35 Years of Amateur Radio Newsline

America's most highly-respected ham radio news service is marking something of a milestone. With this week's broadcast, Amateur Radio Newsline has just celebrated its 35th anniversary.

Amateur Radio Newsline's producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF writes, “In talking with Robert Sudock, WB6FDF, we realized that this weeks  newscast marks the 35th anniversary of the Amateur Radio Newsline.”

“I find it hard to believe that we have survived all of these years and that we are as fervent about what we do today as we were when Jim  Hendershot, WA6VQP, and I produced that very first newscast -- then  known as the Westlink Amateur Radio news -- some 1,820 weeks ago.”

“So from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all of you who, over  the years, have been a part of the all volunteer team that has dedicated itself to bringing these newscasts to air.”

“Also, to all of you in our vast world-wide audience who have so  graciously supported our efforts these many years.”

“The promise we make is to once again commit ourselves to continue to  bring you the news of amateur radio and personal communications. Also to do our very best to keep improving our air product as we proceed into the weeks, months and years ahead.”​

100 memory buttons and more for Flex PowerSDR

Andrew Barron ZL3DW has announced the release of FlexButtons, donationware software that adds memory buttons for PowerSDR (Flex SDR Radios) and an integrated CAT interface to MixW digi-mode software.

FlexButtons was created for two reasons. Firstly, to remove frustration with the memory function in PowerSDR (TM). Now a quick and easy way to store the current frequency and other parameters and recall them by pressing a button rather than delving into a menu based system. FlexButtons works a little like the buttons on your car radio, simply press ‘Save’ and then the button position that you want to use.

Secondly Barron wanted to use my Flex radio with digimode software, in my case MixW(TM). The problem was that with only one monitor, the Digimode screen sits on top of PowerSDR(TM) and it disappears when you go to change a filter setting or any other function on the Flex radio.

With FlexButtons you can run PowerSDR(TM) minimised but still control the features I wanted, such as; mode, mute, VAC, and the filter width.

If you save your favourite digimode frequencies to memory buttons you can easily swap between bands and band segments.

FlexButtons v1.0 Beta is availabe free from the author - zl3dw@nzart.org.nz