N5AC

Episode 218 - Stephen Hicks - N5AC

Stephen Hicks, N5AC, is vice president of engineering for Flex Radio, is deep in to SDR or software defined radio, likes to chase grid squares in his microwave rover, and observes the growth and trends in our amazing amateur radio hobby.  From Steve’s position on the cutting edge of technology, he has a lot to say in this QSO Today.

Show Notes

Sponsor Transcript

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N5AC Links: 

• N5AC Website
  
• LinkedIn
  
• Twitter Channel
  
• Steve’s Github Site
  
• Stephen Hicks presentation at SEA-PAC 2018 conference

Father is: Robert Hicks, W5TX

ARRL Annual Field Day

First License: Age 12, Novice, WD5EMG, 1978

Plano Amateur Radio Klub

Dad’s rig: Collins S Line

First rig: Dad’s Collins S Line

Rag Chewer

Digital Logic

Richard “Dick” Sander, K5QY

TTL Logic 7400 Integrated Circuits

W5AC radio club

Co-Op employer was Rockwell Collins Radio

Digital Equipment Corporation

Down East Microwave Transverters

Reference Oscillator

Central States VHF Conference

Steve Kostrow, N2CEI

Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR, FlexRadio CEO and Founder

FlexRadio Systems, Inc.where Stephen is VP of Engineering

K5SDR's SDR1000 Transceiver

FlexRadio Flex 5000

Direct Sampling Receiver

FlexRadio Flex 6000

Xilnx FPGA

HPSDR - high performance software defined radio transceiver

SmartSDR

PowerSDR software

Frank Brickle - AB2KT - PowerSDR co-author

Microwave Roving

September VHF Contest

January VHF Sweepstakes

Grid Squares

Rain Scatter amateur radio

Moon bounce - EME

AL Ward, WD5LUA - EME expert - search for references using Al’s call sign

Meteor Scatter on 6 meters

103681 calling frequency

Andy Flowers, Thunderstorm grid square calculator - getting reference

Minimal microwave roving rig:  VHF radio and “IF radio” (Yaesu FT-817 is popular)  and decent antenna with horizontal polarization

Kenwood TR-751 SSB VHF

IF Radio to use with microwave transverter

Steve’s purpose of ham radio: Understanding physical phenomenon, a fun radio playground

David Rowe, VK5DGR, in QSO Today Episode 156

Free Telephony Project

Bruce Perens, K5BP - creator of the “Open Source” definition

Vocoder

TAPPR DCC Conference

3DV or Codec2

Kenwood TM721A dual band VHF/UHF

SMARTSDR API

Dayton Hamvention

Excited most by: Digital modes, geosync satellites, Phase 4 ground stations, Michelle Thompson

Advice to new or returning hams: Have fun and do things that drive your enjoyment and knowledge.  Elmer (mentor) others.

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Collins S Line

Flex SDR1000 and PowerSDR Software

FlexRadio Flex-6600M

N5AC Microwave Rover