Author Archives: Robert Shank

During the recent Walk for Kids event, the topic of handheld radios (HTs) came up. Choosing the right HT is crucial for effective emergency communications, and it largely depends on your personal preferences, budget, and intended use. Here are some key points to consider: 1. Usage First, think about how you plan to use your radio. If you primarily operate on 2m/70cm repeaters and occasionally use simplex for local events like Walk for Kids, a basic dual-band HT might be all you need. Analog Radios Analog radios come in a variety of price ranges: Digital Modes LAXNORTHEAST primarily uses analog modes to ensure inclusivity and reach a broader audience. If you’re interested in digital modes like DMR, Fusion, or D-Star, make sure there are compatible repeaters in your area. Most digital radios also support analog 2m/70cm operation. 2. Programming Software There are two main choices for programming software: For HTs… Continue reading →

The Internet itself was first established in 1983.  Tools like ftp, gopher and finger were used extensively. But the World Wide Web, overlaid on top of the the Internet, with  its ease of use, led to its wide adoption as an information source. On April 30, 1993, four years after publishing a proposal for “an idea of linked information systems,” computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee releases the source code for the world’s first web browser and editor. Originally called Mesh, the browser that he dubbed WorldWideWeb becomes the first royalty-free, easy-to-use means of browsing the emerging information network that developed into the internet as we know it today. Berners-Lee was a fellow at CERN, the research organization headquartered in Switzerland. Other research institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University had developed complex systems for internally sharing information, and Berners-Lee sought a means of connecting CERN’s system to others. He outlined a plan… Continue reading →

News in Space.com By Victoria Atkinson Using a groundbreaking new technique, researchers have unveiled the first detailed image of a photon — a single particle of light — ever taken. Researchers in Birmingham have created the first image of a photon, a lemon-shaped particle of light emitted from the surface of a nanoparticle. The theory that made this image possible, reported Nov. 14 in the journal Physical Review Letters, enables scientists to calculate and understand various properties of these quantum particles — which could open up a range of new possibilities across fields such as quantum computing, photovoltaic devices and artificial photosynthesis. Light’s quantum behavior is well established, with over 100 years of experiments showing it can exist in both wave and particle form. But our fundamental understanding of this quantum nature is much further behind, and we only have a limited grasp of how photons are created and emitted, or of how they change through space… Continue reading →

(Redstate.com By Becca Lower | 2:41 PM on November 23, 2024 suggested by Clement Alberts KM6OKZ) The United States Supreme Court has agreed to take up a review of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling, on a case that could help curb federal power that’s been allowed to spiral out of control during the Biden-Harris administration. via the NYT: The Supreme Court, which dealt a major blow to the power of federal agencies in June, agreed on Friday to consider another: whether Congress violates the Constitution by delegating broad discretion to them. The so-called nondelegation doctrine has been largely dormant since 1935, when the Supreme Court struck down New Deal laws for granting too much leeway to agencies with insufficient guidance. …. The new dispute concerns an $8 billion fund that helps pay for telephone and broadband services for poor people and residents of rural areas. Overseen by the Federal Communications Commission, the Universal Service… Continue reading →

Washington, D.C.:  Earlier today, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Chairman of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee, and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2024.  This bipartisan and bicameral legislation recognizes that AM radio is an essential communication tool during emergencies, and for decades has been a source of news, entertainment, sports, and music for tens of millions of drivers. As such, the legislation directs the Department of Transportation to require automakers to include AM broadcast radio installed as standard equipment in new motor vehicles, ensuring access to AM broadcast stations, or digital audio AM stations, in every car at no additional cost.  “In order to maximize public safety and ensure continued access to every available option, it is critical to have a robust and widely accessible communication infrastructure in place to alert Americans during emergency situations and natural disasters,” said… Continue reading →