The Amateur Amateur

Click to read “The Amateur Amateur”

I’ve enjoyed reading Gary Hoffman’s, KB0H, “The Amateur Amateur” on the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) web site for years.  The ARRL no longer publishes Gary’s articles, but he still writes them.  In Gary’s own words:

The Amateur Amateur is a column about my experiences in ham radio. Since I have little technical expertise and not much knowledge of electronics, I make a lot of mistakes. I consider myself to be just an amateur amateur radio operator, but I keep pressing on and trying new things. This column details my triumphs – and foibles – and I try not to take myself too seriously. Whether you are an experienced ham or new to the hobby, I hope you find these chronicles of my efforts to be entertaining.

Gary Ross Hoffman, KB0H

Gary’s “The Amateur Amateur” columns are available HERE.
Enjoy! -John, K7JM

The Joy Of Ham Radio

Another Ham discovers Linux’s ham friendliness ARRL’s website has another nice story about a Ham using Ubuntu Linux and fldigi to renew his love for Amateur Radio.  Check out the post HERE.  Good going Steve (KØSRE)!  For more of Linux In The Ham Shack, check out “Linux In The Ham Shack” podcast.

– John, K7JM

Ubuntu and Ham Radio

The ARRL web site had a nice entry about Ubuntu for Ham Radio.  The article could have been four times as long and not cover all the aspects of why Ubuntu Linux is good for Ham Radio.  Also, several of the applications that the author mentioned in the ARRL article that he used with WINE, have alternates available for Linux, including PCB layout software, and Circuit analysis.  Almost ALL FREE.  Besides, Ubuntu’s super easy to install Ham Radio repository of applications, HERE is a page full of stuff, ranging from the latest and greatest to older Linux Ham Radio programs.  Ham Radio is about innovation, and experimentation.  It is sad to see so much of it is built up on a closed, unexperimentalable, unmodifiable, and costly solution like Windows.

73,
John – K7JM

Field Day 2009

Field Day is just around the corner. If you are not involved with a local Amateur Radio Club, Field Day is just the way to start getting involved. To find a location near you, visit http://www.arrl.org/fieldday

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Montana Ham Assists in Rescue of Fellow Amateur 600 Miles Away

I don’t normally copy posts from other blogs, but I thought this one was worth mentioning.  This is from the ARRL web site at http://arrl.org


On Sunday, September 21, Bob Williams, N7ODM, of
Bozeman, Montana, was just tuning around on 40 meters, giving his rig a
test just before a scheduled QSO with his brother Rich, K7URU, in
Spokane, when he heard a faint CW signal around 1 PM (MDT): Glenn
Russell Ruby Jr, W7AU, of Corvallis, Oregon had broken his leg and was
using a portable radio and Morse code to send out a call for help.
Williams said he was able to understand the injured man’s code even
when his signal became very weak.
Click Here for Full Story at ARRL.org