EHAM      QTH     QRZ     ARRL      HRO      ICOM      KENWOOD    YAESU  ELBO ROOM  COMMENTS

THURSDAY EDITION: Another 2-5 inches this weekend, this global warming has to be dealt with, it's killing me here....Remember the Nash automobile?....Good discussion on EV vehicles this smornng on 3940, I still do not see any reason to buy one. My F250 gets 12 mpg and I only drive 5000 miles a year, my xyl's Volv hets 27 mpg and it is only droven by me about 2000 miles a year. I bought it new in 2019 and it has 20k on it...I have no payments on either vehicle, change the oil and drive. My ham friend leased a new VW electric car an hates it. In this frigid weather and VW locking down charging to just 80 percent, he can go 150 miles with headlights and heat on. It cost him $1500 to put a charger in the driveway....how the hell is this saving the world or your pocketbook? If you want to drive to Florida you are screwed....The EV chargers in the Stop and Shop lot are 110 volt chargers, you would have to wait all day to charge.

 

WEDNESDAY EDITION: I am glad HamClock will be kept going, it is a nice source for ham ops....

open-hamclock-backend Aims to Keep HamClock Ticking

A group of ham radio operators have stepped up to keep HamClock operating beyond it’s scheduled sunset in June. An open source replacement for the backend processes required to keep the popular HamClock project alive is well under way.

Developed by Brian (KO4AQF) and Austin (KN4LNB), open-hamclock-backend is designed to be a drop-in replacement for the backend server that populates HamClock with its signature set of 40+ data points and visualizations.

From Brian (KO4AQF):

HamClock relies on an internet backend to provide live space-weather, propagation, DX, and news data. With the passing of its original developer, that backend is no longer being maintained, which means many HamClocks will gradually lose live functionality even though the devices themselves still work.

An open-source replacement backend is now being developed that recreates the same data feeds HamClock expects, using publicly available sources such as NOAA, space-weather services, PSK Reporter, and DX information sites. From the HamClock’s point of view, nothing changes — it connects to the same paths and receives the same data formats, without any firmware modification. We are very close to replicating nearly every possible data source and making slight improvements along the way.

The system is free, open-source, and designed to run locally on a small Linux system, allowing individual hams or clubs to keep existing HamClocks fully operational. The goal is preservation, not reinvention — keeping HamClock working exactly as intended for years to come.

Currently, open-hamclock-backend is designed to be self-hosted, requiring any user wishing to extend HamClock’s usefulness beyond June to run the software themselves. However, options are being considered for a centralized version to be stood up for all HamClock users to take advantage of.

Source: open-hamclock-backend

Hamvention 2026 Theme and Logo Announced

Hamvention has released the theme and logo for the 2026 Dayton Hamvention show that will take place May 15-17.

This year’s theme is “Radio Adventure” referencing exploration of the many avenues ham radio offers.

Radio has always been about exploration — of ideas, technologies, distances, and possibilities. From the earliest spark-gap pioneers to today’s digital experimenters, satellite operators, contesters, emergency communicators, and outdoor enthusiasts, amateur radio continues to be a gateway to discovery.

Hamvention will take place at the Greene County Fair and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.

Source: Hamvention

TUESDAY EDITION: It was nice to hear Arthur- K1PGH from Cape Cod on 3928 yesterday. Arthur goes back to licensed in 1957  and has done it all. Commercial fishing, started an Ice Cream Shop on the Cape, an going excavation company,  and even restores cars.....a wealth of knowledge and one hell of a fine man....

Lenore Kingston was an actress, known for The Twilight Zone (1959), The Beverly Hillbillies, General Hospital and an accomplished Ham Radio Operator W6NAZ.

ARRL to announce winner of Icom® Dream Station at HamCation®

MONDAY EDITION: My wife has not really been out of the house for over a month yet somehow caught Covid, she went over to Urgent Care for x-ray and tests to find the news. We both have it and I brought it in to the house from wherever....I wondered why I was weak and felt like a bag of shit, it didn't feel like a cold really, the coughing was brutal....anyways we are all on the mend or not, life is a crapshoot, ask the fisherman from Gloucester.

Taking a Look at Variable Vacuum Capacitors

Variable capacitors may be useful, but the air gap that provides their capacitance is their greatest weakness. Rather than deal with the poor dielectric properties of air, some high-end variable capacitors replace it with a vacuum, which presents some obvious mechanical difficulties, but does give the resulting capacitor a remarkable quality factor, high-voltage performance, and higher capacitance for plate area than their air-gapped brethren. [Shahriar] of [The Signal Path] managed to acquire a pair of these and took a detailed look at their construction and performance in a recent video.

The vacuum capacitors don’t use quite the same parallel plate design as other variable capacitors. They instead make the plates out of interlaced concentric metal rings mounted in a vacuum tube. Both sets of rings are connected to terminals, one fixed and one capable of being pulled in or out on a threaded rod surrounded by an accordion-pleated copper seal. A nut on the outside pulls the rod out, and the interior vacuum pulls it in toward the other set of plates. Unfortunately, since the mobile terminal needs to be mechanically connected to some adjustment mechanism (such as someone’s hand), it can’t really be at a floating voltage. The mobile terminal needs to be grounded for safety. Alternatively, for automatic control, one of the capacitors had a chassis with a motor, gearing, and a positional encoder.

[Shahriar] also tested the capacitors with an impedance analyzer and lock-in amplifier. They had fairly low capacitance (for the one he tested, 36 pF at maximum and 16 pF at minimum), but the dissipation factor was so low and the DC impedance so high that they couldn’t be meaningfully measured. He also tested one at 5000 volts and found almost no dissipation.

We recently saw another video going over a lesser-known feature of normal air-gap variable capacitors and another new non-standard variable capacitor design. On the opposite end of the fanciness spectrum might be this variable capacitor built out of aluminium cans.

Explore the Stratosphere With a DIY Pico balloon

SUNDAY EDITION: It's snowing, already an inch from the ocean effect at 7am, the storm arrives later and lasts all day. We used to never get snow, what the hell happened around here? Global Warming my ass....

The ARRL Solar Update

Register Now for HamSCI 2026, Hosted by ARRL

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® will host the 9th annual Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) Workshop on March 14 – 15, 2026, with primary activities held at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain, Connecticut, and additional events at ARRL Headquarters in Newington. The international workshop brings together radio amateurs, scientists, educators, and students to explore how amateur radio serves as a practical tool for scientific research and citizen science.

Organized by the HamSCI community, the 2026 workshop carries the theme “Discovering Science Through Ham Radio.” Presentations and discussions will highlight real-world research enabled by amateur radio, including ionospheric and space weather studies, meteor scatter propagation, radio-based sensing technologies, and the growing use of Personal Space Weather Stations. The program emphasizes how these efforts not only advance scientific understanding, but also directly inform and improve amateur radio operating and technology.

American Radio Relay League | Ham Radio Association and Resources – Read More

SATURDAY EDITION: Sadly, Gloucester lost another trawler yesterday 20 miles offshore. The Lily Jean, its captain, Gus Sanfilippo, and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show “Nor’Easter Men.” Sanfilippo is described as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, fishing out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in the Georges Bank. The crew is shown working in dangerous weather conditions for hours on end, spending as many as 10 days at sea on one trip fishing for haddock, lobster and flounder.

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

SILENT KEY: ELWOOD DOWNEY, WBØOEW, CREATOR OF HAMCLOCK

PAUL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, we learned of the sudden death of Elwood Downey, WBØOEW, the developer and creator of the popular open-source HamClock software. The popular Linux-based digital information display has been a mainstay in amateur radio shacks, where hams have eagerly awaited updates and new versions.

The revelation that Elwood had become a Silent Key on Thursday, the 29th of January, was accompanied by a message on his clearskyinstitute.com website. It announced his death, adding that the final release of HamClock is version 4.22. All HamClocks are to stop functioning in June of this year. In a separate posting on Facebook, Bruce Kempf, KC3JS, announced that he was halting all sales of turnkey HamClocks until there is a functioning replacement. He asked for fellow HamClock enthusiasts to help find a means to get a functioning server and edit the code to allow this to work.

**

HAM RADIO BUSINESS OWNER KILLED IN PLANE CRASH IN AUSTRALIA

PAUL/ANCHOR: The pilot of a private plane that crashed North of Australia's Gold Coast has been identified as an amateur radio operator and successful businessman. He was well-known for the ham-radio equipment business he built decades earlier from a garage-based operation. We hear about him from Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: The single-engine plane had just taken off from a private airstrip on Tuesday, January 27th, when it came down, killing the pilot and his passenger at the scene. The pilot was identified as Greg Ackman, VK4BBX, owner of Mobile One Australia. Various news reports described him as an experienced aviator. His passenger was said to be from Sydney. According to media reports, the two were on their way to New South Wales.

Greg designed much of the amateur equipment sold by the company he founded. A ham since 2021, he was a visible presence at amateur radio events throughout Australia. At the time Newsline went to production, investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the crash.

**
HAMS MARK 96TH ANNIVERSARY OF PLUTO'S DISCOVERY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Do you want to come visit Pluto? It doesn't involve space travel - it just means you're committed to helping mark yet another anniversary of its discovery -- by the uncle of one of the special event operators! Randy Sly W4XJ tells us what we need to know.

RANDY: Amateur radio operators will be on the air as W7P from February 14th through the 22nd to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the discovery of Pluto and to continue the countdown to the 100th anniversary in 2030.

This year the event sponsors are hoping to have a number of visiting operators join the fun! Bob Wertz, NF7E, told AR Newsline <quote> “The Northern Arizona DX Association invites out-of-state ham radio clubs and operators to join us as guest operators for the W7P Pluto Discovery Anniversary Special Event — operating from the very place where Pluto was discovered in 1930, the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.”

Visiting hams will need to contact Bob ahead of time to be placed on the schedule.

In addition to operations at the observatory, Doug Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto in 1930, will lead a team of operators at W7P/Ø. Doug said that he especially enjoys making contact with other amateurs who knew his uncle or were involved in other activities related to Pluto

**
HAMVENTION CELEBRATES THE ADVENTURE OF RADIO

PAUL/ANCHOR: For ham radio operators, adventure comes in all forms - whether it means landing on a remote island for a two-week DXpedition or hiking to activate a summit in a national park. Others simply see adventure in the annual challenge to make that trip to Xenia, Ohio to attend Hamvention. Whatever your personal challenge is, it's in the spotlight this year as Hamvention organizers have just announced that "Radio Adventure!" is the theme for the three days from May 15th through to May 17th at the Greene County fairgrounds.

Even if your biggest adventure ends up being your decision on what new rig to take home with you this year, expect the gates to be open, as usual, for a reunion among friends and your ham radio family.

(HAMVENTION)

**
ANNUAL "AM RALLY" TURNS BACK THE CALENDAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: It's not time to turn the clocks just yet - here in the US, we take a one-hour leap forward in a few weeks. It is, however, time to turn back the calendar in just a few days and revisit amateur radio's first voice mode. Sel Embee KB3TZD has those details.

SEL: Long before there was Single Sideband there was AM, or Amplitude Modulation, the only HF voice mode available to previous generations of amateur radio operators.

AM operators are still on the air - holding nets and having QSOs - although AM's rich, warm tones are heard less often on the bands these days. That's about to change. From 0000 UTC on Saturday February 7th through to 0700 UTC on Monday, February 9th, everyone gets a chance to be part of this annual operating event. Any type of radio equipment will get you in the game as long as it is capable of full carrier amplitude modulation.

The action will take place on the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 , and 6 metre amateur radio bands.

For details about the different power categories, rig categories or operating procedure, visit the website amrally.com If you are a newcomer to operating on AM, there's plenty of information there to help you get started.

**
STATEWIDE POTA ACTIVATORS' CLUB DEBUTS CALLSIGN

PAUL/ANCHOR: Even as parts of the US, including the New England states, were suffering through days of sub-freezing temperatures recently, a dedicated group of park activators in Connecticut had a good warm feeling - and they headed to the park to celebrate by getting on the air. Travis Lisk, N3ILS, tells us more.

TRAVIS: If you happened to work WB1CT on the first morning of the new year, you are part of the inaugural POTA log of the Connecticut Parks On The Air activators group. The club has been around - and growing - since its first informal activities in early 2021. Until recently, most of their hunters are more familiar with their previous callsign, K2D, the special event one-by-one callsign it shared with the Connecticut operators in the 13 Colonies Event each July. Group director Conrad Trautmann, N2YCH, told Newsline that as the group grew larger and added even more activities, it made sense to become an official nonprofit club, which is did in late 2025. The FCC granted the club callsign shortly afterward.

With a special park-to-park net that helps activators get more Connecticut parks in their logs, the club continues to evolve, both in activities and membership. The group has more than 100 POTA activators throughout the state. When they're not on the air, they keep in touch regularly via a groups.io list.

Be listening for WB1CT calling "CQ POTA" or, if you happen to live in Connecticut, join the action. You can find details on the club's page on QRZ.com

**
SILENT KEY: NOTED DXPEDITIONER DAVID ASSAF III, W5XU

PAUL/ANCHOR: A noted DXpeditioner and active member of the Intrepid-DX Group has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from Stephen Kinford N8WB.

STEPHEN: David Assaf III, W5XU, had a long amateur radio life which began when he was still in high school. It gathered momentum - and more of a spirit of adventure -,over time. The DXpeditioner was 71 years old when in 2016 he activated South Sandwich Island with the Intrepid-DX group as VP8SGI and Thule Island as VP8STI, in a place uninhabitable except by penguins.

He became a Silent Key on January 18th, according to his online obituary.

David, who discovered ham radio as a high school electronics enthusiast, would go on to a lifetime of other discoveries and many DXpeditions, including Russell Reef, as 9MØW, and Melish Reef, 9M6MA.

An active member of the Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club, his commitment to helping his Louisiana community spurred him into service by assisting emergency communications during Hurricane Betsy in 1965 - an action for which the city of New Orleans honored him.

David was 80.

**
ARDC GRANT FULFILLS SATELLITE, SPACE GOALS FOR N.C. CLUB

PAUL/ANCHOR: A grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications has helped one club in North Carolina fulfill its dreams of space, satellites and the ISS. We have that story from Jim Damron N8TMW.

JIM: An important terrestrial contact made recently by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society has brought the promise of so many more contacts that can now happen in space. For this club and the youngsters at the Conn Magnet Elementary School, Friday the 30th of January will be remembered as a big day for their scheduled QSO with the International Space Station - a direct contact made via amateur radio.

The North Carolina hams have a long history of answering school and youth-group requests to assist with ham radio satellite contacts and even ISS communications. But, as club member Carl Davis, W8WZ, told Newsline, it was always challenging to assemble the necessary equipment because to answer each request, members had to dismantle and transport the appropriate radio gear from individual members’ own homes.

The club reached out successfully to Amateur Radio Digital Communications which gave them a $14,000 grant and the means to buy portable equipment dedicated for amateur satellite and ARISS contacts, such as the late-January QSO under the direction of John Brier K4EB.

Carl said that while the new equipment will help inspire the next generation to explore the power of amateur radio, it will also enable more club members to train to assist with the ARISS contacts. Within the club itself, more members will also learn to become skilled satellite operators.

**

ARTEMIS 2 LAUNCHPAD IMAGE CAPTURED BY ASTRONAUT

PAUL/ANCHOR: All eyes, it seems, are on the Artemis 2 moon rocket since its recent rollout onto the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From high above the earth, another pair of eyes - and the lens of a camera - have been watching too, as we hear from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: From his front-row seat aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW, got the best view of all of the Artemis 2 as it awaits its crew of four. Chris was able to capture the image on camera. He posted it on the social media site, X, on Monday the 19th of January.

Alongside the image he wrote: [quote] "If you zoom in on the rightmost launch pad, you can see a shadow just to the left of the center of the pad. That shadow is from the rocket and launch tower that will soon take four of my friends on a trip around the moon." [endquote]

They're not just his friends and fellow astronauts - just like Chris, three of them have their ham radio licenses: Commander Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT, pilot Victor Glover, KI5BKC and mission specialist, Jeremy Hansen, KF5LKU. The fourth crew member is mission specialist Christina Koch. The crew's launch toward the moon could come as early as February.

Though Chris is scheduled to stay aboard the ISS for a few more months, once Artemis is launched, the crew won't coming by for their closeup. The journey is expected to last 10 days before it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, five operators will be active during the AU7RS DXpedition to Agatti, IOTA Number AS-011, in the Lakshadweep Islands. The activation is scheduled for the 8th through to the 14th of February. Be listening on 160 through 6 metres where they will be using CW, SSB and FT8. They will also operate via the QO-100 satellite.

Andre, PD1DRE, is using the callsign PJ2/PD1DRE from Curacao, IOTA Number SA-099, until the 4th of March. He is calling QRZ on SSB and FT8/FT4.

In Placencia, Belize, listen for Walt, WØCP using the callsign V31DJ, operating CW and SSB. His wife Mary, KØZV will be using the callsign V31DK, operating FT8 and FT4. They will be on the air from the 1st through to the 27th of February.

John, W5JON, is active with the callsign V47JA from St. Kitts, IOTA Number NA-104), through to the 3rd of February. He is operating SSB and FT8 on various bands.

**
KICKER: A FAMILY OF MOUNTAIN GOATS GROWS THE HERD

PAUL/ANCHOR: People who are familiar with goats will tell you that they are strongly associated with courage, resilience and tenacity. Families of goats are almost always close-knit, social and very supportive of one another. So what do goat families have to do with Washington state's Henderson family? Ralph Squillace KK6ITB is here to explain in our final story for this week.

RALPH: In early January, 14-year-old Niels Henderson became the youngest Mountain Goat in the US in the Summits on the Air awards scheme, He did it barely one month after his 16-year-old brother, Soren, KK7UKE, set the same record on a snowy summit this past Christmas Day. Their mother, Corrinne, KK7ULL, was the first in the family to ascend to Mountain Goat heights. She achieved that status this past October after 13 months of steady SOTA activations.

With 1,000 points needed to classify a SOTA activator as a Mountain Goat, that means a total of 3,000 points between proud mom and her two sons. Corrinne told Newsline that the family decided in 2024 that amateur radio would be great to have along on their adventures as avid hikers - and so they went for it, joining her husband Jason, KC7EPG, who has been licensed since his teens. Jason had convinced them that amateur radio would add another measure of security when they were hiking in areas with poor cell service. Then, members of their ham radio club suggested that the family start activating summits, She and Jason were hooked.

Corrinne said that work commitments recently slowed Jason's climb to join his Goat family at the top but he's getting there. With Jason needing only 80 more points, she said that before too long, [quote] "We'll be our own little SOTA Mountain Goat herd." [endquote] No doubt the Hendersons will be one herd who's definitely being heard.

FRIDAY EDITION: It's been a winter here and I am for the first time feeling my age, I don't do well with the cold anymore. Yesterday I went out to uncover my wife's car and broke a windshield wiper stuck to the windshield. I then hopped in the truck to touch up the driveway and ran the plow up hard against a boulder I forgot about that was covered in the snow. I ripped off the weld and bent a piece of 1/2 plate steel from the plow mount that holds the plow in position. I went over to the shop and we heated the plate stock cherry red with the torch and wrestled it back in place with a sledge hammer and then stick welded it back to somewhat normal. 1 1/2 hours, most of the time outside, came home and went to bed....this getting old and stupid is tough to swallow...

ARDC Priority Areas of Funding Offer Opportunities for Hams

ARDC continues to accept grant applications from organizations aiming to advance the hobby of amateur radio and beyond. The next application deadline is just around the corner on February 1st, but three additional rounds of applications will be accepted later this year on April 1st, July 1st, and September 1st.

ARDC makes grants to programs and organizations that aim to advance our mission and vision, with the strategic goals of getting more people learning, experimenting, and doing with amateur radio and digital communications technology.

With the recent introduction of Priority Areas for Funding, ARDC is especially interested in projects that align with the following areas:

• Research & Development (R&D): open hardware and software systems that enable learning and experimentation (e.g. SDRs, open codec technologies, new modulation techniques).
• Space-Based Communications: projects that create or expand access to satellite communications for amateur radio (AR) and digital communications (DC), engaging communities in wireless experimentation (e.g. GEO or HEO programs, repurposed commercial satellites, space-based tools for learning).
• Open Source Education: scalable, open educational materials and hands-on projects that make AR and DC more accessible, especially for new learners and clubs (e.g. curricula, videos).

ARDC welcomes proposals across the full range of amateur radio and digital communications, but projects that align with these areas remain a priority. Learn more about applying for grants at ARDC.

THURSDAY EDITION: I have been sick as a dog with non stop coughing, fever, and cold and feeling like crap..I feel somewhat better today. I plowed the driveway after the storm but I never got to snowblowing, I dread the thought today.We got the jackpot, 27 inches and drifts over 3 feet around the house. ...On another note, I am very glad I switched the link of the 440 Gloucester fusion repeater over to the UFB New England Network, lots of activity...if you call out someone actually answers you!....Here is our tax dollar at work, sending a shitter to the moon...

Emergency officials use ham radio operators during winter storms (West Virginia)

MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – With winter weather slamming much of the region, emergency officials are activating a different kind of backup — one that doesn’t rely on cell towers or Wi-Fi.

It’s called ARES — Amateur Radio Emergency Service — and it’s full of ham radio operators trained to step in when traditional communication goes down.

Joe Barnhart with the Meigs County Auxiliary Communications said it takes a team to be prepared.

“It was a busy weekend. We started Friday setting up equipment. On Saturday, we stood up our auxiliary group. Meigs EMA asked us to have volunteers ready to deploy to warming shelter in case service or internet was down,” Barnhart said.

A team of operators checked in to the network during the weekend. They’re acting as a human link — taking calls, confirming locations, and pushing critical information up the chain of command.

“We set up an emergency communication with various services, whether its amateur radio or GMRS radio, which is the General Mobile Radio Service and that allows people with even radio service, to hear and commute with the general networks, that gives real world information for weather conditions, snow levels, the Meigs EMS wants us to send out,” Barnhart said.

Read more – WSAZ: https://bit.ly/4qbMM2h

 

TUESDAY EDITION: Two feet of snow and Dave- N1EDU got to the store and opened up for business. My mailman never showed, remeber when theycame thry rain, sleet, and snow?

Funny, our model organization for Emergency Services shuts down in a snow storm:

Winter Storm Closes ARRL Headquarters on Monday, January 26

MONDAY EDITION:  It was a great game, mainly because we won. The weather being a huge factor for both sides in the second half but despite it all, we are goingto the Super Bowl...I was gifted 24 inches of snow, some drifts of 3 feer due to the howling winds last night.

Backyard picture of the deer feeding at Mike's-N1XW

The Setun Was a Ternary Computer from the USSR in 1958

[Codeolences] tells us about the FORBIDDEN Soviet Computer That Defied Binary Logic. The Setun, the world’s first ternary computer, was developed at Moscow State University in 1958. Its troubled and short-lived history is covered in the video. The machine itself uses “trits” (ternary digits) instead of “bits” (binary digits).

When your digits have three discrete values there are a multiplicity of ways of assigning meaning to each state, and the Setun uses a system known as balanced ternary where each digit can be either -1, 0, or 1 and otherwise uses a place-value system in the normal way.

An interesting factoid that comes up in the video is that base-3 (also known as radix-3) is the maximally efficient way to represent numbers because three is the closest integer to the natural growth constant, the base of the natural logarithm, e, which is approximately 2.718 ≈ 3.

If you’re interested to know more about ternary computing check out There Are 10 Kinds Of Computers In The World and Building The First Ternary Microprocessor.

BLIZZARD OF 26 WEEKEND: Sunday 7am- 7 degrees, bitter, and murky out, looks a lot like a snow storm might be happening today...I wonder why the Patriots did not arrive a lot earlier than yesterday to acclimate to the altitude change, I hope it was not a mistake on there part...

Saturday: 3 degrees before the wind chill factor at 7am...More importantly, the NFL playoff games would should shift the storm mania over to football madness. All stocked with chicken wings, chips and dip, homemade beef stew and chicken soup, fresh Italian bread...we are ready to rock and roll...let it snow. let it snow, let it snow...

Now Shipping: the 2026 edition of The ARRL Repeater Directory® powered by RepeaterBook

FRIDAY EDITION: Let the madness begin, the talking weather heads on TV have predicted a huge storm. Yea, it's New England! It comes on Sunday and is gone Monday. The roads will be completely cleared by Tuesday morning but the mayhem at Market Basket is almost too funny, people running around grabbing shit off the shelves they will never use- why all the bread, milk, and toliet paper????

Print Your Own Standardized Wire Spool Storage

Hardware hackers tend to have loads of hookup wire, and that led [firstgizmo] to design a 3D printable wire and cable spool storage system. As a bonus, it’s Gridfinity-compatible!

There are a lot of little design touches we love. For example, we like the little notch into which the wire ends are held, which provides a way to secure the loose ends without any moving parts. Also, while at first glance these holders look like something that goes together with a few screws, they actually require no additional hardware and can be assembled entirely with printed parts. But should one wish to do so, [firstgizmo] has an alternate design that goes together with some M3 bolts instead.

Want to adjust something? The STEP files are included, which we always love to see because it makes modifications to the models so much more accessible. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is that making engineering-type adjustments to STL files is awful, at best.

If there is one gotcha, it is that one must remove wire from their old spools and re-wind onto the new to use this system. However, [firstgizmo] tries to make that as easy as possible by providing two tools to make re-spooling easier: one for hand-cranking, and one for using a hand drill to do the work for you.

It’s a very thoughtful design, and as mentioned, can also be used with the Gridfinity system, which seems to open organizational floodgates in most people’s minds. Most of us are pinched for storage space, and small improvements in space-saving really, really add up.

SpottedHam.com Launches Custom POTA and Keyword Email Alerts

SpottedHam.com Launches Real-Time Custom Keyword Alerts for Portable Operators

A new web-based tool for the amateur radio community, SpottedHam.com, has launched to provide hams with a more granular way to monitor the bands. Unlike traditional clusters, SpottedHam allows users to create custom watchlists for specific callsigns, POTA (Parks on the Air) references, or specific bands and modes.

The system monitors live spotting data and sends an immediate email notification to the user the moment a match is found. This is particularly useful for operators chasing specific park references or monitoring the activity of friends and local club members.

Developer Robert Campbell/KM6HBH designed the tool to be mobile-first, ensuring that activators in the field and operators in the shack have a clean, clutter-free interface. The service is currently free to use and supports global spotting data, including UK and European POTA references.

Interested operators can find the live spotting table, an easy way to spot themselves, and sign up for alerts at: https://www.spottedham.com

 

THURSDAY EDITION: I cycled the generators yesterday and I plan to start up the big Ariens snow blower sometime today. My plow is on and ready to go, plenty of Biobricks for the Vermont Casting stove....I just need to rush over to the market and buy a months supply of milk, bread, eggs, and toilet paper to get thru this major storm...lol of course...I have battery power for the VHF-UHF-HF rigs in a pinch

The CAARA club in Gloucester will be open for Winter Field Day on Saturday at 11AM and on with pizza served sometime. It is more of a social event for us, we are not big in going outside and freezing our ass off to play radio. Been there and done that, in a real emergency we would work out of the club with the generator running and ample heat.....

SpottedHam.com Launches Real-Time Custom Keyword Alerts for Portable Operators

A new web-based tool for the amateur radio community, SpottedHam.com, has launched to provide hams with a more granular way to monitor the bands. Unlike traditional clusters, SpottedHam allows users to create custom watchlists for specific callsigns, POTA (Parks on the Air) references, or specific bands and modes.

The system monitors live spotting data and sends an immediate email notification to the user the moment a match is found. This is particularly useful for operators chasing specific park references or monitoring the activity of friends and local club members.

Developer Robert Campbell/KM6HBH designed the tool to be mobile-first, ensuring that activators in the field and operators in the shack have a clean, clutter-free interface. The service is currently free to use and supports global spotting data, including UK and European POTA references.

Interested operators can find the live spotting table, an easy way to spot themselves, and sign up for alerts at: https://www.spottedham.com

WEDNESDAY EDITION: Is it just me, the cold weather just doesn't agree with me anymore. I see no joy when it is 10 degrees on here Cape Ann...

New Comedy Podcast Tackles Ham Radio’s “Gatekeeping Problem” With Humor and Education

Guy and Gus launch innovative series as survey data reveals 73% of new operators feel intimidated by online ham radio communities

Orlando, FL – January 20, 2025 – As amateur radio experiences a post-pandemic surge in new licensees, a troubling trend has emerged: online communities have become battlegrounds where “real radio” debates and equipment tribalism drive newcomers away from a hobby designed around experimentation and connection.

Ham Radio Gizmos is tackling this challenge head-on with an innovative solution: a comedy podcast that makes learning fun again.

The show centers on twin brothers Guy and Gus Wyre, whose constant disagreements mirror the hobby’s most heated debates. Guy champions modern software-defined radios, digital modes, and computer integration. Gus lives for vintage tube equipment, heavy iron, and radios that glow before they transmit. Their sibling rivalry becomes the vehicle for education – proving both approaches have merit while reminding listeners that ham radio is big enough for everyone.
“Somewhere between firmware updates and heated forum arguments, we forgot that this hobby is supposed to be enjoyable,” says Lee Love (N2LEE), creator of Ham Radio Gizmos. “Guy and Gus exist to prove you can laugh at ourselves while learning – and that ‘real radio’ is whatever gets you on the air.”

What Makes This Different
Unlike traditional ham radio podcasts that lecture or interview, Guy and Gus creates an entertainment experience where education happens naturally through story, debate, and good-natured brotherly warfare. The innovative production format allows for consistent weekly releases, professional quality, and creative storylines – including time travel segments, historical recreations, and exaggerated character conflicts that make technical concepts memorable.

Each episode features:

• Character-driven comedy that breaks down technical barriers
• Practical troubleshooting embedded in entertaining narratives
• Historical context connecting vintage and modern approaches
• Inclusive messaging welcoming all experience levels and equipment choices

The podcast’s philosophy is simple: Ham radio should be fun. Learning should be enjoyable. And laughing at ourselves is part of the process.

Bridging the Generation Gap
The show addresses a critical industry challenge: attracting younger operators while respecting the hobby’s deep traditions. By personifying both camps through Guy (modern) and Gus (vintage), the podcast validates every operator’s path while gently mocking the tribalism that divides communities.

“We’re not saying one approach is better,” Love explains. “We’re saying the arguments are entertaining, both sides have wisdom, and the hobby thrives when we stop gatekeeping and start experimenting together.”

Proven Educational Approach
Ham Radio Gizmos represents a fresh approach to educational content creation. The character-driven format maintains broadcast-quality consistency while exploring creative formats:

• Consistent character voices and personalities across episodes
• Time travel segments featuring historical radio operators
• Rapid-fire technical debates that clarify complex concepts
• Weekly release schedules with professional production values

Early listener feedback validates the approach: audiences report higher engagement and better retention of technical concepts compared to traditional lecture formats – proof that entertainment and education can coexist.

About Ham Radio Gizmos

Ham Radio Gizmos is a multi-platform educational initiative dedicated to making amateur radio accessible, enjoyable, and welcoming. Through YouTube tutorials, podcast episodes, and community engagement, the project serves both new and experienced operators with content that respects the hobby’s traditions while embracing innovation.
The Guy and Gus podcast releases weekly, with episodes available on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.

Disclaimer
Before tuning in, prospective listeners should know: Ham Radio Gizmos is intended for entertainment and educational purposes only. Side effects may include spontaneous enjoyment, sudden urges to buy amateur radio equipment, mysterious antenna appearances on property, and spirited discussions with spouses, neighbors, or HOAs. The hosts are not responsible for glowing gutters, questionable amplifier decisions, or increased tolerance for sibling arguments. Listen responsibly – preferably with a sense of humor.

Media Contact
Lee Love (N2LEE)
Ham Radio Gizmos
Press@HamRadioGizmos.com
HamRadioGizmos.com

Source: Ham Radio Gizmos

What Isaac Roberts Saw Without a Space Telescope

Space telescopes are all the rage, and rightfully so. The images they take are spectacular, and they’ve greatly increased what we know about the universe. Surely, any picture taken of, say, the Andromeda galaxy before space telescopes would be little more than a smudge compared to modern photos, right? Maybe not.

One of the most famous pictures of our galactic neighbor was taken in — no kidding — 1888. The astronomer/photographer was Isaac Roberts, a Welsh engineer with a keen interest in astrophotography. Around 1878, he began using a 180 mm refracting telescope for observations, and in 1883, he began taking photographs.

He was so pleased with the results that he ordered a reflecting telescope with a 510 mm first-surface mirror and built an observatory around it in 1885. Photography and optics back then weren’t what they are now, so adding more mirrors to the setup made it more challenging to take pictures. Roberts instead mounted the photographic plates directly at the prime focus of the mirror.

Andromeda

This image, captured with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, is the largest and sharpest image ever taken of the Andromeda galaxy — otherwise known as M31. This is a cropped version of the full image and has 1.5 billion pixels. You would need more than 600 HD television screens to display the whole image. It is the biggest Hubble image ever released and shows over 100 million stars and thousands of star clusters embedded in a section of the galaxy’s pancake-shaped disc stretching across over 40 000 light-years. This image is too large to be easily displayed at full resolution

Because it took hours to capture good images, he developed techniques to keep the camera moving in sync with the telescope to track objects in the night sky. On December 29th, 1888 he used his 510 mm scope to take a long exposure of Andromeda (or M31, if you prefer). His photos showed the galaxy had a spiral structure, which was news in 1888.

Of course, it’s not as good as the Hubble’s shots. In all fairness, though, the Hubble’s is hard to appreciate without the interactive zoom tool. And 100 years of technological progress separate the two.

Roberts also invented a machine that could engrave stellar positions on copper plates. The Science Museum in London has the telescope in its collection.

Your Turn

Roberts did a great job with very modest equipment. These days, at least half of astrophotography is in post-processing, which you can learn. Want time on a big telescope? Consider taking an online class. You might not match the James Webb or the Hubble, but neither did Roberts, yet we still look at his plates with admiration.

TUESDAY EDITION: 19 Degrees plus a wind-chill factor, not a good day for antenna work....The addition of our W1GLO repeater to the UFB fusion network is looking good. Thanks Bart for letting us in!... Net aurora effect on late afternoon 3828 get together yesterday...