Recently, while perusing the Internet (that’s a nice way to say doing some kind of semi-research) I happened to notice a particular link for Amateur Radio licensees.

Specifically, I was searching for broadcast outlets in the greater Florence, Alabama area (stations which originate in Lauderdale or Colbert county). In case you’re not aware, there are Radio: 7 - AM; 17 - FM;  7 - TV; for a GRAND TOTAL of 31!

Wow! That’s a whole lot!

The Huntsville MSA, a much more populated, and educated area, has 9 - AM; 19 - FM; 7 - TV; for a GRAND TOTAL of 35!

What is up with that?!

Maybe I’m in the wrong business…

Anywho, It just so happened that there was a link to Amateur Radio licensees. So, I thought, “woo-hoo! That’s me!”

And, yeppers, I’m in it.

Maybe you can find yourself. 

Go hunting. 

Go fishing. 

Just go! 

With the passing from one year into the next, we are often presented with remembrances and nostalgic recollections of “how we got here”…

This has been a year full of choice bits from space exploration as NASA celebrates their 50th anniversary. Most every day I like to check in on the latest discussion on the AMSAT bulletin-board, an international collection  of ham radio operators with special interest in satellite communication. Many of these fine folks have also at some point in their history contributed to the collective advancements our exploring civilization has enjoyed. Here is an interesting article that was recently brought to our attention, describing the journey of some old data. (Restored picture thanks to NASA/LOIRP)

More than a time or two I’ve been involved with restoration of old equipment like this, after all that is how I, like so many others, came to be involved with electronic technology - by recycling old hardware. Just last week I was describing to some colleagues how I had first discovered the art of dumpster diving on my walk home from jr high school in the 60’s. There was an IBM field office, and we would collect old circuit boards from the trash, and take them home and scavenge resistors, capacitors and transistors for use building our own circuits.

This is how we got here . . .  lets make sure that we provide the same opportunities to our future scientists and explorers.

Thanks  /;^)

It’s not a post about Santa Claus, nor defenses for the same.

It’s not a post about “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,” nor any hokey tune heard during this time of year.

In fact, it’s not about anything but you.

Yes, this post is about YOU!

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If I called this “Instant Satellite Status“, someone would say - ‘not quite’.

So ‘nearly instant’ is more accurate. This web site had gone undetected by me, but definitely fills a need. There are so many different satellites now in orbit, specifically ham-radio related, that it takes some effort to keep up with not only where they are, when they come around, and what frequencies they use . . . let alone whether or not it is still functioning. Enter David Carr - KD5QGR, and Bob Bruninga - WB4APR and this little web application.

This is a snapshot from their Satellite Status Page, http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php
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Periodically, I write on a forum in one of my “hometowns.”

For me, a “hometown” is where one spent a good portion (that means ‘years‘ for the non-Southerners reading this) of their life. I have thee, er, three: Prattville, Cullman and Florence, all in Alabama.

I’m reminded of the theme song to the  serial sit-com (you don’t watch it standing up, do you?) “The Jeffersons,” which was a spin-off from “All In the Family.” The lyric in part was, “Well, I’m movin’ on up!” Read the rest of this entry »

See the site !!!   Thanks    /;^)