Check out my Amateur Radio Gifts

I launched "Observations", an on-line amateur radio gift shop, Monday, May 16, 2011.  I'll be adding products regularly, so come back often. 


Don't see something you'd like?  Leave a comment and I'll try to make it happen.



create & buy custom products at Zazzle

2011 Armed Forces Day Crossband Test (After Action Reveiw) Contacts

It was a lot of fun working those armed forces Day stations May, 14 during their annual crossband test.


This was the first time I ever operated using split frequencies, and I thought it was pretty cool!

If you didn’t work any of the military stations Saturday and you aren't familiar with it, this is the way it went down:


I went to each of the posted frequencies for the various military branch stations and listened for the operator (if there was one) to give his “listening” frequency.


You see, they were transmitting from outside our Amateur band, in their MARS/military spectrum.


Since we can’t transmit on those frequencies, they listen on amateur frequencies; which (after being broadcasted) are input into the other VFO on my radio.  I then utilize the split function to transmit on their listening frequencies while listening on their transmit frequencies.


Pretty cool huh? I suppose people operating transceivers not equipped with a split function would have to tune the MARS/military frequencies on stand-alone receivers.


Here are the Stations I made contacts with during Saturday’s cross band test:


AAZ - Operator Juanita at Fort Huachuca, AZ .


WAR - Operator Steve at The Pentagon, Washington, DC


WUG2B - Operator Pat, Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, TN


NWKJ - Operator Fred, USS Yorktown, Patriot’s Point, SC


NBL- Operator Bob at Navy/Marine MARS Radio Station; Groton, CT


NAJ - Operator Dave at Navy/Marine MARS Radio Station, Great lades, IL

2011 Armed Forces Day Crossband Test

As part of the celebration of the 61st anniversary of Armed Forces Day (AFD), the U.S. Military Branches will be co-sponsoring this cross band test on May 14, even though AFD is May, 21 this year.


The schedule for this test has been moved up a week due to the Dayton Hamvention on the 21st.


From the ARRL :  <--- link 

“The annual celebration features traditional military-to-amateur crossband communications SSB voice and Morse code tests. These tests give Amateur Radio operators and short wave listeners an opportunity to demonstrate their individual technical skills and to receive recognition from the Secretary of Defense and/or the appropriate military radio station for their proven expertise. QSL cards will be provided to those stations making contact with the military stations.”


*** For each station, frequencies and times of Military-to-amateur crossband operations are listed in UTC HERE.

*** Voice ops will be SSB - voice.

 *** Propagation difficulties may cause some stations to shut down early.


*** Participating military stations will transmit on selected military MARS frequencies, and listen for Amateur Radio stations in the amateur bands.


*** The military station operator will announce the specific amateur band frequency being monitored.


*** Duration of each voice contact should be limited to 1-2 minutes.

KC9RUL gets the Freewheeler Welcome

Rick, KC9RUL is welcomed to the freewheelers by NCS K9VDO and many of the freewheelers.  This is how the freewheelers roll!




Freewheeler Rewind

KJ4SXQ Is Welcomed to the Freewheelers Net Video

Listen to how the Freewheelers welcome a fellow ham (KJ4sxo):





KJ4SXO video.

Why Handle Traffic? Ask Alabama Hams

For about two two years I’ve been speaking with Brian (KJ4RJU) a truck driver who regularly passes through my town along Interstate 20.


He’s from Alabama; real close to one of the areas affected by recent tornados.


As he passed through today, I had to ask him how he faired in the aftermath.


He told me he wasn’t personally affected; that a tornado passed only a mile away from his home. He didn’t stop there though.


He explained how the images we see on the news does not do justice to the actual damage. He explained about the massive-powerful-tornados that whipped an entire hamlet off the map.


Then, the mentioned the value and importance of amateur radio in the hours following the terrible events. He said the hams in his area were well trained and provided an immeasurable service to the area.

How were the hams able to do this? I’ll tell you: by performing traffic handling in traffic nets when there is no emergency.


This event and the amateur radio response illustrates how important regular practice in traffic handling is.


Get in involved in traffic handling. It’s not that hard, and when trouble arises, you’ll be prepared to help.