ARRL Club Newsletter

August 28, 2008　

Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Editor

IN THIS ISSUE:

+ Amateur Radio And The Internet

Amateur Radio And The Internet

Today the World Wide Web offers extended range for much of the population but before the internet radio amateurs ventured beyond the local neighborhood through the magic of radio. For decades, long before the internet, hams would sue radio as a means to maintain friendships, stay in touch with loved ones and help others contact family in remote places of the globe.

Long distance chess was once a popular on air activity. Amateur Radio operators would set up chess boards and moves were exchanged over the air. Each radio operator maintained their chess board according to the moves transmitted by each other. Often these games would be played out over the course of days or weeks during scheduled contacts. The activity was not about finishing the game quickly as it was it was about meeting on the air often.

A lot of naysayers have claimed the internet to be the death of Amateur Radio. In fact some non-radio people when asked about ham radio will respond with "hasn't the internet made that obsolete?" On the contrary, if anything the internet has enhanced Amateur Radio.

Think about the many ways hams use the internet.

Radio Clubs

Club members can stay informed all the time through the use of e-mail reflectors. Various users groups allow people to exchange ideas and information about their favorite piece of equipment or operating mode. If you think about it these user's groups are like virtual specialty clubs for people with a shared interest.

Many clubs use the internet to distribute electronic newsletters and maintain websites to keep members informed and attract new members.

The DX Game

Some of you may remember two ringers, when your buddy would call your house and let the phone ring two times then hang up. This code was to let you know about some hot DX that was on the air. Of course you would not dare answer the telephone before the second ring for fear of someone incurring a long distance charge. Today, through the use of the internet we can utilize real-time DX spotting networks to find out which stations are on the air. If you have your rig interfaced with your PC using the appropriate software the network will automatically switch your transceiver to the DX's operating frequency.

The internet has enhanced the DX game in other ways by providing Dxpedition log information on line while the Dxpedition is still in operation. This helps eliminate the "insurance" QSOs and allows the Dxpedition work as many stations as possible while limiting the number of duplicate contacts.

There are software programs available that monitor the DX cluster and if a needed DX station is spotted you will receive an e-mail alert on your Blackberry or other personal e-mail device. How cool is that?

Just look at it as the digital version of the two ringer DX alert.

Contesting and Awards

ARRL's Logbook of The World would not be possible without internet technology. LoTW's use of public and private keys lets users all over the world to upload electronically signed logs and when QSOs are matched the users receive credit for their contacts to be used toward awards. More information about Logbook of the world can be found on the ARRL website. < http://www.arrl.org/lotw/ >

Contest scores are now published on the internet allowing participants to quickly sort and analyze the data.

Public Service

A variety of public service groups such as ARES use the internet to call up volunteers, maintain databases of people and equipment available for disasters and to inform the public of their services.

Being able to transmit digital information via radio and then inject it into the internet electronic mail system has allowed radio amateurs to move messages much faster than was possible using the antiquated relay system.

Licensing and Education

Today many people will prepare for their Amateur Radio license exam by using one of the many practice exam websites. These sites will randomly quiz the user from the VEC question pools and score the results. This undoubtedly eases some of the test jitters and exposes areas of strength and weakness.

ARRL offers an on-line license class for those applicants who may have scheduling conflicts with traditional classes or just enjoy doing things at their own pace. < http://www.arrl.org/cce/Tech.html >

In addition to licensing courses ARRL offers a series of Emergency Communications courses (EmComm Level I, II, III) and other subjects such as Antenna Modeling, Radio Frequency Interference and HF Digital Communications. < http://www.arrl.org/cep/ >

On The Air

The Internet Repeater Linking Project (IRLP), Echolink and remote base stations could not exist without the internet. These technologies have opened the world of Amateur radio to a whole new group of users as well as offered areas of experimentation to seasoned radio amateurs.

Adaptability

Traditionally the Amateur Radio service has always made use of whatever was available. Whether salvaging parts from discarded television sets in the 1950s, repurposing surplus military equipment in the 1960s or integrating electronic hardware today, hams have always utilized technology in creative ways to suit their needs. An internet connection in the ham shack is as common as the J-38 straight key once was. The fact that you are reading this e-letter demonstrates the positive influence the internet and computers have had on Amateur Radio.

ARRL Affiliation Milestones for August 2008

10 Years August

*W3

EPA Southern PA Communications Group K3AE

*W9

IN Amateur Radio Club of Notre Dame ND1U

*W7

MT Bitterroot Amateur Radio Club W7FTX

OR Ham Operators Group K7HOG

50 Years August

*W7

ORG Barstow Amateur Radio Club WA6TST

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The ARRL CLUB NEWS is published on the first Wednesday of each month by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; www.arrl.org. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL CLUB NEWS is an e-mail digest of news and information of interest to active members of ARRL Affiliated Clubs.

Material from The ARRL CLUB NEWS may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL CLUB NEWS and The American Radio Relay League.

Editorial questions or comments: Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, clubs@arrl.org

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