Going QRT

My sister sent me an interesting link earlier today to a community blog called MetaFilter. Contributors aim to post articles under the general heading “the best of the web”; and she spotted a post about ham radio today:

One might think that in today’s world of cell phones, text messaging and the Internet, you shouldn’t write off ham radio just yet. Not only can Morse code be faster than text messaging, but when you need it most, you can still communicate with the world [PDF]. If you’re lucky, and the conditions are right, you might be able to chat with operators hundred of miles away thanks to tropospheric ducting. There’s more to ham radio than just the old chatter, though: you can use the ham radio bands to operate radio-controlled planes, send and receive TV [PDF] (sort of), wirelessly connect to networks, or talk with astronauts.

RSS feeds are available to track when posts come up, for example here’s the one for hamradio and here’s the one for ham but there’s already some interesting material there that I’ll be reading for a while.

As planned, I went to the Martin Lynch Open Day and had a great day. I got there at about 10 a.m. to find it already crowded but it was easy to find everything. I got chatting to a fellow radio ham from Reading before taking a break for the much appreciated turkey roll and coffee provided by the store.

There was lot of new kit on show such as the Yaesu FT-DX9000D. I feel that it takes ham radio equipment to a whole new level.

I got myself a new Icom IC-E7 Dual Band FM Transceiver and will definitely make plans to go again next year.

I travelled up from Wales last night to spend the weekend with my sister and her partner because happily they live a few miles away from Martin Lynch & Sons who are holding their Open tomorrow (from 09:00 to 16:00).

I’ve only been to the store once before but was very impressed with the excellent range of equipment on display, surpassed only by the helpful and extremely knowledgeable staff. It’s like coming home to the mothership!

I’ve got my eye on an HF mobile radio which I hope to use when out and about, especially on holiday.

Anyone else going?

I would like to tell you all about my first mouth on EchoLink. I have had some very interesting QSO’s. I was very surprised to discover how many radio hams use EchoLink.

My first contact was with G1HIP Keith who lives in the North West of England and we had a good QSO. I told him about my equipment and he asked me where my QTH was.

I then talked to WC3A Dave in Bloomsburg, Pennsyvania, USA. He asked me about the weather in Wales. Last Sunday I was in contact with M1BVQ Ken who lives in Withernsea, Humberside.

We talked about Wales. Ken was saying that he had been in Wales with his dogs to show them in Builth Wells, Powys.

I also talked to N8RT Robert who lives in Vero Beach, Florida. We talked about my visit to Florida and then we talked about Robert’s interest in model aircraft.

Maybe we will meet on EchLink one day!

Comment from the archives:
Roy Said: on December 29, 2006 at 1:57 am
Hey, can you use a telephone to access EchoLink?The VOIP called SKYPE,usees a Phone,made for that program.Couldn”t one be made for EchoLink?The SKYPE phone connects to the USB.But It seems like to use one for EchoLink,it would have to also connect to Mike and Speaker outlets.Was just wondering ,as I seem to be more comfortabe with a Phone in my Hand…Thanks Roy…roy-wd5etu@netscape.com

I recently signed up with EchoLink:

EchoLink® software allows licensed Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet, using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology. The program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations, or from computer to station, greatly enhancing Amateur Radio’s communications capabilities. There are more than 200,000 validated users worldwide — in 162 of the world’s 193 nations — with about 4,000 online at any given time.

More later.