KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

BBC

ICQ Podcast Episode 412 – More Workshop Tips

By Leave a Comment

In this episode, I joined Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT, Edmund Spicer M0MNG and Ed Durrant DD5LP, and we discussed

This episode’s feature is More Workshop Tips.

ICQ Podcast #399 – Hamzilla 2023

By Leave a Comment

In this episode, I joined Martin Butler M1MRB, Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT and Edmund Spicer M0MNG and discussed the following topics:

The episode’s feature is about Hamzilla 2023, a hamfest in the U.K.

Hams actually listen to us?

I’m always pleasantly surprised when I run across hams who say that they listen to the podcast. Mostly, it just seems like we’re babbling when we record the podcast, but when people say that they enjoy listening to it, it makes doing it all worthwhile.

Last week, at the HamSCI Workshop, I introduced myself to a fellow who said, “I know who you are. I recognized your voice from the podcast.” We proceeded to have a really nice conversation about the workshop.

Last night, I worked someone on 30 meters, and my being on the podcast made it possible. He emailed me after contact saying, “I’m a new CW operator and I heard your call tonight and recognized it from podcast fame, so I answered. I appreciated that you slowed down right away, but I immediately regretted my decision when you sent more than RST and state.” That is to say that he probably wouldn’t have answered my CQ if he hadn’t recognized my call sign.

I replied, “I could tell that were a bit unaccustomed to ragchewing, but kudos to you for trying!” I went on to say that I hoped that he should feel free to call me anytime. The only way to get better, after all, is to make contacts. I hope that I get to work him many times in the months ahead.

I’ll extend that invitation to all of you. If you ever hear me on the air, or see me at an amateur radio event, please feel free to say hi.

Amateur radio in the news: Amateurs help USGS with earthquakes, VT towers OK’d, ham club on BBC

By Leave a Comment

Amateur Radio Operators Help Fill Earthquake Donut Holes

If you’ve ever seen tall antennas rising from everyday residences in your community and wondered what they are for, it could be that those homes belong to ham radio enthusiasts who enjoy communicating with each other over the airwaves. In addition to having fun with their radios and finding camaraderie, many ham radio operators are also prepared to help neighbors and authorities communicate during disasters. One such group of radio enthusiasts is poised now to serve yet another important role: They will be contributing to a more robust delivery mechanism for critical seismic intensity reports after major earthquakes through the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Did You Feel It? (DYFI) system.

….read more

Over neighbors’ objections, Shelburne operator gets the green light for ham radio towers

SHELBURNE – One-on-one talks with fellow amateur radio operators as far away as Moscow are now firmly on the horizon for a Shelburne man.

The erection of two antenna towers on Zachary Manganello’s rural property on Dorset Street — a source of contention with his neighbors for at least a year — was approved by the Telecommunications Review Board this week.

On paper, and later, in balloon tests that attempted to approximate the towers’ altitude, the structures struck some folks as too tall for the neighborhood.

…read more

Ham radio on BBC Radio Lincoln

The Lincoln Short Wave Club, hosts of the National Hamfest, celebrated their 100th anniversary in February and Steve Burke M5ZZZ / G6TVP was interviewed on BBC Radio Lincoln

The club’s inaugural meeting was held in the Spread Eagle Hotel in Lincoln on February 10, 1921. Eleven people attended and it was agreed the group would be known as the Lincoln and District Wireless Society.

In May 1923 they held an exhibition in the City School. The event was open to the public for three days and attracted 322 visitors.

The BBC interview was broadcast on Wednesday, February 17, on BBC Radio Lincoln’s Breakfast Show. A recording is available, fast-forward to 01:17:49 into the show
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0954hgx

Lincoln Short Wave Club history
http://www.g5fz.co.uk/official-club-buisness/a-brief-history-of-lincoln-short-wave-club/

CW in the news: KPH maritime station on TV, BBC story on high-speed telegraphy in Eastern Europe

By 1 Comment

Here are a couple of news stories that I’ve run across lately that are CW-related…..Dan

My friend, Tom, W8TAM, actually got a chance to visit and operate this station when he was in Northern California on a business trip. He got this opportunity after a serendipitous meeting with Richard Dillman, W6AWO, at a Northern California ham radio store.


This is a BBC story on how high-speed Morse Code competitions became popular in Eastern Europe.

Amateur radio in the news: G8BBC back on the air, Newburgh teen, NCIS

By 2 Comments

G8BBC back on the air

The ICQPodcast also had a special episode on G8BBC that goes into more depth on the mission and the equipment at the station.

845 Life: Newburgh teen is a real pro with amateur radio

Natural disasters such as hurricanes and storms can cause flooding and disable systems: But they don’t affect amateur radio. “After Hurricane Sandy, our system was activated to help communicate emergencies throughout the region,” says Sean Flynn, 17, of the Town of Newburgh. “We were relaying messages between organizations or taking information from the field and passing it along to emergency services.” “Even cellphone systems rely on towers, switchboards and relays to work,” says Sean. “When those go down, cellphones stop working.”

Ham radio integral part of NCIS episode

When McGee and Torres check out Miller’s apartment, they discover an elaborate ham radio set-up. This delights McGee because he was a total ham radio head as a kid. “When I was a kid, my dad used to sneak me into the cockfights,” Torres offers.

Amateur radio video: RSGB promo, electronics crash course, WWII

By Leave a Comment

This is the new amateur radio promo from the RSGB, Great Britain’s version of the ARRL.

 

This is the first of a series of videos produced by Make: magazine on electronics fundamentals.

 

bbc-wwii-history

The unassuming Buckinghamshire village of Whaddon was the center of radio communications for the British in WW II. This BBC video celebrates the role that Whaddon played in helping the Allies win the war.