How to Set up a Live 'Ham Shack' Video Feed

Setting up a live internet video feed from your ham shack is not complicated.  It is pretty easy, infact. 

In my opinion the most difficult part is understanding the channel settings page so that the audio/video will work.  The rest of it is pretty simple.

You will need some equipment. 

You will need...

1.  A computer
2.   A webcam
3.   Audio input (microphone)

3 steps:

1.  Get a Livestream account. 

Go to http://livestream.com and follow the steps to creating your channel. I named mine "KE5UTN". 

2.  Get your video "channel"  player code. 

Once you create your channel, you will see a row of clickable options, one of which will allow you to grab (copy) your channel code which you will place where ever you wish your channel to be viewed.

3.  Place your channel code where folks can see it.

Many hams with live video feeds place their code within their QRZ biography pane.
Once, a dx station looked me up on QRZ and asked me to turn on my feed. He was curious and wanted to hear what his signal sounded like at my QTH.  He was very pleased that I accomodated this request.

Be advised, In order for your viewers to hear your radio's audio, you'll have to place your computer's microphone in front of your radio speaker. (unless you have your audio running directly from your radio into your soundcard.

Another good place to put your feed, if you don't already have a webpage is on a blog.

You can start a blog, much like this one, for free.  After you create a 'viewer-code-post', you'll be able to write a little something about your self, your shack, your show, and you'll be able to direct people to your feed, via facebook/twitter.

So, another facet of amateur radio for you might just be a public internet channel where you can have fun while promoting our hobby.

Look on the right-hand sidebar of this blog and you'll see a link to the Live KE5UTN Channel.

Good luck with your channel. 

Considering Amateur Radio Crossover Hobbies

Isn't it true that our hobbies make our lives more meaningful?  I Ask this rhetorically; with the full realization that other activities are far more important and far more meaningfull.

Take child-rearing, for example.  It would be difficult for any hobby, much less Amateur Radio, to compete with the importance and fulfillment derived from  raising children to be responsible, productive members of society.

Having said this, the importance and value of our hobbies can't be understated.  They make our lives more interesting and advance us along the road to self actualization. Furthermore, our hobbies can and often do, help us interact within our communities and give us the opportunity to meet with other like-minded individuals.  So why not  consider some cross-over hobbies that have interested me and a few friends.

With my Amateur Radio hobby, I have blended the following:   photography, videography, cycling, computers, blogging and  internet technology.

The idea for this post came after a ham friend, Jim - AB5YS, asked me about setting up a live video/ audio internet stream from his ham shack.

From there Jim explained about a new camera he obtained and how he had always been interested in cameras since he was a boy.  I'm the same way.
   
My first camera was a Kodak 110.  It used  the little flash bulbs on top and took lousy pictures, but I sure had fun riding my bike all over the Adirondack state park snapping nature  photos.

Back then you had to take your film to a PhotMat and wait a week.  Now-a-days, all I have to do is upload the digital pictures to my computer and, BAM,, there they are.

Another cross over hobby, is blogging.  I'm doing it right now, in fact.  This entails writing coherent sentences that other people might enjoy reading... something I've struggled with.  But, alas, I'm trying.

Hams frequently upload video blog posts, or upload their videos to Youtube.  If you are reading this, you are probably aware that there are hundreds, if not thousands of ham shack videos out  there in cyberspace.  This illustrates the popularity of cross over hobbies.

So, if you have not yet dabbled into other hobbies, you might consider incorporating amateur radio with some crossovers.

The following video illustrates how I have embraced some cross-over hobbys. check out the pictures taken of the bayou at the end of this video. I think they are very good.

Ham - Amateur - Shortwave Radio : Santa Net Schedule

Beginning Friday December 21, 2012  and lasting until Christmas Eve, Santa  will be  on 3.916 MHZ at 8:30pm Central time.

  Kids will have the opportunity  to speak to Santa at the North Pole.  On Christmas Eve, Santa will be reporting from his sleigh and taking ham radio calls from children across the country.

Be listening on the Tailgeter's net  where all the fun will be taking place;  again starting at 8:30 pm CST..

If you have or know children  and have access to an amateur radio, you are invited to have join the fun.

73 and Merry Christmas.

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