I posted this to facebook some time ago, but I just had to make it part of my blog.
Grammy Award winning tenor, Larry Ford, sings our National Anthem with the feeling and gusto of our Founding Fathers. Our National Anthem will never loose its meaning, nor its luster, and no matter where I am, I will always be an American.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
CB Ham Radio is Here...
...just as many had predicted back in 2007 when the FCC dropped the Morse code requirement for all license classes except Amateur Extra class.
Earlier this year, I pulled my old CB radio out of my junk box and installed it into my car. Often times while driving to and from work, I am stuck in enormous traffic jams, and I thought a CB radio might provide me useful information for bypassing a jam now and then. Since many CB antennas mounts use the standard 3/8" threaded antenna, and so does the Ham Stick® antenna for the ham bands, I could use the CB antenna mount for my ham antennas when I want to run my Icom IC-706MKIIG ham radio in my car.
The first day on the road listening to my newly installed CB radio brought me back a few decades. It seemed like the same old jammers, whistlers, bone heads, and ignoramuses were still on the air causing trouble. More often than not, the usefulness of CB approached zero, along with its appeal.
Since about 2004, I have mostly been off the HF bands due to one circumstance after another. This is not to say I was inactive, but that I spent very little time, comparatively speaking, listening to the HF bands. Due to my recent windfall of a very nice, semi-new Yaesu transceiver, I am back on the HF bands with gusto. And, I might add, having a great time too!
There have been numerous times recently that I thought my ears were deceiving me. As I tuned across the 75 meter band, I heard music in the phone portion of the band that was right on top of an ongoing QSO. The music signal was quite strong, peaking at 40 over S-9. I could make out what the ops were saying over the music, and they were none too happy about the deliberate interference. If I didn't already know that I was listening to amateur radio, I would have insisted that I was listening to channel 19 on my CB radio.
I like to chase DX, although I am poorly equipped for the task, but it is fun nonetheless. Again, on numerous occasions, OM's were whistling and laughing on top of a DX station, and of course without identifying. What gives?
Many, if not all CB radio dealers sell 10 meter radios as well, which are advertised as such so they do not draw attention to themselves for selling illegal radios. These same CB radio dealers, however, also offer "modification services", which "tweak" their various products to produce the illegal results their customers wants, as in expanded transmit coverage to include the CB band.
Here are two examples:
In a nutshell, we have unscrupulous vendors selling 10 meter radios to unlicensed CBers and also modifying said radios to operate illegally on 11 meters, the CB band. These CBers are the caliber of folks who cause deliberate interference on the ham bands, and probably because they easily obtained a "no code" ham license. This scene is playing out while the FCC turns a blind eye to enforcing their own regulations.
Is this interference a sample of the future of ham radio? Will more and more "CB hams" show up in unwelcome ways? Will ham radio become a copy of channel 19, only at 1500 watts of 'legal' power? If we're lucky enough, someone will invent a new apparatus using GPS to zero in on the malicious interference and fire a laser beam to disintegrate their antenna. I think it's too late to hope for the FCC doing their job.
Michael Carroll N4MC
Earlier this year, I pulled my old CB radio out of my junk box and installed it into my car. Often times while driving to and from work, I am stuck in enormous traffic jams, and I thought a CB radio might provide me useful information for bypassing a jam now and then. Since many CB antennas mounts use the standard 3/8" threaded antenna, and so does the Ham Stick® antenna for the ham bands, I could use the CB antenna mount for my ham antennas when I want to run my Icom IC-706MKIIG ham radio in my car.
The first day on the road listening to my newly installed CB radio brought me back a few decades. It seemed like the same old jammers, whistlers, bone heads, and ignoramuses were still on the air causing trouble. More often than not, the usefulness of CB approached zero, along with its appeal.
Since about 2004, I have mostly been off the HF bands due to one circumstance after another. This is not to say I was inactive, but that I spent very little time, comparatively speaking, listening to the HF bands. Due to my recent windfall of a very nice, semi-new Yaesu transceiver, I am back on the HF bands with gusto. And, I might add, having a great time too!
There have been numerous times recently that I thought my ears were deceiving me. As I tuned across the 75 meter band, I heard music in the phone portion of the band that was right on top of an ongoing QSO. The music signal was quite strong, peaking at 40 over S-9. I could make out what the ops were saying over the music, and they were none too happy about the deliberate interference. If I didn't already know that I was listening to amateur radio, I would have insisted that I was listening to channel 19 on my CB radio.
I like to chase DX, although I am poorly equipped for the task, but it is fun nonetheless. Again, on numerous occasions, OM's were whistling and laughing on top of a DX station, and of course without identifying. What gives?
Many, if not all CB radio dealers sell 10 meter radios as well, which are advertised as such so they do not draw attention to themselves for selling illegal radios. These same CB radio dealers, however, also offer "modification services", which "tweak" their various products to produce the illegal results their customers wants, as in expanded transmit coverage to include the CB band.
Here are two examples:
In a nutshell, we have unscrupulous vendors selling 10 meter radios to unlicensed CBers and also modifying said radios to operate illegally on 11 meters, the CB band. These CBers are the caliber of folks who cause deliberate interference on the ham bands, and probably because they easily obtained a "no code" ham license. This scene is playing out while the FCC turns a blind eye to enforcing their own regulations.
Is this interference a sample of the future of ham radio? Will more and more "CB hams" show up in unwelcome ways? Will ham radio become a copy of channel 19, only at 1500 watts of 'legal' power? If we're lucky enough, someone will invent a new apparatus using GPS to zero in on the malicious interference and fire a laser beam to disintegrate their antenna. I think it's too late to hope for the FCC doing their job.
Michael Carroll N4MC
Friday, October 29, 2010
End Of Liberty Documentary
The National Inflation Association, which I regard as very reliable and accurate, will release a new documentary film, "End of Liberty", in the coming days. NIA was kind enough to give us a preview of their new documentary's content shown in this trailer released by NIA. I urge everyone to view this trailer and the full-length documentary when it is released. You can sign up for NIA's email announcements, which is a good way to stay on top of accurate inflation, commodities, and fiscal data.
I have completely abandoned the notion that the big 'news' outlets provide me relevant information that can help me figure out what is really going on in our country and what I need to do prepare for the coming disaster(s). In fact, the major news outlets, those on the left or the right, are systematically brainwashing us by feeding us only those things we 'need' to know, and in a manner that sustains our fairy tale world.
On the left, you will find a list of web links that I use to learn what's really going on in our country. More importantly, the information and opinions I learn from these selected websites and blogs helps me prepare for what lies ahead. When a politician speaks, I know that his intent is to better his position and his power, and not to offer me help or information. The very nature of politics contradicts common sense and meaningful representation of constituents.
Michael Carroll N4MC
I have completely abandoned the notion that the big 'news' outlets provide me relevant information that can help me figure out what is really going on in our country and what I need to do prepare for the coming disaster(s). In fact, the major news outlets, those on the left or the right, are systematically brainwashing us by feeding us only those things we 'need' to know, and in a manner that sustains our fairy tale world.
On the left, you will find a list of web links that I use to learn what's really going on in our country. More importantly, the information and opinions I learn from these selected websites and blogs helps me prepare for what lies ahead. When a politician speaks, I know that his intent is to better his position and his power, and not to offer me help or information. The very nature of politics contradicts common sense and meaningful representation of constituents.
Michael Carroll N4MC
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Where Is America's Doctor?
Meet Dr. Regina Benjamin, our Surgeon General, also known as, "America's Doctor." Quoting from the Surgeon General's official government website, "...she provides the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation." Really?
Dr. Benjamin's credentials include:
Our TV's spew commercial after commercial that brainwash us to believe that for just about every health problem or aliment, the solution is to take a pill, have something removed, or buy some kind of gadget that will make whatever ails us go away. If you've ever watched the evening news on TV, then I know that you know what I'm talking about.
America is overstocked with unfit and unhealthy citizens. We're too fat, we eat too much, we have high blood pressure, diabetes, unhealthy levels of LDL cholesterol, and we don't exercise enough, or perhaps, not at all. We have health problems galore that are direct results of our American lifestyle of excess and over sized portions; the things we buy, the things we do (or don't do), what we watch on television, and our runaway consumption of goods, services, and food.
I am not an ignorant guy and I don't live in a cave in the Black Hills in South Dakota. Up until today, however, and before searching the Internet, I had no idea who our Surgeon General is, or even what the good doctor looks like.
I was impressed by Dr. Benjamin's credentials, and surely I must be correct to assume that Dr. Benjamin is well educated and well traveled. What I am unable to fathom is in light of America's serious national health emergency, why I haven't heard a peep out of "America's Doctor."
Why isn't Dr. Benjamin hosting a prime time weekly TV program to show us how to be healthy shoppers and healthy eaters? Perhaps Dr. Oz knows why. We're not nutritionist by birth, so we need help figuring out how much salt is too much, and what a healthy portion of looks like. How about it, Doc? People are already glued to their TV's, so why not stick something beneficial in front of their faces?
I say, Dr. Benjamin, use TV as a tool to spread your healthy gospel.
Why doesn't Dr. Benjamin have public service TV ads to discourage us from ingesting so much medicine and subsequently causing even more health problems? Why can't Dr. Benjamin offer us unhealthy, fat, and lazy Americans solutions to our self-induced national health emergency, instead of allowing us to fall deeper into a TV-induced brainwashed trance that is leading us to early graves?
I don't know what Dr. Benjamin does all day, nor what her priorities are, but I sure would like Dr. Benjamin to circle the wagons and get down to the business of looking after her patients and really being America's Doctor.
Michael Carroll N4MC
Dr. Benjamin's credentials include:
- Former CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Alabama
- Former Associate Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile
- Immediate Past Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States
- The first physician under age 40 and the first African-American woman to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees.
- Former President of the American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation
- Chair of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA)
- Former President of the Medical Association State of Alabama
- A BS in chemistry from Xavier University, New Orleans
- MD degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham
- MBA from Tulane University and five Honorary Doctorates
- Attended Morehouse School of Medicine
- Member of the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine
- A Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians
- A Kellogg National Fellow
- A Rockefeller Next Generation Leader
- Board member, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Board member, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
- Board member, Catholic Health Association
- Board member, Morehouse School of Medicine
- 1998 recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights
- Named by Time Magazine as one of the “Nation’s 50 Future Leaders Under Age 40 and Under”
- Recipient of the 2000 National Caring Award
- Recipient of the papal honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from Pope Benedict XVI
- Was awarded a MacArthur Genius Award Fellowship
Our TV's spew commercial after commercial that brainwash us to believe that for just about every health problem or aliment, the solution is to take a pill, have something removed, or buy some kind of gadget that will make whatever ails us go away. If you've ever watched the evening news on TV, then I know that you know what I'm talking about.
America is overstocked with unfit and unhealthy citizens. We're too fat, we eat too much, we have high blood pressure, diabetes, unhealthy levels of LDL cholesterol, and we don't exercise enough, or perhaps, not at all. We have health problems galore that are direct results of our American lifestyle of excess and over sized portions; the things we buy, the things we do (or don't do), what we watch on television, and our runaway consumption of goods, services, and food.
I think we have a national health emergency!
I am not an ignorant guy and I don't live in a cave in the Black Hills in South Dakota. Up until today, however, and before searching the Internet, I had no idea who our Surgeon General is, or even what the good doctor looks like.
I was impressed by Dr. Benjamin's credentials, and surely I must be correct to assume that Dr. Benjamin is well educated and well traveled. What I am unable to fathom is in light of America's serious national health emergency, why I haven't heard a peep out of "America's Doctor."
Why isn't Dr. Benjamin hosting a prime time weekly TV program to show us how to be healthy shoppers and healthy eaters? Perhaps Dr. Oz knows why. We're not nutritionist by birth, so we need help figuring out how much salt is too much, and what a healthy portion of looks like. How about it, Doc? People are already glued to their TV's, so why not stick something beneficial in front of their faces?
I say, Dr. Benjamin, use TV as a tool to spread your healthy gospel.
Why doesn't Dr. Benjamin have public service TV ads to discourage us from ingesting so much medicine and subsequently causing even more health problems? Why can't Dr. Benjamin offer us unhealthy, fat, and lazy Americans solutions to our self-induced national health emergency, instead of allowing us to fall deeper into a TV-induced brainwashed trance that is leading us to early graves?
I don't know what Dr. Benjamin does all day, nor what her priorities are, but I sure would like Dr. Benjamin to circle the wagons and get down to the business of looking after her patients and really being America's Doctor.
Michael Carroll N4MC
Monday, October 25, 2010
Antenna Bling
Granted, these 160 meter beams are not the norm, and I suspect most hams would think, "That's one big antenna", while others might drool. In the world of amateur radio Olympic gold medalists, antennas such as these are too much for me to comprehend.
What would happen if ham radio had a 320 meter band? Would these super competitive hams build rotatable 320m beams? The only rules that govern monster antennas are the laws of physics. Fortunately for dipole folks like me, the FCC has imposed amplifier power limitations. Otherwise, super competitive amateur radio stations would super-size their amplifiers as well. My 100 watts would become flea power in short order.
In this first photo and accompanying video clip, is the handiwork of HIDEYUKI OSHIMA, JO1DZA in Japan. www.qrz.com has more photos of his antenna farm.
This next photo is the 'shack' and 3 element 160m beam of OH8X in Northern Finland. Surely an impressive set up, but no drool here. Click the OH8X Radioarcala link for more information about his station and other antennas.
What would happen if ham radio had a 320 meter band? Would these super competitive hams build rotatable 320m beams? The only rules that govern monster antennas are the laws of physics. Fortunately for dipole folks like me, the FCC has imposed amplifier power limitations. Otherwise, super competitive amateur radio stations would super-size their amplifiers as well. My 100 watts would become flea power in short order.
In this first photo and accompanying video clip, is the handiwork of HIDEYUKI OSHIMA, JO1DZA in Japan. www.qrz.com has more photos of his antenna farm.
This next photo is the 'shack' and 3 element 160m beam of OH8X in Northern Finland. Surely an impressive set up, but no drool here. Click the OH8X Radioarcala link for more information about his station and other antennas.
When I received my novice license in 1976, I was living in an apartment in Mississippi, and I was determined to get on the air "by hook or by crook." In my apartment was the ceiling hatch that lead into the attic. As every enterprising ham would do, I took advantage of this 'gift', and hoisted myself into the attic to have a look see.
I surveyed the attic space, and saw that an antenna of sorts could be installed. After gathering the necessary materials, I climbed back into the attic to perform my first antenna installation. Since I would be walking on other folks' ceilings, I gingerly made my way to and fro, attaching my 15 meter antenna wire to the various wooden structural members in the attic. My antenna wasn't a dipole or any other standard configuration. It was just a bunch of wire cut for 15m and attached zig-zag style to numerous roof supports.
On a personal dare, and to up the excitement factor, I decided that my first contact would be a DX contact. On August 19, 1976, I called "CQ DX" a few times, and Jorge, WP4EHC (SK) in Puerto Rico answered my CQ. Here is the actual log entry of my first amateur radio contact.
Imagine. Using a tangle of wire haphazardly strung in an attic, I was able to contact Jorge in Puerto Rico!
Here's a snapshot of an "IRC" that I used for my DX QSL's in 1976. And no, I don't save everything.
By now you might have realized that I deviated significantly from talking about gargantuan 160 meter beams. In a way, I did deviate, but the 160 meter beams and my tangle of 15 meter antenna wire in my apartment attic are quite related. Opportunity is the connection.
Hams are quite creative and inventive, and will seize every opportunity to better their ability to communicate. Just as I took advantage of the fact that my apartment building's attic access happened to be located in MY apartment, the guys who erect these monster 160 meter beams take advantage of their own resources of land, money, and talent, as well. Way to go!
In the end, we hams do what we can, and use what's available to 'work the world'. Good DX!
Michael Carroll N4MC
Sunday, October 24, 2010
I Finally Graduated
Since I primarily work DX, when most contacts consist of call sign exchange and signal report, I chose to also equip my station with a MicroHam Digi Keyer. DX stations have a habit of sending code at 20-25 WPM, and contacting a DX station with an incorrectly sent call sign could spell disaster.
With the Digi Keyer, I can send my call and his signal report using perfect CW without botching the sought after opportunity. I tried using my Bencher paddles, and was mostly succesful, but periodically, I would mess up my call sign, and have to void the contact.
In the area of antennas, I am still operating on a shoe string, but no complaints. My yard consists mostly of tall hardwoods that leave little room for a worthwhile beam, unless it was on at least a 70 foot tower. So, I have a 12/10 meter dipole at 30 feet, and an 80/40 two-band dipole at 55 feet for everything else. I use a tuner for both dipoles, which serve their purpose quite well. In just the past month, I have worked 72 countries using 100 watts and my dipoles. Many thanks to AA4U for helping me.
Here's a snapshot of my new QSL card I use for my eQSL's.
After 34 years of hamming, I finally have a nice station, decent antennas, and if I am patient, I can work most DX stations. Life is good!
Michael Carroll N4MC
Square One
A new blog. Blog? Where did the word 'blog' come from?
People are just plain old lazy and impatient. We take shortcuts, arrive late, leave early, drive fast, and look for loopholes we can exploit in every facet of life. Blog is the short form of the lengthy word 'weblog', which you can plainly see could waste a lot of your time if you chose to use it instead of 'blog'.
I don't get it.
People are just plain old lazy and impatient. We take shortcuts, arrive late, leave early, drive fast, and look for loopholes we can exploit in every facet of life. Blog is the short form of the lengthy word 'weblog', which you can plainly see could waste a lot of your time if you chose to use it instead of 'blog'.
I don't get it.
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