Interview With Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President FlexRadio Systems

A new era is underway and software defined radio (SDR) is leading the revolution. Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR returned to the hobby in 1998 and his enthusiasm for the technical side of ham radio never dimmed. His mode of choice was PSK31. This time Gerald’s station unlike his teenager years was a little different. The waterfall sparked an idea.

That idea grew with the help of many volunteers into FlexRadio Systems.

Gerald said, “I did not start out to begin a company. I haven’t done engineering in 25-years. I fell into this and out of my presentations grew the company. SDR re-energized my interest in ham radio.”

Any Question is a Good Question.
I wanted to learn about SDR and Gerald explained it this way, “There are two fundamental approaches. High speed converters that are close to the antenna have lower dynamic range but wider bandwidth (tens of MHz). On the other hand, high performance audio converters, provide the best dynamic range but also narrower bandwidth (200 kHz).”

According to Wolfgang, Reed, and Carman (2007) the definition of dynamic range is, “The ability of a receiver to tolerate strong signals outside the band-pass range.” (p C-6)

In addition, Wolfgang et al. defined bandwidth as, “The frequency range (measurement in hertz – Hz) over which a signal is stronger than some specified amount below the peak signal level.” (2007, p C-3)

Gerald guided me a step further explaining the usefulness of Pythagorean Theorem in relationship to SDR, “Every signal in existence can be measured using Pythagorean Theorem. If you know I and Q then measure ninety degrees out of phase; one can use the theorem.”

He boiled it down, “Give me I and Q and I can demodulate anything.”

I and Q.
My entry-level interest in SDR needed a little refinement and Youngblood defined I and Q in his paper, A Software Defined Radio for the Masses, Part 1 wherein, “When the RF signal is converted to baseband audio using a single channel, we can visualize the output as varying in amplitude along a single axis… We will refer to this as the in-phase or I signal.” (2002, p 4)

Furthermore, “If we delay a copy of the RF carrier by 90 [degrees] to form a quadrature (Q) signal, we can then use it in conjunction with the original in-phase signal and the math we learned in middle school to determine the instantaneous phase and amplitude of the original signal.” (Youngblood, 2002, p 4)

Gerald mentioned, “SDR is 100 percent modulation and demodulation performed within software. Minimize hardware and maximize software. SDR is the ability to easily and quickly change the personality of the radio.”

SDR and Ham Radio.
When questioned about SDR and RadioSport, “Lots of people using CW Skimmer with FlexRadio. With Skimmer, it becomes a visual radio because of the waterfall; we are shifting into the visual era.”

Gerald also noted an influx of software engineers into ham radio with a particular interest in SDR. Additionally, in terms of personal computing, it is gamers driving processing power according to his observations.

I played video games like the best of them and dumped a few too many quarters as well. What I took from the experience was the visual impact of the game. Who can forget the blockiness of Atari's Pong or Tank? Today's visual input is a quantum leap from Pong and an attention grabber for Millennials.

I asked about SDR and the general ham population, “Today, I’m packing the rooms and the change is dramatic. We have enjoyed a tremendous volume of volunteers. People wanted to be part of the revolution and some are saying SDR is more revolutionary than single sideband (SSB).”

When asked about the future of SDR, “Open source is creating contributors who love to do it. On the other hand, our get on the air (GOTA) Field Day station was very popular and the young people got it. They are comfortable with point and shoot. The thing that has to happen, people need to realize, we are on the tip of the wave.”

Conclusion.
CW Skimmer spawned my interest in SDR and Skimmer's technological reach is still unfolding. SDR, for me, is defining a new era in ham radio. It is technology driven by open source software and is not limited by the constraint or limitation of hardware. I would understand this as a fundamental shift in our ability to process radio frequency (RF) while exceeding the SSB revolution. Additionally, couple SDR with its visual output, and one may sense a crossover appeal.

FlexRadio Systems offers their knowledge base (KB) free of charge. A knowledge base is important and one can gain an education from SDR fundamentals to advanced features. Gerald mentioned to me that the Internet and Google are enabling technologies. And he credits both for facilitating his passion for technology. Furthermore, if one is interested and wants to discover more about SDR then click here.

Gerald gave me this before concluding our interview, "SDR is the radio that only keeps getting better."

Reference:

Youngblood, G. (2002). A Software-Defined Radio for the Masses, Part 1. QEX, 13-21. (p 4)

Wolfgang L, Reed D, and Carman J (2007). [8th ed.] Extra Class License Manual. ARRL-The national association for amateur radio. Newington, Ct. 06111. (pp. C-3, C-6)

Jack, K4SAC said "So yes Ham Radio is going to go "grey"...what is Ham Radio going to do to capture the interest of the Millennials."

Read comment here.

There are a few in our ham radio community who get it and are working toward this end. Keep your RSS on KA3DRR into the future.

On the other hand, one might redefine the meaning of social and social interactions, as a result of the personal computer. Perhaps it is generational bias as to what it means to be socially active as a Millennial? They are after all defined by the social context of the times just like myself.

Adaptation is the key and the Millennials are highly adaptable. They have to be given the velocity of today's interaction. Attention span is another aspect and I'm beginning to think in terms of chunking. That is reducing the time on content into smaller chunks of content much like the way one learns a phone number.

Boredom? I'm not too sure about that given the success of social networking websites like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and FriendFeed.

However something is quietly happening inside ham radio and I'm looking forward to riding the wave into the future. Stay tuned.

73 from the shackadelic.

Gray Beards & Ham Radio

Surfers have a nickname for guys like myself. Gray beards. We are the guys filling the line-up with longboards. Soulful. Artful. Just out for the ride but it is the grommet who gets it. A grom shows up with a shortboard ready to slash on a waves notice. He's got a cell phone and texting his friend on current conditions.

Youth isn't immortal as I have learned. And my soon-to-be 44-year old bones tend to creak just a little. The long board alternative is cool but the real developments, the cutting edge stuff, is grom territory.

Ham radio, on the other hand, is moving into gray beard territory. It's not a bad thing. It is what it is. And the swing into the mid-life demographic is cool as well. And coming to terms with the gray bearding of ham radio is important.

One might ask, "Why so KA3DRR?"
I believe, it is time to reach an understanding, the Millenial (1980-1994) or Generation Y, does not get ham radio and will not get ham radio into the future. And accepting this idea is not a bad idea either.

Certainly, I do not bemoan Millenials some but not unprecedented numbers will join ham radio in the forthcoming decades. The question might be, "How will I address the downsizing of ham radio as life marches toward retirement?"

I'm asking this question because it is important too me.

Wikipedia On Millenial or Generation Y.

• "Millennials, like other generations, are shaped by the events, leaders, developments and trends of its time."
• "They have been labeled the "sandwich generation" because so many remain home well into their 20s right at the time that their own parents are needing more care."
• "Generation Y are thought to have more in common with the Federation Generation (1901-1924) than any other generation. This is because both generations are defined as “Civics”, and these people are characterised as wealth creators and nation builders."
• 97% own a computer.
• 94% own a cell phone.
• 76% use instant messaging.

I was blown away by the percentages and one might wonder where a Millenial might find time. The trend of the current times is social networking. Texting is the method of choice and cell phones are the device. Market penetration is probably unquestionable and a juggernaut to confront. For me, technology is embedded into the psyche of the Millenial, and understanding this concept is a good beginning.

The Changing Face.

• "More than 80% of the growth in the number of households in the next five years will be among those headed by people 55 and older."
• "Two age groups -- 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 (together about 47 million households) -- have the highest number of dual-earner married couples, and they account for almost half (49%) of total U.S. consumer spending."
• "As these two age groups shrink in the next five years (by as much as 1 million households), a larger share of future increases in consumer spending may have to come from those high-growth households headed by someone 55 or older."

The gray bearding of ham radio is not a bad thing. But failing to grasp its implications is another. Read KE9V's Number 16 for a better explanation.

VK9DWX Willis Island DXpedition 2008

Who would not like to go on a DXpedition? An opportunity presents itself and the destination is Willis Island. The VK9DWX Willis Island DXpedition is spearheaded by the Bavarian Contest Club (BCC).

All Aboard.

• The VK9DWX Willis Island DXpedition begins October 15th from Cairns, Queensland, Australia that includes a 4-day trip aboard the Rum Runner.
• The DXpedition ends on the 19th of October in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
• Guest operation is possible.
• Meals included along with soft drinks.
• Must arrive on schedule and the flight to Cairns, Queensland, Australia is not included in the package.
• The cost is EUR 1000 - per person according to the Willis Island DXpedition website.

Take a look at the clubs and organizations supporting VK9DWX for example, Northern California DX Foundation, Central Virginia Contest Club, Clipperton DX Club and more. If one is interested in corporate sponsorship? Spiderbeam, Titanex, and microHAM are teaming up with VK9DWX.

Leave no page unturned because VK9DWX Willis Island DXpedition 2008 is ramping up for the world of ham radio.

By the way, stay informed on breaking news and subscribe to VK9DWX's really simple syndication (RSS) feed, it is free. Just click on the blue RSS 2.0 widget.

73 from the shack.

IARU HF World Championship 2008 Results

Mix a good time in Long Beach, little sleep, less than a stellar performance on the part of the propagation, and the formula equaled a token effort. Typically, the kilowatt stations in King Henry Six have an easy read on my signal but this year was different. The noise level was enough for me to consider whether slogging it out had any value. I did not give up and tried again later in the evening on 40-Meters however fatigue gnawed at my concentration.

I worked a couple Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) members before hitting the off switch. Even Mexico eluded me on 20-Meters and that is quite unusual even with 50-watts into a doublet. Likewise, several repeats on 40-Meter CW finalized my decision that is, get that needed rest and revisit the band later in the morning.

Pulling myself out of bed was an impossible task when the comfort of sleep tugged at my willingness to operate. I thought about operating. I wanted to operate. And I give the pillow credit for whispering only one word. Needless to say, I fell back asleep, as the waning hours of the IARU HF World Championship slugged its way too the finish line.

Results.
40m 20m
--6----1-----7---Total
--2----1-----3---Total Multipliers
--10---5----15---Total Points

I squeaked out a few QSOs and thank those operators who said hello, wished me 73, and kick butt. I'm looking toward the North American QSO Party (NAQP) CW in August. This time no chow hounding un-natural food like curl fries the size of a brick or a scheduled trip that coincides with RadioSport.

Contest on.

Extra Class Examination Notes | Desensitization | Duplexer | Filter(s)

What is desensitization? And say that three times in a row.

Desensitization.
According to Wolfgang, Reed, and Carman, desensitization most often occurs in repeater systems and respective receivers (2007). Typically, a strong nearby transmitter "overloads" the receiver and maybe the repeater itself because of TX/RX frequency proximity.

The key is isolating one's receiver from the offending transmitter(s), using double-shielded cable, and enclosing respective devices in a metal box as suggested in the manual (Wolfgang, et al. 2007).

Duplexer.
I'm visualizing one antenna used in a repeater system and the manual suggests using a duplexer. A duplexer is a series of cavities used to provide isolation. The above screenshot is a TX/RX 215-250 MHz Vari-Notch duplexer with a minimum frequency spacing of 1.6MHz, 250-watts maximum continuous power, TX noise suppression at RX frequency is .58dB min/.90dB max, and RX isolation at TX frequency is .90dB according too N2CKH's Joint Ocean Monmouth Amateur Repeater Linking System.

One may consider using low-pass, band-pass, or high-pass filters as well (Wolfgang, et al. 2007).

Purpose of Filters.

• If an AM transmitter use high-pass filter on the repeater receive input.
• If a nearby UHF television transmitter use a low-pass filter on the receiver input.
• If problem is a nearby amateur transmitter consider the use of a high-dynamic range front end in the receiver.

Reference: Wolfgang L, Reed D, and Carman J (2007). [8th ed.] Extra Class License Manual. ARRL-The national association for amateur radio. Newington, Ct. 06111.

Orange County Fair Gets Ham Radio

Los Angeles traffic was bearable interestingly enough. A stop at a Ventura Starbucks? The list is out and downsizing begins according to one employee. It's the roll out of the new economy gripping America.

Along the way, I discovered KLOS "The Classic Rock Station" transmitting out of Los Angeles on 95.5 while eating my glazed donut. The Eagles played Take It Easy and I looked for a flatbed Ford.

What adds zest and flavor, amazement and excitement to any adventure? The people who fill the gap in one's story. I can have all the imagination in the world without people? There might not be a story.

Orange County Fair.
I kept this question in the back of my mind, "Will I find ham radio at the Orange County Fair?"

But first I enjoyed a few corn dogs, deep fried cheese, a gyros, a honkin sized cinnamon roll, and a super sized cup of lemonade. Also, I paid $3 for a Televac 86000 personality analysis and the machine was so, so retro with banks of blinking lights followed by a dot matrix printout. Remember dot matrix printers?

The Televac 86000 is not today's Wifi'd laptop however the blinking gizmo got my personality. Funny.

We strolled through different exhibit halls and I liked watching those hawking wares. They captivate my attention reminding me of snake oil salesmen from a by-gone era. I dug those closed circuit HD televisions zooming in on stainless steel pans and the sales person wearing that boom microphone.

Snake oil meets high definition, baby.

We saw one sign that said, "3 shoes for $20 dollars."

I could not find a need for three shoes and pressed onward into the mass of humanity.

Meeting Rebecca, KI6OEM and Joe, KI6PGU.
I'm happy to report that ham radio is alive and well. The Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach (ARALB) rocked my world and warmed my heart. The ARALB has a 73 year history of community involvement according to the American Radio Relay League. This dedicated organization also operates the Wireless Room aboard the Queen Mary.

If one is interested in becoming a W6RO, Queen Mary operator click here. Any licensed operator is eligible according to the website. W6RO is staffed from 9AM through 9PM PDT seven days a week as well. That's dedication.

I met Rebecca, KI6OEM and Joe, KI6PGU both recently received their operating privileges. And their excitement and zeal for ham radio was gratifying. We spoke about Morse code and they wanted to learn. That's the golden key. Rebecca and Joe wanted to learn.

Bob, NC6Q Leads The Way.
I met Bob, NC6Q as well and his ham radio spirit captured the moment. He's spearheading the ARALB CW Practice Net for those who want to learn the art of Morse code. The practice net, according to NC6Q's handout, meets each Friday night except for the first Friday of each month.

The ARALB CW Practice Net rally frequency is 28.130 MHz plus or minus for QRM. Twelve words-per-minute with plenty of spacing for the Morse code learner. The net welcomes everyone across the planet who is interested in learning a new language like Morse code.

A Few Pointers From ARALB.

• Send your code at a comfortable speed in order to minimize mistakes and maximize enjoyment.
• If one makes a mistake then send a series of 8-dits then re-start the mis-sent word.

I was stoked that the Orange County Fair gets ham radio. Many thanks too those tireless ham radio operators who make up organizations like ARALB. And for Rebecca, KI6OEM and Joe, KI6PGM a big thanks and congratulations. Ham radio is fun.

73 from the shackadelic.