Is this the end of morse code as we know it? 3 days ago the FCC and ARRL met and decided that the Morse Code requirement is hindering Hams from advancing and that it is to be dropped. You will not need to learn morse code for General and Extra classes of amateur radio. With dropping the morse code requirement Technician Class amateurs now get privilages to operate CW on HF. The word is that it’s going to take about 30 days for this to take effect. It looks like I will be taking my General Class Exam next month some time! Here is the full Article which was released by the FCC 2 days ago. I wonder if there is going to be an increased interest into Ham radio because of this. I guess we will find out! For Ham Radio Exams check out a previous post HAM EXAMS

———- Transmit Mod VX7 ——————————————————————————————————————
Remove the battery pack.

Remove the sticker/cover seal for the pressure sensing unit (SU-1), in the battery compartment. This is the black strip above cellular warning label and is where the SU-1 option goes.

Locate row of eight jumpers. They are numbered.

For Mars/Cap, remove solder jumper 5.

For Freeband, remove solder jumper 4 and 5.

Reset microprocessor. (Press and hold in the 4, band, and v/m keys while turning the radio on.

You can do all of this or you can do a soft-mod using VX-7 Commander which can be found at KC8UNJ.com. It’s free software and all you need is a programming cable and adapter. This is the route that I took when modifying my VX-7 since it is extremely easy to do, and just as easy to return the radio to it’s original state.
If something should happen to KC8UNJ’s server here are the files on my server.
Download VX7 Commander Version 1.3.4
Full Installer 2.4MB zip

—————Expand Transmit and Receive Range T7H —————-

Notice: We can not guarantee specification when expand frequency.

How to expand RX frequency

• Push [BAND] + [MONI] key while turn ON the power switch.

This will give you RX 118.0 – 174.0 MHz and 400.0 – 470.0 MHz.

How to expand RX/TX frequency.

*Please note the disassembly instructions of the T7H following this mod.

• Cut D15 diode on logic unit. (See below board layout).

This will give you RX/TX 118.0 – 174.0 MHz and 400.0 – 470.0 MHz.

——FreeBand Mod——I just discovered what appears to be the “freeband” mod for the US version of the VX-6R. It requires the removal of one solder blob.

Here’s the procedure:

Turn off the radio and remove the battery.

Remove the stick-on plastic cover that fits over the cutout where the SU-1 goes.

You will see two rows of solder pads, one row of eight (with two pads soldered) and to its right, one row of five (with no pads soldered).

Counting from the left on the row of eight pads, go to the fourth pad and remove the solder from it.

Replace the SU-1 cover and replace the battery.

Reset the microprocessor.

The radio will now transmit from 137 – 174, 222 – 230, and 420 – 469. The TX LED lights up in many other ranges but I have not checked power output anywhere but in the ranges I just mentioned.

Gigaparts Question of the Dec 31, 2005
——————————————————————————————————————Question: Pin two of the TS-480 microphone jack is for .
Answer: 8 VDC——————————————————————————————————————

I recently purchased “The Art of Intrusion” by Kevin Mitnick, about a week ago and wanted an electronic version of the book. Searching through the internet for my new book I found an interesting article in the fcc database. The article is in reference to Mitnicks renewal of his General Class Amateur Radio License in 2001 and whether the fcc should revoke his license based on his criminal behavior. I looked his callsign, N6NHG up on QRZ and noticed I am not the only one to look him up as there have been 8,480 lookups done on this call sign. I guess I am always the last to find out about something like this. Here are the pdf files of both of Mitnick’s books. In his keynote speeches he also talks about ham radio and some humorous pranks he has done that sound strangely familiar.

The Art Of Deception 5.2 mb
The Art of Intrusion 3.1 mb
Kevin Mitnick’s Keynote Speeches 12.1 mb