http://ki6esh.com/blog Random updates from KI6ESH Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:37:14 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I had received my Rtrack APRS tracker a few months ago, and it seemed to operate properly but was rarely picked up by local digis or igates.  After finally getting some more time to work with it, I played with the configuration a bit, adjusted antennas and such, but now ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2008/08/22/aprs-troubles-with-my-rtracksolutions/ On Saturday morning I headed over to the monthly Electronics Flea Market over at the De Anza College parking lot.  My main reason for going was to pick up a few more of the $1 LED Keychain flashlights I got there a few months back, mine broke and Ellen wanted ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2008/07/13/amplifie/ I work for a non-profit organization and over the years I have spotted more and more of our staff groups using Family Radio Service (FRS) radios as a part of their jobs. While I knew it is an unlicensed band, I also assumed that business use would have been prohibited ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2008/07/07/commercial-use-of-family-radio-service-frs-frequncies/ I've intended to do some comparisons between the APRS Tracker (Automatic Position Reporting System) options out there to decide which one I might purchase and use. APRS combines GPS receivers with ham radio transmitters to allow the user to broadcast their current speed, position, and altitude via radio. Other ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2008/04/09/self-contained-aprs-tracker-comparisons/ I got the phone call on March 28th from Ham Radio Outlet in Sunnyvale that my radio was back from repair from Kenwood. Having experienced a bit of "radio withdrawl" even though I don't talk a lot on it, I ran right over there on my lunch break. ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2008/04/08/my-kenwood-th-f6a-returns/ I was able to run over to Ham Radio Outlet in Sunnyvale today at lunch and asked if they had any ideas.  We were going to try another cable (start with the cheapest link in the chain right?) but they only had default Kenwood cables and Mark has my serial ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2008/03/13/warranty-repairs/ I've been having a lot of fun playing with my Kenwood TH-F6A over the past months, been using it more to get on the air recently. I even joined ARES, Santa Cruz County Amateur Radio Emergency Service. I'd listened to their nets occasionally over the years and after I ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2008/03/12/problems-with-my-kenwood-th-f6a-and-the-data-cable/ For months I'd been seeing pictures and reading stories about the Arduino, the short description from their website is: What is Arduino? Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. So before ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2008/02/29/playing-with-the-arduino/ After quite a bit of reading reviews and looking through catalogs, and viewing the TH-F6A Instruction Manual, I finally settled on the Kenwood TH-F6A as my next radio. Well, actually, it's "Ellen's Radio" (KI6FEB) but she and I both know I'll play with it a lot more often! Since we only ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2007/12/15/new-kenwood-th-f6a-handheld/ In other radio related news, one of the cool tricks I learned last night at the San Lorenzo Valley Amateur Radio Club meeting was from KA6MAL about a system he built. He's got an APRS infopeater in Boulder Creek and has it set up so if you send a ... http://ki6esh.com/blog/2007/09/08/asos-information-via-aprs/