Planning A Portable Amateur Radio Session

By Paul Blundell - VK7AAL - January 2025

Undertaking portable amateur radio sessions is something which I find to be very enjoyable and something which I have had a real passion for over 20 years. For some people, this could simply be as easy as grabbing a radio as you head out the door; for me however, I have found that some more planning and research is required to get the most from my portable amateur radio sessions.

When I am planning a portable amateur radio session, my first step is to arrange a suitable day and time. I am happily married and as we have a couple of young children, ensuring the domestic front is happy goes a long way to ensuring I can have a good time. I like to try and arrange my outings around times when it fits in with my family the best. Only you know your own domestic situation and can assess the best way to do this. All too often I hear of domestic situations where one person’s hobbies or interests have a negative effect on the household. Normally I aim to have at least one portable amateur radio session a week if I can, normally a Saturday or one night during the week, however this can change based on the above. Of late I have been taking my children for more walks and quite often I take my amateur radio kit with me, in case I find a suitable location, as they are now slightly older, they will often be happy on the play equipment while I am doing some amateur radio.

I have also recently had a change of jobs, and this has seen me working from home most of the week, whereas in the past I could often undertake a session during my lunch break, this is now much harder.

Once a suitable day and time has been found the next step is to check the weather forecast for that day. During my involvement in the amateur radio / radio scanning /ultralight DXing hobbies, I used to undertake quite a bit of out and about scanning, which involved sitting on hill tops, lookouts, mountains and so on, from doing this I learnt two VERY important lessons:

- Sitting in the sun for hours at a time is not fun and this reduces your enjoyment of the hobby.

- Sitting in the cold for hours at a time is not fun and this reduces your enjoyment hobby.

Based on this I like to make sure the weather will be suitable. While the cold can be overcome with extra clothes, being too hot is much harder to control and in extreme cases this can be quite bad for your health (dehydration, sun stroke and so on). Storms and other weather extremes are also not fun to be out in, so I like to try and avoid these if possible.

During our Australian summer, bush fires are a very real risk and given most locations are prime fire spots, the fire danger rating (FDR) and a safe access / escape are very important to consider. The local sunrise / sunset is also checked, and this helps with planning a suitable time to leave home to be at the chosen location to maximise any advantage from these different times of the day.

Next you need to decide on a location, I like to have a mix of new locations and some proven ones. Some are quite close, and others are quite a distance to drive. The things I consider when deciding on a location include:

- Distance to drive (The cost of fuel is a factor in this, as is the amount of time I have for my session)
- Access (some areas are locked after hours or have other access restrictions)
- RF profile (Some locations are better due to distance from high power transmitters)
- Comforts (Shops, toilets, etc.)
- Personal Security / Safety

My planning really starts the night before or early in the morning when I prepare everything I am going to take, charge batteries and pack up my gear. My normal kit consists of this:

- Radios (1, 2, 3 or more in my carry case)
- Batteries (Fully recharged and also some spare alkaline AA's and AAA’s)
- Head phones (I prefer the ear bud type and these are easier to carry)
- Log book / sheets and pen + spares
- Torch (I am now using my phone / torch in my radio)
- List of all frequencies
- Multi-tool
- Food and drinks
- Band-Aids and a small first aid kit.
- Mobile phone
- Identification such as a driver’s licence (which you should be carrying anyway if you are driving)

In the past I have used digital camera bags and hard ABS type cases, these types of cases / bags each have advantages and disadvantages. ABS cases standout and make it look like you are carrying expensive equipment, which might not be a great idea in some remote locations. Soft cases on the other hand do not provide enough protection in some circumstances. Based on my experiences to date, I have settled on a hard case which I can either carry with me by hand, place inside my backpack or leave this in the car and grab a radio or two to carry with me.

Before leaving home, I check my kit and confirm I have everything I need. When I arrive onsite, I do a quick recon of the area to make sure it is safe, no dodgy people around and I feel comfortable. Then I do a quick scan of the bands and now I can sit back, relax, and get serious about logging. I also try to eat something and drink to keep my fluids up. I like to also get some photos each time I go out for the report on my blog. If I am going portable, I like to try a few different spots and interact with anybody I see, even if this is just a passing hello on a track. 

On returning home I make sure I spend some time with my wife and children before checking my loggings and entering these into my frequency database.

It would be great to see more people undertaking portable sessions and posting about these. Some photos of your sessions would also be great.

Tested / Researched Radio Locations - Tasmania - Updated January 2025

Cataract Gorge / Gees Lookout: Distance from Launceston CBD: 10 minutes + 10 minute walk Facilities: None. Nearest public toilet are Gorge grounds or CBD. Notes: Access is via a rough dirt / gravel track. Lookout has a weight limit and grated open floor so you need to be careful not to drop items down.

Freeland’s Lookout - Trevallyn: Distance from Launceston CBD: 9 minutes. You can park at the very top. Facilities: Sealed parking area and viewing hut. Gates locked after sunset but able to park on the road and walk in. Nearest public toilets are at Cliff ground, Lions park or Riverside Woolworths shopping centre. Notes: One of my regular Ultralight DXing locations, this site has good access and views of the CBD and Tamar valley. Some UHF commercial two way equipment in a hut and close to a FM broadcast station so these bands do have issues at times at this location.

Newstead Reserve (off Amy Road): Distance from Launceston CBD: 10 minutes. You can park directly out the front. Facilities: Large open space and children’s playground. Nearest public toilet is Punchbowl reserve or Newstead shopping centre. Notes: Being in the middle of a residential area this is fairly heavily used. Some paved areas but mostly open grass.

Punchbowl Reserve: Distance from Launceston CBD: 12 minutes to main car park. Facilities: Very large bushland park with children’s playground, duck pond and lots of walking tracks. Public toilets located near BBQ area over a foot bridge. My preferred location is the bottom park behind the duck pond. Notes: Excellent location and offers multiple possible spots. Top of the cliffs can be accessed via Blamey Road or a walking track. During summer snakes are a common sight.

Talbot Road Lookout: Distance from Launceston CBD: 10 minutes Facilities: Car park and lookout tower. Nearest public toilets is Punchbowl reserve or Newstead shopping centre. Notes: Views from the lookout tower are amazing towards Mt Barrow and down the Tamar River.

West Tamar Trail: Distance from Launceston CBD: 5 minutes Facilities: Multiple walking tracks. A viewing platform over the Tamar River. Nearest public toilets is Tailrace Park, open during daylight hours. Notes: Very busy track and well known for snakes in summer.

Tailrace Park: Distance from Launceston CBD: 7 minutes via West Tamar Road Facilities: Car park, playground, BBQ, public toilets (open during daylight hours), boat ramp, multiple walking tracks, a viewing platform over the Tamar River. Notes: This park is very busy during summer and offers many possible locations.

Queechy Lake: Distance from Launceston CBD: 10 minutes Facilities: Car park, small playground and seats. Nearest public toilets is Punchbowl Reserve or Newstead shopping centre. Notes: One of my favourite locations growing up. Has good potential, which is yet to be fully explored.

Brady’s Lookout: Distance from Launceston CBD: 20 minutes via West Tamar Highway + 5 minute walk. Facilities: Public toilets open during daylight hours. BBQ and seating area. Multiple seats around the lookout and at the top viewing platform. Notes: One of my preferred locations, a good distance from town but still easy to access. Highway noise can be an issue so headphones are recommended.

Mt George / Georgetown: Distance from Launceston CBD: 45 minutes via the East Tamar Highway Facilities: Car park and lookout tower. Nearest public toilets are in Georgetown. Notes: Steep drive to car park and then a short steep walk to lookout towers. Good views from the top. A number of mobile phone, commercial two way and FM broadcast stations have towers at this location.

Low Head: Distance from Launceston CBD: 52 minutes via East Tamar Highway and Georgetown. Facilities: Car park and light house, extensive walking area around this and down to the rocks / water’s edge. Nearest public toilets are in Georgetown. Notes: Most northerly point on East Tamar side of the river. Has a good take off towards mainland Australian. Gates locked after 6pm.

Mt Barrow: Distance from Launceston CBD: 1.15 hours via A3 Facilities: Small hut at the very top. Nearest public toilets are Myrtle Park hall. Notes: One of my all-time favourite locations. Road is 4WD only but passable when not snowing in a 2WD with caution. An amazing Ultralight DXing location. A number of commercial two way, UHF Television and FM broadcast stations have towers at this location on South Barrow Peak and North Barrow Peak.

Devonport Bluff: Distance from Launceston CBD: 1.15 hours. Facilities: Multiple car parks, beach, playground, Light house. Public toilets and a cafe / shops are close by. Notes: I have only undertaken one day time Ultralight DXing session from near the light house, this was very enjoyable.

Round Hill Burnie: Distance from Launceston CBD: 1.40 hours Facilities: Two lookouts and a climbable lookout tower with views towards Bass Straight and mainland Australian. Nearest public toilets are in the Burnie city area. Notes: A number of mobile phone, commercial two way, UHF television and FM broadcast stations have towers at this location. I have only undertaken one day time Ultralight DXing session from this location, weather conditions meant I had to cut it short.

Table Cape - Wynyard: Distance from Launceston CBD: 2.05 hours Facilities: Two lookouts, sealed car parking, walking tracks, Light house. Nearest public toilets are at Wynyard or Boat Harbour Beach. Notes: An excellent Ultralight DXing location, I have only undertaken one day time session from this location.

Video - Baofeng UV-17 as a Radio Scanner

Recently I purchased the BaofengUV-17 as a radio scanner. I thought it would be a good idea to create a short video, to discuss some of the features that this has, and how I have found it to work as a radio scanner.

JASAROL - QSO Log

Below is a list of all the amateur radio operators I have had a QSO with. This is exported from JASAROL

Table: records

id: 1

Freq: VK7ZJA - VK7RAA

Date: 01/01/2007

Notes: In Memory of Jason, VK7ZJA

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

id: 2

Freq: VK7AK - VK7RAA

Date: 17/01/2025

Notes: QSO with Tony in Burnie. General chat about radio and his location.

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

id: 3

Freq: VK7HDX  - 146.525

Date: 17/01/2025

Notes: Quick chat with Karl while driving.

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

id: 4

Freq: VK3IH - VK7RAA

Date: 20/01/2025

Notes: QSO with Paul. Located Walkerville VICTORIA, 3956. General chat about radio, SSB and his setup. 

https://www.qrz.com/db/VK3IH

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

id: 5

Freq: VK3IH - VK7RBL

Date: 20/01/2025

Notes: QSO with Paul. Lower signal levels, so switched back to VK7RAA. Two way signal reports exchanged.

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

id: 6

Freq: VK7OR - VK7RJG

Date: 20/01/2025

Notes: QSO with Owen, located in Yolla, near Burnie. Very noisy signal.

https://www.qrz.com/db/VK7or

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

id: 7

Freq: VK7ACE - VK7RBL

Date: 20/01/2025

Notes: Very weak signal. Unable to continue

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

id: 8

Freq: VK7VIP - VK7RAA

Date: 20/01/2025

Notes: QSO while portable in Riverside.

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

id: 9

Freq: VK7ZPE - VK7RAA

Date: 22/01/2025

Notes: Peter. Mobile to activation, as part of Wednesday group. Had a chat about other repeaters and issues with RVP 6m being locked on transmit.

Type: LOGGED

username: vk7aal

Hunting out new and exciting frequencies

Introduction:
The VHF / UHF radio spectrum is an amazing treasure trove, full of many different people and groups who are all using two-way radios for various purposes. Some of these are groups such as CB and Amateur radio operators who either have fixed channels such as UHF CB operators with 80 fixed channels or amateurs with their many megahertz of bands they can use. Other bands such as the VHF air band and the 156MHz marine are very fixed in nature so you can be fairly sure that any frequencies you find in those bands are somehow related to those services, however this is not always a given as I will show below.

The focus of this document is Tasmanian however most of the information is relevant to anybody with an interest in being a “frequency detective”.

Below is a quick rundown of the major bands and what you can hear on each of them in Tasmania.

25 -50MHz: low power transmitters, 27MHz CB, cordless phones (not recommended), some older types of baby monitors, defence communications.

50 -54MHz: Amateur 6M band

70 -87MHz: Commercial users, government, emergency services.

88-108MHz: FM broadcasts band

108-137 MHz: Aircraft band

144-148 MHz: Amateur 2M band

148-150.00 MHz: Pagers

150-174 MHz: VHF Marine band, Commercial users, government.

225-400 MHz: Defence allocations, includes some satellite communications

403-420 MHz: Commercial users, government, emergency services

420-450 MHz: Amateur 70cm band.

450-520 MHz: Commercial users, government, UHF CB

820-960 MHz: trunking, links (The TASGRN can be found from 865-870MHz)

960MHz up: mainly links, very little voice communications to be heard.

When I first started out in the radio scanning hobby back in 1999, I did not know anybody else who was in to radio scanning as a hobby. With the lack of websites and other sources for assistance at that time, I was on my own as far as searching for frequencies and finding out whom each frequency belonged to and for what it was used. Because of this I was forced to spend many hours searching the bands looking for new frequencies and then listening to them while making notes to help work out whom it was using each frequency.

There are a few different situations that would require you to have to do a bit of detective work and we will look at each of these in turn.

Finding a new frequency active and trying to ID the user:
The easiest way would be to simply look it up on the ACMA database and see those to whom it is assigned. Now that would be the easiest way but in some cases, you will find that the frequency is not assigned to anybody in your area, this means you have to do some research and detective work to who is using the frequency.

I have found the easiest way is to get a piece of paper and write down as much as you can find out from listening to the traffic that frequency carries; you need to look for things like this:

When is the frequency active? Is it 9-5 business hours or is it in use during the night and weekend?

Are call signs or codes used? Do any of these sounds like what is used on any other channels you hear. Or do the codes suggest who it might be?

Range / coverage area? Can you only hear it when you are in some parts of the city, or does it seem to have wide area coverage and is the signal stronger in some places then others?

Content? What do they talk about? Is there anything said that could help you work out who they are? Things like places, times, names. Do they talk about any products or areas? Do the opening / closing times relate to any business / places you know of?

In late 2004 while searching the UHF band I came across the frequency of 474.225MHz active, which was not on the ACMA database is use at all in Tasmania. Nobody on our scanning group knew who it was, over a few months of listening to them and noting down key parts of what they said I was able to work out who and where it was being used.

Finding a frequency for a known user:
The easiest way would be to simply look it up the company name on the ACMA database and see if they have any frequencies assigned to them, but in some cases you will find that there are no frequencies assigned to them or there are some listed but none seem to be the one you want. There are a few things you can do, first look for any frequencies that they do have assigned to them, if they are mostly in a single band say around 474MHz then this would be the best area to search for them. Also keep an eye out for any handheld or cars with aerial, basically the longer the aerial the lower the frequency in use.

If you have one of the newer Uniden scanners with “Close Call” then give this a try and see if you can find them when close by somebody using a radio. Common sense and caution should be exercised when doing this.

Scanning / search at major events:
I like to keep an eye out on both the TV news and the local paper for any events coming up that are likely to see a major use of radios, some events include things like major sporting events (AFL, V8 car racing), Targa Tasmania and the Launceston Cup. Other events worth searching the bands for include the Launceston Show in October, Carols by Candlelight every December, Festivale in mid-February, visits by the prime minister / other heads of state, concerts and other events that will see a large group of people in one area.

There are many methods that you can use when scanning these types of events and to a large extent it will depend on how close you want / can get to the event and if scanning / searching within the event is possible. I would be incredibly careful these days with having any radio equipment in view of the public and trying to sneak in radio gear to events that ban it would be a big no no.

Using various stealth techniques can be useful, this is something I have done in the past and which I have used to produce superior results. Some of the basic tips for this are:

- Carry your scanners in such a way that they can be mistaken for something else; a digital camera bag is great for this.

- Do not display you radios so that the public / event staff can see them.

- In a lot of cases being close to but not inside the venue is the safest bet.

- Close Call is your best friend

- White earphones make you look like somebody using an Apple device, use this to your advantage.

- Smaller aerials work best, they are easier to carry and reduce the signal level so that only strong local stations can be heard.

- Focus on the UHF band as this is where most handheld radios operate.

The first thing I do is check out any ads or websites for the event and see if any companies who are sponsoring the event are known radio users, if they are you can be fairly sure that their radio channels might be in use.

Once the event is being set up / underway if you can get close enough and have a scanner that supports “close call” then give this a run and see if it picks up anything worthwhile / related to the event.

I have done some testing of the close call feature and depending on how “dirty” the RF spectrum is depending on how well this feature works.

In the past doing some testing on an average suburban street I have got these results using the close call feature on a Uniden 396T:

5W UHF CB – 500m

2W 146MHz Handheld – 300m

0.5W 433MHz handheld – 120m

0.05W 173MHz Wireless microphone – 30m

If you don’t have a close call capable scanner then you will need to do some searching of the bands, most handheld’s these days are in the UHF band, try search 460MHz to 512MHz in 12.5KHz steps, if this does turn up any users then try both the VHF high band and the VHF Mid band and see what you can find.

ID’ing an “unknown” user on a shared frequency:
Recently a number of transmissions have been logged on “shared” frequencies, this includes a number of UHF simplex channels and also the standard frequencies loaded in to “Baofeng” type radios. From my monitoring, this appears to be a mix of “kids” and some business users. I have found the recorder feature on the UBCD436PT is great for this purpose, I can create a system with these channels in it, let it record and then review these recordings later. When doing this, keep note of any names, locations or other details which might help you to work out who the user is.

Final Thoughts: 
After all of the above, please also do keep in mind that just because a frequency is in a given band such as the air band or VHF marine band, it does not mean that all transmissions are related to those services. In 2006 a number of radio transmissions were heard in the greater Launceston area on VHF marine band frequencies which were related to the day to day operations of a business, they had sourced some VHF marine band hand held radios and were using these for their business. Once they were made aware of this, they moved to the UHF CB band.

Finally, a note of caution. Not every user of two-way radios are happy about the fact that their transmissions can be heard and these can be linked back to them. Twice I have been contacted by business two-way radio users who have asked that their frequencies remain “confidential” due to the nature of what they are doing. In both cases these companies had taken steps to not link their transmissions to their business name, my detective work allowed me to match these up. I also am overly cautious with sharing any details related to a number of government frequencies including those used by agencies involved in tactical law enforcement at a state or national level. While these frequencies use a variety of secure encryption methods, the mere existence of a transmission on one of their frequencies, even if the content is encrypted can be a guide as to that is happening. It is especially important when using “close call” and this information should not be shared.

I personally find hunting out and searching for new frequencies and users to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the radio scanner hobby and I am surprised that more people do not seem to do it.

Go on, hit that search button, and see what you can find.

Video - Doing Enough

Often in life we can feel like we are not doing enough, or we are doing too much. 

 

Link - My Old Ultralight Radio Reviews

From 2011 to 2020, I was a keen member of the Ultralight Radio DXing hobby, during this time I published some reviews online. "HamRad88" has made a video about some of these.

Video - VK7AAL- Benefits of Amateur Radio Licence Changes

Benefits of Amateur Radio Licence Changes
 

Why Your Hobbies Are Important – Finding Your Passion

Having a hobby that we enjoy and for which you have a passion can really bring out joy and improve our lives. It can give us something fun and enjoyable to do during our leisure time and provides us the opportunity to learn new skills. Over the past two decades, hobbies in general seem to have dropped off, whereas in the past they were seen as an essential part of a “balanced life”, between work and other things, having a hobby (no matter what that is) does not seem to be as important as it was in the past.
 
The best way to cultivate a new hobby is to try different hobbies until one “sticks”. Of course, all of us are unique and, therefore, our interests and hobbies vary. But once we find a hobby that we truly enjoy and are passionate about, we become hooked. It becomes a real part of our lives and captivates us in a very personal way. What matters the most is that you enjoy your hobby, and you are doing it for the right reasons, your own sense of enjoyment and not due to pressure from any other people.
 
Your hobbies are a part of you, no less than your family, job, friends, or any other part of you.
 
Is your hobby also your passion or has your passion become your hobby? Does it matter? What about interests, where do they fit in? A lot of people think that your hobby is your passion and that you must have a hobby you are passionate about; I disagree for several reasons.
 
What is the difference between a hobby and a passion? One definition I have heard is this: “A hobby is something you choose to do when you have a little spare time, but a passion is something that you consider fundamental to your life, something you make the time and effort to be able to do on a regular basis”.
 
Expanding on this and relating it back to amateur radio and me I have some thoughts this. A lot of people are involved in the amateur radio hobby for several reasons. Some people have this as an extension of their professional work or volunteer work, for others it was a hobby passed on to them from family or friends. The main difference to me between a hobby, passions and interests is both how you feel about and how other people see it.
 
I first became involved in the radio hobby as a teenager listening to distant radio stations on the AM broadcast band of a night-time, as I grew older, I became involved in electronics at college and this grew to an interest in another radio related area which was radio scanning, this was about 25 years ago. Over the past 25 years while I have mostly been involved in radio scanning, I have a couple of times tried by hand at shortwave and medium wave listening with mixed success. In all these cases this was as an addition to the radio scanning hobby. I am now focusing on amateur radio and find this is a good match for me.

Going back to my original question of the difference between a hobby, passion, and interest I have some thoughts, I will use fishing as an example, but this can be related back to almost anything.
 
If you go fishing a couple of times a year when you go away for a holiday, then this is an interest.
If you go fishing a couple of times a month and maybe read a magazine or two this is a hobby.
If you go fishing as often as you can, read magazines and books, maybe be a part of a club and plan things around fishing then this is a passion.
 
The second part of this is around other people and what they see of you from your interest, hobby, or passion. I work with computers as my job and while I enjoy the work it is not really a passion; it is what pays the bills. Some people I know work with computers but also play games, build websites, and build computers outside work, this then becomes a passion for them. Sometimes when I am talking to people, they are surprised to find I do not have a huge computer at home and that I do not play games much. A lot of people get defined by other people because of their work whereas in a lot of cases that is not all that is important to them. I would much rather talk about amateur radio and radio scanning than computers for example.
 
Something to always be mindful of is that your interest, hobby, or passion does not become to the determent of your work, family, friends, or relationships. I have on more than one occasion seen how destructive a single focus can be to relationships. Balance is the key; however, you should not let somebody try and change you to suit what they perceive as being right or better.
 
This leads to an interesting question: “How Much Is Too Much to Spend on Your Hobbies?”
 
Recently my wife and I have taken on the "minimalism" lifestyle by making the choice to live happily with less.
 
The amateur radio / radio monitoring hobby for me is already focused on this, for less than $50, I can purchase a dual band hand held radio and talk to a number of people, no matter where I am. As part of my research, I came across this article which I found very interesting, and which made me think: How much is too much to spend on a hobby?
 
Is this from a financial point of view? What about the value you get from it? Can you put a value on this? What is your time worth? Where does it fit in to your overall life?
 
To me it is all about value, if I spend $1000 on something and use it every day for three years then it costs me about 91c a day. Spending $100 on something I use only 10 times a year is not good value.
 
At the end of the day, we all need “something” to make life worth living, for me that is the amateur radio and monitoring hobby.

Portable Radio Session - 20/01/2025

DATE: 20/01/2025
TIME: 17:00 - 17:20
LOCATION: Windsor Park, Riverside Launceston Tasmania
RADIO: Baofeng UV-17
CONTACTS:
VK7ACE - Via VK7RBL. Very weak, low signal report. Unable to continue.
VK7VIP - Via VK7RAA. QSO while portable in Riverside.
NOTES: Late afternoon portable session at Windsor Park, near main playground.

18/01/2025 - Radio Time on the Porch

Working some stations on 70cm, both simplex and via VK7RBL - Ben Lomond.

Software - JASAROL - Just a Simple Amateur Radio Operator Log

JASAROL - Just a Simple Amateur Radio Operator Log
Developed in Python.

What is JASAROL?

As a long-time radio enthusiast, I’ve always looked for efficient ways to log my amateur radio logs and contacts Many existing solutions are great, but none quite met the specific needs I have as someone passionate about logging, sorting, and categorizing my findings effectively. This is what led me to develop JASAROL, a Python-based database system designed specifically for logging amateur radio related data.

JASAROL is a specialized, Python-based tool created to simplify the process of logging contacts. It’s a database designed from the ground up with the goal of helping radio enthusiasts like me track, update, and reference the information they uncover. Rather than relying on generalized software, I wanted a system that would meet the nuances of radio logging in a low-cost, flexible way.

Key Features of JASAROL

1. Efficient Frequency Logging: This tool was designed for streamlined frequency logging. JASAROL allows me to add and sort frequency data, note down related signal strengths, locations, and other information I find useful during my scanning. It has a couple of shortcuts, which aid in data entry.
   Middle Mouse Click = Open Edit Menu
   Right Mouse Click = Set logged date to today. This has been added as it saves a lot of time when updating the last logged date.

2. Customizable Entries: The flexibility of Python allows me to easily customize the fields and entries I want to track. Whether it’s band, frequency type, or even timestamped notes about specific contacts, I can add these fields as needed.

3. Sorting and Searching: One of the biggest advantages of a database like JASAROL is the ability to search and sort information quickly. By applying filters, I can retrieve specific contacts or frequencies, which makes revisiting past findings easier and more efficient.

4. Minimalist and Lightweight: In keeping with my interest in low-cost, low-footprint hobbies, JASAROL is lightweight and doesn’t require heavy software to operate. It can be run on most systems without needing much in the way of resources, which is ideal for a clutter-free setup.

5. Built for Personal Use: Unlike some larger commercial databases, JASAROL is designed for the individual user. This means I’ve avoided unnecessary complexity and focused on what’s most useful for logging and retrieving my personal scanning data.

Why Python?

Python was an obvious choice because it’s a highly versatile and accessible programming language with great support for data manipulation and storage libraries. It lets me easily build in functionality like exporting data, creating custom logging formats, and even generating reports if needed. Python also provides great flexibility for potential updates, meaning I can enhance JASAROL with new features as my needs evolve.

In Summary, if you’re an amateur radio enthusiast looking for a customizable logging solution, JASAROL could be the perfect addition to your toolkit. Designed specifically for those who love to keep track of radio discoveries, this Python-based system has made my logging process more organized and enjoyable.

The Tassie Devil Radio Case – January 2025 Edition

As a radio enthusiast with a penchant for organization, finding the perfect case for my gear is always an adventure. My current go-to? The Tassie Devil Radio Case, purchased from Supercheap Auto for a modest $8.95. It’s a budget-friendly solution that has turned out to be a near-perfect fit for my needs.

What Fits Inside?

This case offers ample room for my essential radio gear:

• Baofeng UV-17
• Digitech DC-1068 wideband UHF
• Uniden 0.5W UHF CB

Beyond the radios, it also accommodates:

• Chargers and accessories
• Earphones
• Aerial testing gear
• A notepad and pen

For such a low cost case, it’s surprisingly spacious, letting me pack everything I need for a day of UHF band monitoring, DXing, or general communication.

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Custom Modifications

To make it even more functional, I added a timber divider, wrapped in tape for durability and a snug fit. This divider:

• Keeps my two larger radios securely in place.
• Features custom-cut slots, allowing me to store the radios with their aerials attached.

This small modification means I can quickly grab and go, without the hassle of screwing aerials on and off. The dividers are also removable, which allows me to reconfigure the interior as needed, depending on the setup or gear I’m carrying that day.

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High WAF (Wife Approval Factor)

One of the unexpected perks of this case is its high Wife Approval Factor (WAF). My wife appreciates how it keeps all my gear neatly stored and out of sight. No more scattered chargers, tangled earphones, or misplaced radios—it all lives in one compact, organized space. For me, this is a win.

Autism and Monotropism

Autistic people have been described as having ‘rigid and restrictive interests’. Monotropism is a theory of attention that explains why our interests may appear ‘restrictive’. Basically, those with a monotropic attention style get pulled into our interests very strongly. We experience higher arousal for a smaller number of things, which means that, while our interests may be more narrow, we often experience much more joy and pleasure from engaging in them.

Monotropism can be amazing! We can learn so much about our interests, have a lot of passion and motivation around them, and find them deeply comforting and regulating. 

However, like most things, there are also challenges that come with having a monotropic attention style. It can be difficult to transition, move our brains on from negative things, and our interests can take up a lot of our time and energy. 

When I get deeply engrossed in something, I often find it really hard to get anything else done. I struggle to look after myself, get work done, and keep in contact with friends and loved ones. It can feel like my interest takes over every part of my brain, and having to stop what I’m doing can be very distressing. 

If I need to stop whatever I’m engaged in, I really need time to manage the transition. Often I need time to talk about my interests to ease the transition out of engaging in it. 

For parents, this might be why kids have a difficult time stopping what they’re doing suddenly (such a video games). When you tell a child that their tea is ready, they might react negatively because they are suddenly expected to stop what they’re doing and adjust to being in the world again.

Or for teachers, this is why it might be difficult to finish our work and get ready for play time, and why we might need to finish whatever we’re doing before we move onto the next thing. Sometimes at school, I would avoid starting work and getting engaged with a task because I knew I’d have to pull myself out of the tunnel (and doing that multiple times a day is exhausting)

When we come out of our ‘attentional tunnel’, we suddenly have to process our surroundings again all at once, which can be very overwhelming, especially if this includes getting told off for being in the attentional tunnel, or for struggling to come out of it. 

Having a monotropic mind can be both beneficial, and disabling to me. I love getting engrossed in my interests and love the comfort and predictability, but it can make it difficult to get things done and switch my attention to other things.