Imagine Metafilter, only on the radio May 19, 2011 10:33 AM Subscribe
Would anyone be interested in a HF radio on-air meetup? There are a few hams that walk amongst us here on MetaFilter.
Personally, I’d suggest something like PSK31 on 20m (mainly because so many people seem to have such difficulty with my accent, sheesh). I’ll attempt to put together a sked that meets most people’s locations if there's interest.
I’d put this on IRL, but it doesn’t seem to like “Anywhere between Hawaii and Russia”.
Personally, I’d suggest something like PSK31 on 20m (mainly because so many people seem to have such difficulty with my accent, sheesh). I’ll attempt to put together a sked that meets most people’s locations if there's interest.
I’d put this on IRL, but it doesn’t seem to like “Anywhere between Hawaii and Russia”.
I just got my license recently but don't have any HF gear yet - maybe later?
posted by exogenous at 11:20 AM on May 19, 2011
posted by exogenous at 11:20 AM on May 19, 2011
Does ham radio have any brands that provoke pissing contents the way Apple does?
"Oh, you're one of those Yaesu fanbois?"
Cause that would be funny.
posted by Trurl at 11:21 AM on May 19, 2011
"Oh, you're one of those Yaesu fanbois?"
Cause that would be funny.
posted by Trurl at 11:21 AM on May 19, 2011
I don't have any HF gear to speak of but I love this idea.
Trurl, maybe we could cast aspersions based on band preference instead? HF vs VHF vs UHF. 2m vs 70cm.
posted by hattifattener at 12:26 PM on May 19, 2011
Trurl, maybe we could cast aspersions based on band preference instead? HF vs VHF vs UHF. 2m vs 70cm.
posted by hattifattener at 12:26 PM on May 19, 2011
That could be fun. I don't know if I've got the gear to manage it, but it might be worth a try.
posted by rmd1023 at 12:44 PM on May 19, 2011
posted by rmd1023 at 12:44 PM on May 19, 2011
I don't have any (assembled) HF gear but I would listen via websdr and fldigi.
The real holy war in ham radio now is between software defined radio (SDR) and old fashioned hardware equipment. It's not really a war, just all the old sticks in the mud refuse to accept the superior performance and hackability of SDRs despite the clear indications of where the future leads.
posted by ChrisHartley at 1:00 PM on May 19, 2011
The real holy war in ham radio now is between software defined radio (SDR) and old fashioned hardware equipment. It's not really a war, just all the old sticks in the mud refuse to accept the superior performance and hackability of SDRs despite the clear indications of where the future leads.
posted by ChrisHartley at 1:00 PM on May 19, 2011
Your favorite band sucks.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
posted by slogger at 2:01 PM on May 19, 2011 [13 favorites]
Sorry, couldn't resist.
posted by slogger at 2:01 PM on May 19, 2011 [13 favorites]
You've probably never heard of my favorite band.
I might be interested in this. I think I can borrow someone's unused HF equipment. I've never done PSK31 before, but I should be able to figure it out.
posted by MrFTBN at 2:09 PM on May 19, 2011
I might be interested in this. I think I can borrow someone's unused HF equipment. I've never done PSK31 before, but I should be able to figure it out.
posted by MrFTBN at 2:09 PM on May 19, 2011
This would be cool if I had privileges on HF. Perhaps EchoLink some future time?
posted by tommasz at 3:39 PM on May 19, 2011
posted by tommasz at 3:39 PM on May 19, 2011
"Does ham radio have any brands that provoke pissing contents the way Apple does?"
Apple does not piss content, but there are a few folks here that do.
posted by tomswift at 4:52 PM on May 19, 2011
Apple does not piss content, but there are a few folks here that do.
posted by tomswift at 4:52 PM on May 19, 2011
Apple does not piss content
Of course not. They deliver it in dribs and drabs and charge for nearly all of it.
I have to say, realizing there is a funky new digital radio mode that started up after the last time I was on HF makes me feel 1. old and 2. out of the loop. Crazy kids with your crazy new RADIO MODES.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:10 PM on May 19, 2011
Of course not. They deliver it in dribs and drabs and charge for nearly all of it.
I have to say, realizing there is a funky new digital radio mode that started up after the last time I was on HF makes me feel 1. old and 2. out of the loop. Crazy kids with your crazy new RADIO MODES.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:10 PM on May 19, 2011
The reason I'm suggesting HF is that it would allow us all to talk without relying upon the good graces of networked repeater operators.
posted by scruss at 8:26 PM on May 19, 2011
posted by scruss at 8:26 PM on May 19, 2011
Hey, a question for the metafilter hams, now that you're both in the same thread: has anyone set up an automated PSK31 propagation beacon? You could ask it questions and it would reply with a reception reports, stuff like that. Maybe pipe unrecognized queries through Eliza. I haven't read the rules lately, but I think something like that would be legal, as long as it properly identified itself and was reasonably well behaved. I expect this has already been done, yes?
posted by ryanrs at 9:13 PM on May 19, 2011
posted by ryanrs at 9:13 PM on May 19, 2011
Breaker one niner, are there any Smokeys with ears on?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:02 PM on May 19, 2011
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:02 PM on May 19, 2011
good-buddy-related trivia: the music for "Convoy" (that cb song) was written by the guy behind Mannheim Steamroller. not a cross-genre link i would normally expect.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:12 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by rmd1023 at 5:12 AM on May 20, 2011
ryanrs, no need to have beacons when you have pskreporter.
posted by scruss at 7:26 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by scruss at 7:26 AM on May 20, 2011
Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy!
posted by Crabby Appleton at 8:59 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by Crabby Appleton at 8:59 AM on May 20, 2011
If anyone wants to really nerd out and build a software-defined radio, some SoftRock kits are available at the moment. My RXTX Ensemble is en route.
posted by exogenous at 9:49 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by exogenous at 9:49 AM on May 21, 2011
I just finished building my Softrock Receiver for 40M, my RXTX Ensemble is about 10% complete. WB5RVZ's heathkit style build guide makes the whole assembly process a lot of fun.
So... let's all build Softrocks and meet back here in a month to schedule a Metafilter net.
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:05 AM on May 21, 2011
So... let's all build Softrocks and meet back here in a month to schedule a Metafilter net.
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:05 AM on May 21, 2011
The SoftRocks are sold out again, and you might have difficulty getting out to everyone with 1W.
posted by scruss at 6:09 AM on May 23, 2011
posted by scruss at 6:09 AM on May 23, 2011
The SoftRocks are sold out again
Last week I contacted KB9YIG via his web site and he alerted me prior to the kits going on sale again. That worked much better than RSS alert I'd set up previously via a third party web page watcher. I reckon the contact indicating interest doesn't hurt, either. And my kit arrived today, woot!
you might have difficulty getting out to everyone with 1W
I believe that, though PSK31 is reportedly amazing at getting through noise with low power. Here are a few amplifiers I have been contemplating:
Last week I contacted KB9YIG via his web site and he alerted me prior to the kits going on sale again. That worked much better than RSS alert I'd set up previously via a third party web page watcher. I reckon the contact indicating interest doesn't hurt, either. And my kit arrived today, woot!
you might have difficulty getting out to everyone with 1W
I believe that, though PSK31 is reportedly amazing at getting through noise with low power. Here are a few amplifiers I have been contemplating:
- The 16 to 20 Watt Pennywhistle (kit for sale)
- The 50W WA2EUJ amp (part of the 2010 ARRL homebrew challenge): PCB for sale, related Yahoo group
- The 20W G6ALU amp
- TF3LJ has a 20W amp for the SoftRock
In case anyone cares, the SoftRock kits are available at the moment. My transceiver is partially done, with the smallest SMT bits soldered in and the HF oscillator talking to my computer over USB. Waiting for my enclosure and dipole parts to arrive...
posted by exogenous at 6:08 PM on June 1, 2011
posted by exogenous at 6:08 PM on June 1, 2011
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*bites tongue*
posted by desjardins at 11:00 AM on May 19, 2011 [2 favorites]