From 8fc140a15fcc8a3e0a3c9353e0771ea49ddfeae6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Evan Pratten Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2021 11:58:34 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] radio page --- .vscode/settings.json | 6 ++++++ content/hobbies/radio/_index.md | 38 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 44 insertions(+) create mode 100644 .vscode/settings.json create mode 100644 content/hobbies/radio/_index.md diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json new file mode 100644 index 0000000..01a2178 --- /dev/null +++ b/.vscode/settings.json @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +{ + "cSpell.words": [ + "callsign", + "centimetre" + ] +} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/hobbies/radio/_index.md b/content/hobbies/radio/_index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7effcf --- /dev/null +++ b/content/hobbies/radio/_index.md @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ +--- +title: VA3ZZA on the air +--- + +# Hi, I'm VA3ZZA + +Tying many of my hobbies together is [Amateur Radio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio). I have been licensed with the callsign `VA3ZZA` since December 15th 2020. + +My interest in amateur radio came in 2018, when I discovered with world of software-defined radios. In the time between discovering amateur radio and getting licensed I + +- Experimented with decoding images from the NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19 satellites +- Listened in to a few nets held on local repeaters using my SDRs +- Begun to learn morse code +- Continued to learn about various forms of radio communication through DEFCON talks, and presentations from various radio clubs online + +After getting licensed and receiving my callsign, I immediately got on the air (quite literally) and started participating in local nets, occasional simplex QSOs, and more. + +## Finding me on the air + +I primarily operate 40m CW, and 70cm FM voice, with no particular schedule. If you hear me calling CQ, some say hi! I also beacon myself and my qth via APRS at regular intervals if you want to find me in-person. I also usually monitor Echolink in some form, so you may be able to reach me via my phone (`#636611`) or simplex node (`#687289`). + +To see when I am calling CQ on the HF bands, check out the handy chart below: + + + +If you would like to schedule a QSO with me, please contact me via my email at the top of this page. + +## The "shack" + +I operate from my college dorm, equipped with a Baofeng UV-5R, and an Elecraft KX2 HF Transceiver. I love both radios, and they nicely fit my plan of exclusively operating QRP. + +Due to the restrictions of operating indoors, during the winter months my HF antenna is a bent dipole made of scrap ethernet cables, and when I am outdoors I operate with an endfed-half-wave made of speaker wire. + +## VA3ZZA-L + +`VA3ZZA-L` is my homebrew UHF simplex node. It is powered by a Raspberry Pi 3B+, feeding into a slightly modified generic USB sound card with a custom PTT circuit, then into an extra Baofeng UV-5R. Finally, this feeds into a UHF antenna I currently have mounted up high, attached to the side of the building I live in. The whole setup is running at 3W, and provides enough coverage for me to hit the node from anywhere on campus. + +If you would like to call in to my node, dial up node number `687289` on any echolink-compatible repeater, node, or software client. \ No newline at end of file