Zeb Palmer Writes…

Occasionally I run APRS (automatic position reporting system) on VHF Ham Radio. If you’re not familiar with APRS it takes a gps signal and formulates it into a packet and transmits it via radio to be picked up by other stations and or gateways which put the packet onto an internet server for all to [...]

It’s the bottom of the cycle. Solar activity has been very low for some time and in recent days and weeks almost nonexistent. For the Ham Radio enthusiasts among us it’s been quiet for a while now. Only occasional Es openings on Six and little activity on the upper HF bands. We all expect that [...]

My order from Mouser arrived today as did the rest of my order… I guess I really was asleep when I made the order. The diodes I ordered to replace the blown one in my SW40 weren’t the ones I intended to order. I mistakenly ordered surface mount diodes. Hmm… Well it did fit, I’ll [...]

I’ll blame it on the recent time change. Actually, it’s somewhat related. Backpacking season is coming up and I’m already in the mood. On my list of things to do was get my portable station ready for a walk in the woods. My portable station this year will be my SW40+ QRP rig. I [...]

I’ve had several people email me and ask if I’ve been catching any of the recent activity on Six meters. My reply has been: “no, haven’t heard a peep.”  Well, come to think of it, I haven’t had my six meter rig turned on in over a month. Highly unusual for me. I have turned [...]