Ray Albarelli - KM0NDO

Reaching Down Under via Echolink

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 06:30:00 +0000

On my break got to playing around with Echolink, connected to a repeater in the Blue Mountains, VK2RBM, and made contact with Carl Harford down under. Carl was a very interesting guy, he was a psychiatric nurse and a truck driver. I'd like to go out drinking sometime with Carl and fellow Beer Baron Mack, who was also a psychiatric nurse. I was a CNA at the long term psych unit at Northview in Waukesha. The three of us would have some good stories.

Kyocera Torque - Fatal Error

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 01:06:00 +0000

Last Thursday my Kyocera Torque began a firmware update which rebooted to the following message "Error 8713: Fatal Error. Service required. Please contact your service provider"

Did you know that the Bluemound Sprint corporate location in Brookfield is no longer a service center? That's messed up. Sprint has turned over most of it's service in Wisconsin to an agent. So I had to drive to the Universal Wireless location in Waukesha.

Universal Wireless was unable to reflash my phone, so it's bricked, and they ordered a new one for me. I just got a call that it's in and I can pick it up. I'll stop tomorrow morning to get it.

I see on the Sprint forums, that I'm not the only one who had this happen to them.

Submerging my Kyocera Torque

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 18:22:00 +0000

I really love my Kyocera Torque. Not only is it rugged and waterproof, it has a long battery life and it is easy to talk on for a smart phone. I have dropped it, and as you can see I've also submerged it and it still keeps on working.

In which Ron and I take a flight, and live to die another day.

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:14:00 +0000

AES Superfest 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Bob Heil and Cheryl Lasek from HamNation!

Went straight to the AES Superfest after working third shift last night at MillerCoors.

Didn't win anything but still had a good time. Met Bob Heil and Cheryl from HamNation on TwitTV.

I also got a new hat with my call sign on it.

Fire Response

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:44:00 +0000

I responded in Squad 52 to Farmington.

Fire Page at Helenville Fire Department by KM0NDO

KC9JBM is now KM0NDO

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:30:00 +0000

So, my vanity callsign was approved and it's now KM0NDO.

Vanity Callsign - ?M0NDO

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Applied for a vanity callsign today. Want any letter followed by M0NDO. I expect I'll end up with KM0NDO.

Super Bowl LXV Party

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:52:00 +0000

Went to the Fun Hunters Brewery and Restaurant last night for a Super Bowl gathering and was surprised to see W9FRI, Tom Wheeler there too!

From Steelers vs Packers Super Bowl 45 at Randys

Red Cross Callout in Response to the Tornado in Eagle, WI.

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:54:00 +0000

Last night, Waukesha Emergency Coordinator Larry Nolden (NZ9I) called and asked me if I could come out to Eagle and provide communications for Red Cross teams making needs assessments for people effected by the tornado.

The damage was pretty severe and the police had the damaged areas blocked off to prevent looting. Security was so strong, that one resident complained she had problems getting to her own house, even though she had a current ID with her address on it. At least she knew her property was safe from any further loss.

Governor Doyle showed up with Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas to further assess the needs of the area.

Discover Whitewater - Geocache #GC1DHXN

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:50:00 +0000

After a satisfying meal, we decided to set out on a search for the Geocache #GC1DHXN called "Discover Whitewater". This cache is listed as easy, but Geobeagle had me all turned around and heading in multiple directions. I must of had another GPS app running and interfering with Geobeagle's directions, cuz were were all over between the park on Trip Lake and downtown. We finally got close but wasted a lot of time in the entry way to the bank where an ATM is located. There is a magazine rack hanging on the wall, filled with travel brochures, across from the ATM. We thought maybe the cache was behind or in that rack. It wasn't.

When we stepped out of the bank, Dani spotted the cache. I won't disclose much more. Don't want to totally spoil the adventure for some other geocacher.

After we found GC1DHXN we ran to the Eastsider for drinks and when we came back out, it was sprinkling, so we decided not to seek out GC21R29.

On the way home, I got on the radio and heard from K0RPL who was on his way back to Green Bay after visiting his girlfriend, who just got her callsign; KC9RYA. The conversation was soon joined by K9LGU and AB9KL. They all helped me resolve a problem I had with a tone being sent out by my radio every time I keyed up. K0RPL knew the problem could be corrected by pushing the little button in the lower left corner.

Ducting and Ham Radio Deluxe - MVARC Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:50:00 +0000

Tonight at MVARC we discussed ducting and Ham Radio Deluxe. It occurred to me that there exists the potential with an Android phone running Skype or some other software, you should be able to remotely operate a software driven radio. I'll have to look into this further.

Crazy Mayor Sallie Peake

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:22:00 +0000

Sallie Peake, the Mayor of Wellford SC has banned police officers from chasing suspects on foot.

This policy came into existence after two of the town's cars were totaled within a month and an officer was injured and had to miss work after chasing a suspect.

If she is worred about the money spent on workman's compensation, why not save more money by disbanding the police department? The Police can't chase and arrest criminials anyway, so why even have a police department?

When confronted about this new policy by a local reporter, as seen in this YouTube video, her responses were sarcastic and bizarre. Has senility set in? Sounds like it's time for a recall vote in Wellford SC.

It's hard to believe, but there is actually an elected official dumber than Palmyra's Don Agen.

AES Superfest 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Had a fun day at the AES Superfest. Very interesting presentations. Scott Ford made me think seriously about getting an Icom radio to get D-Star capability.

Gordon West as entertaining with his presentation on how to teach a class on radio operation.

Michael Fish from WTMJ4 had an awesome presentation on weather.

My First Zilch Breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:54:00 +0000

Went to my first Zilch Breakfast today. As you can see from the photos, it was a snowy trip to McFarland. But I wasn't the only intrepid adventurer seeking a tasty breakfast and good association. I was joined by Gary (NG9V), Dan (AB9LQ), Phil (KE9XN), and Ken (K9ADN).

Ken recommended the Lantern Omelet which is also pictured. Very good!

February Meeting - Four Lakes Amateur Radio Club (FLARC)

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Went to the Space Place for the February meeting of FLARC tonight. John L Steffl (WZ9I) gave a presentation on antenna modeling using EZNEC software.

The presentation was very interesting. It was raining when I left. Next time I go I'll probably leave early and visit the Madison Public Library which is in the same building.

HamLinks: The Ham Radio Toolbar for Firefox

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:20:00 +0000

I just downloaded the Hamlinks Radio Toolbar for Firefox. The plug in installed easily and seems to work fine. I'll try it for a month or so and see if I like it.

It's kind of a drag having the Facebook, Stumble, and Hamlinks toolbar installed and running all at once. I may need to disable one so I don't have this huge toolbar above every webpage I'm viewing. Thank all that is coded for F11!

For those of you still enslaved to Internet Explore, there is an IE version of the toolbar as well.

If anyone else tries it out, or has used it in the past, please give me shout regarding your experiences.

The Tri-county Amateur Radio Club Tours WFAW

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 04:54:00 +0000

The Tri County Radio Club took a tour of the radio station, WFAW, during our February meeting.

Tri-county Amateur Radio Club Picnic

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 03:55:00 +0000

Jordan, Kimah, Barak, I partied with the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club in Fort Atkinson today. Great fun!

AES Superfest - Gordon West

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 20:31:00 +0000

Got up early after the fire department meeting last night to go to the AES Superfest on Good Hope Rd. in Milwaukee. Gordon West gave an animated discussion on how increases in GPS technology have impacted HAM radio in a positve way. Even though he was pressed for time, had to catch a flight back to California; he took the time to play tapes of older GPS signals. The current state of GPS technology began on June 26, 1993. On that date, the U.S. Air Force launched the 24th NavStar satellite into orbit, completing a network of 24 satellites known as the Global Positioning System, or GPS. With a GPS receiver that costs less than a few hundred dollars you can instantly learn your location on the planet--your latitude, longitude, and even altitude--to within a few hundred feet.

I found a vendor at the Superfest that sells hats for $15 and will embroider them at no additional fee. So I just had to get my call sign put on a hat.

The American Red Cross' Response Technology Team (RTT) has a pretty SWEET rig, a totally pimped out Ford Excursion.

Amateur Radio License - KC9JBM

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Albarelli) — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 07:34:00 +0000

WOO HOO! Yesterday the FCC issued my Amateur Radio license.