
cables and feeders: http://www.whwestlake.co.uk/
BOWOOD ELECTRONICS,
Unit 1 McGregors Way, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40
2WB. Tel: 01246 200 222
A good range of competirively priced components and excellent service: http://www.bowood-electronics.co.uk/
JAB ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, PO Box 5774, Birmingham
B44 8PJ. Tel: 0121 682 7045
A good range of components for the amateur radio enthusiast: http://www.jabdog.com/
SYCOM
COMPONENTS, PO Box 148, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 9YW. Tel: 01372 361421
A wide range or components ideal for amateur radio operators and
electronics project constructors. Very good service: http://www.sycomcomp.co.uk/ ** VERY SADLY CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS OF ROBIN, THE OWNER, IN MAY 2011 **
ANTENNAS - Lots of links to a huge range of antenna designs and ideas:
Knots:If you're
building antennas you're bound to require some good knots. ANIMATED
KNOTS has the correct knot for the job.
The Bowline I find most
useful for fixing end, egg and dog-bone insulators to the ends of the
wire and/or ropes. The Buntline Hitch, Round Turn & Two Hitches and
Anchor Bend knots are very good for tying a rope to a pole or a
mast. 'Animated Knots' will show you how to make them: http://www.animatedknots.com
PDF Document
- The W3DZZ Antenna: http://www.users.icscotland.net/~len.paget/GM0ONX%20trap%20dipole.pdf
(*Perhaps better not to use coaxial cable with a 'choke balun' at the
centre
of the dipole - Instead use twin feeder with the Choke Balun at the
radio end for lower power loss*)
Small Transmitting
Loop - "Magnetic Loop" - Antennas
Magnetic Loops by AA5TB - "..small
transmitting loop antennas very useful when space for a full size
antenna is limited" http://www.aa5tb.com/loop.html
NUXCOM.de - Suppliers of parts and raw materials kits for Yagi antennas
designed by Martin Steyer DK7ZB [Excellent Resources] http://shop.nuxcom.de
VPA SYSTEMS by SQ9VPA - Suppliers of a wide range of complete Yagi
antennas designed by Martin Steyer DK7ZB [Excellent Resources] http://www.vpa-systems.pl
G0KSK High
Performance Yagi Antennas - OWA (Optimised Wideband Array), OWL and LFA
Yagi Antennas for VHF and UHF http://www.g0ksc.co.uk
UK Source for Silver Plated
PTFE (Teflon) covered wire for winding higher power baluns: http://wires.co.uk/acatalog/ptfe_covered.html
14awg / 16 swg or 0.16 mm dia wire. 12awg / 14swg 0.2mm dia wire and
larger toroid for higher powers.
Balun using T200-2 toroid (17 turns of e.c.w.) or T200A-2 toroid
(13 turns of e.c.w.) for 400 watt H.F. Balun.
T400-2 Toroid (14 turns of e.c.w.) for 1000 watt H.F. Balun. Amidon ferrite &
powdered iron cores & ferrites: https://www.amidoncorp.com
Bytemark ferrite & powedered iron cores & ferrites: http://www.cwsbytemark.comhttp://www.bytemark.com
Antenna analysers now tend to be
extremely expensive, but a good noise bridge could be used as a much
lower cost alternative. A noise bridge can be used for measuring the
impedance of antennas and traps at various frequencies. An H.F receiver
is used as the bridge null detector. A number a circuits are available
on the internet and kits are also
available, such as the high quality RX2 from VK3AQZ Kits. Here are some
useful links:
GETTING LICENSED - Training and Learning Resources HAM
TESTS - On-line mock
exams for all levels:
http://hamtests.co.uk/
RSGB MATHEMATICS PRIMER - Maths can often be a major obstacle to
overcome - it certainly was for me, I had to re-learn the maths that I
had completely forgotten from school days. The RSGB Maths Primer will
help you if you have the same problem! maths_primer.pdf
BRATS - Amateur Radio Training for all UK licence levels - The vast
majority of the information provided on this site is an invaluable
learning resource: http://www.brats-qth.org
These are excellent on-line tutorials that were designed to help
students pass the RSGB exams for the Foundation Licence, Intermediate
Licence and finally the Advanced Licence. It should be noted that the
RSGB made some minor syllabus changes in 2009 which were not reflected
in the BRATS courses because the author had retired from this duty.
This does not make any of the basic information out of date or less
useful, it's just that the course material may not quite mesh with the
new RSGB syllabus.
HAM TESTS - a Free range of resources
that will help you prepare for your Amateur Radio exam. HamTests
supports all levels with practice exams & some training lessons for
Foundation, Intermediate and Advance Licences in UK & now
Technician, General & Amateur Extra in the USA. : http://www.hamtests.co.uk
KC8QVO - Excellent information by KC8QVO, many subjects and good ideas for radio Go-Kits: http://kc8qvo.com IZ3NYT - Projects and antenna designs by IZ3NYT: http://iz3nyt.altervista.it/
Note that many suppliers such as Waters & Stanton, Radioworld,
Nevada, Martin Lynch, LAM, Haydon and others that are listed in the the Dealers section above also have stocks of used equipment.