AmateurRadio.com

WOW!  It’s been a while.  Almost four years have passed since I last posted any content to my blog site.  Also, according to my blog site it appears the last thing I posted about was announcing the 71st episode of PARP.  PARP of course was my Practical Amateur Radio Podcast. Anyway….I’m not dead…at least not yet!

Extraordinary Times

We’re truly living through and in, extraordinary times at the moment.  I’m currently at the half-way point (hump day) of my 4th week of self-isolation, work from home.  Thankfully both my wife and I have jobs which allow us to work from home.  My role, occasionally  requires me to venture into the office (generally twice a week).  Of course the office is mostly empty.  Just a few security guards and on a rare occasion I might see, from a socially acceptable distance, another employee. I guess with almost four weeks of self-isolation under my belt, I can easily do another 4-6, perhaps more.  Who knows?

Radio Activities

There hasn’t been much.  I seriously burned myself out between the podcast, the blog, attending (or trying) multiple club meetings per month etc.  I found myself truly not interested in amateur radio anymore.   I’m starting to come around to the point where I’m enjoying the hobby again.  I’m enjoying working the digital modes and even have been dabbling with D-STAR just a little bit.  I think I’ll save my D-STAR topic to another blog post (coming soon).  For now, my HF operations have been limited to 20 meters.  I pulled down the 6BTV last year as we were having some work done on the house and I didn’t want it to get damaged.  Before it goes back up, it needs a good bit of TLC work done.  I need to replace the plastic coil caps (I have them already)

Until next time….I hope you stay safe and healthy. 

73 de KDØBIK (Jerry)

Episode 71 of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast has been released and is available for download either through iTunes, Android, any other RSS podcatcher software or direct via the PARP website.

The general discussion theme of episode 71 borrows the motto from the Worldwide Floral and Fauna Program “Make Nature your Shack”.   While I won’t complain about the warmth of my ham shack on a cold January day, as fall approaches we have many reasons to take our gear outdoors.  I discuss the 2016 ARRL National Parks on the Air, Summits on the Air and the Worldwide Floral and Fauna programs. 

During the featured website segment I introduce PARP listeners to the FieldRadio.org group and also share a new US amateur radio license preparation site called Ham-Cram.com. 

Remember, this Saturday is the Colorado QSO Party.  I hope you’ll hear me calling CQ.  Thank you for listening to the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast and reading my blog. 

Until next time…

73 de KDØBIK (Jerry)

Episode 71 of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast has been released and is available for download either through iTunes, Android, any other RSS podcatcher software or direct via the PARP website.

The general discussion theme of episode 71 borrows the motto from the Worldwide Floral and Fauna Program “Make Nature your Shack”.   While I won’t complain about the warmth of my ham shack on a cold January day, as fall approaches we have many reasons to take our gear outdoors.  I discuss the 2016 ARRL National Parks on the Air, Summits on the Air and the Worldwide Floral and Fauna programs. 

During the featured website segment I introduce PARP listeners to the FieldRadio.org group and also share a new US amateur radio license preparation site called Ham-Cram.com. 

Remember, this Saturday is the Colorado QSO Party.  I hope you’ll hear me calling CQ.  Thank you for listening to the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast and reading my blog. 

Until next time…

73 de KDØBIK (Jerry)

  As the long, dog-days of summer begin to come to an end it marks one of my favorite operating activities and that is the Colorado QSO Party.  While I’m not a native to the Centennial State, I am always proud to represent Colorado and this year marks the 140th anniversary of statehood.

The 2016 Colorado QSO Party takes place on  Saturday, 3 September beginning at 0400 UTC (7 AM to 10 PM MDT).  I have a few mid morning commitments which I need to take care of, but KDØBIK should be on the air shortly after the lunch hour. 

Perhaps it is naïve to anticipate better band conditions for next Saturday.  After all…..

But I for one will be giving it a solid effort from the basement ham shack located in grid square DM79np.  I hope to work you in the 2016 Colorado QSO Party. 

Until then…

73 de KDØBIK

P.S.  Episode 71 of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast will release Saturday, 27 August.  Thank you for listening!

  As the long, dog-days of summer begin to come to an end it marks one of my favorite operating activities and that is the Colorado QSO Party.  While I’m not a native to the Centennial State, I am always proud to represent Colorado and this year marks the 140th anniversary of statehood.

The 2016 Colorado QSO Party takes place on  Saturday, 3 September beginning at 0400 UTC (7 AM to 10 PM MDT).  I have a few mid morning commitments which I need to take care of, but KDØBIK should be on the air shortly after the lunch hour. 

Perhaps it is naïve to anticipate better band conditions for next Saturday.  After all…..

But I for one will be giving it a solid effort from the basement ham shack located in grid square DM79np.  I hope to work you in the 2016 Colorado QSO Party. 

Until then…

73 de KDØBIK

P.S.  Episode 71 of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast will release Saturday, 27 August.  Thank you for listening!

Some very welcome news popped into my inbox this morning from my friend Bob Greenberg, W2CYK.  Bob is the owner and founder of RFinder the Worldwide Repeater Directory.  

I had the opportunity to meet Bob via social media many years ago when RFinder first launched and have been a fan and supporter of RFinder ever since.  I even discussed RFinder in episode 55 of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast back in May of 2012.  

For several years I used the ARRL repeater directory along with their TravelPlus digital version to search for and program my transceivers.  While this solution worked very well, it was limited to just the ARRL database.   For the traveling ham, this meant being at the mercy of the internet to find information on repeaters in the region and countries visited and this information was not always accurate.

In the time I’ve known Bob and been a user of RFinder, it’s grown to become a truly worldwide solution with partnerships with many national radio societies including the Radio Society of Great Britain, Amateur Radio Society Italia, Deutscher Amateur Radio Club, Radio Amateurs of Canada and the American Radio Relay League (just to name a few).  Finally, the current database contains current and validated repeater information from over 175 countries. 

RFinder the Worldwide Repeater Directory is available in app form for both the iOS and Android platforms and is also supported by both RTSystems and CHIRP radio programming software.  Normally the cost for an annual subscription is $9.95 USD, but for a VERY limited time an RFinder Lifetime Membership is available for $99.99 USD.   When I say VERY limited time, I truly mean this offer will not last long.  It’s a very good deal.

Until next time…

73 de KD0BIK (Jerry)

Some very welcome news popped into my inbox this morning from my friend Bob Greenberg, W2CYK.  Bob is the owner and founder of RFinder the Worldwide Repeater Directory.  

I had the opportunity to meet Bob via social media many years ago when RFinder first launched and have been a fan and supporter of RFinder ever since.  I even discussed RFinder in episode 55 of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast back in May of 2012.  

For several years I used the ARRL repeater directory along with their TravelPlus digital version to search for and program my transceivers.  While this solution worked very well, it was limited to just the ARRL database.   For the traveling ham, this meant being at the mercy of the internet to find information on repeaters in the region and countries visited and this information was not always accurate.

In the time I’ve known Bob and been a user of RFinder, it’s grown to become a truly worldwide solution with partnerships with many national radio societies including the Radio Society of Great Britain, Amateur Radio Society Italia, Deutscher Amateur Radio Club, Radio Amateurs of Canada and the American Radio Relay League (just to name a few).  Finally, the current database contains current and validated repeater information from over 175 countries. 

RFinder the Worldwide Repeater Directory is available in app form for both the iOS and Android platforms and is also supported by both RTSystems and CHIRP radio programming software.  Normally the cost for an annual subscription is $9.95 USD, but for a VERY limited time an RFinder Lifetime Membership is available for $99.99 USD.   When I say VERY limited time, I truly mean this offer will not last long.  It’s a very good deal.

Until next time…

73 de KD0BIK (Jerry)