Cross Country Wireless Release Mains Filter

Cross Country Wireless has released a filter designed to remove noise and interference on the incoming mains feed to radio equipment or high-quality audio equipment.

The filter first uses a differential filter on the live and neutral conductors to remove LF and HF noise from switch mode power supplies on the same circuit, ring main or phase. The filter then has a common mode filter to stop HF and VHF interference on all three conductors.

This also stops any RF signal or interference from the radio or audio equipment being fed back to the mains supply.

The combined filter system provides a reliable filtering system that can cope with almost any situation where severe electromagnetic interference is present on the incoming mains supply.

Mains Filter - http://www.crosscountrywireless.net/mains_filter.htm

New Portable Antenna Covers 60m Band

Amateur Radio outdoor operation specialists SOTABeams have updated their portable Antenna to reflect a change in operating conditions.

With the decline in solar activity, 40m is getting to be hard work for more local HF contacts. A good choice when conditions are poor is often to use a lower frequency. The 5MHz band (60m) is now available in many countries so SOTABEAMS has introduced a version of their popular Band Hopper antennas to include 60m. The Midi Hopper is a full-size, full-performance antenna that covers 20m, 40m and 60m. It is ready tuned, includes a balun. feeder and guying for a 7m telescopic pole.

Band Hoppers are a complete system including:

• A resonant multi-band dipole antenna with Perspex link hardware
• A 10m feeder - high quality RG174 terminated in a BNC plug
• A high performance current balun
• A guying system for a lightweight telescopic pole (6 - 8 metres length recommended)
• Three Wire Winders to ensure tangle-free operating
• Three lightweight aluminium alloy pegs
• A detailed set of instructions
• A nylon carry bag with attachment clip

More details - http://www.sotabeams.co.uk/band-hopper-iii-three-band-linked-dipole/

Exclusive - Yaesu Upcoming DR2 Repeater

ICQ Amateur/Ham Radio Podcast's Martin Butler (M1MRB/W9ICQ) and Chris Howard (M0TCH/N4CTH) can exclusively reveal information in relation to Yaesu's upcoming DR2 Repeater after visiting the Ham Radio 2017 event at Friedrichshafen, Germany

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Yaesu DR-2XE Repeater

This new model includes support for these new key features: -

• IMRS (Internet-linked Multi-Site Repeater) allows multiple DR2 repeaters connect to over the Internet.
• Digital Group ID, which is similar to CTCSS tones used on analogue FM transmissions and is a way of separating users into up to 99 talk groups, using either the new FT-70 radio or some of the other C4FM radios with an upcoming firmware upgrade.
• Digital Personal ID, which is a selective calling system to allows a user to call another user based on their call sign.Remote control, through the inbuilt second receiver.

An important point to note however is that the DR2 does not support Wires-X, so is not a replacement or upgrade for the DR1 repeater. The DR1 will continue to be produced for those wishing to grow their Wires-X network.

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ICQ Amateur/Ham Radio Podcast's Martin Butler (M1MRB/W9ICQ) interviewing Paul Bigwood (G3WYW) of Yaesu regarding the DR2 Repeater

A full interview with Yaesu will appear in the next episode of the ICQ Amateur/Ham Radio Podcast - Episode 242 to be released on Sunday 23rd July 2017. This exclusive interview coincides with the shows 9th Birthday. Make sure you don't miss the interview with Yaesu regarding the new DR2 Repeater by joining our episode alert mailing list - https://www.icqpodcast.com/subscribe-to-newsletter/

21/07/17 - Yaesu update regarding DR2 Repeater

Yaesu have made contact with the ICQ Amateur/Ham Radio Podcast to provide additonal information in relation to the DR2 Repeater.

“An important point to note however is that the DR2 does not support Wires-X via the IMRS but does over the air, so is not a replacement or upgrade for the DR1 repeater. The DR1 will continue to be produced for those wishing to grow the Wires-X network.”

— Paul Bigwood - G3WYW

With this addiotal information being made available, we have decided to recorded our interview with Yaesu, and will now publish this interview in Episode 243