The Dog That Knew Morse Code

When we refer to an amateur radio operator as "SK" we mean they are a Silent Key; they are deceased, gone to join the choir invisible, ceased to be, etc. The term derives from the days when most hams were CW operators. Their telegraph keys were no longer clattering and sending streams of dits and … Continue reading The Dog That Knew Morse Code →

What Did Orville and Wilbur Wright do for Ham Radio?

In December 1903, the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur made the first powered manned flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. It was a tremendous achievement and has been recorded in history as the official birth of the world's aviation industry. Their aircraft made a flight of a few hundred feet at an altitude just high … Continue reading What Did Orville and Wilbur Wright do for Ham Radio? →

59 QRZ?

What is your preferred operating style?- Are you a rag chewer?- A contester?- A DXer?- A POTA/SOTA activator/chaser?… or do you prefer to let a computer do the talking? Your operating style probably matches your personality. Some people love to chat while others follow the maxim: "never speak unless you think you can improve on … Continue reading 59 QRZ? →

What did the Duke of Wellington do for Ham Radio?

The great Irish soldier Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 was famous for his boots. He wore magnificent long shiny leather boots. His legacy lives on in the form of "Wellington Boots" which are rather inelegant rubber boots worn by gardeners. I am sure he … Continue reading What did the Duke of Wellington do for Ham Radio? →

Why a Battery Weighs More When It’s Charged

It's the middle of December as I write this. My backpack radio kit hasn't had a good workout since I last took it out in the field for a Parks On The Air (POTA) session a couple of months ago. But, we got lucky with the weather one day this past week. The temperature got … Continue reading Why a Battery Weighs More When It’s Charged →

Keep Your Rig in the Freezer

Sounds like a ridiculous idea doesn't it? But why do so many hams do it anyway? Of course, I don't mean the freezer in your kitchen, or the one in the garage, basement or wherever else you store the meat from your hunting trip last fall. You really wouldn't want to get bits of food … Continue reading Keep Your Rig in the Freezer →

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Six Weeks to Live

"Hush … did you hear that?"Josh froze in silence as he summoned the others in the room to do the same."I heard a truck stop right outside our door" he said in a low conspiratorial tone. They all knew the enemy Radio Direction Finding trucks were patrolling the area looking for allied spies and their … Continue reading Six Weeks to Live →

What did 18th Century Ontario Lt.Gov. John Graves Simcoe Do for Ham Radio?

John Graves Simcoe was the first Lieutenant Governor General of what was then called Upper Canada (now Ontario) from 1791 to 1796. Among his many achievements was the founding of the City of Toronto. Back in those days the city was called York and was named after the cathedral city with the same name in … Continue reading What did 18th Century Ontario Lt.Gov. John Graves Simcoe Do for Ham Radio? →

What did Beethoven do for Ham Radio?

You may not be a classical music fan but you're probably familiar with the opening bar of his 5th symphony: "dididit dah". Let that go around in your head a few times. There, now you know the letter V in Morse Code! Now add the simplest letter of them all, E. It's just a "dit" … Continue reading What did Beethoven do for Ham Radio? →

How to Find the Height of a Tall Building … using a radio!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I always knew that one day I would find a way to combine my Bachelor’s degree in Physics with my passion for radio. So I gave some thought to the idea of how to find the height of a tall building using a radio. I came up with four different … Continue reading How to Find the Height of a Tall Building … using a radio! →