I have not posted anything on my Blog page since the July 4, 2009 post. It is not because I have been lazy (well, not too lazy) but because I was spouting out public policy opinions like all of those pundits that write daily or weekly columns and I am not nearly as knowledgeable as they are, and most of the time they don't know what they are talking about. I was displaying my ignorance. I grew disinterested in trying to get my views across. Apparently, so did any readers that happened by the site.
I have decided to make my future postings on here about Amateur Radio and related topics. I have been a “Ham” since early July 1957, almost 53 years, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Since I am now retired and in what are my golden years (big secret: there isn’t any gold here) I am enjoying the hobby even more.
Disregarding all my reservations I bought a Flex 3000 transceiver a couple of months ago. I justified purchasing it by saying it was my Winter Solstice present to myself. I am really glad that I did. For those who are not familiar with the Flex radios they are software defined radios (SDR). Your computer controls the hardware that generates the signal that carries intelligence* you want it to carry. It also decodes the intelligence from the signal and it comes out of the speakers / headphones. All signal processing is done digitally and only the incoming signal from the antenna, the outgoing signal to the antenna and the audio from the speakers are analog. There are no knobs on this radio. Everything is done with the mouse and keyboard using the computer. It is a big paradigm shift to go from a transceiver with a lot of knobs to turn to being on a computer and not having any knobs to turn. From now on I go knobless.
The little Flex 3000 is a marvel. I hooked it up to my desktop Ham computer and was on the air within an hour after I received it. All I had to do was read the Quick Start Guide and download the software from the Flex Radio site. I have used it on all bands except 160 meters (no antenna for 160) and I am delighted with the results. With the panadapter screen I can adjust the various digital filters to cut any nearby stations or natural noise and hear / talk to just about any station with a signal that hits my antenna. If I want to transmit AM I simply click the AM button on the screen. If I want to communicate using FM I click on that button. So far, I have only used it on SSB because I have been having so much fun with it. I have everything I need to set it up for the digital modes (FSK) and CW (code) and will do so in the not too distant future.
I am convinced that SDR radios are the beginning of a new future for all radios, including Ham radio. Already there are commercial stations converting over to the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) format: a digital format like your cell phone uses to transmit and receive intelligence. Next time you are at a store that sells home entertainment electronic try to find a receiver that receives DRM. You will be amazed at the fidelity of the signal received.
In a future post I will describe my experiences with using the Flex 3000 on digital modes and CW. Until then if you are a Ham, or a person interested in Ham radio and you know a Ham that owns a Flex radio take the time to go by as see it in operation. I think you will be as impressed as I am.
* Some of the Ham frequencies have absolutely no intelligence. Just listen some times.
