I’m always in awe of folks that can produce great videos. I’ve never had much success doing them myself. I hope you enjoy these.
Dad and daughter activate a state park…
This brings new meaning to the Q-signal QLF…
I’m always in awe of folks that can produce great videos. I’ve never had much success doing them myself. I hope you enjoy these.
I found this on reddit and love it so much that I asked permission to blog it. This guy’s girlfriend’s family got vanity plates with the grandfather’s call sign to honor his memory. How great is that?
I know several hams who have their father’s or grandfather’s call signs, and it’s such a great tribute. If WA2SHE had been my father or grandfather (or mother or grandmother, for that matter), I would have his (or her) call sign and a vanity plate with that call sign.
Saturday evening, as I pulled up to the AirBNB where I was staying in Dayton, I got a phone call from my wife. She told me that my dad had been taken to the hospital. It was late, and I was more than 250 miles away. Not wanting to fall asleep at the wheel, I stayed the night and left early Sunday morning.
When I got to the hospital, he was already unresponsive. Apparently, one of his artificial joints had become infected, and the infection spread into his blood system. He’d already had one operation, and on Tuesday, he was to undergo a second to remove the artificial shoulder he’d gotten just last fall. Unfortunately, that surgery—and the antibiotics he’d been receiving all along—failed to improve his situation.
He never regained consciousness, and on Wednesday, my brothers and sisters (there are six of us in all), decided to remove the tubes and move him to hospice care. My brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews (there are lots of them, too) set up a schedule so that someone would be with him at all times. I stayed with him overnight on Saturday. He passed away Sunday afternoon.
This was a shock to all us. My mother passed away just last December, but he seemed to be dealing well with that. He was planning to golf this summer—he was as avid a golfer as I am an amateur radio operator—and sell his house and move to a condo. My wife and I had taken him out to eat a week before, and he seemed to be in good health and good spirits.
But, my purpose for writing this is not to tell that story. It’s to show you what kind of a man he was. He was an incredibly loving and supportive man. We have a big family, but I don’t think that he and my mother missed a single baseball game or play or whatever that my nephews and nieces were a part of.
As for me, I wouldn’t have gotten an amateur radio license or become an electronics engineer if it wasn’t for him. When I was a kid, he was into hi-fi equipment and built a bunch of kits. As a result, he subscribed to Popular Electronics and Electronics Illustrated magazines, which fueled my interest in electronics and amateur radio. At one point, I took over his basement workshop, even sleeping on a cot down there. I don’t ever remember him complaining about that or prohibiting me from doing so.
When I got my ticket, he helped me dig a hole and pour the concrete for the eight-ft. pipe that held up my 14AVQ vertical. He also drilled the hole in the wall through which I routed the RG-8 coax.
He didn’t complain at all when I mounted a tripod on the roof to support the 2m halo I built to work the guys in the Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club on 2m AM. And, when I needed some transformer oil for the Heathkit Cantenna that I built, a five-gallon drum of the stuff appeared a couple of days after I spoke to him about it.
He was a graduate of the engineering school of the University of Detroit, and he helped me navigate my way there after I graduated from high school. I was incredibly naïve about college admissions, but with his help, I was able to get a partial scholarship to attend U-D.
He helped me in so many big and little ways while I went there. For example, one year, I blew the head gasket in my 1968 Mercury Montego. I needed that car to get to school and to my coop job. Over the Christmas holiday, he helped me replace that head gasket, giving up whatever plans he had. (I say that he helped me, but of course, he did the bulk of the work, so I should really say that I helped him.) We’d run out there, work on the car for ten to fifteen minutes, come back inside and warm up our hands, then repeat the process.
I’m really going to miss him. I’m 64 now, but I’d often rely on his advice, for things big and small. At the funeral, the priest said something that I’d been thinking about the past few days. He said, “When your parents die, you realize that now you have to be the adult.” I hope that I can now be the man that my dad was.
The Jonestown Radio Network: How Jim Jones Spread His Message Of Death. This article was fascinating to me. I wasn’t aware that Jim Jones’ cult used amateur radio. It says:
Shortwave radio linked Jonestown to the rest of the world. During the 1970s, ham radios had become increasingly common, and Jonestown residents used the shortwave radio to communicate with their acolytes worldwide. Ham radio operators in Jonestown sent “QSL cards” to people they had communicated with, a common practice at the time.
Girl guides receive basic training in wireless communication. Over 20 girl guides from the No. 28 Kingstown Guide Company (St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown) were given their first exposure to amateur radio (Ham Radio) and wireless communications as part of Guiding activities. Rainbow Radio League (RRL) Director, Donald De Riggs was invited by Guide Leader Oneka Morgan to share his skills in this field. De Riggs informed the young ladies that communications is essential for everyday activities. He noted that the phonetic alphabet which they learned was essential for pilots, air traffic controllers, aviation service personnel, sea captains, military and para-military organisations among others including Ham radio.
How Amateur Radio Operators Could Save Lives in an Emergency and How You Can Help. Santa Clara’s amateur radio group doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but if another major earthquake ever hits the Bay Area, the small group could be the difference between life and death. “I consider them to be an extremely valuable asset,” said Lisa Schoenthal, the City of Santa Clara’s Emergency Services Coordinator. “During times of catastrophic emergency, [HAM radios] have been the only mode of communication.”
“Always go to other people’s funerals; otherwise they won’t go to yours.”
This morning I went to the funeral for Roger, W8ZRF, who passed away about a week ago. When I got to the church, I looked around and was disappointed that only one other ham—Margaret, W8MAG— was there.
During the homily, the priest mentioned Roger’s great interest in amateur radio. If you read the obituary, you realize how much amateur radio shaped Roger’s life. After the mass, Roger’s son also offered a remembrance, and recounted how big a role that amateur radio played. I learned a great deal about Roger that I hadn’t known before.
At lunch, Maragaret and I took the opportunity to speak to the family. I told them how well-respected that Roger was in our community, and how Roger had helped hundreds, if not thousands, get their amateur radio licenses. While they knew that their father was an avid amateur radio operator, I don’t think they realized that he had touched the lives of so many hams.
I’d like to encourage you all to make the effort to attend the funerals of SKs that you knew. Chances are that you’ll learn something about a friend and you’ll help the family by sharing your memories of the deceased with the family.
Age 98, [Roger] passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Roger was born in Schererville, IN on February 26, 1920. He married Merna Patrick of Dansville, MI on February 23, 1946 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, and is survived by their four children: Maureen (Mike) Watassek of Ann Arbor, Dianna (Tim) Kellman of Ypsilanti, Bob Place of Naples, FL, and Tom (Amy) Place of Brookhaven, GA. He was blessed with eight grandchildren: Lauren (Jennifer) Boik-Watassek, Midori Watassek, Andy (Jodee) Kellman, David Kellman, Brian (Chris) Place, Sean (Robin) Place, Taylor (Carly) Place, Jessie Place. And four great-grandchildren: Luke and Noah Boik-Watassek, Adrian and Geneva Kellman. His only sibling, Vivian Peifer of Schererville, IN also survives. He was preceded in death by Merna, his wife of 57 years, on February 8, 2003, and Lauren Boik-Watassek, his first grandchild, on June 26, 2018. Roger was a proud veteran of World War II, having served his country as a Radioman 3rd Class in the US Navy, Pacific Theatre. Following his discharge, he returned to work at Argus Camera, and spent several years at The University of Michigan, Bendix Aerospace and KMS Industries prior to retirement. A devout and active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 587, Roger was also a proud member of the “”Ave Maria Pew Crew””, which constructed the craftsman style oak pews for the Ave Maria Oratory, Ave Maria, FL. In addition to being an avid amateur radio operator/examiner with a love for travel, he was a dedicated community volunteer, youth baseball/basketball coach, golfer, and bowler. Memories of his unwavering support of family, thought-provoking one-liners, and unending DIY home projects will always be cherished. Visitation will take place at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 530 Elizabeth St., Ann Arbor, on Thursday, November 1, 2018 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm, with a rosary service at 5:00pm. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 10:00am with Fr. Bill Ashbaugh officiating. Roger’s family will receive guests in the Parish Hall, immediately following Mass. Contributions in Roger’s memory may be made to: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 530 Elizabeth St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.Here are some remembrances from ARROW members: Dan KB6NU:
I am very sorry to hear this. Roger and Clay really kept ARROW/amateur radio alive in the 1990s and early 2000s here in Ann Arbor by regularly conducting amateur radio exams. He was such a nice guy and always ready to help out with things as he could.Bruce, KT8TD:
I just Googled Roger and found this oral history recorded at the library just last year: https://aadl.org/aadl_argus-roger_place. I learned a lot about Roger that I didn’t know. And, here’s a picture of his QSL card from 1953: https://www.flickr.com/photos/70251312@N00/8421879190.
I’m sorry to hear that. I took my Technician exam from them in November 2004. Some years later after being elected Arrow president, Roger made a gift of the Extra Class license manual. I took it as a gentle suggestion that I really ought to make the upgrade. Five months later, in Dayton, I took and passed the exam. I’ve always been grateful to roger for that subtle suggestion.Jeff, W8SGZ:
Roger and Clay were like toast and tea. Warm and comforting, never the least bit objectionable. With both of them now gone, there is a large empty space in the goodness of the world.Ed, AB8OJ:
Roger and Clay were my first contacts with ARROW and with ham radio in general. They always made me feel welcome, and made sure to chat with me at my first few meetings (such as they were back then). I’m honored to have their signatures on my Tech and Extra exams. I’ll always remember the look of delight on their faces as they told me I had passed. May we all be like W8ZRF and W8JNZ, the best ham radio ambassadors I’ve known.
The CW CQ Worldwide DX Contest takes place this weekend, but you don’t have to jump into fray to take advantage of the contest. Many of the guys working the DX stations are already in place and testing out their stations. I’ve worked a couple already, and have heard a couple more. P40T in Aruba, for example, was quite loud here in Michigan on 40m this evening.
So, don’t wait until Saturday. Get on the air now and work some DX.
In another post, I compared the Yaesu FT-991A I’ve been using for the past couple of weeks to my ICOM IC-7300. There are lots of things that I think the IC-7300 does better than the FT-991A, but here’s one that I really don’t like.
When you set the clarifier (RIT on ICOMs), it changes the frequency that the rig sends over the computer interface. So, if I’m tuned to a station on 7028 kHz, and set the clarifier to -20 Hz, the frequency that my N3FJP logging software thinks that I’m tuned to is 7027.98 kHz, and if I don’t reset the clarifier before I log the contact, then frequency recorded will be 7.02798 MHz.
To me, that’s just wrong. I’m tuned to 7028 kHz, not 7027.98 kHz.
YLs on CW are sometimes as rare as, well, hen’s teeth (pun intended). A week ago, though, I managed to work two of them in a row: Amy, KT4E, in Knoxville, TN and Bonnie, WB4FSF, in Sanford, FL. Both are great ops (both are members of the First Class Operators’ Club) and I enjoyed our contacts.
Speaking of making contacts, the bands have had some decent, if not good, propagation lately. Maybe if we keep beating on the ionosphere, it will yield some better conditions.
I got an email a couple of weeks ago asking for my help with an antenna question. This gentleman, who I discovered is 80 years old and a relative newcomer to amateur radio wrote:
I read your post that mentions counterpoises. I live in a retirement community in Florida with small lots. The one way I can string an end fed wire for 20 meters is to run the wire over the shingled house roof front to back. My other option is to run the wire over the aluminum car port roof. Per HOA rules, the wire can only be 12 feet above the house roof at the highest part of the roof. (There would be more distance between the car port roof and the antenna but the antenna would be at the same height AGL.)My question is: Would it be better to place the wire over the shingled house roof or the aluminum car port roof? If over the house roof should I lay wires on the roof below the antenna to act as a counterpoise and should these wires be grounded? Can the counterpoise wires be laid on the roof or should they be raised above the roof? The antenna wire will be 12Ft above the roof. How many counterpoise wires and how close to the antenna wire?Any help you can offer will be appreciated.
I hate to bother you. The two local clubs explained to me that in the past they spent time and effort helping newbies then the newbies dropped out so they no longer help newbies.
Ruth, KM4LAO, is getting a lot of publicity these days—and for good reason. She’s a college student at Kettering University who’s trying to revive the amateur radio club there. As part of that, I taught a one-day Tech class at Kettering last Saturday.
Yesterday, she was interviewed by Cynthia Canty, host of the NPR radio show, Stateside. The eight-minute segment covers how and why she got started in amateur radio and how she’s trying to get other students interested in our hobby. It was a pleasure helping her get the Kettering University club up and running again.
A couple of weeks ago, one of the “lions” of our amateur radio club, Clay, W8JNZ, became a silent key. I won’t go into his long list of accomplishments; you can read his obituary for that. What I will say is that he did a lot for our club, and its members, and for amateur radio.
For the last couple of years, he had stopped coming to our club meetings. I think that this was mostly because he stopped driving, but I never asked. Then, I heard that he’d moved to be with his family in VA. We weren’t bosom buddies, but we were friends, and it saddened me when he disappeared.
Fortunately, Clay had family to be with. That’s not always the case, though. The AARP reports that more than 8 million adults age 50 and older are affected by isolation. They define isolation as “feeling detached physically or psychologically, or being disconnected from support groups of family, friends and community.”
The AARP considers this to be such a big problem, they have started a program called Connect2Affect to make people aware of isolation in general and their own isolation in particular. The Connect2Affect website includes resources for learning more about isolation, evaluating how isolated you might be, how to connect with others if you’re feeling isolated, and how to help others be less isolated.
It’s easy to lose touch with people. We all live busy lives these days, and when someone drops off our radar, it’s easy to forget them. But let’s not let that happen to our ham radio brothers and sisters. Here’s a few things that I’d suggest:
Ham radio is supposed to be all about communication. Let’s keep the lines of communications open with the ham radio operators in our lives and prevent them from becoming isolated.