@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

kb6nu

@kb6nu@mastodon.radio

Long-time ham, CW operator, #hamradio blogger (KB6NU.Com), author of the "No Nonsense" amateur radio license study guides. I used to be:

  • Communications Manager for Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC),
  • Freelance writer and editor,
  • Website developer,
  • Technical Editor for Test&Measurement World magazine,
  • Electronics test engineer.

I enjoy all kinds of #hamradio activities, but my favorite thing to do is operate CW, Second would be teaching ham classes.

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tony, to random
@tony@mastodon.radio avatar

@qrper Will you be at Hamvention?

kb6nu,
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

@tony @qrper Is anyone planning a #Mastodon@Hamvention gathering? The /r/amateurradio folks are talking about meeting at noon on Saturday. How does that sound to people?

kb6nu, to hamradio
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

Just worked a guy on 30m whose QRZ page says:

"The picture at the top right of my QRZ page is of an ancient Greek vase. It depicts Zeus throwing a thunderbolt. Depictions of Zeus often show him throwing thunderbolts. Certainly our understanding of radio waves and radio propagation has changed remarkably from ancient times. However, I like to think that in some way we hams are like "thunderbolt throwers" sending signals into the air."

So, should we make Zeus the god of ?

N4JAW, to amateurradio
@N4JAW@mastodon.radio avatar

May the 4th was with me. The FORCE was strong with this one as the bands were awful again as expected with approaching storms. Hot, muggy and steamy weather on Kentucky Derby Day in Louisville, KY.

kb6nu,
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

@N4JAW The bands were weird today. Some strong signals and good RBN spots, but a lot of 1 dB and 3 dB spots, too. Took me two hours to make 20 contacts. I saw you spotted on 40m, and was going to QSY and try to work you, but the “last seen” time was 20 minutes or so, and you had probably quit by then.

kb6nu,
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

@N4JAW Yeah. That's why I thought I might catch you on 40m. Next time. 🙂

ai6yr, to climate

Good discussion of alternatives/degrowth as a solution to the impending climate disaster. https://www.resilience.org/stories/2024-04-30/eco-collapse-hasnt-happened-yet-but-you-can-see-it-coming/
#climate #climatedisaster #degrowth

kb6nu,
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

@ai6yr I've often felt--although I have no data to back this up--that we're never going to solve our most serious problems if we don't address population growth. It seems as if this is a real no-no to say anymore, though.

kb6nu, to hamradio
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

SpaceWeaterLive.Com (https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/reports/solar-activity-report.html) is reporting:

18:03 UTC - Radio Blackout
Minor R1 radio blackout in progress (≥M1 - current: M1.09)

Sure enough, I can hardly hear a thing on 40m, 30m, or 20m.

#hamradio #radioblackout

kb6nu, to random
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

Making some GA QSO Party contacts on 40 m CW.

N4JAW, to amateurradio
@N4JAW@mastodon.radio avatar

A break in the storms gave me a little time for a 1/2 hour #ragchew #QSO with a fellow @skccgroup member on 40 meters with the #ft891 and #bencher #straightkey #amateurradio #hamradio #morsecode

kb6nu,
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

@N4JAW @qrper Someone suggested to me yesterday that somehow ragchewing be incorporated into #POTA.

grammargirl, to random
@grammargirl@zirk.us avatar

I'm in a pickle! I am writing what is supposed to be a short segment for the podcast this week to round out a longer-than-usual segment, but my "short" piece is now 1,000 words, and it's not even finished.

I guess I now have next week's meaty segment. 😜

Time to switch and try to come up with something I can keep short (which is hard for me because I always find so many interesting things to share)!

kb6nu,
@kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

@grammargirl Have you ever discussed why amateur radio is sometimes called “ham radio?” See the sidebar (actually at the bottom) of my blog post at https://www.kb6nu.com/no-nonsense-guide-to-amateur-radio-do-they-still-do-that/.

arnie_dxer, to shortwave Polish
@arnie_dxer@mastodon.radio avatar

deleted_by_author

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    kb6nu,
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    @VE3RWJ @HopelessDemigod @arnie_dxer Wikipedia says that Glenn Hauser is only 79. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Hauser

    RickiTarr, to random
    @RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

    Family: Are you going to church on insert religious holiday?

    Me: Not if the church doesn't believe everyone deserves equal rights.

    Family: Why are you being difficult?

    Me: My values are important to me.

    kb6nu,
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    @RickiTarr My aunt was a nun, and was always ticked off that she couldn't be a priest. After a few glasses of wine one time, she called Pope John Paul II an "old Pol**."

    kb6nu, to hamradio
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    Will be submitting a proposal for a talk on to the @hopeconf later today. "Ham Radio for Hackers" and "Ham Radio: Yes, We Still Do That!" are my two working titles. What should I make sure to talk about to this group of hackers?

    stfn, to random
    @stfn@fosstodon.org avatar

    I recently bought a water bottle made from pure copper. It makes the water taste better (I drink tap water), and should last a very, very long time. Much better than plastic.

    kb6nu,
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    @stfn Is it insulated?

    kb6nu, to hamradio
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    Not much happening in my little corner of 40m right now. #hamradio

    kb6nu, to hamradio
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    Hamfests are as much about meeting people as they are about selling stuff
    https://www.kb6nu.com/hamfests-are-as-much-about-meeting-people-as-they-are-about-selling-stuff/
    #hamradio

    stfn, to random
    @stfn@fosstodon.org avatar

    I feel like I should have a Python hobby project to do in my time off, but lately I cannot come up with anything that would be interesting for me to write. Instead I've been going more into the hardware side, I prefer soldering from coding in my free time. And exploring ham radio stuff.

    kb6nu,
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    @stfn @deshipu I'm doing MicroPython code for the RPi Pico-based electronic keyer hardware described in the May 2023 QST. https://www.midnightdesignsolutions.com/pmk/

    kb6nu, to hamradio
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    Just turned the radio on. See two pileups on 30m CW. Look them up on dxsummit.fi. See that CB0ZA (Juan Fernandez Island), off the coast of Chile (see below) is calling CQ on 10115 kHz. I listen for a bit to see who he's calling, set my transmit frequency, and work them on the first call! That's my kind of DX. :)

    kb6nu,
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    @ai6yr The cool part is that the 8R station had a much bigger pileup, and I already worked 8R!

    kb6nu, to hamradio
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    I've started working on a #hamradio software project that I'd be happy to let others use and modify. As a result, I have some dumb questions:

    1. How should I make it available (when it's ready, of course). GitHub? Codeberg?
    2. Do GitHub and Codeberg do basically the same things?
    3. Are there other platforms I should consider?
    kb6nu, to hamradio
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    D4X, Cape Verde, on 10109.25 kHz, listening up. S5 signal here in MI.

    kb6nu,
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    @darrell73 30m is a great band for DX, if you operate CW or digital modes.

    kb6nu, to hamradio
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    I need to get a chart showing the waterfall patterns of all the digital modes. I can see lots of signals on 30m in the waterfall, but I'm not sure what they are. They could be calling CQ, too, for all I know.

    NO5IG, to random
    @NO5IG@mastodon.radio avatar

    I can’t shake the feeling that trying to prove / demonstrate ham radio’s relevance is counterproductive re: bringing people in. It feels fake/contrived/desperate.

    This feeling became especially strong after hearing a question after a talk by someone talking about how their local emergency services weren’t interested in collaborating with hams.

    Radio can be fun in so many ways, and I think there’s a stronger narrative there, perhaps more relevant to folks.

    kb6nu,
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    @smitty @NO5IG Part 97.1 refers to 5 purposes for #hamradio. It's not just about emcomm. I'll paraphrase:

    (a) Emergency and public service communication.
    (b) Contributing to the advancement of the radio art.
    (c) Personal improvement in both the communication and technical phases of the art.
    (d) Expanding the number of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.
    And my favorite:
    (e) Enhancing international goodwill.

    stfn, to random
    @stfn@fosstodon.org avatar

    My year 2023 in podcasts. #AntennaPodEcho

    Not surprising at all :D

    kb6nu,
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    @stfn Having a listen to Late Night Linux right now.

    kb6nu, to hamradio
    @kb6nu@mastodon.radio avatar

    Any #hamradio folk in the Detroit area going to the L'Anse Creuse Swap on Sunday? I'll be there! https://www.qsl.net/n8lc/swap_flyer_2023.pdf

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