AMATEUR RADIO
My commentary on my hobby, Amateur (Ham) Radio.
In April, 2016, I took the test and got licensed as a General class Radio Amateur, with a call sign of KM6BYD. I decided to get licensed because of emergency communications. I participate in several public service events a year providing radio support for running or cycling events where they are in areas with uncertain cell phone coverage. In December, I took the Amateur Extra (AE) exam and am now licensed as an AE, and changed to my current "vanity" callsign, AA6BD. If you look at my trip reports in other parts of this web site, I generated maps of the trip by using APRS, an amateur radio service. I operate using 2 meters, 10 meters, and 40 meters mostly in radio nets. I can operate when we are out in our trailer and enjoyed listening to the net just after the 2017 Solar Eclipse while we were in Oregon.
I enjoy building things. I have built projects like a timer clock, weather station, APRS station, SDR, and WSPR transmitter. I have operated using Digital communications, like APRS, Winlink (email via radio), and PSK31, a digital mode of communications that sends and receives messages using a radio.
I am a member of the Sonoma County Radio Amateurs (SCRA). We support several bicycle and running races each year, and provide communications where cell phone coverage is marginal at best in some more remote parts of the county. In 2019-2020, I was the club secretary. I managed the club loaner program and conducted the Growing Radio Amateurs sessions, intended to attract makers to amateur radio, but mostly helped club members learn about electronics, Raspberry Pi and Arduino.
In 2021, we moved to Chattanooga, TN. I am still a member of SCRA and have now joined two radio clubs here, Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club (CARC) and Tri-States Amateur Radio Club (TSARC). I participate in a number of weekly nets, or on the air radio chats. I have helped at one running marathon here and plan to help with more.
In April, 2016, I took the test and got licensed as a General class Radio Amateur, with a call sign of KM6BYD. I decided to get licensed because of emergency communications. I participate in several public service events a year providing radio support for running or cycling events where they are in areas with uncertain cell phone coverage. In December, I took the Amateur Extra (AE) exam and am now licensed as an AE, and changed to my current "vanity" callsign, AA6BD. If you look at my trip reports in other parts of this web site, I generated maps of the trip by using APRS, an amateur radio service. I operate using 2 meters, 10 meters, and 40 meters mostly in radio nets. I can operate when we are out in our trailer and enjoyed listening to the net just after the 2017 Solar Eclipse while we were in Oregon.
I enjoy building things. I have built projects like a timer clock, weather station, APRS station, SDR, and WSPR transmitter. I have operated using Digital communications, like APRS, Winlink (email via radio), and PSK31, a digital mode of communications that sends and receives messages using a radio.
I am a member of the Sonoma County Radio Amateurs (SCRA). We support several bicycle and running races each year, and provide communications where cell phone coverage is marginal at best in some more remote parts of the county. In 2019-2020, I was the club secretary. I managed the club loaner program and conducted the Growing Radio Amateurs sessions, intended to attract makers to amateur radio, but mostly helped club members learn about electronics, Raspberry Pi and Arduino.
In 2021, we moved to Chattanooga, TN. I am still a member of SCRA and have now joined two radio clubs here, Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club (CARC) and Tri-States Amateur Radio Club (TSARC). I participate in a number of weekly nets, or on the air radio chats. I have helped at one running marathon here and plan to help with more.
AND MORE
While I spend a lot of time with Amateur (Ham) Radio, I also like other things, especially playing around with electronics, particularly Raspberry Pi. As noted above, a lot of this has to do with amateur radio, but other fun things happen.