New UK Radio Record - 76 GHz

Ian Lamb (G8KQW), JE HAZELL (G8ACE) and Chris Towns (G8BKE) have achieved an FM contact over a distance of 102 km on 76 GHz. The G8KQW / G8ACE contact was completed using duplex.

A video has been produced of the portable radio contact

Software Winner of Annual Construction Competition

Each year, Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) annual constructors competition recognises all types of home construction be it software or hardware 

Among the entries were a 10m, 144MHz Transverter, MKARS80 80m transceiver kit, a Valve Audio Amplifier, Discone antenna, Portable operation wire antenna extender, and a centre-loaded HF whip antenna for mobile operating, but the members vote determined it would be a software entry that would claim top prize.

Charlie M0PZT was awarded first prize for PZTLog, a powerful logging app that he has built from the ground up and released free to the amateur radio community.

As well as receiving the £15 top prize Charlie's name will be added to the Society M1FDE Shield which will be presented at the October AGM. The Shield was first awarded in 2009 in memory of keen constructor Anthony Martin.

Read illustrated reports of the evening - http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/cars-construction-night-2015.html

Download the PZTLog amateur radio logging software for MS Windows - http://www.m0pzt.com/pztlog/

New World Distance records on 2.3 and 3.4 GHz Amateur / Ham Radio Bands

Two California radio amateurs - one located in Hawaii - have set new world distance records of 4024 km on the 2.3 and 3.4 GHz microwave amateur bands on 18/19 June 2015

Wayne Overbeck, N6NB, operating from a radio-equipped rental car on the larger island of Hawaii, worked Gregory Campbell, W6IT, operating Overbeck’s own fixed station near Orange, California, on both bands - a distance of more than 4024 km (2495 miles). The contacts blew away records that had stood for more than 20 years and more than doubled the previous distance record for a two-way voice (SSB) contact at those frequencies, Overbeck said, adding that most previous microwave distance records have been set using CW.

“These are the first-ever SSB contacts between Hawaii and the mainland on 2304 and 3456,” Overbeck said.

W6IT was in grid square DM13cs, while N6NB/KH6 was in BK29hq. According to the database of distance records maintained by Al Ward, W5LUA, the old record was 3982 km, set on by KH6HME (SK) and N6CA on July 14, 1994, on 2.3 GHz and on July 28, 1991, on 3.4 GHz. Both contacts were on CW.

Read the full ARRL story - http://www.arrl.org/news/view/new-world-distance-records-set-on-2-3-and-3-4-ghz-ham-bands