Fortune Cookie

"If strength were all, tiger would not fear scorpion."

Ham Radio Bill

H.R. 81 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2011 (PDF)

"The objective of the bill -- which is supported by the ARRL -- is for the Secretary of Homeland Security to study the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio communications in emergencies and disaster relief and to identify and make recommendations regarding impediments to Amateur Radio communications, such as the effects of private land use regulations on residential antenna installations."

Via the ARRL.

Blank Area Networks

LAN - Local Area Network
WAN - Wide Area Network
MAN - Metro Area Network
PAN - Personal Area Network

and now we have the MBAN - Medical Body Area Network.

"The MBAN radio spectrum would create a wireless body sensor network for remotely monitoring critically and chronically ill people via small wireless devices so that medical workers can track the person's health status as well as take swift action in emergencies."

The impacted frequencies:

"The bandwidths being requested for MBANs -- 2360-2400 MHz; 2300-2305 MHz and 2395-2400 MHz; 2400-2483.5 MHz; or 5150-5250 MHz -- reside next those now used by Bluetooth devices."

Ten-Tec Video

I went to the Hamfest at Ten-Tec in September. They have tailgating, plant tours, and a demo area. The plant is interesting because one half the plant looks like a traditional, industrial facility while the other part is more of a clean room. The surface mount area was neat to see. They were showing of the new Eagle radio. It's cool to have one of the few ham radio manufacturers in my backyard.

Hams Help

Hams help and not just with EmComm...

General Motors asks hams for help with an antenna problem.

NASA asks hams for help with tracking a nanosatellite.

Cool Tool - RJ45

This is a neat idea from Platinum Tools - the RJ45 connector allows the 8 wires to pass through the end. It makes it easier to verify the order of the wires and you don't have to worry about trimming them too short or long.

I See What You Did There.

And this is why I put electrical tape over my laptop's camera.

Cyber War - Yes, it is. No, it's not.

Yes, it is. Compromised government and military sites are for sale.

No, it's not. Cyberwar is over-hyped.

Yes, it is. Stuxnet may have been a government attack.

Obligatory Monty Python video:

Nigerian Radio - Kencomsu

There has been a lot of discussion about Chinese radio imports for the amateur market on some of the Yahoo groups to which I subscribe. Discussion may be too generous - rants may be more appropriate. As an owner of a Wouxun KG-UVD1P, you may guess I don't have a problem with letting the markets work.

After seeing the success of the Wouxun ,I did get excited for the business potential of another import when I saw this post:

"The ones that the Nigerian company "Kencomsu" makes, but they can't get them out of Nigeria because they need an export license. In order to get an export license, they need a partner in the USA who will import the radios. So, if someone in the USA will just put up $10,000 for export permits, he/she can get 1000 amateur radios delivered, which the USA partner can sell for a profit and share the revenue with the Nigerian company for all their trouble.

Want me to provide more details?"

Then I realized it was joke. I would love to run a small business like Ed at wouxun.us.

Improv Everywhere - Where's Rob?

After I discovered the Best Gig Ever, I make it a point to occasionally check out Improv Everywhere.

I found myself laughing out loud as I read about poor Rob getting lost at a basketball game.