Broadband-Hamnet™ wins International Association of Emergency Managers Awards

Broadband-Hamnet™ wins International Association of Emergency Managers Awards! Broadband-Hamnet is formally HSMM-Mesh. This is a very good recognition of all the hard work these guys have done! I know there is a lot more in store for the future, Congratulations Broadband-Hamnet™ and all that made it possible!

See it here-

http://www.iaem.com/documents/IAEM-Global-Awards-News-Release-2013.pdf

HSMM-Mesh in QST

HSMM-Mesh had a great write up in QST for July! It even got front page billing! check it out and maybe join or start a group in your area. Here in Henderson we will be setting up a HSMM-Mesh display for Field Day.




http://hsmm-mesh.org/

What a difference on HF!

Here at my QTH we have been having some interference from the electric poles in town and this has been going on for years. Well with the help of the local club, FCC and the power company there has been a great improvement. Tonight was the first time in years that I have been able to see everything on the waterfall of FLdigi. I want to thank everyone involved in making this happen. We now need to stay vigilant.

HSMM-Mesh will change to Broadband-Hamnet

Check out the new name! I like it! This project has really moved forward. Thanks for all the good work! Looking at some of the soon to be features, WOW! This is a big step, check it out and join in the fun!

http://www.hsmm-mesh.org/

New Laptop Computer

I have been thinking about getting another laptop, because two is never enough. I started looking before windows 8 came out and probably should have pulled the trigger then but like everyone else I could not see spending the money at the time. I looked at netbooks and the full size versions and never found what I wanted. Then Windows 8 was released and I was no closer to a new laptop. I did what any Ham would do, I started looking on the used market. What I was finding was not good, to high or to worn out. So here I am still looking and all the new ones are Windows 8 units. So last night I was in a smaller local computer retailer looking at what they had. I was playing with one with Windows 8 on a display model and was not very happy with the OS when the manager asked if he could help. I told him if he had anything but windows 8 I would be interested. This is when he told me he had one clearance HP Windows 7 laptop with about the same specifications as the one I was looking at. So I walked out of the store with a HP 2000-2a10NR.

• AMD E_Series_Dual_Core_E1_1200 Processor 1.4GHz
• 4 GB SDRAM RAM
• 320GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
• 15.6-Inch Screen, AMD Radeon HD 7310
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

I will give this a try and hope I made a good choice. At this time I will use a Linux version before I go to Windows 8. I might use Windows again if they come out with something better.

How to make Ubuntu look like Windows 7

 Here is a great article on how to make Ubuntu look like Windows 7. It is a well done article with all the command line steps to do this. This would be great to help new Linux users feel at home and maybe not have to go to Windows 8. I will try this on one of my machines to see it for my self. If anyone has done this, let me know what you thought. Check it out here: Here_s_how_to_make_Ubuntu_Linux_look_like_Windows_7

LINBPQ

LINBPQ is the latest Linux version of BPQ32. John Wiseman G8BPQ/GM8BPQ, has done it again! This looks to be a good direction to go. I was dreading to change my BPQ node from XP to a newer version of Windows. Now I can just use a linux version and not worry. I have a computer with the latest Ubuntu on it so I will give this a try. I will keep you posted on how it goes.


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31910649/InstallingLINBPQ.htm

Radio Go Box-A Fresh Idea

I have been looking at all the different Radio go boxes on line and I have not found one that talks to me. All I have seen look good and function well, but I really don't like the idea of mounting everything in a box and working out of that box. I am working on a go box that would contain a complete station. The box I am planning around is the Plano 1819 Sportsman Trunk. This platform has many advantages such as big but not too big to move around. I would like any ideas out there, just remember I want the complete station. Check out the box at the link.


http://www.planomolding.com/

New Shack Pictures

I have come a long way in the shack remodel. I have been working on this for quite a while and am very glade I put the work into it. It is not complete, but when are you ever done. I will continue to tweak it. I have been using it for several weeks now and I like the setup. These pictures are of the main operating desk. I have another desk that can be a secondary operating position or repair station. I will post some other views and of the battery room later. I have run  the station on the batteries for a short duration test with very good results!



 Current equipment list for station one:

 FT-767GX Yaesu HF
MFJ-989B Versa Tunner V
IC-2000 Icom 2m
PRO-49 Scanner
Dell Precision 490
Compaq Presario not shown
TYT UVF1 2m/440 Handheld
7" LCD TV for local over the air stations
24" LED TV for cable

Old Spark Gap Transmitter with Model T Coil

I have had this stored in my building for about 15 years. I found it again when I was going through boxes of stuff to find things to display in my new shack. I originally bought this from a SK's estate. I wish I could remember his call sign. This is a very interesting piece of history. It is a home-brew set that I have no idea when it was built. Was it built as a demo or is it an early spark gap transmitter? I am not sure, but I wish I knew. If there are any experts out there, I would love to have some more information.