Now, there’s a question for ya. Why WOULD they, anyway?

Data, data, it’s all about the data.

Well, actually, it’s also very much about the accuracy of the data.

For example, let’s assume that WA4STO and N1FCH are both members of a large compound of preppers. ‘STO has developed a database of food, ammunition, and fuel supplies that are presently in stock, but located in various buildings within the compound.

‘FCH realizes this, but she’s not sure if the supply of diesel fuel has been exhausted.

If she only knows how to use a microphone, she’d be relegated to trying to make contact with somebody within (our outside of the compound) who might know the answer. But then she might also have to suffer a misunderstanding of how many gallons were actually left. That’s the unfortunate nature of amateur radio voice communications.

We can do better. Much better. And we do.

In addition to the database itself, ‘STO (clever lad that he is…) has also implemented an amateur radio solution to the notion of querying the database without being concerned about the “people factor”.

Now, ‘FCH can type in a query and get a real-time answer without worry about errors, or even the availability of someone who knows what’s going on. All on frequencies which can be utilized by the beginners in amateur radio.

This can be scaled much higher than just local (within the compound) data. For that, I’ll give you an example from 1991. I was working for the ARRL in Connecticut at the time, and was contacted by a radioman on board the USS John F. Kennedy. He had just gone onboard, realized that there was surely a way to get rid of the thousands of telegrams that he had on the hook, destined for friends and loved ones back home. He also knew that he had an amateur radio modem there, but no documentation and no notes from his predecessor.

I filled him in on the details and provided him with information on the networks that had been set up for him to utilize, as well as how to contact folks back in the States who could accept his messages for delivery and/or relay.

I’d like to think that this was a source of many a smile from faces separated by thousands of miles.

73 de “Luck”, WA4STO
QTH = Wilber, Nebraska

Click here to enter the Forums and discuss this blog entry!

The Prepared Ham newcomer should seriously consider using what we tend to call “digital” modes.

Why? I’ll create another topic to explain that in this category. This topic is designed to alert the digital newcomer to the fact that we’ve crafted the Amateur Radio Service regulations to allow for a huge number of frequencies that you can operate “digital” on.

By clicking on this link, you’ll be presented with a graphic that shows most of the frequencies that we can use.

http://www.arrl.org/images/view//Regulatory_/Band_Chart_Feb_3_2012.jpg

Assuming that you’re just starting out and would likely be getting the Technician class license, you should be looking for the portions of the graphic that show a “T” or even a “N, T”.

For example, look at the “6 meter 50 mHz” area. There, you’ll see that “T”, meaning that even the beginner has access. But, there’s a couple of things that are not so obvious about 6 meters:

1. By passing your Tech exam, we grant you the use of a bajillion frequencies on 6 meters.

2. By passing your Tech exam, we grant you access to a large number of modes. And — you guessed it — lots and lots of digital modes as well.

There’s a couple of other interesting things about six meters. For one, the area around 50 mHz (any of you not – yet – licensed folks, know why the “H” in mHz is always capitalized?) supports some of the digital modes that are utilized for “meteor scatter”, or the use of ionized meteor trails (or aircraft for that matter!) as a means of bouncing your signals back to earth. Secondly, this area of the frequency spectrum — loaned to you for your use, just by having passed that pesky little exam! — is as free and clear of interference as you could possibly hope for. For many of us, six is the greatest band.

Ah, but then, there’s ten meters. Look for it on the frequency chart, above. Ten is very very close to the CB frequencies and, as such, shares the same kind of propagation. In other words, sometimes it’s world-wide in nature and at other times, it’s akin to a door nail; deader’n one.

For me, personally, ten meters is King of ’em all. I’ve worked thousands of stations all over the world, using many many different modes.

And, as on six meters, we offer the Technician a gigantic chunk of spectrum on 10, as well as almost all of the digital modes. And since the sun (and its much-aligned eruptions) is being very very kind to us this year, it’s a fabulous time to put your efforts into 10 meters.

Oh, and one last thing about 10. A dipole antenna for 10 meters is about 16 feet long (eight feet on each side of the insulator) which is SO easy to do…

More to follow! Questions? Count on answers.

73 de “Luck” WA4STO
Wilber, Nebraska

Click here to enter the Forums and discuss this blog entry!

Cool looking power box. If you cant get tho this link let me know.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Radio_Jump_Kits/attachments/folder/822261599/item/287576911/view

Text from the article below.

Regarding my main product. I call it the JuiceBox. It is basically the result of years of doing this distilled down into the most basic, rugged widget I can package. So far, my local ham club is pretty nuts over it. I sold one yesterday to the owner of a gunshop in S.C…. as soon as he saw it, he bought, and wants to discuss distributing. Great news for me and my family, very encouraging. In this tough job market, I am actually starting to get ahead with this product.

It is built into a U.S. Army ammo can.

Here are basic specs:

* Case is heavy gauge enameled steel, welded at all seams, and given 3 coats of quality paint.

* Hinged lid is sealed with a continuous rubber gasket and is removable.

* Inverter provides 400 watts constant, 800 watts surge.

* Two AGM batteries totaling 24 AH. Sealed and maintenance free.

* Digital meter displays voltage remaining in the batteries.

* Two marine-grade 12 volt sockets for all common automotive devices.

* Two 12 volt Power Pole connections for low-loss, secure connections to demanding or sensitive gear.

* Two 120 volt pigtails, three-prong, to power common ‘house power’ devices.

* One USB pigtail, 5 volt regulated.

* 3-amp Automatic Battery Charger – charges and maintains the batteries when AC power is available.

* Automatic Solar Controller, 4.5 amp capacity. Can easily handle up to 60 watts of solar panels.

* Durable folding solar panel, 10 watts, fits within case.

Complete unit with solar panel is $550.00

If you already have a solar panel the price is $400.00

Click here to enter the Forums and discuss this blog entry!