Saturday, December 31, 2011

2012

Hello Everyone, Well another year closing and a new one about to start. Hard to believe that we are about to start a new year where does the time go?
One thing about the year ahead with the sunspot peak to happen around sometime in 2013, 2012 should have some great time to surf the bands.
So what are your plans for 2012? have you thought about trying something new for the new year a new mode a new band that you may have thought of but never got round to trying like the 902 MHz band. I got into this band early this year and i had passed experience back in the 80's with 900 MHz in the UK with 934 MHz CB that  sadly is no longer about but i will go into this band a bit later.
Have you thought about (if not a member) of joining a local club. If your work scheduled is stopping you you can always join some have a monthly news letter that is worth reading plus your giving support for the the repeaters they run if you use them a lot. of course the main association is the ARRL (American Radio League) They where formed back in 1914 and mainly serve the USA.If your in the UK then you will have the RSGB(Radio Society Of Great Britain) this was formed a year early the the ARRL in 1913. These both serve a great curse and both have great magazine that they send out to members every month. The ARRL have the magazine QST while the RSGB have Radcom.
I would like to end this by wishing everyone a very happy near year and i hope 2012 will be a great year to everyone.
Hope to catch you all on the air.
Good DX and be safe
73 De Steve K4STA/G0OMM









Friday, December 30, 2011

APRS for Android

I have been using this App for the Andriod for a number of weeks and it works great.
I,m still learning how to run it and what it does but if you want a cheap way to get onto the APRS net and you have an Andriod phone then this is the way to go. I do believe they have an app for APRS for the I phone.
The app is not free but for $4.49 its still cheap.
Once its installed and up and running people can track you in will time via the APRS.FI.
This App is from Germany so all the distance to other stations are in Kilo
Meters and not in miles.If you not used to KM 1mile = 1.61KM.
So is like me you have a Andriod give it a try and might see your aprs number. Mine is K4STA-5.

For more information follow the link to http://aprsdroid.org/


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Greatings

Hello all thank you for dropping by,
My Name is Stephen. I am from London United Kingdom and now life in Lawrenceville Georgia with my wonderful wife and a young Daughter of four.
I am a FCC Licensed Amateur Radio(Ham) in the USA with the call K4STA. I also hold a UK Licence G0OMM. 
At the age of 12 I joined the sea cadet corps.

I was on the Ship H.M.S. Belfast Moored on the River Thames in London.
We did a tour of the ship when we got to the wireless bridge on the ship I remember this guy talking on the radio (later found out he was a ham) I forget his call this was back in late 1976.
I was really impressed with this, later I learned radio communication and did learn Morse at 13.
The years went by and at 18 did buy my 1stCB as then they had just became legal in the UK.I was not happy with this and sorry to say I did buy a SSB CB that are Illegal in the UK.
I was closed down by those very nice men from the home office and so from 1983 until 1988 when I got the bug for radio again wanted to do it legal so I went night classes and took the Radio Amateur Exam (RAE) and passed and was later in 1989 issued with what was then a B Class license of G7FOL.
I carried on with this Call sign until December 1990 when I took and passed my 12WPM Morse test then I was issued with a full A Class in January 1991 as G0OMM.
Later in 1992 I was heavily into Packet Radio and ran a BBS call GB7OMM.
Then in 2000 I moved to where I am now and with moving and setting up home the hobby took to the back seat until about September 2009, I was talking to a guy at work that wanted to became a ham and that got me wanting to get back in and so I took the exam on October 19thand passed and was issued with my call of KJ4PXH.
I was surprised how rusty I have become.
I Took and passed my General Classon 11/07/09.
As of today (04/17/2011) i sat and passed my Extra Class.
5/10/11 New Vanity Call K4STA
73 De Steve K4STA
http://twitter.com/StephenK4STA
SKCC # 8433