February LIMARC column: Some thoughts on streaming radio and EchoLink

This is an article I wrote for the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club for their February newsletter (e-log).


Last month I wrote about something not directly radio-related, but of interest to a lot of our members, especially after polling people as to what version of Windows they were still using.  This month I would like to spout off a bit about something a little more radio-related.  

To start, I think to keep some of this relevant, I must mention that I started out as a

Great deal on the Grundig G4000a at Amazon

Amazon is selling the aforementioned Grundig G4000a for $69.79
A great deal for this radio, which most people describe as having the best audio in its class.

Grundig G4000a at Amazon.com for $69.79

Streaming radio for the SWL

I recently wrote a piece for the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club on streaming radio and where it fits into our hobby.  Although many die-hard SWLers consider streaming radio to be one of the technologies bringing a slow and painful death to the hobby, I have found that those of us who listen to the programs themselves seem to appreciate it.

If you are interested only with the thrill of the catch, then this is obviously not for you.  For those of you that may actually enjoy music from Africa No. 1 or Intellectual Factor from Radio Belarus, streaming is the best way to actually listen to the programs.  I use these examples because they are

Shortwave Primer

Panasonic RF-2200

I had a fellow Ham ask about Shortwave listening the other day, and I told him I would put together a collection of links and radio reviews.  A lot of this is my own opinion, but much of it from reading the sites listed below.  Enjoy!


I've been listening since I was a little kid.  My first radios were National Panasonic analog models, given to me by a family friend.  I have owned many of the legendary portables from the 70's and 80's including the Panasonic RF-2200, Sony ICF-6500W, Sony ICF-2010, and Sony ICF-SW7600GR.


Current inventory:  Radio Shack DX-160, Redsun RP-2000, Tecsun PL-390, Eton E100, Degen DE-1123, Degen DE-321, Sony ICF-SW20, Kchibo D96L, Bulova 885.  The first SW radio I ever bought (at age 15 I think) was given

Windows Windows Windows! Which version of Windows should I be running?

This is an article I wrote for the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club (LIMARC)

With an apology to our Macintosh folks, I want to talk about Windows today, since it is what most of our members are using.  At my pre-meeting last month, I asked how many people were still running Windows XP.  A majority of the room raised their hands.  I wanted to address the positives and negatives of the last three versions of Microsoft’s desktop operating system and make some recommendations for those of you who might be unsure of where to go from here.  An additional note:  If you are running anything older than Windows XP, You may be doing so due to the age of the hardware it is running on.  Anything older than XP at this point is not being updated or supported, and has numerous security holes.  

Windows XP arrived on the scene in 2002.  It is very similar to Windows 2000 underneath.  The interface was almost the same as Windows 2000, 98, 95, NT4, and ME, so most of us made the transition well.  Service pack 2 added more stability and some very important security features.  Service pack 3 added more of the same, and much improved support for wireless networking.  Today, the statistics are alarming (or, flattering depending on how you look at it).  32 percent of Windows users are still using XP, an operating system that is going on 10 years old!  At the enterprise level that number is actually higher.  XP was a great product for Microsoft, and the support has been great.  Today though, if you are still running it, there are issues that you need to be aware of.

First of all, Microsoft is still supporting XP, but at a minimum level.  There will be no more service packs.  Major security holes are being patched (if you run updates), but not for much longer.  Mainstream support for XP (hotfixes for problems other than major security holes) ended in 2009, and extended support will end in 2014.  One of the issues with security is also browser-related.  The newest version of Internet Explorer (9) will not run on XP.  I know many of you at this point are saying, “but Neil, I run Firefox (or Chrome or Safari, or even Opera)”.  Yes, and so do I, but as we all know, every now and then we encounter an IE-only page, and have to run IE, and besides: The newer versions of IE are actually not that bad now (8 and higher).  Really.  

Speaking of software, most likely the next versions of MS Office are also for only Vista and above.  There will be many other applications that will not support XP in the near future.  One of the reasons is that software manufacturers will be starting to write software for the 64-bit versions of Windows only (since that is what most manufacturers are currently installing), and no one in the software industry wants to support the 64-bit version of XP (a major failure, in both sales and implementation).   More on 64-bit Windows later.

Hardware support for XP is starting to become a big problem too.  There are more and more computers coming out now that cannot be down-graded to XP.  To sum it up:  If you are still running XP it is time to consider moving up, but where to go?  Vista?  No-way! is the answer to the last question.  While Vista and 7 are similar in appearance and what is underneath, 7 is the better choice by a long-shot.  Why?  Well, let’s talk Vista a bit

Windows Vista arrived in 2007, after Microsoft had hyped the development version for 2 years (referred to as Longhorn internally).  Vista was not even close to what Microsoft had primed us for, and had several major shortcomings.  

For one, Vista seemed slow.  The speed issues were due to several problems.  There were problems with Vista’s networking components that made file-transfers extremely slow.  There were driver issues across the board, and the hardware requirements were so high that most systems dragged and complained under Vista.    

There were also bugs, and issues common with the first release of any operating system, but they seemed worse with all of the speed issues.  On top of all of these problems, Vista introduced a whole new Windows interface.  While this interface would not have seemed so bad if Vista had functioned better, for most of us it was just insult on top of injury.  After dealing with the issues in Vista the new interface seemed like change for the sake of change.  

Another major issue with Vista was the upgrade process.  XP and Vista are different enough that the upgrade is not a technically smooth process, and frequently left users with non-working or poorly working systems.  On top of that, Microsoft released so many different versions of Vista, that it was confusing as to which one you wanted to upgrade to.  

Microsoft at least realized the issues were hurting them, and set about correcting Vista.  Instead of changing Vista though, they released a whole new version of Windows.

Windows 7 arrived in 2009 and fixes most of the issues with Vista.  Better drivers, better networking, better security, and less versions to confuse us.  The upgrade problems have been both simplified and complicated now.  Simplified, because there is only one upgrade path to come from: Vista!  Complicated, because if you are coming from XP, there is no longer and upgrade for you.  You will need to back up your files and re-install from scratch.  Don’t be afraid though.  There are backup wizards on the install DVD to guide you through the process.  Just back up your files, and make sure you have the installation discs for any software you need to re-install.  If this idea overwhelms you, you can hire someone to do it for you.  You’ll pay for the software, and the time involved to install.

There is a common myth out there that Vista, with all of the service packs and updates is just as good as 7.  This is not so.  There is a huge difference with the overhead required to run the two.  7 has less than half the overhead at boot-time than Vista, and that’s with nothing added on!  Another myth is that you need even faster and newer hardware to run 7.  7 will pretty much run on anything that can run XP, as well XP was running, as long as it has at least 2 Gigs of memory (4 is ideal here), and was made after about 2006.  If your system is running Vista, 7 will run better!  

If your computer can handle more than 4 Gigs of ram (look it up), then use the 64-bit version of Windows 7.  32-bit Windows can only see up to 4 Gigs.  Many of us are afraid of the 64-bit versions of Windows and compatibility issues (after the XP-64 fiasco), but there are very few issues now, and no reason not to use the 64-bit version if you can take advantage of it.  If you do any video processing or work with very large images in Adobe-like applications, you will notice a difference in performance with 64-bit Windows and more than 4 Gigs of RAM.

So, to sum up, if you have XP, and it’s working, for you, it will continue to work, but you should consider moving up to Windows 7 soon or you may start to have compatibility issues with your aging software.  If you have Vista, there is no reason not to upgrade to 7 other than cost.  You won’t be sorry with the performance.  

As always, if you need assistance, drop me an email, or leave a comment over at one of my blogs.  73, and happy computing!

A review of the Degen DE321 DSP shortwave radio

I recently purchased a Degen DE321 radio from one of our favorite eBay vendors: TQUCHINA.
Tao Qu has consistently been excellent with his offerings, and this is another hit.  The DE321 is based on the Silicon Labs Si4835 radio-on-a-chip.  This newer Silicon Labs offering is an analog-tuned DSP radio, allowing for a pretty high performance radio (compared to other low-cost analog-tuned portables) with very few components, at a very low cost.  I have been pleased with the performance, and the audio quality for what I paid.

Rather than launch into a full revue, I am going to recommend you head over to The SWLing Post for Thomas' great review of the 321.  I may revue the 321 at a later date in a comparison with some other radios I have.  Until then please enjoy Thomas' excellent website.

The Verge

My former Aol / Engadget colleagues from ThisIsMyNext  have finally launched their new technology site, TheVerge.com.  Check it out!

Must AM Band Sound Bad? A Debate

Here's a debate on AM audio quality over at Jeff McMahon's Herculodge that was started by some random comments about the Sangean K-200 kitchen radio I purchased recently.




http://herculodge.typepad.com/herculodge/2011/09/must-am-band-sound-bad-a-debate.html

I added the following comments this morning:




I didn't realize until this morning how much discussion this had sparked. I agree that modern AM radio will not sound as good as FM, but I'm not listening to music on it. For news and talk it is fine. This does not pass as an excuse for a poor-sounding AM radio though. The K-200 discussion that started this whole thread has been a bit exaggerated (possibly by my not clarifying the extent of the problem). Yes, it is muffled, but NOT to an unpleasant level. All in all it is much easier to listen to than some of my cheaper pocket models (Degen DE-205 for instance).


There are some radios that make AM very pleasing to listen to though. Even though having adjustable bandwidth is a big help, my best sounding AM radio would probably be my antique Sears Silvertone tube radio. This is followed by the Redsun RP-2000, and the Tecsun PL390. The 390 is limited by speaker size, but has nice clear audio. My SuperRadio III (currently in my mother's senior apartment) is also pleasant enough to not cause migraines. The Kchibo D96L is actually a bit too bright, and sounds better with a dust cloth over the speaker. There is also a strange, and annoying "pumping" affect on strong AM stations (remedied by off-tuning by a couple kHz, but then that causes the soft-mute to kick in).


The small headphone models that the Ultralight DX group recommend also sound very good when amplified through some basic computer or iPod speakers. The Sony SRF-M37 models are a bit too broad on bandwidth for serious DX-ing at times, but that shortcoming makes for great audio with strong local stations. The SRF-59 is also good amplified or through headphones. The mini that really disappoints in the audio department for me is my Degen DE-1123, which excels on FM for its size, but makes AM a bit murky.


The K-200 will continue to play WCBS 880 every morning here on Long Island, and either the local NPR stations or WXPK-FM from White Plains the rest of the time. As I said, up on the fridge the acoustics are actually pleasant. There is a new FM all-news station in NYC now, but it's pretty awful.


By the way, our other AM all-news station, 1010 WINS, still plays the teletype-ticker-tape sound effect in the background during the newscasts. Anyone else out there have this? I find it pretty hilarious.

Blackout survival 101

Power still out since Sunday 2AM. There was still enough hot water left this morning for a quick warm shower. Candles working well, thanks to Jill's intelligent use of aluminum foil. The oil lamp has become more than a decoration. Special thanks to P&T Surplus in Kingston, NY for the amazing LED flashlights. I collect radios, so we have had plenty of battery power for news and music. Cell phones have remained charged, and we still have some laptop battery life left, plus Internet service through my phone. We cooked about 10 meals worth of defrosted meat last night and put back in the fridge with ice bags. The weather has been cool enough that we're comfortable at night. Can't wait for the power to come back on though so I can buy some ICE CREAM! Our thoughts out to Lee and Dawn who sustained some damage which will keep them off the grid for awhile.

You see, because of all of the hype (some say over-hype), we were ready.  We froze lots of water bottles in advance.  Didn't buy any perishable food starting earlier in the week, and picked up only shelf-stable things.  Why do we still have hot water?  Because we have ONLY used it for quick showers.  If you have a tank water heater, it will keep the water at least warm for a few days.  We made sure we had more than one phone charger for the cars, so the phones could be recharged.  I have a campstove.  Just a small butane one (like the ones they sell in the gourmet shops).  A quick trip to Chinatown Thursday netted 4 extra cans of fuel.  I know it's hard to believe, but candles were once used for lighting.  No, they are not as bright as your Gucci torchiere, but along with something reflective, they throw more light than you think.  The grill has a full tank of propane too.  You'd be surprised what you can cook on a gas grill if you need to.  I intend to bake on it tonight or tomorrow if the power is still out.  Some preparation and common sense is all you need.

I cannot believe the idiotic remarks over at LIPA's Facebook page. People downright cursing and screaming about them not doing their job, and not being prepared. How do you prepare for this? Oh, yeah, that's right. Build a big dome over Long Island. Someone suggested burying the wires. OK dude, here's a shovel. Start burying. If it was that easy, it would have been done. Others saying that the trucks and crews should have been in place BEFORE the storm hit. Well, that one is interesting. I think you would need a psychic to tell you where to put them, and some suicidal maniac crew members.

A bunch of other people asked if they were going to be reimbursed for the days they were out. Hello? You don't SUBSCRIBE to electricity. You USE it. If it is off, then you aren't using any. After that, the cost of food thrown away was mentioned. OK. You KNOW there is a hurricane possibly coming. What do you do? Buy LOTS of perishable food? NO! Run down the fridge. Cook what you can. Get a cooler. Freeze some water bottles and 2-Liter soda bottles filled with water. Be ready folks. Last I checked Long Island looked like a bad place to be in bad weather. This is nothing new. Winter and summer here are like this. Don't want hurricane weather? Tired of snow? Move to Oklahoma. I here it's safe there. No really. Trust me. Tornadoes hate trailers.

Some more discussion was about how ConEd was doing such great job compared to LIPA. Ummm... ConEd has mostly buried electrical service. Plus, the storm hit not that far from the Queens-Nassau line, meaning everything to the left of that line got lots of rain, while we got wind. LOTS of wind. Why were the crews not out immediately after the storm left? Well... the wind folks. The wind continued for hours. Last I checked being high up in a bucket truck in a 60 mph gust was not something that many people can manage without becoming a projectile themselves. Dorothy, Dorothy! It's a twister!

We will continue to camp out in the house till the convenience of electricity returns. In the meantime... read up on how the electric grid works, why you should prepare for bad things, and HOW MANY 500,000 really is. End of lesson.

A web of lies (how NOT to rent an apartment)

I've been wanting to tell this story for awhile. I think now is the time to get it all down for the sake of remembering, learning, and helping to prevent others from getting in a situation like this.

Jill and I were renting an apartment in East Northport from a great landlord. The apartment was in a nice private house, in a great neighborhood, walking distance to the train station. It was a huge two-bedroom with two full baths, a laundry room and lots of storage. The only complaints we had were the tiny kitchen, and a funky entryway which made it hard to move large things in or out. Otherwise, great apartment, and great landlord.

Unfortunately, our apartment got targeted by the Town of Huntington rental enforcement people. Even though, it had the required number of exits, many large windows, smoke and CO detectors, a range hood, and everything else it needed for safety regulations, It was one of three apartments in the house, and local zoning laws allowed only two. The landlord contacted us about the inspection and told us we might need to move.

He was very fair. We got our whole deposit back in advance of leaving to assist with finding a new place, plus some extra dollars for moving expenses. He gave us 60 days to leave. Further confirming that he was a good person, and a quality landlord.

We found an ad for the place pictured above.