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IW5EDI Simone – Ham-Radio

Modifying HP Server Power Supplies for Ham Radio Use

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This article documents the modification of 2 typesof Hewlett Packard switching power supplies to enable their use as power sources for ham radio equipment.

Obsolete server power modules can be bought from  online dealers at very good prices due to the massive replacement of older network servers; typical prices for a unit are as low as $10 including shipping.
Most of them have multiple outputs, typically delivering  +12v, -12v and +5v. Some of them are capable of over 20 amperes continuous output at +12v.

This makes them suitable for powering the typical HF amateur rig, which requires 20-22 amperes at full power output.

HP-280127

HP-280127

Yet, such power supplies were not widely adopted due to the  fact that they typically don’t work “out of the box”, requiring modifications to make them start upon connection to the mains. Also, there is no techn
ical documentation available for these units, which makes experimentation very difficult.

The present article is intended to provide experimenters with the information necessary to modify successfully the following types of power supply:

 

  • Hewlett Packard HP-194989 (400W, 32A max. on the 12v line)
  • Hewlett Packard HP-280127 (325W, 26A max. on the 12v line)

These units were chosen because they have +12v as their main output, derivated from a separate, dedicated converter (unlike typical computer AT or ATX supplies which derive all voltages from the same converter).

HP-194989

HP-194989

They are capable of over 20 amperes, and  are very plentiful and cheap (dozens of dealers offer them used at very low prices). Their median time to failure is in the tens of thousands of hours; the engineering, the quality of the components as well as the assembly work are outstanding.
Designed for use in highly critical business machines (network servers), they are ultracompact, lightweight, very conservatively rated and feature several layers of protection to overvoltage and overcurrent. Isolation from the mains is excellent.
The units have internationally recognized safety certification (TUV, CE).

Unlike most power supplies for amateur radio use on the market, the HP units offer power factor correction and have the added advantage of working from any mains voltage between 100-240 VAC, 50 or 60 Hz, thus can be used in Europe without any modification.
The main difficulty in making these power supplies work outside the environment that they were designed for lies in identifying a) the pinout for the output connector and b) the control signals that start/stop the 12v converter.

Rather than proceeding by trial and error, I have approached this problem by

a) studying the documentation for the power factor controller/pulse width modulation IC’s that control the operation of the whole unit;

b) studying the architecture of similar power supplies for which documentation was available (none was available from HP) and c) acquiring and studying the modules that the HP power units are connected to in the HP Proliant servers, the power distribution units, or PDU.

These modules serve as an interface between the power supply and the server motherboard, they contain  DC/DC converters supplying 2.5v or 3.3v to the Intel Xeon processor in the server and are also easily available for a total cost of under $10.

Tracing the signals from the power supply through the power distribution/conversion module, I wasable to identify how the HP supplies operate in their native environment.
While the 5v section is always “on”, the 12v section starts upon completion of the following procedure:

-Interlocking circuits are established on the PDU and PSU through each other’s PCB (each unit ensures that the other is “present”) – the PS_ENABLE signal generated by the PSU is pulled low (LOW=YES) on the PDU by circuitry associated to either the server’s “power on” switch or the presence and fault status of the other, redundant PSU’s -The PS_KILL signal, generated by the power supply in response to PS_ENABLE is pulled low (LOW=NO) by fault sensing circuitry on the PDU.
In fact, PS_KILL makes and breaks the cathode to ground circuit of the LED in the optocoupler driving the power MOSFET’s of the 12 volt supply.

Therefore the PSU can be started connecting together the interlock inputs and outputs and grounding PS_ENABLE and PS_KILL.

The rest of the circuitry on the output connector, being dedicated to automatic power management (APM) functions on the motherboard and/or BIOS monitoring functions (via A/D converters in the PDU) may be left unconnected.The output connectors for both supplies are PCB blades with gold-plated “fingers”.

For HP 280127, there are no interlocks.
The pinout for the “top” side of the PCB is as follows:

1, 10    ground
2,9     +12v
3       +3.3v
4       +5v
5       PS_KILL               Connect to ground
6       -12v
7       PS_ENABLE            Connect to ground
8       +7v
The “bottom” side contains supplementary +12v and GND outputs (easily identifiable being parallel to and as wide as the top side outputs) and also APM/BIOS  signals that should remain unconnected.

FIG1

In the HP 194989, the “top” side of the blade has just the high current +12 volt output (center) and g
round  (sides). The “bottom” (Fig. 2) contains the start and interlock circuits.  The pinout is as follows:

1, 13    GND
3       -12v
4       +5v
5       PS_KILL       Connect to GND
2,6,7,8,12 NC
9       PS_ENABLE    Connect to GND
10      INTERLOCK 1  Connect to +12v on other side
11      INTERLOCK 2  Connect to GND
FIG2

All necessary connections can be done without disassembling the power supply.

If the modification is successfully done, the green LED on the front panel of the unit will light up upon connection to the AC mains.

The output voltage will be very close to 12v (12.1-12.3 without a load).
Regulation is outstanding with 100-150 mV drop in output voltage between RX and TX at full power on a typical HF ham rig.
Voltage can be set to as much as 12.8v from an internal trimpot, but this involves disassembling the power supply and the experimenter should be aware that lethal voltages are present in the unit during operation, as well as for a short time after the unit has been disconnected from the mains.

Do not attempt working on the unit while mains power is present.
Do not connect the unit to an ungrounded power receptacle.
Use a certified, desktop-computer type power cord.

The ultra-compact 280127, unlike the 194989, does not have an internal fan.
While it should be possible to operate it at low output current or low duty cycle without one, this is not recommended.
Removing the handle and installing (e.g. glueing) a 40 mm fan next to the mains input receptacle is a satisfactory solution.
The fan can be powered from the 12v output (or any of the other outputs depending on the fan voltage rating).

For best results, the outputs of the power supply should be connected to a heavy duty 12v power strip by soldering at least 6  20AWG wires (280127) and at least 8 (194989) to each +12v and GND.

Like all switching power supplies, the HP server supplies generate some RF noise.
The noise is most prominent in the immediate vicinity of the power supply and can be minimized by adequate shielding andgrounding of the receiver, by the use of ferrite snap-on or balun chokes and most importantly by using a coaxial or shielded bifilar antenna feeder.
A long wire connected to a tuner inside the shack is the most likely to pick up the PSU noise.

 

Article by AC8DP orignally availbale at http://ohiopacket.org

A Sleep Strategy for DX Contesting

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A Sleep Strategy for DX Contesting

This article originally appeared in the National Contest Journal.

Why am I here? Listen to all these signals. Who are they? Wonder what they are doing? All this CW sure sounds nice. What should I do with this keyer paddle? Should I push this button? I can turn this big knob but what does it mean? Why am I here? There must be some reason, if only I could remember.

It is the 1981 CQ WW CW Contest and my first real attempt at single op DX contesting from the station of N5AU. Sunrise on Sunday morning is only minutes away. I remember waking up, sitting in front of the radio, and experiencing a disorienting state of confusion and wonder. Later, I learn from N5AU’s mother that I sat there for over 15 minutes without moving. Finally, slowly, I was able to understand what I was doing and why. The “sleep drunkenness” abated and I returned to the rhythm of the contest.

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K9FV 40 meters band loop

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A Mississippi Style 40 Meter Magnetic Loop

loop1Made from Available Aluminum Conduit, this Antenna will Not Disappoint

Ken Holland, K9FV
Edited by Brian Levy, W2BRI

It all starts with my friend Leon, K5BUL. Well, he’s a new ham of about 3 years who lives in Aberdeen, MS. He got into ham radio because he wanted to use it as part of cruising on his 35’ Fantasia sailboat. His life took a different turn after he bought a new ’99 Goldwing motorcycle. He’s now a biker. He has even mounted a screwdriver antenna to his bike and has worked HF using his ICOM 706MKIIG on the motorcycle.

I’ve myself have been a ham since the mid-70’s (’75 I think) with the original call of WA4UBD, which I kept until a couple of years ago when I got the vanity call K9FV. I’ve used ham radio on my sailboat for years. In ’99 when the XYL and I took an extended honeymoon for 6 months to the Bahamian Islands, ham radio stood us in good stead.

We had been in the Islands only a few weeks when Hurricane Dennis decided to visit. We found a protected place and rode out the hurricane. The first night out after Dennis, we headed out of the cove. We decided we wanted some something good for supper so we dove for lobsters. What was most unfortunate, however, is that while I was cleaning lobster, my XYL took a shower, slipped, and broke her pelvic bone! The next morning as the Intercoastal Waterway Net came on I reported my emergency traffic. Dr Jim of Miami came on the air and discussed my wife’s symptoms with me. We agreed that it did in fact sound like a broken bone, and she would surely need more medical attention. Needless to say, we needed more medical support than the island could provide. Another ham got on the air and did a phone patch, we were still anchored out, to my insurance company and to DAN (Divers Alert Network). I then upped anchor to the closest marina where we could access the island’s nurse and a pay phone. DAN’s staff doctor talked to the local nurse at the island, then the DAN doctor talked to my insurance company. The insurance company authorized a Lear jet ambulance to transport us to Fort Lauderdale for medical treatment.

Since that fateful experience, my XLY does not complain about any radio purchases I make. These days I just say “It’s for safety on the boat”. She even bothered getting her Technician license – KG4TIN.

From time to time, I also install a screwdriver antenna on my motorcycle. It’s an old ’92 goldwing and it works just fine for HF mobile.

Let’s get back to the topic of Magnetic Loops. Leon and I both share an enjoyment for building things, and antennas are certainly included. Since I live on a 40’ sailboat, and he has the land for antennas – we do most of our antenna work at his QTH. After reading Brain’s post (W2BRI) on QRZ and eham.net, I visited his webpage and liked what I read. I spoke to Leon and sold him on the idea of a magnetic antenna before Christmas of 2002. By Christmas Leon had the basic loop built using electrical 3 inch aluminum conduit. This is a fairly heavy walled soft aluminum pipe that bends easy. Leon constructed the loop using “factory 90’s.” These are pre threaded pipe which is bent into a 90 degree pieces. The loop is a 10 foot by 10 foot square with a 3 inch gap at the top of one side – like we saw in Brian’s antenna plans on this site.

Leon and I got the Magnetic loop tuned and tested Dec 30th, 2002. Leon had the loop all made up and ready to be completed when I got there on Monday morning. We hung the 10 ft square loop from a tree limb putting the bottom about three feet off the ground. We added the feed and the capacitor and got the loop tuned up to forty meters.

We turned on the radio, and got ready to do our on the air comparison. We were located just north of Columbus, MS. We were able to test the antenna with a station in Talladega, Alabama against Leon’s permanent forty meter full wave loop at 30 feet. The gentleman in Talladega was located about 200 miles ESE of our location. WA4FMR near Knoxsville, TN was our second contact, who was located perhaps 400 miles NE of us. Both stations gave good reports on the magnetic loop, but did say the full wave 40 meter loop was better by about 1 or 2 S units. That was about the same results we saw on the S-meter when receiving the two test stations. This performance confirms what Brian had expressed to me earlier on the phone. The one major advantage with the loop however, is its small size. Leon liked the loop so much, he is now planning a 20 meter version. He hopes to compare it to his 20 meter bazooka one day.

Ken Holland, K9FV

Build a Motor Driven Magnetic Loop Antenna

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Build a Motor Driven Magnetic Loop Antenna 1.5 Meters Square for 3.5-10MHZ

By Neil Lowson, GM4XRF

Parts List:image001

  • 4 1.5 mtrs 22mm copper pipe
  • 4 22mm copper 90 degree bends
  • 1 500pf 6kv capacitor
  • 1 12 volt 4 RPM geared motor
  • 2 flexible couplings
  • 1 insulated if possible
  • 1 6-1 or 10-1 reduction gear
  • 2 small micro switches
  • 1 5 pin SIN SKT@plug
  • 1 400mm 4”plastic pipe
  • 1 4”plug insert for bottom of pipe they have a rubber seal on (B)
  • 1 4”seal for top this a screwed on cover for access to the capacitor (A)
  • 1 60mm *350mm *4mm paxolin for motor/capacitor
  • 1 75*75 4mm paxolin plate for fixing mast to loop at bottom with saddles
  • 2 12volt leds 1green 1 redimage003
  • 1 25mm PVC coupling
  • 1 25mm broom handle

Getting Started: 
Assembly first starts with the capacitor and motor, this is the important part of the magnetic loop. Get the strip of paxolin and mount the capacitor at one end (top). Fit the insulated coupling to the capacitor shaft and then fit the reduction gear. The brackets will need to be made from 4mm aluminium. Then make up a bracket for the 2 micro switches.

 image016-1image019-1

They have to be set as to use the flexible coupling with a long 4mm screw in one of the holes for switching at min/max capacitance, see photo and wiring diagram. Next the 100mm /300mm plastic drain pipe (length to suit cap/motor) fits the bottom section of top plug with pvc. Glue and drill 2* 25 mm + holes 30mm down from top of pipe with the holes opposite one another for the 25mm copper pipe to be inserted in about 25mm. Then bolt cap/motor assembly into pipe. Connect capacitor to copper pipe with coax braiding and 6nmm brass bolts. Get the bottom plug fit the 25 mm coupling and the din socket connect to motor and fit with self-tapping screws and sealant on main pipe. Assembly of capacitor is now complete. Fit broom handle to coupling, I use this as the mast, also to attach the coupling loop with cable ties.

image013

Assembly of the Loop:
4*1.5 mtrs 22mm copper pipe. Take 1 length cut 30mm of the length the pipet in half — this is the top portion of  the loop. Clean the pipe and bends with wire wool and add flux. Then fit bends to pipe. Do this on flat surface and fix bends with self-tapping screws till you solder. You now have a square loop. Paint if required.

Coupling the Loop:
Coupling loop should be about a 1/5th size of main loop made from RG58U COAX but I always make it bigger. Then trim it by 15mm at each end till you get a 1-1 match (see photo). Then solder And seal with rubber tape.

image018Power supply:
I use small power supply unit you can buy for calculators/portable radios 3/4.5/6/9/12/volt at 1 amp — they are ideal for the small 12V motor. I built mine into a small box with the switches and the LEDs work well. There are more sophisticated control circuits that can be used but this was the easiest.

 

This article was available at http://www.standpipe.com/w2bri/article2.htm

Kenwood TS-590 the Elecraft K3 killer… not sure !

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MC-60A vs Dynamic

MC-60A vs 590 S Dynamic microphone

TS-590 the K3 killer …. ???

It could be possible, but to demonstrate who is the killer we need facts and features palpable, not noise. I would like to explain my point of view on the above subject.  Please excuse me if I may sound “aggressive” but we have to put light on same specific points to make real comparisons. K3 does not need a violin fiddler…

For a comparison we do need tests that can avoid  personal interest or love … First test could be the comparison of TS590 and K3 circuit diagram, looking at the receiver path, although we should look at the TX area for reduction of spuries emitted. Second test, an independent review like the ones made by Peter Hart, G3SJX, and published in RadCom (RSGB). Peter is a gentleman and does not usually “offend” the manufacturers but reports his reviews quite clearly, although he does not write as much as he was doing in the past century. If you look properly at Peter’s measurement tables, you will understand the quality of equipments from the “measurements” point of you. K3 Review has been already published with good reports, see RadCom July 2008.

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Sardine Can Antenna

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Sardine Can Antenna. is a BiQuad or Bi circle – wire length each side (8 x 1/4 waves ) 31 mm

Sardine cans have quite standard dimensions around the world, although the oval one shown here is lightweight aluminium & does seem (perhaps by chance ?)to have enhanced directivity compared with more normal steel Canadian “Brunswicks ” etc. It’s an ex. Latvian RICHTER “Smoked RIGA SPRATS” & perhaps first received publicity in the Nov. 2002 Australian “Silicon Chip” monthly ( author Stan. SWAN => s.t.swan@massey.ac.nz ), when it was first called a “Kipper Can”. ( For those readers who don’t recall Monty Python, Kippers are smoked herrings http://www.deliaonline.com/ingredients/ingredientsatoz/i_0000000135.asp. See refs & further construction dimensions/views/insights => http://www.manuka.orcon.net.nz <= Even an old CD can act as the reflector, exploiting the metalised layer of course, but the sardine version prooved far superior, no doubt due to the focusing side walls.

wififi

The hot melt glue shown here is not really needed if a rigid N connector is used, although a recent enhancement has been to form the radiating bow tie as tracks on a small PCB secured via nylon spacers. Gain is great -typically 10dB ( links to 10km LOS made & typically 2km more normal built up areas !).

Need a quickee antenna ? Got 10 minutes & simple tools ? You won’t get a simpler, cheaper or more compact design. The unit can be neatly hidden in a pencil case or plastic bag beside your road warrior notebook so it’s not intimidating for field use. It’s directional enough to even pin point the signal location ( using NetStumbler etc )in a multilevel building. RECOMMENDED !

wifibowt

Originally publihed at http://www.seattlewireless.net/SardineCanAntenna

Spiral Antenna

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Article by N9RET

THE INDOOR SPIRAL DIPOLE

Since well before getting my ham ticket in 1993, I had been interested in maximizing my antenna advantage within the limitations of my small living space. I would experiment with different arrangements for SWL, Scanner, AM/FM/TV and 11m antennas, mostly within the cramped confines of the attic of the efficient row house I grew up in.

THE CHALLENGE

Getting the best reception on my old Realistic DX-160 was challenging, to say the least. Ditto my scanner, TV, etc. Early on I put a VHF/UHF TV antenna up in the attic, fed with 300-ohm twinlead. Of course, back then, I’d just twist the two wires together at the radio end and twist it around whatever stub of an antenna was left protruding from the receiver of choice.

Even so, I noticed a difference, and from there I was hooked. I had to figure out the best combination I could possibly fit in the attic. I tried things randomly and without much success, until that fateful day in 1993 when I found out a co-worker was a ham. He clued me to the fact that there was no longer a code requirement for the entry-level ticket, and even got me the test prep materials.

Little did he know the beast he unleashed that day!

THE EPIPHANY

After finally embracing my inner Radio Geek, I committed to get my No-Code Tech ticket, thanks in no small part to my friend and elmer KC, kg9jp. In many ways, KC made this beacon station possible, even selling me the TenTec at a budget-friendly price to get me started on HF.

I soon became possessed with the desire to learn the code and upgrade my ticket, and the pursuit of this knowledge brought two things into focus; HF Beacons and Antenna Theory.

The beacons gave me the chance to practice my code reception in real-world conditions, and let me compare the effectiveness/directionality of different antenna arangements. It was a big kick to log a far-away new beacon, and a bigger kick to learn how little power they ran to make the distance! Suddenly, a beacon seemed do-able even at my little shack…

I also learned that a complex outdoor antenna array atop a high tower was NOT necessary to communicate effectively over vast distances (it sure doesn’t hurt, though!). It seemed that, with the aid of an antenna tuner and the proper feedline, you could basically just toss up a hank of wire and start making QSO’s!

Needless to say, I got my hands on a tuner and some good-quality 450-ohm ladder line, copped a LOOONG roll of thin 2-conductor wire and some wood-screw type feedline standoffs and crawled up into the cobwebs to try to put up the most wire possible in an orderly manner in the attic.

THE SOLUTION

Many approaches were tried, but what ultimately worked the best is what I now call the Indoor Spiral Dipole antenna. The success that I met with after setting things up this way made it clear that this was a working approach to the problem. The thing tuned up from DC to Daylight (well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but 10-80m is no problem) and made QSO’s as soon as I got down from the attic!

I was able to route the feedline discreetly down to my basement shack, and I never heard a thing from the neighbors regarding TVI! Granted, I run QRP power levels mostly, but I have run it at Full Throttle from the TenTec (maybe 70 watts at that time) without starting the microwave oven or causing the neighbors to run screaming into the street…

I posted a write-up about the antenna on the ARRL BBS way back when, and it still exists in their archives (Click Here to see it on the ARRL server). In case they eventually purge it from their servers, I will re-post it here as well.

ISD_Top_View

Remember, this antenna uses two-conductor wire (like speaker wire), and one leg is seperated from the other for about four feet at the feedpoint. One of the seperated conductors ties in to the feedpoint attachment with the 450-ohm feedline, while the other “floater” conductor (now the long end of the antenna since we soldered together the ends at #1) can float as it would if it were an ordinary dipole, or we can jumper the ends together, making a long loop antenna.

The feedpoint (#2) is high up in the attic, while the floaters are at floor level. Run the 450-ohm feedline away from the antenna as perpendicular/vertical as possible (although mine runs horizontally along the floor of the attic for several feet before descending into the house).

THE ARTICLE

Subject: Indoor antennas for HF
From: Tim, N9RET
To: All
Date: 01/24/97

This originated as a response to an inquiry about indoor antennas posted on the AES BBS 01/04/97. I have recreated it here for those in similar “postage stamp” size lots who would like to experiment with indoor wire antennas, and use some otherwise wasted space in their homes

As regards your indoor antenna- I am in a very similar situation, and my solution was to construct what I call a “Spiral Dipole” in my attic.

The basic concept is this; starting at the center of the attic at floor level, I hung two runs of 2-conductor wire from the roof joists, using wood screw type standoffs designed for 300-ohm twinlead (available from Radio Shack).

I spiraled each leg of the dipole up and in, using the 16″ on-center joists to maintain consistent spacing. When I reached the end of the spiral, I soldered the two attached conductors together, effectively doubling the length of each leg.

At the feedpoint, I used only one of the two attached conductors from each leg, feeding the array with 450-ohm twinlead ladder line to a tuner. The other conductor from each leg (closest to the feedpoint) is generally left floating, although I have experimented with connecting the two floating ends together, creating a loop-type antenna, with some success (apparent directional characteristics, etc.).

This antenna tunes up from DC to Daylight very nicely, and my first QRP contacts were well into South America. It also works well as a “Lowfer” reciever for the LW beacon band and (to some extent) the MW broadcast band (although it tends to overload my reciever at MW).

I have noticed some directional characteristics even when running it as a dipole (ends left floating), but until I figure a way to rotate the house,I’ll just have to live with the pattern.

***Keep all the flammable junk that tends to collect in an attic well away from any part of this set-up, and as an added measure, run as little power as you can get away with. I installed a smoke detector up in my attic, just to be sure.

I have a small corner townhouse, and I was able to make each leg of this antenna 115 feet long (twice that if you count the doubling of the two-conductor wire at the end of each leg). I am not sure of the principals at work here, but the darn thing works- often better than the ground-mounted 5-band vertical in my backyard!

If you have any further questions about this array, drop me a letter and I’ll include a pictoral diagram of the antenna- it’s neat, out of the way, and it works!

Good luck and happy DX’ing de N9RET!

Article originally available at http://n9ret.10mbeacons.com/isd.html

Facebook : search by amateur radio call-sign

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After having allowed hams to use their QRZ as alternate name, I’m going to show you how to lookup people by their amateur radio call-signs (QRZ), even if they are not in your friends-connections (Friends or Friends of Friends)

Just type into the top facebook search bar:

People named “iw5edi”

(1) People named _iw5edi_

this will bring you to the Facebook Open Graph search result page with the results.

This is an example result page for a lookup search  for the callsign IW5EIJ :

People named _Iw5eij_-1

Restrictions

Language and devices

Unfortunately there are still some restrictions, since this feature is powered by facebook graph-search feature that is available only on desktop computers using the english language settings.

For all other devices and languages this is not avabilable yet.

Apparently the search by callsign works with all devices and languages, but this it’s not true, since by typing the callsing will return only the Altenate names of those that are already in your network and will not lookup within all facebook users database.

I’ve tested this by looking up for a ham radio call sign that is not in my network and it works:

(1) People named _ja3qwg_

Partial Searches

As an additional restriction, looks like is not possible to make partial searches like “IW5ED*”, but is still possible to refine search by adding additional filters to your query, like city, interest, etc.

Reindexing time

I’ve not been able to understand if, after having added your alternate name, you can immediately be found with your call sign, or if this take time. I’ve added my call sign in mid July, it immediately appeared in the profile page, but not in search results. I’ve checked after one month and it worked.

Your QRZ on Facebook profile page

Posted in Featured, Ham Radio 2.0 5 Comments

Thanks to an online petition made via change.org  promoted by NW7OR,  starting from today facebook  allow to add your own ham radio  call-sign as altenate name and have it displayed in your public profile page
This should allow others to look for your your by using  your QRZ.

This is how appears now my Facebook profile page… you can notice my callsing IW5EDI just below my name.

ham radio call in facebook

My ham radio call sign in Facebook profile

How I did it ?

Simply by editing my profile page and adding my QRZ as Alternate Name

My QRZ on Facebook as Alternate Name

QRZ on Facebook

What’s new ?

Well, the true is that an alternate name was  possible and accepted in Facebook also before today, but looks like at Facebook someone changed the rules

Yes because those rules since yesterday where quite strict, not allowing to add numbers or all capital letters.

Here you can read a snapshot of the on-line help, that evidently need to be updated by the folks at facebook.

Facebook Alternate Name Policies

QRZ on Facebook

Searching

As a short note, i can tell you that at time writing, if you look for me on facebook by typing my call, you will not find me right now.

I belive the cause is that Facebook need to reindex their data and this may take time… Will try to update this post with latest news.

in the mean time, if you want, you can add me as friend in Facebook.

Update:

Starting from mid august, is now possible to lookup call-sing within facebook.

Just select from the top facebook search field the People Named prefix and type the call sign !

 

Lookup of my call sign

Facebook Lookup of my call sign