Ham Radio 360

Thank You Very Much for listening to the Ham Radio 360 Podcast. In this real quick, last episode, I take the opportunity to 'say' good-bye. I appreciate the opportunity to have served you and the Amateur Radio Community over these last few years. 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN 2-10-18 Friends, In 2011 I achieved a nearly lifelong goal; I became an Amateur Radio Operator. In 2014 I began, as a means to scratch an itch, an Amateur Radio Podcast. The podcast, then named ‘Fo Time’ was never supposed to succeed. I had no intention of releasing any more than 5 to 10 programs. Almost 4 years later, 90+ shows, and over a 3/4 million downloads, I’m still wondering how I got here. Through that time, I was a small part of promoting the Amateur Radio Hobby via the medium of podcasting. What began as an experiment soon became a platform for a New Ham Operator to learn the ropes. Along the journey I was blessed with the opportunity to connect with and learn from some of the most brilliant and entertaining people on the planet. I have been continually astounded by my listening audience and their contribution to the efforts of what became the Ham Radio 360 Podcast and brand. Not only was I afforded the opportunity to learn from the best, I was able to share in those experiences with many others as the brand’s influence grew. Additionally the platform allowed other programs to be birthed for the good of the hobby that will continue to educate and entertain the masses. However, I began to realize just how much of me it took to produce quality content and maintain the brand. In October of 2017 I took a break from my regular show production with a promise to return in 2018. I upheld that promise but soon realized that the continued pressure to perform and create was more than I was willing to maintain anymore. With that understanding I have decided to discontinue, in it’s entirety, the Ham Radio 360 Podcast. I plan to maintain the HamRadio360.com Website and Podcast Feed of past shows and content as a contribution to the Amateur Radio Hobby. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to have served you and the wonderful Amateur Radio Hobby. Gratefully yours, Cale Nelson/K4CDN 73 Y’all  

The Salmi Brothers are back (don't miss their initial interview) to teach us about their Educational Development Radio Company-Faraday RF and some of their Outer-Space Creations! In this Nuts and Volts episode we get into the minds of Brent (KB1LQD) and Bryce (KB1LQC) as they break down the ins and outs of their Ham Radio venture.  More than just building a SDR; Faraday RF looks to expand the hobby for tomorrows operators. Join us as we pull back the veil and get a glimpse of the future..."Challenging the notion of making a contact" Show Links and Mentions Faraday RF AMSAT Faraday RF Blog Posts: More Than Radio - AMSAT MPPT Faraday RF Telemetry Telemetry.FaradayRF.com Faraday goes UP! (HAB) Delayed Tolerant Networks What is MPPT?  Maximum Power Point Tracking Previous Podcast Episodes regarding AMSAT Connect with the brothers: @FaradayRF @kb1lqd @KB1LQC Faraday RF on Facebook

As you might imagine Twin Brothers Bryce and Brent have a great deal in common.  Both are Millennial Ham Radio Ops, Developers and Rocket Scientists just to name a few shared interest! The Brothers Salmi drop in for a conversation about their vision for the future of the Ham Radio hobby.  Raised as inventors and tinkerers these guys are poised to take that to an entirely different level with their educational development company, Faraday RF.  But before we get into the 'what' we get into the 'why' as we look back to a childhood filled with promise, learning and dreaming to a present full of building, making, and doing! If you're searching for proof that your beloved hobby will outlast your days-give this show a listen to be challenged and encouraged for tomorrow! Show Notes and Mentions Faraday RF- Master Plan (Start Here!) Blog Post: Millennials are Reinventing Ham Radio N0SSC - Blog Post: Millennials Are Killing Ham Radio KC5ESS.us  Resistor Value Color Codes K2GXT - RIT Radio Club SpaceX  RARA - Rochester Ham Radio Assn. Connect with the brothers: @FaradayRF @kb1lqd @KB1LQC thanks for listening, supporting and sharing the Ham Radio 360 Podcast! 73, Cale/K4CDN

Hey Y'all, Happy New Year! Once again, here we are.... I've been to the future and now I'm back behind the mic, in the shack, to bring you another episode of Ham Radio 360 Podcast.  Thanks for tuning in to my return.  The break was a great refresher and in this 'different' show I break down what I learned and where I'm going!   Show Notes and Mentions Bruce Arians Retirement Presser Ham Radio 360 Forum *Now Closed* Field Radio Podcast - GoFundMe Hamvention Help IC-7100 Portable Station from KJ6VU IC-7100 from MTC RT Systems Software *Amazing* Contact Links       **please excuse the voice-this dry winter weather has taken a toll on the VOX

Happy Thanksgiving! George, Jeremy and John pulled me up to the barn just in time to get a shopping show together for your Holiday Listening pleasure!  Actually, we'd planned this all along-knowing that so many of you enjoy the insight and conversation between friends. This is our 4th Shopping Show and it's always the highlight of our yearly podcasting adventures. While we have a load of fun doing these shows;  it's our hope we can help you make informed choices regarding big and small purchases this Christmas Shopping Season! Handi-talkies, Mobiles, Portables and Packables all get time in this episode along with some insight on budget and starter gear.  There's room for everyone, even if you're still stuffed full of turkey! So, take us along as you brave the crowds for overnight shopping!  Plug us in one ear while you're forced to sit through another lame 3-hour Commercial..I mean Thanksgiving Parade.  Share us with the in-laws, you know they love hearing about your 'weird' radio hobby!  Whatever-just don't miss out on this episode! We're all Thankful for the time you spend with us and truly hope you and your family enjoy the brightest of Seasons! 73 Y'all Cale, George, Jeremy and John   Show Notes and Links in order mentioned- Handi-Talkies:    4: 39 ICOM IC-92AD - (discontinued) Wouxun HT (UV1D-UV6D) Yaesu FT-60 Yaesu FT-65 Kenwood TH-6Fa - (discontinued) Yaesu FT-2DR Kenwood TH-d74a Kenwood TH-d72 - (discontinued) Kenwood TH-20ka Wouxun KG-UV8d W7DBO HT Go-Bag EMCOMM & HT Go-Bag Show (fo time rewind) VHF/UHF Mobile Rigs:    23:00 Yaesu FT-8800 (discontinued) Kenwood TM-v71a (*still our pick for best all-around dual-band!*) Tytera TH-8600 (Low Power Small Mobile "fun radio for 100 bucks") ICOM ID-4100 ICOM ID-880H (discontinued) Yaesu FTM-3200 (system fusion) Yaesu FTM-3100 (analog) ICOM ID-5100 BTech UV-25X4 Kenwood TM-d710g Yaesu 8900 Yaesu 7900 Yaesu FTM-450XDR Portable 10' Tripod for field expedient VHF/UHF Antenna Deployment - Mobile HF Radio:     48:41 ICOM IC 7300 ICOM IC 7200 ICOM IC-706MkIIg (discontinued) Elecraft KX3 Kenwood TS-480sat Kenwood TS-480HX ICOM IC 7100 Yaesu 857 Little TarHill II Antenna K4CDN TS850 *For Sale* KJ6VU 7100 Portable Portable/Field Radio Gear:      1:12:30 Elecraft KX2 Elecraft KX3 Yaesu FT 817nd Yaesu FT 991A Yaesu FT 450 Elecraft KXPA (100w amp) Elecraft PX3 (panadapter) Yaesu FT 891 ICOM IC-718 OH8STN (Julian: Survival-Tech-Nord) KB1HQS (Stuart: NPOTA Supreme Champion) Good Finds:     1:35:20 West Mountain Radio Battery Analyzer Wago Wirenut/Connector (big combo pack/best deal) Wago Wirenut/Connector (little combo pack/good deal) Shark RF Open Spot Diamond Discone D220R Gigaparts: Hytera DMR Radios (682 and 382) Airspy Mini Airspy R2 Spyverter R2 Airspy HF+ Alinco DR-135tMkIII Kantronics KPC3 TNC Kenwood TM-281 Kenwood TM-231 (discontinued)  Kenneth Finnegan @KWF  Budget Buys:     1:51:15 Swap.QTH.com (caveat emptor) IC-V8000 IC-7800 Stocking Stuffers:     1:56:10 Power Poles RF Adapters Coax Airspy Mini TYT MD 380 Hot-spot ARRL Handbook Raspberry Pi USB/SoundCard Baofeng 888 Baofeng UV82 N9TAX Roll-Up J-pole Browning BR1035 (NMO mag antenna) Browning BR180 (NMO Dual-band antenna) Arrow J-pole Packtenna Mini Signal-Stuff HT antenna (25% off till Cyber Monday) Goal Zero Light a life mini Goal Zero Luna Heil HTH Headset Merry Christmas Y'all! cale

It's doubtful that you haven't been affected by the recent hurricanes, no matter where you reside.  Here in the Upstate of South Carolina-we were indeed touched by Irma and in this episode of the Ham Radio 360 Podcast, I share some of my lessons learned. Following that, I break the news that as of this episode, #87, I will be taking a much needed vacation from the Podcast grind.  The Workbench and Field Radio Podcast will stay on schedule-but HR360 is hanging up the vacation sign and going away for a bit.  3+ years of creating content and full-on engagement has taken a toll on my balance of life so I've decided to step away, with a potential return in January 2018.  A big thanks to all who helped take a 'joke' and turn into 'something'! The recent storms seemed to reignite the ever-smoldering embers of Ham Radio's place in EMCOMM.  No surprise to see the many hams out in force debating the relevance of Amateur Radio in an Emergency.  Since we've never settled the no-code or Chi-com debates....what's another to continue to divide the community--I guess we really are a reflection of society after all! Just a few days after Irma brought strong winds and heavy rain to the farm, I took my seat at the front of the room for the local ARES meeting.  I believe that communications is King (especially in today's tech-centric world)!  I also believe that Amateur Radio should have a place in the local communications response to emergent situations or times of duress.  Finally, I believe that Ham Radio will NOT save the world; but it is a great tool to have if and when something goes wrong. period.  A few months ago the local ARES-EC asked me to help get the ball rolling here in Spartanburg County, SC.  We'll see what happens, right now it's trending positive.  The upcoming GridEX Exercise will be a stretch for our group-but I think we'll weather it well. The last 86+ episodes have offered many solutions to EMCOMM issues as well as introducing many aspects of the Hobby that some of us have never heard mentioned on the local 2m repeater.  If you are a new listener, I invite you to page back through our catalog of shows, pick something you're interested in and give it a spin.  If you've been here a while, thanks for sticking around! Thanks again for listening! 73 Y'all, Cale/K4CDN  Show Mentions and Links HamRadio Spartanburg-ARES GridEX IV-November 15th 2017 (PDF) Spaghetti Models- Mikes Weather Page Field Radio Podcast- You Need the Feed!  

I was introduced to Kevin, KB9RLW, by my friend Julian OH8STN and his postings on Instagram/Twitter.  A few months back FSQ was a 'new' mode and some were excitedly giving it a go.  Julian had posted a link to a video on FSQ and it I knew this was a mode I was very interested in learning about!  Enter the 'Old Tech Guy' on Youtube and here we are! Kevin and I set about determining the compatibility of schedules and just last week we were able to connect via a wonky Skype call and get this information together for you.  While we do spend some time discussing the FSQ mode, I also discovered Kevin is a die-hard Linux user.  Kevin fills us in on his Linux use for Ham Radio and his YouTube Channel creations. *I've noted on the socials a few times last week that I did indeed mispronounce the insanely popular digital mode FT8; for whatever reason I referred to it as JT8 four different times in this show. **Additionally, I have utilized the FSQ mode since recording this conversation with what I'd consider Success!  I can foresee this mode becoming a go-to for my friends and I locally on HF and VHF. Notes and Mentions: FLDigi Software FSQCall Software Kevin KB9RLW Youtube Channel Linux in the Hamshack Podcast OH8STN Everything Ham Radio thanks for listening Y'all, 73 K4CDN

Ed Bradshaw (W4EDF) recently upgraded his Ham Radio ticket to Extra Class and he wants you to know-You Can Too! Former show guest and current Kenwood TS480 owner, Ed decided he wanted a bigger slice of the pie and set his sights on passing the Extra Class Exam.  Having put a great deal of effort into his studies and methods, Ed offered to come on the show to share what worked for him in hopes that you (and I) would get ourselves motivated to study-and Pass! Question pool: ARRL Link ARRL Extra Class License Manual, 11th edition Gordon West, WB6NOA, 2016-2020 Extra Class FCC Element 4 Ham Extra by James Thomas Ham Study (Signal Stuff) QRZ Practice Tests ARRL Find an exam ARRL What to bring Dave Casler YouTube Extra playlist - Here Alan Wolke, W2AEW YouTube Must watch: Here W4EDF: Previous Show Appearance #37 Others Recommend these Books/Aides: K4IA Pass, the Easy Way KB6NU No Non Sense Guide Extra Flash Cards Thanks for listen!!! 73 Y'all, Cale

Don Keith is a long time Ham Radio Operator who combined his love of RF and conversation into a writing career that spans nearly 40 titles.  He joins me on this episode of the Ham Radio 360 podcast to talk about his latest novel- Dial Dancing, some his other titles, copying 35 wpm CW, and more! Don went all the way, in an effort to encapsulate the entire spectrum of ham radio magics with the sub-title of his latest work! Dial Dancing..... Link to Don's Books on Amazon DonKeith.com N4KC.com It's always fun to chat with another 'radio' guy, especially those who can stay one step ahead!  I hope you enjoy our conversation!  73 Y'all!

Larry Jacobs, WA7ZBO, is my guest this time on the Ham Radio 360 Podcast.  Larry is a long time Transmitter Hunter who offered to help me understand what is involved in Fox Hunting aka Bunny Hunting. From the premise of the hunt to the gear involved- the in's and out's and best practices, Larry shares his experiences of almost 50 years! in a show 'first' Larry produced this Bonus Video to help further describe the equipment and theory of use mentioned in this episode! (links and further mentions listed below) Bonus Video! Book: Worlds Best Hobby-Dave Bell SoCal Transmitter Hunting ARDF  Homing In.com PiCon from Byonics Book: Transmitter Hunting- J.D. Moell Tape Measure Yagi- KB9VBR CCARS Instructables OSCAR-6 Arrow 4 MHz. Offset Fox Hunt Attenuator SDR-Direction Finding VK3YNG Sniffer 4 ______ TMR Scouting Special Event: Will be operating an anniversary celebration station, W2T, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Ten Mile River Scout Reservation (known as TMR in the Scouting world) in Narrowsburg NY, August 4th through 6th from the camp.  More info can be found at tenmileriver.org and their QRZ page ______ HR360 Mention on RTL-SDR Blog _____ Thank you for listening to and supporting Ham Radio 360! Cale/K4CDN

New Podcast Alert! This week on the Ham Radio 360 Show we discuss his upcoming Field Radio Podcast launch with John Jacobs (W7BDO)!  The Field Radio Podcast is set to premiere this Thursday (July 13 2017) on your favorite podcast player! The Field Radio Podcast is dedicated to exploring the amateur radio hobby through the lens of getting you and your gear outdoors. Your host, John W7DBO, will explore what gear works best, how to deploy in the field, and most importantly how to have fun! The podcast will also explore what you can do with your gear once deployed; Including emergency communications, contesting, event support, and of course Field Day. Subscribe On Android Find In iTunes @fieldradiopod on Twitter fieldradiopodcast on Facebook Field Radio Podcast RSS Feed *** Field Radio Podcast on Youtube John's email contact here Field Radio Podcast Show Discussion in the HR360 Forums ____________________________________________ Getting Scouts On the Air! Following the new show announcement I'm joined by Jim Wilson K5ND to discuss Ham Radio and it's long history with Scouting around the World!  The Scouts 60th Annual Jamboree on the Air is coming up in October (20-22)! Scouts on the air! What a Great Way to share the Magic of Ham Radio- Jamboree on the Air Guidelines for Amateur Radio Operators Jamboree on the Air Event Tips ScoutLink info for Jamboree on the Internet Upcoming Jamboree Info July 15-28 2017 You can also find lots more information on www.k2bsa.net for Radio Merit Badge, etc... ____________________________ Thank you for listening to and sharing the show! 73 Y'all K4CDN!

A few weeks back in our Facebook Group, Curtis Williamson (W4HCW) mentioned he'd like to hear me do a show about the 13 Colonies Special Event.  I connected with Bob, ND7J, the webmaster for the event as well as an event operator from the state of North Carolina. I feature our conversation in this episode of HamRadio 360. The 13 Colonies Special Event is held during Independence Weekend each July and began in 2009, as a 'One Time' event.  After logging over 12,000 contacts with just 13 operators, it's founder Ken, KU2US, discovered he was onto something.  Since it's inception the event has grown exponentially with many more state operators and a network of help that spans the globe. This is one of my favorite contests to participate in each year!  Thanks to Bob for coming on to help us learn more, and I hope you all get a chance to participate and get a clean sweep!  To learn more about the Event, Logging, Certificates and more visit the 13 Colonies Special Event page at www.13colonies.net (28:30) Recently, my friend and fellow podcaster Glenn Hebert, asked if I'd join him on his Live, Daily Podcast: Horses in the Morning.  Every once in a while Glenn produces a Non-Horsey show, and I was pleased to be invited.  Segment 3 of this episode features that quick conversation as I try to explain Ham Radio in less than 7 minutes :) _______ (37:15) Hap Holly,  KC9RP, has been producing The Rain Report since the 1980's.  “From his home studio/ham shack in suburban Chicago, Hap Holly, KC9RP, produces this 10 to 15- minute weekly amateur radio program service, featuring timely interviews, occasional thought-provoking commentaries from other hams, excerpts from Hamvention Forums and other items of general interest to the ham radio community at large." The Rain Report can be heard on some local repeaters around the US as well as on-line and in your podcast player.  Hap and I caught up via Skype back before Hamvention, and he's recently released our conversation that I share here in segment 4.  I appreciate the continued effort of Hap and his dedicated support staff as they work to bring us The Rain Report.  You can find The Rain Report at the www.therainreport.com   _______ Show Notes and Mentions The Devil of a Whipping- A favorite novel of mine Culpepper Flag Randy KB3IHF QSL Cards & more DX Summit: Cluster N3FJP Logging ND7J.com Horses in the Morning The Rain Report **Bonus Show Content: Roswell Crash Special Event Info PVARC   Y'all have a Great Week! 73, Cale-K4CDN

In this episode of the Ham Radio 360 Podcast, I'm joined by Nick, KK6LHR to discuss ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast).  Known around here as "Tracking Airplanes with a SDR"...there's a lot more to it than that, and Nick helps me understand the ins and outs plus getting started in ADS-B. Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS–B) is a surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation and periodically broadcasts it, enabling it to be tracked. The information can be received by air traffic control ground stations as a replacement for secondary radar. It can also be received by other aircraft to provide situational awareness and allow self separation. *wikipedia Nick is more that just a nosy guy wanting to see what's flying overhead, he was determined to get the best signal down the line into his shack.  From Homebrewing LNA'a to Amazon he's compiled the gear and knowledge to help us make the most of our efforts! Thanks for coming on Nick, I really appreciate your time, helping this all make sense! Find all of your ADSB gear in this Kit! Show Notes & Links @ExplodingLemur QUCS:  Quite Universal Circuit Simulator - Official Site AIRSPY.US  SDR receivers and antennas SatelliteGuys.US Forum Workbench Antenna Analyzer Boards General info: FAA NextGen initiative ADS-B Wikipedia article Feeder sites: FlightAware FlightRadar24 PlaneFinder ADSB Exchange Windows software: PlanePlotter Virtual Radar Server Linux software: ADS-B Receiver project Dump1090 Dump978 Mlat-client Piaware Pfclient Fr24feed ADSBExchange scripts Stratux Hardware: Pair of RTL dongles and indoor antennas (low power consumption) RTL-SDR blog dongle NooElec dongle Low-noise amplifier Set of indoor antennas Dual-band antenna (no longer produced :( ) 1090MHz antenna 1090MHz antenna 978MHz antenna 1090MHz bandpass 1090MHz bandpass + bias-T Ham Radio 360 ADS-B KIT Post Show Mention on the RTL-SDR Blog   Thank you, again for listening and your support! Cale/K4CDN  

We've talked a great deal about Hamvention over the last few weeks, and we're gonna wrap it up here today! Chris Purdy and I have been friends for years and he surprised me a few months ago when he volunteered to tag along on the drive to Xenia. Chris is a Shiny New Ham Radio Operator, and he'd never been to a hamfest before...so why not Hamvention! Maybe a little overwhelmed at the onset, he quickly came around and is now making plans to go back next year! Give the show a listen for a "New Guys" perspective on the event. From initial impressions, things learned and friends made, Chris and I break it all down for you including some insider info from behind the scenes of the Ham Radio 360 Hamvention Team.             I finish up with some final thoughts on the event, the location, new sponsors, and next years plans. Icom: Hams to Japan 4Z1UG-Eric Guth, QSO Today Podcast Linux in the Hamshack = Cale Crashes Live Recording! Bob and Gordo on Ham Nation AREDN Katie Allen WY7YL Neil Rapp Ham Talk Live Don Wilbanks AE5DW AMSAT SignalStuff HT Whip antennas (hr360) to support Hamstudy.org Bruce, W1GQ DX and Contesting Ham Radio Media Creators CommsToGo PodcasterPro from K5ACC on Kickstarter (I'm #80 in line)       We hope you enjoy this final shot and appreciate you spending your time with us! 73 Y'all! K4CDN

Day 2 was another Great Day at Hamvention and we're going to bring it to you right here! Blenheim Ginger-Ale Linux In the Ham Shack Podcast CommsToGo Signal Stuff (HR360 coupon code) HamStudy.org KF7IJZ Channel George Built it Powerfilm HamSci RSGB AREDN RIGOL TEquipment.net/RIGOL Dealer Alpha Antenna VideosbyMike BioennoPower HamSource AIRSPY.us Radio-Relay Int'l Messaging RFinder/AndroidRadio Connect Systems Gordon West Ham Nation DVMega   Thanks for listening! 73 y'all      

Day one is officially in the books for Hamvention 2017. A new look with a familiar feel in an all new Venue...and it was really a good day! Vendors were swamped and so were we. The Workbench Project Boards are a Hit, and our booth was very busy all day long!  We hope you enjoy the interviews we snagged today during the show! We love the opportunity to see our listeners and friends face to face and today was AWESOME! Thanks for making today the best first day of Hamvention for the HR360 Team! A Special Thanks to all who participated with us, please give their links a peek! Total Mast Solutions Hobby PCB SatNOGS Vibroplex BridgeCom Systems Comms To Go NorthWest Digital Radio thank y'all for listening and sharing!  See Y'all tomorrow! 73, Cale/K4CDN  

Yes, this week is #Hamvention; and Yes, it really is that big of a deal!  It's the Largest Ham Radio Event-Worldwide and we're gonna be there!  Unless you've been living under a rock, you are well aware of the yearly event in Ohio hosted by DARA and it's new venue!  The upcoming 2017 Hamvention will be held in Xenia Ohio this year at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center.  *Special Announcement: Hamvention Parking Hacks!!!! Talk-in and Info Bulletin Parking/Shuttle Service The fellas and I catch up (during a deluge in SC) on the ins and outs of our plans for Hamvention 2017.  What will the guys buy this year?  Who will we talk to and what does the future hold for HamRadio 360? And before you ask: yes we plan to release a daily re-cap podcast just like last year! Booth 6501-6502 (in the big tent) HR360/WB Forum: Room 2. 2:45pm Saturday! Hamvention 2017 Program (Food on pg. 19) Stuart (KB1HQS) Review of Packtenna Our Past Shows on Hamvention! Subscribe to the show Here We'll See Y'all There! 73, K4CDN

Julian, OH8STN, is just like most of us; he loved radios and electronic toys when he was a kid!  (Are you seeing a pattern here?)  While Julian isn't a kid anymore, he spends all of his free time 'playing radio' out in the Frigid North of Finland! Wanting to share his experiences and ideas for portable/emergency comms he set off to create content for the Amateur Radio Community.  Known around the globe as the Survival Tech Nord, Julian takes his viewers on all sorts of excursions where they can learn along with him. Licensed since 1999, SurvivalTech Nord (OH8STN) focuses on emergency Voice and Data field communications, sharing knowledge & ideas relevant to the modern survival minded comms communities. In addition to Youtube videos, Julian also Blogs about his success and failure in the differing situations he places himself in.  An devoted Android user; he is serving the Amateur Community in a real and transparent way. Wolphilink Digital Interface Yaesu 817 RaDAR Google+ Group ZS6BNE RaDAR Blogger Last week we crossed 500k Total Downloads!  Thank YOU!   Thank you for listening and supporting all things HamRadio 360! 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN Episode 77     KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

It usually begins like this "Cale, when are you going to do a show on....?"  This time, it was Wayne (K4SPA) and he was again, asking me about doing a show on Winlink. I've too been wanting to learn more about Winlink since first trying my hand in it back in the Fall.  While I've had limited (NVIS) success, I'm far from a 'user' or even half-way proficient in the mode.  So I did what I do best;  I found someone to help me further understand it, and I bring you along to learn with me! Brett Smith (KE0EWY) is a Friend, Listener and Long-time Supporter of HR360.  He's also quite fond of Winlink and someone I consider an Elmer for me in that field.  I invited Brett to visit with us here to help you and I both learn more about Winlink, Winmor and RMS Express. from SV8CS blog linked here This isn't a deep-dive into all things Winlink, but more of an Introduction to give us an idea of what it is, and what is necessary to get started with this really cool mode of communicating with our radios and computers. It doesn't have to be complicated. via N5TIM   Show Notes/Mentions Winlink.org Book of Knowledge Winlink on iOS? we're talking about that in the Facebook Group! Video Links What is Winlink RMS Express 101 RMS Peer to Peer (P2P) RMS Express Packet There are tons of Winlink/Winmor/RMS Express videos avail on Youtube--better get some Popcorn! CommsPrepper Survival Tech Nord (OH8STN) Thank You for listening! 73 Y'all!  K4CDN/Cale  

In this, the 75th installment of Ham Radio 360 Podcast we talk Community. You hear me harp on community almost daily.  It's real to me, and I hope this program helps it continue to grow.  While there are tons of negatives in our hobby, I always stretch to find the high points.  One of those highs came to me a few months back.  A gracious listener charged me with finding a New Ham that needed some help getting started with quality equipment.  I assumed this would be an easy task with so many new hams flooding in...it was a little tougher than I had imagined! It seems that most new hams are hitting the ground running and purchasing big items straight out of the gate.  That was until I met Josh Hunley, KD9GOT.  I won't spoil the story because I want you to listen to him tell it!  We surprise Josh with some really cool gear purchased by our Gracious Listener and supplied by MTCRadio.com! We carry on to the #KX2forCale!  Yes, I have an KX2 in the shack-sent over from Elecraft to demo this Spring as I begin to explore QRP/Adventure Radio (gonna be fun y'all!) Finally, i discuss the loss of my first friend/elmer to go SK.  Harold Kinley (WA4GIB) passed last week.  In my short time in the hobby this was the first 'Elmer' I've lost.  Harold was a great man, and the very epitome of the Community I hope to encourage in the Amateur Radio Hobby/Service. WA4GIB (SK) Harold's Website Harold's books on Amazon.com   73 K4CDN/Cale Nelson New Show: Modern Christian Men Podcast

A lifetime ham, now living in Efrat, Israel, Eric Guth (4Z1UG) wanted to give back to the hobby that had given so much to him through the years; so in July of 2014, Eric launched the QSO Today Podcast as a way to connect yesterday’s elmers with today’s amateur radio operators. The results have been spectacular! Join Eric and I as we chat Podcasting for Hams, Living as a Ham Radio Op in Israel, Allstar nodes and more in this 74th Episode of the Ham Radio 360 podcast! For more information on Eric's Podcast visit QSOToday.com! Allstar Link Network IARC QSOToday on Twitter QSOToday on Facebook TDR6100 Press Release Thanks for listening and sharing! 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN  

A few weeks back, on our first APRS show Kenneth Finnegan (W6KWF) helped explain the APRS Protocol.  Since that time, we've asked for and received a number of listener questions.  In this episode of the Ham Radio 360 Podcast we delve into those questions to further understand this 'thing' called APRS! (4:00) Paths? What do they mean, and What do I use? 2. (28:00) My APRS won't show on aprs.fi when using my 5w HT? Why won't my APRS messaging work? RF Gate, I-Gate or both? 3rd Party Traffic Questions. SMSGTE Is APRS used on other bands? 30m Robust Packet Why does APRS only use the 144.390 frequency? 3. (49:00) How do I digipeat through the ISS? Can I use APRS to monitor my off-grid cabin conditions? What is the Next Generation of APRS-can it be like ADS-B? How is APRS developed?  Is it developed? What is the architecture of APRS-IS? What are the uses of APRS that aren't GPS tracking? Why do all APRS websites suck? Where's the documentation? Faraday RF, is it operational with APRS? 4. (1:13:00) APRS Etiquette, am I doing it right? Whats up with the 200+ symbols for things on the map? What is the Local Freq Initiative? Does it work? Object Beacons for the Local Freq Initiative? 5. (1:31:00) K4CDN-5 Digipeater/I-Gate. When to set-up an I-Gate/Digipeater? Hardware recommendations? How the K4CDN-5 digi changed APRS Show Links: Our First APRS Show with KWF aprs.link aprs.fi ARISS.net ASTARS Satellite Connections Alinco DR-135TMKIII 2M Argent Data PNP TNC KWF on the Wildflower Triathlon @KWF on Twitter ARPS on Facebook APRS Symbol Chart APRX aprs Software KWF Thesis (pdf) Event Time Data Extension Texas Digital Radio Thanks for listening and contributing to show #73, we hope you enjoyed this episode! 73 Y'all! Cale/K4CDN

Recently a listener asked us to investigate the W.W.F.F. or Parks on the air.  I had some questions too, so off went an email to the UK which directed me back to Jason Johnston (W3AAX).  Jason came on the show to fill us in on the in's and out's of the Parks On The Air. 3,400+ National Parks, State Parks and more are available to activate or hunt in the US via WWFF/POTA.  Parks On The Air/WWFF is a World Wide Organization with an award system and more!  Interested in participating?  Visit the Parks On The Air site today! Links: Parks on the Air (KFF, WWFF in the USA):  http://parksontheair.com Global international site: http://wwff.co Active Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parksontheair/ How to get started How to Register Rules and FAQ National KFF (USA) Awards International Global Awards RaDAR  Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio ZS6BNE Blog Zippy FlightMax 5000 Battery Bioenno Batteries Stick around following the interview to hear some feedback from you, our listeners! Thank you for listening and sharing Ham Radio 360! 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN . . . mentions: Kenn Blanchard . Dave Jackson . Special Music by the Jellyrox (Hoop) . Podfest17 #PME17 . SurvivalTechNord  Miccoli the Sibling Band   KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

Austin Munger just wanted a C.B. Radio to give him an alternate means of communicating when out hunting or camping.  Little did he know that a random trip to HRO would turn into a full-bore hobby! When I began this podcast, it was for me, the 'new guy' and while both the show and I have grown; I still feel new-ish and love learning about someones first time experience.  Adventure radio is on my list for the upcoming Spring, and this Episode may be what pushes me up the hill! Not content with kerchunking repeaters, Austin set out to challenge himself with this new 'thing' he'd heard about called SOTA (Summits on the Air).  It didn't take to long to figure out he was a little unprepared, but a strong will goes far when determination sets in! Now a prolific Summit activator and chaser, Austin aka. dietsota on Instagram, spends his spare (and work) time playing in the SOTA activity log.  He's also gotten his new Bride involved...to the point of activating a Summit during their Honeymoon in Hawaii! SOTA SOTAwatch SOTA Spotting Elecraft KX2, KX3 and More! Packtenna Portable/Packable Antennae Yaesu FT-60 Yaesu FT-1XD SOTA Spotter (Droid) SOTA Finder (Droid) PocketSOTA (Droiod/iOS) from Pignology/N3WG SOTAGoat (iOS) Chameleon Antennas KX3Helper Antenna ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thanks for listening! 73 Y'all! Cale/K4CDN Elecraft from FDIM KX2 Debut Show! Episode 3 (manpack/portable) Episode 6 (SOTA) Episode 14 (WG0AT) Episode 23 (Packtenna) SOTA/NPOTA (KB1HQS) Field Day with Elecraft APRS Questions? Visit this thread or shoot me an email KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

APRS; oh the questions you've raised!  It's been about 2+ years since I decided I wanted to give APRS a go.  I purchased a Mobilinkd TNC2 and set off.  It was only a day or so later that I determined there were No Digipeater/iGates in my county, and not too many outside those bounds. I was encouraged by some fellow hams that were too interested in APRS and we lightly began to try to understand the in and outs of the mode.  None of us had any experience in Packet and what we could find online was a mish-mash of opinions and outdated blogging.  Needless to say, I've quit APRS more than once since, only to be pulled back in when I reconsider it's utility. It wasn't until a fateful evening in November 2016 that I found someone that could help me to begin to understand the whats and hows of APRS.  Kenneth Fennegan, W6KWF ( @KWF ) found me lamenting my lack of APRS understanding via Twitter and offered a hand up!  That hand up turned into a phone conversation that in turn lead to another call that became this interview for the Ham Radio 360 audience! Many, many times I've been asked to address APRS on the show, and I've finally found a connection that can help explain the mode and equipment in an easy to digest format. Special Thanks to Kenneth for coming on and sharing his time and expertise on the subject!  Below you'll find the links we discussed! W6KWF Blog @KWF on Twitter YouTube Channel APRS.fi Kenneth Finnegan Thesis on APRS APRX Main Page APRS Mailing List APRS.org Mobilinkd Bluetooth TNC2 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for listening to Episode 70 (wow) and telling your friends about Ham Radio 360! 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN Kenneth recently created an APRS Symbol Chart that will prove Very Handy!

Stuart Thomas, KB1HQS,  joined me back in February to chat about the NPOTA (National Parks on the Air) ARRL Event.  This time he's back to share with us an entire years worth of Portable Operation from NPOTA.  Hear Stuarts Lessons Learned, Funny Stories, Favorite Parks and more in this episode of Ham Radio 360. Additionally this event brought Stuart to the forefront of US Ham Portable Operations.  ARRL Calendar inserts, QST Reviews near viral tweets and more were just a taste of the fame the Tall One achieved this year! To learn more about the NPOTA event head over to the ARRL website.  Congratulations to everyone involved!  What an Amazing Event! .When you look around the net at the NPOTA activators photos, you may discover a very common theme: Elecraft KX3! Thanks Stuart for coming back on and for helping make NPOTA a success! 73 Y'all K4CDN KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

The annual Winter Field Day event is held the last full weekend of January (28-29 2017).  Much like it's Summer-time cousin, Winter Field Day (WFD) is focused on ham radio operations in less than ideal emergent conditions.  Emergencies happen everyday, and usually when the weather isn't cooperating!  WFD like the ARRL Field Day gives Amateur Radio Operators a chance to hone their skills in those challenging environments while enjoying the camaraderie of the hobby. Open to ALL Amateur Radio Operators around the Globe, WFD continues to see growth every year!  Tom Phelps, WD8MBE, and WFD Association looks forward to the event and encourages anyone with questions or comments to please visit their WFD website at www.winterfieldday.com . It doesn't have to be snowy in your neighborhood to participate, the key is to Get On The Air for Winter Field Day!  It's a World-Wide Event open to All Amateurs who wish to join in the fun! Winter Field Day Association (WFDA) is a dedicated group of Amateur Radio Operators who believe that emergency communications in a winter environment is just as important as the preparations and practice that is done each summer but with some additional unique operational concerns. Winter Field Day is January 28-29 2017.  For further inspirations we've linked some past WFD videos below.  I look forward to hearing you on the air for Winter Field Day! Erik, WX4ET, has posted some great shots from his WFD last year Here A Special Thanks to all participants on the WFD Facebook Group who sent links and photos!  join them at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winterfieldday/ Winter Field Day Rules More Details and Links found on the WFD page! Thanks for listening 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN     KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

*6/28/18    New AREDN Website: https://www.arednmesh.org/ Ham Radio Mesh Networking has been one of those things that I've wanted to learn about.  After a quick peek around and a few questions asked, I stumbled into AREDN (Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network). Join me as I learn about Mesh Networking over Ham Radio with Randy (WU2S) and Darryl (K5DLQ) in this latest installment of the Ham Radio 360 Podcast. We also announce the Winners of our Annual Christmas Prize Giveaway. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ *6/28/18    New AREDN Website: https://www.arednmesh.org/ What is an AREDN Network? (video by K6AH) RF Path Planning Using Ubiquiti AirLink (video by K5DLQ) AREDN on Twitter @arednmesh Equipment links listed at the bottom of the page Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas! '73 Cale/K4CDN ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Equipment Links via amazon Ubiquity Nano-Loco Ubiquity NanoStations Ubiquity Airgrid Ubiquity Rocket Ubiquity Bullet Ubiquity Antennae *make sure you check the AREDN Matrix to determine compatibility ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Congratulations to our Contest Winners! KB2B22 KE0KTR KO4XL K9EMD KK6RHY KE0CSB K1KY KD8JAD    

What is N.V.I.S? I hear it all the time; but for whatever reason, like most, I have a hard time putting it to words.  So I found us someone that could explain the theory behind the propagation, and his name is Edison (Ed) Fong-WB6IQN. Ed helps lay out the theory of N.V.I.S in ways that even I can understand!  We discuss N.V.I.S and it's practical applications for everyday use as well as in an EMCOMM Situ. As we continue our antenna chat with Ed we begin to learn about his wildly popular J-Pole antennas.  From Dual-Band roll-ups to Tri-Band verticals, Ed and his students have been helping hams get on the air for years! You can find Eds' contact info here: Ed's Antennas You can purchase his antennae here: antennas_iqn Ebay Store Article from QST: ARRL /DBJ-1 John Miklor: Review To Learn More about N.V.I.S check into some of the following articles: Patricia Gibbons - WA6UBE WHAT IS NVIS? Wikipedia - Near Vertical Incidence Skywave DX Engineering - Practical Guide to Emer or Temp Comm (PDF) ARRL.org - NVIS Put up a low antenna KK7X0 - ARRL Link PDF Thanks for listening and supporting the show 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN Shop Amazon and Support the Show! When You Click through our Amazon Affiliate Link, your pricing doesn't change-but Amazon pays me a small percentage for getting you there!  It all adds up and helps fund the program! Thank you! Bookmark this LINK

It's that time of year again!  With Black Friday in sight and our mailboxes full of catalogs, it's time to talk Ham Radio Shopping! George and Jeremy join us to discuss New(er) Ham Radio items you may be considering for your Shack this year. We cover the entire spectrum, from High-End HF rigs to SDR Dongles.  If you are looking to find that new rig for the upcoming years operating, this show is for you! Links to our previous Shopping Shows Episode #21 Episode #39   As mentioned in the show: Elecraft KX2 FDIM Interview Stuart KB1HQS Mr. NPOTA ELAD-Duo WOUXUN 2m/6m HT Wouxun Tri-Band HT Out of Stock Wouxun Dual Band HT CrossBand Repeat TYT MD-380 DV-Mega Single Band DV-Mega Dual Band Blue-Stack Micro Hotspot Board DV4Mini Alinco DMR HT DJ-MD40 RTL-SDR Dongle with Antennas AirSpy Mini & Spyverter SMA Adapter Cable Set ARRL Ham Radio Handbook 2017 ARRL Op Manual Anderson Crimper (Tool) Anderson Crimper (Sets) Packtenna In this season of Thanks; I want to, again, say Thank You for being a part of the show. 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) seems to be a topic that keeps coming up in listener correspondences.  I had some ideas to share, but not being an active participant in the service, I knew I needed to get someone who was involved to help us define and understand it. Reaching all the way back to the beginning, I enlisted Cecil Higgins (AC0HA) who is now the ARES Section Manager for Missouri.  In Episode 1 we discussed the Joplin Tornado disaster and ARES response.  This time through, it's an Introduction to ARES. ARRL.org/ARES @ARES_ARES Following, we bring in John Jacobs (W7DBO) of Site Sponsor, CommsToGo.com. CommsToGo:  Builders of Portable Power, Radio and Computing Systems, John and his Ham Radio Family manufacture some fine equipment! YourCallSignHere.com   Thanks for Listening! 73, Y'all K4CDN

I get asked all the time why Ham Radio and How-to Ham Radio.  In this program I go through the steps of jumping in the water.  One of the most popular pages on our site is the Start Here Page that has all the links mentioned here in the show (with a few more links and opinions too) ARRL.org Club Locator Test Locator KB6NU No Non-Sense Study Guides Ham Test Online Link to Recommended Study Materials You Passed! Congrats, Now Let's Go Shopping! Shopping Show #2 (give this a listen!) Shopping with the HR360 Affiliate Links Hand-Held Radio and Accessories Kit (Level1) Base/Mobile Radio and Accessories to get you on the air Kit (Level1) Got a Rig? Now Get On The Air! Kevin has some great videos about getting on the air! New Ham Radio Op Video Tutorial Ham Radio 360 History Lessons! Fo Time Becomes Ham Radio 360 Jeremy- KF7IJZ @KF7IJZ Episode 2 Field Day and Solar for Hams ARRL Field Day George-KJ6VU Sierra Radio Systems Repeater Controls & Packtenna Portable Antennas KJ6VU.com @kj6vu Episode 10 All About Repeaters Looking for more content? Check out our Links Page for other Ham Radio Content Outlets!   Thanks for Listening, 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN Nerd Famous'er That's the inside front cover of the latest (now defunct) MCM Electronics Catalog.

In Episode 62 of Ham Radio 360, we learn more about the annual On-air Event known as Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), and the Up-coming K0D Special Event Station. Rick DeWeese, KJ4WHO, drops back in to refresh our memory on the upcoming JOTA.  Rick is a Ham, Scout-Master & fellow Podcaster!  He joined me on Episode 31 to discuss Ham Radio and Scouting in great depth. The 2016 Jamboree On The Air is scheduled for the 3rd weekend in October (14-16).  You can learn more about JOTA on the ARRL site. JOTA/JOTI During that same weekend, there is a Special Event Station scheduled in Houston, Texas. Camp Hope will be hosting their 5th Annual BBQ Weekend, and Local Amateur Bob Hawkins (KD5AT) will be spearheading the On-Air event K0D!  This year, the radio clubs from Texas U and Texas A&M will be on-site competing for the most contacts to help raise PTSD awareness. Listen on 20m and 40m to work the Special Event K0D and School Clubs N5XU & W5AC! K0D Special Event Site Camp Hope ARC FB Page Thanks, again, for listening! 73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN

In an effort to keep up to date with what the Big 3 are producing we've invited them on to tell us about what is happening in their camp.  In Episode 61, George (@kj6vu) catches up with Will from ICOM.   Following that, Gerald, (Kf5JNU) tells us about his trip to the GNURadio Conference he recently attended.  SDR, Satellite Ops and more were discussed-and we get a taste of the event from our Man Behind the Curtain!       Ham2mon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXptQFSV8E4 https://github.com/madengr/ham2mon RTL_power http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl_power-instructions/ http://kmkeen.com/rtl-power/ Iridium-toolkit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5N0o8gShtE https://github.com/muccc/iridium-toolkit rtf_power scanner/close call from Seek2 http://www.rtl-sdr.com/creating-an-rf-proximity-alarm-with-an-rtl-sdr/ KD9EZO talk on geo sync sat https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6ccrJyAZaq3RzFGR1ZXSzVRa2s/view OP25 http://op25.osmocom.org/trac/wiki

I've often wondered about Ham Radio Satellite Operations.  I knew where to look and what to read, but I kept myself from it, because I wanted to learn about it with you here on the show!   I became acquainted with Andrew Glasbrenner KO4MA through our FB page, and watched from afar his dealings with Ham Radio Satellite Ops, and AMSAT.  Andrew and I began conversing about having him on the show, and what follows is what we were finally able to bring together!   In addition to his family duties, Andrew also serves the AMAST organization as the VP  Director of Operations.  Andrew grew up like most of us-with a 'Walkie-Talkie' in his hand and a desire to communicate via Radio with whomever he could! Eventually he got the ticket to get on the air, and has been active there since!  A big thanks to Andrew for coming on, I ask a load of questions and we cover it all here on Episode 60.  From Build, Launch and Contact-it's all about Amateur Radio Satellite Ops on HR360!     thanks for listening!   73 y'all! K4CDN   My 8 y/o son, Milam, has recently launched his very own podcast, you can find it below: Milam In The Middle

It seems everywhere we turn, there is a discussion on how to bring the youth into the Ham Radio Hobby.  We act as though young people all over the Earth are devoid of any desire to operate an Amateur Radio.  While there may be what some would consider a downturn in today's youths public participation in Ham Radio-the number of licensed Ham Radio Operators continues to climb. Don't fret y'all, Youngsters are still getting on the air! Sterling Coffey and I met at Hamvention 2016.  I recognized his call, N0SSC, from Twitter long before I knew his name.  We had a nice chat, and over the course of the weekend he came by the booth to drop in and say hello a few times. Upon returning home, I noticed on the every busy Twitter, that Sterling was taking a trip-a Ham Radio Excursion.  It appeared to be quite a surprise trip so I followed along.  It didn't take long to learn that he was headed to Austria to attend the YOTA Summit!  No little short green aliens here-this was the real deal-Sterling had just become an official ambassador of Amateur Radio!  In this episode of Ham Radio 360 Sterling shares about himself, his trip, and the bright future of Youth in Ham Radio! Sterling's Blog   http://www.n0ssc.com/ Sterling's YouTube Channel  http://youtube.com/c/n0ssc Twitter   @N0SSC YOTA  http://www.ham-yota.com/austria/ YASME  http://www.yasme.org/ NCDXF  http://www.ncdxf.org/   Congrats to Skyler Fennell KD0WHB 2016's Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year! Find more at the Facebook Group-Ham Radio for Kids of All Ages   As always, Thanks for listening-73 Y'all K4CDN

I've long wanted to do a show featuring the 1.25 Meter band (220MHz).  Ron and Tim from Bridgecom stop in to tell us about what is happening in their world and prime us for a conversation with others about using the 220 band in the real world.  Is it the forgotten band?  Is it under-utilized? Let's talk about it! Link to Bridgecom Youtube Videos   (40:00) Brian, K5IN, from Olympia, Washington is our next guest.  Brian is die-hard 220 user, and multi-site repeater owner.  He tells us how 220 is used in his area for a linked repeater system that runs from one end of the state to the other. W7WRG is the call of the Repeater Group.     (58:00) Kent, KL5T, From Anchorage Alaska is up next to fill in the blanks regarding 220 and Packet along with how his local club KL7AA utilizes the band! Make sure to visit the club's site www.KL7AA.net   iOS App Now Available! HR360 app Provided by Pignology LLC!   Thanks for Listening, Sharing and Supporting the Show! 73 Y'all   K4CDN

One of my Favorite Ham Radio Podcast's is Linux in the Ham Shack!  Not that I'm a Linux guy-but I like to be challenged-entertained and taught.  That's what I get each time I tune into the LHS Podcast-I laugh, I scratch my head and usually walk away with something new! *insert missing Picture of Russ and Cale from Dayton* Russ (@K5TUX) and I caught up with one another at Dayton, and decided then-the time had come for a LHS/HR360 show.  Little did he know just how little I know about Linux-even after listening to his show all this time! Linux is an Amazing Free Tool for Ham Radio Hobbyist to utilize in their shack-aided by the advent of the Micro-Computer (ex: Raspberry Pi) it seems to be popping up everywhere!  Even on some of my old machines. Like the Pros they are, Russ and Bill are ever-patient with my questions throughout the show! Debian HamRadio Pure Blend is a great place to start if your looking to get started with Linux in your shack! Cheryl and Bill (@NE4RD) are also in the Mix to help me get a better understanding on all things Linux-and even to help whip up a quick Summertime Dessert! We had a great time on and off 'the air' and I hope you enjoy the show! Make sure you give Linux in the Hamshack Podcast a Listen!       Didja See George's latest KX2 video?   I appreciate everyone of you-Thanks so much for listening!   73 Y'all!   K4CDN

Field Day 2016 is in the books and we're back with a follow-up show detailing our experiences from the event. We also have a one on one with Wayne (N6KR) of Elecraft to get even more detailed information on the KX2-from the inside out! Additionally, we have a Listener Call-in from Singapore regarding the Workbench Podcast and toss in some bloopers at the end to wind things up. 73 y'all   Cale/K4CDN     KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

Ham Radio at the Bay Area Maker Faire:  The Bay-Net Group has attended the last 4 years in hopes of spurring interest in the Hobby with the attendees of the Maker Faire and it appears to be working!  George, David and Beric fill in the blanks for those of us not able to attend. Raspberry Pi, SDR, APRS and Micro Controllers; it was all about Hands on Ham Radio!  A yearly event of Ham Radio Outreach that can be used as a model for all of us as we look for more ways to share our hobby with those yet to come in! In addition to Maker Faire, George also takes us into the IEEE Int'l Microwave Symposium forums with a recording detailing how University Professors are using Ham Radio in the classroom. Forum Presentations Linked Here I also announce the Brand Spanking New Workbench Podcast with George and Jeremy! the Workbench -New Show to release Next Week to compliment our Bi-Weekly show!  That's right, a Weekly Dose of HR360 is on the way! Stay Tuned.....   13 Colonies Special Event happens this Weekend! http://www.13colonies.net/ thanks for listening! 73 Y'all! K4CDN

Field Day 2016 is upon us! Every year Amateurs from all over These United States and Canada spend the 4th weekend of June operating their radios in an effort to hone the craft! Sean, KX9X, Media and Public Relations Manager for the ARRL comes by to share the Leagues Perspective of the event as well as some tips and tricks to make this Field Day one to remember. Following Sean; Jeremy and George come in to discuss the plans they are making for FD2016!  Jeremy has a secret, George is planning on playing with Bay-Net and I will be operating with my local club as well. @ARRL_PR on Twitter ARRL Field Day Home page ARRL Field Day Locator Bay-Net FD2014 KF7IJZ FD2014 *yep, in the intro-I said it wrong, it's the American Radio Relay League (not amateur).  I'm sure it has noting to do with my dyslexia* your transparent host Cale KX2 News: Nick, N3WG, a former guest on the show, and friend from the Bay-Net Group recently posted a Pignology update for all you KX2 Owners: Find it Here on Youtube Don't Miss It: Make Sure You Listen all they way to the end, and then some!  We feature Adam Curry, the Podfather, and his No Agenda Podcast #831 speaking about the upcoming Field Day.   Podcast Featured: This week Dave Jackson, my Podcast Mentor, from the School of Podcasting shared my story of you (the listener) sending me to Dayton Hamvention!  You can find the show Here! KB1HQS in Print! Click for more info

I've owned a DMR radio for about 6 months now.  I've not made one contact with it!  I even loaned it to a friend to see if he could unlock the magic, no dice. While at Dayton, I met Rick Zach K1RJZ at the DMR-MARC booth early one morning and began asking questions about DMR.  I soon knew that I needed to have Rick on the show to help demystify this new-fangled radio technology and help get me on the air! DMR or Digital Mobile Radio is one of the hottest things happening in the Ham Radio Hobby right now.  Commercial success of the mode has driven down the prices and made it accessible to the Amateur Radio hobbyist.  Join us to learn how this exciting mode is quickly becoming a game changer! DMR-MARC is an all volunteer organization that has been tasked with keeping DMR in order for the community.  If you are interested in getting on the air with DMR, DMR-MARC should be one of your first stops! “  Rick, K1RJZ got back to us with a mispronunciation that he’d like to correct.  The multi format DMR networking platform is pronounced BRANDmiester and not BANDmiester.  He knew the correct name, but it just  needs a correction “   Notes from Jeremy: Tytera MD-380 Hacking:  https://github.com/travisgoodspeed/md380tools . Things I wish I had known when programming the MD-380 This is a good primer to terms and concepts:  http://dmr-marc.net/media/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR_Rev_I_20150510.pdf . The radio has 16 "channels" but a LOT of Zones.  a Zone is a collection of channels. . Every Channel can have a scan list and a RX list.  The Scan List is a list of channels that can be scanned if you tell the radio to scan while on that channel - useful if you want to scan both timeslots of the same repeater, for instance. . RXLists are lists of all of the talkgroups associated with a timeslot on the repeater.  For instance, for my local K8BIG, I have two RXLists - KABIG-TS1 and K8BIG-TS2.  All groups that appear on Time Slot 1 are in TS1 and same for TS2. . Worldwide, Worldwide English, and North America aren't for rag chewing - think of these as calling channels.  Once contact is made, you can take your conversation over to one of the "tactical" talkgroups such as TAC-310 or TAC-311 (depending on whether or not your repeater has these talkgroups).  These talkgroups are only active when someone calls for them via Push to Talk.   Thanks for listening! 73 Y'all K4CDN

Whew!  What'a Weekend!!!!  Many, many thanks to you for getting us to #Hamvention 2016! After a night of less than 1.5 hours sleep, our 2nd day at Hamvention was a Whirlwind!  A great number of listeners stopped by and George sold a load of his Packtenna Minis! We close out our weekend together with a round-up chat and then it's onto the Interview Segments.  I hope you enjoy these shows as we strive to help you 'hear' what you missed!   Links as mentioned in the show: Airspy - Airspy Mini SDR KB1HQS -NPOTA Activator (Tallest man at Hamvention) Connect Systems - CSI/DMR Vibroplex - CW Keys and more Linux in the Hamshack - Russ-K5TUX (I love this show!) Expert Electronics - SDR MB1 Transceiver Apache Labs - ANAN SDR Wireless Holdings  - DV4Mini Bridgecom Systems - 220 Repeaters/HT/Mobile iPortable - Portable Rack Mount Systems Yaesu - FT891 (is NOT a 857 replacement!) TAPR - Steve Bible Thanks for listening to our adventures!  

#hv2016live If someone would have told me 12 months ago that I'd be in Dayton right now, I would have laughed them off the radio! But, here I am, and boy what a day it has been.  I entered the Ball Arena around 10am and the WOW kicked in!  I have to admit I haven't see much of the show at all!  I did, though, meet a TON of folks who knew me and were excited about the show.  Did I mention I finally got to meet my Co-host of the program for the very first time?   We have compiled a ton of interviews ans such for your listening pleasure!   Links from Vendors in this show: N7PUG- Wealthsteading Podcast Main Trading Company-MTCRadio.com Begali Keys-CW Keys and Paddles ICOM America- IC7300 BHI Noise Cancelling - Here Pro-Audio Engineering - KX3 Heatsink Gordon West WB6NOA Alex Loop Antennas WG0AT Steve DV-Mega D-Star/DMR QuickSilver Radio - Hammo Can ten-tec - Here HamSource - Ham Parts/accessories Bioenno Power - Lightweight Batteries

Here's our first Dayton Hamvention update! This morning (5-19-16) Eric (WA6HHQ) kicked off the  FDIM (Four Days in May) with the Keynote address and the official introduction of the New Elecraft KX2. Immediately following the presentation, Eric sat down with our very own George (KJ6VU) to give the HR360 audience a first peek into the KX2.   Eric from Elecraft (WA6HHQ)   In addition to the Elecraft KX2 Intro, George also was able to get some information about the Elecraft K-Pod!  Following that is a recording of this mornings FDIM Keynote from Eric (WA6HHQ). Inside the KX2! A big Thank You to Eric (WA6HHQ) and Elecraft for keeping the Ham Radio Hobby exciting!   73 Y'all K4CDN Make sure to follow us on Twitter for all the Breaking News Updates along with cool stuff we find along the way!   @hamradio360 @KF7IJZ @KJ6VU See us in Dayton at BA406

Ham Radio: All Roads Lead to Dayton. Episode 52.  In just 3 days I will attend my first ever #Hamvention in Dayton, Ohio.  The Godfather of all Hamfest is said to be the 'one every ham must attend as least once'.  Now I'm going, and it's all thanks to you! What literally seemed like a Futuristic Pipe-Dream is fulfilling itself right before my eyes.  I can't say thank you enough for your generosity and support.  Additionally, we have sponsors that help keep this show going month after month.  In this show, we'll talk to them and learn what they are planning for their Dayton Experience this year.  We'll also announce a new sponsor, that you'll be familiar with for sure!   Packtenna, a George (KJ6VU) and Nick (N3WG) creation keeps getting better-and smaller!  The Brand-New Packtenna 'Mini' is available now online and at Hamvention.  George is up first to tell us about the 'Mini' and it's why a Portable-Operator needs one!  Packtenna is the Dayton Hamvention Booth Sponsor for the Ham Radio 360 Podcast.  Booth BA406. *George presented Portable Antennas at Hamvention-here is his slide presentation   Of course, I'll be there-with Jeremy (KF7IJZ) and George (KJ6VU) in Booth BA406!  I look forward to meeting you all!  Make sure to stop by and say hello, bring your friends by too!  It should be an unforgettable weekend and I'm excited to share it with you!  We'll be breaking news with our Twitter Feeds, and depending on our connection-Using the Live-Streaming app 'Perisocpe' to share with you what we see happening!  Thanks again for giving me this opportunity to attend!   Supporting Partners:   Please Remember to Share the show! 73 Y'all!   K4CDN  

Ham Radio 360: SDR (Software Defined Radio) My Buddies Jeremy (KF7IJZ) and Gerald (KF5JNU) are back together and this time they're taking us into the waters of SDR (Software Defined Radio) for the Amateur Radio Operator. SDR Radio is loved by some, yet misunderstood by most!  Like anything new, folks tend to steer clear thinking it's too complex or expensive.  In this show, Jeremy and Gerald break it down into digestible chunks that even Cale can understand!  From the $20 RTL-SDR Dongle as shown above, to the top of the line transceiver-the guys cover it ALL!   Geralds 'go to' SDR is the Airspy, and countless options are available for the hobbyist at differing levels of complexity and cost.  Listen in and determine where you'd like to get started in SDR! The ANAN  100B HF+6 Transceiver by Apache Labs is not just a listening device, it also is a Full-Power HF Transceiver! I really appreciate Jeremy and Gerald coming by and priming the SDR Pump, this has been a great launch for an Intensive Study on SDR! Stay Tuned Folks, we'll be following this rabbit hole all the way to the bottom!   Make sure to check out the links below!   73 Y'all (See you in Dayton!) K4CDN   GREAT Source for News and Information http://www.rtl-sdr.com/ Hardware - Receivers RTL-SDR:  http://www.rtl-sdr.com/ Nooelec:  http://www.nooelec.com/store/ SDR Play:  http://www.sdrplay.com/ Air Spy:  https://airspy.com/airspy-mini/ HackRF One:  https://greatscottgadgets.com/hackrf/ GREAT discussion of the differences between SDRPlay, Airspy, and HackRF: http://www.rtl-sdr.com/review-airspy-vs-sdrplay-rsp-vs-hackrf/ Hardware - HF Radios Elad:  http://www.woodboxradio.com/ Apache-Labs:  https://apache-labs.com/ Flex Radio:  https://www.flexradio.com/amateur-products/ Icom IC-7300: http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/7300/default.aspx Elecraft KX3:  http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm Software SDR#:  https://airspy.com/download/ SDR-Console:  http://sdr-radio.com/ GQRX: http://gqrx.dk/ Big List of Software:  http://www.rtl-sdr.com/big-list-rtl-sdr-supported-software/ Cool Things To Do Track Airplanes using ADS-B: http://www.instructables.com/id/Track-Airplanes-with-RTL-SDR-and-ADS-B/ Cheap Digital Scanner: https://www.jeffreykopcak.com/2014/12/12/p25-trunked-tracking-and-decoding-with-unitrunker-and-dsdplus/ http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-radio-scanner-tutorial-decoding-digital-voice-p25-with-dsd/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wShOLgW2tmI&feature=youtu.be APRS:  http://www.rtl-sdr.com/monitoring-aprs-rtl-sdr/ D-Star:  http://www.rtl-sdr.com/listening-d-star-digital-voice-dsd-1-7/ TAPR:  https://www.tapr.org/  

Fo Time Podcast is now Ham Radio 360.  As fun as the name was (at first), I found myself always trying to explain what it meant.  Additionally, I felt it also worked to limit our potential audience.  In a long overdue move, we've re-branded the show to Ham Radio 360. New: Official Ham Radio 360 Logo Ham Radio is  a Fun Hobby!  In an effort to keep it Fun, we decided to do the 50th episode Live and with a Live Video Stream!  You'll quickly see why we do the show with Audio Only!  Live Radio/Video is always unpredictable and this show lived up to its' billing! Big Thanks to all of those who participated in the Reveal!  A great show of support was delivered and it was a ton of fun!  George also announced the winners of the Packtenna Mini Giveaways! Congrats to: 1.   KF6EFG John McGrath 2.  KE0HRB Todd Solomon 3.  KD4VA Kenneth Dahl Ham Radio 360 is Fo Time re-branded.  Same Great Content-Same Great Guest-Same Ham Radio Fun!  Your Podcast Player feed should auto-update with to new name.   Remember to pass along the link to the new show! 73 Y'all!! Cale/K4CDN the first 90 min of the program are shown above, and provided to me via #Blab.  Luckily I was recording with the mini-recorder.  So about 90 min into the show, the sound quality dips a bit-Sorry, I didn't anticipate that.  It's Live!

Ham Radio: 10 Meters, Ten-Ten International Net with Keith, KR7RK   Like many of his contemporaries, Ketih Schlottman  was drawn to the Amateur Radio Hobby though Shortwave and CB Radios.  After obtaining his licenses Keith became active on HF and soon became a member of the 10-10 International Net.   Keith has served as the groups treasurer since 1994.   I have personally enjoyed operating 10 meters, and always wondered what the 10-10 International Net was.  Keith fills in all the blanks for us in Episode 49!  Listen in to learn what 10-10 is, why it exist, and how you too can participate! 10 meters is an equal opportunity band (28.0-29.7 MHz)!  From the newest rigs to an older Radio Shack mono-band; when 10m is Open-anyone can work it with most anything (wet noodles to modified CB antennas)!  *Technicians have voice privileges in the 10m band, and with Summer coming-now is the time to get ready for some 10m fun! Links: http://www.ten-ten.org A few other good resources for propagation, etc: Propnet 10 meter beacon list PSK Reporter 10 meter repeater list     Thanks for listening and participating with us!  Remember to Like, Share, and Re-Tweet!   73 Y'all Cale/K4CDN  

Ham Radio: Dayton Hamvention 2016   In a near Earth-Shattering turn of events, the way has been made for Cale to attend the Dayton Hamvention.  Now he needs your help in funding the trip (click photo below for more info).   Hamvention happens every year in May, in Dayton OH, and this year it begins on May 20th. Dayton Hamvention is THE Ham Radio Event in the US.  This time through we discuss the Hamvention, what to expect and how to prepare yourself and your wallet!  Veteran show attendees George and Jeremy help walk us through what you can do to have a great Hamvention experience!   Dayton Hamvention, May 20-22, 2016   Thanks for listening and sharing! 73 Y'all! Cale/K4CDN   There's George in 2012 (Micro-Controller)        

Ham Radio: Everything Scanners with Jeremy (KF7IJZ) and Kevin (K5KVN) Jeremy and Kevin get together to fill us all in about Scanners and Scanner Listening!  As he eluded to in Episode 40 Kevin is a Scanner-fanatic!  As a matter of fact, it was Scanner Listening that led him into Ham Radio! Scanning has changed through the years, but the longing to be 'in the know' keeps many of us intrigued and the Utility of owning a Scanner is addressed in this show. the RTL-SDR Blog SDR Receiver is the best deal going! It doesn't have to cost a fortune or take a degree to get yourself listening to what's going on around you! RTL_SDR Blog Radio Reference Website Broadcastify Scanner Listening Scanner Radio App (what I use on my Droid) Mobile/Handheld Scanners Base Station Scanners SDR/ADSB listening Thanks for Listening!  73 Y'all! Cale K4CDN   Remember to comment below-we'd like to connect with you! Retweet, Like and Share as well! Need More? ScannerMaster: