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.

Warners Group Publications Plc

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

Antenna switches: why pay more? • Richard Constantine G3UGF considers the pros & cons of spending more (or less) on antenna switches.

Loops big and small • Richard Constantine G3UGF checks out the Amazing Alex Loop Hampack … plus the all-new RC-2 motor upgrade.

A National Treasure • Bernard Nock G4BXD introduces readers to a little-known variant of the popular HRO receiver.

The G3RJV SCD QRP Transceiver Revisited (Pt IV) • Steve Hartley G0FUW continues the build, with circuits to enable your transmitter and receiver to interwork.

DragonOS • Mike Richards G4WNC has a significant new release of VarAC and a look at a dedicated operating system for SDRs.

BBC coronations Pt XV • Keith Hamer and Garry Smith continue looking back at the BBC’s coverage of Coronations since 1937. Also featured are reminiscences from a PW reader who worked at Ekco, a Coronation vintage television advertisement, more about the Swiss radio pioneer Roland Pièce, the rise and fall of BBC 198kHz, the series marking 60 years of BBC-2, and the development of Swiss Radio and Television since 1922.

Goodbye MFJ • Steve Telenius-Lowe G4JVG has all the month’s HF news but starts with news of the closing down on MFJ (and see also our News pages).

Online Radio • David Harris reviews a book that looks at the development of online (internet) radio.

PHaRLAP - HF laboratory between heaven & earth • HF forecasts from Australia enjoy an excellent reputation, as shortwave still plays a major role there - in communications as well as in their over-the-horizon radar JINDALEE. Mostly developed on behalf of the government and the military, corresponding software offers reliable, state-of-the-art results and is often made available free of charge and without discrimination. PHarLAP is the HF laboratory among all programs.

AN-SOF DX Antenna Simulator • Keith Rawlings G4MIU gets his hands on the latest version of AN-SOF and puts it thought its paces.

My new magnetic loop approach • Maurice Webb GW0UGQ continues his experiments with magnetic loop antennas.

The best aurora in years • Tim Kirby GW4VXE reports that the recent aurora brought some great propagation to the VHF bands.

The Digital TuneAid • Andrew Woodfield ZL2PD describes a precise 1kHz sinewave test oscillator.

Martin Charman G4FKK • Roger Dowling G3NKH meets the current chair of the British Amateur Television Club (BATC).

Rallies & Events • All information published here reflects the situation up to and including 16th May 2024. Readers are advised to always check with the organisers of any rally or event before setting out for a visit. To get your event on this list, email the full details, as early as possible, to: practicalwireless@warnersgroup.co.uk

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