by Michael Martens | Oct 9, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, Antennas
The amateur radio community lost a valuable member last week. Dennis, W9PBB, a good personal friend and mentor suddenly passed away at the age of 76. It’s a shock whenever anyone close to you dies, but when the person was taken suddenly and without warning, it...
by Michael Martens | Oct 3, 2012 | Amateur Radio, Antennas
When the weather is nice I like to package my antennas for shipping on the picnic table in the backyard. We’re in the middle of fall color season here in Wisconsin, so my backyard is full of brightly colored Maple leaves. I think everyone this week will get a...
by Michael Martens | Sep 30, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, Antennas, ARES/RACES, emcomm
Late September can be absolutely beautiful in northern Wisconsin, or it can be cold and dreary. We where blessed with warm temps and sunny skies for our ARES/RACES group’s deployment at the Village of Kronenwetter’s annual Fall Festival. The festival,...
by Michael Martens | Sep 25, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, VHF
Daniel, W2GRK of Brooklyn, NY had an APRS packet digipeated during a recent pass of the International Space Station. Reported on Reddit.com: I was able to send an APRS packet off the ISS on 09/22/12 at 03:50 EDT with only 5 watts (a Yaesu VX-170) and a j-pole (The 2...
by Michael Martens | Sep 16, 2012 | Antennas, Aviation, Railroad, Scanner
If you are looking for a broadband scanner antenna, you may be lured towards the direction of the discone antenna. Discones have unique features that make good scanner antennas, but are they the right choice for your setup? Would a J-Pole better suit your purposes? A...
by Michael Martens | Sep 11, 2012 | News
The following article is relayed as a service to the Ham Radio Community: A high altitude balloon mission title EarthBreeze, launched by the Near Space Sciences group on Saturday, September 8th has stopped reporting it’s beacon message. Ham operators are...
by Michael Martens | Sep 8, 2012 | ARES/RACES, emcomm, Scanner
In addition to selling my line of J-Pole and Slim Jim antennas, I talk a lot about emergency communications. The reason is, that effective communications needs to be part of anyone’s disaster plan. September is National Preparedness Monthand the Department of...
by Michael Martens | Sep 7, 2012 | Antennas, News
Check out what landed on the mobile whip antenna on my car. Not sure if the dragon fly will increase my propagation, but I guess I can now officially say that I’m running a ‘bugcatcher.’
by Michael Martens | Aug 31, 2012 | Amateur Radio, Antennas, Land-Mobile, Reviews, Scanner
Help share the love of the J-Pole antenna. I just got a big shipment of business cards in and they don’t do me any good sitting in a box in my office. If you drop me your name and address via the contact form, I will personally mail out a handful of cards that...
by Michael Martens | Aug 29, 2012 | ARES/RACES, emcomm
I spotted this helmet at a flea market last week. It appears to be a standard issue white fiberglass Civil Defense helmet from the late 1950’s or early 1960’s. I’m not sure it’s worth the $75 asking price, but a fine specimen none the...
Recent Comments