Remote Control using your iPad

Last week i found a great app for my iPad! This program called CommCat makes it possible to control your rig als long as your in WiFi range. On the computer that is connected to your transceiver you have to make use of Hamradio. Beside this, you'll need QSXer, a little programm the connect Commcat with Hamradio. Audio is send vice-versa using Skype. Configuring is very easy, good instructions and support are both supplied. See yourself making global connections while sitting in the garden.

After downloading and installing/register QSXer (found here), you'll als have to register two skype-accounts. One is used on de transciever side, the other on the Ipad. Both take care of transporting audio up and down, so it's possible to QSO! On the iPad, download both Commcat and Skype, configure them and off you go. Think of all the possibilities of mobility around the comfort of your home. Beside that, using this app on the Internet is also possible. Offcourse, HamRadio Deluxe is also capable of remote control, but it's not possible to use it on the iPad.

Another extra of using QSXer is the the personal MyQSX.net webpage you'll get when you'll register (free). On this page the visitor can see amongst some information about your station, the status of activity, operating frequency and your S-meter (updated every 60 seconds). It's provides the vistor als the possiblity to contact you by mail. Nice is also the MyQSX World activity Map where live global connections are shown.

The Commcat app (which is originally an iPhone app) gives you basic control of your rig. Change frequency, band and mode (also CW) on the spot. It features some macro's and has a good user-friendly design. On top of that is houses a logbook, a callbook and a build-in DX-spot list. Commcat works great and using it is lots of fun. All this, Commcat, QSXer and Hamradio Deluxe are free!

9/11 Tenth Anniversary

Today  the global radioamateur community honor all those lost on September 11, 2001, with special remembrance of the amateurs who lost their lives in this tragedy;

Steven Jacobson N2SJ
William Steckman WA2ACW
Gerard "Rod" Coppola KA2KET
Bob Cirri KA2OTD
Michael Jacobs AA1GO
Winston Grant KA2DRF
Winston A. Grant, KA2DRF

Holiday activities

While enjoying a very active holiday in Drenthe, one of the northeast provinces, I managed to spend some time to set up a configuration and take some part at the Lighthouse weekend (August 20/21). Offcourse I had my D-Star handheld and DVAP taken with me, which gave me a lot of fun in the evening hours. Especially for the lighthouse event I brought my Yaesu FT-897 with me and several homemade wire-antenna's. Unfortunatly there was a high density of trees surrounding my cabin so I didn't had the oppertunity to make use of the ZS6BKW i build some time ago. Also I didn't wanted to highjack to childrens playground in front of the cabin to set up my Buddipole.

Luckily enough I managed to place a G5RVjr, one leg on 6  meters, the other on 3. SWR was okay on all bands. Although the vast density of the woods surrounding me, I heared a lot of traffic. Altough the location conditions were not good, I managed to work some european stations that Saturday. One of them was my 'first' with the Isle of Man. That afternoon on 20 meters I worked GT8IOM, the Island Radio Club at Ramsey. They're flag is now decorating my logbook (and the flagcounter on my QRZ page) and although the short distance, I am very proud to have worked them! You'll understand I had a very enjoyable afternoon, it was certainly worth the extra 20 kilo's of bagage I had to bring along!