Ham Radio 360

Ham Radio: National Parks On The Air/SOTA with KB1HQS

Stuart Thomas, KB1HQS, grew up a Ham's kid and decided he wanted to be a part of his dads hobby not too long ago.  An avid outdoors-man, Stuart enjoys hiking and portable operations.  He mixes those two with his NPOTA and SOTA activation's.   In this show, Stuart tells us all about the Ins and Outs of NPOTA!

From the ARRL Website:

Throughout 2016, Amateur Radio will be helping the National Park Service celebrate their 100th anniversary. Hams from across the country will activate NPS units, promote the National Park Service and showcase Amateur Radio to the public.

Links:

Main ARRL NPOTA Page:

http://www.arrl.org/npota

NPOTA Rules:

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/On%20the%20Air/NPOTA/ARRL-NPOTA-Rules-V3.pdf

Leader Board, Site Lookup, Site Registration:

https://npota.arrl.org/index.php

SOTA/NPOTA Overlays:

http://www.spinmap.com/npota-sota/map.html

My Personal NPOTA Page:

http://preparedassociates.com/national-parks-air/

My NPOTA YouTube Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSkFZt2bfUZ-w3xNxUANFVw

 73 Y'all!

 

K4CDN

KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

Ham Radio-Breaking Hobby Stereotypes with KD2GTM!

 

In her first ever podcast appearance, Sara Tibbetts stops by to chat about Ham Radio and Today's Youth.  Sara is currently an Electrical Engineering Student at RIT and an Active Ham Radio Op!

Intrigued by her fellow students Ham Radio's, Sara decided to give it a go and got her ticket!  Little did she know that the DX bug bites quick and often.  Not one to let her operating position hold her back-Sara actively chases DX from her Apartment Building!

Continuing to work to break the mold; Sara now V-logs (video blogging) about her experiences as a New Ham.  Her YouTube Channel can be found Here!

Sara also serves as VP with her School's Radio Club K2GXT .

K2GXT on Facebook

She also participates with RARA : the Rochester Amateur Radio Association in NY.

73 Y'all!

K4CDN

Ham Radio and Business Travel with  John, N7PUG.

(Apartment Dweller Hints too!)

Contest Winners Mentioned in the Show!

John Pugliano, N7PUG, is a Licensed Amateur and Frequent Business Traveler (a great podcaster too!).  Not one to waste his evenings away from home in the hotel bar, John takes along his HF gear to provide entertainment and make contacts!

In this program we discuss what to take and how to pack it for travel.  Best operating practices, positions, even rental car ops are discussed.  We also touch on the subject of operating while residing in an apartment building.

 

Even if you never travel, don't discount the information presented in this show!  There are many tips and tricks we can all learn from John's experiences.

 

Super Antenna Coil and Products

MFJ 902-b Tuner

Sierra Radio Systems

KF7IJZ on Youtube

Also make sure you check out John's Podcast 'Wealthsteading'!

WINTER FIELD DAY!!! January 30-31 2016 make plans to participate now!

 

We'll be back next time-73 Y'all!

K4CDN

Ham Radio Micro-controllers & Linux

*Listener Review of this show added to bottom of page

A long time coming; Jeremy and George gather this time through to discuss Micro-Controllers and Linux for the Ham Radio Operator!

Cale is away, so you know it's gonna be a good show with the guys!  Listen in as they describe all the different types of Micro-Controllers, Software and Hardware, Things to avoid and how to get the most from the Makers 'best friend'!

Arduino:  https://www.arduino.cc/en/Products/Compare

Raspberry PI:  http://www.raspberrypi.org/

Sierra Radio Systems:  http://sierraradio.net

"Sierra Radio Hamstack Project Gallery"

http://www.sierraradio.net/project_home.html

Adruino:

K3NG Ultimate CW Keyer - http://blog.radioartisan.com/arduino-cw-keyer/ (He also has a CW Beacon controller, rotator controller, etc)

KK5JY Controller to remotely or automatically tune a mag loop antenna ala AlexLoop, etc - http://www.kk5jy.net/AutoCap-v1/

Antenna Analyzers w/ Arduino and cheap DDS boards from K6BEZ - http://www.hamstack.com/hs_projects/k6bez_antenna_analyzer.pdf, or from Jim Harvey:  https://github.com/jmharvey1/DDS_AD9850_AntennaAnalyzer

Low powered digital mode using SI chip:  http://hackaday.com/2015/09/13/arduino-masters-ham-radio-digital-mode

Hamshield for Arduino:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/749835103/hamshield-for-arduino-vhf-uhf-transceiver

Using Arduino / Raspberry PI in High Altitude Balloons and Model Rocketry - http://makezine.com/projects/near-space-balloon-cam-with-arduino-and-aprs-radio/

SBC Linux ala Raspberry Pi

Remote kit running FLDigi for portable digital ops - http://indyham.com/news/rasperry-pi-simple-install-script-for-fldigi-includes-rigcontrol-compiled/

Host for Digital Hotspot (DVAP, DVMega, DV4Mini, DVRPTRv1,MoenComm, etc -http://www.westerndstar.co.uk/html/downloads.html,  http://maryland-dstar.org/html/raspiberry.html , http://www.dvmega.auria.nl/,

APRS Software - YAAC - http://www.ka2ddo.org/ka2ddo/YAAC.html and Xastir http://xastir.org/index.php/Main_Page

TNC for your PI - http://tnc-x.com/TNCPi.htm

OpenRepeater Controller - https://openrepeater.com/

PC Repeater Controller - Jonathan Naylor - https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/pcrepeatercontroller/info

ADSB Flight Tracking - https://uk.flightaware.com/adsb/piaware/

Raspberry PI SDR - https://learn.adafruit.com/freq-show-raspberry-pi-rtl-sdr-scanner

Other Project - G0HWC - http://www.g0hwc.com/raspberry-pi-ham-radio.html

Make Magazine: http://makezine.com/           

Linux in the Ham Shack Podcast: http://lhspodcast.info/

Python Training Video: https://youtu.be/tKTZoB2Vjuk

 

Participate in Winter Field Day!    January 30-31

WFD: WebsiteFacebook: WFD FB Group

Thanks for Listening Y'all!

Title: Episode 43 is tremendous!

Reviewer name: cb_abq

Country: USA

Date: January 13, 2016

Rating:

Comment: Well done gentlemen! That is the most information delivered about microcontroller and embedded Linux systems related to ham radio, and other applications, that I have heard in any podcast, ever. This is great information to enable anyone, whether an EE, or just an interested consumer to build a project based on either of these closely related technologies. KJ6VU and KF7IJZ are really well informed and articulate on all things ham. Fantastic!

Happy New Year!

Welcome in to our New Years Show!  (and thanks to our wives for giving us some time off during this busy season!)

Enjoy quite a Mashup of Differing Voices in this one-Thanks to Everyone for Dropping By!  We even get interrupted by a Tornado Warning!

FLDigi Tutorial Video:

Big Year Ahead for the Show in 2016...thanks for listening!

 

73 Y'all

Cale/K4CDN

 

Ham Radio: CW for the Newbie!  with Justin, KI4WFJ.

 

 

In a Fo Time First, we have a 'Studio' Guest.  My Friend and Neighbor, Justin Hornby KI4WJF, came down to chat with us about Learning CW and getting your code on the air!

 

Justin has been licensed for a while now, and over the course of time had an on and off relationship with Morse Code...until Now!  Justin got serious and finally took the bull by the horns.  He shares with us his secrets to learning the Code and how he makes use of it as he continues to enjoy the hobby!

Make sure you check out his show notes below!

From Justin:

http://lcwo.net/

free browser based teaching tool; uses Koch method and has plain text training; I use this now to practice on lunch at work or whenever I want to practice without a radio.

http://morsefusion.com/

free week long trial but normally $9.99 a month;  this is what I used to really get through learning the characters and practicing; I highly recommend.

http://www.skccgroup.com/

what sets SKCC apart is it's membership is free.  Members are friendly and they have monthly scheduled activities that give a reason to get on and practice. Have morse elmer program for practice buddies and the sked page helps find contacts.

http://naqcc.info/

North America QRP CW Club; I also have joined the NAQCC and play in their contests and activities as well.  Another friendly free club/group that has a lot of participation.  Contests are laid back and fun; a great way to practice and improve your speed once on the air.

My kit radio:  http://www.qrpkits.com/pfr3.html

Check Ebay or junk boxes at hamfests for straight keys--try to get one that is fully adjustable--bearings,spring force,gap; it makes all the difference in the 'feel' of the key; I use this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Vintage-Classic-Oval-Speed-X-Telegraph-Key-c-1967-Nye-H15-682-New-/161911306817?hash=item25b2aa7a41:g:LzkAAOSw9mFWGtS1

The capacitive touch paddles I have I use sometimes is model P6:

http://www.cwtouchkeyer.com/home.htm

http://www.americanmorse.com/

A practice sidetone oscillator helps to get timing and feel for sending-just practice imitating sending good code you have listened to.; many radios can be setup to create the sidetone w/o transmitting for practicing; the IC-718 can do this

The ARRL W1AW practice transmissions are a good way to get used to listening to morse over the radio and practice decoding before jumping in making QSOs.  There's a big change between listening to practice code on the computer and dealing with QRM and QSB!!  Also, all the files, text and mp3 are available on the website so you can listen, decode, and check your work w/o having to stick to the broadcast schedule or have a radio handy.

http://www.arrl.org/code-practice-files

http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule

73, K4CDN

Ham Radio Satire?

SierraRadio.net (thanks George!)

Congrats to our Ep. 39 Turkeys  Winners!

K2AND

KG6NFJ

AK0W

N1IVY

KC0ZRW

N0RUG

The Noise Blankers, Ham Radio's favorite satirical bunch are here to make us grin in Episode 40!

 

Two of the Noise Blankers, Kevin (K5KVN) and Andy (K5PO) drop in to chat about getting into the hobby, what makes them tick, and how they are more than a Club-They are a Radio Support Group!

Our Mission Statement:

Do radio stuff.

Have fun doing it.

Show people just how fun it is.

Professional Communicators by Day and Ham Radio Satirical Monsters by Night (and whenever they meet and eat at the Golden Corral) These fellas give us an excuse to crack a smile and laugh at ourselves!

It's not all about poking fun though, these guys are All-In for growing and promoting the hobby of Amateur Radio!

Enjoy the Show and make sure to check out their sites!

HamHijinks.com

NoiseBlankers.com

@W5RP

 

Thanks For Listening!,

73 Yall, K4CDN

Christine from MTC has a few words for the Fo Time Family of Listeners....click the play button above to give it a listen!

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

 

ps. be on the lookout for a Winter Wonderland Announcement from MTC, Coming SOON!

 

*Go Panthers*

K4CDN

Ham Radio Shopping List

Welcome to the Other Ham Radio Podcast!  With Christmas in sight and Black Friday rapidly approaching, Fo Time brings you another Shopping List Show for the Amateur Radio Operator!

George and Jeremy drop by to help sift through the chaff as we explore what and why to buy this year!  From HF rigs to Station Accessories we cover it all!

Gifts under $100

ARRL handbook and CD ROM 49.95

Ham Radio Deluxe software99.95

Soldering station - Hakko FX888D or Weller WESD51

Hand tools - wire cutters, needle nose pliers, screwdrivers

Digital multi-meter

Raspberry PI 2 Model B 39.95

Raspberry PI Starter Pack 59.95

Membership in the ARRL & QST magazine subscription $39

CQ magazine subscription    $37

100' RG-8X or RG-213 coax $120

Bag of coax connectors - PL-259, RG8X and RG58 sleeves, N

Bag of adapters - UHF to BNC to N  <- great stocking stuffers

Winkeyer kit - WKUSB-SMT  $89

Anderson Power Pole Crimper $37

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

K4CDN

Ham Radio-Listening to the Spectrum.

A few months ago, Jeremy (KF7IJZ) and I were texting back and forth on show ideas.  He suggested we do a Radio Spectrum Show.  In Episode 38, that is exactly what we begin to do!

Some newer hams may not be aware of what is out there to listen to.  Some may not know why they should or even how to listen to 'it'.

There are receivers for everything.  Some are low-cost like the RTL-SDR dongle. Others are simple SWL Radios.  There are also specialized receivers for certain parts of the spectrum (ex: Police/Fire Scanners).

While we try to cover it all, we also try to keep from getting bogged down too often (there is a lot to cover).  This is the Overview Program,  we have plans to bring you specific Band and Gear shows in the very near future!

Thanks for listening!

Beverage Antennas

Numbers Station in Ukraine

Addendum:  Freudian Slip..."Low-F'ers" not sure what happend there but my apologies to the Low-fers (loafers) at LWCA.org  and, like you I've been laughing since I heard it. *insert embarrassed emoji*