Drake MS-4 Speaker Replacement – that little cackle in my MS-4 Speaker’s been buggin’ me. Nothing intolerable, just annoying. Anybody that’s been around awhile knows these old 50+ year old rigs have a wholesome, full sound – a real pleasure to listen to. I like listening to their warm tones while working in the shack. But after decades things wear out – and then they develop an annoying cackle (where have I heard an annoying cackle before?).
So while listening on 20 Meters a few evenings ago I decided to Google if anybody still made a replacement speaker. I found a new one for $37 at Surplus Sales of Nebraska: SPKR-4-57
It arrived today, just a couple days after I ordered it.
The new speaker is quite a bit heavier than the old one – in fact, it’s over double the weight! 28.8 ounces versus 13.7 ounces. The magnet is quite a bit larger and heavier, even though they’re both 5″ X 7″ speakers (optical illusion in the pics).
Here’s a couple pics of the R & R:
Here’s a short video of the Drake B Line with the new speaker mounted in the MS-4. Ahhhhh, beautiful, warm, wholesome audio again (and NO cackle!):
Astron power supply meter lights sure don’t last long (at least the “bulb in meter” style ones). It very well may be the newer backlit LED meters they sell now will last, but that’s not an option when this old Astron has worked so well, for so long. I need lights, not a new power supply. Anyway, I finally got tired enough of not having those old meter lights to let me know with a quick glance that my Astron RS-35M power supply was on, so I did a little something to correct that.
Two 3/16″ holes centered in the meter tops, a pair of modified Hy-Gain LED Iluminator KITS and a little hot glue later and voilà, I can see again!
A few pictures, before, during, and after (click to enlarge):
There’s a growing movement in some Ham Radio circles that if you’ve ever worked an “entity” previously, you should relegate yourself to the sidelines in order to allow some “little pistol” a better chance at working that “new one”.
Really?
Nonsense! After building a station through just under 50 years in Ham Radio, I will work who I want, when I want, where I want. You have a better “chance” at winning the lottery than me not participating in a pileup for somebody I feel like chasing.
Time, money, knowledge, signal, skill – all earned for what? To sit on the sidelines?
While working a pileup on 20 Meters, my friend Meralda VP6MW surprised me, not that she was on her radio from Pitcairn Island, but she surprised me with the strength of her signal!
Well, today she got her new Hex Beam operational she received from Stan KE5EE. I’m a believer!
Congratulations Meralda, here’s the recording from our QSO:
This is a “republish” of a post I made in January, 2016. Why is it relative now? Well, with possible activation(s) of Bouvet over the next few years, it shows the “longpath” for all of North America is probably your best (and possibly only) chance to log Bouvet. With mountain ranges from 1,300′ to over 2,300′ blocking all of North America on the short path from Camp Fie on Bouvet (see AE5X map below), you may wish to start making preparations to tool up your station for the longpath over Asia. And here is my relevant story of working Kerguelen in the South Atlantic – over the longpath…
I guess my parents were right – “sometimes doing your homework pays off”.
Over the last few days I’ve noticed that Nicolas FT4XU on Kerguelen Island has a rhythm. He usually starts off on or around 14.130 simplex, then when the pile-up forms he receives split up 5 – 10. After a while operating on 14.130, he’s been immediately going to 14.330. So when I heard him over the longpath on 14.130 this morning, I went and readied the gear for a run on 14.330 just in case he did what he had been doing in the past. I’d have loved to work him on “nice and quiet” 14.130, but that portion of the band is out of our US Extra Class privileges. So I waited. And I waited a little more. Then damnit, he just vanished!
But I had already set the VFO’s to RX on 14.330 and TX on 14.335 so I checked there, and in the midst of some heavy QRM both above and below from the net geezers, there he was!
50 watts, a shoulder high dipole out in the middle of absolute nowhere from Kerguelen Island over the longpath into Colorado. All Time New One #329 for me – Ham Radio awesomeness!
Ken, LA7GIA announced today that the 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island is ON for 2022! More info can be found on their Website at 3Y0J.no.
“The 3Y0J team are delighted to inform about our continued effort to activate Bouvet island. After cancellation of the previous attempt due to the ill-fated sale of the vessel Braveheart we decided to continue the effort and search for a suitable and affordable vessel.” Continued…
My Collins 32V-2 transmitter restored by Howard Mills W3HM is for sale on eBay. Reserve’s been met, she’s gonna’ go. What a beauty! Only 2 days left! Read (and reread) the description fella’s!
All day I’ve scanned the bands and DX Cluster on both CW and SSB on all bands for Cocos-Keeling (VK9CE) and guess what? Nothing. How frustrating to invest and build a station, put aluminum in the sky, get a little goo, and pffft – nothing. VK9CE has been on that Ham Radio destroying computer software mode, all day. You know the mode where their unmanned computer talks to your unmanned computer. Don’t think it happens? Do your homework as it most assuredly does. They, nor you ever heard a thing. The automated software does the scripted connectivity.
Don’t worry you little pistols. There’s no need for an antenna. No need for some power. Hell, no need for a microphone or a CW key (or keyer)! You just need some computer software where your computer can earn ARRL’s DXCC in a day!
FT8 is destroying Ham Radio. Note, I didn’t say FT8 is killing Ham Radio, I said it is destroying it.
I saw the upcoming Bouvet DXpedition is all about FT8, even more so than they were on Conway Reef. If it comes down to it, I’d rather die with 339 DXCC entities than work Bouvet on FT8. Not going to happen. From the Rebel DX Group site I read today, “We will be testing some our new ideas to operate 5 different stations on FT8 (FOX & HUND) at the same time by 1 operator.”
As co-founder of the Rebel DX Group a few years ago, I walked away when it became clear FT8 was ruining what I consider “Amateur Radio”. I handed over my domains and Website I spent hundreds, if not a thousand hours developing. I do not want to be affiliated in any way with DXpeditions that operate more than 20% or so FT8. And I won’t donate either. You FT8’ers can pull your own weight and subsidize these computer efforts. It’s only fair, right?
FT8 isn’t rebellious, it’s stupid. In my opinion FT8 is like a self-driving car. No operating skills required. How much fun is sitting in a car you’re not driving? You get my point?
And a pleasant reminder. This is my Blog. You don’t like it – turn the dial. Go tell the world how FT8 is saving Ham Radio on your own social media.
An FCC Enforcement Advisory Warning? In 48 years a Amateur (Ham) Radio Operator, I’ve never seen this.
Federal Communications Commission DA 21-73
Released: January 17, 2021
FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY WARNING: AMATEUR AND PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES LICENSEES AND OPERATORS MAY NOT USE RADIO EQUIPMENT TO COMMIT OR FACILITATE CRIMINAL ACTS
The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission issues this Enforcement Advisory to remind licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as licensees and operators in the Personal Radio Services, that the Commission prohibits the use of radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts.
The Bureau has become aware of discussions on social media platforms suggesting that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms for groups to communicate and coordinate future activities.
The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted purposes, including speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes.
Specifically, the Bureau reminds amateur licensees that they are prohibited from transmitting “communications intended to facilitate a criminal act” or “messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.” 47 CFR § 97.113(a)(4).
Likewise, individuals operating radios in the Personal Radio Services, a category that includes Citizens Band radios, Family Radio Service walkie-talkies, and General Mobile Radio Service, are prohibited from using those radios “in connection with any activity which is against Federal, State or local law.” 47 CFR § 95.333(a).
Individuals using radios in the Amateur or Personal Radio Services in this manner may be subject to severe penalties, including significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and, in some cases, criminal prosecution. 47 U.S.C. §§ 401, 501, 503, 510.
Media inquiries should be directed to 202-418-0500 or MediaRelations@fcc.gov.
To file a complaint with the FCC, visit https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC. To report a crime, contact your local law enforcement office or the FBI.
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
“Strongly Advise“? Seems to me after reading FCC Order 20-126 there is NO wiggle room. Either submit an email address, or lose your license.
PART 97 – AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
§ 97.21 Application for a modified or renewed license grant.
(a) A person holding a valid amateur station license grant:
(1) Must apply to the FCC for a modification of the license grant as necessary to show the correct Federal Communications Commission mailing and e-mail address, licensee name, club name, license trustee name, or license custodian name in accordance with § 1.913 of this chapter.
§ 97.23 Mailing and e-mail addresses.
Each license grant must show the grantee’s correct name, mailing address, and e-mail address. The e-mail address must be an address where the grantee can receive electronic correspondence. Revocation of the station license or suspension of the operator license may result when correspondence from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the grantee failed to provide the correct e-mail address.
Me thinks you best “get with it” OM, there can be no doubt Big Brother is watching (and waiting) for you rebels with no email addresses 🙂 Here’s a link to get your FRN number for your Callsign on the FCC ULS:
To update your license grant with an email address, you need to know your FRN number. You can find that from the “Search Your Amateur Radio Callsign” link. Once you have your FRN Number, you can either sign up (or if already signed up, Log In) at the FCC License Manager. Once in License Manager you can update your license and add your email address.
For years I used the free version of Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) by Simon, HB9DRV. It worked great. But over the years since Simon sold HRD in 2011, the only way to update the Country Manager database or Unique Callsign database was to edit them yourself. Frankly I got tired of trying to stay on top of changes so I finally moved on over to the one-time “paid” version.
And I’m glad I did!
I’ll probably make a few more Blog posts on the features in Ham Radio Deluxe over the coming months, but I’ll keep this post to just the HRD Rotator program. For my three electronic rotor controllers HRD Rotator is absolutely fantastic!
Here’s a screenshot of HRD Rotator controlling my three electronic controllers (click to enlarge):
I simply set the rotator type, set the com port for each rotator, set for 1 second refresh interval from the pulldown menu, and “connect”. HRD remembers my settings so I only have to set them once initially, then the program remembers them every time I open HRD. I point & shoot with the mouse so no more holding down levers or fingers slipping off the controller brake for me! In my case, the Hy-Gain Tailtwister rotator on Com 3 is powered by our Ham Supply Rotor-EZ With RS 232 board mounted inside a Hy-Gain controller, Com 4 is a Alpha Spid “RAK” rotator powered by an Alpha Spid electronic controller, and Com 5 is a Yaesu G-800 rotator powered by our internal Ham Supply RotorCard mounted in a Yaesu G-800DXA controller. Hands off control of all three rotators!
Here’s a snapshot of my HRD Logbook program with one rotator chosen. As you can see I have the screen stacked with several utilities in HRD. Logging, DX Cluster, rotator control, audio recording, QRZ lookup, and more. If I want to change the rotator heading all I have to do is click the new heading and HRD Rotator in combination with my chosen electronic controller do the rest. One click on 315° and my antenna is on its way to Japan. 90° to South Africa. 180° to the South Pole. I can watch the pointer follow the rotator in real time and am also assured the antenna is where I want it. Easy stuff, and as always HRD is rock solid. No flaky bugs or crashes.
That’s about it for this Part I review of Ham Radio Deluxe. Check back soon for Part II. I’ll probably review the HRD Logbook, some of its functions, awards tracking and their one click LoTW upload/download utility. Awesome sauce. Click their link/logo on the right if you’d like to find out more about Ham Radio Deluxe software, straight from the company itself. Visit Ham Radio Deluxe
Region AR4246 underwent significant evolution, growing in overallsize while gaining multiple new spots. Subsequently, AR4246 was themain provider of activity which included an M1.2 flare on October13. Several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) with potentialEarth-directed components are in the mix at this time.Additional modeling efforts are underway to perhaps confirm thosesuspicions. The largest f...
As part of a much larger overhaul focused on deleting almost 400 obsolete wireless regulations, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced plans to delete or modify four minor provisions of Part 97. ARRL’s Washington Counsel has reviewed the proposal and agrees that the deletions are to obsolete rules and will have no impact on today’s […]
Amateur radio operators serve their communities across the United States in many ways, before and When All Else Fails®. Using their skills as communicators, their personal equipment, and the Amateur Radio Service, the “hams” provide a needed boost to public safety radio systems.The 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, held on October 12, 2025, featured 55,000 […]
Edward F. “Ed” Hare, Jr., W1RFI, who spent decades as an employee of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, has become a Silent Key. He died on October 10, 2025, at the age of 75 after an illness.Hare first earned his Amateur Radio Service license as a teenager as WN1CYF (later WA1CYF and KA1CV) […]
Solar activity has been at moderate levels for the past 24 hours. Solaractivity is expected to be low with a chance for M class flares. Solar windspeed reached a peak of 1124 km/s.Solar activity reached moderate levels following an M2.0 flare (R1-Minor) atfrom a region just around the Northwestern limb. Only low-level C-classactivity was observed […]
XQ7IR San Ambrosio 2025: "The operation includes one operator on the island focus in SSB/FT8 Modes, and a remote station working 24/7 CW/FT8 Modes." The post 3G0XQ San Ambrosio 2025 first appeared on N0UN.net.
I took a peak at the updated Log Stats from ZS8W a bit ago. In my April 19 post "ZS8W Marion Island By YL2GM", well before the operation commenced I predicted, The post ZS8W Stats first appeared on N0UN.net.
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SV1GA/A Mount Athos WFWL (Work First Worry Later). Turned on the radio a couple days ago and heard a big pileup for SV1GA/A on Mount Athos. Turned my 173BA... The post SV1GA/A Mount Athos WFWL first appeared on N0UN.net.
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FT4GL Automation. So how can it be this automated FT8 operation from Glorioso (FT4GL) has been approved for DXCC? The post FT4GL Automation first appeared on N0UN.net.
FT4GL Glorioso On The Air! Well, "Kinda". That's funny. I just pulled the Club Log stats. Don't even need to explain (.0007). Those that know, know! hahahaha! The post FT4GL Glorioso On The Air! “Kinda” first appeared on N0UN.net.
Cure for stray RF on my signal. And here's the $10 permanent fix: Also works on decoupling magnetic field hum from a pole pig transformer in a linear amplifier. The post Cure For Stray RF On My Signal first appeared on N0UN.net.
DXer vs. TXTer. They are not the same. Dom, T32TT calling N0UN on "Phone" from East Kiribati: (video). Guess this picture says it all: Lazy is, as lazy does. The post DXer vs. TXTer first appeared on N0UN.net.
9N7CI Nepal On The Air!
3Y0J – Bouvet DXpedition 2022!
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