72 MONITORING TIMES January 2010

The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications – The Comprehensive RF Engineering Reference

The2010ARRLHandbookforRadioCom-municationsisthebiggesthandbookever.Sinceitwas first published in 1926, the handbookhasbeenamainstayfortheradioelectronicex-perimenter.Acoreresourceforradioamateurs,hobbyists,engineersandscientists, theARRLHandbookisthesinglemostauthoritativerefer-enceonpracticalcommunicationstopics.Itisbothreferencebookandtutorial,woventogetherwithpracticalapplicationsandsolutions. The2010Handbook,the87thedition,isbothausefulintroductiontoradiocommunica-

tion and features themost current mate-rialonelectronicsandamateurradio. More than 60authors and review-ers contributed over70 percent new orcompletely revisedcontent,making thisthebiggestHandbookever(over1,250pag-

es).Newmaterialincludesall-newtreatmentsofdigitalcommunicationstechnology,solid-stateRFpoweramplifiersandswitch-modepowersupplies. AccordingtotheARRL,wheneditorsH.WardSilver,N0AX,andMarkWilson,K1RO,doveintopreparingthis87thedition,theykeptinmindwhatF.E.Handy,W1BDI(authorofthefirstedition)wroteinthatbook:“Writtenfirstofallforthebeginner,suchanamountofuse-fulandup-to-dateinformationhasbeenaddedthatthehandbookinitspresentformisequallyvaluableasacompendiumofinformationfortheexperiencedbrass-pounderandthebeginneralike.” For2010,TheARRLHandbookforRadioCommunications has been reorganized intofivemajorsections,makingiteasierthaneverto find exactlywhat you are searching for:FundamentalTheory,PracticalDesignandPrin-ciples,AntennaSystemsandRadioPropagation,EquipmentConstructionandMaintenance,andStationAssemblyandManagement. Inthiseditionofthehandbookthereisanewtableofcontents:ElectricalFundamentals,AnalogBasics,DigitalBasics,RFDesignTech-niques,Computer-AidedCircuitDesign,PowerSupplies,Modulation,OscillatorsandSynthe-sizers,Mixers,ModulatorsandDemodulators,RF andAFFilters,Receivers,Transmitters,Transceivers,DSPandSoftwareRadioDesign,DigitalModes,RFPowerAmplifiers,Repeat-ers, PropagationofRadioSignals,Transmis-

sionLines,Antennas,ComponentData andReferences,CircuitConstruction,StationAc-cessories,TestEquipmentandMeasurements,Troubleshooting andRepair,ElectromagneticCompatibility andDirection-Finding, Safety,AssemblingaStation,SpaceCommunications,DigitalCommunications,andImageCommu-nications “Each chapter has been designed to beeitheran‘encyclopedia’(providingdescriptiveoverviewsofcurrentpracticesandtechnology)or‘practicalhandbook’(focusingontechniques,designs and projects),” Silver explained. “Ineither case,Mark and I tried to ensure thattherewas enough introductorymaterial togetthenewcomerstarted,aswellasplentyofin-depth discussion the experienced amateurwillexpect.” Nearlyeverychapterhasbeenrewrittenorreworked,withmanyprojectsmakingtheirfirstappearanceinthehandbook.Herearesomeofthenewtopicsyouwillfind: Afullsuiteofneworrevisedchaptersad-dresstheburgeoningdigitalmodes:Modulation(byAlanBloom,N1AL);DSP andSoftwareRadioDesign(alsobyN1AL),DigitalModes(by Scott Honaker, N7SS, andKokChen,W7AY),andDigitalCommunications(bySteveFord,WB8IMY).There’s also a new sectiononD-STARdigitalrepeatersbyPeteLoveall,AE5PLandJimMcClellan,N5MIJ. ThepopularchapteronRFPowerAmplifi-ershasbeenthoroughrefreshedbyexpertsJohnStanley,K4ERO(vacuumtubetechnology)andDickFrey,K4XU(solid-stateamplifiers).You’llfindnewsoftware,expandeddesignexamples,andanew250Wsolidstateamplifierprojecttogetyoustartedtowardthatbiggersignal. Power Supplies is a chapter that everyhamturnstoregularly.Itreceivedtheattentionofworld-classauthorityRudySeverns,N6LF.Asaresult,thereisadetailedintroductiontoswitch-modepower conversion, arguably themostcommonpowersupplytechnologyintheworldandwhosecoveragewaslongoverdueinthehandbook. Someoftheothernewprojectsyouwillfindinthehandbookinclude:variable-voltagebenchsupplyusingswitch-modemodules;anextendeddouble-Zepp,multi-bandhorizontalloop;andinexpensiveYagisforVHF/UHF. Station accessory projects include ahigh-power160/80metermatchingnetworkfor43footverticals,anda100WZ-matchantennatunerandtransmittingchokes. If you’re learning electronics from thehandbook,asmanydo,theFundamentalTheorysectionsportsreworkedandexpandedchaptersonbasicelectronicsandanalogdesign,includ-inganalog-digitalconversionandmicroproces-sorinterfacing. NewresourcesforexperimentersincludeachapteronComputer-AidedCircuitDesignbyDaveNewkirk,W9VES.TheComponentData

andReferenceschapterreceivedneededupdatestotheinformationoncomponentcharacteristicsand surfacemount devices by PaulHarden,NA5N. Inrecognitionofthegrowingrangeofop-eratingmodesandactivities,you’llfindupdatedandexpandedchaptersonSpaceCommunica-tions(satellitesbySteveFord,WB8IMY,andEMEby JoeTaylor,K1JT) and ImageCom-munications(ATVbyTomO’Hara,W6ORG,andSSTVbyDaveJones,KB4YZ). The book’s accompanying CD-ROMinside the back cover once again includes asearchable PDF version of the entire book,including graphics.Construction informationand PC board templates for all projects areincluded,asaretheoriginalQSTarticles,ifthatwastheproject’ssource.JimTonne,W4ENE,has again generously provided his powerfulfilterdesignandanalysissoftware,Elsie,aswellasotherusefulapplications.RecognizingthattheprintedHandbookandCD-ROMsupportadynamicactivity,awebpagehasbeencreatedtoprovidelinksandsupplementalinformationthatmaychangewithtime. TheCD-ROMisfully-searchablebookandoperates on the followingoperating systems:Windows®XP,WindowsVista®orWindows®7,aswellasMacintosh®systems,usingAdo-be®Acrobat®Reader®software.TheAcrobatReaderisafreedownloadatwww.adobe.com.PDFfilesareLinuxreadable. Availableinsoftcover(hardcoverhassoldout),thesoftcoverincludesbookandCD-ROM.ARRLOrderNo.1448(ISBN0-87259-144-1)$49.95plusshipping. YoucanorderallARRLpublicationsfromtheARRL, 225MainStreet,Newington,CT06111-1494.OrderHotline 1-888-277-5289(toll-freeUSonly),MondaythroughFriday,8AMto8PMEasterntime.Youcanalsoorderonlineatwww.arrl.org. Formorethaneightdecades,hams,hob-byists,engineersandscientistshaveusedTheARRLHandbookforRadioCommunicationsforbothpracticalsolutionsandasateachertoopendoorsofunderstanding.Whetheryouuseitattheradio,ontheworkbenchor inthelibrary,thisisonereferencethatbelongsinyourradioshack.

Scancat -Lite-Plus Areyoutiredofhavingadifferentsoft-

ware program foreach of your scan-ners?Are you tiredof retyping all yourdata into one soft-wareprogramtoan-other?Thenmaybeyou’re ready forScancat-Lite-Plus. Scancat-Li te-

January 2010 MONITORING TIMES 73

Radio Shack Scanners PRO-64/2041 PRO-76 PRO-79/2017

PRO-82/2018 PRO-83/84 PRO-89 PRO-93/2053 PRO-94 (B) PRO-95 PRO-96/2096 PRO-97/2055 PRO-99 PRO-106 /197 PRO-135/136 PRO-137 PRO-160/162 PRO-163/164 PRO-528/433 PRO-2019 PRO-2051 PRO-2052 PRO-2054 PRO-404 PRO-405

Uniden Scanners BC-95XLT BC-895 BC-245 BC-246T

BC-780 BC-250D BC-785D BC-296D BC-796D BCT-8 BCT-15 BCT-15X BC-898T BCD346XT BC-396T BCD396XT BC-996T BCD996XT BR-330 SC-230

ItshouldbenotedthatthePRO-92andthePRO-2067arenotsupported,andtheSC-200isnolongersupported. Scancat -Li te -Plus works on Win95/98/98SE, Windows 2000,WindowsME/XP,VistaandWindows7.Theprogramisavail-ableasadownloadfromwww.scancat.com/oronCD-ROM.Themanual is includedon theCD-ROMinanAdobeAcrobatPDFfile.ThecostisUS$29.95. Ifyoujustneedsomesoftwaretohelpyouprogram thescanners inyour shack,Scancat-Lite-Plusisanaffordableandpowerfulalterna-tivetomostofthesoftwarepackagesintheradiohobbymarketplacetoday.

Plus supports all themost popular scannerson themarketwith one single, easy to useinterface,andthelistofsupportedradioscon-tinuestogrow.Scancat-Lite-PlusforWindowssupportsthememoryprogrammingforRadioShackandUnidenScannersatapricethatis

veryaffordable. WhiletheirScancat-GOLDsupportsbothmemoryprogrammingandscan-ning from thePC, Scancat-Lite-Plusistargetedtothoseradioownerswhoneedtoprogramtheradio’smemories,butdonotneedtheadditionalscanningcontrol. InthetraditionofotherScancatprod-ucts,allradiossupportedareavailableinonesoftwareproduct.ThismeansifyouhaveanyoftheradiossupportedbyScancat-Lite-Plus,youonlyneedtobuytheonesoftwareprogram.Ifyouhavemorethanoneradiothatissupported,youcanusethesamedatabasesfromanyoftheradios(tothelimitsoftheirfrequency coverage and features, ofcourse). It is easy touseScancat-Lite-Plus.Justpicktheradiofromtheradioselec-tionlistand“plugitin.”Theprogramsupportsbothprogrammingtheradio’smemories and (if supported by theradio)downloadingfromtheradiothefrequency information already pro-grammed.Soyoucandownloadfromoneradioandsendthesamefrequencyinformationtoasecondorthirdradio.Youwon’tbeabletodothatwithsoft-

warethatonlysupportsasingleradio. ThefollowingradiosarecurrentlycoveredbyScancat-Lite-Plussoftware:

GRE America PSR-300 PSR-400 PSR-500 PSR-600

800-438-8155828-837-9200 fax: 828-837-2216

www.grove-ent.comorder@grove-ent.com7540 Highway 64 WestBrasstown, NC 28902

Order DS-G8Only $ 95*49

* plus $6.95 Priority Mail or UPS Ground shipping in the US

Small (1" x 4" x6.5") andlightweight (11 oz.), this compactportable covers not only AM andFM broadcas t ing , but theinternational shortwave broadcastbands as well. Its back-lit digitald i sp lay prov ides accura tefrequency readout as well as 12/24hour time with daylight savingstime option and sleep timer/alarm.

Store in memory up to 100 FM, 100 AM, 100 LW, and 200 shortwavefrequencies. Digital signal processing (DSP) tailors your reception for bestaudibility. Runs onAA cells (not included).

Traveler IIGrundig G8�������������

Auto/manual tuningAuto Tuning Storage (ATS) functionDigital tuning with digital frequency readout (LCD)Local timer setting + world timer settingSleep timer & alarm clock (either radio or buzzer)Snooze/lightKey lock function3.5 mm headphone outputDC jack - 6VDimensions: 6.625” x 4.125” x 1.125” and16.8 x 10.5 x 2.8 cm (W x H x D)Weight: 12.2 oz. and 346 gAccessories: owner’s manual, warranty card

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Books and equipment for announcement or review should be sent to What’s New, c/o Moni-toring Times, 7540 Highway 64 West, Brasstown, NC 28902. Press releases may be faxed to 828-837-2216 or emailed to Larry Van Horn, larryvanhorn@monitoringtimes.com