28 Feb
2025
28 Feb
'25
1:14 p.m.
Yesterday a bunch of people got together to build up their kits of 5 watt
digital radio transceivers!
These are HF ham radio transmitter/recievers that connect to a computer
over USB, and allow communication on digital modes on what we call low
frequencies these days (but they're also called Shortwave even though
they're now the longest waves we use). Technically one is supposed to have
a ham radio license to transmit on these frequencies, although anyone is
allowed to listen in.
This is the kit they were building:
https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html
We used the video microscope and all six soldering stations! It was the
most soldering happening at the same time in sudoroom in a long time. The
event will happen again on Wednesday.
[image: image.png]
1 Mar
1 Mar
11:25 a.m.
Pretty cool. I would encourage people building these to get an Amateur
Radio License. https://www.arrl.org/ham-radio-licenses
It's pretty easy. Comparable to the written part of the DMV drivers test.
It makes sure everyone knows the rules of the road.
There are a few options:
Technician Class License - allows you to legally transmit on the 10 meter
band.
These are pretty easy. 35 multiple choice questions. Lots of online
resources for learning what you need to know.
General Class License - allows you to use the longer wavelength bands.
Check http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed for more on how to get a license.
Steve
On Fri, Feb 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM Jake Watters via sudo-discuss <
sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org> wrote:
--
-steve
10:45 p.m.
I got my Technician license at a ham cram years ago! Highly recommend. My
call sign is
KN6DCX
A ham cram is a liken4 hour session where you are handed a full booklet of
all possible questions and their correct answers. You memorize it as much
as you can (without necessarily understanding anything at all), and then
immediately take the test and hope to pass. It's kinda silly but the
reasoning is, it's just the first step to learning.
Maybe we should write our call signs on our sudo humans profiles!
On Sat, Mar 1, 2025 at 2:27 PM Steve Berl via sudo-discuss <
sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org> wrote:
2 Mar
2 Mar
4:10 p.m.
there's another technique where you just don't bother with the FCC exam and
use the radio band as you see fit. You can do that now!
if you decide to get a HAM license later for some reason you can still do
that.
FYI this might be shocking but maybe unsurprising, the Government posts your
private information publicly with your HAM call sign. This includes your full
legal name and complete home address. In this day and age it makes sense to
think carefully about whether you want to be giving that out publicly to
strangers everywhere.
On Sun, 2 Mar 2025, Judy Tuan via sudo-discuss wrote:
46
days inactive
49
days old
3 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
-
Jake -
Jake Watters -
Judy Tuan -
Steve Berl