A Sandy Necessity – After the Prayers & Action, a Call to Prepare 30 - October - 2012
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Recommends.Tags: K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, Preparedness
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The storm hasn’t finished, with large winds, snows, rains and storms still causing damage and taking lives over a wide part of the country.
Millions without power and mobility. Some without heat.
After the prayers we all have had for those affected, and the immediate action of aid that can be rendered, a person’s thoughts run to “what if it was here – what it is was us?”
These are the natural questions that lead to preparedness efforts.
Over the weekend I spoke with my eldest son Tom KC9JGD about what would he do if his University was hard hit? Does he have a 72-hour pack? Where would he go?
Not done with the intention of scaring the young man, but rather asking him “what is your Plan-B if your housing & dining were unavailable?” Simple common sense questions.
Was rather pleased he had some ideas and plans, and most importantly saw the immediate challenge of putting together what items and plans he doesn’t yet have.
Today my office was abuzz with questions like “do you have a generator at your house?” and “do you keep some spare water & storage food at home?” Great questions and one every head of household should have asked themselves and responded to!
What have you done to be ready for the unexpected?
If there is interest I will post links to some the resources I have found useful when I have looked into this question.
73
Steve
K9ZW
Be a ham radio operator – the Courage Center Handiham System for Blind & Disabled 26 - December - 2011
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Recommends.Tags: Courage Center, Handiham, K9ZW, WA0TDA
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Included in my personal 2011 end of year giving - -
- – (you ARE putting “something back” in someway – whether Time, Talent or Treasure (money) for 2011??!! whew! Glad to hear you are!! ) – -
- - is the excellent Amateur Radio charity & teaching/support machine “Handiham“:
Be a Ham Radio Operator!
Be part of an activity that includes astronauts, teachers, kings, actors, police officers, pilots, and people just like you! Call Courage Center’s Handiham System and learn ham radio operation today. It’s easier than you think! Morse code is not required for any level of ham radio license. Courage Center’s Handiham System will get you started with your ham radio studies, and you’ll be on the air before you know it. Having fun with electronics, talking to your friends on the radio, and helping your community with emergency communications are some of the new experiences you can look forward to with a ham radio license.
Cost: $10 annual membership
Golden Valley Contact: Nancy Meydell, 763.520.0512
(Outstate, toll-free, 1.866.426.3442)
Or email: hamradio@couragecenter.org
Office appointments are available Monday through Friday, 9 am-1:30 pm at Courage Center Golden Valley or by arrangement at Courage Center St. Croix in Stillwater.
Classes also are available at various locations. Week-long Radio Camp sessions each year are available at Courage North, in northern Minnesota’s beautiful lake country, if you want to study in a residential camp setting. The cost of camp is based on ability to pay. Self-study is possible anytime and anywhere with audio or print materials, or on handiham.org with your computer.
Online courses are a self-paced member service, and are delivered as audio lectures each week:
Beginner course (Technician Class License) Intermediate course (General Class License) Highest level course (Extra Class License) Operating Skills course (For those with any level of license who want to learn to operate better.)
There is also a Handiham World newsletter. Find it online, delivered weekly in both text and audio, or as an audio podcast at handiham.org, or call toll-free, 1.866.426.3442.
via Be a ham radio operator! | Courage Center Handiham System.
Their blog: http://handiham.blogspot.com/
and main webpage: http://www.handiham.org/
I’m seldom in the position to do as much as I would like for them, though I do find a way to slide a hundred to them now & then, as Patrick Tice WA0TDA told me at Dayton that every little bit helps!
As you finish up your year, perhaps you can your join me in finding a few dollars to send their way?
THANK YOU in advance!
73
Steve
K9ZW
If you would be so kind as to let me know either in comment or by email (I am good at QRZ.com) I would appreciate it!
REPOST: Well Balanced Machinery – How some Machines just Work and Feel ‘Right’! 12 - March - 2011
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Recommends.add a comment
Back in 2007 when this Blog was rather new, I had posted:
Man designs and makes so many machines to be either the most extreme on some measure or another – the fastest, the biggest, the sleekest, the most luxury, the most horsepower, or some other extreme.
And then man occasionally designs and builds tools, cars or equipment that has something special – a balance that appeals.
In shooting I have found this to be the case in the Jeff Cooper Steyr Scout.
Shotgunning, for me it is the Benelli Montefeltro.
For handguns I have found the Steyr GB 9mm to have the elusive balance sought.
Of the planes I’ve flown and owned one stands out as balanced exceptionally well, the uncommon Twin-Navion.
In motoring I’ve found that my vintage Panhard PL-17 Sedan, the Citroen CX2400 Pallas C-matic Sedan and the Benelli 900 Sei motorcycle have that special “something.”
Later this week I will outline what Amateur Radio gear I’ve found has that special balance – and I would love to hear what you have found has that balance for you!
73
Steve
K9ZW
I’ve still been thinking about how certain designs just “have it” – some special quality that becomes something noticeably greater than the mere sum of its features would suggest.
The Flex-5000A SDR Radio seems to fall in this class.
As does a SML Baritone Saxophone I had rebuilt by Sarge at Worldwide Sax with his special updating for my personal use.
Or how about that Forester Coaxial Reloading Press that makes it seem so easy, by actually making it easy?
What great designs that have that special synergy have you found?
73
Steve
K9ZW
G0KYA’s Amateur Radio Blog: Stealth Antennas – now available in USA 21 - February - 2011
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Recommends.Tags: G0KYA, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Recommends
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From Steve G0KYA’s Blog:
LINK URL G0KYA’s Amateur Radio Blog: Stealth Antennas – now available in USA.
My copy of his book arrived while I am traveling and I’ve found it a great read, having already run through about half of the book in short order.
I bought mine through the ARRL.
Looks excellent – recommended!
73
Steve
K9ZW
K1TTT Super-Station eBook, Gratis Courtesy of K1TTT 24 - December - 2010
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Recommends.Tags: K1TTT, K9ZW
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I have found several of the hints worth the paid-for cost I paid, on a gratis basis this is a must-do.
73
Steve
K9ZW
Begin forwarded message:
After Christmas discount a bit early!
I have just cut the prices on my 25th Anniversary edition of “Building a
Super Station”. The e-book download is now free, and the DVD and paper
copies are $5 cheaper than before… Hopefully none of the reflectors object
to this announcement since this removes any income I was getting from them,
just one less form to file with income taxes after this year.Get them at:
http://stores.lulu.com/k1tttUpdated Link http://wiki.k1ttt.net/ also http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/k1ttt (Updated July 22nd, 2012)
TWIAR & TWIARi’s back online, new website look 11 - October - 2010
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Recommends.Tags: K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, This Week in Amateur Radio, TWIAR, TWIARi
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Received the following information from TWIARi, which has long been a favorite Podcast for me.
Glad to see them back
73
Steve
K9ZW
- – - – - -
After an off-an-on summer, This Week in Amateur Radio is coming back!
We have a new design you can view at http://www.twiar.org
TWIAR International #297 is available for download. The Repeater version (Ham Service) I’m expecting to be uploaded soon. I was last told it would be Sunday but it’s still not up there. And thus…we wait!!!
The below message was posted to the site from Executive Producer George Bowen, W2XBS, last Saturday when the site went live with the new layout.
Please email any bug reports or suggestion to me at k4hsm.
Also, visit our Twitter and Facebook pages. The links are on the top right of the site.
73
Greg K4HSM
- – - – - -
An open letter to TWIAR listeners from W2XBS
Welcome to This Week in Amateur Radio’s official re-launch.
After a long summer hiatus, the team here at This Week in Amateur Radio has pulled everything back together to re-launch our audio services for the world-wide amateur radio community.
During the Spring of this past year, the release schedule for TWIAR became erratic at best. This was primarily caused by my dynamic work schedule which changes week to week, and by my firm commitment to a healthy lifestyle. During the summer of 2010, I travelled to Tenneesee and finally met with our webmaster, Greg Williams, K4HSM. Greg has been our webmaster for a really long time, and neither of us have met personally.
Over the past few months, Greg has totally redesigned our web site. While it was my job to figure out a scheduling system that will work to get our programs out on a regular basis. After discussions with our News Anchors and Segment Producers, a new script release and recording system was worked out. In the weeks to come, we will be releasing programs weekly for the ham service (and podcast) as well as our International program for WBCQ Radio (podcast as well).
However, a few changes will be taking place.
First, This Week in Amateur Radio International will be released as a single broadcast quality mp3 each week.
Second, our over the air ham service, This Week in Amateur Radio will be released as a single high quality mp3. This Week in Amateur Radio Headline News will no longer be produced. The running time of the ham service will be reflective of the news happening in each week, and the length of our weekly special features. For those that may still need a shorter version of the program, please download an audio editor (such as Audacity, which is free) import the mp3 into the editor and cut the program to your needs.
For those that were using the static file version for your repeater sites, we will still support that need, however the available file will be the full length ham version.
Also, almost all of our staff is available on Facebook, Twitter, and on personal blogs. TWIAR itself also has a Facebook page, and it is there that I will be posting most TWIAR release updates. The links are at the top of the page.
Well that’s it. We’re back. Please feel free to report any bugs or broken links to Greg as we work through the new web site.As before, I am ALWAYS on the search for new news anchor talent, or segment producers, so if that tickles your fancy and you have time to contribute, please contact me for more details.
George – W2XBS
