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    • Is it time to rename the hobby?

      Is it time to rename the hobby?

      VE6RWP posted a topic in Ham topics in general,

      It used to be that an "Amateur" was someone who was not paid for something they did. The Olympics were Amateur Sports.  The best of the best but no one got paid to train and compete.  The definition of amateur was:"noun 1. a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid rather than a professional basis."  Then somewhere along the line a second definition was added: "2. a person who is incompetent or inept at a particular activity."  this seems to be the more accepted definition.  

      Should we be renaming ourselves to "Volunteer Radio Operators" to shake that definition of incompetence from our hobbies name?  
      • 22 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • Clock

      Clock

      KD3Y posted a topic in DIY - From scratch and kits,

      So I found this tide clock in a thrift store.  About a pound of solid brass, not the thin tin brass stuff.  I had seen them online for $160 but there wasn't a price tag on it.  I asked the lady how much it was, expecting to hear $60 - $80 or so.  She said the clock doesn't work and she'd take fifteen bucks for it.   I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough.

      I bought a clock mechanism for ten bucks and did some photoshop work on some photo cardstock.   Now I got a neat clock for the shack.

      ""CQD, CQD, this is Titanic......."



       
      • 8 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • Feedback please: Homebrew grounding system

      Feedback please: Homebrew grounding system

      W3ESX posted a topic in Base station,

      After having spoke with several seasoned hams about my setup, I've come to the conclusion that I need a grounding system for my rigs and antennas for safety purposes. For the past few days I've been doing some research and I've come up with a system that I think will work and will last, but I have some questions and I would like some feedback. Thanks in advance!
      • 12 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • Mission

      Mission

      K3MRI posted a link in Outdoor and Expedition Gear,

      Do you operate in the heat? Want a hat or cap that will keep you cool? Want breathable masks and gaiters? Check out Mission.
      From their website:
      Mission® was created to help you lead an active lifestyle so that you could do more and enjoy more in the heat. With thoughtful design and state of the art technology, we’ve developed a broad portfolio of instant cooling gear which includes hats, neck gaiters, towels and more. They cool instantly and keep you cool for hours so you can do more of whatever it is you love.

      We take pride in creating products that support your passions and enhance your experiences from going on a run to doing work in the yard. That is why all of our cooling gear is made from lightweight, ultrasoft, proprietary fabrics with cooling technology that enhance the natural process of evaporation. Additionally, they are always chemical free and will never wash out. 

      When the heat challenges you to do less...

      Cool More. Do More.™
      • 0 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • K3MRI at QSO Today 2021

      K3MRI at QSO Today 2021

      K3MRI posted a topic in Ham topics in general,

      Hi Ham Community. This coming weekend I'll be giving a presentation on 'Shaping the Future of Ham Radio' on QSO Today. My presentation is on Saturday August 14 from 2200 to 2300 UTC 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Eastern. If you'd like to attend, here is the link to register at QSO Today.
      If you'd like to discuss anything I say or have any further questions, feel free to do so here.
      • 0 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • Horizontal V - AKA Vee Beam

      Horizontal V - AKA Vee Beam

      K3MRI posted a topic in Base antennas,

      @KW4TO and I have been discussing the horizontal V. It's a really interesting antenna. Thinking of building one and trying it out. Needs quite a bit of space but, in theory, if well set up could do very well. Here is an article by Andrew Roos ZS1AM from 2004.

      weekend_antennas_2.pdf
      • 0 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • Carolina repeaters

      Carolina repeaters

      KD3Y posted a topic in North Carolina,

      Well.  If no one else from North Carolina is going to make the first post to the "Tarheel" section, I reckon I'll do it. Most of you learned Ham operators know that the true inventor of "Radio" was a man named Reginald Fessenden and not Guglielmo Marconi.  No offense to Guglielmo Marconi because he made some extraordinary discoveries and got other scientists interested in the possibilities of radio.  But Marconi used "spark" transmissions.  Fessenden was a proponent of Continuous Wave transmissions.   It is true that Fressenden proved his concept using a continuous spark transmission, but Fessenden went on to develop the concept to what we now know today as radio.  Much of Fessenden's work occurred on The Outer Banks of North Carolina at the same time the Wright Brothers were here doing their experiments on their "flying machine".   In 1900, Fessenden made the first transmission of speech by radio when he transmitted a 127-word voice message from his North Carolina Cape Hatteras transmitter tower to a tower on Roanoke Island, North Carolina.  In 1906 he made the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean.

      Due to ut situation on the warm Atlantic Ocean, and our proximity to the cool air of the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina is the land of the word “ducting”.  Due to temperature changes occurring constantly over the water and land structures we have an absolute radio wonderland for those that are into that.  If you are interested in Hamming it up while on vacation North Carolina is the place to string up a dipole or a G5RV.  Coastal North Carolina will not disappoint you, Ten AND 6 are wide open.
      • 3 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • Civility on the air

      Civility on the air

      K3MRI posted a topic in Voice analog,

      As many of you know, Ham Census has been gathering impressions from operators... what do we think about various aspects of the hobby. More importantly, being solutions-oriented, Ham Census asks them to send a message to various constituencies, among them, other hams.

      One operator said this:

      I would therefore like to both start a mini poll here and a discussion around civility in amateur radio. Also, if you believe there is a lack of civility, how do we improve things?
      • 3 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • Home-made CW key

      Home-made CW key

      KD3Y posted a topic in DIY - From scratch and kits,

      I started work on my key the other day.  Unfortunately none of the stores around here have 1/2 x 1/2 square stock for the beam so I'm at a stopping place until I order it online.  I wanted something more custom than the regular old generic ones, and the beautiful ones I can fnd are outrageously priced.
       
      • 18 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
    • Operating in the field

      Operating in the field

      K3MRI posted a gallery image in Operating portable,

      This was actually a 'test' setup prior to my motorcycle trip to the Arctic Ocean. As you can see, I was testing my electric fence to, hopefully, keep grizzly and polar bears at bay (it works). Behind the tent you can see the mast for my antenna and right next to me is the battery pack / radio combo. All this, and the tent, on the bike you see in the 'garage'!
      • 2 replies
      K3MRI

      Picked By

      K3MRI,
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  • 9 Rare DX

    1. 1. Check off if you have ever had a contact with any of these:


      • Burundi or Rwanda
      • Falkland Islands
      • Paraguay
      • Yukon Territories (Canada)
      • Greenland
      • Antarctica
      • San Marino
      • The Vatican
      • Any of smaller the Pacific Islands (excl Hawaii)
      • Curaçao
      • A ship at sea
      • And yes... an aircraft aloft
      • None of the above

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