Tag: Amateur Radio

Picture: Astron RS-35A

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When I am not writing about politics and scorning socialists for their stupidity.  I enjoy another hobby. That would be Amateur Radio or Ham Radio.

The Astron Power Supply Co. is considered the “Cadillac” of power supplies in the Amateur Radio Community and in the communications world period.  They are American made with pride.

Anyhow, I have noticed that there are hardly any decent pictures of the Astron RS-35A Power Supply.

I sought to fix that…..

I declare this picture PUBLIC DOMAIN and authorize it’s use EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE, provided I get credit for taking it. Just Credit “K8CPA” with the photo and the original location where it is found and you can use it.

The picture is not the best, but it is better than most.

Here are pictures of the Astron RS-35A that I took delivery of today from R & L Electronics in Ohio.

Astron RS-35A Front

Astron RS-35A Back

Astron RS-35A Innards

The best $167.76 I ever spent. I bought this power supply from revenue generated from this blog. Thank goodness for Google Adsense. I earned that money from my writing here on this blog. No bailouts were used. 😉

Pretty nifty isn’t it? 😀

Sad Personal Story: U.S. Coast Guard Suspends search for missing N.C. Boater

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This is so awfully sad:

The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a boater who disappeared Thursday near Myrtle Beach.

A boat belonging to Thomas “Andy” Richmond of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., washed ashore near 60th Avenue North late Thursday night, sparking the search. Searchers spent all day Friday and Saturday and much of both nights scouring the sea for Richmond after his 28-foot boat, “Heads or Tails,” was found on the beach just before midnight with its engine still running.

Agencies involved in the search included the Coast Guard, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, State Law Enforcement Division and Horry County. The search covered an area the size of the state of Rhode Island, according to a release from the Coast Guard. Rescue crews searched for approximately 48 hours covering 1,783 square nautical miles, the release said

via Coast Guard suspends search for missing fisherman off Myrtle Beach coast – Breaking News – TheSunNews.com.

The reason why I even know about this is because I usually talk to the man’s cousin named Ed on 3.865khz on the 75 meter Amateur Radio Band. It is with a group called “The Moonrunners” that meet from 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. EST. I will not print his callsign for privacy reasons But I can really tell by this man’s voice that this has devastated this poor man to know this his cousin has had this horrible thing happen to him. 🙁 😥

My prayers go out to the Richmond Family, and all of the extended family as well.

My Other Hobby in the spotlight on NPR

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I thought some of you might be interested in this:

Stanley Hardman, an amateur radio operator, and his family look at transmitting equipment in 1939.

Only a few years ago, blogs listed ham radio alongside 35 mm film and VHS tape as technologies slated to disappear.

They were wrong.

Nearly 700,000 Americans have ham radio licenses — up 60 percent from 1981, a generation ago. And the number is growing.

Ham radio will never have the sex appeal of the iPhone, but it does have a certain nerd appeal, says Allen Weiner, an analyst at the technology research firm Gartner.

“If it creates its own experience, that’s really what’s key here,” he says. “If it just emulates an experience that you can get online, it’s not going to grow.”

via Ham Radio Growing In The Age Of Twitter : NPR.

A very interesting article about a very interesting hobby. Check it out! 😀

Short Film: Radio Hams

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This film, which was shot by the MGM studios in 1939; is a specialty film promoting Amateur Radio. As some of you know, my other hobby is, in fact, Amateur Radio.

This is a short subject film from 1939. It was directed and Produced by the iconic Pete Smith.

Here is “Radio Hams”: (H/T to DH1TW)

Neat old movie eh? The story is quite true, the Camera man was really a camera man. Now as for the plane pilot, I have not been able to dig up his information. Maybe some of you can do that.

As for Amateur Radio; we’re not winding coils any longer and Morse Code is not really required to get a license, But as this recent CNN article shows, we are still there, when all else fails. However, we still do build our own antennas, and some people who are much smarter and craftier than I will ever be, build their own amps, tuners, and all sorts of other things.

The flagship organization of Amateur Radio in the United States is the American Radio Relay League, otherwise known as The National Association of Amateur Radio. The A.R.R.L., as it is called was founded way back in 1914; you know, when the world was still in black and white and wheels were square? — Oh I kid! 😀  But the League does do some very good things for we weirdos who like to string wires and try to send RF signals into the sky. Here is a look at the A.R.R.L.’s Station and Antenna farm. In case you are wondering, no, I do not have an antenna farm like that and two; No, I am not a member of the ARRL at the moment. But you can change that! IYKWIMAITYD. Lifetime Membership is $975 plus $50.00 for a plaque. Hey, it beats $39 bucks a year! 🙄

Also, my radio is down too. So, I really have not been that active, except on the local VHF repeater here. But you can change that too! IYKWIMAITYD!

Great nice, clean, fun, family hobby. Check it out!

Update: What I really want for Christmas

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First off, I do not want anyone thinking that this is a some sort of a whiny post. It’s not; it is just me, window shopping and sharing it here on the blog.

For Christmas this year, I have, so far gotten a pair of gloves and a band to go around my noggin. This will come in handy, when I’m out there running snow blower. I will most likely get a few dollars in my checking account too, via my parents.

But what I really want for Christmas; is this stuff here. Stuff I could really use. But, truthfully I cannot afford. So, I write this posting, with subtle hints, hoping that some “well to do” Conservative will see it and maybe, possibly, hopefully, take the hint! 😉

First of all, What I want more than anything, is to be able to get back to my hobby of Amateur Radio. Yes folks, I am a licensed Amateur Radio Operator. I hold a General Class License.

I have had my eye on this little beautiful thing  here for a long time:

The Icom IC-7800 HF Transciever

This is the top of the line, High Frequency Transceiver for Amateur Radio. It is a DX’ers dream.

So, how much will one of these contraptions set you back? Oh, about $10,300.00! (Shipping Included…)

Of course, if I had a station like this, I would have to get a nice Amplifier to go with it. I have one that I would really love to own.

This one:

The Ameritron AL-1200 Amateur Radio Amplifier and innards

It’s made in America, very high quality. An excellent machine. How much will it set you back?  $3200.00!

Plus another $100 or so to get the 220 ran into the ham shack. Plus another $100 for your friend, for being brave enough to stick his hands in the circuit breaker box and hook it up for you!

I already have a good antenna and a decent antenna tuner. In fact my buddy Matt put up the antenna; and then it tuns out my rig had some major issues. He tried to fix it, but it needs some serious TLC by someone who’s got some really good equipment. This is a job that would be over my head. I can do basic stuff, but major stuff is out for me.

Another thing I could use, is this:

Window 7 Home Premium

My Laptop runs Windows Vista Basic. I need Windows 7. This is the only version of that this laptop will run.

How much? $120.00 from Dell and I have to buy it through them, or I void the warranty. (Sucks, but, thems the breaks!)

Update: I picked up Windows 7 myself. I got just enough from the folks to be able to pick up Windows 7. I, for one, am looking forward to this upgrade! 😀 So, I removed the link to paypal on this one. As I already have it now. The rest? Feel Free!

Anyhow, feeling generous? Want to get me off of this blog? then, you know…. 😉 😀 😛

Merry Christmas to all! 😀 😛 😆