Radio Amateur Society Of Thailand Needs Our Help

The HS0AC shack was destroyed during the recent catastrophic flood in Thailand. Their dependable signal arriving on the shores of the west coast of North America is currently silent. A distress call went out across the connected network of the Internet asking for global assistance in an effort to re-build their shack.

Presently, according to Northern California Contest Club reflector traffic, the Yasme Foundation donated $2000 in addition efforts are underway to allocate materials for re-building as well.

Please check one's RadioSport reflector for contact information to include a PayPal link for monetary donations as well. If you have any questions leave a comment.

Click on Radio Amateur Society of Thailand for further details.

charity: water | Clean Drinking Water Is Fundamental

The 2011 September Campaign. Our 5-year-anniversary video from charity: water on Vimeo.

A shackadelic good morning to one and all from sunny Shell Beach, California. As a witness to history, as a participant in history, and after a year of careful consideration, I'm adopting charity: water as a flagship cause for my blog.

I believe clean drinking water is fundamental. Also, I believe clean and sustainable water resources, are fundamental as well.

Likewise, I surveyed many non-profit organizations beyond ham radio concluding that charity: water and ham radio are an excellent match. My rationale is, members of our community travel to remote lands, some if not many communities we travel too, do not have access to clean drinking water.

Yet, as a citizen of a fully developed nation, I take for granted the delivery of clean drinking water as a communal benefit derived from taxation.

Furthermore, I have maintained a sidelined approach with my blog for several years without committing to a specific cause until now. I sense both monumental and historical change. Additionally, I'm compelled to move from the bench as a witness to one who is proactively engaging in shaping the future for my grandchildren.

Their future will be a result of my actions taken today and tomorrow. The quality of their life is my responsibility.

Therefore, it is my conclusion and my commitment to the future of my grandchildren, that my blog in addition off line activities will support the cause of charity: water from this point forward.

Clean drinking water is fundamental.

Drink DxCoffee!

DXCC First One Hundred

There is never such a sweet number as 100 and this morning LoTW delivered the final two entities after 31 years in the hobby. My voyage to DXCC First One Hundred was marked with too many starts and stops. However, this time after re-entering hamdom, I was determined to finish the first chapter of my wireless adventure.

It began at the bottom of Cycle 23 when the numbers smoothed at zero, stayed at zero, with a possible Maunder Minimum for the future. Then, millions of miles away, something happened inside the fusion furnace and Cycle 24 erupted into existence.

Our magnificent solar disc delivered waves upon waves of high energy exciting Earth's ionosphere while refreshing drought ridden spectrum spaces for sailing high frequency late into the night. A new world of planetary exploration via wireless communication took center stage in our community.

I ventured from the material confines of shackadelic and rode wireless waves of electromagnetic energy using my radio frequency sails constructed out of wire and aluminum. Distance does not matter on the wireless ocean. Weather, on the other hand, spells either victory or agony toward the vaunted DXCC Honor Roll.

There is never such a sweet number as 100 and today is a savory moment as the voyage continues.

Stay thirsty for DX my friends!   

DRR Atmospherics | America's Cup

Project RadioSport Station | Chapter One

I have never owned a tri-bander and a KLM KT34 is part of a vision actualizing itself in the Five Cities of California. My goal is to build a competitive single operator, two radio (SO2R) station on the central coast. I'm good with my current configuration however; it's tough to be satisfied when listening to spectrum with heavy metal in the sky.

One always starts somewhere albeit at the trail head always leading to the summit of one's personal mountain. I've built a few stations around the location never considering location before building the station, until now.

This time, with patience and planning, we're endeavoring to find enough property to support a pair of towers with clear take off angles to the east. The task isn't impossible because locations do exist within a reasonable area of the Five Cities. I've listened to location, location as one significantly important factor when considering competitive RadioSport.

Likewise, another important factor to consider is antenna system, it's as if antenna system and location are paired together in order to maximize one's signal. I've listened to the downside of owning a KLM KT34 with it's VSWR problems when deployed however; I'm going with KLM's reputation as one of the best radio frequency sails in the Five Cities.

Additionally, I was introduced to RadioSport back in Western Pennsylvania using deployed KLM antennas as a novice. The memory is indelibly etched and it's potency continues growing as I endeavor toward my personal summit.

I'm leaving later this morning after finishing my cup of DX Coffee for SL's location. We're engaged in another larger project one that is teaching me about towers and antenna systems. I'd like to thank John for his inspiration, guidance, and tutelage.

Contest on.