CQ Amateur Radio

Using a Radio’s Squelch as a Station Controller

In a society that’s always on the move — be it as simple as puttering in the backyard or as exotic as a DXpedition (or anything in between) — there’s been an increasing demand to have the ability to utilize our ham shacks while away from home. In the pre-internet days, this was pretty much limited to DTMF1 control of our radios. Now, our home computers not only can control our stations, but we have remote access to our radios via a variety of internet options.

An Underutilized Approach

At least one control method has been underutilized (if used at all) and it could stand a bit more exploration: A receiver’s squelch. Yes, you heard me right: The squelch circuit in our receivers. So much emphasis has been put on the side of

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from CQ Amateur Radio

CQ Amateur Radio4 min read
Analog Adventures
When I was attending El Camino College, all the engineering majors were required to take a one-semester class in slide rule. The spring semester of 1972 was the first year they allowed calculators in math classes, and our slide rule instructor, whose
CQ Amateur Radio1 min read
CQ Amateur Radio
Richard S. Moseson, W2VU, Editor Sabrina Herman, KB3UJW, Associate Editor Susan Moseson, Editorial Consultant Kent Britain, WA5VJB, Antennas Martin Butera, PT2ZDX / LU9EFO, At-Large Gerry L. Dexter, The Listening Post Joe Eisenberg, KØNEB, Kit-Buildi
CQ Amateur Radio3 min read
Antennas
I have been doing a lot of work on direction-finding antennas lately, so it sure seemed like it would be a good topic for this issue. In Photo A, we have the classic ferrite rod antenna used in most AM radios, often called a wave magnet in the early

Related