Activities For Radio Hobbyists

     Amateur radio or ham is largely a hobby activity. The majority of thel hobby time is spent on making contact and having conversations with people in distant regions and from different cultures. Two way communications, identifying their location and station, zone, region and place is the usual custom. This is always followed by other casual communications. If the contact is made for a contest to make two way communication with as many stations or ham radio operators as possible, this all the information that is shared.

DX-ing and DX-peditions:

    An amateur radio operator’s main hobby is to make contact with as many stations as possible from as many parts of the world as possible. DX stands for Distant Stations. The DX-ing usually is followed with the QSO. (a Q code., see below) which means “a conversation”. 

    DX-peditions are different in the sense that they are expeditions organized / planned solely for the purpose of making contacts with some special or rare stations and regions. Some people travel long distance just to make contact with some unrepresented region or place.

    Radio Frequency scanners available now a days form the tool of great use in these attempts. The radio scanner scans for signals until a strong signal is found and so on.

QSL cards:

    The Q code is a standardized collection of three-letter message encodings, all starting with the letter "Q", initially developed for commercial radiotelegraph communication, and later adopted by other radio services, especially amateur radio. In today’s audio signal transmission age, the Q codes are not essential. but still in use and are viewed as a sort of tradition.

    As a part of DX-ing and DX-peditions the QSL card or the proof of contact card is shared. QSL is one such Q-code that means “I acknowledge receipt”. The common practice was that the ones who made contact at a particular frequency exchange a QSL card in the mail to confirm their contact and conversations. These QSL cards can be used as a proof of their making contact and amateur operators who make contact with a certain number of other amateur radio operators in a specified time is awarded. Moreover, they are distinguished and honored since they are deemed to be efficient amateur radio operators.

Remote region contacting:

    Some countries have less amateur radio operators, and making contact with these is considered special. So, when a radio amateur from these regions makes contact, other ham operators flock to make communication with this / these hams. Making contact with these less represented places has its awards and special considerations in the award programs.

Hamfests:

    Social events for the ham families and friends. It’s something akin to the family oriented social fests where there are sales, exchanges, meetings and fun. Similarly, the fest is filled with selling and exchanging hams, meeting real life ham friends and fun events for a day or sometimes over few days.

Discussion groups and Nets:

    Ham operators form a discussion group based on common interests other than ham or it can also be a ham related discussion group and they can form nets or networks.

    If a radio hobbyist gets involved with all of these different activities, he or she is sure to never be bored. Look into some of them, and see if you would like to get involved.

Marvin Blackwell

Radio Controlled Hobbies: A Technological History

     You push a lever on your remote, and your remote control plane veers to the left. It almost seems like magic. Radio control is one of the most magical inventions of the modern era. It has a very long and intriguing history.

Radiolink AT9S Pro 10/12 Channels 2.4GHz RC Transmitter and Receiver R9DS Radio Remote Long Range Control for FPV Racing Drone/Quad/Airplane and More (Mode 2 Left Hand)

    Linguistic research into the origins of the word radio reveals that it was from the prefix “radio-“meaning concerned with radiations. The word radio came into being before Hertz’s discovering of electromagnetic radiations. Initially what was radio-telegraphy and radio-telephony over time came to be just radio. One of the first people to popularize the term was another pioneer in America in the field of wireless transmission: Dee Forest.

       Tesla demonstrated wireless telegraphy in 1893 almost eight years after the discovery of the electromagnetic waves by Hertz. Jagdish Chandra Bose in 1894 used electromagnetic waves to ignite gun powder and strike a gong in Calcutta (Now Kolkatta) in India.  That possibly was the dawn of wireless/radio communications and its applications in science. Tesla in 1896 transmitted wireless signals for nearly 30 miles distance and patented his first four tuned circuit wireless system as being the first practical wireless transmission equipment. Marconi in 1899 spanned the English channel with this wireless transmission. 

    The dawn of the new century also was the beginning of a new era when Marconi performed the first trans-Atlantic radio signal in 12th December, 1901. The crystal sets which were patented by J.C. Bose came to be commonly used for detecting and receiving radio signals. There have been numerous disputes over who exactly was the first to conceive the idea or wireless transmission, Tesla or Marconi. In between somewhere there is one Popov who was also a pioneer in this field! Tesla is said to have run into financial troubles that greatly limited his run in the race. But nevertheless, Tesla seems to have been the first, but the controversy over this is not our concern now. Whoever it was, the truth stands is that it was one of the finest inventions in the history of science.

    The first decade of the century saw many entrepreneurs and experimenters working with wireless radio but it was about at the near end of the first decade that definite hobby interests sparked.  Radio signals were originally produced by spark transmitters, which were noisy and inefficient. Then the alternator-transmitter and then the arc-transmitter came into being. 

    The invention of vacuum-tude diodes and triodes revolutionized the radio transmission and receivers. The invention of triode amplifier generators made audio possible and started a new era of “audio radio”. The vacuum tubes were the staple component for a long time until the invention of the transistor which made the equipment more precise, concise and efficiently mobile!

    Then, AT&T used the vacuum tubes to transmit voices over phone lines and this lead to the experimenting of speeches over long distances for audience to hear over loudspeakers. Commercialization was thought about from the initial days but there was no way to restrict the transmission to specific paid users and broadcasting remained commercial-free. Then AT&T started the idea of advertising to finance the programming, and it is here to stay until this very date. There have been constant innovations in the field of radio broadcasting with the latest craze being internet radio. So, radio is NEVER out of date but it is forever coming in new forms. 

Marvin Blackwell

The Roots Of Radio Hobbyists

     Radio hobbyists can play with their equipment all day without giving a thought to the origins of their hobby. Early radio hobbyists were part of something that was, at the time, new and fairly crazy.

    After radio technology was stabilized, there was a steady growth of radio signaling in the fields of navigation of ships and for rescue operations. On the other hand, the amateur radio operators also started to dominate the air. The first documented and famous amateur wireless enthusiast was a then young man named Irving Vermilya born in 1890 when wireless transmission was being born. The young man since age 12 heard Marconi and built his own wireless transmission equipment and was often “heard” telegraphing with ships during that time. In 1911 he became a member of the Radio Club that had been formed. He got himself certified in 1912 when law mandated all wireless operators to be certified. In his own words, 

    This was pre-audio era, and communication was purely in Morse code. Irving then organized his own amateur group who had regular meetings monthly and would communicate daily wishing “GM” (good morning) and “GN” (good night), some of the first amateur jargon to be used. He also proceeds to describe in his series of articles published in QST magazine in 1917 as to how they managed to lay the telegraph lines and such and how they “drew juice” for the wireless operation from the electric lines instead of relying on batteries.

    Meanwhile, apart from the “professionals” and “amateurs”, with audio wireless signal transmission there was a new revolution setting in. A Dutch engineer in Hague was the first to make regular wireless transmission via radio. This could be considered the first regular radio broadcast. After this there was slow development until the commercial radio stations came into being.

    The requirement to be certified killed the enthusiasm in many amateurs, and the number of amateurs dwindled. But then after WWI, there was a boom. The first radio clubs were formed in 1909 and this was the beginning of the radio hobbies which included radio as a part of the hobby activity.

    During the WWI the amateur radio operators were asked to stop their activity and dismantle the equipment. Radio operators in uniform helped in military communications. They got back on the air again by November 1919 again. A similar lull in amateur radio happened during Second World War and got back on air by 1946. After lots of battles over the frequency range that the amateurs can tune into, the amateur radio is here to stay!

    At present there are more than 170,000 ham operators which is possibly not the complete picture. It is still increasing. So, with Irving Vermilya was born the amateur radio operation, since he was the first radio hobbyist. After lots of developments, including the discovery of the transistor which greatly decreased the size of the radio equipment, the old ways still remains which included “waiting for someone to signal”. 

    The rules to get oneself certified and licensed included a Morse code proficiency until the World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva in 2003 that eliminated the need for Morse code proficiency from the licensure tests. Taking effect from February 23, 2007 the Morse code has been eliminated from the tests for amateur radio license tests.

Marvin Blackwell

Mini Remote Control Helicopters are a Great Gift

     My aunt recently had triplets, and when thinking about what to buy them for their first birthday, I came across an ad for mini remote control helicopters, and I thought it was a wonderful idea.  Since there are three babies, three mini remote helicopters would be just perfect.  I was really excited with the idea, but since the helicopters would be so small, it might not be a good idea until the triplets are a little older

.

Cheerwing U12 Remote Control Helicopter with Altitude Hold, Mini RC Helicopter for Adults Kids, One Key take Off/Landing and 2 Batteries

    Either way, I started looking into prices for mini remote control helicopters, so I could be an educated consumer whenever the time came to purchase them.  Well, I was quite surprised with the price.  They were almost as expensive as standard sized remote control helicopters, and I couldn’t understand why.  Apparently, according to the salesman, they are so expensive because it takes a long time and lots of patience to assemble all the tiny parts of mini remote control helicopters.  I had no idea it was such an intensive process.

    Apparently, these people seemed to think that it takes even more attention to detail and talent to assemble mini remote control helicopters than it does to assemble regularly sized helicopters.  I understood what they meant when they reminded me that mini remote control helicopters also have more fragile parts, so they often snap unless you have light, nimble fingers.

    With all this said, I was much more informed about mini remote control helicopters, and I knew for sure that they weren’t a good gift idea for triplet babies—maybe when they are 10 or 11 years old it will be a good idea, but for now, I think the best thing to get them would be large helicopter stuffed animals—something that they cannot swallow or shatter, and something that isn’t too expensive in case they drool all over it or stain it.  This was a good experience for me, thought, because I am often poor at finding gifts, and this was another example of that.  

SYMA S100 Mini RC Helicopter with Gyro Stabilizer, Altitude Hold, 3.5 Channel, 5-7 Min Flight Time

    Unfortunately, I don’t really know what people would like most, and when I think I have a good idea, I’m usually wrong.  The difficulty is, it takes a long time to speak with sales associates about an item, especially if you ultimately decide that it is not a good gift idea.

    Often the better thing to do is read testimonials online and see what other people are thinking about a certain product, in this case mini remote control helicopters (but other things apply here as well), and then go from there.  You can do that quickly, and you don’t have to pay for gas that way!  I hope this little article helped you in your search for mini remote control helicopters, and I hope you ultimately settle on a helicopter model that makes you happy for years to come.  Mini remote control helicopters can be a wonderful gift for someone else, or for you.  My recommendation is that you just need to make sure they are age appropriate before you commit to a purchase.

By: Marvin Blackwell

The Tools Needed For Radio Controlled Hobbyists

     Building a radio controlled project requires a huge amount of time and detail when you are putting the pieces together, or even cutting the pieces out to be assembled. Most people who do it as a hobby will have many different tools that they use throughout the course of assembling a radio controlled project. If you want to build something for the first time, you will need some materials that will come in immensely handy throughout the process. Here I will name some of the main ones, but you will most likely need to find some more specific tools to fit your personal needs.

RC Car Repair Work Stand 652 PCS Screw Kit with Srew Tray RC Repair Tool Kit Universal RC Screw Set for Arrma Redcat Traxxas Axial HPI Losi 1/8 1/10 1/12 1/16 Scale RC Cars Trucks Crawler

Of course, the first thing you need is the raw material that will be used to construct the project. Most radio controlled projects are made out of wood. If your plans don’t call for a specific type, you will have to choose it yourself, which can be tough. Balsa wood is the most popular choice, especially for toy airplanes and helicopters. It is extremely light, while maintaining a good level of solidity. You can build an entire airplane frame out of it, and it will have a minimal amount of flex. IF you are building a larger model of an airplane or other vehicle, then balsa may be too soft, in which case you will want to look for other woods.

The radio and motor equipment is the 2nd most important part. If you are a really enthusiastic radio controlled hobbyist as well as an engineer of some sort, then you may consider making it all out of the various components. It is possible to buy all of the electric components of the radio and motor systems separately. However, if you do this you will have to deal with all of the electrical concepts and parts including transistors, resistors, and all those other things that make it so daunting. There is no shame in buying transmitters or motors pre-assembled and just gluing them wherever they need to go. It will definitely save you some time.

10 in 1 RC Model Repair Tools Kit with 1.5/2.0/2.5/3.0/4.0/5.5mm Hex Screwdrivers Wrench Phillips & Slotted Screwdriver, Metal Tray for RC Cars Helicopter Drone Boat

The first tool that should never leave the arsenal of a radio control enthusiast is a good old X-Acto Knife. Even if you are buying a kit that allows for easy assembly, you will still need the X-Acto knife to shave off any bumps or extra pieces of wood / plastic that are getting in the way. If you are building it entirely from scratch, the knife will be perfect for cutting outlines from thinner pieces of wood, cutting notches for the electrical equipment to keep steady, or just getting everything to the exact shape that you want it. You can buy them for just a few dollars at your local hobby store, or home improvement store.

HobbyPark RC Body Reamer (Titanium) & Curved Scissors and Straight Scissors Set RC Car Body Shell Mounting Lexan Plastic Trimming Tools Combo

Depending on the material that you are using to build your project, you will need some type of tack or glue to hold it together. There are many different choices for this area. You can use superglue, wood glue, or epoxy, and each one will hold fairly sturdy. Look up the type of wood or plastic that you are using, and see what type of tack is recommended to fasten it. If you are building a remote control boat or even a submarine, you will have to consider the matter of waterproofing it to avoid ruining the electrical components when you first put it in the water. This is usually accomplished through some sealing putty for cracks and a spray-on sealant to keep the wood from soaking.

At some point you will have to cut all of the wood into the segments that you require to piece together the final product. While it is possible with a handsaw, it is definitely not the best choice. A table saw works best for larger pieces, but for finer details you would be hard pressed to find a better tool than a Dremel Tool. They look like electric toothbrushes, and have quickly rotating heads that can grind away balsa wood in a matter of seconds. They allow for maximum accuracy, whether you are shaping a piece of wood or making holes for wiring.

Marvin Blackwell

The Remote Control Helicopters Training Club

 Did you know that there is actually a remote control helicopters training club?  It’s true!  They actually take people out to a field, and show them the best way to fly their remote control helicopter.  I was so surprised when I heard this, and I couldn’t believe it was a lucrative business, but here’s how they do it.  The team leader tells all his students that they first need to go out and get a remote control helicopter.

Of course, he also tells them that there is a specific brand and model that they need to purchase, and the students dutifully go out and purchase it.  Lucky for the instructor, the remote control helicopter seller has agreed to give him a commission for every helicopter he helps to sell, so he makes money there.  Next, of course, there are fees for the remote control helicopters training itself.  The funny thing is, the students are usually very happy with the training, and they often say that it saves them money in the long run, because they learn the way to handle their helicopter, how to clean it, the best way to store it, and of course, how not to crash it—all essential helicopter knowledge that is so important to maintaining a functional remote control helicopter.

Many students, especially those who have recently bought their first remote control helicopter, have no idea how to fly it or how to take care of it, and they run the risk of crashing it or letting it rust.  Any of these mishaps can lead to hundreds of dollars lost, because the student didn’t know how to care for their helicopter in the first place.

So, in that sense, the remote control helicopters training club is a good idea, but I just think there has to be an easier way that doesn’t lead to the students shelling out so much money.  Well, I wasn’t the only person who thought that, the remote control helicopters club instructor came up with a second idea, just as lucrative as the first, to make a DVD of himself training the student, so they can learn to handle their helicopter from home.  Moreover, he also made a book, in case the student prefers to read along, rather than watch on the television.  Both of these ventures were great ideas, because once the instructor made the product, he just had to market it.  This was in stark contrast to the remote control helicopters training club which had a new crop of students each week, all eager to make sure they didn’t ruin their helicopters on the first day.  So all in all, this instructor did very well for himself, and he didn’t even need to worry about money after awhile, all because he knew his way around a remote control helicopter.

And that’s not something that they teach you in high school.  Since then, this instructor has also started doing motivational talks about how to go into business for yourself much like he did, and last I heard, he was worth over 7 million dollars.  How’s that for success?  And it all started with a remote control helicopter.

Marvin Blackwell

The Basics Of Radio Controlled Plane Flight

 Radio controlled planes can rack up quite a bill when you consider all of the different things you have to buy in order to enjoy the hobby. You have to buy the plane model itself, as well as all the radio and motor equipment to keep it in the air. Then you have to buy gasoline, or pay for electricity to charge the battery. All in all it can be a very expensive venture. After you spend all of this money, nothing is worse than seeing your investment crash to the ground and erupt into a huge fireball (well, maybe not the fireball part; however, you can expect all of your components to be smashed beyond any working state). So when you fly your plane for the first time, you have to use extreme caution in making sure that you don’t ruin your plane and consequently waste your money.

VOLANTEXRC RC Plane for Beginners, 3CH Airplane 2.4Ghz Remote Control Plane for Adults (76101)

The most important part is to choose the day and the place carefully. On the ideal day, there are perfectly clear skies, with little to no wind. Hopefully it is also warm, but if it isn’t that won’t jeopardize your mission (unless you are shivering so much that you can’t effectively control the plane). You should go to a place that offers some sort of good take-off point. Sidewalks and roads are perfect for this. You should also try to look for an area that is low on houses, trees, and preferably doesn’t have many people around.

First you need to check all of your equipment. Even if you are a pro at handling radio controlled planes, nothing can save you from faulty equipment. Check and double-check everything before you send the plane up. Be sure to pay special attention to the landing gear. Make sure it is secure, and that it will be able to withstand the force of impact when the plane touches the ground after you are done flying. Also check all of the connections between the motor and the fuel supply or batteries. Test all of the radio equipment to make sure that every motion is interpreted by the plane. Hold it in your hand as you or a friend tries all of the levers and knobs.

Set your plane on some sort of surface that will act as a good runway. If you’re in a park with sidewalks, find a large strip of sidewalk that will give your plane plenty of room to roll, gather speed, and take off. Just make sure there are no people walking in the way. Get up to speed, and if everything goes right you should lift smoothly in the air. Hopefully you will have read through the manual that came with your plane. Every radio controller is slightly different, so I can’t give you detailed instructions on that aspect of the flight. You will have to read your manual to find out how to do it well.

After the flight you need to do yet another inspection of the equipment. If it was in good shape at the beginning of the flight and the flight went by without a hitch, it isn’t likely to have some sort of new problem that has suddenly shown up. However, you should always investigate anyways, and save yourself some grief in the future. If you notice something wrong, you can take the plane directly home and take care of it, rather than wait until you notice it the next time you come out to fly.

Follow all of these procedures, along with any local laws or regulations that may affect your flying session. Flying is a fun hobby, and if you are able to follow all of the guidelines that I have provided, as well as any other factors that may affect you personally, then you will find it to be a very enjoyable and worthy pastime.

Marvin Blackwell