An introduction to socialhams, a ham radio social network

socialhams

Because my dad has been an amateur radio operator for decades, my interest in ham radio is as old as I am. I had always wanted to get my license. Some time passed by and my interests changed in puberty. There were so many other interesting things like girls, music festivals, journeys all over the world for my job as industrial automation programmer. But my interest in amateur radio never left me and so I decided to get my license in 2012.

After getting my license, I built socialhams. It was hard work but I have really had a lot of fun. I am trying to spread the word about my project.

Socialhams is a community for ham radio operators. It combines features from typical social networks with ham radio related ones. To join socialhams all you need is a valid email address and, obviously, a ham radio callsign. It’s as simple as that!

As a registered member of socialhams you can freely meet like-minded people as well as join the Chat, write Blog and Forum posts, start Polls, create Groups and Events. Photos, Videos and Files can be embedded or uploaded to your profile and many other sections, too.

The iPhone App, allows you to browse profiles, watch photos and videos, upload photos, send mail, and lots more. All from your iPhone! And if you have an Android-powered device, our Android App lets you use socialhams while on the go, right from your own handset.

You can meet people; chat online; check our top rated, featured items; read about popular topics; wish someone a special greeting on his/her birthday; match your interests; and even take advantage of our elaborate people search option.

You will also find unique ham radio related modules:

DX Cluster
Use the DX Cluster feature to make that contact or Spot one for the rest of the community! The DXCluster tool allows users to locate and spot other Amateur Radio operators transmitting on specific frequencies to make those rare contacts or find that missing location you’ve been searching for. This is the world first HTML5 web socket based DXCluster client.

Logbook
The socialhams logbook allows you to record those important Amateur Radio contacts. This tool gives members the ability to add, edit, organize and sort their contacts all in one convenient location.

APRS Map
The APRS feature will display the location of any APRS station in the viewable area. This feature also provides each member with the ability to send a message from socialhams to any APRS device with messaging capability.

NCDXF Beacon
The Beacon Map displays the location, status and the current or future action of each NCDXF beacon in the network. By listening for each beacon on each band you can determine which bands are open and to what part of the world.

World clock
The World Clock allows each user to stay up to date with the time on any part of the globe. Users can also keep track of the Grey line as it moves to make use of this unique propagation condition.

Library
Collection of various documents like manuals, schematics, spreadsheets, etc

Elmer’s corner
The Elmer corner allows any socialhams member to create and publish a tutorial or guide for the entire community to use. Become an Elmer today!!

In our Feedback section, you can post your questions, comments, regards, etc. without any restrictions (of course, you must strictly avoid obscenity, rude language, and abide by the terms of socialhams). To cater to a wider ham radio community, all our features are offered in both English as well as German. Additional languages are in preparation.

We will steadily improve existing functions as well as develop new, interesting ham radio related modules. At the moment we are working on a Geophysics and SOTA module. All our work in process can be previewed on our development site http://dev.socialhams.net, and additionally all our developments are available as Git repository on http://gitlab.paan-systems.com. We would be happy to find developers that are interested in joining the project.

To enjoy the unique socialhams experience, all you need to do is sign up http://socialhams.net!

Andreas Pachler, OE8APR, is a special contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Carinthia, Austria. He is the creator of socialhams, a social network for ham radio operators. Contact him at [email protected].

6 Responses to “An introduction to socialhams, a ham radio social network”

  • Joe KB3PHL:

    The hobby of Ham Radio is by it’s very nature already a social network. You get on the air, call out CQ & your callsign & wait for someone to contact you & have a conversation or talk to someone who’s already on the frequency. It seems to me that having a website to do the same thing is rather pointless & redundant at least as far as it concerns Ham Radio.

  • Matt W1MST:

    Hi Joe,

    I get your point. But I think Andreas is offering more than just socializing on socialhams.

    Matt

  • Andreas OE8APR:

    Hello Joe,

    yes, i know that amateur radio is already a social network. But i think the internet is a good place to make young people attentive at our hobby. As Matt already mentioned socialhams is more then just a social network for ham radio operators.

    I also know that many hams react allergic on the term social network 😉

    Anyway, there are some hams that like the idea behind socialhams and everyone can decide on its own if he wants to use it or not.

    Wish you all the best!

    vy 73 de Andreas
    OE8APR

  • Joe KG7DTF:

    Andreas,
    I want to thank you for sharing this. I joined as soon as I read up on it. I’m a brand new ham at the ripe age of 66 and looking for others to learn from. What better way than this kind of forum.
    73 Joe
    KG7DTF

  • Andreas OE8APR:

    Joe,
    thanks for your kind words and your join on socialhams!
    Hope you like the stay and you can find some helping hands …

    vy 73 de Andreas
    OE8APR

  • Joe KB3PHL:

    Not to come across as some kind of a curmudgeonly old fart, I will check out the Socialhams website & see if I like it.

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