Thursday, October 18, 2007

The Radio Club of JHS 22, NYC


Tonight I had a nice chat with Joe Fairclough, WB2JKJ. Joe is the president of the Radio Club at JHS 22 in New York. We discuss the club and what they do, and also talk about how you can get involved. A great story.

This one is a little longer than usual, and worth every second.

Show notes

www.wb2jkj.org
Apple Slices Newsletter is at home.triad.rr.com/michaelbest/

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Your own podcast?

Have you ever thought about doing your own podcast about amateur radio? It's easier than you may think. I discussed this with Mark Jensen, KB2EGB, who just recently returned from a podcasting exposition. Mark gives some tips and suggestions about how you can get started making podcasts!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Digital modes: Can you do it? Yes.

I was shooting the breeze with my friend Joe, WY3T, on the telephone and the subject of PSK came up. You guys know Joe already (previous podcast)

Joe had told me about his recent foray into the digital modes. While we were talking, I asked him if I could turn on the podcast machine to record this conversation, and what you hear now is the answer. Awesome. Very fun.

Show notes:

CQ magazine
Rigblaster

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Your signal

Hi Everyone.

I'm back from my summer in China and surprisingly adjusted to the difference in time zones pretty well. My wife and my dog are getting used to my being back home in New Hampshire, and I am excited about seeing my dog again, and being able to get on the air.

I'm just playing around with you. It's wonderful to be back home, for more than a thousand reasons, not the least of which is to see my lovely N1TMZ face-to-face again. We used VoIP, POTS, email, and internet chat using Skype, 9y.com, and some others. A LOT. I missed her while I was gone.

I would like to say thanks to everyone who've emailed me, asking where the podcasts went, and 'when are they coming back?' It is gratifying to know that so many of you enjoy these podcasts. One listener told me, "I listen to you on the train every morning on the way to work." Another guy from Romania sent me email asking when the podcasts will start back up, because he has a translator who knows English, and he wants her to download the podcasts. Another ham asks "would you like to talk to one of our amateur radio experts here in Japan about 99 Hobbies?"

Those made feel pretty good, and it's why I keep doing this.

Thanks.

I will endeavor to pick up the pace and start cranking these out again. There are so many fascinating people to talk to and I can hardly wait to get going. Of the 99 Hobbies I've mentioned, I haven't yet talked about half of them!My desire was to kick things into gear by talking with someone who has a passion for ham radio, who knows what he is talking about, and about a subject that affects all of us who have an amateur radio license.

SCORE!!!!!

As you will see, I went overtime (23:30) and still had some un-answered questions!!! This was so fun.

Here we go!

Last night I had a fun conversation with Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, about his passion: propagation. Of course, Carl is well known as an expert on the subject, having regularly written for Worldradio, QST, and CQ magazines, among others. Check out the picture here of him and his wife Vicky.

Carl and I talked about how and why your signal is able to go from here to there. I think you will be able to hear his love of the hobby.

In one of his answers he uses my favorite radio phrase: "get on the air". Did you hear it?

73,
Dave

Show notes
Email to Carl with questions: [his callsign]@arrl.net
Carl's propagation website is at http://mysite.verizon.net/k9la
CQ magazine at http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/
Space Environment Center at http://sec.noaa.gov
Space Weather at http://spaceweather.com

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Net? What is a net?



Today I talked with Joe, Wy3T, about getting on the air on an HF net. There are many new HF operators out there, and you may be wondering how to contact new HF friends. Have you ever tried to do this? Check out this podcast.

Show notes

http://www.ecars7255.com

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

100 pound DXpedition to Monserrat



Today I spoke with my friend Scott Andersen, NE1RD, about some of the things that he has done in the 12 months since we talked on 99 Hobbies last year. His "100 pound DXpedition" has taken him many places, and has been a true learning experience -- not to mention a lot of fun. Join me for this one!

Show notes

http://100pounddxpedition.blogspot.com
http://dxpedition-vp2m.com/
http://www.monserrat.co.uk/

Friday, February 09, 2007

DX on the "Top Band"


Do you need to be a land baron to operate on 160 meters? Not according to Don Boudreau, W5KFX. Today we talk about some of the reasons why the Top Band can be a lot more fun than many people think, not the least of which is DXing on 160.

Show Notes

Topband? No Way!... But Never say Never, Feb 2007 QST, p.52
The Delta DX Association, www.deltadx.net