KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

DLARC

A couple of things from my inbox: DLARC updates, W4RNL pages updated

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New stuff in the Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications (DLARC)

Kay, K6KJN, curator of the Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications (DLARC) recently posted the following to the ARDC-Community mailing list:

First,  my What’s New in DLARC column in the Zero Retries newsletter talks about archiving the Japanese language “Ham’s Radio” podcast, fascinating newly digitized material from the estate of satellite television pioneer Bob Cooper, and new scans of many amateur radio newsletters.

Second, the Internet Archive blog has a great new post about the college radio material recently added to DLARC. Highlights include 1980s radio interviews with LL Cool J, Sonic Youth and more, 1960s amateur radio footage, college radio oral histories, and radio station correspondence from the 1940s-1960s.

W4RLN antenna info now on GitHub

Thanks to Lonney, K1LH, the L. B. Cebik W4RNL (SK) Website and Document Collection is now on GitHub as well as on the website. What you’ll find there is:

  • a download of the Cebik website,
  • a topic index,
  • a collection of books by W4RLN
  • a collection of magazine article written by W4RLN,
  • transcripts of talks given by W4RLN, and
  • an “antenna potpourri.”
W4RLN was really quite prolific. If you’re at all interested in antennas, you really should check out this collection.

Random thoughts: DLARC on Radio Survivor podcast, open-source software packaging, speed key test

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Podcast peeks behind the scenes at DLARC

Radio Survivor is a podcast that covers anything related to radio, including amateur radio. In a recent episode, they interview Kay, K6KJN, curator of the Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications (DLARC).

SatDump Gains Notable Updates

I found this on Amateur Radio Daily:

SatDump, a popular piece of software used to decode imagery from weather satellites such as NOAA-18 and others, has gained significant updates to the way it processes and projects received images on maps. Imagery projections are much more accurate as a result of recent code refactors. A detailed deep-dive into the changes have been published.

SatDump is available for all major platforms.

This looks like a pretty cool program. I’ve added this to my list of projects to get up and running one of these days.

Speed key test

I forget on which mailing list or forum this came up, but the talk rolled around to the poor fists of some operators who use bugs and cootie keys. Someone mentioned that Navy radio operators had to pass a “speed key” test before they were allowed to use a bug on the air, and when they passed the test, they were given a certificate, like the one at right. Then, someone, with tongue firmly in cheek, suggested that hams should have to pass a similar test.

I realize that the logistics of developing and administering a speed key test for radio amateurs—not to mention enforcing it fairly—would make it an impossibility. Even so, I would encourage straight key users and cootie key users to test their fists. You can use either fldigi or a a program called Precision FistCheck to do this. Improving one’s sending not only makes it easier for the other operator to work you, but should also help you make more contacts.