So, here in Wales during March 2025 the local RSGB branch are organising a RSGB Region 6 and 7 (Cymru) 21 MHz Challenge. Participants are encouraged to build a home-brew resonant antenna for the 21MHz / 15M band, and make as many QSO’s as possible ...more
Category: Amateur Radio
Apache Labs Anan G2 Fan Upgrade
If, like me, you find the internal fan in your Apache Labs Anan G2 (or either of the G2 Ultra models) several dB louder than the OM’s you hear grumbling late at night on top band, then you might want to consider an upgrade. ...more
Configuring Spots and Clusters using Thetis on a Mac
I’ve posted a few little guides on how to set up and use Thetis (Windows only) on a Mac with RUMlogNG (Mac only) and thought I’d add another little post to my Mac/Thetis series on how I configured and use Spots and DX Clusters ...more
On Top of the World: 360° in the Eastern Brecon Beacons
I’ve visited this quite beautiful location several times over the last few years, even this year not long after I purchased my new motorcycle. There really is something magic about it. Perched on the very Eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons valleys, not 200m ...more
Do we really have an epidemic of ‘lets ignore Foundation and Intermediate licensees’ in our hobby?
A few weekends ago, several friends and I, all members of our local amateur radio society, participated in the Pubs’n’Clubs on the Air event paying out of our own pockets camping/caravanning/travelling to-from a fantastic location 35 miles from our respective QTH’s. All-in-all we had ...more
Hints and Tips for Passing RSGB Amateur Radio Examinations
So… you are looking for or have your Amateur Radio Foundation call sign, and you’re wanting to book an RSGB Amateur Radio examination, or maybe you even have it booked, well here are a few sure-fire tips that whilst they won’t do the work and get that pass for you ...more
Easy Hermes Lite 2 PTT and a useful PSU Switch
So, you’ve taken delivery of your Hermes Lite 2, you have it connected and running perfectly, but after a few days operation you’re becoming increasingly frustrated in having to press the spacebar or to use VOX to Tx, and you could really do with ...more
Thetis on MacOS: Considerations re Parallels Network Mode
If you want to run Thetis to control your Hermes Lite 2 or maybe even your Apache Labs Anan using your Mac computer, you will of course need to be running Windows, which on macOS requires either Parallels or Bootcamp. I’ve not used Bootcamp, ...more
HowTo: RUMlogNG TCI on Mac to THETIS TCI on Windows10
If, like me, you have a Hermes LIte 2, you run Thetis in a Windows VM using Parallels on a Mac, and you also use the excellent RUMlogNG as your rig control / logger, then this quick overview is for you. It’s pretty straightforward ...more
A Guide to Hermes Lite 2 + Mac + Parallels + THETIS
Disclaimer: This document explains the process to get my Hermes Lite 2 working on my iMac using Windows 10 in a Virtual Machine with Parallels. Your settings will undoubtedly be different to those documented here, so please bear this in mind if you choose ...more