[SFDXA] Ham Radio -- no sales pitch, just a Holiday Greeting

Thu Dec 24 14:55:56 EST 2020

A great Holiday and New Year Message from John Bee at Quicksilver...
-Bill W2CQ
Ham Radio -- no sales pitch, just a Holiday Greeting Best Wishes to you 
and yours for the Season and New Year

  Happy Holidays

 >From your friends at

      Quicksilver Radio Products

December, 2020

I just want to take few minutes to wish you and yours the very best for 
the Holiday Season.  May it be filled with the joy and warmth that 
family and friends bring.  I have many wonderful memories of my own 
childhood Christmastimes; many more of them when my children were young; 
and now we're making new ones as they have grown into adulthood.  Seeing 
one's children mature into happy and productive people is truly one of 
the best gifts we can receive.  Many of my customers are already 
Grandparents, and I'm sure that is another source of happiness, 
especially at this time of year.

To be sure, this was a year quite unlike any in memory, and this Holiday 
Season will be different as well.  Many of us (me included) will forgo 
the pleasures of an extended family celebration in favor of much smaller 
events. Thanks to Zoom and similar videoconferencing systems, at least 
we'll be able to gather virtually to wish each other well. We'll take 
some comfort in knowing that our prudence this year will help to ensure 
happier holidays for years to come.

2020 will mark the 18th straight year of growth for Quicksilver Radio, 
despite its challenges. Without such great customers, this would never 
have been possible. It's always gratifying to hear either in person at a 
Hamfest, or by e-mail, that you enjoy my newsletters and find useful 
information on my Web Site. I truly appreciate your support, your 
business, and your understanding as we've worked through the unique 
circumstances this year has brought. Having a job that I enjoy in a 
hobby that I love is something I'm thankful for each and every day.

As 2020 slides into 2021, it's natural to think about plans for the 
coming year. And I'd like to ask a favor of you -- please put Ham Radio 
on your list of New Year's Resolutions. Here are some ideas to consider:

1.  If, by chance, you are not yet a licensed Ham Radio Operator, get 
your license this year.  If you have not yet passed your General or 
Extra test, do it this year.  Having trouble studying or passing?  I 
have some tips on my Web Site that I think will be helpful. *Click here 
to see them 
<https://qsradio.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a5a6e8e950aa932d51c345073&id=15cca0d81c&e=8eb55c876c>*

2.  Try something.  A good friend of mine likes to say that there are 30 
different kinds of Ham Radio, and there's something there for everyone.  
FM repeaters and HF SSB just scratch the surface.  You already have a 
computer.  New digital and sound card modes seem to appear weekly.  A 
short while ago, no one had heard of FT-8.  It's now, by many accounts, 
the most popular HF Digital mode.  D-Star, DMR, Fusion, and other 
digital voice modes are growing by leaps and bounds.  Have you tried 6 
Meters yet? The Magic Band can yield some surprising contacts.  How low 
can you go?  There's some interesting action on our newest bands at 630 
and 2200 Meters. At (literally) the other end of the spectrum, we have 
Ham Bands well into the GHz region. Microwaves are useful for more than 
making popcorn!  Or maybe try some SSB or CW on 2 Meters or 70 
Centimeters? Every Ham has full privileges on all of the bands above 30 
MHz.  Antennas for VHF and UHF are small and easy to construct from 
hardware store parts.  It doesn't have to be pretty -- an ugly antenna 
will radiate just as well.  Use your imagination and try something 
different!

3.  Do something.  Set an achievable Ham Radio goal for the year -- and 
then work at it!  Earn DXCC or WAS, maybe on a single band? Better your 
contest score by 10%?  Get your CW speed up to 20 WPM? Reorganize and 
rewire the shack?  Order a copy of the ARRL Handbook or Antenna Book, 
and start increasing your technical knowledge? Convert your paper logs 
to electronic format and start using Logbook of the World?  One of my 
Dad's favorite sayings was "Whether you think you can or you think you 
can't, you're probably right."  Just do it!!

4. Build something. Too many years ago, as I newly licensed Ham I got 
very involved in Packet Radio. With a double throw switch and some mic 
connectors, I built a box to allow either voice or data use by just 
flipping the switch.  OK, not exactly cutting edge, but it worked and 
led me to build plenty of other handy gadgets over the years. Simple 
projects can also be a great way to teach new hams the basics of 
soldering and kit-building.  String up that antenna you've been thinking 
about forever and see how it plays. Download a free antenna modeling 
program and learn how to use it to design and build your own 
BandBlaster. Order a kit and assemble it.  Melt some solder and have 
fun! Once you start you'll be hooked.

5.  Learn something. Microcontrollers like the Arduino, Raspberry Pi, 
and PICaxe are quite inexpensive. With a few LEDs and pushbuttons you 
can learn simple programming to get started. There are plenty of useful 
Ham Radio projects that you can find online. And if you have an idea for 
your own gadget, you'll have a lot of fun learning how to roll your own 
computer code.

6.  Teach something. You know how to do things others don't, but would 
like to learn.  Are you already familiar with programming 
microcontrollers? How about a club project to teach the basics to other 
members?  Or a demonstration on using Anderson Powerpoles? Or properly 
installing coax connectors?

7. Become a "HAMbassador". Get just one person (or two, or three) 
interested in Amateur Radio.  Offer to demonstrate Ham Radio at the 
Senior Citizens' center, Boy or Girl Scout meetings, the Rotary Club, or 
any similar organization. Groups like that are always looking for an 
interesting speaker or activity. On-line meetings mean you can do it 
right from home, no need to travel!  A simple but impressive and 
effective demonstration is to bring an HT and ask for a "Roll Call".  
Notify your club in advance... all they need to do is reply with "This 
is (name, callsign) in (town)." Remember that we're Hams because we 
enjoy talking to other people.  The more Hams, the more contacts we can 
make.

8.  Get involved! Join your local Radio Club.  If you need help finding 
a club, *look here*. 
<https://qsradio.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a5a6e8e950aa932d51c345073&id=cd513ecbf0&e=8eb55c876c> 
If you already belong, attend the meetings. Just about every club (not 
just Radio Clubs) has the same problem -- 10% of the people do 90% of 
the work.  You don't need to volunteer for everything... select an area 
that interests you, and help with that. Even better, suggest an activity 
and then take the lead in organizing it.  Something as simple as "I'm 
going to set up a portable station at the park on Saturday morning, 
everyone is welcome to come by" can be a great time.  If you add "Free 
coffee and donuts" to your announcement, you'll draw a real crowd ;-)

9.  Stay positive, ignore the negative. Don't listen to the cranky old 
farts who insist that "Ham Radio is dying".  Or better yet,*point them 
here 
<https://qsradio.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a5a6e8e950aa932d51c345073&id=39945beb29&e=8eb55c876c>* 
where they'll find that the number of licensees is at an all-time high. 
Participation in contests remains strong, even at the bottom of the 
sunspot cycle. Manufacturers continue to introduce new models that we 
could barely dream of just a few years ago.  Hamfests that are 
well-organized and well-run are thriving. Ham Radio has been evolving 
for over a century now, and it continues to do so.  The Magic of Radio 
never goes away.

10.  Most of all, resolve to have more fun with Ham Radio in 2021!

Once again, my sincere best wishes to you and your family for a happy, 
healthy, and safe Holiday Season and New Year.

Thanks and warm 73,

John Bee, N1GNV
Quicksilver Radio Products
*www.qsradio.com 
<https://qsradio.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a5a6e8e950aa932d51c345073&id=ffd7b2e245&e=8eb55c876c>*

*Our mailing address is:*
Quicksilver Radio
47-7 Billard St
Meriden, CT 06451

<http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral_marketing&aid=a5a6e8e950aa932d51c345073&afl=1> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/sfdxa/attachments/20201224/3dfcbad1/attachment-0001.html>