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I wrote a letter to the ARRL asking if there were any new NPRM (notice of proposed rule making) by the FCC or a campaign in the ARRL to ask the FCC to reconsider the wording of FCC rule 97.117.  What I got back suprised me, and indicates that the ARRL does not want this type of communication to occur.

Specifically I used Email from services like winlink, IRLP and Echolink as examples of how 97.117 “gets in the way”, however this subject also applies to emergencies that cross borders.

If there is an emergency on the US/CA or US/MX border it is likely that ham radio operators would be involved on both sides of the disaster.  However, their relief efforts are hindered by 97.117.  To illustrate why I will quote 97.117. (continue reading…)

As some of you are aware I dabble in FreeSWITCH development. Last night in a fit of insomnia, I wrote an event scheduler in LUA for FreeSWITCH that is capable of allowing multiple nodes to process the events without duplication. This speaks to the power of FreeSWITCH that something trivial can add such functionality.  This means that you can have a cluster that can all process the events without assigning specific events to each switch.

Potential applications for this include “hotel style wake up calls”, “blind date rescue calls” and even the infamous “get out of a boring meeting fast call”.  You just need to insert a small row in a MySQL database which includes the API command to run (such as originate) and the timestamp to run it at.  (continue reading…)

About 15 years ago I bought an optoelectronics scout frequency recorder.   I thought it would help me find fun and interesting things to listen to on my radio, and it has not let me down.  After 15 years however the nicads that came in it were showing their age and it would not operator for more than 15-20 minutes on a charge.  I looked for a replacement battery and optoelectronics wanted $40 for one, and other vendors were not much better.

I decided there had to be a cheaper way.  After a trip to Fry’s electronics, I got everything I needed for $10 including tax.  Here is a brief explanation of what I did. (continue reading…)

The other day I shined a light on the marxist ideals that the world wide preppers network is putting out there, and I wanted to elaborate a bit on their misconceptions.

These ideals are the same ones SEIU, ACORN and even the Obama administration is pushing now.  While they are entitled to their opinions, I wanted to discuss why they are factually incorrect and based upon false premises.  Doing away with the banks is step one to marxism, and what will replace the banks?  The government of course.

An example of how banks (and thus bankers) are inherently evil was provided to me like this:

There are 5 people on an island, a banker, a farmer and 3 others whose job is irrelevant.  The farmer borrows $100 to buy some chickens, feed, fencing and related items.  The farmer now owes $110, principle and interest.  The farmer will not be able to pay this back to the bank because the only money that exists is $100. (continue reading…)

I wanted to talk for a minute about why internet linked repeaters and radios are somewhat detrimental to ham radio.  This is not to say there is no benefit, or that the systems should be scrapped, instead I think the rules should be changed, where applicable.

First, let me explain what I mean by internet connected repeaters and radios.  Systems like EchoLink, IRLP, and similar are software solutions that bridge a repeater or a radio to a distant point via the internet.  The audio is sent via some type of VoIP, and often there is signalling information sent as well which will tell the radio to transmit or not.  (continue reading…)

I just found out that the world wide preppers network, which is supposed to be a group of people who are preparing for the end of the financial system, the ecoomy, infrastructure, etc are really just marxists.  Yes that is right, they think the definition of libertarianism has nothing to do with smaller governments but rather with ending banking.

I had a long and unfruitful chat where someone got pissy and the rest joined in because I did not believe that bankers secretly rule the world and if governments do not do their bidding then they would force other countries to invade and kill everyone.  They think that iraq and afganistan are this very thing.  Bankers were upset that iraq and afganistan were not paying them what they felt they were owed, so they ordered the US to invade and kill people.

Seriously. But wait there is more. (continue reading…)

I bought a butternut HF9v from Bencher and the Ground radial kit and tilt base from DX Engineering and am installing them.  This is not a trivial project, it seemed like it would be a little easier than it actually turned out to be.

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I got my APRN button today, it was created by Dave W4DMH.  APRN is the American Preppers Radio Network, which is a ham radio net dedicated to helping people prepare for emergencies, whether natural causes, war, terrorism, econimic collapse, or zombie invasions.

kc2dwq aprn button

If you have a thin antenna like the Comet SMA-24 or SMA-503 you may be worried that it will snap off.  Mine look like they will, and a friends did.  Fortunately for my friend it was as he was signing in at a ham fest, so he was able to get a replacement, but he was not happy.

If you are in the field and your antenna breaks you may find that your radio is little more than a paper weight.  By adding a little heat shrink  around the base of the antenna you can dramatically improve its lifespan.

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Tying an antenna is an important part of using the antenna. If you have a wire antenna, whether a roll up dipole or a random wire antenna or some other type of wire antenna you will want to get the antenna off the ground. How you mount it will influence how it operates, as well as how safe it is to use the antenna.
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