by Michael Martens | Apr 26, 2013 | weather
Here’s a picture of the vehicle our local television station is now using for storm chasing. I haven’t seen it out in the field yet, but I do certainly love the satellite dish. No pictures of the inside, but I peered into the deeply tinted windows and...
by Michael Martens | Apr 18, 2013 | Amateur Radio, Antennas
The most common use of my J-Pole and Slim Jim antennas is for FM operation on the VHF and UHF amateur radio bands. Typically FM simplex and repeaters use antennas that are vertically polarized. J-Poles, being vertically oriented are also vertically polarized, which...
by Michael Martens | Apr 7, 2013 | Amateur Radio
Alright, you’ve just received your ham radio Technician license, or are in the process of earning your license. You’ve been reading the literature and looking at radios to get started with. Maybe you’re even shopping around on eBay or the other sites...
by Michael Martens | Mar 29, 2013 | Amateur Radio, Antennas, Marine, weather
I originally wrote this article on March of 2012, but over the past year this topic has been one of the most searched blog posts on my site. Lightning safety is an important topic, so I revisited the information, updated it and present it again at the top of my blog....
by Michael Martens | Mar 24, 2013 | Antennas
At one time there weren’t restrictions or rules on antennas. If you wanted to get on the air, you went outside and strung up a bunch of wire. Maybe you were lucky enough to install a tower in your backyard for a vertical or beam. Before the days of cable...
by Michael Martens | Mar 17, 2013 | Aviation
Do you live close to a busy commercial airport? When people think of living near the airport, the first thing that comes to mind is the constant noise of jets taking off and landing. But that noise may be music to your ears if you are an aviation buff. There is a...
by Michael Martens | Mar 11, 2013 | Amateur Radio
One of my favorite operating events is the Wisconsin QSO Party. I’m a pretty casual operator, so a contest that falls on a Sunday afternoon in late winter is perfect for me. Always the second Sunday in March, this event is when the state of Wisconsin comes alive...
by Michael Martens | Mar 8, 2013 | Antennas
Here in the northern climes, the days are getting warmer and the snow is rapidly disappearing. But as warmer weather returns across the country, hams are getting ready to do their annual spring check and maintenance of their antenna systems. Winter can be hard on...
by Michael Martens | Feb 24, 2013 | Antennas, Scanner, weather
Severe weather can strike at any time, day or night. You may not be listening to broadcast radio or watching television when a weather alert is issued. But you can keep informed of changing weather conditions by keeping a NOAA all hazards weather radio in your house....
by Michael Martens | Feb 21, 2013 | Amateur Radio, ARES/RACES, emcomm
Preparing for the next generation of emergency communications, the Red Cross is in the process of decommissioning their Emergency Communication Response Vehicles (ECRV) and replacing them with a more flexible and mobile emergency communications go kit. According to a...
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