Practical Wireless Magazine

10 April 2025

Don discusses VHF operation, working with young people and more. Icom IC-7760. A closer look: Richard Constantine G3UGF gets to grips with the new flagship radio from ICOM. The Radio-Aristocracy: Count Georg von Arco (1869-1940): Georg Wiessala profiles a man who could be thought of as the German Marconi. Modifying the Kramer Amplifier: Samuel Ritchie EI9FZB repurposes an ex-commercial distribution amplifier for shack use. Vintage Television & Radio: Keith Hamer and Garry Smith continue the special series looking back at the BBC’s coverage of Coronations since 1937, this time highlighting how the 1953 Coronation was relayed to Europe. There is also a vintage Coronation advertisement from the archives for loudspeakers. The series highlighting broadcasting events from exactly 100 years ago looks at May 1925. The saga charting the rise and fall of BBC 198kHz transmissions focuses on the facilities provided at Westerglen in Scotland. Coverage detailing 60 years of BBC-2 includes the disastrous power failure on the station’s opening night. They also continue their series about the development of Swiss Radio and Television since 1922. Going back to my roots with the two-metre band (Part 2): Richard White G6NFE embarks on a journey to discover what is possible on the 2m band. Forty Years of the CEPT Licence: Steve Telenius-Lowe G4JVG delves into the 40 year history of CEPT licensing. Data Modes: Mike Richards G4WNC introduces SATSAGEN, offering an affordable spectrum analyser. HF Highlights: Steve Telenius-Lowe G4JVG has a packed column, with lots of HF-related news to report. The Face behind the Call: Roger Dowling G3NKH meets the former Right Worshipful Mayor of the city of Cambridge, Jenny Bailey G0VQH. Antennas: Keith Rawlings G4MIU continues his look at the subject of Vector Network Analysers (VNA’s). A CW Demonstration Setup: Geoff Budden G3WZP describes the development of a CW demonstrator for the Royal Signals Museum, but which has applicability elsewhere. Two VHF Converters: We delve into the PW archives to bring you a design for a tunable VHF converter, a popular approach at the time. The World of VHF: Tim Kirby GW4VXE has all the month’s VHF and above news, starting with a plug for the next 433 Alive event. A Helical Longwire Antenna: Kevin Ryan describes a shortwave receiving antenna that takes up minimal space. Fault-finding Tektronix Oscilloscopes 465/465B/475 (Pt 1): Michael Jones GW7BBY/GB2MOP discusses these useful and affordable test instruments. Readers’ Letters: This month’s Letters cover QSL cards, getting coax into the shack, CB and more.