Ham Radio Workbench Podcast Discusses Mastodon Social Media Platform for Hams

September 8, 2023The most recent episode of Ham Radio Workbench discusses the open source and decentralized social media platform, Mastodon. (Mastodon discussion starts around 1 hour, 33 minutes in.) Guest Christopher, M0YNG, is the administrator for mastodon.radio, one of the most popular servers focused on ham radio.

Mastodon is best described as a Twitter (X) replacement with the advantages of being community supported and ad-free. mastodon.radio, mastodon.hams.social, and radiosocial.de are all ham radio focused, and make up a community of 1,000+ hams.

Source: Ham Radio Workbench open_in_new

AMSAT SA to Hold Symposium Online

September 8, 2023The 2023 AMSAT South Africa (SA) Space Symposium will be held online on September 23rd.

[The Symposium] will be a virtual event opening participation to people anywhere in the world. The aim of the AMSAT SA Space symposium is to take amateur radio into space, encourage more amateur satellite operation, development, and research.

More information, including registration links, can be found at the AMSAT SA website.

Source: AMSAT open_in_new

Brandmeister Users Should Update API Keys (PSA)

September 6, 2023Hams with hotspots connected to the Brandmeister DMR network should plan on updating their API keys in order to maintain connectivity to the Brandmeister network. For data security purposes, Brandmeister has invalidated user API keys which are used to connect applications and devices such as hotspots to the Brandmeister network. Users are asked to regenerate their keys by following the instructions provided: https://news.brandmeister.network/introducing-user-api-keys/

Source: Brandmesiter open_in_new

ARRL Drops Support for Ham Radio Promoters Over Content

September 5, 2023Based on interviews conducted by KB6NU, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) appears to be dropping support for amateur radio related organizations that produce content similar to content produced by ARRL. Two high-profile groups have been told by ARRL officials that they will no longer be promoted by the league as a result of the “competition” that these groups are creating with the ARRL Learning Center.

This is a developing story. It’s not yet clear if these are isolated incidents or a broader strong-arm strategy by ARRL to minimize competition with amateur radio related content producers.

Updated 9/6 to adjust tone and better reflect information from other reports.

Source: KB6NU open_in_new

On-Air Special Event Celebrates 56 Years of Handiham Program

September 3, 2023

On Monday, September 11, as part of the 2023 Handiham Radio Camp, we will be conducting a… special event QSO party to honor the 56th Anniversary of the Courage Kenny Handiham Program. Our goal is to work as many stations as possible throughout the United States and beyond. We will operate on both SSB and CW on 10, 15, 20, and 40 meters as conditions and our antennas allow from 11 AM – 4 PM Central daylight time (16:00 – 21:00 UTC). We will be using both W0ZSW and W0EQO, two call signs with a rich history in the Handiham Program.

The Courage Kenny Handiham Program helps people with disabilities earn their amateur radio license and get on the air. The goal is to assist in all aspects of life while promoting STEM related activities.

Since 1967, the Handiham mission has been “To empower people with disabilities to reach their full potential in every aspect of life.”

Source: Handiham Program open_in_new

Learn Minds Articles and Reviews

September 1, 2023ZS1ML writes in to share Learn Minds, a repository of in-depth ham radio related articles and unbiased reviews. Articles focus on antenna construction projects, working with software defined radios, and a hefty set of MFJ product reviews.

See more at Learn Minds.

Source: Learn Minds open_in_new

September October SARC Communicator Journal Now Available

August 31, 2023The September-October 2023 SARC Communicator Journal is now available at https://tinyurl.com/SARC23Sep-Oct.

Our biggest issue to date, read in over 145 countries, we bring you 132 pages of Amateur Radio news from the Southwest corner of Canada and elsewhere. With less fluff and ads than other Amateur Radio publications, you will find Amateur Radio related articles, projects, profiles, news, tips and how-to’s for all levels of the hobby. This issue is of particular interest to POTA, SOTA and WSPR enthusiasts with several related articles and a quick and inexpensive antenna build project that is sure to pull in HF stations. You can view or download it as a .PDF file at: https://tinyurl.com/SARC23Sep-Oct.

Source: SARC open_in_new

blogs.radio Serves as Aggregate of Ham Radio Blogs

August 29, 2023

[DK1MI has] set up a new website that collects all RSS feeds of amateur radio blogs and then displays them centrally. You can find it at the following URL: https://blogs.radio

If… great feeds are missing or you want to share something else, please contact [DK1MI].

DK1MI aims to promote the ham radio hobby by elevating lesser known websites and create a central location to find the latest news about amateur radio. An OPML file of all RSS feeds is available.

Amateur Radio Daily is proud to be among the blogs listed at blogs.radio. Thanks to DK1MI for creating this service.

Source: blogs.radio open_in_new

Online Amateur Radio Community Moves Hobby Forward

August 28, 2023The Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC) is based out of the UK, but primarily embraces the online space to help build a global community around the amateur radio hobby. Twice a month, OARC meets at the virtual Rubber Duck Pub over Zoom for casual chat.

In addition, OARC hosts a Discord server, YouTube Channel, and digital RF bridge via DMR, D-STAR, Echolink, AllStarLink and Fusion. OARC is also one of the largest license training organizations in the UK.

Source: OARC open_in_new

Parachute Mobile Ham Sets QSO Record, Unites Community

August 24, 2023In an inspiring show of camaraderie, a tight-knit ham radio community of YouTubers rallied around Ranae Six (KR5SIX) on August 18th as she undertook a heart-stopping parachute jump on behalf of her husband Vern Six (KV5SIX). Vern, who had already completed an astounding 14 jumps prior in his life, found solace in the remarkable act performed by his wife.

Ranae was able to jump in tandem with the well-known parachute mobile ham operator KD9OLN, Carlos. You can find out more about KD9OLN on his YouTube channel, @lifeatterminalvelocity. KD9OLN agreed to the jump and assisted Ranae in completing this daring achievement.

Ranae was able to execute the jump with impeccable precision from 12,800 feet. This achievement has been recognized globally and showcases the power of unity and determination within the adventurous amateur radio community. What makes this achievement even more astonishing is that Ranae’s successful jump led her to become one of only five people worldwide to establish a QSO under such extreme circumstances. Her first of three contacts during the canopy 246 second descent was to her husband Vern (KV5SIX). Her accomplishment adds a new dimension to the world of skydiving adventures. In addition, Ranae’s fearless courage helped her make history by becoming the first woman to accomplish this feat in tandem. Her unwavering courage and dedication have not only broken barriers but also set a new standard for adventure enthusiasts and skydivers alike.

Ranae possesses a General class operator license, highlighting her proficiency in operating amateur radio equipment. This undoubtedly contributed to her seamless and calm communication during the heart-pounding jump. The event has left an indelible mark on the community, inspiring countless individuals to overcome challenges and support one another in pursuit of their dreams. As news of this extraordinary feat spreads, it’s clear that this story will continue to serve as a beacon of devotion, and unbreakable spirit of adventure. Check out Ranae and Vern Six’s YouTube Channel @WhatsUpWithSix to learn more.

Thanks to Marvin Turner (W0MET), host of The Ham Radio Guy Podcast for submitting this story.

Source: Marvin Turner (W0MET), host of The Ham Radio Guy Podcast open_in_new