Category: DX Commander

Callum’s Videos

Excellent 40m DX Conditions – Crossing Atlantic – SSB Evening Session

Post author By admin
Post date January 7, 2024

You can do this too. John made it through on 35W 🙂 This is a quick summary of the calls I made a few days ago whilst remote from Cornwall. Just amazing. It was so much fun to blast all those calls in the log. And 2 nights later, it was even more crazy! Time stamp on this video: https://www.youtube.com/live/BOX2sPAZaOk?si=KDnDyAQkCWaxYrNa&t=850

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The Wrong Answer

Post author By admin
Post date January 6, 2024

Warning ADULT HUMOUR. Edited FAST version of the Christmas stream with Mike M0MSN, Jonathan M0JSX and Callum M0MCX delivering the "Wrong Answer" quiz just befor Christmas. All the questions are below:

1. Before you can are allowed to RX on 160m, what exam do you need to pass
2. Minimum requirement before you can TX on 160m
3. Like checking a car before you drive away, what must a ham radio operator do before he/she settles down for a DX session
4. What is the most ideal amplifier for a recent keen DX Foundation licensee
5. Traditionally, what is the most difficult question in the Band Police exam
6. When would you use RG58
7. On the weekend nets on 80m, what is the most least common subject discussed
8. If you hear a new operator make a mistake, what do you do
9. If you live in Italy and the DX operator asks only for South America, what do you do
10. What is a compressor used for
11. The acronym RIT, what does it stand for
12. If an operator is running SPLIT, what does it mean
13. You are not sure if the genuine 2024 North Korean DXpedition has put you in the log, what do you do?
14. If you having a fun conversation on 2m band repeater and you notice your mother in law calling on the phone, what do you do?
15. On CB, why is it important to have a specific length of coax
16. Talking about RG58, what does the RG stand for
17. Ladder line. What is it?
18. If you are suffering from QRM, what is happening to you?
19. What is magic smoke
20. Why are some mic leads curly
21. Back to 160m, how many years experience do you have to have before you can join a net
22. Bonus: What subject are you NOT allowed to discuss on 160m net
23. What would happen if you are heard saying the expression “10.4” on 80m
24. If you heard someone talking about the bottom of the band, what are they referring to?
25. When is a 4 square useful
26. What is the next best thing from an Antron 99
27. When are you allowed to use coax on 160m
28. If you live in Italy, what is most important, Shouting 2 letters of you callsign, Buying a larger amplifier, Turning the mic gain up to 11, using extra compression, all of the above
29. If you can’t hear the DX station, but it appears everyone else can, why is it important to shout your callsign too?
30. If you are referring to Velocity Factor, what is happening?
31. Ohms Law. What is it?
32. What is an insulator?
33. On the way to the disposal yard, your car catches fire, in the trunk you have a reel of RG58 and a black bin liner full of old rubbish. Which one do you save first?
34. Before using, what is the first thing you might do after buying a new microphone?
35. What is Health and Safety?
36. How should you dress when attending a radio club meeting
37. Some ham radio operators enjoy wearing stained clothing to radio meet ups. What are the best stains to show off?
38. What lower power limits are imposed on Italian operators?
39. What is a dummy load
40. Primary use for an antenna is what?
41. You are suffering from interference. Who is Mary?
42. What is the quickest method of checking your mains electricity outlet?
43. Are you allowed to refer to CB on ham radio bands?
44. ICNIRP is an organization that is famous for what?
45. Back RG58
46. What is a second harmonic?
47. You are an expert in Lithium Ion batteries, what is your favorite hobby?
48. What is a device with two conducting plates separated by an insulating material called?
49. Who cares about the dimensions of your 160m doublet?
50. What is a local oscillator?
51. You hear someone talking about ALC, what are they referring to?
52. What is a ferrite ring?
53. What is the Skip Zone
54. What happens to the F1 and F2 layers at night?
55. What might provide a good earth for a transmitter?
56. Who cares about the fuse rating of your mains equipment
57. Flux is primarily used when?
58. List 3 types of people that love rules
59. You have woken up to the apocalypse and someone wants to use your radio, what do you do?
60. When is it best to lock up a licensed ham radio operator?
61. If you operate in a foreign country, what should you do before transmitting?
62. What is the least tolerant organic compound near a ham radio station?
63. If you reverse the flux capacitor sign wave, what might happen?
64. What is a loud speaker
65. My signal is Hot. How do I know?
66. You discover that your transmissions are causing a baby monitor to make weird noises, what do you do?
67. Who cares about the Italian callsign prefix history?
68. What are the rules about installing a mobile radio in a vehicle?
69. What actually is the purpose of ham radio?
70. MM0ABC moves permanently to Bulgaria. What must he do first?

DX Commander Youtube

Last Holiday Stream on SHortwave – remote control from Cornwall

Post author By admin
Post date January 4, 2024

Wake up USA! More playing Ham Radio on 80m and 40m from SW England. Cheers! Callum.

DX Commander Youtube

Mucking about on Shortware with my Ham Radio

Post author By admin
Post date January 3, 2024

I am remote controlling my ham radio station because I am on holiday, 200 miles from home. Just having some fun. Join me for a laugh!

DX Commander Youtube

SEVEN (7) Tips for Newbie Ham Radio Operators

Post author By admin
Post date January 1, 2024

These are the main tips we believe you need to know; who to trust, antennas, coax, radios, mistakes, mic-fright and attitude. Don’t be bullied. Enjoy. 73, John and Callum.

More videos:
▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7zFt6NV9fnnde2lP11fUTQ8 Antenna Modelling
▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7xtKohJRipVLQ6rxYzRP8eq Tips and Tricks
▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7xwhA0Msm_bNT4CQ_Bj5D4c Antennas
▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7wc6svNLY7IDthw1YCFNq9W Live Streams
▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7w9dp9Eqg_UhamrY5Ck3dyX My Stuff
▶️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7xvc3rHlpqqCkiBdAzYe8cf Ham Radio Training

DX Commander Youtube

I’m on my Ham Radio and saying Hello and Happy New Year to folks!

Post author By admin
Post date January 1, 2024

I’m on holiday but I am remote controlling my ham radio gear back home. Join in, say hello or just cruise the chat. Callum.

DX Commander Youtube

Callum’s DX Commander Year In Review 2023

Post author By admin
Post date December 31, 2023

50-100 videos in 5 minutes! Bet you never watched them all! Happy New Year 2024 folks! Callum.

DX Commander Youtube

Amazing – How Croatia Achieved Massive Youth Growth in Ham Radio YOTA

Post author By admin
Post date December 30, 2023

The incredible story of the growth in Ham Radio in Croatia with their youth groups. Meet Mirko, 9A6KX who explains. Callum. #yota

DX Commander Youtube

Tuning in SSB Signal for Newbies

Post author By admin
Post date December 28, 2023

Tuning in an SSB signal on HF / shortwave for the first time as a new ham radio operator can be a bit of a challenge. Maybe I can explain a few tips and give you a challenge. Callum.

DX Commander Youtube

Watch This Before Buying Flex Radio – 19 Questions Answered

Post author By admin
Post date December 24, 2023

This is an edited short-form interview with Mike from Flex Radio which answers some questions I originally had.

I think I got to the bottom of most of the questions I had – however I am still left with some minor queries. Perhaps one day I might like to try one because physically touching a piece of equipment tells you something about the designer and the engineering. I’m still not convinced – for me it’s probably a completely unnecessary purchase.

I like the remote control potential but not (yet) totally sold on the audio. Talking about the remote audio, Mike suggested that few folks can hear the "lower bandwidth" and that I might "hear" the difference. Personally, I use a 24kb/s data stream on my remote and I get the feeling that Flex is less than that but we didn’t know exactly what it was. I would need to try it.

I like the SO2R potential. The RIT seems to satisfy me although overly complex maybe for my needs. Not sure about the 3dB increase in talk power with the CESSB implimenation. Sounds a cool idea and maybe there’s a touch more power because of it – but it also seems to be a hell of a lot of extra talk power without sounding overly compressed. I could be wrong Something else to try one day.

The straight-forward claim the Flex is just "BETTER" when compared to other radios in terms of the audio "sound like" feature could have been phrased better – of course it might just be better and I am out of court here..!

I think I am slightly put off because folks seem to either LOVE these or basically HATE them. I know of no other radio that has so much controversy.

I’ll be interested in reading the comments!

73, Callum.

My statement at end of this video reads:

Do not make assumptions. I had Mike on the channel because he contacted me after seeing my video about my TS-990s and at that time, I thought I was interested in the Flex 6600M.

After a lot of consideration, I am not actually convinced this is the radio for *me*.

I’m not knocking Flex – but my investigations continue in how I either solve the RIT issue or find a replacement. And frankly it would have to be *some* rig to beat what I have now.

Right now, I just want a fix for my RIT issue, tracking 2 x VFOs at the same time. I think a Macro might achieve this in N1MM. I’m still working on it but little time to spend on the problem.

However it’s important for all of us keep an open mind.

Saying all that, I think Mike presented the "Flex Case" very well – it looks a great performer.

73 Callum, December 2023.

00:00 Intro
0:11 Remote Control
2:03 Control Surface
3:31 Sound Quality
6:56 Bandwidth
8:27 Slices
9:39 SO2R
11:47 eHam Reviews
13:03 Computer Control
15:06 Remote Desktop or Radio?
16:39 PTT
19:09 Audio
19:45 Objections
21:11 Software
22:07 Tracking VFOs
24:22 Fast CW
26:35 Flex Line-Up
27:46 Port Forwarding
27:55 Maximum Slices
29:10 CESSB