SomeNetBlog

Calling Mars, calling Mars…

Posted: November 4, 2008 11:57 am by KG4RCP
Filed under: Kevin, amateur radio, internet, space

My Uncle Jimmy used to say that every time my late maternal grandmother’s hearing aid squealed with feedback. It was his gently humorous way of letting her know what she usually couldn’t hear.

A few days ago, I briefly watched a map.

Yes, I watched a map.

I can imagine hearing the voices now (they’re calling me…) “why did you do THAT!?”, as if to imply I’m missing a few marbles, or am a few bricks shy of a load.

Truthfully, along they years, I’ve lost more than a few marbles. Some of ‘em are now prolly worth a pretty penny or two!

Well, you see, I was watching a weather balloon. In it was a tracking device called APRS, which stands for Automated Position Reporting System. It’s a software-sort-of thingy that integrates quite well with Amateur Radio. In fact, it uses the AR frequencies to periodically transmit its position and altitude, which can be observed on select Internet-based maps.

More specifically, because of this, our presently electronic era, we are able to do, watch, see, command, control, etc. so many things in our lives. What would life be like if we actually had to make coffee in the morning, instead of having prepared it the night before and enjoying it as we awaken?

Then, it happened.

I saw Hog Jaw next to Egypt.

Only in Alabama, folks. Only in Alabama.