Calling Amateur Radio Operators

Mike Winiberg

G8GFS here! The advent of mobile phones (replaced my /M operations), the banning of /AM, and the rise of instant messaging via MSN and similar (making it much easier to keep in contact with my immediate friends), combined with the increasing difficulty of getting a signal through all the digitial noise produced by PCs (including my own!) have all gradually eroded my interest in amateur radio - although I keep my licence going, I haven't done any operating for many a year, and no longer have any kit. Maybe when I retire... 8) Mike

M Johansen

Sure. OZ8AGB here. Playing a bit with PIC's. Just built an LC Meter.

RussellT

The reason this is false is that amateur radio is NOT just about talking to people over long distances. It is about about the technical craft of radio telecommunications which requires an understanding of radio theory, electronics, antenna design, and emergency communications. One of the main social benefits of the Amateur Radio Service is emergency telecommunications when all other systems and services are unavailable. Amateur radio played a HUGE role in assisting in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Tell me how the internet is going to make it possible for vicitims in a disaster area to communicate their needs and well-being to the outside world when there are no functional access points. This is one of the main reasons for the existence of amateur radio. Kind regards, Russ N3RUS

VE2

VE2WRH here. I live in an apartment and my HF antenna is a hamstick on a balcony which limits my HF activity but 2M repeater is fine. An alternate for folk like me is internet amateur radio, eg CQ100. I know, many will say its not 'real' radio, but its fun and addictive. You also need to be licensed to use it so your contacts are all fellow hams. I made my living as a programmer for many years and I continue to write support programs for internet radio.

73

Marvin Haagsma

VE6MRV here. My Flex5000A with PowerSDR, a big KLM Yagi & a QRO HF2500DX provides me with many exciting evenings when the band is open on the Long Path to far points on the globe. I can guarantee that my DX contacts, whether on SSB or on CW, have no counterpart in a stinking chat room. 73 /--When propagation is lousy, I play my guitar

Mateusz Jakub

I only took national certification in 2005, passed it but haven't got money for licence. :( But thanks for reminding me about it, so I can try to gather money to get licence, and some radio.

Antonino Porcino

IZ8BLY here, but I'm no longer "active". In the past I pioneered soundcard-based digital modes, writing the first software for Hellschreiber and MT63. I also created two new digital modes that are still around on the air: MFSK16 and CHIP64. It was a lot of fun, but unfortunately it was very time-consuming. Sadly, writing database applications is more remunerative :( .

aa1ww

AA1WW, Coop, here. I use PIC's but hobby stuff gets pushed to back burner. I have SJJmicro's $50 EDK for .NET MicroFramework and hope to fool around with that (also for work-related possibilities). I have some projects on hold I need to finish up: PIC+Keypad+LCD for a box w/ 2 AmQRP DDS boards, PIC for a classic PIC freq counter (box is ready; board half wired), and there's a bunch of PLL synthesizers I'd like to do and have as building blocks. Must be some neat audio DSP functions to implement with those dsPICs. Actually, I like fooling around with old tube circuits as much as the newer technologies. Coop, AA1WW

Jeff Cooper

Tate Antrim

Awesome stuff. Yes the tube circuits are pretty cool. There's a resurgence of using tube amps amongst the audiophiles which is driving up the cost of what should be "cheap" tubes. I'd like to build a DDS exciter and hook that up to a conventional RX/TX strip made up with tubes. Have the synthesizer all DDS but the rest be tubes...that would be a neat project. I'll have to check into the SJJMicro EDK...that sounds neat! 73