The demise of the International Crystal Manufacturing Company of Oklahoma USA is being seen as a change in technology with some lamenting its departure. Founded in 1951 it became a trusted providers of quartz crystals, oscillators, filters are the like, both to industry and radio amateurs.
While the loss is another sign of the times particularly in industry-sensitive US, those who were its clients and still needed crystals had other options. Crystal based frequency and accuracy were required in many products creating enormous demand throughout the world, a point grabbed by Singapore when it enticed the Australian Hy-Q International to set up a manufacturing plant. Hy-Q then entered the European and North American markets.
The International Crystal Manufacturing story is really one of a dwindling market, costly production, and the use of frequency synthesizer technology. Gone will be the customer service, one-off cut to order crystals and knowledge of equipment 30 or more years old.
There are those who say not all cannot be done with a frequency synthesizer, and that a few other crystals suppliers are still available.
The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee discussed a range of matters with the ACMA on Friday March 24, including the contract between it and the WIA for the provision of examination related services. Senator Anne Urquhart asked for details of the deed of arrangement with the Wireless Institute of Australia for amateur radio accreditation, when was it commenced and for what purposes?
In reply for the ACMA Giles Tanner said that there were certain requirements or qualifications that users of amateur licences need to hold. The ACMA has a delegation to the Wireless Institute of Australia in connection with the examination and accreditation of amateur users.
Senator Urquhart asked if the deed of arrangement set out governance and reporting standards or requirements for the WIA to meet. Mr Tanner replied, yes, it does, but did not have the detail with him. The Senator asked what arrangements the ACMA had to satisfy itself that the governance and licensing arrangements at the WIA were appropriate.
Mr Tanner replied that as with other contracts for provision of services, the WIA had reporting and other requirements. Any complaints from third parties were also carefully investigated.
Senator Urquhart asked if the ACMA was aware of concerns about governance and financial processes at the WIA? The Senator referred to the WIA website and a number of fact sheets stating claims that WIA was in trouble with ASIC and ACMA are without foundation. And she read from it ‘Some WIA members have noted accusations and criticisms on social media and elsewhere, and asked that the WIA Board make detailed responses to these issues … many issues are either exaggerated, misrepresented, or without foundation. Some statements are totally inaccurate.’
Mr Tanner replied the ACMA was well aware there was a lot of contention within the amateur community around the WIA and there were a number of people seeking changes in the WIA. He expressed no comment or speculation on that but said the issue of particular relevance to the ACMA was WIA’s performance under its contract.
The ACMA has assiduously followed up the dimensions of these complaints and concerns that bear on WIA’s contractual relationship. He made it clear that the WIA was an independent body that is entrusted with a key contract for delivery of services. “It is a perhaps sometimes a difficult message to get across to the amateur community … a great wish to find some sort of agency that will deliver a review with particular terms of reference that bear on the grievances and concerns that people have.” He said the ACMA was very determined to ensure that the deed was discharged properly.
ORARC has embraced Yaesu’s System Fusion (aka C4FM) digital mode in a big way thanks to Yaesu’s generous rebates on their C4FM enabled DR-1X repeaters for radio clubs. Like all digital modes (with the possible exclusion of DMR), however, the entry price for C4FM enabled transceivers remains high compared traditional FM-only rigs, for obvious reasons.
Thankfully, as time goes on, more and more C4FM enabled radios are popping up in Yaesu’s transceiver offerings. The traditional C4FM line-up has been the (well represented at ORARC) FT-991 All-Band, Multi-Mode rig along with the high end FTM-400 Dual-Band Dual-Receiver mobile – both fantastic, touch-screen enabled radios. Both of these radios represent quite the investment at $1400ish and $700ish respectively at the time of writing, despite being fantastic value for what you get.
FT-991 All-Band, Multi-ModerFTM-400 Dual-Band Dual-Receiver mobile
More recently the FTM-100 C4FM enabled Dual-Band Single-Receiver mobile has popped onto the scene. These are also well represented amongst ORARC members from a time when they were a mere $399 – a relative bargain to the current (less compelling) asking price of $550ish. Reports from members indicate that this too is a solid performer.
FTM-100 Dual-Band Single-Receiver Mobile
At the low end of the mobile line, and of little interest to ORARC members, is the 2m only FTM-3200. With our C4FM enabled repeaters being on 70cms, I can’t see too many of these being sold on the Mid North Coast – even if it represents good value with 65W output for $300ish. Yaesu, make a Dual-Band version and we’ll talk….
FTM-3200DR 2M only C4FM/FM mobile
The mobile situation is largely echoed in the handheld line-up with the FT2D Dual-Band Dual-Receiver touch-screen handheld (left) at $670ish and the more traditional FT1D (with lacks the touch-screen but is otherwise remarkably similar to its bigger brother) at $500ish.
Like the FTM-100 mobile above, the FT1D (right) got as cheap at $399 at one point, so there’s a few of them floating around amongst ORARC members. They’re still on Yaesu’s webpage, but they seem to have disappeared from local suppliers.
Irrespective, $400+ on a handheld is a serious investment (as Yaesu are no doubt aware), so now there’s the new $250ish FT-70DR Dual-Band Single-Receiver handheld to fill the void:
C4FM and FM TX and RX with Automatic Mode Selection (AMS)
5 Watts of reliable RF power inside a compact body
700 mW loud audio output
Rugged construction meets IP54 (dust / water protection)
Huge 1,105 channel memory
Wide-Band receive coverage 108 – 579.995 MHz
7.4 V 1,800mAh Lithium Ion battery pack
Equipped with external DC jack for DC supply and battery charge
Equipped with Mini USB port for convenient memory management and software updates
Whilst not Baofeng money, $250 for a quality brand-name transceiver with C4FM capability undeniably represents good value, so if you’re in the market for a quality affordable hand-held this should definitely be on your shortlist. It’s worth remembering too that C4FM will get you into one of our repeaters in situations where a conventional FM radio isn’t cutting the mustard thanks to the digital cliff.
Too much QRM at your QTH? No room for that monster 80m beam perhaps? A remote station may be the answer! All you need is a little place in the country (or a very good friend) where your (modern) transceiver and antenna array can live, some internet and problem solved!
Maybe you’re sick of lugging your rig on holidays with you? 5W from your 718 not enough? Holiday antenna too much of a compromise? Assuming you’re holidaying with internet, remote control is the answer!
Here’s how it’s done with the IC-7300 (step by step), courtesy of Bob McCreadie G0FGX at TX Films. Skip to 17:24 if you’d just like to see it in action (and bypass the software install and setup):
The video addresses:
Setting up your computer and radio
Installing the RS-BA1 remote control software
Accessing the IC-7300 remotely
The RC-28 remote controller encoder (remote tuning knob)
To find out more about Icom’s remote control software, visit the RC-28 IP Remote Control System page (at Icom UK) where you will also find a list of compatible Icom HF radios.
For more information about the IC-7300 look here (at Icom Australia).
Wireless Institute of Australia observers looking for intruders on the ‘Primary’ frequencies of the Amateur Service on high frequency bands in 2016 found more than five thousand intrusions. These are collated into a monthly report before sending to the relevant spectrum regulatory agency in IARU member countries. A resulting clamp down on the Indonesian ‘village radio’ stations was occurring with the government regulator progressively removing offenders.
The WIA reports intruders to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, but due to the itinerant nature of some intruders the ACMA has difficulty in confirming them which draws out the process for their removal. Unfortunately, some administrations seem to ignore requests for the removal of interfering services. The observations have included a multitude of Over-The-Horizon-Radar (OTHR) systems mainly Chinese, Turkish, Iranian and British systems. There have also been CODAR systems (oceanographic radars) particularly on the 20m to 10m bands.
With the downward trend in the Solar cycle, there will be increasing numbers moving to the lower HF bands in future years. Among the observers are the very active John Kirk VK4TJ with monthly reports. Individual volunteers have also left frequent reports sent via the WIA website electronic lodgement system, including Lyn VK4SWE and Col VK4CC.
An increasing number of digital emissions are intruding, and the use of Software Defined Receivers (SDR) have identified non-amateur digital systems that are frequency hopping. The Manly-Warringah Amateur Radio Society of New South Wales has a five-band SDR receiver system that greatly assists in monitoring activities. Other clubs could use SDR systems to not only help their club members but the intruder monitoring system as a whole.
For the WIA monitoring system to work volunteers are required. Information can be found on the WIA website on how to become an observer and what is involved. Link If your interested in assisting as a volunteer send a message to Peter Young by email vk3mv @ wia.org.au.
Please note, all applicants should have read and agree with the draft WIA Volunteer Charter. Link
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