HRN 275: EmComm Extra #3: MARS Attacks (MARS Interop Test)

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Yeah, the MARS Attacks title is just click bait. But really, MARS, the Military Auxiliary Radio Service, will be sort of invading the ham bands in a new kind of interoperability test. If you're quick, you'll catch it - it starts at 11 PM Eastern on Sunday, October 30, 2016 on 60 meters. Even if you miss it live, this show will give you some good background. Co-Host David W0DHG and Gary talk with Army MARS Program Manager Paul English WD8DBY, and go in depth (this is HamRadioNow) on the test and the MARS system today.

This is the 11 PM 60 Meter Broadcast, with commentary

HRN 274: EmComm Extra #2 - AfterMatth(ew)

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Gary KN4AQ and new Co-Host David Goldenberg W0DHG launch the HamRadioNow EmComm Extra with Episode 2, because Episode 1 was a rush job during the onset of Hurricane Matthew. 

This time they talk to two hams who participated directly in ARES activity as Matthew roared by. Scott Roberts KK4ECR is an Assistant EC and PIO for Clay County ARES, just outside Jacksonville FL. Linda Selleck KJ4EVV is the EC for Berkeley County ARES, next to Charleston SC. 

Before the interviews, David and Gary talk about what they'd like the EmComm Extra to be. We're not going to hold them to it, but it'll give you a clue.

HRN 273: FEMA - Go BIG (from the 2016 DCC)

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HRN 273 FEMA Go Big POSTER SQUARE 250.jpg

FEMA Chief Technology Officer Ted Okada K4HNL addresses the 2016 ARRL & TAPR Digital Communications Conference. Unlike most DCC talks, this is not highly technical, but Ted does conclude with a challenge to develop digital tools to advance the art of preparing for and responding to disasters.

KIDS These Days (Un-numbered non-episode)

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This isn't an 'Epsisode' - at least it doesn't have a number. It's Gary's pitch to get ideas for attracting young people to replace us old farts who are aging out (dying) of the service. Blame the anonymous $500 contributor to the DCC video KICKSTARTER who wanted us to promote 'giving a kid a book' to spur their interest. 

The YouTube comments (and Facebook Group comments) are remarkably high quality on this topic.

HRN 272: A GeoSync Ham Satellite for the Americas (from the DCC)

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We've been hearing about a Geosynchronous satellite for the Western Hemisphere for a while now, but not many details. In this episode from the DCC, project leader Bob McGwire N4HY fills in a lot of blanks. There's no launch date yet, and maybe not quite enough info to start building your ground station (a 'Five & Dime' setup - 5 GHz up, 10 GHz down), but you can start thinking about it.

HRN 271: Welcome to the DCC

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This... well, the second half of it, is TAPR President Steve Bible N7HPR's welcome to the hams assembled in St. Petersburg FL for the 2016 DCC. The first half is Gary talking about the video production. So nothing critical here - just an orientation to give you an idea of what the DCC is like if you attend in person.

HRN 270: Emcomm Extra #1 - Hurricane Matthew Edition

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Gary welcomes David Goldenberg W0DHG to the HamRadioNow hosting crew. David will be a regular co-host for the Emcomm Extra episodes, planned for about once a month (keep in mind that this is a HamRadioNow  plan, and what could possibly go wrong? Anyway, we want to do regular Emcomm shows). And Ham Media gadfly Marty Sullaway KC1CWF just happened to be hanging around Gary's Facebook feed and got dragged in for the ride... not as the 'youth' representative, just as a pretty smart ham. Gary admits that he tried to get some ARRL/ARES leaders from the Southeast coast sections, but all were busy preparing for an actual hurricane.

HRN 269: Bull in a China Shop

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We don't do unboxings and reviews, but this time we did both. Gary wanted to learn more about the 'cheap Chinese radios' everybody loves, so he picked up a BaoFeng UV-5x3 tri-band HT (144-220-440), which he unboxed, programmed and compared to the Kenwood TH-F6A tri-band HT. The Kenwood beat the BaoFeng by a mile in everything but price. For about $80, he found the BaoFeng 'good enough'.

HRN 268: Even MORE On the Road (to the 2016 DCC)

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Gary's on the road (again), through the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida to the ARRL/TAPR DCC. D-STAR, DMR, Special Event Stations, DX, Public Service... all somehow squeezed into a mere two hours and change.

HRN 267: DMR Unboxed

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Marking a little more time while tending The Bear, Gary repurposes a Facebook Live unboxing of a TYT MD-380 DMR handheld (with a little BTech UV 5x3 on the side)

HRN 266: KICKSTARTER Countdown

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We use the countdown to the successful conclusion of the DCC video KICKSTARTER to test a Facebook Live broadcast. 

Episode 265: Holding Pattern

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A little filler between episodes. But heck, at 20 minutes, it's longer than some other podcast's regular shows, so I changed my mind and gave it a number. Also, a look at Ham Radio in the TV show Limitless.

Episode 263: Learn More about DV4

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In the previous episode, Gary says that he hasn't learned much about the proposed DV4mobile. This episode takes care of that!

Episode 262: Digital Modes Now and Future (from the Hamvention®)

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Bruce Perens K6BP and Chris Testa KD2BMH review the progress and setbacks along their path to the Katena VHF+ DV radio in this forum from the 2016 Dayton Hamvention.

Episode 261: Stranger Hams

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We review a new Netflix show called Stranger Things that has just a touch of ham radio in it (and a little more CB), plus some more media that's been out there for a while.

Episode 260: KICKSTARTER for Video at the 2016 DCC

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This is our pitch for a KICKSTARTER to fund producing video of the 2016 ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference. The goal is $5000. Here's the link to the KICKSTARTER

(NO AUDIO FILE FOR THIS EPISODE)

Episode 259: PokéHAM GOta (or... Parity, Amended)

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PokéHAM GOta? Just some click-bait misdirection. This is another episode about the Parity Act, as it was recently approved by the House Energy & Commerce Committee in an amended form. It now heads to the full House. Gary reviews what has to happen next, and compares the original bill to the amended version that passed this committee

Episode 258: 5 Watt Field Day (or.. Field of Beams)

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Gary takes a shortened visit to a top-ranked QRP operation (W4EZ, #3 overall in 2015) and a more laid-back (but still energetic) group just down the road.

Episode 257: 2016 D-STAR Forum at Dayton

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It's been a few years since HamRadioNow has covered a D-STAR forum at the Hamvention®. Gary used to be quite the D-STAR pro, but he's behind the curve today and wanted to catch up. That didn't stop him from adding 30 minutes of commentary at the end of the program.