Show Notes #115

Episode #115 Audio (Listen now!):

Topics
  • News is short this episode due to Pete forgetting papers at work.
  • SteamOS: The Linux for games update
    • partnership with NVIDIA
More Topics
Announcements
  • Social Media Roundup
    • No social media updates due to interview
  • Subscribers and Donations
    • Adrian L. has been successfully subscribed to lhspodcast
    • Harrison renewed (yearly membership)
Feedback
Outro
  • Thank you to our monthly and yearly subscribers and Thank you to all of our listeners, live and quasi-live.
  • Please check out our website:  http://lhspodcast.info  – where you can also subscribe to our mailing list.
  • If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail us at [email protected].  We will respond as quickly as possible.
  • You can leave us voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (that’s 1-909-547-7469).
  • Go to CafePress and Printfection and buy some of our show merchandise.  Each purchase helps out the show.
  • Listen live every every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central.  Our recording schedule is on the Web site.
Music
  • No music this episode.

Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

Show Notes #114

Episode #114 Audio (Listen now!):

Topics
  • Cast of LowSWR AWOL 
  • Call Me Maybe
    • Link is MIA
  • Happy Birthday FEDORA, 10 Years Old
More Topics
  • Pignology & Sierra Radio revisited
  • SteamOS: The Linux for games is coming
    • By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols for Linux and Open Source | September 23, 2013
Announcements
  • Next LHS Live will be October 8th: Interview with the cast of the LowSWR Podcast
  • Social Media Roundup
  • Facebook
    • Bob W.
    • Rob H.
    • Robert B., Tom R., and Richard Bailey like ep. 111 release
  • Subscribers and Donations
    • Michael C. – Yearly donation
Feedback

Outro

  • Thank you to our monthly and yearly subscribers and Thank you to all of our listeners, live and quasi-live.
  • Please check out our website:  http://lhspodcast.info  – where you can also subscribe to our mailing list.
  • If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail us at [email protected].  We will respond as quickly as possible.
  • You can leave us voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (that’s 1-909-547-7469).
  • Go to CafePress and Printfection and buy some of our show merchandise.  Each purchase helps out the show.
  • Listen live every every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central.  Our recording schedule is on the Web site.

Music


Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

Show Notes #113

Episode #113 Audio (Listen now!):

Topics
  • New look for the web site
More Topics
Announcements
  • Next LHS Live our special guests will be Richard & Brady from the LowSWR podcast
  • Social Media Roundup
    • Twitter
      • Steve B – @RigolHam
      • Allen G – @VA4AJG
    • Facebook
      • Daniel F.
  • Subscribers and Donations
    • Daryl O. – Yearly
    • Michael S

Feedback

Outro

  • Thank you to our monthly and yearly subscribers.
  • Thank you to all of our listeners, live and quasi-live.
  • You can reach us at [email protected].  You can leave us voice mail at 1-909-LHS-SHOW (547-7469).
  • Please subscribe to the mailing list.
  • Go to CafePress and Printfection and buy some of our show merchandise.  Each purchase helps out the show.
  • Listen live every every other Tuesday at 8:00pm Central.  Our recording schedule is on the Web site.
Music

Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

And just like that ……. pfffft !!!

It was about 35 degrees (2C) when I set out for the Jeep at lunchtime. Not as breezy as yesterday, but it still felt nippy. Though that was a lot better than the 19F (-7C) that I woke up to earlier in the morning. New Jersey is not supposed to be quite this cold around this part of November!  Anyway, once again I operated from inside the Jeep as opposed to standing outside.  I didn’t need to turn on the heater as my upholstery is black and on a sunny day like today, the car can get rather warm on the inside. Solar power at its best!

The bands may still be in good shape, but once again, activity seemed sparse. Maybe it was because I wasn’t hearing 25 kHz wide DXpedition pileups, so it just seemed more quiet. I called CQ and was awarded with a nice QSO with Terry W9UX (who’s name I remembered, BTW!) in Madison, WI.  Terry is an avid and active QRPer, so I was rewarded with a 2X QRP KX3 to KX3 QSO (THAT’S a mouthful!).  We talked for a bit, and then, just as I was mentioning how the bands seemed to have lost some of their zip lately, wouldn’t you know?  We both QSB’ed from 589 to maybe 219 (generous).  We were both at ESP levels and couldn’t hear each other for anything as the band dropped out on us like the proverbial lead balloon.

A lesson re-learned, as sometimes I can get a bit too wordy in my QSOs. When band conditions are subject to volatility, it’s best to stick to a lot of our CW abbreviation lingo and not spell too much out, word for word.  CW abbreviations – the original texting shorthand!

TNX QSO – BCNU AGN SOON,  73 ES GB

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!


Larry Makoski, W2LJ, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Jersey, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Breakfast, Bacon and Eggs, and Radio

Our monthly breakfast meeting at the First Watch Restaurant in Charleston was a pleasant gathering of kindred individuals and the spirit of radio was in our midst. I was overjoyed to see from left to right Steve (KC4URI) from Mineral Wells, and John (W8GDP), Jeff (K9ESE), Myself (N8ZYA) and Eric (AC8LJ) from Charleston.
As we talked this morning, it became quickly apparent that I’m the one with the least electronic knowledge in our Chapter. I’m OK with that status for now but I’m also inspired to learn more about the “nuts and bolts” of the hobby. I feel fortunate to have members who have not only built their radios, but also have a very good working knowledge of antennas and the ability to utilize them in nearly impossible locations. John (W8GDP) and Eric (AC8LJ) are the only members who have the space for “yard art”, as it was called today, and I quickly learned a new terminology for outside antennas. 
On our weekly CW net last night, I was hearing Jeff (K9ESE) at 599 plus 20 from his “half a watt” and using the “copper gutters” of his home for his antenna. He is also very good at using a NVIS antenna in the field. Steve (KC4URI) is also good with this technique from his home in a very steep valley from Mineral Wells.
During our breakfast gathering we talked about the things we’ve done in the past and the places we’ve either worked or visited which related to radio. I’m mesmerized to hear conversations about Latin and South America and old DC-3 planes, landing on mostly grass airstrips, to shuttle air conditioning mechanics to repair Ammonia type freezers many years ago. Ice is an invaluable commodity in places like these and without “radio”, getting into and out of these areas would be nearly impossible.
We also talked about “shipboard radio” and how important the invaluable skill of Morse code operators were to the safety of old freighters shuttling coal and bananas on the high seas. I immediately thought of Oleg (UR5FA/ MM) who is the Ukrainian communications officer on a freighter which regularly sails back and forth from there to Venezuela.
The subject of Short Wave Radio Broadcasters also surfaced while we were devouring bacon and eggs. Short Wave Radio was the inspiration for many of us in our current Ham radio hobby but sadly, most of those stations are now gone. 
It was cold this morning with the temperature just above freezing, but I still sense the Chapter will spend some time operating outdoors before the first heavy snowfall. Weather predictions are for temperatures to rise to the low sixties for the next few days.
Should we choose to do so, I’ll let everyone in the NAQCCclub know if and where we will be setting up and getting on the air. I feel very good about our Chapter and am looking forward to more bacon, eggs, and radio talk next month.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

John Smithson, Jr., N8ZYA, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from West Virginia, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

3rd Annual Worked All Twitter (#WATwitter) US Thanksgiving Weekend QSO Party

Please allow me to direct your attention to the blog site of my friend Connie, NR4CB with complete information on the 3rd Annual Worked All Twitter QSO Party.

I hope to see you on Twitter and hear you on the HF bands!

73 de KD0BIK (Jerry)


Jerry Taylor, KD0BIK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Colorado, USA. He is the host of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast. Contact him at [email protected].

QSO with Russian Research Ship at Sea

I just worked the Russian Research Vessel, Akademik Fedorov, at sea.

ship

It’s always a thrill for me to work ships at sea. This was an ordinary QSO on 12 meters… but not ordinary for me. RW1AI/MM was calling CQ. I answered and we exchanged 599s. Then I asked Mik for the name of his vessel. I looked it up on “ship track” and found its current location off Portugal with a destination of Cape Town. My guess is it will re-supply there and head to the Antarctic.

ship1

The vessel is 463 feet long and was traveling at 14 knots. I think I was traveling a lot faster than that! Even though I was sitting in my warm shack, a maritime QSO just brings adventure and the thrill of remote radio contacts to me. Thanks Mik for the nice QSO. Good sailing OM.


Jim Cluett, W1PID, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Hampshire, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

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