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Exploring alternative communication methods including data that is both long distance and robust for uses in emergencies, privacy, and for preppers. Here are the links to things I discussed in the live stream. Baofeng UV5R Portal UHF/VHF Ham Radio https://amzn.to/2POpmAD​ RTL-SDR - Software Defined Radio - listen to Ham Radio, Air Traffic Control, Marine Radio and more with this cheap USB device for your computer - Fun hobby! https://amzn.to/2Ln0lxG​ HamNet Mesh - AREDN - Introduction https://arednmesh.readthedocs.io/en/l...​ ARRL HAM Radio License Manual https://amzn.to/2LsjiPu​ I'm the Internet Privacy Guy. I'm here to educate. You are losing your Internet privacy and Internet security...

Care and feeding of yagis by WA5VJB

On this super informative episode of Sound 101, Andrew talks us through 5 tips for better wireless audio. These are things EVERYONE can do to improve range and quality of your wireless system, whether you are using the Deity Connect or something else. We cover a variety of options that should solve any problems you're having with your wireless audio. Many people overthink how to get better wireless range but a lot of these tips are very simple. Transmitting audio at long range can be accomplished by using these tricks. We cover wireless antennas, range, distance from receiver, directional antennas,...

Over the weekend amateur radio tinkerers in Europe managed to decode some portions of the telemetry data broadcast by the second stage of the Falcon 9 when it's in orbit. This data was in a somewhat standard format, but decoding still required some custom tools to extract the bitstream from the signal and then some guesswork to figure out the exact format. There's still lots of unknown data, but most interestingly this gave access to the engineering cameras including one showing the interior of the liquid oxygen tank.

Build a dual-band low-noise amplifier for 2 meters and 70 centimeters" by kim kocsis WA9PYH is on page 48 https://amatortelsiz.com.tr/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/CQFeb2021Fiby2C5.pdf

I wanted a bit more “oomph” from my 1W 1.2 GHz HT, so I purchased a PC board Yagi to get another 6 dB. I have a Yaesu FT-911 1.2 GHz HT. It is a 1990’s rig gifted me by the wife of a Silent Key at my work. It is a sweet handheld, but with limited power.

Two Meter Ham Radio Keyboard to Keyboard with mail box capability. Here is Central California we have a 2 meter packet radio network on 145.050 MHz. There are 10+ separate nodes that can communicate with each other. Any Ham Radio station running packet that can hear and transmit to at least one of the nodes in the network and access all the nodes and any other station that can also hear at least one of the nodes.

UK Microwave Group (UKuG) member Kent Britain WA5VJB talks about 'Care and Feeding of Yagi’ Antennas' - including some interesting ways to doing Yagi’s and myths of Yagi Stacking. - Recorded from the online UKuG talk on Wednesday 10 February 2021

Those of us who are either in-house or independent EMC consultants can benefit greatly by assembling our own EMI troubleshooting kit. I’ve depended on my own kit for several years and it has proven not only valuable, but depicts a sense of professionalism in dealing with your own product development engineers, their managers, or your clients, as the case may be. Mine is designed around a Pelican 1514 roller case (http://www.pelican.com) that includes a padded divider, so it is easy to transport to the area needed. You’ll also want to order the optional lid organizer, model 1519, for carrying extra...

Fear or "armed protest" at state capitols across the country did not materialize in any significant numbers... "Be wise as serpent and innocent as a dove...Sorry FBI we're not going to be your crisis actors today" That message sent out by People's Rights Washington early this morning via Telegram with the belief that the FBI was ultimately behind today's call for "armed protests"... "Far-right extremists" said to be upset with President Trump over his calls for peace following the January 6th incident at the US Capitol... The Federal Communications Commission out today with an "enforcement advisory" about the use of...

WARNING: AMATEUR AND PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES LICENSEES AND OPERATORS MAY NOT USE RADIO EQUIPMENT TO COMMIT OR FACILITATE CRIMINAL ACTS The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission issues this Enforcement Advisory to remind licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as licensees and operators in the Personal Radio Services, that the Commission prohibits the use of radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts. The Bureau has become aware of discussions on social media platforms suggesting that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms for groups to...

So many satellites are moving and sitting over our heads, and the numbers are ever increasing. Using low cost software defined radio (SDR) and low cost DIY antennas you can make from materials at your local hardware store or garage, a world of fun can be explored. This is a beginners guide on how to get up and running. Exploring which projects to tackle first, from weather satellites, data over Inmarsat and Iridium, to listening to amateur radio and cube satellites. Learn about some hardware you can make or scout for online and use at home. A quick tour of...

What’s the point of bothering, and spending all that money, if everything goes to hell in a handbasket? Well, for one thing, we’re not in the handbasket yet. And becoming a part of the local amateur community is a good thing – you’ll create friendships and alliances, learn more about the hobby from those who have been there and done that, and even be able to assist your community if the shit really hits the fan in a non-political sense.

Looking for recommendations for means to listen to HAM radio. Just like on FR I just want to lurk. Also thought it may not be a bad idea to have small receiver setup as most internet com s will be comprised soon.

This topic has come up at least a couple of times in the last few weeks; I'd like to bring it up once more for one's own selfish needs. One is interested in a starter Ham radio kit that for now will be used as a receiver only at home. Later, one might wish to get the FCC license and acquire the means to transmit also but for now the interest is in a receiver with the following specs: Reasonably portable, battery power capability would be nice. Scans available radio bands for traffic if possible. Made by a reputable manufacturer...

Q about ham radio

Need to find some amateur radio experts for FReeper, Magnum44. We used to have a Ham Radio Ping List run bet Denver DitDat, but he hasn't been on since 2006...................

A while back we heard a suggestion that it may be possible to use the 5th harmonic on R820T2 RTL-SDRs to receive frequencies much higher than the normal 1.766 GHz limit. After mentioning this to to Hayati Augen he has recently managed to implement this driver hack, and now R820T2 based RTL-SDRs can tune all the way up to 6 GHz if Hayati's experimental driver branch is used. Before everyone gets too excited, we need to temper expectations as sensitivity reduces the higher the frequency so an LNA may be required, imaging/aliasing is a major problem, and you will absolutely...

I assume many are going to DC rally on January 6. Even with no funny business cell phone service will be difficult if not impossible. Any ham radio operators going? Suggestions for frequencies, etc?

I received a log periodic antenna designed by ham radio operator WA5VJB from Kent Electronics. They are rated from 2 to 11 GHz, so this model will cover several of the ham bands. These antennas are made on PCB's and are ideal for use in the amateur microwave bands as compromise dish feeds. In this video I do a test of such a feed versus my patch antenna on the 3.4 GHz band. https://www.wa5vjb.com/products1.html I mounted one in place of the original dipole feed on a 2.4 GHz (13cm) gridpack at the same focal point. Whilst gain will be down...