Remembering the amateur radio
account by Gerry Martin W7WFP

On Sunday, March 27, 1980, a series of volcanic explosions and pyroclastic flows began at Mount St. Helens in Skamania County, Washington, United States. A series of phreatic blasts occurred from the summit and escalated until a major explosive eruption took place 44 years ago today, on Sunday, May 18, 1980, at 8:32 am. The eruption, which had a volcanic explosivity index of 5, was the first to occur in the contiguous United States since the much smaller 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak in California. It has often been declared the most disastrous volcanic eruption in U.S. history.

The Role of Amateur Radio - Gerry Martin W7WFP

Gerry, 64, was a volunteer ham radio operator who was monitoring the mountain for the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. The day before the eruption, he drove his motor home onto a ridge a couple miles north and slightly higher than the geologists’ observation post. When the mountain erupted, he reported to the other ham operators monitoring the volcano, “Gentlemen, the camper and car that’s sitting over to the south of me is covered. It’s going to hit me, too.” As with Dave Johnston, no trace of Martin or his motor home was ever found. The audio account of his observations as the mountain erupted is in an Oregon Public Broadcasting article. The article also has a link to a video of the event.

The eruption claimed the lives of 57 people, mostly through the effects of ash asphyxiation.

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Hello and welcome to the 543rd episode of Linux in the Ham Shack. In this episode, the hosts discuss open-source retro gaming. Topics include operating systems for retro games, emulators, hardware options, building game cabinets, retro game hardware, handheld retro game consoles and much more. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

73 de The LHS Crew

Unfortunately, a few days after Carl W3HC (ex-W3HCW) celebrated his 100th birthday, he fell ill, declined rapidly, and passed away. We can’t complain as he lived a full life and got to enjoy a beer at his birthday party.

Photo credit: Karen Vibert-Kennedy, Williamsport Sun Gazette

Carl was an avid photographer all his life. The Williamsport Sun Gazette featured an article and video on his time in Berlin during World War II, taking photographs. While in a bombed out home, he found a roll of film which he took home and later developed. He was shocked to discover the photos were taken by a German photographer and even included pictures of Himler, who was the #2 in Germany at the time. Many of his photos are featured on his Flickr site.

I owe my grandfather a lot of gratitude as he’s the one who got me into amateur radio which led to me getting my first two jobs in wireless and communications, and laid the foundation for a rather successful career. I continue to be active in amateur radio, with QRP, field operation, circuit design, open source software development, and homebrewing equipment being my favorite activities.

Carl was first licensed in 1956 as WN3HCW, back when Novice calls had the WN prefix. After upgrading to Technician, the FCC dropped the N and he became W3HCW. Later in the 90s when he upgraded to Extra he shortened his call to W3HC. During my time with him as a youngster and teenager, he operated nearly all HF phone and enjoyed DXing, but he also did a lot of 6 meter AM work in the 60s. He operated theW3HCW QSL Fund which funded QSL cards for DX stations, and he was a QSL manager for about 130 stations over the years.

Carl McDaniel, W3HC, SK at 100 years and 6 days. dit dit

This article was originally published on Radio Artisan.

In this episode, we join Martin Butler M1MRB, Chris Howard (M0TCH), Martin Rothwell (M0SGL), Frank Howell (K4FMH), Bill Barnes (WC3B) and Leslie Butterfields (G0CIB) to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin Butler (M6BOY) rounds up the news in brief and the episode's feature is Marconi Day Fun.

We would like to thank our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

• MFJ Ceasing On-Site Production
• California Radio Club Faces Homelessness
• Debate Reopens Over AM Radio's Future In Cars
• Hams Prepare for SOS Radio Week
• Updated Spectrum Analyser Software for SDRplay RSPs
• UK Radio Syllabus v1.6 Published

Spin the Random Topic Wheel (Segment 1)

• Practical Antennas for Top Band Operation

This Weekend in Hedonism (Segment 2)

• Cheryl’s Recipe Corner!

• Skillet Chicken Bulgogi

• Description

• This bulgogi chicken is a quick-and-easy, but very tasty, meal. You can substitute the chicken with beef or pork for variety. It only takes 30 minutes with very few dirty dishes! Serve over rice.

• Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chopped onion

• 5 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 ½ tablespoons brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons minced garlic

• 2 tablespoons sesame oil

• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips

• Directions

• Whisk onion, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, sesame seeds, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until marinade is smooth. Cook and stir chicken and marinade together in a large skillet over medium-high heat until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Notes: You can substitute peanut oil for the sesame oil if desired. Add vegetables if you wish; carrot straws and sliced mushrooms are delicious add-ins. For a little more bite, use a peppercorn medley grinder instead of black pepper.

• Cheryl’s Mixed Drink Corner

• Key Lime Mojitos

• Description

• If you have an abundance of Key limes after making a classic Key lime pie, use some up to make this refreshing summer cocktail. The tart juice of Key limes makes the mojito a bit sharper and more citrusy, and the cream makes it taste like a creamy slice of Key lime pie. You’ll need a simple syrup for this cocktail, which is super-easy to make if you don’t want to buy one. You can even add some mint leaves in with it to make the mint flavor stronger.

• Ingredients

• 1/4 c. crushed graham crackers

• 3 tbsp. simple syrup, plus more for glass

• 1/4 c. fresh mint leaves, plus more for serving

• 3 tbsp. fresh Key lime juice

• 4 oz. white rum

• 1 tbsp. heavy cream

• Key lime rounds, for serving

• Directions

• Place crackers on a plate. Pour simple syrup onto another plate. Dip rims of glasses into simple syrup, then into crackers.  In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint and lime juice. Fill shaker with ice and add rum, cream, and simple syrup. Vigorously shake until outside of shaker is very frosty, about 20 seconds. Fill glasses with ice and strain mojito into prepared glasses. Garnish with more mint and a Key lime round.

• Russ’s Drink Corner

• Laphroaig Cairdeas Single Malt Scotch

• Description

• Bottled at a fixed strength of 52.3%, Laphroaig® Càirdeas 2023 is aged in White Port and Madeira casks. Created exclusively for Friends of Laphroaig. Our Càirdeas expression for 2023 brings together the best of much loved Càirdeas releases over recent years. The limited-edition single malt is a combination of Madeira and White Port casks. Three quarters of the whisky is matured in second-fill Madeira casks, releasing smoky, spicy, and sweet fruit flavours. The final quarter has been finished in first-fill Port casks; the majority of these are white port, adding a hint of crisp fruit and deep woodiness to the flavour. It’s a new take on Laphroaig that plays to our strengths – welcoming friends old and new.

• Details

• Mashbill: 100% malted barley

• Region: Islay, Scotland

• Proof: 52.3% (104.6 Proof)

• Color: Soft burnished gold

• Nose: Cinnamon, freshly ground ginger, crisp green apple with notes of toasted peaches, charred orange peel, and caramelized sugar, smoky embers

• Taste: Honey sweetness paired with juicy citrus flavors, notes of hazelnut, tannic oak, dark chocolate and slightly bitter caramel with iodine-rich smoke

• Finish: Sweet and smooth with a lingering earthy peat and creosote character, slightly sea salty at the very last

• Price: $100 (750ml)

• Rating: 98

• Bill’s Whatever Corner

• Hoptimization - Brothers Craft Brewing - Harrisonburg, VA

• What’s a craft brewery to do when all the “typical” IPA hops are gone? Innovate of course, just like craft breweries always have. Hoptimization uses big, bold, bitter hops to get a clean citrusy flavor you’ll love and the bitter bite that you crave. Step away from typical and try something new.

• 7.1% ABV

• 71 IBU

Segment 3 (Announcements & Feedback)

• Mastodon message from Johan, PD1JMB

• Please don’t use AI image crap…

Segment 4 (New Subscribers, New Supporters & Live Participants)

• Facebook

• Scott Shelhart

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• Hamdy Abou al Anein

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• Andy Reinhart

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• 33 others…

• Twitter

• @Fro_of_Norfolk

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• Instagram

• dsc.carlos.silva

• Mastodon

• @Charims

• Discord

• Vortac

• Kady / Keoki / Upinsmoke

• fjord

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• Live Chat

• Dan, KB6NU

• Tony, K4XSS

• Joel, KC0YEW

• Jill, K1TTZ

• Ted, WA0EIR

• Mike, K6GTE

• Dr_Volt_Iceland