Practical Wireless

Practical Wireless is aimed at the licensed radio amateur and caters for the amateur radio hobby. Practical Wireless is a ‘doing’ magazine focusing on the practical and constructional side of amateur radio and appeals to all ages. Written by expert authors and contributors, Practical Wireless reflects developments in the technology, participants, activities and licensing framework of the hobby.

Practical Wireless • October 2023 Vol. 99 No 10

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Newsdesk • Have you got something to tell our readers about? If so, then email practicalwireless@warnersgroup.co.uk

RNARS 30th anniversary of HQ move to HMS Collingwood

Southeast Builders Club update

New from Moonraker

Rallies & Events

NEWS EXTRA

The Magic Bands

From Another ERA: The ERA Microreader & RS232 Screen in Action • Georg Wiessala puts together a temporary RTTY/CW receiving station with some vintage gems from the makers of the ERA Microreader and avoids computers altogether.

Four metres FM for £20? • Tim Kirby GW4VXE has plenty of VHF and above news, despite an apparent downturn in Sporadic E activity during July.

More on WSJT-X and VarAC • Mike Richards G4WNC continues his look at WSJT-X measurement tools and the new VarAC release.

Makeshift PSU • Billy McFarland GM6DX describes how to repurpose a PC power supply for amateur radio use.

Build your own gear? (Pt. II) • In Part 2, Tim Walford G3PCJ completes his discussion of home construction by describing two typical low-cost kits.

NEWS EXTRA

An adaption of a simple 2m/70cm vertical for temporary use • Keith Rawlings G4MIU talks readers through the design of a two-band vertical for the 2m and 70cm bands.

RCA-Victor AR88 receiver • Philip Moss M0PBM gets his hands on a true classic – the AR88.

The summer doldrums? • While propagation may have been down during the summer period, Steve Telenius-Lowe PJ4DX has plenty to report.

CW Bandpass Filter Design • In the first of a two-part article Alpar Cseley HA8KT takes a look at designing a CW bandpass filter.

NARC activity • Roger Cooke G3LDI has another broad selection of Morserelated news.

Building an UNUN for an EFHW Antenna • Mike Dunstan G8GYW explains how to build your own UNUN for an end-fed half-wave antenna.

Training courses • Colin Redwood G6MXL introduces readers to the various options for starting on or progressing with the amateur radio licence levels.

The Quansheng UV-K5 • Keith Rawlings G4MIU reviews a bargain 2m/70cm handheld from China.

Building receivers from kits • To complement his last feature on transmitter kits, Daimon Tilley G4USI turns his attention to simple receivers.

A replacement for London Heathrow’s stand-by control tower • David Smith has the latest news, starting with news of a new control facility for Heathrow.

DAB band scanner • Kevin Ryan codes up an SDR dongle to scan the DAB frequencies for band openings.

BBC coronations, (Pt VI) • This month, Keith Hamer and Garry Smith continue the special series looking back at the BBC’s coverage of Coronations since 1937. There is also a Coronation vintage wireless advertisement from the archives, including details of Murphy Radio’s war-time productions. Also featured is the continuing saga detailing 100 years of BBC Scotland-Alba, plus the concluding instalment about the BBC Cymru-Wales Centenary. We also continue the series about the development of Swiss Radio and Television since 1922, turning our attention to the start of broadcasts to schools in 1932 and military intervention during the War.

Gerald Marcuse G2NM • David Harris reviews a new book that...