How Ham Radio Can Come in Handy Outside the Hobby

This is a personal story, but an example of how ham radio can come in handy in ways that you sometimes don't expect.

In 1962, just six months out of high school, I enlisted in the United States Army. During pre-enlistment interviews and testing at my local recruiting center, the Army decided that my stated interest in radio communications (I was an active short wave listener -SWL, but I hadn't even taken the amateur radio exam yet) would make me a candidate for the U.S. Army Security Agency. So off I went to basic training and then onto Ft. Devens in Massachusetts for further radio training.

It was while at Ft. Devens that a ham radio friend gave me the Novice test, which I passed. So, having been licensed in 1962, I guess that makes me an "old timer" as far as hams go. At Ft. Devens I learned to copy Morse code at 25 to 30 minutes using a typewriter to record. There were no personal computers back then so if you wanted to copy Morse code, you had to either write it down or type it. This then came in handy later throughout my life in my ham radio activities.

From Ft. Devens I was sent to spend the remainder of my enlistment in West Germany. Back then, Germany and the rest of the European continent had been split in half at the end of World War II. During my service I was stationed near that division which came to be known as the "Iron Curtain". That Morse code and the other radio communication training I received was put to good use for the remainder of my time in West Germany.

So, radio communications and ham radio allowed me to spend two wonderful years in a beautiful old world county, to travel around Europe in my off-time, and to even meet some of my ancestral relatives.

As a side note, my cousin Ray, also a ham, got to fly small radio controlled aircraft during his service in South Korea. Thanks ham radio, for allowing both of us to use our radio knowledge while serving out country.

'73
WA2KKG

How To Get On The Air With Amateur Radio, Part I

First let me introduce you to the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC is charged with overseeing the operation of all equipment that uses radio waves to communicate. This includes amateur radios (ham radios), AM and FM radios, televisions, cell phones, cordless phones, police and fire department radios, CB radios, radio controlled cars, boats, and planes, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. In order to operate a radio in the Amateur Radio Service you have to take and pass a test to show that you understand something about how radios work and what the rules are to operate a ham radio.

The test for the entry level license is not hard at all. Ordinary people as young as 5 years old have become licensed ham radio operators. The most popular license for beginners, as I write, is the Technician Class license, which requires only a 35 question multiple-choice written exam. It covers basic regulations, operating practices, and simple electronics theory. This exam is written with the beginner in mind. Morse code is no longer a requirement for any class of Ham Radio license. A good way to learn the material needed for the exam is to go to a series of classes held by a local ham radio club. Usually the classes are free or at a nominal cost except for the cost of a study book. Check out this list offered by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to see if there is a club in your area. Then contact the club to see when they are running the next beginners class. Ham Radio Club Search

Some people have been able to pass the test just by reading a book about ham radio, or studying a published license manual, or even going online and reading sample questions and answers. Books about ham radio and license manuals are often sold at stores like Radio Shack, and your local book store. Stop in and ask. Books are also available at the ARRL website and Amazon.com (Ham Radio Books.) Another place to get a good study book for your first license is the W5YI Group. Make sure any book you buy is the current version (not more than a year old). If you decide to take a class, sign up for that first because you will need to use the book they are using.

Last, if you know of any ham radio operators in your town, call them or find out where they live and knock on their door. Ask them if they know of any local classes coming up or if they would have the time to help you learn what you need to know to pass the test. You might be surprised...hams are usually very friendly people.

Until next time...

'73 OM
de wa2kkg k

Is Ham Radio Green?

Is our hobby of ham radio green? By 'green', of course, I mean is it friendly to the environment? Is it hindering or helping push us toward 'global warming'? Is it contributing to unwanted 'greenhouse gases' in the environment? 'Green' seems to be a hot topic these days and whether you agree with the predictions or not, it doesn't hurt to sit back and think, "should we just keep on our merry way or should we take a look at how each of our lives are affecting our environment?".

Obviously the big culprit in ham radio is electricity usage. Much of our electricity is created by burning fossil fuels, which give off gases that harm our environment. So, are we doing anything right? Yes! Amateur radio operators who are involved in planning for emergencies often have drills where they set up stations that use batteries for power. One such drill is the annual 'Field Day' exercise sponsored by the American Radio Relay League the last weekend in June. Participants receive extra credit for operating their stations during the drill without using power from the grid.

Many hams shun the big power eating amplifiers popular with some hams and operate their stations QRP. QRP simply means "I am transmitting on low power." Today, QRP operation usually assumes 5 watts or less. Hams that are into QRP operation often use battery power. Whether battery or commercial power, at 5 watts they are using a lot less power. For most QRP operators it is the thrill of the chase. They compete for certificates for "Worked all States QRP" or "DX 100 QRP", etc. They often compensate for their low power by having very efficient high gain antennas.

Other hams operate mostly or totally mobile or portable. When mobile, whether they are operating on HF or VHF they are using vehicle battery power. Much of this mobile operation is on the daily commute or on a trip somewhere. If we make the assumption that the alternator is going to charge the car battery whether they are operating or not, the additional fuel used is negligible. Likewise, portable operation using a handheld radio (an HT) also is using battery power. Instead of everyone operating at a high power to reach 50 or 100 miles or more, we have shared repeaters that allow us to use minimal power output from our HTs, such as 1 or 2 watts.

So, where do we get the electricity to recharge those batteries, you say? Many hams love to experiment with solar panels. I have seen some hams at hamfests using miniature solar panels attached to their hats to keep the batteries in their HT at full power. Others have gone the larger route and installed solar panels on the roof of their house to power their equipment or even the whole house.
Other hams do the same thing using windmills. Today they are commonly called wind turbines. At one Field Day not long ago, one of our members even experimented with a water turbine, using a nearby stream, to generate enough electric power to keep a battery charged.

If you're a ham radio operator that uses battery power, including solar, wind, or water power to keep them charged, pat yourself on the back. If you're not, here's a challenge. Find some way to 'go green' with your hobby. I encourage anyone with other examples of how ham radio can be 'greener', please leave a comment by clicking the link below.

Until next time...

'73 OM
DE WA2KKG
K

Earth Hour Party

Sorry I've been away folks. I had some family issues going on. But the good news is, I'm Back!

Are you coming to the Earth Hour party on March 28, 2009? Earth Hour is a movement to show solidarity toward reducing the carbon footprint created by the excessive use of power our modern technology requires. I encourage you to go to the website and get informed.

This means no computers, TVs, lights, etc. And it also means no ham radio, Internet surfing, myspace, twittering, blogging, eBay, facebook, etc. (unless you are using a green alternative power source).

Here's an idea! Call all your friends and have an Earth Hour party by candle light. Make sure the beer is cold before turning off the refrigerator. ;)

Ken

W.O.E.

I was rumaging through one of my old diddy bags down in the shack and came across the two items pictured here. The bag had the letters "W.O.E." on it. They might have come home from a past Field Day exercise or perhaps some long forgotten DXpedition to who knows where or maybe my last visit to Connecticut? The puzzle is...what are they? Can anybody help? Please leave a comment with the name of the item, how and where it is used (the more creative the better.) Just click 'Comments' below this post. For sake of reference I'll call the one on the left, the WH1 and the one on the right, the RS1. I'm not sure, my memory is really getting bad, but this may just be a ploy to see if anyone actually reads this blog. ;)

I promise to keep digging and if I remember the actual story behind these two items, I'll share it in a week or so. And regardless, I'll post some of the more creative comments I get. So put on those thinking caps. For those of you who have ever been away to summer camp, this is kind of like those camp fire stories we remember making up. Maybe someone will actually come up with the real answer.

What does W.O.E. stand for you say? Well, I'm not sure...it was just on the bag. By now everyone in the world knows what W.M.D. means and somehow I think they might be related in some small way.

That's all for now O.M.
73, DE WA2KKG

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