• In this episode, Richard, KB5JBV, describes his funny looking plant hanger.

Topics:

• Having moved to a different house in a neighborhood with antenna restrictions, Richard took on the challenge of creating a low profile ham presence. He already had 50 feet of coax, an Arrow dual-band J-pole antenna, and some military surplus fiberglass tent poles. There is a fence and retaining wall that totals about 7 feet in height. Using plumbing strap and screws, he attached a couple sections of the tent poles at the corner of the fence. He ran the coax a few feet to the fence and along the fence to the tent poles, anchoring the cable to the fence with inexpensive cable clips. After clamping the J-pole to the tent pole, he had an antenna for his Winlink gateway that was nearly invisible from the street. He may end up painting the antenna to blend in with the sky, and hanging a potted plant from it.

Contact Info:

• Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com

Music:

• “Let Me Love You” by Magic Slim and the Teardrops
• “We Gotta Go” by David Henderson at Podsafe Audio.

• Richard, KB5JBV, discusses some training he prepared for emergency communications. But first, he raises the possibility of resurrecting Resonant Frequency, The Amateur Radio Podcast, with your financial support.

Topics:

• Making yourself clear and understood on an emergency communications net.
• Some tips:
  • Send your callsigns slowly and clearly.
  • Use the ITU phonetic alphabet.
  • Don’t yell or whisper into the microphone. Most local emergency communications use the FM mode, and too much or too little audio will cause distortion or no intelligible information.
  • Hold the microphone an inch or two away from your mouth, and a bit to one side. Again, “eating” the microphone will only cause distortion.
  • Keep Q-signals, codes and jargon to a minimum. Many of the served agencies do not use the same jargon as amateur radio operators. Q-signals are meant for CW (Morse code), not voice modes.
  • There are proper uses for “over”, “out” and “roger”. Learn the correct usages.
  • Monitor a traffic net to hear the proper techniques in use.

Contact Info:

• Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com

Music:

• “Let Me Love You” by Magic Slim and the Teardrops

• Richard, KB5JBV, again recording mobile.

Topics:

• Richard talks about minimizing his amateur radio station. It’s amazing how much radio stuff you accumulate over the years. He’ll keep his WinLink gateway going.
• He’s planning on installing a mobile HF station in his truck. Previously, he’s used a large magnet-mount antenna, Icom ID-800 D-Star capable radio, various Workman and Hustler mobile antennas, and a Kenwood TS-430 with automatic antenna tuner.
• Now, he’s looking for a mounting solution for inside the pickup truck. The lightest HF radio he has is a Yaesu FT-897D. Richard is also looking for an antenna mount for the truck, using the truck bed stake pockets, bumper, or trailer hitch. He did find a stake pocket mount with a wedge that holds the mount securely to the hole.
• Inside the cab, Richard will either use the factory mounting bracket and a “hump mount”, or mount the radio under the dash and move the VHF/UHF rig to a monopod mount.
• Richard is still trying to find a practical solution for VHF/UHF antennas at his homeowners association-restricted location. If you have any ideas, please let him know.
• Richard relates the story of his first 2-meter mobile antenna, crafted from a used CB antenna.
• If you have any radio adventures you’d like to share, send them along!
• For more discussion of mobile radio installation, listen to episodes 50 and 51 of Resonant Frequency: The Amateur Radio Podcast.

Contact Info:

• Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com

Music:

• “Let Me Love You” by Magic Slim and the Teardrops
• “We Gotta Go” by David Henderson at Podsafe Audio.

Speak slowly and clearly

When we say speak slowly and clearly what we mean is sometimes at normal conversational speed  words run together when you are talking on the radio. Most radio equipment doesn’t reproduce all the audio frequencies of human speech or hearing. This can make it difficult to understand what someone is saying on the air. When you have some hearing loss it is even worse. I have some low end hearing loss so most of the time I have to add a speaker to my rig that produces more low frequencies to make the speech ineligible to me in noisy environments.

Annunciate. Some people don’t consider that when they speak they are trying to convey information. I know several people that just engage there mouth and let the words fall out without giving a second thought as to if the person on the other end of the conversation is having to decipher the noises emanating from their mouth. It is sometimes difficult to understand a conversation when you are in the same room with someone if the are slurring and mumbling their words. It is even more difficult when you are on a noisy frequency or using a narrow band width mode like SSB, or D*STAR. When you add the stress of a net situation people tend to speak faster than they normally would. They also tend not to speak clearly. This makes the problem even worse.

Use Standard ITU Phonetics

Another consideration is the use of phonetics. In most cases phonetics can greatly increase your ability to understand and be understood when conditions a frequency are not optimal. Ham radio operators are as a rule a playful bunch so we do things to make talking on the radio more fun like making up funny phonetics for our call sign. Unfortunately during emergency and disaster communications play time falls by the wayside and these home brew phonetics become more of a problem than an asset. Most of the time these home brew phonetics in no way resemble any of the standardized phonetic systems. When These operators find themselves in a situation where they need to be understood their home brew phonetics really don’t help. That is why the ITU Phonetic alphabet is the agreed upon standard for amateur radio emcomm communications. Every radio operator should be able to at least spell their call sign with these phonetics. Memorization of these phonetics is not difficult. Some operators can jump to phonetics without even thinking about it. Since so many letters in the English language like E,B,V,C and others sound so much alike it is very important to know the standard ITU phonetic alphabet.

Do not yell, Don’t whisper

Yelling at a microphone is a problem that has propagated down through the hobby. Many of us have come into the hobby by way of the citizens band service. Operating AM on cheaply made and badly maintained equipment in that service. Many others use sideband radios on a regular bases. On AM and Sideband speaking louder into the microphone can give you a small increase in the output power of your radio. Since we are using primarily FM radio equipment this is not the case. Without going off into an explanation of how FM works lets just say that yelling at your microphone causes distortion making it difficult to understand the information you are trying to convey. Since the equipment that we use on VHF and UHF is Frequency Modulated the Amplitude of your voice can cause more problems than you would think.

Whispering into the microphone also has problems. There are some operators out there that speak very quietly into there microphone. This results in a full quieting signal and barely understandable audio. Some times the microphone gain or deviation on your radio may not be adjusted properly. if you do not speak up while transmitting this can make the problem worse. In the case of a Net Control located in a noisy environment it makes your transmissions unusable. It also waste valuable time while the Net Control attempts to take your traffic. We don’t always have the luxury of calling a net from the comfort of our home.

Don’t eat the microphone.

Eating the microphone or holding it to close to your mouth is another bad habit that has trickled down through the hobby from the days of carbon microphones and the poor quality microphones of the past. Today the microphone supplied with a standard piece of amateur radio equipment is very good. Eating the microphone presents its own set of problems. Holding the microphone to close to your mouth can overdrive the diaphragm in the microphone and audio stage of the radio causing distortion which most often results in muffled audio. You may also experience Flat Topping of your audio signal that is very similar to clipping in other audio equipment. Over deviation of your signal is also a problem you may experience. Over deviation is a problem because most repeaters are equipped with a band pass filter to eliminate unwanted noise on nearby frequencies. This means that in some cases you could be sitting under the repeater running a hundred watts and not be able to key the machine because your signal exceeds the width of the passband. Another problem that may occur from eating the microphone is known as P-pops or Clicks. These are most common when the microphone is held directly in front of the mouth. These are not only annoying but can also make it difficult for net control to understand the information you are trying to convey. It is always best to hold the microphone off to one side of the mouth. I also like to use what I call the “Thumb Rule”. If I am holding the microphone to transmit I should be able to extend my thumb and lightly touch my chin or lower jaw. This seems to be just about the right distance and works well with most radios including hand held transceivers.

Lastly a word on hand held transceivers. Most HT’s come from the factory with the microphone gain turned up higher that mobile radios. So the built in microphones are “Hotter” than one might expect. They are designed to be held a foot to eighteen inches away from your mouth. Eating the microphone on these will cause many of the problems listed above to be much worse. External microphones will depend on the design of the microphone.

Q signals, codes and jargon

Since from time to time we will be transmitting information for use by non-hams such as our served agencies we need to keep Q-Signals, Codes, and Jargon to a minimum. Our served agencies have there own language or jargon and in most cases it doesn’t even remotely resemble the jargon that we use as amateur radio operators. The National Weather Service has its own language for describing weather and that is the only possible jargon that we may need to use. That information will be covered at Skywarn School where it will be covered by the folks that know what they are talking about.

Codes and Ciphers are prohibited by part 97 so they are not appropriate for any reason.

Q-Signals are a problem in amateur radio today because everybody wants to sound like a professional radio operator and they think that Q-Signals help achieve that goal. Q-Signals were designed to make cw operation easier and have no place on a phone (Voice) frequency especially during an emcomm net where the transmission and reception of clear and concise information is critical. Lastly, There is a place for Over, Out and Roger in emcomm communications. Most amateur radio operators tend not to use them correctly. My personal opinion is that if you want to acknowledge a transmission the word “Received” works just fine.

These are just a few of the things that can help all of us improve our communications skills. Clarity in communications is always important. It is even more important when we start to deal with Emergency and Disaster communications. Remember we are not transmitting for ourselves. We are transmitting for everybody.

Intro music by Magic Slim and the Teardrops.

• Richard, KB5JBV, recording pedestrian mobile.

Topics:

• Richard moved house recently, and his new location appears to have very little in the way of active amateur radio clubs, ARES or RACES. His solution? He and another ham reactivated a local ARES group, and are trying to get the assistance and support of the Trinity Valley Amateur Radio Club.
• If you’re in the Kaufman County, Texas area and have an interest in emergency communications, or have experience with setting up an EmComm service like ARES, please contact Richard.

Contact Info:

• Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com

Music:

• “Let Me Love You” by Magic Slim and the Teardrops
• “We Gotta Go” by David Henderson at Podsafe Audio.

Intro music by Magic Slim and the Teardrops.

• Richard, KB5JBV, recording mobile.

Topics:

• Richard reminisces about Whit, N5SU, who recently became a silent key. The moral of the story? If you have an amateur radio license, you can be an Elmer. Help one of your fellow hams out. Everybody knows something that can be of use to someone else.

Contact Info:

• Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com

Music:

• “Let Me Love You” by Magic Slim and the Teardrops
• “We Gotta Go” by David Henderson at Podsafe Audio.

Intro is Magic Slim and the teardrops – Let me love you

Well let me see if I can come up with enough words to get all the pictures on this post.

Well October is here and along with the State Fair of Texas in Dallas it is also time for the Texhoma Hamarama in Ardmore Oklahoma. For many years a friend of mine and organizer of this event Henry Allen W5TYD has been trying to get me to make the track to Ardmore and check it out.

So I gathered myself up at 4:30 in the morning put a spark to the B.S.S. Improbable and made my way toward the Indian territories. I had really forgotten that the middle of the night was the only time that it is not a total pain to drive through Dallas. A little over two hours later I found myself in Ardmore. As described the hamfest was very easy to find. The shiny almost new convention center was right off I-35 at exit 33. I exited made a right turn then made another right turn and I was there ( I could never be a Nascar driver ).

The parking lot at the Ardmore Convention Center was more than ample and I was able to find a parking space very close to the front door. Not like Ham Com here locally where you have to park on the other side of town and ride a shuttle bus. Due to a mistake on the website I found myself there an hour before they opened the doors. So I spent some time talking to other Hams that had made the same mistake.

  After paying a very resonable $8.00 to get in I roamed around looking at all the wonderful items to be had. At the end of the first row I went down I ran into Jimmy (Pinky) Pinston N5WYT from the Texas Baptist Men who was debating on buying some hardline for the freshly installed commercial repeater at the Baptist Mens building in Dallas. We talked about a few things like ARES in Van Zandt county where he lives and the fact that his license expired at midnight that night. Shame on you Pinky.

Went and sat in on the OK section ARES presentation. Then went and sat in on Andy WY5V’s amateur radio in the park presentation. Andy is king of amateur radio these days. King of ARES in Dallas. Big Chief at the VHF-FM society everything. Spent some time visiting with folks that I have known for years David Kaun N5DBK, Tim KD6FWD, and my little buddy Paul KD5TKO.

I really didn’t come home with anything except some good memories but we had a great time in Ardmore and I expect to go back many times in the future. Russ was not in attendance but you all know how he is.

73 everybody

• Richard, KB5JBV, is back with a new podcast, tentatively titled “Richard’s Radio Adventures”. It will likely be a sporadic release, but hopefully you’ll find it interesting.

Topics:

• Richard is working on setting up a WinLink 2000 gateway on Linux.
• Listen to Linux in the Ham Shack, which is still going strong.
• Charles, K4GBB, has written a tutorial How to install RMS Gate under Linux.

Contact Info:

• Contact Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com

Music:

• To be added.

Thanks

Richard KB5JBV

Ends
Production

Greetings to the Amateur Radio community and all my faithful listeners. It is
with great sadness that we announce that Resonant Frequency: The
Amateur Radio Podcast will officially end production as of August 9
2011. Due to personal reasons, monetary reasons and time constraints
it is no longer possible for me to continue the show. This is as much
of a disappointment to me as I am sure it will be to all of our
listeners.

Since we started the show in 2007 we have met some really great people Ham
and Podcaster alike. I am very pleased that the show was able to
inspire a few really good radio operators to start there own podcast
and add to the pool of audio information available to the amateur
radio community. Because our number one goal has always been to pass
on the knowledge or Elmer ALL our fellow Ham’s. I feel
confident that the Elmering will continue with great shows out there
like The Practical Amateur Radio podcast, ICQpodcast, and many
others.

I would like to thank all the listeners without who’s input, feedback,
and questions this show wouldn’t have been around this long. I would
also like to thank those listeners that have contributed audio and
articles to the podcast and website. We will be uploading all audio
to the Internet Archive and will be looking for a place that will
post any articles that we have. Lastly I would like to thank the
listeners that have contributed to helping pay our hosting fees and
helped us upgrade our equipment so we were able to do a show we could
be proud of. Never forget that the listeners have always been the
most important part of Resonant Frequency: The Amateur Radio Podcast.

Lastly, but certainly not least I would really like to thank Russ K5TUX who
has helped me immeasurably in improving the sound of Resonant
Frequency and has been invaluable in helping me make this show
something I could be proud of. Bill KA9WKA The keeper of show notes
who has helped me in more ways than I have room to list. Jerry KD0BIK
who as a new ham inspired me and as a Podcaster has earned a huge
amount of respect from me and has always offered encouragement when I
really needed it. Most of all I would like to thank our most faithful
fan Tim KI6BGE. Tim has been with us since very early on he has
brought up show ideas, sent in audio, and if noting else has been our
biggest supporter. Thanks Tim.

Resonant Frequency has existed in some form since 1992 and will continue in
some form in the future but until then all the episodes have been
uploaded to the Internet Archive and you can find them at
http://www.archive.org/details/ResonantFrequencyTheAmateurRadioPodcast

I will be looking for a place to post articles. The videos will remain
on YouTube.

Thank you my friends. It’s been a great ride. Remember to spread the good
news of Amateur Radio. You are an Elmer if you have a license. See
it, Do it, Teach it.

Who knows we may be back.

73

Richard KB5JBV

Host of Resonant Frequency: The Amateur Radio Podcast

Ben, VK5JFK, left a comment on my review of Linux Mint at the Linux in the Ham Shack web site, asking if I had installed Xastir under Mint.  I had not, but since Richard talked about Xastir in Episode 23, and Linux Mint is the “official” distribution for Linux in the Ham Shack, I thought a brief how-to article might be useful to our listeners.

In fact, installing Xastir in Linux Mint is fairly easy.  Here’s a step by step procedure:

• Launch the Synaptic Package Manager
• Select the Amateur Radio (Universe) repository
• Click on Xastir in the list – version 1.9.4-3 was available as I did this
• Click on Apply – a bunch of dependencies were selected, and after approving that list, off it went.

A few minutes later (over a DSL connection) the installation was complete.

The first (and only) problem I encountered was that the installer did not create an entry in the Mint menu.  To remedy this, I clicked Menu, Preferences, Main Menu.  This utility allowed me to add a new menu category I called Amateur Radio, and a new item in that category that I creatively called Xastir.  The associated command is “/usr/bin/xastir“.  After logging out and in, the new menu item appeared.

Before running Xastir for the first time, I opened a terminal and entered the command:

$ callpass ka9wka

and the computer responded:

Passcode for ka9wka is 19125
$

Of course, you will use your callsign and you’ll receive a different passcode.  You’ll need that number when configuring the interface.  No, the callsign is not case-sensitive.

After running Xastir, you must perform some configuration, as Richard discussed.  For this test, it was simply a matter of defining my location and adding the Internet interface.  When you launch Xastir the first time, it will automatically open the “Configure Station” dialog, but you can return to that by clicking File, Configure, Station.  Here I entered my callsign and location.  I left the rest of the options at the defaults.

Next, I clicked the Interface menu option, then Interface Control.  This brings up an empty list of configured interfaces.  I clicked Add, chose “Internet Server”, and clicked the Add button. The “Configure Internet” dialog box appeared.  I entered 19125 into the Passcode field (see above), and “r/42/-87/500″ (without the quotes) into the Filter Parameters field.  This filter says, I believe, show all stations within a radius of 500km of 42 degrees N and 87 degrees W.  Modify to suit your location and preference, and click OK.  Finally, still in the Interface Control dialog box, I clicked Start All.  The status changed from DOWN to UP, and I closed the dialog box.  In a few moments, stations began to appear on the map.

There are a lot more options in Xastir that I haven’t explored here.  For example, if you’re planning on installing this on a laptop with a TNC and GPS device attached, you’ll need to add interfaces for those as well, and you’ll probably want to add a more detailed map for your area.  For now, this should get Xastir running under Linux Mint with a minimum of time and bother.

73,

-Bill, KA9WKA

Have you ever heard of PSK-31? Slow Scan TV? Digital Slow Scan TV? RTTY? JT65A? There are tons of different digital modes that are becoming more and more popular. Let’s say you want to work extremely weak, distant, stations using 5 watts, or less, on PSK-31. Maybe you want to exchange some photos with your Ham Radio buddies using Slow Scan TV! Or maybe you want to try something really challenging, like Meteor Scatter, or EME (Moonbounce), by using some of the weak signal modes like JT65A or FSK441.

These modes, and soundcard interfaces, are becoming extremely popular. The technology combined with more sensitive receivers and audio components are making the once impossible – possible. For example, up until recently, EME (Moonbounce) has been an exotic mode that was usually reserved for the rich. After all, to bounce your signal off the moon’s not-so-reflective surface at 250,000 miles away in space – you had to have a highly directional array of antennas and a lot of POWER. Now all you need is a single 2 meter Yagi antenna, a good 100 watt transceiver, computer, and soundcard interface. The extremely weak signal mode JT65A has allowed many more average Ham Radio users to operate EME.

Now for those interested in buying an interface, I recently I purchased a SignaLink USB from Tigertronics. It’s a very compact unit (See Photos) and is very simple to set up. When I ordered the unit, I was told that I needed to select the radio cable from a list of compatible rigs. I selected the cable, and placed my order. (Total was around $100 bucks)

The unit came in the mail about 7 weeks later. That’s right; this thing is in such demand that they can’t build them fast enough. Anyway it came provided with very detailed, and easy to understand, instructions. I had to open the unit by removing 4 allen wrench type screws from the front faceplate. I then had to set jumpers according to the instructions. I reattached the front faceplate, and plugged in the two cables… That’s it! Windows XP immediately recognized the unit, and installed the necessary drivers. No installation CD’s or DVD’s necessary!

The instructions provided me with further details about setting my audio levels for optimum performance. The Signalink USB software is bundled with utilities for working Radio-Linking (Echo Link), PSK-31, MT-63, SSTV, APRS, Packet, RTTY, MFSK, ASCII, CW, AMTOR…etc.

The SignaLink USB interface has worked very well so far. I would recommend it to the advanced users, as well as the newcomers. The SignaLink USB has several advantages over most soundcard interfaces – such as my Rigblaster Plus. Here are some of the advantages that I’ve noticed so far:

1 – SignaLink uses its own internal soundcard, rather than the computer’s internal soundcard. By using your computers internal soundcard, you may have some minor interference due to the close proximity of your computer’s electronics. By using the external soundcard, you are less likely to receive this interference – making weaker signals more workable. (Most laptops come with a crummy soundcard)

2 – USB powered (No A/C power adapter needed, and no need to tie up your computer Serial Port)

3 – Basic Simplicit

4 – External Audio Controls (Set and forget, regardless of which computer you are using.) 5 – Size/Weight (Portability – this thing is light, and small. Perfect for backpacking.)

I hope this will encourage others to experiment as I did. A Rig-to-Soundcard interface provides you, as an Amateur Radio Operator, a whole new level of capability. If you need any help setting up a rig interface for your station, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email at: Timgreen@classicnet.net . I will be glad to help! (QRZ? ?) For more information on the SignaLink USB – check out their website at :

WWW.TIGERTRONICS.COM 73, ES GUD DX. DE KD5YPC (Tim)

How to build fldigi on Ubuntu 9.10 X64

regards

k6***

1: get source tar balls
# cd /usr/local/src
# sudo bash
# [sudo] password for hamradio:
# root@hamworkstation:/usr/local/src#

Browse to http://www.w1hkj.com/Downloads.html
Copy link of source tar ball.
Paste link into root shell with the wget command.

# wget http://www.w1hkj.com/fldigi-distro/fldigi-3.11.5.tar.gz
# enter
Extract tar ball
# tar -zxf fldigi-3.11.5.tar.gz

Browse to http://hamlib.sourceforge.net/download.html
Copy link of source tar ball.
Paste link into root shell with the wget command.

# wget http://downloads.sourceforge.net/hamlib/hamlib-1.2.8.tar.gz
# enter
Extract tar ball
# tar -zxf hamlib-1.2.8.tar.gz

2: Get Software Dependencies
# apt-get install libxml2-dev tcl libfltk1.1-dev libxmlrpc-c3-dev pulseaudio libpulse-dev portaudio19-dev libsndfile1-dev libpng12-dev libjpeg62-dev

3: Building hamlib
# cd hamlib-1.2.8
# ./configure
# make
# make install

Test run hamlib rigctl with the settings for your radio.

# /usr/local/bin/rigctl

4: Build fldigi

# cd /usr/local/src/fldigi-3.11.5
# ./configure
# make
# make install

5: Run fldigi

Open new terminal shell hamradio@hamworkstation:~$

# /usr/local/bin/fldigi

Have fun and good luck

P.S.
Check your paths.
/usr/bin/fldigi will be a different version then /usr/local/bin/fldigi

Well since then some others on Twitter have ask the same question. I say yes we do. We made a difference in Oklahoma City, We made a difference in and around New Orleans, and let us not

forget since today is 9/11 we made a difference in New York. Amateur Radio does make a difference on a regular basis.

After taking the time to investigate  little deeper into where the initial question came from I discovered that the person that ask the question on Twitter seems to want to remain anonymous because there is no one in the state of New Jersey that is licensed in the name they use on Twitter. Then digging a little deeper I found that our friend in New Jersey didn’t have an original thought. He was responding to another HAM in California. The HAM in California happened to be running off at the mouth about Amateur Radios role in disaster communications being propaganda from the ARRL and that we don’t really do anything. This is the same guy that has numerous post over at QRZ proclaiming that most of the Amateur Radio community shouldn’t have a license because they never took a code test and that Amateur has become so bad that he didn’t see the point in doing anything other than hiding out on the low end of 40 meters where he didn’t have to deal with the no-coders. Well surprise dumbass there are extras operating code on 40 meters that never took a code test.

It appears the this is another case of another whiny old HAM that can’t deal with progress and since he is unhappy wants the rest of the world to be unhappy. I was apposed to the codeless license when it first came in and the ARRL and I don’t always see eye to eye. What I do know is that the codeless Amateur Radio license has brought a large number of top notch operators into the hobby. I know that the ARRL has kept the FCC from running over us. I also know that here locally that we were first called when Dallas county needed communications for the evacuation of folks for Gustav. We are written into the emergency communications plan for Dallas county, the City of Mesquite, and FEMA since they have some of their offices here in north Texas.

As for our friend in California. A response to one of his post ask him if he felt that way when was he going to sell his equipment and surrender his license? There has been no answer to that question. I might add if he is reading this that Amateur Radio is not dead. We still make a difference in today’s world and if you would climb out from under that bitter old rock and get involved you might be able to figure that out on your own.

Thanks

Richard Bailey KB5JBV ( not afraid for people to know )

The opinions in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Black Sparrow Media

Now I have been licensed for about 20 years and have never owned an HF amplifier. I have had a couple of commercially manufactured antennas for HF but they were verticals and they were crap. I run wire antennas here at the shack now and have had great success with them.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not an avid Dxer. But over the years I have accumulated a pretty impressive collection of QSL cards. I feel that Dxing is kind of like deer hunting. You have the guys that goes out and gets the most powerful rifle they can find and the best scope they can find so they can sit in a tree ¼ of a mile away and murder Bambi. On the other hand you have the guys that go into the woods with a knife and a bow. I feel the bow hunter must have more skill.

It is the same way with DX. The operator that is working with 100 watts and a wire has to be far more skilled than the guy with the Yagi antenna that is running legal limit. Knowing when to make the call to bust the pile up. Knowing when to dial the vfo a couple of kilohertz off to one side and all the other techniques that will allow a 100 watt station to jump in, make the contact, and get out while the big guns are sitting there scratching their heads.

The only time I can remember ever thinking that I needed and amplifier was during hurricane Katrina. That was only because conditions were so bad.

Today some folks are starting to call Dxing and contesting “Radio Sport”. OK, The way most folks go about it is more like fishing with dynamite. I don’t call that a sport.

Of course this is just my opinion.

Richard KB5JBV

Here is another of those self indulgent things. I listen to the Friday news feedbag as a podcast and every week it seems that one of the host makes a negative remark about amateur radio. This week I had enough so I found the email address, loaded my musket and

let them have it. It would be different if they knew what they were talking about. Here you go and if you hear people talking about the amateur radio service and they don’t seem to have a clue. Send them an email. If you don’t get an answer at you can get it off your chest.

“Hello guys,
Great show. One thing disturbs me though. Jorge is always taking pot shots at the Amateur Radio Operators. Currently there are over 500,000 FCC licensed Amateur Radio Operators in the United States and over 200 countries have their own Amateur Radio Service. Most of the things you take for granted in everyday life from from television to mobile phones. If any of you use a Heil
microphone to record your podcast you can thank Bob Heil an amateur radio operator. I know Joe Walsh WB6ACU does.

I think that your show is really great but every time Jorge cracks a joke about HAM radio operators he helps to reinforces the myth that amateur radio operators are amateurish. The “amateur” in amateur radio means unpaid. Like Olympic athletes are unpaid so they are amateur athletes.

Since your show seams most of the time to be science and technology based I would think that you would be interested in doing some pieces on amateur radio since it is at the forefront of technology not stuck in the 1930′s as Jorge likes to believe.You might want to research amateur radio satellites, amateur radio digital voice, data, VOIP, or Moon bounce or Meteor scatter.

We are first called when disaster strikes and Federal, State, and local government need interoperability in communications. When hurricane Katrina came ashore we had radio operators in the effected area before the Federal government had finished their second cup of coffee. When the space shuttle exploded raining down on east Texas radio operators were activated less than 10 minutes after the explosion and operated in the recovery efforts for over a month. Right now there are hundreds of amateur radio operators providing communications for the fire teams in the west as they do every year.

So please have Jorge pick on something else. Maybe he could pick on podcast host, I am also one of those and it would be easier to take since I would assume that he knows what he is talking about.

Do the research guys, it ain’t Herman and Granpa in the basement.

Thanks for your time ”

The Resonant Frequency website has been updated, and the donation counter reset, but all donations are gratefully accepted. If an episode has helped you at all, it should be worth a dollar. Thanks.

While there, please click through the ads for your purchases at Amazon or GoDaddy.

Visit the website often to see the latest articles and videos. Check out the Linux in the Ham Shack site, too.

Spring is here and storms are a frequent occurrence. Check out your local Skywarn group. 08:13 Song “Ain’t No Way” by Kirk Fletcher, from the album “My Turn”. 11:08 Topic Part 2 of the Mobile Installation series. This time, we’ll discuss routing power to the radio.
Wire gauge numbers decrease as the diameter of the wire increases. For example, #12 is smaller than #10. For mobile radio installations, bigger wire is better.
In general, stranded will be better than solid for this purpose. It is more flexible and less likely to fatigue and break as it moves.
Consider the voltage, current demand, and distance when choosing the power cable. One symptom of using too small a power wire is a “motor boat” sound on your transmission. The voltage will drop with distance, and that drop is greater on smaller wire than larger wire for the same distance. Here’s a wire table to help choose the appropriate wire size for your installation.
An example might be:
A 100W HF radio that draws 20 amps, and a 50W dual-band VHF/UHF radio that draws 8.5 amps. The radios will both be 8 feet from the battery. Using the table above,
we can see that #8 wire will deliver up to 30 amps at 15 feet, so it would certainly do the job. It’s best to be a bit conservative. Since our run is only 8 feet, we might get by with #10.
If we were to run separate power leads to both radios, then #10 would certainly work for the HF rig, and #12 for the VHF/UFH radio. -Ed. Most installations will use the nominal 12VDC power directly from the vehicle battery. It’s best to avoid plugging into the 12V accessory outlet (cigarette lighter) or under-dash fuse panel.
Examine the engine compartment carefully to determine the best route for the power wires. Avoid running the wire directly over the engine or exhaust manifold, as these get very hot and can melt the insulation.
Fasten the wires using cable ties, Velcro wraps, or spiral wrap suitable for vehicle use.
There will be access ports in the firewall to pass the cable into the passenger compartment. Some may have a rubber plug that you can pierce to pass the wire through. If you must drill through the metal firewall, use a grommet or other insulator to protect the wire from the sharp edges.
You may find cavities in the fenders and doors that will accept the power cable. Remember that the wire will vibrate and rub against surfaces and possibly wear through the insulation and cause a short, so take precautions.
Use standard connectors whenever possible, such as a Jones or Cinch plug, Molex, Anderson PowerPole or the like. (Note, PowerWerx.com is a good source for many of these. -Ed.)
Some prefer to solder the leads and shrink wrap or tape the connection.
If possible, crimp/solder ring lugs to the wires and attach them to the battery using the battery cable clamp screws.
Remember to fuse both the positive and negative leads! It’s best to have fuses at the battery AND at the radio ends.
Because the recommended wire is stranded, it can wick moisture into the cable and cause corrosion. Soldering the connection helps prevent this, as does electrical tape, heat shrink tubing, or liquid electrical tape.
Periodically inspect the wires in the engine compartment to catch potential problems early. 36:15 Song “Pearl River” by Mike Zito, from the album “Pearl River”. 41:05 Conclusion Next time, an all-feedback episode.
Check out the website, read the articles, leave a comment, look for a new video, make a donation to the podcast, use GoDaddy for your web hosting, and click the Amazon link for your purchases. Send your feedback! Check out Linux in the Ham Shack, too.
The hamfest season is upon us: Ham-Com, Ham Radio in the Park, and various hamfests. 

Email Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com
Twitter: twitter.com/kb5jbv
Identica: http://identi.ca/kb5jbv
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/kb5jbv
KB5JBV on D-Star via the NT5RN repeater.
Fan pages at Facebook for Resonant Frequency and Linux in the Ham Shack. Closing theme “We Gotta Go” by David Henderson at Podsafe Audio. Share and Enjoy:

]]> http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/04/show-notes-episode-052/feed/ 0 http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/04/wspr2-on-ubuntu-9-04-and-9-10/ http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/04/wspr2-on-ubuntu-9-04-and-9-10/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:23 +0000 kb5jbv http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/?p=522

Written by Eddie, G3ZJO. Used with permission.

Well from the talk on the WWWeb I was hoping for better things I must admit. I have been away from Linux for a time. There are things in Ham Radio still that you just can only do with Windows. I did install Ubuntu 9.04 and ran WSJT that is in the repository it worked fine all be it an old version..

I have done plenty to promote the use of Linux in the Ham shack and with Fldidgi you have a wonderful piece of stable software that does everything just as well on Ubuntu etc. as it does on Windows.

I have compiled and modified WSPR to run on Linux very well so when the WSRP2 version for Linux was released I was so pleased to hear that Mr Average Ham in his shack with Linux on his machine could now fetch and run WSPR easily.

Last night I tried WSPR2.00 rev1714 on my Ubuntu 9.04. All went well, this is just what we have been looking for I thought. Then the annoying flickering of the green RECEIVING box caught my eye, obviously as processing is going on in the machine that display gets starved or something. I have seen this before it makes the software look unstable, shame that.

Decodes went ahead fine, however, those Labels are still miss aligned UTC dB DT Freq Drift, I was decoding my own beacon on 500Khz this software plainly indicated Drift – G3ZJO, no that is my Call Sign, not a drift value, if I were to run this version on Linux I would have to go in and modify the labels as before, such things just annoy me to death. But hey it works doesn’t it, ‘though you don’t have to accept these things with Fldigi.

Then Ubuntu 9.04 informed me of the software update to 9.10, they say that WSPR runs fine on 9.10 so I went ahead with the install. Time to take a look at WSPR2 on Ubuntu 9.10, ERROR access denied. Oh yes, well it worked before, lets try WSJT, no go, try Fldigi all is fine, works great.

I know what has happened Ubuntu update has thrown out some of the libraries needed by WSPR, we are back to ‘old days’, I have done it all a hundred times, do I want to bother now, will Mr Average Ham in his shack want to bother? Still, Linux and WSPR has further to go before it is as easy and as acceptable as Windows, shame.

Music by the usual suspects and a cople from IODA promonet.
Kirk Fletcher
“Ain’t No Way” (mp3)
from “My Turn”
(Eclecto Groove Records)

Buy at Napster
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Mike Zito
“Pearl River” (mp3)
from “Pearl River”
(Eclecto Groove Records)

Buy at Napster
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Me and Tim KD6FWD and the boys at Ham Radio in the Park 2009

You know I have a two by three call sign. It is KB5JBV. For those that have been getting it wrong for the last twenty plus years that is “Kilo Bravo Five Juliet Bravo Victor”. I have that call because it was my original novice call sign. Other reasons are that I am an advanced class licensee and didn’t like the call signs that were available at that time. I have never been in a position that my license stopped me from doing what I wanted to do in the hobby. I really don’t have time to sit down and study even though I am familiar with things like “libration fading” and “spin modulation”. Most importantly I keep it because it reminds me that I had to work my butt off to learn Morse code to get into the hobby. The important concept here for me is “work to get into this hobby”. That was over twenty years ago.

I have seen and done most everything that can be done in the amateur radio service. I have been an assistant section manager under four or five section managers. I hold a Brass Pounders medallion from NTS. I have been a net control for many HF and VHF nets over the years. I have been the club President for my local club here pulling it out of the tail spin it was in at the time and also saved their weekly net that was in danger of extinction by assuming the role of Net Coordinator.

The list goes on but I don’t want this to sound like a case of me blowing my own horn. I don’t talk about things I don’t know concerning the hobby or the people in the hobby. I don’t talk about commercially built antennas or home brew beams because I have never had a need for them. The same with other aspects of amateur radio.

There are those out there that think they know everything about the radio operators around them but really don’t have a clue. People assume I don’t know anything because I have a two by three call sign. They don’t stop to consider when the call sign might have been issued or that nobody in there right mind would take it as a vanity call. In most cases these are the ones that paid for a call sign to cover up the fact that they came in as a codeless tech.

Example Time. There is an operator here locally that can only be described as “The guy with his picture next to the word LID in the ham radio dictionary”. Anybody that has been licensed in this area for more than a few years knows they need to stay away from this fellow. I have known him longer than I have been licensed and used his Tech / General manual to study for my general test. I know the stuff he doesn’t want everybody to know and as long as he leaves me alone I leave him alone. The ham in question decided to attack another ham in one of the newsgroups I watch over a question concerning CW at one of the local regular events. The second ham happens to be somebody for whom I have a lot of respect. He has been in the hobby for many years and in my opinion is worthy of my respect not only for his contributions to the hobby but because he is also a really great guy. Mister LID on the other hand gets himself run off from every group that he finds his way into because he is a habitual liar and constantly trying to make himself look like a big cheese in the amateur radio community.

When I said something about the comments that Mister LID made another ham that has never taken the time to find out anything about me and assumes that because I have a two by three call sign that I don’t know what I’m talking about, proceeded to contradict me on how Mister LID became an “Extra Lite”. The third ham is the current net coordinator of the local club net. The one I saved from extinction a year or two before he told me in an email that he would never be a member of this local club. I am a little confused.

The point is if this is happening to me it is happening to others. I keep my call sign because it gives me a feeling of pride knowing what it represents to me. I giggle at those that pay for something they can get for free like a call sign. Most of you are aware that I know what I am talking about and I don’t talk about things I don’t know. That is why you listen to both podcasts and come read this website.

As for Mister LID he will be run off again when everybody gets wise to him. Mister I know more than you do will just continue to be just another ham and I will still have a better knowledge of the hobby and continue to have more experience and fun with the hobby.

Just remember that you can cure ignorance by acquiring knowledge but you cant fix Stupid.

I know this is a little self serving but I think there are some good points in this information.

Please stay tuned for the opinion segment at the end of this email.

The idea of a  Digi on the tower is something we put to bed a long time ago. the problem with packet is it has very unusual characteristics. Packet is relay  nasty when using equipment that is perfectly aligned with the audio levels properly set and can tear other communications that are reasonable close in frequency and proximity. When I say frequency I am talking about a couple of megahertz not kilohertz. When say proximity we’re talking miles not feet. A good example is back when we were doing NTS locally on Packet Lynn Secules had a real problem with packet burst on the repeater output frequency coming over his handheld with a rubber duck antenna inside his home. The signal was not coming through the repeater. The closest Packet station to him at the time was KD6FWD running about five watts two or three miles away.

So no matter how well aligned and shielded the equipment is the chance of causing interference and/or desense to other equipment on the tower is extremely high.

Now since  every APRS station is in theory a Digi your coverage follows the station. When mobiles move into say to Seagoville
you have Digi’s in Seagoville.

APRS works using a brute force approach to get the message through. Instead of sending a packet and waiting for an acknowledgment packet. APRS sends a packet without regard for an acknowledgment this way it circumvents the direct connect nature of Packet and allows multiple stations to receive and use the information in each packet. In standard Packet this in known as UNPROTO operation. So APRS Burst a packet that is picked up by relay and wide digi’s. Like i said APRS does not use the ACK portion of Packet instead packets are sent multiple times in a decaying sequence. So it looks kind looks like.

Station A >> relay >> relay >> wide >> relay >> Gateway

packet >> 1 min >> packet >> 2min >> packet >> 3 min >> packet>> …..

This is kind of simplified but you get the idea.

This is why the APRS frequency sounds congested. Channel loading is a problem and can happen very quickly and easily. There ways to make this less of a problem but it is still something that can happen very rapidly.

Since every unit is a digi the rule for fixed digi’s is lower is better. 20 to 50 feet. Lower power is better also. Since you are depending mostly on capture effect to get the signal through lower power and more stations is better. If you really want a digi in a higher place the tower at the City of Mesquite service center would by better.

144.390 isn’t really as congested as it sounds. Moving to a different frequency comes with it’s own set of challenges. 144.91 to 145.09 by gentleman’s agreement are the Packet frequencies for other purposes. PBBS, Rose nodes, Winlink, DX Clusters and so forth. The experimental portion for two meters just below the satellite band could  be used but then you will have to have gateways if you want it piped into the Internet. For local use it would probably be best to stick with 144.91. The infrastructure is already in place.

Let me throw the dual purpose Digi in here. The main problem with a general or dual purpose digi is that it would be disastrous on the APRS frequency. Connected Packet stations would ingore the APRS stations and create twice the channel loading due to packet collisions. If it was setup on one of the standard Packet frequencies it would not be catastrophic but it would cause undue interference and increase channel loading due to retries and collisions.

I think I covered everything. If I missed anything let me know. If you have anymore questions let me know.

And with That:

—————————————Opinion Alert —————————————-

Whoever brought this up again to the Fire Department and the Rotary Club has to be out of there mind. I understand five or six years ago it was brought up by Rob Ashmore but APRS was still popular at that time. APRS has been dieing a slow death for the last ten years. It has only been a year or so since Bob W4APR released a couple of articles apologizing for APRS because he feels it was a mistake. If instituted as he intended it would have worked. APRS was never intended to be a poor mans LOJACK.
APRS has made no technical progress since it first came out back around 1995 and folks like Pete Lovell just can’t let go. The manufacturer have made a lot of money of the Amateur Radio community with radios and trackers that are only useful for APRS, The radios with built in TNC’s won’t even run AX.25 in connected mode without an external TNC attached to it. There are so many problems with this technology and now someone has offered it to our customer (the City of Mesquite) and it is just one more thing to make us look bad in their eyes. By the way did I tell you I am a digital enthusiast and  I do not own a single piece of APRS specific equipment or software?

—————————————- End Of Opinion —————————————–

BITE ME !!!!!

My father was an Engineer for North American Aviation so I grew up building and soldering and all of the things that a Ham needs to pursue his hobby. Unfortunately I didn’t get my license until I was 55 years old. Between 7 years of age and 55 years of age I kept thinking “I want to be a Ham”. Finally on my 55th birthday I said it’s now or never and took the Tech test and passed it on the first try. I now hold a General class and will test again for my Extra soon.

The point of all of this background is to make a simple point. Even with the lifelong desire to become a Ham and having the knowledge and skills required (including 25 WPM code) I, like a lot of others, just didn’t know just how to take that first step. I got into CB during the 1970s because all you had to do was buy a radio and send in the form to the FCC (although I know many didn’t bother to even do that much) but always wanted to be a Ham.

One of the problems was that all I ever heard about Hams was complaints about “Interference problems, Ugly antennas, too weird or geeky”. I would only here about the good things about Amateur Radio was from my friends that were Hams. The Media and the General Public had no idea what the hobby really did. They reaped the benefits that Hams provided but had no idea that the reason they have so many communication devices including the Cell Phone were developed and perfected by Hams. Why when a disaster befell them the communications was usually handled by Hams.

I know you all realize these things because you are Hams, but that’s my point. We are the best when it comes to providing all kinds of technical expertise and emergency communications but when it comes to Public Relations we really suck. I know that the ARRL has a lot of material to enlist the Public into the hobby, but what we really need to do is change the perceived image of what Amateur Radio and Hams really are all about. Each of us needs to show the people we see and talk to everyday that we are normal people and not the Nerds or freaks that most perceive Hams to be. Be enthusiastic but not fanatical about the hobby. Show them the value of a communication system that doesn’t fail during a disaster. Show them how cool it is to be able to talk to the ISS or AO51 or whatever your favorite niche of the hobby is.

For a group of such technically savvy and giving individuals why we can’t come up with a better Public image is a mystery to me. As I said in the first sentence of this article “I love Amateur Radio for so many reasons.” and I want others at least have a glimpse of what I see in this wonderful hobby with all its facets. The brotherhood / fellowship, the spirit of volunteerism, the innate curiosity and desire to learn and experiment, the concern for the well being of others, attention to family as well as community are all things that I see in this hobby. The willingness of Hams to Elmer is not seen to the extent is in Amateur Radio in any other hobby that I’m aware of. We are not elitists but instead try to aid all. We are not in it for profit other than the feeling of accomplishment of what we do. We don’t discriminate on any level whether Politically, Racially, Sexually, Age or you name it. We love our hobby and although we are called Amateur Radio operators I know of no other group that is as professional as a group than we are.

Hopefully, with all this combined intellect we can come up with a way to get the public to take another more informed look at us and in the process maybe decide that Hams aren’t what they thought we were. Any comments, ideas suggestions and criticisms are always welcome. 73.

Tim Sutton KI6BGE
ki6bge@gmail.com

Front of Card (Ted Williams)

Back of Card

Here is a better view of the signal Report.

Close up of signal report area

As you can see the signal report is “-07″ the signal report has to do with the signal to noise ratio. It will be given to you by the program. for more info check out the Documentation and visit this great tutorial on JT 65 http://www.pe2pe.eu/WSJT_on_HF.htm It is a little dated but very good. it got me pointed in the right direction.

While i was listening to that machine some operators were discussing some ducting that had been going on earlier in the day. I am not sure how it is in other parts of the country by here in Texas 145.310 is a fantastic frequency for ducting. There are five repeaters in the state on that frequency and they can all be worked from Dallas depending on the time of the year.

Now I felt compelled to chime in on this conversation. The 145.310 repeater in Moody Texas 97 miles away is the most common machine to come in when ducting is going on. It just so happened one of the folks on the frequency had a one by two call but he was more interested in the fact that my audio was a little lower than everybody else’s than the information I was giving him. I was taught not to scream at the microphone of an FM transmitter because overdriving the microphone may cause flat topping.

Not only did he have a problem with my  volume level but everybody that was on the machine that was not full quieting was picket fencing according to him.

For the love of god, a one by two call doesn’t make you smart. It doesn’t make you a better radio operator. It doesn’t make you make you a coded extra even some folks get a vanity cal to make other operator think they are.

This is the part of our program where I throw out some examples. I know an operator that had purchased his Technician licenses before I was licensed. In fact I used his Tech / General book to study for my technician license. He didn’t need it. Before he got licensed he used a bootleg call sign for several years. He continued to be  a Technician class operator from that time until they dropped the code requirement a few years ago. He now has a two by two call sign but he is still dumb as a rock and 150% pure CB’er. Sorry B. J. Another example is a Ham I new when I first got licensed that had jumped threw all the hoop it took to become an extra class operator including a 21 word a minute code test. He spent a lot of time telling everybody around him how much he knew about the hobby. One day my father introduced him to Amtor. For those not familiar Amtor was similar to Pactor but the transceiver keyed and unkeyed at a much faster rate. When this Ham started to transmit he thought that the radio was going to blow up and started to disconnect cables in a rapid fashion. There was nothing wrong. He just didn’t know as much as he thought. We do miss the weather man (SK).

So i say a one by two call doesn’t mean you are smart. Neither does a two by two, two by one, a one by three, or a two by three call make you smart. What makes you smart is learning about the hobby. Learning to use the terminology properly. Operating your radio in the proper and excepted way. Because I will tell you that those who want people to respect them because of there call are sadly mistaken in their way of thinking. All you have to do is listen to them talk to know that they are full of crap. ]:)

I admit that I am spoiled. I was licensed during cycle 22 (September 1986 – May 1996) one of the best cycles on record for sunspots and thus radio wave propagation on the HF bands. In those days I found my love for HF because you could work someone, somewhere 24 hours a day. Not just on HF but on VHF and higher.

During cycle 22 20 meters stayed open 24 hours a day nearly everyday. every night there was plenty of trans-polar activity to be had from the Scandinavian countries to most of the USSR. even here in Texas we had no trouble hearing the Russian over the horizon radar. Troublesome old woodpecker. 30 meters was very much the same and digital communications and cw ran round the clock.

40 and 75 meters were not so great but you could still have good reliable communications during the night and evening hours but as soon as the Flux went up they were gone.

My beloved 10 meters and its partner 15 meters are the ones that I miss the most. I lament those happy care free days as a newly licensed Ham before the egos and politics dominated the hobby as they do today. Being a Technician class licensee back then I only had phone privileges 10 meters but I used them to the fullest. I spent hours on the FM repeater here in the DFW area. I didn’t have privileges on the portion of the band where the repeater was but I did have access to the frequencies that the RF link from transmitter to receiver were on. That and a scanner and I was on the air. working stations around the world on my 70 cm handie talkie. Lower in the band I had my radio dreams come true. After spending many years in that radio service that we don’t talk about much I could not believe the things I could do on 10 meters. I had worked stations all over the United States but the distances I could cover on 10 meters blew me away. My very first contact was with an 11 year old gentleman in Arecibo, Puerto Rico named Emigdio Inigo. Not having any QSL cards I sent him a post card with a picture of an animal indigenous to this area “The Giant Texas Jackalope”. I hope he enjoyed it. I became a member of Ten – Ten international, I worked special events stations, I met a lot of great people, and that is where I developed my intense love of the hobby.

Well I have rambled on for some time but the truth is that there is nothing we can do about the current solar cycle except persevere. Hopefully the next one will be better. Until then I will continue to work the unworkable and experiment with the newer ways of making contacts in such bad conditions. That means that when we do finally have a good solar cycle I will be ready to fill my log and paper my walls and enjoy the hobby as it is meant to be enjoyed.

You know working JT65 during a bad cycle is not so bad. I was able to find a patch of hot ionized gas and work a station 5000 miles away on 5 watts. so there is still life in the old hobby yet.

Big Grins Everybody

Richard asked several local amateur radio clubs for copies of their newsletters in order to develop ideas for future podcast episodes. One of them, The Tyler Amateur Radio Club of Tyler, TX, sent Richard a copy of their newsletter, The Groundwire. An article in that issue provides the topic for this show. 03:40 Topic “Studying to the test.” That is, simply memorizing the correct answers to the questions without actually understanding the concepts.
This is not a new phenomenon. Prospective hams have been doing this to some extent for a very long time. Many hams have passed the exam this way, and only after receiving their license did they begin to actually learn the material.
Richard believes that it’s our responsibility to Elmer the new licensees and keep them interested and motivated to learn more. The newletter article, “Recommended Reading”, from the March 10, 2011 issue of The Groundwire, courtesy of the Tyler Amateur Radio Club, is reproduced below: 

Recommended Reading

Frankly, I look upon the FCC’s current method of granting amateur radio licenses with considerable disdain. This is wrought not only because I’m “old school” (and proud of it!) but also because, in college, I saw many of my contemporaries get as good or better grades than I simply because they were as good or better “memorizers” than I was a “studier”. Typically, a day or two after an exam, they couldn’t recall even “D-level” recognition of the material much less any real working knowledge of same. I feel the current testing format encourages “cramming”, a.k.a. just memorizing questions and
answers long enough to score a passing grade on the tests.

Some of the statements I hear on the air today, both on repeaters and HF, only serve to bolster that opinion. For example: “I need to get a new antenna because the one I’m using doesn’t have enough SWRs.” (No, I’m not kidding!)

I don’t want anyone to be able to accuse any of my fellow TARC members of falling into that “crammer” category. Accordingly, I urge all to continue reading and studying about all the technical aspects of our shared hobby, especially those that interest them most, e.g. antennas, receivers, circuitry, power, grounding, etc. to get a good foundation into not only the “whats” (i.e. “crammer-level”) but also the “whys” and the “hows” (where understanding and application begins). To that end, I offer a few PDF documents as a good place to start to learn about a few of the aspects of building and properly operating a useful and safe shack. These short documents cover lightning protection, RF grounding, and the term “decibel” (dB).

(Thanks to Bob, AG5X, and Elaine, KF5CNN, co-editors of The Groundwire, for allowing us to reproduce their article here.) 16:34 Conclusion Check out the website, make a donation to the podcast, use Go Daddy for your web hosting, and click the Amazon link for your purchases. Send your feedback! Check out Linux in the Ham Shack, too. 

Email Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com
Twitter: twitter.com/kb5jbv
Identica: http://identi.ca/kb5jbv
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/kb5jbv
KB5JBV on D-Star via the NT5RN repeater.
Fan pages at Facebook for Resonant Frequency and Linux in the Ham Shack. Closing theme “We Gotta Go” by David Henderson at Podsafe Audio. Share and Enjoy:

]]> http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/03/show-notes-episode-051/feed/ 0 http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/03/resonant-frequency-episode-51/ http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/03/resonant-frequency-episode-51/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:13:26 +0000 kb5jbv http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/?p=790 Ok kids were in the studio but were doing one of the mobile / ramble episodes. The question was studying to the test. Memorizing the answers to the license test or studying the material. Thanks to the Tyler amateur radio club for the inspiration for this episode. Check them out at http://tylerarc.org

For most new hams, their first project is installing a radio in their car. This can be as simple as a magnet mount antenna on the roof, a hand-held radio and cigarette lighter power adapter.

First, of course, is planning. Decide what bands you wish to use while mobile. If you have a larger vehicle, you probably have the luxury of more space for an HF or HF/VHF/UHF radio.

If you have a small car, you may be limited to a UHF/VHF dual band or a single band radio. You should also consider if it is important to be able to easily remove the radio to move it to another vehicle.

Consider the available mounting locations.

Next, you should evaluate how you will provide power to the radio. If you wish to run a 100W HF rig, you may need an alternator with higher output. In any case, you’ll need a good ground for the system, too.

Generally, the best way to provide power is to run wires directly from the battery to the radio. This will minimize electrical noise from other electronics in the vehicle.

If you have room, you may wish to add a second battery, which will prevent your primary battery from being discharged to the point that it cannot restart the engine. For that, you’ll need a battery isolator.

It’s also a good idea to fuse both the hot and ground leads.

If you do add a second battery, do not place it in the passenger compartment as it can generate hydrogen gas during charging. Make sure, too, the battery is properly ventilated, contained and secured. Optima deep cycle batteries are recommended as they are designed to be discharged further than conventional automotive starting batteries. 1:01:41 Song “Total Breakdown” by Brad Sucks, from the album “Out of It”. 1:03:58 Conclusion Check out the website, make a donation to the podcast, use Go Daddy for your web hosting, and click the Amazon link for your purchases. Send your feedback! 

Email Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com
Twitter: twitter.com/kb5jbv
Identica: http://identi.ca/kb5jbv
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/kb5jbv
KB5JBV on D-Star via the NT5RN repeater.
Fan pages at Facebook for Resonant Frequency and Linux in the Ham Shack. 1:06:48 Song “Certain Death” by Brad Sucks, from the album “Out of It”. Share and Enjoy:

]]> http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/03/show-notes-episode-050/feed/ 0 http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/03/danger-spectrum-threat-to-70-cm-band/ http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/03/danger-spectrum-threat-to-70-cm-band/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:45:23 +0000 kb5jbv http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/?p=776 From:ARRL Members Only Web site www.arrl.org>
To: andycarstarphen@yahoo.com
Sent: Wed, March 2, 2011 7:26:30 PM
Subject: March FLASH Newsletter

Attention all Radio Amateurs!

A FLASH message from the West Gulf Division Director, David Woolweaver,
K5RAV

Your assistance to defend one of our amateur bands is urgently
requested. Please read and follow through on the requested action
described below. This is an important issue for every Amateur Radio
Operator in the nation.

You may have already heard that our 440 MHz band is being threatened by
a bill introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives. In its
current form, HR 607 provides for the creation and maintenance of a
nationwide Public Safety broadband network. As a part of that network,
the bill proposes to allocate the so-called “D-Block” of frequencies
in the 700 MHz range. The “D-Block” consists of two, 5 MHz wide
segments of spectrum (758-763 MHz and 788-793 MHz) that became
available when the FCC ended analog television broadcasts in June 2009.
It was initially expected that the “D-Block” would be auctioned for
commercial use.

HR 607 provides for the reallocation of other spectrum for auction to
commercial users in order to offset the loss of revenue that will occur
as the result of the allocation of the “D-Block” to Public Safety
instead of commercial auction. Among the bands to be reallocated for
commercial auction within ten years of passage of HR 607 are the paired
bands of 420-440 MHz and 450-470 MHz.

The concept for this proposed network has merit. Everyone wants first
responders to have the radio systems they need in order to protect
themselves and us. However, there is absolutely no need to reallocate
for auction the 440 MHz band to make it happen. We must let our U.S.
Representatives know we oppose the current wording of HR 607.

What can I do? A web site to automatically prepare a letter opposing
HR 607 has been created to assist you. Go to

http://www.kd4pyr.net/hamletter.htm.

Insert your call sign where indicated and follow the simple
instructions. The name and address of your U.S. Representative will
automatically be inserted into the letter along with your name and
address. The letter will then be displayed ready to be printed and
signed.

IMPORTANT: Please be certain to observe the following once you have
printed your letter:

- Be sure to sign it. Letters without a handwritten signature are not
effective.

- Signed letters can be sent by fax or postal mail to -

John Chwat
Chwat & Co.,
Suite 103, 625 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314
Fax number: (703) 684-7594

- The letter can also be signed and scanned into .pdf format and then
E-Mailed as a file attachment to: john.chwat@chwatco.com. Chwat and
Co. is the ARRL’s legislative relations firm in Washington, D.C.

- Do not send this letter or any letter about HR 607 to your U.S.
Senators at this time. The bill has only been filed in the U.S. House
of Representatives. .

-WHY should the letter be mailed to John Chwat and NOT your
Representative? There are two reasons. First, all postal mail
addressed to members of the U.S. Congress is delayed 6 to 8 weeks to
search for the inclusion of hazardous materials. Remember the Anthrax
incident? Second, Mr. Chwat will increase the value of your individual
letter by combining it with others. He will then hand carry the stack
of letters directly to your Representative’

I will give you a good example from my own experience. I have tried nearly every aspect of amateur radio except for satellite communications and EME. I was Digital Net Manager for NTS here in Texas and hold a brass pounders medallion for my NTS work. I am an Asst. RACES radio officer and Asst. EC for the city of Mesquite Texas. I have taken and passed ARECC level I, II, and III. I served two terms as president of the Ham Association of Mesquite and was head of the education committee for a year and net coordinator for the weekly information net for two years for that same organization. I have served as Asst. Section Manager under five Section managers. I am or have been an Official Observer, Chairman of the speakers bureau, VE, Technical Specialist, Official Relay Station, Official Emergency Station for the ARRL. The list goes on and on. I have even spent many hours calling nets on HF and VHF for NTS, and other organizations.

So what is the point? Well at this stage of the game the only unfulfilled goals I have in the hobby is to become Section Emergency Coordinator or District Emergency Coordinator for ARES in my area or Section Traffic Manager. This will never happen though because it is not in the cards for me.

When the Section Traffic Manager position became vacant a few years ago the appointment went to a fairly new ham that didn’t even know what the TCC was. I was available but I received no call. The same with SEC and DEC. DEC has become vacant several times over the past few years. I have thrown my hat in but it is always somebody that is a better political choice or a buddy of the SEC. When the last SEC retired I volunteered for that but It was better to have someone that has been a Ham for a little over a year as Section Emergency Coordinator. Well I guess it helps to be friends with the section manager, training and experience doesn’t.

So we come back to the question “what is the point in being a good amateur radio operator?” Well it is not about personal gain. Being a good ham brings the satisfaction of knowing you are the best you can be in the hobby. The knowledge that you have taken the time to learn and train for the time when you are needed to provide communications for those that can’t. Not only the little old lady that just lost her house due to a flood but the government agencies that can’t get on the same page with there radio equipment. The ability to bring others into the amateur radio community using your knowledge and enthusiasm for the hobby. The ability to take a newly licensed radio operator and guide him into a position where he can enjoy the hobby as much as you do. Those are some but not all of the reasons for being a good amateur radio operator.

So go out and be the best Ham you can be. Learn, Do, Teach. Bring new people into the hobby. Elmer the ones that are already here. Spread that infection that is know as love for the hobby and let the appliance operators seek the glory.

Ain’t that right Jay?

Enjoy

Let me start with a few disclaimers:  I like Red Hat and it’s various derivatives.  I’ve never much cared for Debian, and I still think Ubuntu is a bit over-rated. And, I’m not a Gnome fan; I like KDE.  I know why I have these preferences: Red Hat 4.2 was the first version of Linux I had running, and KDE was the first desktop environment I used on Linux, so these are what I’m comfortable with.  Besides, that default brown Ubuntu theme is just ugly. (Yes, I know you can change it.)

When Gnome first came out, it was noticeably slower on my machine (at that time) than KDE, so I stayed with KDE.  I also tried some of the other, lighter, window managers, but being lazy, I stuck mostly with KDE and Red Hat for years, even through a few early versions of Fedora.  I became disenchanted with Fedora primarily because of it’s rapid release cycle.  I don’t have time to install a new version every six months, or whatever.  I like to find a stable version of a distribution and run it for a few years, hopefully with updates.  That’s why I ended up using CentOS on my home server, and on a couple of desktops.  It’s stable and gets updates for a good long time.  Having said all that…

I started listening to “Linux in the Ham Shack”, “Resonant Frequency”, and “Linux Outlaws”, and decided it was time to look at something else.  My CentOS 4.7 desktop machine that I used at work, an old Dell Dimension 4100 with a 900 MHz processor and 256 MB of memory, ran fine.  But I wanted to try the newer version of Firefox, which would require updating a bunch of libraries and these were not forthcoming.  Security patches had dwindled, too, so it was time for a change.  Maybe I should give one of the Debian-based distros another chance.

I’d heard good things about Linux Mint, and downloaded the live CD (http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/linuxmint.com/stable/7/LinuxMint-7.iso).  I dug up a Dell OptiPlex GX240 that was mouldering in a back room.  It has a 1.5GHz processor, so that would be a nice update in speed, but only had 256 MB of memory.  Well, that was good enough for my current CentOS box, so maybe it would be enough here, too.  I plugged in a spare monitor, keyboard and mouse, and booted the live CD.  All the hardware was recognized, the network configured itself, and I was off and running.  Naturally, running off the CD was a bit slow, but that’s to be expected.  Since everything seemed to work, I then installed Mint on the hard disk.  For those of you that still think Linux is hard to install, give any of the popular distributions a try.  Basic installation on reasonably recent hardware (within the last 5 or 6 years) is a breeze.  Much easier than Windows, and usually only one reboot at the end.  I did have to change from the ALSA sound drivers to the OSS drivers in the Control Center to get sound working.  This is no doubt due to the age of this machine.

With the install completed, it was time to move my files, bookmarks and email from the old box to the newer one.  Again, not a big deal.  I just exported the Firefox bookmarks to a file, and copied the file to a flash drive, along with my Thunderbird default profile directory and various other files I wanted to keep.  Then I inserted the flash drive in the Mint box and copied the files to their equivalent places on the new box.  I was ready to use it as my main Internet computer at work.

It is pretty!  I like the green Mint them, and Gnome has improved a lot since I last played with it.  Next, I replaced the old PS/2 mechanical mouse I was using for testing with my preferred Logitech Trackman Wheel.  Uh-oh.  From the moment X started, if I spun the ball, the cursor would jump around wildly, randomly issuing click events.  Not good.

I tried a USB version of the TrackMan Wheel, and it worked perfectly. Evidently, there’s something about the PS/2 mouse driver that just isn’t right for the PS/2 version of the TrackMan.  I found a few suggestions online, but none worked.  So, I ended up replacing the PS/2 trackball with a USB version.  Sometimes, it’s just easier to replace a bit of hardware than spend hours trying to fix software.

I then found that, by default, clicking a link within a message in Thunderbird would not launch Firefox.  A bit more Googling revealed that you must create a users.js file within your .mozilla-thunderbird/<blah>.default directory containing these lines:

user_pref(“network.protocol-handler.app.http”, “/usr/bin/firefox”);
user_pref(“network.protocol-handler.app.https”, “/usr/bin/firefox”);
user_pref(“network.protocol-handler.app.ftp”, “/usr/bin/firefox”);

After creating that file, and changing the permissions to 700, that issue was fixed.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Firefox 3.5 available as a package from the repositories within days of the Mozilla release.  So far, it has been very stable, and perhaps a bit faster than Firefox 3.0.11.  However, for whatever reason, it’s still considered “beta” by the repository, so it doesn’t install as the default browser, or replace Firefox 3.0.11.

Over the next week or so, it seemed that this machine, though ostensibly 80% faster, didn’t feel as fast as the old one.  And it seemed to be beating up the hard drive quite a bit.  I’m guessing there are several possible causes:

1. Gnome may be more resource hungry than KDE. Just an opinion, not necessarily fact.
2. 256MB, while adequate for CentOS 4.7 and KDE3, isn’t enough here.
3. The default setting in MintUpdate to check for updates every 5 minutes (!) is ridiculous.

I changed the MintUpdate setting to check for updates every 4 hours, and maxed out the memory in the machine at 1GB.  That did help the performance issues quite a bit.  The hard disk has calmed down, and the system feels about as responsive as my older CentOS box.

Then a strange thing happened.  I had the screensaver configured to “random”, and the Molecule screensaver activated.  The screen was blanked, except for the words Constructing Molecules, and the system froze!  Nothing would wake it up, and I could not switch to another virtual console to shut it down.  I either had to kill the power, or issue the incantation:

Alt-PrintScreen-S
Alt-PrintScreen-U
Alt-PrintScreen-B

to sync the disk, unmount the disk, and boot, respectively.

After some more research, it turns out this bug is old and tenacious.  It’s been around in the Ubuntu (maybe Debian?) world for at least two years, and is still not fixed.  From the bug reports I’ve read, it seems to be related to the driver for the ATI 128 Rage Pro Ultra video that’s installed on this machine, and MANY other Dell products.  I did find instructions for de-activating the Molecule screensaver:

================
Open a Terminal from the menu Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal and type:

gconf-editor

The Gnome configuration editor opens. From the hierarchy tree on the left side expand “apps” and then choose “gnome-screensaver”. On the right side, you should see the configuration of the screensaver. Look for a property called “themes” and double click it. A window for configuring the themes opens. From the list of values, mark all entries (there should be only one) and click on remove. Then, leave the window by clicking “OK”.

Now, open the screensaver configuration by clicking System -> Preferences -> Screensaver. Choose “Blank Screen” and leave the window.
================

That will revert to just a blank screen screensaver, but at least it won’t hang the machine.

Installing applications from the repositories is easy, and I appreciate having access to the amateur radio packages.  Other than the few speed bumps described above, I haven’t had any other problems.  I plan on keeping it.

-Bill Grzanich, KA9WKA

In the late 1980′s and early 1990′s the world wide Packet radio BBS network provided message transfers and file transfers around the globe much like the Internet does today. Using PBBS’s on VHF you could post a message locally and if you knew the address of the person on the other end (ex. kb5jbv@N5LDD.NTX.TX.NOAM) that message could be sent across the county or around the world. This was accomplished by using a text editor on the local PBBS to write the message. Then the message was forwarded over the air to an HF Gateway station. Then sent over the air to the nearest gateway to the destination. Then forwarded by VHF or UHF to the PBBS it was addressed to for pickup up by the person it was intended for.

Now you are probably saying this sounds familiar. Well the old land line BBS’s used a similar setup for forwarding messages and files. Today the Internet serves this purpose for most folks.

Since the hay day of the Packet radio the Internet has come along. New digital modes have been developed that work much better on HF. There are many reasons that Packet is no longer king but the Packet BBS is still a tool that we can and should utilize if we can.

PBBS’s have the advantage of being a place to store information and move written messages without the need of commercial service. You don’t need the Internet or a phone line. PBBS’s can be setup to forward messages from one location to another automatically. They also use the full AX.25 protocol which is an error correcting mode unlike APRS that only uses half of the AX.25 protocol. This make Packet BBS’s well suited at the very least for local Emcomm use. Winlink is great if you an plug it into the Internet. Cell phones are great if the tower has power or the system isn’t overloaded.

I think we need to consider the humble Packet radio BBS. We need to reconsider Packet in general. Being around for a long time doesn’t make it less valuable. I think it makes a case for how good it is.

Of course thats just me.

What is the National Traffic System?

The Public Service Communications Manual tells us:

“The National Traffic System is a means for systematizing amateur traffic handling facilities by making a structure available for an integrated traffic facility designed to achieve the utmost in two principal objectives: rapid movement of traffic from origin to destination, and training amateur operators to handle written traffic and participate in directed nets. These two objectives, which sometimes conflict with each other, are the underlying foundations of the National Traffic System.“

OK, what does all of that mean? Well the NTS has a structured net schedule which operates in a cyclic fashion so that written message traffic can move through the system in the quickest possible fashion. The NTS has also developed a set of tools that standardize messages as they come into the system and to speed them through the system. Fledgling net controls can also hone their skills by calling one of the semi formal NTS nets so they will be ready when it really counts. Now most of that stuff can be kind of dry and may be the focus of a future article but for now lets go with the basics.

Who should handle traffic?

All amateur radio operators should learn the basics of how to handle NTS message traffic using the standard ARRL Message form. It doesn’t matter if you move traffic on phone, CW or by digital means. NTS messages follow the same format on all three. The format that is most commonly used is the standard ARRL radiogram but that may not always be the case. This format has been used for NTS messages for longer than most traffic handlers can remember. If you look around on the world wide web you will find that there are many message forms out there but they all follow the basic radiogram format. The Red Cross health and welfare form is just a radiogram with the Red Cross header on it. The ICS-213 is different but can be adapted to serve.

Why should I learn to handle record message traffic?

Sometime, somewhere you may find yourself in a position where you don’t have telephone or cell phone access and you will have the need to move information from point A to point B. It may just be a message to tell loved ones that their family is ok and will contact them soon or it could be a list of supplies that are needed at a hard to get to shelter. If the need for operators is for those that have traffic handling skills and you have not practiced you may find yourself sitting at the staging area playing cards for sticks of gum instead of participating in the recovery operations.

When would NTS be activated?

Well being part of ARES the National Traffic System activates any time ARES is active and can activate independently of ARES if the need to move written Message traffic should arise. During the recovery efforts in California after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 NTS moved health and welfare traffic out of the area for weeks. The same can be said for hurricane Katrina. In both cases NTS operators moved traffic for other organizations also like the Texas Baptist Men, Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross just to name a few.

Well where do I find these NTS Nets?

The best way to find NTS nets is to ask some of the folks you talk to on the air. Normally you can find at least one traffic handler in the bunch. We are lucky here in the DFW area, we have two local traffic nets everyday. If you don’t know anybody that can point you to an NTS net then go over to the ARRL website and check out their free net directory. Most NTS nets can be found on 40 Meters during the day and 75 Meters at night. There are even one or two on twenty meters.

OK, how do I become a traffic handler?

Well you the truth of the matter is you already are. Being a member of NTS is like being a member of ARES. Because you are a licensed amateur radio operator you are a member of NTS. The question is are you willing to participate?

Its pretty simple

• familiarized yourself with the tools (Radiogram, ARL numbered radiogram, etc.)
• find and participate in a few nets (Local, State, Regional)
• develop your skill by self training and on air training
• maybe pass a message or two
• have a good time

Amateur radio is not “Just a Hobby” sometimes we have to do a little work to accomplish our goals.

That doesn’t mean we can’t have fun while we do it.

No feedback this episode as we’re mobile. 02:30 Topic Linux for the Amateur Radio operator.

Richard’s house is primarily Linux-based, not just because it’s free or easier to install, but because it’s more in line with the amateur radio philosophy of being able to tinker with it.

Linux still suffers from the misconception that it’s difficult to install, configure and use. That is no longer the case. Some distributions, Gentoo and Arch, can be a challenge. Others, like Linux Mint, Fedora, and Ubuntu, are very easy to install and use for the Windows user.

If you have an older computer, you’ll likely find that it runs faster with Linux and thus make a good machine to dedicate to your ham radio needs.

Most distributions are available as a live CD that allows you to boot and run from the CD without touching your local hard drive. This allows you to try it out and if it meets your needs, then you can install it to your disk. (Note that running from the live CD will be a bit slower than running from a hard disk.)

There is a lot of “free” ham software available for Windows, and it’s true in the sense that you don’t have to pay for it. However, in Linux, not only is the software free of charge, it’s also free to modify. Technical support is often available through forums or other online services.

A popular way to think of it is this: when you buy a radio, you would expect to see a schematic included and have the freedom to open it up and make changes. Linux is that way, too. 13:52 There are several amateur radio applications available for the Linux user. Most of the time, the software is in the repository for your Linux distribution, so you don’t have to go searching the Internet for them.

You’ll find programs for CW training, tracking satellites, logging contacts, operating digital modes, packet BBS, and rig control.

Probably the most popular program for digital modes is fldigi. It supports all of the popular modes such as PSK, Hellschreiber, Throb, Olivia, and RTTY, as well as logging and rig control. You might be interested to know that a good part of the Windows program DM780 (part of Ham Radio Deluxe) is based on code developed for fldigi. There is also a Windows version of fldigi.

One of the best logging program is CQRLog, and it can be integrated with fldigi.

You’ll also find programs to use with DX clusters, like xdx. 23:46 D-Star is supported by the D-RATS program. 26:13 Richard describes running Crunchbang Linux on his 12 year old Dell laptop, and uses it to run D-RATS. 29:40 Remote desktop capability is there, too. 31:33 In summary, give Linux a try. You don’t necessarily have to use it for everything, but you will likely find it’s easy to use and provides a lot of software “out of the box”. Linux Mint is a good choice for the new user.

If you do try it, let us know how it worked for you. And check out the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast. 35:45 Conclusion Check out the website, make a donation to the podcast, and click the Amazon link for your purchases. Send your feedback!

Email Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com
Twitter: twitter.com/kb5jbv
Identica: http://identi.ca/kb5jbv
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/kb5jbv
KB5JBV on D-Star via the NT5RN repeater.
Fan pages at Facebook for Resonant Frequency and Linux in the Ham Shack. 37:43 Song “Total Breakdown” by Brad Sucks, from the album “Out if It”. Share and Enjoy:

]]> http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/02/show-notes-episode-049/feed/ 0 http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/02/resonant-frequency-episode-49/ http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/02/resonant-frequency-episode-49/#comments Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:00:47 +0000 kb5jbv http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/?p=635 OK folks heres another one. This time we are in the mobile studio and we are talking about a cost effective method of pursuing Amateur Radio. Linux! Listen at the end for a track from Brad Suck’s album “Out of It”

Enjoy

What is ARES

Well the Public Service Communications Manual (PSCM) defines ARES This way.

“The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.”

This means that ARES volunteers have registered with their local Emergency Coordinator (EC) so the local EC knows what the ARES volunteers capabilities are. not only the equipment the volunteer might bring to a communications event but the training and personal operating skills that the ARES operator brings to the table.

Who can be an ARES member

Once again the PSCM tells us that:

“Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership.”

So any one with a valid amateur radio license is welcome in ARES and every radio amateur operator should register as an ARES station. Showing up and volunteering as an ARES station while the disaster is in progress is problematic at best. Without that simple act of preregistration with the EC. You might show up with all your gear ready to operate and find yourself running messages from place to place or running a fax machine and never even take your radio out of your bag.

When would ARES come into play

That is the best question.

On April 19^th 1995 a group of folks set off an explosive device in front of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City destroying most of the structure and leaving 168 dead and over 800 injured. Within 15 minutes SATERN was on the air with an ARES net. That net laster 363 hours (15 days and 3 hours) using only amateur radio operators.

On February 1st 2003 The Shuttle Columbia exploded over California and came to rest in east Texas. If it had exploded just a minute or two earlier it might have came to rest in Dallas. Army Curtis AE5P EC for Nacogdoches had an ARES net up and operating in south east Texas within 5 minutes of the explosion. That net lasted for weeks and used ARES operators from all over the country.

This is just a couple of examples, but you get the idea.

Why do I need to be an ARES member?

Or more to the point “I live in Dallas county why would I want to join ARES?”

You’re right in Dallas county RACES is considered the primary volunteer emergency communication service. That is because the served agencies in Dallas county like to know in advance what resources are available to them in an emergency. RACES accomplishes this in ways that are desirable to our local served agencies. RACES is beyond the scope of this article but we will get back to it in a future article.

For now think of it this way. RACES is Emergency communications. ARES is disaster and recovery communications. The event that requires emergency communications is not always over when it stops raining. You don’t just look at your spotting buddy and say “ storms over, Lets go get a hamburger. Too bad about those houses.” After the event there may be a need for communications for shelter operations, damage assessment, and so forth. This may require more operators than RACES can supply. That is when we need the resources of ARES.

How do I become an ARES Member

Thats the easy part. Get your hands on a copy of FSD-98 the ARES registration form.

Fill it out and mail it to your local EC. That would be Craig KV5E. Or you could hand it to him at a club meeting. You can get a copy of FSD-98 from Craig or go to the ARRL website and download a copy. They have it in PDF and Word format. If you have trouble putting your hands on a copy get in touch with me at kb5jbv@gmail.com

I Find this hilarious. Let us stop for a moment and consider these arguments. The majority of amateur radio operators use Windows or Mac. The cellphones they carry run Windows or a software specific to their device. Their router, TV, and printer all run on proprietary software. The media player you listen to our podcast on is most probably an Ipod or a Zune. they use proprietary software.

The programs you run and files you use are not free of this issue. By definition:

“Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, but restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.”

So things like MP3 files, Itunes, Ham Radio Deluxe, and a whole lot more are proprietary. If you are using a cell phone that uses anything other than Android it is running proprietary software. Look at the EULA and / or the license on any piece of software you use. If it doesn’t use one of a free licenses like the GPL or there are restriction on its use it is proprietary. Part of the argument is that the D-Star Hardware is proprietary. Well, by definition no. But up until the 1980′s computers were proprietary. Proprietary has never really stopped us amateur radio operators from using something. The best example I can think of is Pactor. Pactor came along in the 1990′s. The manufacturers of all mode TNC’s were trying to get it into their equipment as quickly as possible. There were folks out there trying to write software to run Pactor on soundcards and Pactor was the new fantastic digital mode for HF. Well Pactor was good but lets make it better. Pactor II was developed and the developer immediately locked down the code. Then they improved it again. Enter Pactor III. It was also locked down. Now the only place you can get a Pactor II or III is a company in Germany and the least expensive modem is around a thousand dollars U. S. Hams love proprietary. That is why the Winlink 2000 system has an HF backbone that runs on the STS PTC proprietary modem.

So when the best argument against D-Star is that it is proprietary I giggle like a school girl. If that is your issue run one of the free and open operating systems on your Mac or PC. Run Rockbox on your Ipod or Zune. Get an Android phone. Load some open source software on your router or game console. Until then proprietary is not an issue for you.

Price would be a better argument but everything is more expensive when it is introduced. The price comes down with time. Look at Blu-Ray. When I was a teenager a videotape of a movie was a hundred dollars. When PC’s were introduced you couldn’t touch one with an 8088 processor for less than a thousand. So the price argument won’t work either. If you can’t afford it just say that you don’t have D-Star because you can’t afford it. I don’t have a Pactor modem because I can’t afford it.

Fear is the more likely argument. People were afraid of SSB on HF. They were afraid of FM on VHF. Some were afraid of Morse code so they wouldn’t get their license. Fear. It is natural to be afraid of new things. You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t. My father is afraid of new things. That is why most of the things he does on his computer take him all day when I can have them done quickly with little fuss. He runs Windows on his machines. I run Linux on mine. It takes him 10 minutes to boot his machine. It takes me 45 seconds to boot mine. The only reason he hasn’t switch is because he is afraid of new things. Not because he can’t do what he needs to do in Linux. So if your afraid of D-Star that’s OK but don’t use proprietary as an excuse.

Remember, too, the Amazon link on our website, which also helps out the podcast. The most direct way to help, of course, is to click the Donate link on the website. Thanks!

New on the website is a brief video introduction to Ubuntu Linux for amateur radio operators.

The new url for the website is http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast. The original domain, rfpodcast.info, will work, but takes a few seconds to redirect.

Keep your eye on the website as new content, and more episodes, will be added soon. Leave us some feedback, too!

If you’d like to add some content to the Resonant Frequency, you’re welcome to do so. You can leave comments on the website, submit articles, or record audio segments and send them in! 10:12 Song “Blues for Boo Boo” by Kirk Fletcher from the album “Shades of Blue” 13:40 Feedback An all feedback episode this time, so we’ll get caught up. 14:26 B.B., KC5PIY, is getting caught up on the podcasts and comments on the Armadillo Intertie and Intertie, Inc. He says anyone can use the system, but only members can be control operators of the repeaters. At least, that’s the way it works on Intertie, Inc. 16:50 Rich, KD0BJT, from the Low SWR podcast, says he’s had to rename a file to get gpodder to transfer episodes to his MP3 player. Thanks, Rich. The problem should be fixed and the feeds are working at the website, iTunes and Podcast Alley. Note that the FeedBurner feed will be going away soon, so please use one of the other feeds. 19:06 Don, N7IGK, says he only operates CW, and finds CW operators are nicer than many. He also wonders why the podcast disappeared from iTunes. Thanks, Don. The problem iTunes occurred when the website was changed to a different content management system (Drupal), but we’re now back to WordPress and the iTunes problem was fixed. If you’re still having problems with iTunes, unsubscribe from the old feed, and subscribe to the new one that lists all the episodes. 23:07 James, WL7FC/VE3ELI, made a donation to the podcast, as did Paul, KE5WMA. Thank you both! 24:33 Paul, KE5WMA, also left a comment on the website that he was listening to Episode 46 where Richard discusses the term “riffraff”. As a no-code Extra, he appreciated the comments, and now is interested in learning the code to operate QRP. Paul also thinks that dropping the code requirement makes the hobby more accessible to the hearing-impaired. Richard discusses. 30:11 Song “I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love” by Los Lonely Boys, from the album “Live At Blue Cat Blues – Dallas, Texas” 33:57 Donation from Woody, KF4TQJ, made a donation back in October, and also expressed his appreciation for the podcast. Thanks, Woody! 34:12 Don, WS4E, suggests a future episode of Resonant Frequency might discuss the value of a paper log book as opposed to a computer logging program. Good idea, Don! Many hams do both. 38:59 James, N2ENN, agrees that repeater activity seems to have declined over the years. James also expresses his dismay over the proprietary and closed nature of D-Star. Richard reminds us of the proprietary nature of the higher speed PACTOR protocols, PACTOR-II and PACTOR-III, produced by the German company, SCS. James says the audio quality of the mobile episodes is very good! 47:41 Ian, AK4IK, tells us of the North Fulton Amateur Radio League, named Club of the Year at Dayton Hamvention 2010. He just listened to Episode 44, and lists some of the things the club does to keep them successful: meetings are about the programs, rather than business. Business meetings are held separately. In addition to meetings, they have monthly club activities, regular youth nets, technical nets, a formal Elmering program, licensing exam preparation classes, quarterly VE test sessions, Field Day activities, an ARES group, and more. Very impressive, Ian! 1:01:48 Don, WS4E, says his local agency thought there were twice as many people available because they counted ARES and RACES members separately, when in fact, the majority of members were in both groups. If one group was activiated, there would be few to respond in the other. 1:04:14 Ray, KO4RB, is glad RF is back and looks forward to future episodes. Thanks, Ray. 1:05:13 Conclusion Email Richard at kb5jbv@gmail.com
Twitter: twitter.com/kb5jbv
Identica: http://identi.ca/kb5jbv
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/kb5jbv
KB5JBV on D-Star via the NT5RN repeater.
Fan pages at Facebook for Resonant Frequency and Linux in the Ham Shack. 1:05:13 Song “We Got to Meet Death One Day” by Kelly Joe Phelps, from the album “Lead Me On (15 Year Anniversary Edition)” Share and Enjoy:

]]> http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/01/show-notes-episode-048/feed/ 0 http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/01/resonant-frequency-episode-48/ http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/2011/01/resonant-frequency-episode-48/#comments Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:00:31 +0000 kb5jbv http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/?p=581 Ok folks this is an all feedback episode we talk about RACES, D-Star and much more. We will get on with some radio stuff in the next studio episode. enjoy.

Music for this episode was provided by IODA Promonet:

Kirk Fletcher
“Blues for Boo Boo” (mp3)
from “Shades of Blue”
(DELTA GROOVE PRODUCTIONS)

Buy at Napster
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album

Los Lonely Boys
“I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love” (mp3)
from “Live At Blue Cat Blues – Dallas Texas”
(Blue Cat Blues Records)

Buy at Napster
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Puretracks
Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at appliedSB / MCNE (Groupietunes)
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album

Kelly Joe Phelps
“We Got to Meet Death One Day” (mp3)
from “Lead Me On (15 Year Anniversary Edition)”
(Burnside Records)

Buy at Allegro Music Direct
Buy at Napster
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Friends,
I just finished adding the following to my school blog. Please feel free to pass it along.

This past month one of our Rambler Radio Club members, Cris, proudly received his Amateur Radio License. He made his first three contacts during our regular meeting this past Thursday. One of them asked Cris if he had a radio at home. When Cris stated that he did not, the amateur offered one for Cris.

The amateur came by school on Friday to bring the radio, power supply, and coaxial cable for his recently completed J-Pole. When I asked him when he wanted the equipment returned, the HAM replied that he wanted to give it to Cris.  Soon, Cris will be on the air at his home.

I don’t want to embarrass this HAM by sharing his name; He wouldn’t want anyone to make a big deal about it anyway. A family member, who also was a HAM, did the same thing for new HAMS until he passed away. The family member would be proud.

Now this may not mean much to you, but it means the world to me. Amateur Radio operators are known for talking around the world and communicating vital information in times of disaster. But to me, it is what they DO for others everyday that makes me proudest to call myself a “HAM”.

Jody Carter
Route 85 Math and Science
Sponsor, Rambler Radio Club (W4LMS)
LaFayette Middle School

Resonant Frequency

The amateur radio podcast

About two months ago I started an amateur radio podcast. At Resonant Frequency we try to bring guest that can enlighten us on some of the more mysterious aspects of amateur radio. Our program is geared toward the new and used amateur radio operator alike. This is my way of Elmering in the new millennium

Past guest include Billy AK5AK and Andy WY5V on Amateur Television, Carl K9LA on radio wave propagation, Repeater basics with Roy AD5KZ, and others

“What the heck is a podcast?” some of you might be thinking. Well a podcast is an audio file that contains what can best be described as a radio program. Like radio programs some podcast are music programs and some are talk type shows. With the newer players you can even find video podcast and watch them. So a wealth of information is available in these downloadable MP3 files. I myself listen to about 60 hours of podcast a week.

Where do you get Resonant Frequency the amateur radio podcast? Well if you have an Ipod or other MP3 player you set your podcatcher software to download the new files when they are posted. So lets drill down into that for a moment. A podcatcher is a program that automatically downloads podcast as soon as they are posted for download. The Ipod owners can go over to iTunes and search for Resonant Frequency in the podcast directory and click the subscribe button and every time a new episode is posted it will download to their computer. Those that own MP3 players can either download one of the podcatcher programs out there like Juice and set it up to download it when a new episode is posted. I prefer Juice because it is available for Windows, Linux, and Apple Mac.

OK you don’t have a MP3 player. Not a problem you can still download Resonant Frequency and listen to it or just listen without downloading it to your computer. Just go to the web page for the RSS feed and click on the link for the episode you want to listen to. You will be able to listen to it with Windows media player, Quicktime, Real player or whatever you use to play your media files. You can also download Itunes or Juice and use those programs to download and play the podcast. You don’t have to have a MP3 player to use those programs.

Now we have talked about what a podcast is and how to get it. If you have any questions about getting setup to receive Resonant Frequency the amateur radio podcast just send me an email at kb5jbv@cebridge.net and we will work on making that happen.

Resonant Frequency: The amateur radio podcast is a free service to the amateur radio community and will stay free as long as we are in production. We are covered by a creative commons license. That means that you may use audio from our program anyway you desire free of charge as long as you let everybody know where you got it and you don’t charge for it or whatever it is included in.

If you have a topic you would like to bring as a guest on Resonant Frequency or you have any ideas for guest or topics you might like to hear on the podcast send me an email at kb5jbv@cebridge.net

Well that pretty much wraps it up except for some of the links to Resonant Frequency the amateur radio podcast

The link to the RSS feed for Resonant Frequency is:

http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast/?feed=podcast

The web page for Resonant Frequency is:

http://rfpodcast.info/Podcast

kb5jbv@gmail.com

You can find Juice Podcast receiver at:

http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/index.php

iTunes can be found at:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

At the time of the writing of this article we are currently at episode 8, an interview with David KB5YLG over at the Texas Baptist Men. In the next few weeks we have shows about the Hurricane Watch Net and the National Traffic System. So download us and enjoy

73

Richard KB5JBV

Resonant Frequency: The amateur radio podcast

Enjoy

Richard

Now Gainsville does host a rather large hamfest every year so I know that there are at least three of them. One to sell tickets, one to take tickets at the door, and one to stamp your hand so you can re-enter the hamfest if you goto the car to get a smoke. Other than that they are invisible.

Now don’t get me wrong I have been to Gainsville before and I know that there are a good group of folks out there, they exibit the same traits that are a problem in amateur radio today. We hide in the shadows. Since Katrina we should have been out where the public can see us. Making as much noise as possible so the public is aware of us.

Why? Well first of all Katrina, Rita, Wildfires, Flooding. All of these things show the value of amateur radio. If the amateur radio service is valuable then it is something that will be kept around                      by or lawmakers and some of us have been around long enough to remember losing frequencies to UPS because they needed them more than we did…Right

When we are visible we are also able to recruit new HAMs and get them into the game. Numbers is the way we stay alive. If we drop to a serious minority we are once again in jeapardy of losing our priviledges.

Just a couple of things to think about. Get out and be seen. Bring new folks in.

We love the good folks of Gainesville, sorry about picking on ya’

We are back on iTunes. after fighting the iTunes feed for a year we finally just applied for a new one. So Resonant Frequency: The Amateur radio Podcast is now available once again on iTunes. All my followers may rejoice. Go check it out at http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id414977083

Concerning some recent conversations I have had with other Emcomm folks in the area I have been doing some think and this is how I see it. We have a need for promotion of awareness and training in emergency / disaster communications in the Mesquite, Balch Springs and the rest of south east Dallas county area.

I think our primary goals should be.

1. Raise awareness of our local hams and recruit those that have an interest in emergency / disaster communications
2. Raise awareness of our served agencies concerning our capabilities and ability to provide support in time of need
3. Develop and present training starting at the basic level and continuing through the advanced level targeted at our specific needs, goals, and abilities
4. Develop drills and operating opportunities which will allow our team to practice the skills learned from training

Raise awareness of our local hams

This is pretty easy. We just need to talk up Emcomm when ever possible to as many people as possible. Find out who is in RACES / ARES by asking them then identify why they are not with the Emcomm group and address those issues. Those of us who have been in sales will not find this difficult. For those who have not been in sales it is not difficult to develop this skill. After addressing any issues an individual may have it shouldn’t be difficult to get them to submit an ARES registration form at the very least.

Raise awareness of our served agencies

This might be a little more challenging since only a few of us have direct contact with our served agencies people on a regular basis. Those who do have contact might spend some time bringing our capabilities up in conversation and make sure they are aware of new things that come on line. It is my understanding that we are written to the cities emergency plan. It probably wouldn’t hurt to find out what is expected from us in that plan.

Develop and present training, Develop drills and operating opportunities

This will take a little work. We will need to identify in what areas Training is needed most. We will need to develop training for all aspects of emergency and disaster communications but we need to work on our weak spots first. Once we have put together training presenting it should be fairly easy. We can use the club newsletter in the form of articles. The newsgroups in the form of articles. The on air nets for training and drills. The club meeting for presentations. Things like HAM radio in the park, Field day, Transmitter hunts and so on as hands on drilling and training.

A few more things

Currently our Emcomm group is a group of individuals that come together during nets. The concept of “TEAM” is not in play. How we will fix this problem I am not sure. It might also be easier to concentrate training if we move toward a team oriented structure. Relay team, DF team, etc. We would still have to be able to get the team members to Elmer those outside the team. Cross training is something we need to keep in the plan.  These are just a few thoughts, what do you guys think?

A lot of these points seem really simple but you would be surprised how often they are missed by Emcomm leadership. I guess it is like a finger pointing at the moon. If you pay to much attention to the finger you miss all that heavenly glory.

A few months back I received an email from one of the newsgroups I monitor. This particular message had to do with a local radio club that had ask a couple of gentleman to quit using their repeater. It seems that these guys were discussing the two topics that get most people wound up. Yes friends we’re talking about Religion and Politics. They were ask to not discuss those topics on the repeater but continued to do so. They were finally ask to leave the repeater.

Now I watched this thread for a while and it reminds me of several instances of this kind thing that have occurred in this area over the years. This was my response to what I was reading.

“Let me start this way. It is my understanding that in the training that the Amateur Auxiliary (Official Observers) receive we are told to consider offensive and obscene using the same standards that we see in broadcast TV and Radio. By this criteria politics and religion by themselves don’t fall into that category. Don’t get me wrong politics and religion create very passionate discussions that may end up in an area that is outside of the rules but talking about those subjects is not against the rules.

Second the Plano Amateur Radio Klub doesn’t OWN the set of frequencies in question. They are not an organization that has purchased the right to the exlclusive use of those frequencies. This would be the case in other radio services but not in the amateur service. This means that any amateur radio operator with a valid license and privileges on that band my use those frequencies with out restriction unless told otherwise by the FCC.

However, The Plano Amateur Radio Klub has spent considerable money to purchase the equipment to build their repeater. The time was spent to apply for a coordinated repeater pair so they would not interfere with any other local repeaters. They probably pay some sort of rent for the space where the machine is located. They are probably required to have some sort of insurance by the property owner. This is not an inexpensive proposition. Bottom line, they own the repeater. This means that they can restrict the use of that machine, not the use of frequency.

So they say the conversation is offensive. The Supreme court has ruled that “Offensive and indecent” is that which is considered offensive and indecent by community standards. The mistake we make is thinking that this means everybody in DFW. The truth is that the community we are talking about are the repeater users at the PARK. Yes we do have a right to freedom of speech but the supreme court has also ruled that our rights end when they interfere with the rights of others (yelling “FIRE” in a crowded theater. That kind of thing.)

Now having said that. I think that the President and Trustee of Park are making a big mistake. there have been several clubs over the years that have tried to police their machine to heavily and it has back fired on them.

I once belonged to a club that turned their repeater off at midnight and back on at six in the morning because there were a dozen folks that used the repeater all night and the trustee’s didn’t want stay up all night to monitor the machine all night. It didn’t matter that the folks using the machine were all payed club members. It didn’t matter that we talked all night so we had someone to call for help if we needed it. They just didn’t want to be bothered. That kind of thinking has taken that club from fifteen hundred members to a couple of hundred. I repeat I think PARK is making a mistake.

The easiest solution is to vote the folks that are causing the problem out at the next election.

Of course what do I know

Richard KB5JBV

That is the advice I gave them and I even did an episode of Resonant Frequency about this because this is the kind of thing that the new guys need to know. A month later I received an email form my father KT5P. The email had a link to a letter from the FCC to an operator that was ask not to use a repeater in Georgia. The Letter is included here.

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

February 18, 2009

Mr. Robert L. Coyle, Jr.

320 Langston Road

Perry, GA 31093

Re: Amateur Radio License WN5P

Warning Notice

Dear Mr. Coyle:

The trustees of WA4ORT and NM4W have requested, by letter dated January
14, 2009, that you refrain from use of these repeaters. The written
request was issued as a result of your failure to follow operational rules
set forth by the licensee/control operators of the repeater systems for
their users. You were previously issued several requests to refrain from
using the systems, but failed to comply with them necessitating the formal
written request. You have failed to comply with the formal written request
as well as you were heard and recorded operating on the system more than a
dozen times by the control operator and the club president since the
January 14, 2009, letter was sent.

The Commission requires that repeaters be under the supervision of a
control operator and not only expects, but requires, that such control
operators be responsible for the proper operation of the repeater system.
Control operators may take whatever steps they deem appropriate to ensure
compliance with the repeater rules, including limiting the repeater use to
certain users, converting the repeater to a closed repeater or taking it
off the air entirely.

Please be advised that the Commission expects you to abide by the request
of the control operator that you stay off of NM4W – and any other similar
requests to cease operations on any other repeaters by any other repeater
licensees, control operators or trustees.

Use of WA4ORT or NM4W again after receipt of this letter could subject you
to severe penalties, including license revocation, monetary forfeiture
(fine) or a modification proceeding to restrict the frequencies upon which
you may operate.

Sincerely,

Laura L. Smith

Special Counsel

Cc: South Central Regional Director

In an email dated January 8, 2009, Mr. Mike Besemer (the control operator)
advised you that you were restricted from operating on the repeaters and,
on January 13, 2009, you were confronted while on the WA4ORT repeater by
Mr. Besemer and Mr. Scott Nolde (the club president) and again advised
that you were prohibited from using the repeaters.

Fines normally range from $7,500 to $10,000.”

That pretty much tells the story. Vague it is but that is the word from Aunt Charlie.

I hope this helps.

The letter can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/files/Coyle09_05_07_5106.html

Enjoy
Richard KB5JBV

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-94355c096082fafe06bd5ced7b2f9f03}

Music by the usual suspects

Enjoy

Music is provided courtesy of IODA Promonet:

Magic Slim and the Teardrops
“Do You Mean It” (mp3)
from “Raising The Bar”
(Blind Pig Records)

Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Papa Don McMinn
“Things Are Changing” (mp3)
from “Blues Ain’t a Color”
(LocoBop)

Buy at Napster
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Papa Don McMinn
“Mean and Evil Woman” (mp3)
from “Blues Man’s Ball Vol. III”
(LocoBop)

Buy at Napster
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

enjoy

Music by John Williams and 500 miles to Memphis

Our music is provided by IODA Promonet:

Magic Slim and the Teardrops
“Do You Mean It” (mp3)
from “Raising The Bar”
(Blind Pig Records)

More On This Album

Magic Slim and the Teardrops
“Shame” (mp3)
from “Raising The Bar”
(Blind Pig Records)

More On This Album

Our music is provided by IODA Promonet:

Mark Hummel
“Funky Way” (mp3)
from “Retro-Active”
(Electro-Fi Records)

Buy at Napster
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Ray Campi, Kevin Fennell
“Smack Talkin’ Mama” (mp3)
from “Hard Rockin’ Head Knockin’”
(Kevin Fennell)

Buy at Napster
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Merry Christmas everybody!

The Christmas music was provided by the kind folks at IODA Promonet:

US Air Force Band Of Mid America
“A Christmas Prelude” (mp3)
from “A Musical Christmas”
(Altissimo!)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Puretracks
Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at appliedSB (Groupietunes)
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album

Bing Crosby

“White Christmas” (mp3)
from “Bing Crosby Christmas”
(Spectra Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Puretracks
Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album

Music was provided by IODA
Promonet:

Mike
Zito

“Little Red Corvette” (mp3)
from “Today”

(Eclecto Groove
Records)

Buy at iTunes Music
Store

Buy at Rhapsody

Buy at Napster

Stream from Rhapsody

Buy at Puretracks

Buy at appliedSB
(Groupietunes)

Buy at mTraks

More On This
Album

Big
Walker

“Open Book” (mp3)
from “Still Dream
Walking”
(Blue Skunk Music)

Buy at iTunes Music
Store

Buy at Rhapsody

Buy at Napster

Stream from Rhapsody

More On This
Album

Tinsley
Ellis

“Speak No Evil” (mp3)
from “Speak No
Evil”
(Alligator Records)

Buy
at Alligator
Records
Buy
at Amazon.com

Buy at iTunes

More On This
Album

Pete
Anderson

“Booker Twine” (mp3)
from “Even Things
UP”
(Little Dog Records)

More On This
Album

Enjoy

Music was provided by Magnatune

Check it out.

Feed back and Donations have come to a stand still.

We need help with all aspects of the websites and Podcasts.

To find out how you can help contact Richard KB5JBV

We also need input on starting a live show as part of Resonant Frequency.

The mixer board is paid for we have picked
up a second hand camera and we already have a start on the new
microphone. Thank ya, thank ya, thank
ya.

Don’t forget
to send that feedback

I do apologize for
this episode and next time we will be back to our regular
format.

For those on Twitter, You can follow me at
twitter.com/kb5jbv

We
have some new Intro music let me know what you think. kb5jbv@gmail.com

The music this time is provided by IODA
Promonet. Go over and check it out

The Harmonica According To Charlie
MusselwhiteCharlie
Musselwhite

Talked for a
few minutes about Icoms D-Star digital system. If you would like to
contact me via D-Star the local repeater here is NT5RN and the port I
monitor is port C.

Thanked listeners for donations they made since the
last episode.

We are still looking for assistance with the behind the
scenes operations here at Resonant Frequency. If you would like to help
out with research and other areas at Resonant Frequency contact me at
kb5jbv@gmail.com

I would like to start a forum for Resonant Frequency
and I will need some help with that.

Don W9VE hasn’t sent anymore
installments of Buzzword so I thought I would give it a try. This weeks
episode of “The segment formerly known as buzzword” is about baluns.In
the main segment I talked a little more about dipole antennas and talked
about fan dipoles and random length long wires.

This weeks music
is:

Giving it all away Midlifecrisis www.podsafeaudio.com
Nuclear
Flopsy www.podsafeaudio.com
Steam Train John Williams
www.magnatune.com
Sweet Melissa Chris Juergensen www.magnatune.com
We
Gotta Go David Henderson www.podsafeaudio.com

Contact info for Resonant
Frequency is:kb5jbv@gmail.com

If you would like to do an installment of Buzzword,
please let me know. All you have to do is pick something in amateur
radio you are interested in and talk about it for five or ten minutes.
If you are interested in doing an installment of Buzzword, email me at
kb5jbv@gmail.com.

Are ham clubs not as friendly as they
used to be? What’s your experience?

We are looking for stories from other field day
sites to include in the next episode of the podcast. Send them to me
email at kb5jbv@gmail.com

This episode I announced that until we are back
to 100% we will be releasing an episode every two weeks.

In this
Episode we have a new feature called Buzzword furnished by Don W9VE. I
also spend some time talking about WAS nets and how to be apart of them.

so kick back have a soda and
enjoy

73