Ham Radio to the Rescue

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23rd May 2022 could have turned into an emergency, but thanks to ham radio, Joe Wright KG7JWW, other amateur radio operators, and Ted Rasmussen, it turned out just fine

A friend and I went out to lake Wentworth to test out our new boats. When we got down there, my Suzuki Sidekick was making horrible noises. We started checking things. Low and behold, I forgot to check the oil before leaving, and it was dangerously low, not even a drop on the dipstick.

We had zero cell service, and I knew my SUV wouldn’t make it back to town without seizing the engine. I called on the radio for assistance, and KE7FFX answered. I asked for a “phone relay” and gave him the phone number and message to call Heather M Lewis and have Jacob get on the radio. He was very helpful, at first she didn’t answer and he left a voice mail. He even “stood by” on the radio the entire time.

After a little wait, Joe Wright came on the radio and helped get ahold of Heather for us. Eventually, I heard my lil man throw his call sign out “KY7HAM CQ, CQ, CQ”, Joe answered him “KY7HAM this is KG7JWW, I believe your dad needs assistance and requested you contact him on the radio.”

Full Story - https://www.forksforum.com/life/ham-radio-to-the-rescue

AMSAT announces Youth Initiative at Hamvention

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AMSAT announces Youth Initiative at Hamvention

During its Hamvention forum on Saturday 21st May 2022, AMSAT formally introduced plans for its Youth Initiative. In the planning stage for two years, the program will now proceed in a series of phased releases.

Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT VP, Development provided highlights of the program saying, "The Youth Initiative takes a radically different approach to introducing youth to Amateur Radio and Satellites. It approaches youth in terms that are already central to their everyday lives. Whether it be climate change, pollution control, preservation of natural resources, meteorology, or a career in broadcasting or transportation industries or in the military, the use of satellites is pervasive in virtually everything we do. Our message to youth is 'Satellites in Space Help Us Live Better Lives Here on Earth'. Once we have gained the youth's interests, we can engage them in experiences and exercises that then use amateur satellites and amateur radio as their 'laboratory' or 'classroom'.

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The Mainstreaming of Morse Code

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Belief in the death of CW has apparently been greatly exaggerated.

The American car maker Jeep has enjoyed a relationship with dits and dahs over the years, weaving Morse Code messages into its ad campaigns (and even into the footrest of its Wrangler model SUV) over the years. It recently launched a new campaign that not only features Morse but set up a microsite online for people to visit and create their own Morse Code messages by typing. Hams who are devoted to the old-fashioned way of doing CW can rejoice in the belief this could rekindle interest in Code and show hams and non-hams alike that this classic, earliest form of digital communication remains robust - and in the mainstream of life!

The website for the new campaign - http://www.jeeplifeiscalling.com