Some things that need doing

There are a number of opportunities to improve parts of Ham Radio. This posts collects some random thoughts along those lines

• Automatic HF beam forming. The idea is to create multiple antenna patterns that put nulls in the direction of interference. The algorithm can make multiple beams simultaneously. Extend the algorithm to put a null in the direction of static crashes, too. The multichannel Softrock is built and working. The next step requires implementing a test case in software. The SVD math has me stumped at the moment. Sometime it work, sometimes not.
• Faster JT-65b timing. The default is one minute intervals but with strong signals, the timing could speed up. Several approaches might work. Short sequences that break and listen to estimate signal strength. Or, take advantage of knowing own stations runs high power, if the other guy has a strong signal, we must have one as well.
• Wide band staring demodulator for FSK-441. EME stations can work without spotting assistance using MAP65. But Meteor Scatter mostly needs a schedule to work a station. Operating procedures for random contacts, tail ending, and spotting don't work very easily. Develop a staring receiver that demodulates all the MS bursts across the MS band. Develop operating procedures that have stations pointing at selected common points in space.
• Use JT65b or FSK-441 as an alternative to CW. Stations sometimes switch to CW to work if SSB doesn't get through. For example in the VHF contests, W2SZ runs 1500W and stations calling often run 10 to 100W. The could benefit from a box that transmits call signs, grid square, and QSL using a digital protocol. JT65B works for weak signals in noise, FSK-441 could cut through interference from SSB. The big gun would run a JT-65b and FSK-441 decoder on the Rx output all the time.
• Change contest scoring for the microwave bands. The ARRL contest rules give a lot of extra points for making any kind of contact on the microwave bands, probably as part of an effort to get people on the bands and to develop equipment for the bands. But we don't advance the state of the art with some kludged up CW radio for 5760 MHz. Those bands have good point to point data link capability and good local area network capability, but they will never be a rag chewer band or a random contacts band. The contest rules should support advancing the technology with more appropriate type of contacts. How about getting points for putting up a microwave link between two stations and maintaining it?
  

Solid State Amp Controller out to fab

The SSAC board went out to Sunstone for fabrication and will arrive about Sept 6. This board contains two channels of RF sampling, Relay controller, and 50V, 50A FET switch. This all fits on a 2.35 x 2.8 inch board. The board uses the Arduino Shield interface.

The 50A potential current flows through some traces that do not have enough width if you believe design guidelines. 1 oz. Copper has about 500 microOhms per square, which dissipates 1.25 Watts per square at 50 Amps. Most of the connections are less than 1 square, but that just means they're small. This board, and the FET transistor will mount to SilPad thermally conductive sheet to conduct heat away from the board.