[Elecraft] Ham radio as a side dish

[Dave Sublette]

I can think of a couple of things where my ham radio experience blends with
my other interests.  Radio Control Models: for many years I used the 53 MHz
band for my RC link.  Now that the GHz equipment has come along, I use
that.

 Music: I play trumpet in a couple of bands. My experience with Morse Code
has helped me (my opinion) be more precise with timing or rhythms.  I also
believe, although I'm not sure studies have proven, that ability to learn
and use Morse Code is highly correlated with musical ability.

Flying: I hold Commercial, Multiiengine and Intrument ratings.  When I was
taking lessons, flying cross country using VORs (before GPS), I would tune
to the next VOR, I.D.it by hearing the Morse identifier, and turn the
volume down.  My instructor would then lecture me on the need for properly
I.D.ing the station before turning down the volume.  I had a hard time
making him understand that those dits and dahs were telling me the same
thing the voice would have.

In the Navy, I was assigned to the deck force because I was waiting for an
opening to attend ET school.  The Navy's policy at that time was that I
didn't know anything until I had been to their school.  I copy CW at 25
wpm. While on watch, I read the light of the ship that was steaming with us
and realized that they had signaled for a U-turn in front of us.  When the
message failed to come down from the signal bridge, I informed the Officer
of the Deck.  Sure enough, they turned and we avoided colliding with them.
A few minutes later, he came over to me with a puzzled look and asked how I
knew they would be turning.  I told him I read the light.

I learned Morse in the Boy Scouts, on my way to becoming an Eagle Scout.  I
teach Radio Merit Badge to Scouts now.  Although Morse requirements have
been eliminated from the requirements, I still hope that some young person
will catch the magic and join our ranks.

73,

Dave, K4TO



On Sat, May 26, 2018 at 8:24 AM Chris Hallinan <challinan at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have recently discovered the thrill of "aeronautical mobile" on 2m FM
> using a handheld.  Line of sight has an entirely different meaning at 8000
> feet in unobstructed air!
>
> I would dearly love to figure out how to operate HF (20 meters) while
> flying a small general aviation single-engine aircraft.   Haven't figure
> out a workable antenna solution that doesn't require airframe modification,
> etc.  I thought about a Zepp like the old days, but at 180+ mph that is
> probably not workable.
>
> 73 de K1AY
>
>
>
> On Sat, May 26, 2018 at 12:29 AM, Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:
>
> > Many of us combine our affinity for radio with other activities we’re
> > equally passionate about — perhaps more. An obvious example (one that
> > renders this post marginally non-OT) is hiking / camping; for some of us,
> > it’s a natural environment for small radios and big ambitions.
> >
> > What are your ham-activated avocations? Do they come with as-yet-unsolved
> > problems in the field of radio ergonomics?
> >
> > Where is the boundary between communications media and the things you
> most
> > enjoy talking about?
> >
> > Wayne
> > N6KR
> >
> >
> >
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>
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