Category: W9WSW
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Using a Relay to trigger a SmartThings alert
Our dryer has an annoying buzzer that frightens anyone who isn’t used to its piercing report. One of the first things I did when we moved in was to disconnect it. But there was a downside. The sound was a not so gentle reminder that the load was dry. Using some of the electronics knowledge…
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Gear advice for satellite chasers
From the moment that AMSAT first lobbed an OSCAR (Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) into space, communication via the growing constellation of amateur radio satellites has held a special allure.Interested in getting active on the sats? A great place to start is to visit amsat.org. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation was founded in 1969 and has been…
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What to do if WWVB goes away
What will you do with all those atomic clocks if WWVB goes silent? We’ve got hacks!There is a lot of buzz about the possible closure of erstwhile NIST time stations, WWV, WWVH and WWVB. For many of us, WWV was one of the first stations we heard on our Zenith Transoceanics at the dawn of…
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Keeping the Past alive.
My good friend, Dan Romanchik recently wrote about his disappointment to learn that WV7G, who posted a plan for a single tube transmitter had passed away and his web page describing the project had seemingly passed on with him. Enter W5RST, who referenced the Internet Archive, where web content seemingly lives forever. Lo and behold,…
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The Communication Experts
The great thing about a hobby like ours is that there is so much diversity that you can pick whatever niche suits you. From a public perspective, though, there is one branding message that should unite us all: We are the Communication Experts.During Hurricane Harvey, I saw amateur radio at it’s best. Our trained volunteers…
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How to make Field Day (or any remote operation) Great
In my days as a radio broadcaster, one of the most exciting things we did was a “remote”, where we took our gear and our talent out into the community to broadcast live. My good friend and legendary programming consultant, Gary Berkowitz, recently wrote a column about how to accomplish an effective remote. Realizing that…
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Amateur Radio During Word War II
What follows is a summary of the War Emergency Radio Service (WERS). Information was gathered primarily from “Fifty Years of ARRL,” an historical record of the League and amateur radio. It was originally posted on the AC6V website.First a bit of background: In 1939 there were 51,000 US hams. In September of that year war…
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Earning ARRL’s Worked All States award in 12 months or less
Worked All States. It’s the first significant milestone for a radio amateur after passing the General Class exam. No matter what your gear, it’s an achievement that can be earned in a year or less if you play to win.Here’s how.Every state has its own QSO Party, a weekend where there’s an organized effort to…
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Revitalizing Your College Ham Club
Matthew Beiz recently asked the members of the Collegiate Ham Radio Operators Facebook page for ideas on how to build interest in our essential avocation among a young audience dealing with lots of technological distractions. Here are a few thoughts from our work to rebuild the Michigan State University Amateur Radio Club:Go where the action…
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The Thrills and Agonies of Radiosport
By Scott Westerman – W9WSWHow many of us remember Jim McKay’s introduction to ABC’s Wide World of Sports? “The thrill of victory… And the agony of defeat!” Such are the joys and frustrations for enthusiasts of Radiosport.Radiosport, the term coined for the dogged pursuit of the many certificates and awards available to those who love…