Radio

The fourth weekend in June is Field Day for radio amateur (hams).  This is when the radio geeks trot out their gear in public to show everybody what amateur radio is about.  The public and press are cordially invited to come see what the groups and individual amateurs are up to.
One can see demonstration of [...]

Check out Google today.

I know I’m going to get absolutely creamed over this but I suspect I’m a masochist behind my back.  The thing is that I’m not a Springsteen fan.  The way I understand it, this puts me in a relatively small group, along with married couples who don’t want kids and left-handed accordian players.
My lack of [...]

The figurative light is breaking in the various counties of Kentucky hit by the devastating storm.
RADIO AMATEURS PITCH IN
Radio amateurs (hams) have been operating an emergency net for two weeks now. In this particular case, the Red Cross contacted ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) and requested radio help. For two weeks the hams [...]

I can.   Well, I can’t, but you might be able to.  You can definitely listen though.
The Space Station orbits the planet.   When not performing their other duties, astronauts can make use of the amateur radio station on the ISS.  If you’re a licensed radio amateur (ham), you can talk to them on the way over [...]

It’s been a bit since I managed to get much guitar or tube content posted.  Between my rather strange life and keeping an eye on how we’re getting screwed, it’s been busy.
TUBES
Fun with Tubes - this is a Yahoogroups.com group.  It is a tremendous resource for the tube-obsessed, regardless of knowledge level.  If the people [...]

I just learned that a local legend of a music store is closing [Medley Music].
The store has been around way longer than I’ve been visiting music stores (a significant period of time).  I have known one of the sales guys for almost as long as I’ve been playing.  I even hired him to help on [...]

Well, as you can guess it’s been an interesting day.
Up at 6am for the hamfest.  I have no idea why this is, especially as I’ve spent most of my life staying in bed late.  The hamfest is not what you think either.  It’s a sort of flea market for amateur radio, electronics, and computer geeks.  [...]

In a rare burst of sanity, Pennsylvania Governor Ed (Fast Eddie) Rendell signed into law a bill guaranteeing radio amateurs (hams) the right to put up antenna support structures (towers) up to sixty-five feet without the need of a special permit.
Apparently the legislation was spurred on by a lone blind ham in Warminster, PA.  I’m [...]

If you have a shortwave radio, you’re in pretty good shape to catch the amateur weather nets in advance of Gustav.  They’re warming up now and will likely be in full swing early Monday morning.  Don’t worry if you don’t have a shortwave radio - some nice folks have taken care of this via the [...]