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    • Medical Emergency

      Medical Emergency

      WN3R posted a topic in Great QSOs,

      Dr. Albert A. Greenfield, an obstetrician, was about to retire for the night. He sat in his pajamas in a small room off his bedroom in Potomac, flipping through medical journal on pediatric and adolescent gynecology.

      Two blocks away, his friend, Richard W. Hayman, was tuning the dials of his ham radio. He had just been talking to someone in Japan because he is planning a trip there in May.

      You can read about it: https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=92807

        • Like
      • 1 reply
    • K5ND

      K5ND

      HC/STAFF posted a link in Individual Blogs,

      In the early 1960s my Dad purchased an antique, roughly 1940s era, Philco console radio. It had a shortwave band and a pretty good built-in loop antenna. I discovered HCJB in Quito Ecuador and was hooked on the magic of radio.

      Morse code, however, with the records of the time, completely eluded me. The theory was fine but I just could not get the code. I did continue with shortwave listening and really enjoyed collecting QSL cards from around the world.

      After my U.S. Air Force stint, I ended up in Merriman Nebraska where a kind ham helped me with the code and gave me the exam for the Conditional Class License, since we were well over 125 miles from an FCC examination location. My first call sign was WBØJXY in 1973. My activities were a few CW contacts, building some gear, and experimenting with 2 meter quad antennas.

      On moving to Michigan and working for Heathkit, I traveled to the Chicago FCC office and took the exam for Advanced Class. With that, my new call sign was KB8CE in 1978. At that time my activities were RTTY with teletype machines.

      After a long hiatus, I passed the Extra Class exam in 2006 and managed to snag the call sign K5ND. My early activity was running QRP CW and then entering a few contests mostly to chase DX. That transitioned to an entirely new approach to RTTY and contesting. Right now I’m focused on VHF-UHF contesting as a rover as well as satellite operations.
      • 0 replies
    • Thoughts on virtualizing Ham license exams?

      Thoughts on virtualizing Ham license exams?

      K3MRI posted a topic in Studying & licensing,

      I'm curious what people think. Should there be an option/method available, either in times like Covid-19, or any other time, during which we should be giving hopeful amateur radio operators the option of testing online? I believe that the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club VEC (https://kl7aa.org/vec/) is doing it.
      • 3 replies

    • 2020 Hurricane season

      K3MRI posted a topic in Emergency communications,

      With all that is happening in this world, COVID-19 has been getting the majority of the news and headlines. Nevertheless, Mother Nature is still at work and we do have a Hurricane Season that is soon approaching.

      This morning, Dr. Philip Klotzbach released his first forecast for the 2020 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. “We anticipate that the 2020 Atlantic basin hurricane season will have above-normal activity. Current warm neutral ENSO conditions appear likely to transition to cool neutral ENSO or potentially even weak La Niña conditions by this summer/fall. Sea surface temperatures averaged across the tropical Atlantic are somewhat above normal. Our Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation index is below its long-term average; however, most of the tropical Atlantic is warmer than normal. We anticipate an above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean. As is the case with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them. They should prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted.”
      • 0 replies

    • The Facebook Hurricane Watch Net

      HC/STAFF posted a link in Individual Blogs,

      Mission:
      • To disseminate hurricane advisory information to marine interests, Caribbean Island nations, emergency operation centers, and other interests for the Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Basin as promulgated by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, and when required, the Canadian Hurricane Center in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
      • To obtain weather information from reporting stations and observers who are not part of the routine network for the National Weather Service, or the World Meteorological Organization, and forwarding it to the National Hurricane Center, and when required, the Canadian Hurricane Centre.
      • To function as a backup communication link for the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service Field Offices, the Canadian Hurricane Centre, Emergency Operation Centers, Emergency Management Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, and other vital interests, which can involve military relief operations, involved in the protection of life and property before, during and after a hurricane event.
      • To relay initial damage assessments of hurricane damage to the National Hurricane Center, and when required, the Canadian Hurricane Centre.




       
      • 0 replies
    • Green Hero Engineering

      Green Hero Engineering

      HC/STAFF posted a link in Gear manufacturers,

      Green Heron Engineering, LLC is dedicated to bringing amateur radio operators the best in sensible automation products, while providing the best customer support experience in our industry. Although we do have some commercial application, we treat everyone the same. Hams do not take a back-seat with Green Heron.

      We are dedicated to providing solutions to common issues facing the radio amateur in integrating amateur equipment from any vendor. The RT-20 was introduced in May of 2005 and was an instant success as the first of a kind, totally unique product that solves real world station problems. The current version, the RT-21 v4, has evolved based on customer feedback, as well as our own innovations. It has features that contesters will love, remote station owners will wonder how they did without, and even the casual operator, with one rotator, will want to own and operate. The latest unit has an optional Wi-Fi embedded web server. It’s was rather obvious to us, that rotator manufacturers were ignoring the user view (the controller) of their products. We developed an easy to use, fully programmable, and good looking controller that works with any manufacturer’s rotator. We made it easy to integrate the software side by making our unit compatible with the Hy-Gain DCU-1 protocol with enhancements to provide many more modern features.

      Over the years, we’ve added the Deluxe RT-21, a DC powered unit aimed at mobile or solar powered applications, and a universal Az/El controller that can’t be matched for versatility, performance and looks! We control everything from simple entry level rotators, to complete rotating tower multi HP motor systems.

      Our “Green Heron Everyware” is a complete product family of modules, software, and devices that solve another set of problems facing us in our own station integration efforts, targeted to the absolute best in Remote Station control and automation. We needed to share station resources, eliminate the myriad of cables and many different antenna switch control boxes cluttering the operating positions and provide wireless “last mile” connection to switches while adding internet or local control with zero change in operating interface. We use standard IP protocols and human readable XML configuration files. There is no proprietary LAN or “secret sauce” mixed in. We are constantly discovering new and useful applications and are now can supply many of our own switching devices with built-in GH Wireless Control.

      Our primary focus though, is not on our products.  We believe that if you buy from us, you deserve to get our full support as well.  This means that you can call or e-mail, that you will get a person or a response as soon as possible.  This doesn’t mean “within 2-3 business days”!

      We continue to design, test and manufacture in the USA.
      • 1 reply
    • WN3R Remote Station

      WN3R Remote Station

      WN3R posted a topic in Remote station,

      WN3R

      I started trying to remote my Frederick HF station back in 2006. I was way ahead of the technology. Just a few years ago, I was finally successful in duplicating my local operating style remotely from Rockville.

      The "Frederick" remote station consists of the following: Elecraft K3, KAT500 - ATU, and KPA500 Amplifier, RemoteRig, PC + TEAMVIEWER, and Green Heron Everywhere system.
      The "Rockville" remote operating position consists of the following: Elecraft K3/0, Laptop, second monitor, CW paddle, headset, RemoteRig, and TEAMVIEWER - Remote Desktop software.

      Antennas: 160M inverted "L", 80M sloping dipole fed with Ladder Line (Multiband), 40M dipole, Tribander, 6M beam, and 40M 4-square.

      73, Dick, WN3R

       
        • Like
      • 2 replies
    • Power failures

      Power failures

      K3MRI posted a topic in Emergency communications,

      My first back up is a 5000 watt Engine Alternator Set (Generator to most folks).

      Second back up is a Honda EU2000i Inverter Generator, over 400 feet of various outdoor cords, with weather proof connection covers.

      Third is a "Pup" generator. That is a small engine mounted on a steel plate and fitted with an A pattern industrial belt pulley. That drives a high capacity vehicle alternator, using a A belt to another A pattern industrial pulley, which produces an effectively unlimited supply of 12 volt DC; i.e. more than I'll ever need. That will be supplemented with a large capacity sign wave inverter, once the stay at home order is lifted and I can prowl the wrecking yards for one out of a total loss service van or truck. I already have a source for a riding mower engine which is higher horsepower than the present one in case the one I have will not carry the inverter I hope to get. I plan to put together cord sets with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standard connectors for 12 volt DC, to run to a Schlocky Diode battery isolator and a charge controller for the battery.

      Fourth is the 2 Absorbed Glass Mat Valve Regulated Lead Acid 100 Ampere Hour batteries. Those are under continuous charge by the station's 50 Ampere linear power supply.
      • 12 replies
    • HAM Jokes?

      HAM Jokes?

      K3MRI posted a topic in Ham topics in general,

      Does anyone out there know any amateur radio jokes? I know my dad knew several, obviously I don't remember a single one. Anyone?
      • 8 replies
    • Solar Charging an HT?

      Solar Charging an HT?

      KI5DZU posted a topic in Emergency communications,

      I’d like to find an opinion for powering my HT via solar. The radio I’d like to charge with solar  is a Kenwood TH-D74a. I’m looking for a solar system for power  that is super easy and under 70$ if possible. Thanks!
      • 3 replies
    View More Featured Picks

  • 9 FCC license virtualization

    1. 1. Should FCC licensing be available to be taken online?


      • No, never, only in person
      • Occasionally, as in times of lockdowns
      • Yes, there should be a robust, reliable system to take the exam online, but only with the presence of a proctor
      • Yes, there should be a robust, reliable system to take the exam online, even alone at home

    2. 2. If online exams were available, should they be available for all classes?


      • They should be available to all classes
      • Only to Technician and General. Extra exams should be in person only
      • Only to Technicians to get them into the hobby; General and Extra in person only
      • Again, no online exams, period

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