M17: An Open-Source, DMR-like System→

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M17: An Open-Source, DMR-like System

On reddit, Wojciech, SP5WWP, just posted an item about his latest project, and open-hardware and open-software, DMR-like system called M17. He says that his goal is “create a fully functional, truly open-source and open-hardware system for digital radio communication. Something like DMR, but with open hardware too.” I have cobbled together the following from the FAQ and a post on his website.

M17 is a community-driven, truly open, free to use digital radio system. It’s a a DMR alternative, if you will. All schematics and source code is available for free on github.

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Amateur Radio Reaching an Inflection Point?→

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Amateur Radio Reaching an Inflection Point?

The ARRL recently reported on an IARU meeting held in late September. Here’s an excerpt:

Participants at the 45th meeting of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council (AC) in late September discussed the organization’s role in advancing amateur radio going forward. The IARU released a summary record of the meeting this week. IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, who chaired the AC meeting in Lima, Peru, observed that the IARU and amateur radio are reaching what he called “an inflection point.” He asserted that amateur radio is changing, but the IARU and its member-societies are not.

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My Ignite Talk: Not Your Grandfather’s Ham Radio→

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My Ignite Talk: Not Your Grandfather’s Ham Radio

On Thursday 7th November 2019, I gave an Ignite talk on amateur radio here in Ann Arbor. Ignite talks are unlike any other. Presenters get 20 slides, which automatically advance every 15 seconds. The result is a fast, fun, and possibly harrowing, a presentation that lasts just 5 minutes.

This is the twelfth time that the A2Geeks, a local nonprofit group that is “dedicated to enriching Ann Arbor for creative and innovative people to live, work and play,” has sponsored this series of Ignite talks. In the past, I avoided doing one because it seemed so easy to make a fool of oneself. This time, however, I decided to bite the bullet and just go for it.

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