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N5AC

10/6/2018

4 Comments

 

Episode 218 - Stephen Hicks - N5AC

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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
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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.

The RSS Feed for all audio content from QSO today is available from here. 

Please join our QSO Today community by pressing the button below. It is the best way to suggest guests and topics, and provide feedback to Eric, 4Z1UG.
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Collins S Line
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Flex SDR1000 and PowerSDR Software
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FlexRadio Flex-6600M
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N5AC Microwave Rover
4 Comments
Jim Wilson link
10/8/2018 06:46:28 pm

Really enjoyed this interview. I met Steve briefly at the CS VHF conference when it was held in Austin. Really great to hear all the background on his career and hobby. Thanks to you both for sharing.

Reply
Eric
10/21/2018 01:06:52 pm

I also really enjoyed this episode. As a fairly new ham it was good to hear about Flex Radio from Stephan's viewpoint. His background and knowledge was very interesting and his career path was inspiring. Thank you for arranging a fascinating QSO. Also a highly recommended guest for future QSO's would be Michelle Thompson from the Phase 4 Ground Project and Open Research Institute.

Reply
Paul Taylor link
11/21/2018 01:34:50 pm

Excellent interview, Steve is a beacon of engineering common sense. And pleasantly modest about his achievements. Would love to hear from Michelle Thompson.

Reply
TIM MICHAEL
3/8/2021 03:21:32 pm

Steve is a great speaker, Knows what he is talking about.

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