Ham Radio Brotherhood - YB3TD

Icom IC-2100 Amateur Radio Review

2009-11-23T11:06:00.003+07:00

One famous Icom amateur radio is IC-2100. It's widely used around the world and many world radio amateurs use this radio inside their ham shack or mobile. Icom IC2100 equipped with final module SAV17 and resulting of 55 watts power output. And the most important thing is this radio designed to meet requirements between performance and price.

But read review from several sources, Icom IC2100 has unsolved problem. It will generate crackles noise when you transmit. Sometimes when the IC2100 crackles going so heavy, you can hear it also on your speaker while you go transmit it. Many IC2100 users reporting this crackles noise. Even it's very easy to fix, I believe this desease is reducing your QSO fun. If your IC2100 go crackling, just loos the screw on main board and tighten again. You have to open your IC2100 cover. Doing it carefully.

Another problem on Icom IC2100 is the ceramic base quality of final module SAV17. Different with previous Icom VHF radio, this time Icom not carefully choose SAV17. Because the ceramic base of this final module is too thin so make it too crispy. Excessive heat will broke that thin ceramic. So NEVER use high power output to your Icom IC2100 or the SAV17 will broke and stop working. If this thing already happen to your Icom IC2100, it's very easy to fix it. Just resolder it using silver solder or any solder with high temperatur. Also use glass magnifier to search the broken ceramic section. Solder on that section.

Some users reporting difficulties when they program this radio. Inserting memory and inserting repeaters with duplex function. Sometimes going harder with additional set like CTCSS and power output. But I believe programming is subjective. Some people may had difficulties but others don't. So it's depend on yourself.

The last review I got is intermodulation. Sometimes this radio catch intermodulation noise. But, again, it's subjective to users. It's very difficult to obtain clear sky free of noise on area where many RF signals transmitted. And I believe Icom has better receive filter than Alinco products. But the best filter is Yaesu. So if you already complain with this IC2100 intermodulation issue, you will had heart attack when you use Alinco radio.

Long Range Radio

2009-08-29T04:59:00.002+07:00

I see people do a lot search about long range radio communication. Maybe they want to buy two way radio communication and make their own research before they buy the radio. But are they now, how long a communication radio can establish is depend several things?

Sure the most important thing is the radio capabilities itself. The two way radio equipped with high power transmission is had better opportunity of long range radio communication. But sometime this factor is not the key. Lower power two way radio communication in some condition possible to make longer range two way radio communication.

Second factor is the antenna used. A directional and higher gain antenna commonly will result longer range radio communication rather than non directional antenna. But higher gain also mean higher noise you will create and higher noise you will get also on your radio receiver unit.

Third is the antenna position. The success key is "higher is better". On VHF and above bands, when a pair communication radio must can "see" each other, place the antenna on high level will give best two way communication radio result. But please be careful if you place an non-directional antenna at hill top or mountain top, your transmission can spread very wide to whole area. It's possible to add unnecessary noise to other radio communicatio service. So it's best to place a direction antenna system on a high place.

Icom IC-2200H VHF Radio

2009-05-07T08:06:00.004+07:00

I have a good memory about this Icom IC-2200H VHF radio unforgetable, this is my first buy-from-new radio. I bought my IC-2200H at year of 2002. First, I'm very happy and enjoy. Then suddenly turning into dizzy and cry after one week. Why? I will tell you the story on the end of the post.

Basically, Icom IC-2200 is nice vhf radio. It's simple and easy to use. The metal body is carefully casted so give strong impression and rugged. Choice of LCD light colors add more impressions. Function buttons also carefully programmed to make easy during this vhf radio operations. Icom IC-2200 give high 65 watts of RF power output, an adequate power to establish two way radio communications for up to 80 km on normal rural circumstances. But the most favorite feature I like is Icom IC-2200 also capable to receive vhf air band operation with is wide receiver coverage. I like to listen air band traffic. And Icom IC-2200 is equipped with 118-174 MHz vhf receiver coverage and AM mode.

Icom IC-2200 vhf also ready to D-STAR internet operation. But this feature need UT-118 module installed before you go to D-STAR. UT-118 module is needed to provide digital voice and data communication at 4800 bps speed.

The bad thing about Icom IC-2200H vhf radio is usage of RF final module that very easy to broke. Not broke the mosfet, but the base ceramic where all the modul components placed. When the ceramic broken, it will disconnect the connection strip. And the result is no RF output from your vhf radio. I experienced this one week after purchase IC-2200. So I open the radio case (and broke the warranty), open the final module and resolder it.

I always use high power during my operations. Unfortunately heat created is hotter than ceramic can handle. So it broke. Then I sold my Icom IC-2200 one week later after I fix it.

Depok Contest 2009 - Tiada Duanya

2009-04-11T20:21:00.003+07:00

Depok Contest balik maning !! Nek cara saya, Depok contest adalah contest yang paling menarik. Karena yang dipertukarkan adalah QTH Locator. Mana ada contest selain Depok contest yang memilih QTH Locator untuk dipertukarkan. Manfaatnya banyak, kita-kita para amatir radio yang ngga pernah dapet bimbingan dari organisasi pasti jadi ngerti apa itu QTH Locator. Jadi inget, dulu waktu masih YD di lokal Semarang, waktu saya tanya QTH Locator, dikasih OI 53 EA dan berlaku di seluruh kodya. Ya namanya masih YD, manggut-manggut aja takut diomelin sama senior-senior. Galak-galak banget lo di lokal Semarang (dulu). Rupanya setelah belajar sendiri (dari Depok contest), QTH Locator cuma berlaku di kotak ukuran 4,5km x 9 km. Dan OI 53 EA adalah QTH Locator di kantor pos Johar. La saya yang dulu tinggal di Tembalang (sekitar 15km) pasti udah beda jauh.

Saya ada artikel mengenai QTH Locator yang lebih komplit di blog saya yang lain. Silahkan dikunjungi. Termasuk cara mudah menghitung QTH Locator anda sendiri. Saran saya sih, anda jangan percaya apa kata pengurus lokal anda soal QTH Locator. Cari tahu sendiri koordinat tepat anda dan konversikan ke QTH Locator. Dan gunakan di dalam Depok contest besok.

Buat panitia Depok contest 2009, nyuwun sewu mohon maap ngga bisa ikutan meramaikan. Soalnya ada kendala teknis. Saya ngga punya antenna 80m. Kalopun punya, percuma juga dipake karena static noise yang udah S9 di Gresik. Hampir ngga denger apa-apa. Kemarin aja bisa ikutan Grobogan contest hanya karena 40m juga ada kontes. Tapi amanat panitia Depok contest untuk membantu menyebarluaskan juklak sudah saya laksanakan. Dan himbauan kepada calon-calon panitia contest yang lain yang sekiranya membutuhkan publikasi juklak via internet, dipersilahkan untuk mengirimkan juklak contest nya ke saya via email yb2mta [at] gmail.com . Insya Allah saya taruh di blog. Selama ini sih lumayan banyak yang download juklak-juklak contest yang sudah saya publikasikan. Ada saksinya di kotak Feedjit. Silahkan anda klik untuk melihat detail pengunjung blog ini. Cuma please file juklaknya jangan terlalu besar. Cukup maksimal 500 kB total untuk 3-4 file juklak contest yang komplet.

Duh sampe lupa. Bagi co-konco yang membutuhkan juklak Depok contest 2009, seperti biasa saya titipkan di web suarclub di link http://suarclub.org/juklak/depokcontest.zip . File berukuran 420 kB dan berisi 3 file utama.

Selamat ber kontes. Contest must be fun. If not fun, it must be not a contest. Believe me.

Kartini Contest 2009 - Sejak 1918

2009-03-23T15:09:00.003+07:00

He he he. Abisnya bingung mo nanya ke siapa, Kartini Contest dimulai sejak tahun berapa. Mo nanya ke P. Tim YB2BGZ, sungkan. Akhirnya daripada kelamaan bingung, sekalian aja jadi korban iklan, "sejak 1918". Tentu tidak selama itu Kartini Contest yang sebenarnya. Karena pada tahun-tahun itu masih tahap awal pengembangan teknologi wireless.

Yang jelas, Kartini contest adalah contest yang sudah tercantum di IARU contest calendar. Jadi pasti ini sudah lama sekali. Wong saya aja yang first licensed 1999 aja udah pernah ikut Kartini contest. Jadi sudah lama sekali. Dan tahun 2009 kali ini Kartini contest, sebuah event kontest andalan orari daerah Jawa Tengah, kembali dihelat.

Pelaksanaanya direncanakan berlangsung pada tanggal 18 April 2009 mulai 1200 z sampai tanggal 19 April 2009 1700 z. Slot frekuensi yang digunakan adalah 3,805 - 3,9 Mc dan 144,38 - 145,8 Mc. Kartini contest 2009 menggunakan exchange report RS + Nama Lokal + YL (untuk YL station).

Yang selalu unik dari event Kartini contest adalah poin ekstra bagi yang ber QSO dengan YL station. Sehingga di event ini YL station menjadi buruan peserta yang lain. Jadi inget ke senior YC2PSJ dulu. Orangnya memang spesial. Kadang sok nyleneh positip. Pernah ikut Kartini contest tapi sengaja hanya mencari YL station tok. Kalo sedang buka warung (running mode) dan yang masuk OM station, ditolaknya sambil bercanda. Asyik sekali. "Maaf saya cuma cari YL station tok ini", begitu kata YC2PSJ. Kemana ya beliau. Saploknya jadi pejabat dulu di pemkab Cilacap, trus ngga kedenger lagi kiprahnya. Terutama di Nusantara Net.

Bagi co-konco yang membutuhkan juklak Kartini contest 2009, silahkan download di link rapidshare ini. File berukuran 4MB berisi komplit juklak Kartini Contest. Maaf ngga sempet resize sehingga beresiko gagal download. Dan mengingat account saya di rapidshare cuma gratisan, jadi file itu hanya bisa di download 10x. Selebihnya akan dihapus dari rapidshare.

Selamat berkontes. Contesting is always give maximum fun. Believe me.

Grobogan Contest 2009 - Indonesia Event

2009-03-02T11:20:00.002+07:00

If you heard a lot acvities from Indonesia during 14-15 March 2009 tomorrow, maybe you will hear Grobogan contest. Contest event is organize by Grobogan city local radio amateur club. Grobogan is situated about 700 km east from Jakarta. Reviewing the Grobogan contest rules, seems the organizer allowing participation from outside Indonesia.

If you interested, I put below the basic details of Grobogan contest:
date: 14 March 2009, 13 GMT - 15 March 2009, 13 GMT.
frequencies: 3,805 - 3,9 Mc and 7,04 - 7,099 Mc
mode is PHO only
category: SOSB, SO2B and MOST
exchange: RST + serial number + your local ham club

The organizer was issuing rules in Bahasa. These are a lot more details there. So tell me if you want to do more, ie. scoring, log submission, etc. I will reply them. I store the rules here.

The prices are good. The organizer prepare HF base station antennas, mobile antennas and SWR meters for each SOSB, SO2B and MOST categories. And Best Of The Best winner will get one HF radio transceiver as the prize.

Give them a chance to record you as first International participants on Grobogan contest - Indonesia history. Surprise them with your logs. Find problem, tell me.

Grobogan Contest 2009 - A Major YB-Land Event

2009-03-02T10:47:00.004+07:00

Tahun baru datang, berarti Grobogan contest akan ada lagi. Sebuah event contest akbar dari YB-land yang selalu ramai diminati amatir radio Indonesia. Pesertanya selalu banyak. Hadiahnya juga oke. Hasil kontes selalu ada (beda dengan kontes lain yang kadang-kadang lambat prosesnya atau bahkan ngga ada result nya). Pokoke nomor satu lah Grobogan contest, mah.

Tahun 2009 ini kontes akan berlangsung pada tanggal 14-15 Maret. Direncanakan akan berlangsung selama 24 jam dari 1300 UTC. Frekuensi di band idola amatir radio Indonesia di 3,805 - 3,9 Mhz serta 7,04 - 7,099 Mc dengan mode PHO. Saya ngga tau kategori yang diadakan di Grobogan contest 2008 lalu, tapi istimewa sekali tahun ini ada kategori SO2B (single op- 2 bands), SOSB (single op-single band) dan MOST (multi ops-single trasmitter). Wah bolehlah saya berharap Grobogan contest suatu hari nanti akan jadi international event, menggantikan AIC orari pusat yang sudah mandeg sejak 1999. Bahkan, jujur saja, kalo saya perhatikan juklaknya, logsheet submission dan persyaratan tidak menyebutkan harus anggota orari. Sepertinya peserta non orari juga diperbolehkan ikut. Apalagi kondisi propagasi saat ini saat oke untuk menjangkau wilayah pantai barat Amerika di menit-menit awal Grobogan contest. Coba nanti saya akan post dalam bahasa mereka siapa tau ada yang berminat. Cuma kendalanya mungkin di exchange report karena harus menyebutkan local club.

Juklak Grobogan contest saya terima berupa juklak asli yang di foto menggunakan ponsel Nokia 3120 pada tgl 27 Pebruari 2009 jam 14.35. Bukan hasil scan, tapi dijepret dengan ponsel kamera nokia 3120. Seperti biasa, juklak saya simpan di www.suarclub.org di link ini. Silahkan anda download kalo anda membutuhkan juklak Grobogan contest 2009. Pengirim juklak ke saya adalah YB1TC yang menerima forward dari YD1CBY.

Selamat berkontes. Contesting is the most fun source than any other amateur activities. Semoga jadi juara semua. Hadiahnya 1 unit radio HF lo. Kepengin nggak?

Update:
Ternyata saya dapat juklak lagi. Yang sekali lebih bagus karena hasil scan. Cuma ukurannya besar sekali jadi terpaksa saya resize.
1. Grobogan juklak 150 kb di sini
2. Grobogan logsheet 150 kb di sini
3. Grobogan summary 120 kb di sini
4. Grobogan komplet 4 MB di sini

ARRL International DX Contest 2009 - Thank You

2009-02-23T08:37:00.000+07:00

Triggered by happy feeling one hour before the ARRL International DX contest 2009 started as posted before, I decide to join the contest in confident mood. I believe I will got a lof of fun from this big event held US Radio Amateur league. And later my mood was fully payed by the fun.

Preparations are not much as I only use pen-and-paper logging system, manually keying with iambic paddle. My plan is work at 40m Single Operator Single Band Low Power. Radio is my fave (because I don't have any other) Alinco DX70, tuned to 80w. Antenna is my fave also (because I don't have budget allocation to build a representative tower) the inverted V model, monoband 40m, 9m high AGL on the top galvanized pipe support. Coax cable is 8 years old RG-58, 14 meters long. Now you can imagine my station setup. A budget radio, budget antenna, budget coax and sure budget logging system. And ofcourse a budget contest result also. Hi hi.

Propagation index is very low. SFI=70 while K=0. Still bad propagation condition during the contest. Start joining the contest at 09:00 UTC or 16:00 my local time to meet greyline schedule between YB3 and US West Coast. First I did a S&P. Start logging with K7GK from Oregon. Then followed by N6RO, W6YI, N6AA and others. All of their signals is very-very strong, real 599 and even +10 dB. Sure it's possible they use KW. But the most important is they can hear me with my limitations. Seems propagation is opened in that time slot between YB3 and US West Coast.

After several minutes in S&P mode, suddenly I had power black out down here. It was rain and some thunders sparking the sky at that moment. And the power back after one hour more in the darkness. Now I change my strategy to running mode. I sat in one frequency and call CQ. My log then increase rapidly. Many new state was logged on first evening. Frequency condition is very clear. Low QRN and QRM (pirate stations from my local people), almost no radar jamming sound. And still spaces available to go running mode.

Second evening I'm not too lucky to find good frequency to running mode. Occupations are heavy. Maybe they move to new band as they work another on first day. So I only go S&P. Only several times running mode but always terminated by QRM. Can't stay longer in one frequency.

I close the log with 73 QSO's, ended by K0HA, with 4818 points.

I got good learn from ARRL International DX contest 2009. First, I like many US stations speed is in "normal". Between 15-25 wpm. Some of them are below 12 wpm. It should can encourage my local hams with low speed to join this event next year. Very different when joining WAE or logging EU stations. They usually use 30 wpm or more.

Second, budget station like me can use greyline propagation as a good vehicle to deliver the signals. Can't image, many stations who separated ten thousands kilometers away but the signals are in same level with my local hams. It should can encourage my local hams here in confidence joining the contest even they only have budget station setup.

Third, greyline propagation give me enough time to take a rest and family. Contest is in weekend and weekend usually is family day. We can do it both without leave one to another. It's very happy joining contest at 40m band.

Indonesia stations who I heard on 40m are YB1ALL (hello cak Gustian), YD2LEV (hello cak Ardi), YB3XM, YB2UTX, YC2EUZ, YB4IR, YD1BJX and others. So it will be a tough competition to certificate. That's okay since competition will always resulting a competancy. The best is the winner.

Good luck to you all. And see you next year.

Communication With Very Far Countries

2009-02-21T06:32:00.004+07:00

Very nice saturday this time. I had surprises this morning and this is makes me happy. I know in next several minutes to go, one big event contest, ARRL International DX Contest, will be held. This event usually involving a lot participation from many countries. So I try my luck to scan 7Mc in this grey line slot. In this slot, when we Indonesian start a new day morning, our counterparts countries are going to evening. From here, South America is the most tough region to contact outside of grey line slot.

First, big pile up activity heard from Desecheo island dxpedition K5D. I can't hear the island, but the pile up on 7,025 is very very hugh. Scanning down, hear some weak station. I'm not too confident try to call theme. Continue scanning, suddenly I heard one big signal fro PT7CG (Brazil). His signal is real 599. A very far country but I can hear so strong. Very easy to establish communication with him. Just one call and he copy my callsign. He gave me 559. I'm so happy since I was only using 100w and inverted V antenna with only 9m high AGL on top side. It's a non representative antenna to make a DX communication. But this morning this antenna (and propagation ofcourse) give me fun. Brazil is thousands kilometers away from Gresik, my city. The long path is almost same with short path.

Continuing my scan down and hear HA1AG Zoli (Hungary). His signal also very very strong. I gave him 599, a real 599 report. Even no QSB in between. Inside our conversation, HA1AG told me he use 1KW power. I'm sure he will use to join the ARRL contest.

Good luck you guys. Happy contesting. And thanks for log me in.

Medan Utara Contest 2009

2009-01-28T19:55:00.003+07:00

Memenuhi permintaan khusus dari ketua panitia Medan Utara contest, maka saya posting di sini juklak Medan Utara contest bagi anda yang membutuhkan. P.Ardi YC6KGY menghubungi saya via email untuk membantu promosi contest yang dihelat teman-teman dari Medan Utara ini. Tapi sampai sore ini, juklak yang YC6KGY janjikan ternyata tidak pernah saya terima via email. Justru setelah saya sedang tuning blog saya yang lain, malah ketemu blog resmi panitia Medan Utara contest di medanutaracontest2009.wordpress.com . Justru dari sana lah saya berhasil download meski susah payah. Iya, susah payah karena file nya ternyata besar sekali sekitar 3,3 MB. Hampir satu jam saya download karena keterbatasan koneksi. Dan mungkin karena ukuran yang besar itu yang menyebabkan YC6KGY mengalami problem saat upload nya.

Medan Utara contest 2009 rencananya akan dilaksanakan tgl 14 Pebruari 2009 (pas valentine day dong) selama 12 jam mulai 12:00 GMT. Mode yang digunakan adalah PHONE only. Frekuensi di dalam range 3,81 - 3,89 Mc. Report exchange adalah RST + nama ORARI lokal masing-masing peserta.

Hadiahnya bo, hadiahnya. Keren punya dah. Ngga kalah sama kontes-kontes sebelumnya. Disediakan sejumlah uang untuk juara nasional I-IV. Perinciannya ada di juklak, silahkan baca sendiri aja biar puas.

Sebelum lupa, juklak saya simpan di web Suarclub di link ini. Ukuran file 190 kB saja tetapi hanya berisi dua file saja yaitu juklak dan summary sheet. Semata-mata supaya ngga susah payah yang mo download. Kalo mo komplet 5 file, silahkan langsung ke blog resmi panitia.

Selamat berkontes. Kontes pasti menyenangkan.

Juklak Jember Anniversary Contest 2009

2009-01-10T11:24:00.002+07:00

ASEM!! Kaget, kucek-kucek mata, jebul udah jam 18.28 z ! Buru-buru lari ke radio room, dan scan 3,8 Mc nyari keriuhan Jember contest cw. Ternyata cuma menyisakan derau yang tinggi sampe +10dB. Sudah ngga denger apa-apa lagi. Lemes deh. Padahal udah niat mo ngramein kontes besutan sodara sesama YB3. Gara-gara ngeloni anak dulu supaya ngga ada "QRM", malah yang didapat cuma mbangkong dan bonus QRN. Nasib ... nasib. Memang malem ini masih menyisakan yang PHO mode, tapi biarlah itu untuk anda-anda penggemar PHO mode.

Bagi anda yang membutuhkan juklak Jember Anniversary Contest 2009, saya simpan di hosting nya web suarclub. Please feel free to download. File dalam format PDF dan berukuran 96 kb. Semoga cukup kecil untuk anda ya.

Akhirnya, selamat meramaikan Jember Anniversary Contest. Dan jangan lupa, contesting pasti menyenangkan. Kalo tidak menyenangkan, pasti karena antenna anda kurang tinggi.

Ujung Berung Contest 2008

2008-12-18T09:52:00.004+07:00

Bagi penggila kontes radio amatir nasional, siap-siap saja tampil sabtu besok di rangkaian tour Grand Slam National Contest 2008 di bulan Desember ini, Ujung Berung Contest 2008. Kontes nasional yang akan diselenggarakan oleh co-konco Jawa Barat dipastikan tidak kalah meriah dengan kontes nasional. Minimal bagi anda yang butuh QSL card dan piagam, pastikan partisipasi anda di Ujung Berung contest ya, jangan tiba-tiba kirim QSL card PSE tanpa pernah QSO.

Ujung Berung 2008 contest direncanakan dilaksanakan tanggal 20 Desember 2008 jam 12-22 GMT. Frekuensi yang digunakan adalah 3,8 - 3,89 Mc dengan mode PHO. Kategori ada dua macam yaitu Single-op dan Multi-ops. Saya bilang Ujung Berung contest tidak kalah meriah, karena memang hadiahnya juga oke punya. Juara nasional Ujung Berung contest 2008 1,2 dan 3 akan menerima uang sebesar 500 rebon, 400 dan 300 plus piala dan piagam. Sedangkan juara call area akan menerima BLC (bantuan likuiditas contest) masing-masing sebesar 200 rebon plus piagam. Tapi ada kriteria tambahan yaitu jumlah peserta dari call area tsb adalah minimal 20 orang (artinya kalo ada 30 orang peserta tapi yang kirim logsheet cuma 5 orang, maka juara call area harusnya tetep dapet dong ya. kan juklaknya cuma nulis gitu).

Logsheet submission ke alamat Jl. Sembrani no 2 Pacuan Kuda Arkamanik Bandung 45293. Jangan lupa, panitia mewajibkan dilengkapi dengan copy KTA+IAR dan contest fee yaitu perangko 2 x rp 6000. Sayang sekali ngga ketulis log submission dateline nya. Biasanya sih sebulan sejak kontes.

Juklak yang saya dapet dari kawan cuma ketikan ulang alias bukan asli atau versi scanned. Jadi karena ngga ada tanda tangan siapa-siapa dan stempelnya, jadi boleh juga dibilang versi invalid. Nanti sambil jalan, silahkan anda cari versi yang ada tanda tangan dan stempel yach. Saya bahkan convert sendiri dari format mikocok words ke PDF. Download juklak Ujung Berung 2008 Contest, ada di link ini http://suarclub.org

Selamat berkontes. Selamat bergembira. Kontes kudu berhasil bikin kita gumbira. Selamat merayakan Natal bagi yang merayakan. Selamat Tahun Baru Hijriyah 1430H bagi sodara muslim.

Kalbar Contest 2008 - Kontes Paling Awet

2008-12-14T09:06:00.003+07:00

Nih kontes nasional paling awet. Dari jaman saya dulu masih siaga (tahun 1999) sampe sekarang tahun 2008 masih konsisten terus diselenggarakan. Padahal ada kontes yang berhenti diselenggarakan (kayak Riau Old-n-New dan Patriotik-Sulawesi Utara). Tapi tidak dengan Kalbar. Sungguh suatu loyalitas yang rruuaarrrr biasa. Bahkan tahun ini adalah yang ke 22.

Maaf saya untuk panitia Kalbar Contest 2008 karena terlambat membantu mempromosikan Kalbar contest di blog saya ini. Soalnya dari nopember kemarin, internet saya mengalami gangguan terus menerus. Coba pake IM2 Broom unlimited, ternyata tidak menolong. Akhirnya kembali ke speedy lagi dengan menambah satu nomor telepon baru. Niat saya adalah membantu menyebarkan juklak tanpa harus melalui login. Bagi yang membutuhkan juklak Kalbar contest 2008 ada di link ini ya http://suarclub.org . Tinggal klik aja, kanan atau kiri juga oke. Juklak Kalbar contest 2008 ini agak lain dari biasanya. Memang saya dapat dalam format PDF, tetapi ukuran file hampir 400 kb. Sehingga saya putuskan untuk mengecilkan supaya lebih cepat jika ada yang download. Lalu saya export, ternyata file asli dalam format JPG (hasil scan). Lebih mudah bagi saya dalam mengecilkan file. Sekarang cuma tinggal 110 kB saja. Dan bisa langsung dilihat karena formatnya adalah masih JPG.

Kalbar contest 2008 diselenggarakan 2 hari yaitu tgl 13 dan 14 Desember 2008. Masing-masing hari punya durasi kontes yang berbeda. Total durasi Kalbar Contest 2008 adalah selama 12 jam. Mode adalah PHO only dengan kategori Single Op dan Multi Ops. Report exchange adalah RS + Maidenhead locator (grid locator) peserta.

Logsheet dikirim ke panitia Kalbar contest 2008 di PO BOX 1034 Pontianak 78001. Log submission dateline tgl 31 Januari 2009 dengan menyertakan copy kuitansi pembayaran contest fee 20 ribu. Tumben nih ngga disuruh melampirkan copy IAR atau KTA. Biasanya kalo national contest suka disuruh lampirin copy IAR/KTA. Memang beda deh Kalbar contest.

Hadiahnya, nah ini dia, rupanya ngga kalah gede dari Kebayoran contest. Total memang Kebayoran kasih lebih banyak (karena disebar ke banyak kategori). Tapi hadiah uang Kalbar contest lebih banyak untuk pemenang yang lebih sedikit. Juara 1,2 dan 3 nasional single op akan menerima uang sejumlah 750 rebon, 600 dan 450 rebon. Sedangkan satu juara nasional multi ops akan menerima 500 rebon. Weh lumayan juga ya. Kalo bisa dapet juara 1 Kalbar dan Kebayoran, udah 1 jut-jut tuh duitnya. Karena hadiahnya gede, harusnya panitia lebih tegas untuk menegakkan peraturan, lebih berani melakukan diskualifikasi seperti yang disyaratkan di juklak. Supaya peserta ngga menghalalkan segala cara untuk meraih hadiah uang yang besar itu.

Selamat mengikuti Kalbar Contest 2008. Contesting is always fun.

Kebayoran Contest 2008

2008-12-13T15:04:00.003+07:00

Nih ada satu lagi kontes nasional yang kudu diikutin, Kebayoran Contest 2008. Waktu pelaksanaannya di sabtu-minggu terakhir di tahun 2008, hadiahnya duit gede. Malah ada scoring yang hadiahnya radio HF transceiver (syarat dan ketentuan berlaku). Juklak Kebayoran Contest ada di http://suarclub.org ya. Tinggal klik aja.

Kontes Kebayoran 2008 rencananya dilaksanakan hanya satu hari yaitu tanggal 27 Desember 2008 jam 00 UTC selama 24 jam (kalo di konversi ke WIB jadinya Sabtu jam 0700 - Minggu jam 0700). Mode cuma phone saja dan band kontes di 80m dan 40m. Sedangkan kategori adalah single op dan multi ops-single transmitter. Soal point dan multiplier, cukup menarik karena berbeda dengan kontes lain yang biasanya memaksakan merangkai kata. Jadi rasanya sih Kebayoran contest kali ini untuk final scoring bisa pake logging software, terutama Super Duper buatan EI5DI yang memungkinkan customizing score dan multiplier.

Jangkah frekuensi yang diijinkan adalah 3,805 - 3,899 Mc dan 7,04 - 7,099 Mc. Penggalang dan Penegak diwajibkan ikut di dua band itu. Kalo enggak, bakal dimarahin sama panitia lo.

Pengiriman logsheet Kebayoran contest 2008 ditujukan ke alamat PO BOX 7076 JKSKL Jakarta 12070. Jangan lupa untuk menyertakan contest fee sebesar 10 rebon. Kalo ngga ada contest fee bakal dimarahin juga sama panitia lo. Submission deadline is Jan 31, 2009.

Hadiahnya, nih keren punya. Kebayoran contest 2008, Juara nasional 1,2,3 adalah 500 rebon, 400 dan 300. Best scorer akan menerima HF transceiver (p.Taufan, radionya baru apa bekas nih?). Level Siaga, juara nasional 1,2,3 masing-masing 500 rebon, 400 dan 300 juga. Sedangkan juara nasional Kebayoran contest 2008 untuk stasiun zulu, sama juga. Juara call area Kebayoran contest 2008 bakal terima duit 200 rebon + medali + sertifikat. Yang ngga juara, kayaknya dapetnya piagam doang ya (ame ucapan makasih ngkali).

Selamat berkontes. Sambil nungguin taon baro temtunya.

Alat Untuk Mengetahui Posisi Kendaraan

2008-11-14T09:03:00.005+07:00

Saya kagum dengan satu amatir radio Indonesia YB0KLI (Arman) yang selalu kreatif membuat karya-karya baru di bidang radio amatir. Setelah mengembangkan (dengan team) eQSO menjadi iQSO, kali ini saat Arman opname malah bisa melahirkan satu karya lagi. Mungkin dengan team yang sama. Saya ngga tau siapa-siapa saja karena ngga dikasih tau.

Dasar orang usil, saat masih sakit, disuruh bedrest malah scripting J2ME. Kali ini ide datang untuk membuat jVTS (vehicle tracking system) atau alat pelacak kendaraan. Ide datang dari perasaan "ribet amat" mengamati perangkat APRS (Amateur Position Reporting System). Sistem kerja APRS adalah pembacaan koordinat GPS dikirimkan ke server pengolah data melalui jalur udara antara dua buah perangkat radio komunikasi. Yang satu terhubung ke GPS, ujung satunya terhubung ke local APRS server. Local server ini kemudian terhubung ke APRS international server (optional) melalui internet.
Lalu muncul ide untuk menggantikan fungsi sepasang radio komunikasi itu dengan hape biasa yang dilengkapi dengan GPS (eksternal maupun internal). Pembacaan GPS dikirimkan ke local VTS server melalui data comm via GPRS, HSDPA, EDGE, EVDO dan lain-lain (ngga apal dah. Dulu pas mata kuliah ginian pas saya ngga masuk sih). Lalu VTS server menyebarluaskan informasinya ke sistem eksternal sepadan (APRS. Franson ataupun sistem-sistem lain yang sepadan). Maka ditulislah script nya dalam bahasa J2ME. Uji coba berlangsung beberapa lama sampai muncul versi perdana yang siap pakai.
Versi radio amatir adalah freeware. Sedangkan untuk personal usage, statusnya donationware. Tapi saya rasa kalo commercial usage kayaknya lebih serius untuk urusan lisensinya. Detail mengenai jVTS ini ada di web ini termasuk list hape yang bisa dipake, konfigurasi yang dibutuhkan dan foto YB0KLI sak keluarga.
Selamat bereksperimen, Cak Arman. Nanti kalo saya udah punya hape yang representatif, Insya Allah saya coba.

PS: oya, saya lupa cerita gunanya alat untuk mengetahui posisi kendaraan ini. Alat VTS ini kita tenteng kemanapun kita pergi. Atau siapapun itu yang perlu kita ketahui posisinya. Istri, suami, anak, pembantu, kakek, nenek, tante, teteh. GPS akan membaca koordinat posisi alat itu (dari perbandingan satelit) dan secara periodik melaporkan datanya ke hape. Oleh hape, data itu dikirim ke server lokal kita. Dan di server itu akan diolah untuk dimunculkan di peta. Kalo anda punya usaha rental kendaraan, alat ini bisa digunakan untuk mengetahui posisi. Tapi masih belum dilengkapi dengan alat utk mematikan mesin mobil dari jauh (kadang perlu juga tuh).

Pahlawan Contest 2008

2008-10-28T23:12:00.005+07:00

Sebagai seorang YB3 yang (sedang berusaha menjadi) baik, saya merasa punya kewajiban moral untuk ikut mempromosikan event yang diselenggerakan oleh ORARI Daerah Jatim. Apalagi saya dapet email langsung dari bapak sekretaris panitia Pahlawan Contest 2008 YC3RCJ yang notabene adalah konco dewe. Bahkan email itu (meskipun tidak menyuruh ini-itu) ternyata saya tangkap sebagai perintah untuk membantu mempromosikan event Pahlawan contest itu. Ya ngga papa sih, masih untung daripada terlibat lebih jauh jadi panitia. Ngga mungkin ding bisa jadi panitia, karena saya bukan lokal Surabaya.
Panitia Pahlawan Contest 2008 sudah membuat blog di http://pahlawancontest.wordpress.com yang berisi juklak (dan satu posting lagi tentang isi pidato Bung Tomo). Silahkan anda klik link di atas atau manually type-in kalo browser anda ngga mengijinkan ada klik langsung. Minimal juklak (dalam bahasa Indonesia) akan bisa anda temui. Yang masih belum ketemu adalah juklak dalam bahasa londo, penting karena ini kan dibuat jadi event internasional. Mungkin saya yang sudah agak kero jadi ngga bisa nemu. Maklum, nulis blog ini aja sambil terkantuk-kantuk sambil nunggu jam 12 malem yang kurang beberapa menit lagi.
Pahlawan Contest 2008 direncanakan berlangsung pada tgl 15 Nopember 2008 mulai 1200z selama 24 jam. Mode adalah CW dan PHO. Kategori adalah Indonesia Single-Op High All-Bands, Indonesia Single-Op Low All-Bands, DX Single-Op High All-Bands. Jadi yang siaga juga boleh ikutan. Silahkan aja deh liat detailnya di blog panitia.

Selamat berkontes, selamat bersenang-senang. Utk panitia Pahlawan Contest 2008, selamat bertugas. Semoga sukses, lancar dan banyak pesertanya. Amin

73 de Rivai YB3TD (eks YB2MTA)

Moving Blog

2007-11-10T09:18:00.000+07:00

Friends, I decide to change my main web to blog mode. So, I will leave this blog and start reporting any story to you on there. Maybe this is my last post (but this blog will continue to present) here. And sure you can post your comments there and even subscribe my story later (hope you will, hi hi).
Please don't hesitate to post comments. But promise me to put your name (and callsign if you have it). If no, I will consider to remove your comments. Just to make sure you're friend of mine.
Today, Saturday afternoon, I will depart to Grobogan, QTH of YB2DX to join his team for JIDX SSB. Reports, pictures and log search will available after I'm home on my main blog.

Happy contesting es 73
de Riv YB3TD

Miss CQWW SSB 2007

2007-10-27T10:18:00.000+07:00

Feel very uncomfortable today, jealous with you all guys who can participate CQWW SSB today. Yesterday I try to build inverted L as suggested by KA3DPW and add Trio AT-130 to eliminate TVI. But still no luck to me, TVI still appear. I want to cry at the moment, know I will miss great contest this week.
For you that such lucky can have fun, enjoy it. Jon YB2ECG, you should set your own new record this year, even condx is not too helpful. If you met YB2ECG, you can say hi to him at his blog at www.yb2ecg.web.id
I hope I can join CQWW CW next month from somewhere else or at one friend station.

Good Luck to you all and have fun !
73 de Riv YB3TD

Using Roof As Radials

2007-09-19T15:19:00.000+07:00

My new house is still in build progress. Surprising me when I visit yesterday, developer gave me a light stainless steel construction roof. You can see the form is pyramidal. And every crossing section from top to bottom. If we watch it from above, will look like multibands quad.
I have a plan to install a vertical on pyramidal top ( I think it will be a 40m monoband vert) and using my roof as radials. But not sure about performance. So my question is can I use this metallic roof as radials? I just think this case is similar with using car as radials. But this time is different on form and constructions. Also how effective the system will be.
Appreciate if you can give me suggestions. I will write my report after I put my vert up after January 2008.
Thanks for visit my blog.

My SKCC Membership

2007-08-31T07:13:00.000+07:00

Just receive email from Gordon N6WK informing SKCC accepting my application to join the club and assign #3408 as my membership number. Thanks Gordon.

Already heard about SKCC several times. And co-incidentally found their mailing list at yahoo yesterday. No need to long thinking, I send request to join command to the groups. Only 2 days waiting, they now accept me as member.

SKCC (stands for Straight Key Century Club) is a club for CW enthusiast, but different on key usage, we only accept straight key or bug to keying. So for QRS hams, join this club is very challenging and sure will increase your mastering CW code. As you know, using straight key will limit our speed to maximum 15 wpm(my opinion). More than 15, our keying will sound strange and possible to increase error rate. So 12 wpm is fun speed.

Find the web at http://www.skccgroup.com and explore. You can find lots of useful info. You can join mailing list with send request to skcc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
. Process is very fast.

SKCC is very active club. We make first date on every month as 24 Hour Monthly Operating Event. We can meet another SKCC friends at this time and exchange our SKCC number. Also the mailing list is very active. Daily posting usually more than 30 emails.

Also congrats to my fellow YC3RCJ Rudi. Also become new member and assign #3415. Still search maybe these are another YB who already join. As Aug 27, 2007, SKCC already issue 3425 membership number, since founded on January 2006.

Okay hope to see on the band soon. My station will be ready on January 2008.

73 de Riv

New Propagation Cycles Start?

2007-08-10T09:08:00.000+07:00

Reading KH6BZF and K7RA abt sunspot activity this week, make me start to be happy. They inform, sun surface are clean. So we just wait one spot appear (one is enough) and it will be the starting point of what we call cycle-24.

When sunspots are maximum, the sun surface will be peppered with spot and massive gas explosion from sun surface that sometimes carried by solar wind toward earth.
So, sit back and relax for several weeks, then propagation will improve. It's give me enough time to prepare my new shack to be operable, after my house progress done.
Picture above, I took from www.dxlc.com

See you on next cycle.

Rapidshare suggestion

2007-07-24T09:05:00.000+07:00

Rapidshare name is very famous on internet. This time I will share what I've found use this service. Sorry not related with radio amateur but I think you should to know.
Last page before start downloading is options which servers would you like to use to download. I found that every server is have different load traffic. So, if you need to get best downloading rate, you have to check which server have lowest traffic. Just pick one, enter verification you-are-human-or-not code and enter. wait abt 10 seconds. If you think rates is too slow, back to previous page and choose another one, repeat until you satisfy with rate. At working hour, sometimes very difficult to get high rate and we have to satisfy with below 10 kbps rate. But at weekend, get rate below 20 kbps is wierd, something wrong with your connection.
This suggest is work only for free acc. I don't know for payed acc. Heard that payed acc give much better offers.

2007-07-22T18:40:00.000+07:00

Last week, I visited Memorial Ship at Surabaya. This is a submarine, whiskey class, USSR product. Powered by diesel engine, located at right of town center. Ship name is KRI (Kapal Republik Indonesia) Pasopati. You can see, it has reg number 410. This ships group then replace with 209 type, made in Germany.

Visiting this ship reminding me about one radio amateur event that QRV from memorial ship. I don't know what is the rules, but if this 410 meet qualifications, I hope someday one team can join that even.

Ticket is very cheap, only 60 cents USD per person. We will watch movie about this ship story. Movie is in Bahasa language and no text-translation. And then we can enter the 410. Start from front torpedo launcher, go to middle room, and quit at rear launcher. I can't imagine, live daily with only 40 cm bed wide, and very compact rooms. Sure no windows. Very different description with submarine movies like Crimson Tide. But I think close enough with U-571. Same age sub.

No Chance to Bawean

2007-07-21T11:19:00.000+07:00

Another 2 ship accidents close to Bawean OC-197 this week make me decide to forget Bawean trip for IOTA contest this year. Just read that news on local paper, no victim luckily. Worst thing is World Metrological inform weather will going worse for next several weeks. They said a high-pressure low-temp air condensed at Pacific. Potentially sending high-speed wind to my area. Not surprise of that, I can see this morning is very windy here. Maybe this La Nina is had corellation with global warming.
So, good luck to you all that can join nice contest from exotic places. I hope you will enjoy. Meanwhile, I just sitting here try to catch contest as an SWL :-(((

YB3TD new call

2007-07-19T12:12:00.000+07:00

Just phoned by local Secretary, inform my license is done. So it's legal now using my new call YB3TD, replacing my previous YB2MTA. Next step is setting up station. This would be not so easy since I live in rent-house, afraid my neighborhood will be shocked watch HF antenna. My own house not ready yet, developer said it will be ready at December.
Bawean Isl OC-197 is not too far from here. But weather is very windy lately days. 2 ferry accidents happens in this week. Last event accident is on Lombok strait, carry 3 Germany tourist. All safe, include ferry crews. These things make me nervous if want to cross Java sea. Bawean is abt 90 miles away from here.
Hope can join contest as soon as possible. See you guys.

New Callsign

2007-07-17T15:44:00.000+07:00

Moved from YB2 at Nov 2006, now I live here with my family at YB3, Gresik city, abt 20 km north from Surabaya, capital of East Java. Since my moving is permanent, there is no chance to keep my previous callsign, YB2MTA. I already send new callsign application to local authority at early May 2007. And until today there is no news abt it. I was reserving YB3TD as my new call. But since no license approval, mean no activity. Just listening on my FT-7800 at 118.3 MHz AM mode, Surabaya Tower.
Very high expectation to join IOTA contest from Bawean Isl. OC-197 this July, but no hope due weather (and no license also). Several ferry accidents lately days here in Indonesia, shrinking my guts to over Java sea.
I will post my logs (and hope another friends logs) on my web www.yb3td.com. Sorry that if you feel my web full with Google Adsense, but I need that to run my web (and hope someday adsense will funding me to new islands).
Please feel free to contacting me for any kind purposes, commence, suggestion, critics (I love it), or just say Hai Riv. My email is riv[at]yb3td.com or alternate yb2mta[at]gmail.com. Unfortunately gmail not offer 5 characters email addr. So, still search what nice email addr with gmail. Or maybe can you help me with ideas.
Hope to see you on the bands. Soon. I hope.......