by Michael Martens | Nov 15, 2014 | Amateur Radio
We’ve all done it. Standing on our tippy toes. The dance, slowly swiveling around, alternating holding our arms up in the air and hands close to our ears. I’m talking about the weird contortions we do until we get the best signal out of our handheld radio. HTs bring...
by Michael Martens | Oct 27, 2014 | Scanner
I love listening to the scanner. In fact, it was a scanning around in the late 1990’s that led me to find the amateur radio frequencies and my eventual getting my ham radio license. But I certainly haven’t let go of my scanner roots, I’ll often have...
by Michael Martens | Oct 20, 2014 | ARES/RACES
Every year in mid October, Wisconsin ARES/RACES, the state’s amateur radio emergency communications group holds its annual conference. While open to anyone with an interest in Emergency Communications, the conference gives ARES leadership an opportunity to...
by Michael Martens | Oct 13, 2014 | ARES/RACES
About a week ago our ARES/RACES group participated in the ARRL’s Simulated Emergency Test. In this nationwide exercise amateur radio operators participate in a variety of mock disaster drills and communications tests. But did you know that the SET has been going...
by Michael Martens | Sep 22, 2014 | Operating Events
Every year, around the third weekend in October, Scouting’s biggest on-air activities takes place. JOTA or the Jamboree on the air is an operating activity that gives Boy & Girls the opportunity to experience amateur radio and make connections world wide....
by Michael Martens | Sep 9, 2014 | Amateur Radio
In 2012, over 421,000 people were injured and 3,328 people killed in automobile crashes due to distracted driving. Distracted driving has become a hot button issue and many communities have developed or are in the process of creating an ordinance on the use of cell...
by Michael Martens | Sep 2, 2014 | Antennas
Looking for a compact, portable antenna with a decent amount of gain? Our popular Two Meter Slim Jim antenna is now available in a two piece break-a-way format. The 2 meter break-a-way Slim Jim antenna has the same performance and specs as the solid one piece model,...
by Michael Martens | Aug 18, 2014 | Amateur Radio
Getting your antenna in the air can sometimes be challenging. Not all of us have unlimited real estate and 120 foot towers at our disposal to hang any radiator on that we please. We all have to work within the confines of our situation, meaning limited space, property...
by Michael Martens | Jul 24, 2014 | ARES/RACES
Nobody told me that being net control operator would involve so much paperwork. With a constant barrage of radio traffic and seemingly endless bits and pieces of information to keep track of, how do we keep our nets running efficiently without letting any of that...
by Michael Martens | Jul 9, 2014 | ARES/RACES
During a weather net or other type of ARES/RACES activity, I’m typically the the person behind the microphone, operating as net control and keeping things running smooth. In my years as a net control operator, one skill I’ve picked up is the use of break...
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