We recorded this episode 14 years to the day after HamRadioiNow Episode ONE was released to an unsuspecting public. A hat-tip to that, and we move on.

Our first stop, Gary complains about his newest radio acquisition, a TYT MD UC 390, a waterproof dual-band DMR handheld. The problems: too loud at the lowest volume, and a dim screen (but remember, Gary is slowly going blind).

Then a comment about the previous episode on MARS and its 100 year anniversary, and on to a version of A Ham’s Night Before Christmas, recorded by Ashley Bernard (formerly KC1CPS - license expired). She recorded it back in 2014, apparently unaware that Gary had his own video up a few years earlier. Also unaware that Gary existed, as the poem was performed without credit. But we’re glad she even noticed and took the trouble to record her own version.

Next, hams in eastern Ohio (in the Charleston WV TV market) got on the news for helping out during the big east coast ice storm a few weeks ago. Then a note about the two major Hollywood movies out this year, apparently all about Ham Radio: Hamnet and Tron ARES. We’re looking forward to seeing them. No spoilers, please.

Finally, a look at the radio communications aspect of an NTSB final report on the midair collision between an Army helicopter and a commercial jet in Washington DC last year. There were many contributing factors. Among them was the problem that the ‘copter was on a military channel, and the jet was on the regular aviation frequency, so they couldn’t hear each other.

A YouTube guy who calls himself Captain Steeeve - a recently retired American Airlines pilot - reviewed the incident on his YouTube channel. Gary excerpted the radio-specific comments, but you can see the whole program here. He also talks about the problem with the antique AM radio system used by aviation, and the problem with what hams call ‘doubling’, and pilots call ‘blocking’.