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  • Our picks

    • Secrets to a great ragchew net?
      I've always wondered what the secrets to a great ragchew net are. Net control gets on and calls for checkins... so what does it take to have a critical mass of operators and keep the net alive for years. Thoughts?
      • 11 replies
    • The first SSB TXC
      Does anyone remember Swan Engineering? For years I had one of their promotional brochures. I had found it in my dad’s stuff after he passed. Like an IDIOT, I threw it away when we downsized; that’s one item I wish I would have kept.

      Even more amazing would be if someone on Ham Community had actually seen one of those very early SSB transceivers. Incredibly, you can find one like the one in this photo for a couple of hundred dollars 🥸 Wow.
      • 3 replies
    • QSL Card Check @ WINTERFEST 2023
      QSL Card Checking, and information about the 4 Area incoming QSL Bureau are available at WINTERFEST 2023 at Oakton HS on Sunday, March 19th.
      For DXCC or WAS Card Checking follow the instructions found at: https://p1k.arrl.org/onlinedxcc/ or use the paper form found at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/Application%20forms/DXCC_Application_Form_Nov_2022.pdf
      If you plan to bring QSL cards to check, fill out the record sheet found at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/DXCC%20Record%20Sheet%202013a.pdf  prior to arriving at the Hamfest.
      The outdoor tailgating area opens at 7:00 am and the indoor market fair opens at 8:00 am.  The Hamfest closes at 2:00 pm.
      Purchase your admission/raffle tickets here: https://ticketstripe.com/VWS-WinterFest-2023  You do not need to be present to win the raffle. More info at https://viennawireless.net/wp/events/winterfest/ 
      • 0 replies
    • Seeking speaker for: Digital modes, antennas, contesting how to, baluns, ununs, kit building
      Third tuesday of the month
      • 0 replies
    • Manassas Tailgate
      Welcome to the Manassas Tailgate.  June 3rd Rain date of June 10th.  The Virginia QSO awards ceremony and certificates will be held here. 

      Website: https://w4ovh.net/welcome-to-manassas-hamfest/
      Email for information: wa2swxdm@gmail.com
      Club: Ole Virginia Hams
      On site testing?: No
      Conferences / Workshops?: Yes
      Flea market: Yes
      Indoor / Outdoor: Outdoor
      Cost: $5 person - or $20 to sell ( includes one admissin)
      Ham Community attending?: We will not be attending
      • 0 replies
    • New "ROVER" Category for 2023 Virginia QSO Party Explained
      The 2023 Virginia QSO Party Non-Fixed Station Categories–EXPLAINED
      Introducing the “Rover” Category (Experimental for 2023)

      The 2023 Virginia QSO Party on the weekend of 18-19 March 2023 is fast approaching. To ensure all our non-fixed station operators have equal contest opportunities, the Virginia QSO Party (VAQP) has added a “Rover” category for 2023. The VAQP committee wishes to recognize amateurs whose use of retractable antenna masts, non-mobile support structures, commercial power, or an external operating position would preclude traditional mobile classification. Descriptions of each category and a handy chart follow below.

      Whichever of the three non-fixed station categories you choose, stations should identify their callsign with /M (not Rover or Expedition) and operators contacting you must log you as /M to earn three points. For complete VAQP contest rules, go to ‪http://bit.ly/3Y14yXX

      Mobile – A station operating from a vehicle which is capable of operating while in motion and operates stationary in the same configuration. The mobile can travel and move at any time without having to disconnect any wiring or change any antennas. A mobile station is self-contained and is capable of legal motion while operating. Commercial power may not be used. Contacts may be made while moving or stopped.

      Rover (experimental for 2023) – A vehicle that is not a mobile or expedition station. The rover may make contacts while stationary and/or while moving. The rover may change equipment and deploy antenna configurations. The rover may operate from a vehicle and/or off a vehicle. The rover may or may not use commercial power.
      • 1 reply
    • Mastrant North American representative
      Mastrant is seeking a NA representative

      Mastrant, a Czech Republic-based, small but growing designer and manufacturer of very high quality guying ropes and accessories serving the amateur radio market, is currently seeking a North American representative to further grow Mastrant’s presence and sales in the United States and Canada. The ideal candidate would be based in the United States but be able to travel within NA, have or set up their self-employment status, speak and write English fluently, and be legally permitted to work in the United States. In principle, so long as the candidate is sufficiently fit to travel and attend events, there are no age restrictions to this post, indeed a recent retiree may well fit the position.

      More specifically, this is the proposed job description (note that Mastrant is open to modifications to this list inasmuch as said modifications further Mastrant’s goals).

      Seek out the larger amateur radio clubs in NA and deliver, either virtually or in-person depending on cost-benefit, presentations of Mastrant products, and antenna guying in general, at their club meetings

      Attend medium to large hamfests for the purpose of either selling directly or exhibiting and/or presenting Mastrant products

      Write, and have published, magazine or blog articles on antenna guying that highlight Mastrant products

      Participate in the formulation of Mastrant marketing strategies for NA

      Liaise with and support current and future Mastrant resellers by providing technical support, training or joint sales activities

      Contribute to Mastrant’s English-language marketing materials including its printed materials and its growing online activities

      Read the full advert in the classifieds.
        • Like | Congratulations
      • 0 replies
    • Cape May Concrete Ship SS Atlantus POTA Activation K2AA AA2SD
      Thanks to all that contacted me today from Cape May Point in front of the concrete ship. It was a very cold and windy day, but I was able to activate all 4 bands 10, 15 ,20 and 40 Mtrs.  You can still see the remnants of the concrete ship, I took these photos this morning with a zoom lens from the beach, check out the You Tube of today. I used a vertical antenna with 4 radials on the ground and activated on 10-15-20 and 40 Mtrs...a fun day with Parks on the Air.

      Thanks to all with the help on the spotting pages, we successfully activated this park today!

      AA2SD
      Scott
      https://www.aa2sd.com/
        • Like | Congratulations
      • 1 reply
    • CQD DE MGY
      His name was Jack Phillips and he sent the most famous radio message in history. Well, if not the most famous, it was at least among the most infamous. At the tender age of 25, he was the senior radio operator and had already amassed years of experience.

      The night his message became famous (April 15, 1912), Jack operated a 600 meter rig running 5 kW, although only about 500 W actually made it to the Twin T antenna array. His spark gap transmitter wasn’t all that efficient, you see.

      He operated using the call MGY, the callsign designation for the ship he served on. As an employee of the Marconi International Marine Communication Company, Jack Phillips was well versed in the Marconi radio procedures – including the usage of CQD (meaning – All Stations Distress). So when his ship, the Titanic, collided with an ice berg and began taking on water, Jack signaled to anyone who had a receiver CQD de MGY.

      Following the collision, Harold Bride (the junior wireless operator) reported to the radio room. As the ship was sinking, Harold suggested Jack use the newer internationally recognized distress call, <SOS>. Half joking, Harold added, “This may be your last chance to use it.”

      Although the Titanic was not the first ship to use the prosign SOS, it was the first (and last) to use both distress signals. Unlike Jack Phillips, Harold Bride was one of the survivors of the disaster.

      This is a link to a facsimile of what the CQD/SOS call from the Titanic probably sounded like:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snkwsU98QlQ

      By the way, as an historical side note, the ham radio operators on the eastern US seaboard spontaneously stayed off the air the night the Titanic sunk. They, instead, copied the rescue traffic as it happened in the North Atlantic. The next morning, thanks to the hams copying the names of the survivors as they were transmitted throughout the night, the newspapers were able to publish a survivors list.
      • 1 reply
    • HAMVENTION 2023
      Ham Community and our various sister projects will be attending and exhibiting at Hamvention 2023.
      Find us in Booth 1809 in Building 1.
      Drop by to say hello, join us, and pick up this year's giveaway... it's our nicest one so far.
      Website: https://hamvention.org
      Email for information: tickets@hamvention.org
      Contact or support URL: https://hamvention.org/contact-us/
      Indoor / Outdoor: Both... indoor exhibitors and outdoor flea market
      Rain or shine?: Rain or shine
      Cost: $26 in advance, $30 at the door
      Ham Community attending?: We will be exhibiting,We will exhibit indoors
      • 0 replies
  • 17 Knowledge of amateur radio history

    1. 1. How would you rate your knowledge of amateur radio history?


      • Very high
      • Somewhat high
      • Average
      • Somewhat low
      • Very low to nil
    2. 2. If you could, would you take the time to learn more about amateur radio history? Do you think it could be fun and/or useful to you?


      • Yes; fun and possibly useful
      • Indifferent either way
      • No; waste of time
    3. 3. Would you like there to be more history talks at your club meetings?


      • Yes, absolutely
      • Indifferent
      • No, please no

  • Seven most recently updated posts

Discussion Forums

  1. CONNECT BY STAGE

    1. Studying & licensing

      No matter where you are studying or what license you're after, help is available.

      77
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    2. 136
      posts
    3. 188
      posts
    4. 191
      posts
    5. Contesting

      General contesting discussions, not discussions about specific contests. Look in the calendar section for specific ones.

      85
      posts
  2. CONNECT BY SPECIAL INTEREST

    1. Emergency communications

      From preparedness to deployment

      132
      posts
    2. Public Service Events

      All about working with, improving upon, or otherwise participating in public service events such as races, fairs, etc.

      41
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    3. Repeaters

      Whether you manage or just use a repeater, this is a great place to ask others for advice, or to give some...

      13
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    4. Electronics & electromagnetism

      For those interested in the fundamentals of amateur radio

      6
      posts
    5. Nets

      General discussions about local, traffic, weather, HF, etc. nets

      31
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    6. Nostalgia & History

      There was some good stuff happening in the good ol' days of Amateur Radio.

      55
      posts
    7. Research & development

      Scientific research and laboratory and field testing

      8
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    8. Scanning & Short Wave Listening

      Anything to do with scanners or shortwave reception activities

      17
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    9. FCC, ITU, IARU and official policy discussions

      Discussions related to the U.S. FCC or to international and national regulatory bodies and policies around the world

      8
      posts
    10. Organizing an event

      Discussions about organizing events, DXpeditions, contests

      26
      posts
    11. Planning an outing

      Are you looking for friends to go operate? Planning on a small field trip and there's room for more people? Ask away.

      6
      posts
    12. Weather and Climate

      Both the weather and the climate affect how we operate.

      4
      posts
    13. Computing

      Whether comparing platforms or operating systems, choosing the right logging application, or offering debugging help, this is the right place to post.

      6
      posts
      • K3MRI
      • 4nec2
    14. Activations

      For all those of us who love to climb, travel and otherwise activate the most amazing places

      21
      posts
  3. HAMELMERS.ORG

    1. Ask the Elmers

      The Community is fortunate to have Experts and Elmers who can help out. You can post your question here for consideration.

      31
      posts
  4. HAM CENSUS

    1. Ham Census Q&A

      Questions about Ham Census, its content, its results, etc.

      17
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    2. Ham Census Findings Discussions

      Let's discuss answers given and data generated by Ham Census.

      2
      posts
  5. EVERYTHING ELSE

    1. 178
      posts
    2. Rumors

      Do you have a rumor about new gear, new regulations, new laws... feel free to post them here!

      3
      posts
    3. Great QSOs

      Tell us about a great QSO you had just now, or even decades back. We'd love to hear all about it.

      10
      posts
    4. Post your videos

      Embed your how-to, review, outings videos and let's discuss them.

      13
      posts
    5. Self-promotion

      Did you write a book? Did you invent a new piece of gear?

      15
      posts
    6. First QSO

      Welcome new members. Ham Community is happy to have you.

      2k
      posts
    7. 149
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    8. Ham Community Q&A

      Questions you have about the community itself, its functionality, ideas you have...

      21
      posts
  6. CONNECT BY GEOGRAPHY

    1. 30
      posts
    2. 9
      posts
    3. COUNTRIES

      These country-based forums are to discuss with other residents or for non-residents to discuss a country-related topic. Not all countries are listed yet. If you would like a country to be listed, open a new support request here.

      4
      posts
    4. 12
      posts
  7. Club Forums

    1. Antenna Installation Club | Sponsored by Mastrant Discussions

      Open ended comments, general questions, ideas and suggestions for all things guying.

      1
      post
    2. Antenna Installation Club | Sponsored by Mastrant Mastrant questions

      Do you have a specific guying question, maybe a specific problem? This is the place to ask it. Responses will come from Mastrant staff, Ham Community Elmers and informed amateurs. Upon successful resolution, a site administrator or moderator will indicate the best answer received.

      2
      posts
    3. The 146.52 Club 146.52 Discussions

      Let's discuss ways in which we can promote the use of 146.52 MHz as an on-road frequency.

      1
      post
    4. 31
      posts
    5. 2
      posts
    6. 3
      posts
    7. QCWA Chapter 91 January meeting

      January 16th, 11:30 am on ZOOM. Presentation will be “EL SOL: The Impact on HF Radio Propagation” presented by Kerry Kingman - WB4BQM. 

      1
      post
    8. The ICOM Club ICOM Discussions

      Discussions focussed on ICOM products

      7
      posts
    9. The Yaesu Club Yaesu Discussions

      Discussions focussed on Yaesu products

      6
      posts
    10. The Kenwood Club Kenwood Discussions

      Discussions focussed on Kenwood products

      • No posts here yet
    11. The Elecraft Club Elecraft Discussions

      Discussions focussed on Elecraft products

      33
      posts
    12. The FlexRadio Club FlexRadio Discussions

      Discussions focussed on FlexRadio products

      • No posts here yet
    13. The Baofeng Club Baofeng Discussions

      Discussions focussed on Baofeng products

      5
      posts
    14. The Alinco Club Alinco Discussions

      Discussions focussed on Alinco products

      3
      posts
  • UTC

  • HAMVENTION 2023

    • Days
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    This year, Hamvention will be held in Xenia from Friday 19 May 2023 at 9AM to Sunday 21 May 2023 at 1PM, and Ham Community will be there!!! Come visit us in Booth 1809 in Hall 1. For more on Hamvention, visit their web site.

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    Ham Community has decided to abandon the use of advertisers. Instead, we are fortunate to be supported by our members' generosity and selected sponsors who expect nothing from us other than to genuinely serve the amateur radio community. We admit, it feels good!

    The only exception will be the continued promotion of our own products including garments, our own band plan, our own desk pads, and anything else that we produce for you, our members.

     

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