Category: radio

Been busy with…..


– Tried to contact KD6EUG (at his alternate QTH in Mi-Wuk Village, CA) via EchoLink last night, no luck. I tried on two different EchoLink repeaters: one near Tuolumne (N6EA, 146.115) and another near Modesto (WA6OEC, 441.350).

Going to try again tonight and see if we can make contact.

– I got NOVA for Windows up an working.
“Nova for Windows has become the most popular Windows-based satellite tracking program in the world. In use by NASA, the U.S. Air Force, industry, and thousands of amateur radio operators, Nova sets the standard for excellence.” [It’s a great program.]

I can use NOVA to track amateur radio satellites, the International Space Station, and the Space Shuttle (when it’s up).

– Sparked up the RX-320 this morning and got Radio Sweden (15.240 MHz).

“The year 2005 marks the centenary of the birth of Greta Garbo. One of Sweden’s most famous exports, her name still evokes glamour and mystery.”

“Join Radio Sweden’s Juan Navas for a special half hour program looking at the life and times of one of the world’s biggest stars, Greta Garbo.”
More about Greta Garbo

Morse Code… the saga continues


I’m making slow, steady progress learning Morse with the help of Ham University (see Oct 8). I’ve just started on lesson 23 – which means I have the following letters/characters to go: J, K, =, Q, X, /, V, Z, ?, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0.


ARRL’s station (W1AW) offers and over the air practice:
Slow Code = practice sent at 5, 7-1/2, 10, 13 and 15 words per minute (wpm).
Frequencies are 1.8175, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675 and 28.0675 MHz.
Monday – 7pm
Tuesday – 10pm
Wednesday – 7pm
Thursday – 10pm
Friday – 7pm

The gameplan now is to take Element 1 (the Morse Code 5 WPM exam) on 22 October in Elizabeth City, NC – sponsored by The Albemarle Amateur Radio Society (TAARS).

Air Travel Sux…

… unless you’re flying 1st class. I can’t think of a single aspect of flying that I find even remotely redeeming. I’m at the Atlanta airport and if I get a chance I’m going to try and send out and APRS beacon.

Savannah APRS/packet is dead


I’m in Hinesville, GA (not far from Savannah) and there is no APRS coverage here. What’s up with that? It also appears packet is dead as well. You can see the lack of coverage here at aprsworld. The closest digipeaters are Walterboro, SC (to the north) and Kingsland, GA (just on the Florida border).


I’m hoping THE COASTAL AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY K4NLX AMATEUR RADIO CLUB can get something going. It seems to be an active club… just need them to put up a digipeater and an IGate.