99 Hobbies

Yes, radio signals from space!

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Fri, 4 Mar 2011 17:03:00 -0500

Today I spent some time at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH. It was the dedication of a new ham radio station, with the call letters KA1SKY, which will be used as a hands-on exhibition about the radio spectrum, space, and the invisible magic that attracted many of us to science and electronics.

I spoke with two of the (many) people who made this happen, and my thanks to Dave McDonald and Michael Crestohl. We talked about how all of this came to be, and also some ideas for you, in case you want to duplicate their results in your own community.

Update! Check out the Center's web page discussing KA1SKY at http://www.starhop.com/education-and-exploration/ka1sky.aspx

This fully functional HF/VHF/UHF/Satellite amateur radio station is a unique exhibit that demonstrates and uses a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The radio allows voice transmission and Morse code on thousands of frequencies of various wavelengths. With the guidance of volunteer amateur radio operators, you can talk to other “hams” around the country as well as contact the International Space Station when it is in a favorable position. Communication with satellites in space is also possible in order to receive and make transmissions to other parts of the world.

Joe Taylor, K1JT, speaks at Masscon

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:03:00 -0400

We were delighted to hear about WSPR from Joe Taylor, K1JT. The passion that drives people to excellence is always here, but in this hobby we get to share and enjoy the fun, too! In fact, the WSPR project (pronounced like "whisper") would not even work unless other hams and SWLs joined in!

Listen to K1JT at Masscon

99 Hobbies at Dayton 2010

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:07:00 -0400

This year at Dayton, my friend and Official 99 Hobbies Field Correspondent Cal, WA1WOK made a quick recording of a conversation he had with Gordon West, WB6NOA. This one is a quick two minutes, but you can get an idea of the buzz in the background, and feel for the energy present at this event!

(photo: pacificon.org)

Masscon 2010 - proceedings (1110)

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 05:35:00 -0400

This is the fourth presentation that we listened to during the Masscon 2010 event in Westford, MA USA during the weekend of March 12-13, 2010.

Chuck Kitchin, N1TEV, presents "Updating Classic Regenerative and Super Regenerative Circuits" to an enthusiastic audience at Masscon. Part of the fun of this presentation, of course, is the associated materials presented via overhead projector. But you can get most of the content from the audio portion that we present here.

The advance materials described the talk like this:

Modern components allow Hams to modify the classic regenerative and super regenerative designs of the past. Ham radio experimentation is an excellent electronics teaching tool (as well as being FUN) and can lead to new discoveries in radio communications. This talk will cover the theory and modern applications of these classic circuits.

We are glad that they used the word "fun" because this presentation was great for so many reasons, and it really was fun, too!

Conference materials can be found here.

Masscon 2010 - proceedings (0900)

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:41:00 -0400

This is the second presentation that we listened to during the Masscon 2010 event in Westford, MA USA during the weekend of March 12-13, 2010.

The only way to appreciate the full effect was to be sitting in the audience. However, you can get an idea of what it was like if you listen to this, while watching the overhead slides from the talk, which are available from www.masscon.org.

Dave Siegrist NT1U and Bruce Beford N1RX discuss the design and construction and testing of RF filters.

Conference materials can be found here.

Masscon 2010 - proceedings (0810)

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:31:00 -0400

I was delighted to be in the audience during the Masscon 2010 event in Westford, MA USA during the weekend of March 12-13, 2010. My friend Scott Andersen, NE1RD, put the event together, and it represents over a year of planning and preparation by Scott and his staff.

The podcast you are about to listen to is one of the presentations given during this convention. The only way to appreciate the full effect was to be sitting in the audience. However, you can get an idea of what it was like if you listen to this, while watching the overhead slides from the talk, which are available from www.masscon.org.

There is something indescribable that happens when you have a room full of people who share a passion. Hopefully you will hear it.

Allison Parent, KB1GMX, presents at Masscon 2010.

You can view the slide show here while you listen to the presentation.

Conference materials can be found here.

Jeff's Walk

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:54:00 -0400

Today I talked with Jeff Johnson, VK4XJJ on the phone about his cross-country walk.

He had ham radio along for the ride -- among other things.

Jeff was raising money for charity in the process of this 2,500 km "walkabout".

Show notes (many lifted from Jeff's site):

www.jeffswalk.com

eBook now available. Five months backpacking over 2,500kms across Oz with 5W FT-817nd US$5.

DeafBlind
Association (NSW) Inc.
www.dbansw.org.au

D*STAR with Cal

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sat, 7 Mar 2009 21:59:00 -0500

Today I talked with Cal, WA1WOK about D*STAR. We discussed the past, present, and future of the hobby (AM, SSB, digital modes) and specifically how D*STAR fits in.

You can get in on the ground floor of this new part of amateur radio, if you want to. Listen in and you will get an idea of what to expect with this new mode, with the help of guys like Cal who can show you the ropes.

Show notes:

http://www.dstarusers.org
http://www.dstarinfo.com
http://www.washcoares.org/d-star/index.html
http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/dstar/
Promotional video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8PYZOc9L9o
Cal's email address is his callsign at arrl.net

My hamfest vacation - part two

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sun, 1 Mar 2009 13:32:00 -0500

I talked to quite a few people at the Orlando Hamcation 2009, covering lots of ham radio subjects, as well as some not-so-technical things. What a great time, and in the winter sun! Kick back and enjoy this one. It's a little long, nearly 25 minutes, but close your eyes and pretend that you are in Florida.....

Show notes:

www.ten-ten.org
www.lidomounts.com
www.farcircuits.net
www.hamtestonline.com
Brenda's Catering

My hamfest vacation - part one

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sun, 1 Mar 2009 13:31:00 -0500

I stopped in Richmond, VA on the way to Florida, and visited the Richmond Frostfest 2009. It was a decent-sized hamfest held on the international raceway.

I talked to several very interesting people who have done some unusual things with ham radio. This was a lot of fun!

Show notes:

Dominion DX Group web site
ARRL listing for local clubs
K-9 Alert Search and Rescue Dogs, Inc
VA Dept. of Emergency Management - Terry's email addr
Zuni Maritime Foundation

Learning by kit-building

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sat, 5 Apr 2008 14:12:00 -0400

Last November I spoke with Rich Mitchell, N3III about his award-winning article in QST in November, 2007. It is always memorable when you are speaking with someone who has such passion, and also who loves the hobby like this. This one was so much fun I couldn't stop. Run time is long.

Rich is http://www.qrz.com/n3iii
November article in QST (won the Cover Award for the month) (you may need to be an ARRL member to access this)
http://www.arrl.org/qst/2007/11/mitchell.pdf

New blood

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sat, 5 Apr 2008 11:23:00 -0400

This morning I joined our monthly breakfast with the PART radio club. I had a chance to interview Kimberly Stewart, KB1PZG, who was licensed in February of this year. She is bright, articulate, and shows an obvious passion for the hobby. I think we will be hearing a lot about her as the years go by.

Links: PART of Westford: www.wb1gof.org

The Radio Club of JHS 22, NYC

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:28:00 -0400

Tonight I had a nice chat with Joe Fairclough, WB2JKJ. Joe is the president of the Radio Club at JHS 22 in New York. We discuss the club and what they do, and also talk about how you can get involved. A great story.

This one is a little longer than usual, and worth every second.

Show notes

www.wb2jkj.org
Apple Slices Newsletter is at home.triad.rr.com/michaelbest/

Your own podcast?

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Tue, 2 Oct 2007 07:15:00 -0400

Have you ever thought about doing your own podcast about amateur radio? It's easier than you may think. I discussed this with Mark Jensen, KB2EGB, who just recently returned from a podcasting exposition. Mark gives some tips and suggestions about how you can get started making podcasts!

Digital modes: Can you do it? Yes.

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 18:09:00 -0400

I was shooting the breeze with my friend Joe, WY3T, on the telephone and the subject of PSK came up. You guys know Joe already (previous podcast)

Joe had told me about his recent foray into the digital modes. While we were talking, I asked him if I could turn on the podcast machine to record this conversation, and what you hear now is the answer. Awesome. Very fun.

Show notes:

CQ magazine
Rigblaster

Your signal

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 12:03:00 -0400

Hi Everyone.

I'm back from my summer in China and surprisingly adjusted to the difference in time zones pretty well. My wife and my dog are getting used to my being back home in New Hampshire, and I am excited about seeing my dog again, and being able to get on the air.

I'm just playing around with you. It's wonderful to be back home, for more than a thousand reasons, not the least of which is to see my lovely N1TMZ face-to-face again. We used VoIP, POTS, email, and internet chat using Skype, 9y.com, and some others. A LOT. I missed her while I was gone.

I would like to say thanks to everyone who've emailed me, asking where the podcasts went, and 'when are they coming back?' It is gratifying to know that so many of you enjoy these podcasts. One listener told me, "I listen to you on the train every morning on the way to work." Another guy from Romania sent me email asking when the podcasts will start back up, because he has a translator who knows English, and he wants her to download the podcasts. Another ham asks "would you like to talk to one of our amateur radio experts here in Japan about 99 Hobbies?"

Those made feel pretty good, and it's why I keep doing this.

Thanks.

I will endeavor to pick up the pace and start cranking these out again. There are so many fascinating people to talk to and I can hardly wait to get going. Of the 99 Hobbies I've mentioned, I haven't yet talked about half of them!My desire was to kick things into gear by talking with someone who has a passion for ham radio, who knows what he is talking about, and about a subject that affects all of us who have an amateur radio license.

SCORE!!!!!

As you will see, I went overtime (23:30) and still had some un-answered questions!!! This was so fun.

Here we go!

Last night I had a fun conversation with Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, about his passion: propagation. Of course, Carl is well known as an expert on the subject, having regularly written for Worldradio, QST, and CQ magazines, among others. Check out the picture here of him and his wife Vicky.

Carl and I talked about how and why your signal is able to go from here to there. I think you will be able to hear his love of the hobby.

In one of his answers he uses my favorite radio phrase: "get on the air". Did you hear it?

73,
Dave

Show notes
Email to Carl with questions: [his callsign]@arrl.net
Carl's propagation website is at http://mysite.verizon.net/k9la
CQ magazine at http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/
Space Environment Center at http://sec.noaa.gov
Space Weather at http://spaceweather.com

Net? What is a net?

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Wed, 9 May 2007 18:07:00 -0400

Today I talked with Joe, Wy3T, about getting on the air on an HF net. There are many new HF operators out there, and you may be wondering how to contact new HF friends. Have you ever tried to do this? Check out this podcast.

Show notes

http://www.ecars7255.com

100 pound DXpedition to Monserrat

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 06:32:00 -0500

Today I spoke with my friend Scott Andersen, NE1RD, about some of the things that he has done in the 12 months since we talked on 99 Hobbies last year. His "100 pound DXpedition" has taken him many places, and has been a true learning experience -- not to mention a lot of fun. Join me for this one!

Show notes

http://100pounddxpedition.blogspot.com
http://dxpedition-vp2m.com/
http://www.monserrat.co.uk/

DX on the "Top Band"

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Fri, 9 Feb 2007 13:50:00 -0500

Do you need to be a land baron to operate on 160 meters? Not according to Don Boudreau, W5KFX. Today we talk about some of the reasons why the Top Band can be a lot more fun than many people think, not the least of which is DXing on 160.

Show Notes

Topband? No Way!... But Never say Never, Feb 2007 QST, p.52
The Delta DX Association, www.deltadx.net

RADIO project at Moorpark High School

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 13:38:00 -0400

Tom Baker, NC6B, talks to me about the first- of- its- kind skills class that he teaches at Moorpark HS, near Ventura California. The Radio Amateurs and Disaster Operations (RADIO) teaches skills that include amateur radio, First Aid training, CPR training, Defibrillator, and SERT/CERT certification. They promote the idea that "Teaching our students about preparedness better prepares our community."

Photo is Tom (at left, NC6B) with principal Miyashiro (N6LKI).

Show notes

Great article in the Ventura County Star at http://tinyurl.com/s44z9
The High School's web page is at http://www.mhsweather.org/ and click on RADIO

Weekend goofing off

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 14:09:00 -0400

This is another short podcast. We'll get back to the 'standard' 99Hobbies format soon, but first, this one made me laugh out loud, and I wanted to post this while I had the chance.

This weekend I made a new friend, Jon, from Iceland. Jon has made over 600 QSOs during the Scandinavian Activity Contest JUST during THIS WEEKEND! ( see http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/sacnsc.htm ).

BACKGROUND: I'm tuning through the band and hear Jon ( http://www.qrz.com/callsign/TF3ZA ) calling CQ, so I give him a call. No sweat, easy copy on both sides. He answers me, and I log Iceland, both signals very strong. Very cool. I spot him to the DX network, and a few guys call him. Maybe three people call him. My guess is that most people think they would never be able to penetrate a pile-up for Iceland.

But Jon is calling CQ so often, and no one answers him, that I thought I should make a phone call and see if my friend Scott can work him. Scott lives in a condo, and he doesn't have the luxury of big antennas. In fact, he is not allowed to have any antennas that even would work on 20 meters.

When I called Scott today, he was in a meeting at work. But he answered, and actually went out to his car and gave it a try. He got Jon on his third try.

And then he went back to work.

I think we have our priorities set just fine, don't we?

Oh, and by the way, if you don't think you can make the contact, you should probably give it a try anyway.

73,
Dave
KZ1O

SATERN and emergency communications

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:54:00 -0400

No, not a spelling mistake. This is SATERN, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network. Every year around this time you hear a lot about hurricanes, and you also hear amateur radio volunteers performing public service, providing communications when the usual means fail. You can join them.

At the 2006 Boxboro convention I talked with Joe Fratto, N1RLO, who was manning the SATERN booth. This was another guerilla attack by me, and Joe had no advance notice that I was looking for someone to point a microphone at. Joe was very gracious and talked with me about some of the cool stuff that SATERN does when nature lashes out.

Show notes

SATERN is at www.satern.org
and much contact information is there, for your particular part of the world.

QCWA at Boxboro

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:06:00 -0400

Have you been a ham radio operator for 25 years or more? The Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) wants to hear from you. Chuck, K1IGD explains why.

This conversation was from the floor of the Boxboro convention, and in all fairness to Chuck, I really did stick a recorder in his face and ask him some questions. He did a great job of describing the QCWA in three minutes or less. I want to talk to him again. This was fun!

Show notes

QCWA is at www.qcwa.org
The Boxboro convention is at www.boxboro.org
Chuck's contact information is at www.qrz.com

Boxboro Convention:

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 15:25:00 -0400

While I was at the Boxboro convention (www.boxboro.org ) this year, I bumped into Joel Harrison, W5ZN. As you might expect, he was very busy there, but was gracious enough to spend a few minutes for an interview with 99 Hobbies. What a great guy, and I just really liked his attitude about ham radio and its future. Unfortunately, the recorder was off for a lot of this, but here is 3 minutes of our chat.

As I listened to this clip, I can hear us talking pretty quickly, lots of excitement, and a really fun time. If you have never been to a convention (they are different from a hamfest) you should give it a try.

Only for women: the YLRL

dave@99Hobbies.com (Dave - KZ1O) — Thu, 7 Sep 2006 17:14:00 -0400

The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) is a very serious, very fun, and very active group on the air. Today I talked with Anne Manna WB1ARU about the YLRL and why women should get on the air.

BTW, guys should plan for these contests. Even if we don't get points (sometimes we do), just striking up a QSO will attract others to the frequency, of course.

There are upcoming contests - give it a listen!!!

Show notes

YLRL is at http://www.ylrl.org
WRONE is at http://www.qsl.net/wrone