I’ve been busy the past few months finishing up my thesis. I mailed off the (hopefully) final draft a couple of weeks ago. Once it was mailed I reviewed for the Technician class Amateur Radio License. I took the test a couple of weeks ago and passed. That’s motivated me to look into some of the DIY resources online for various bit of ham radio gear. I’m particularly interested in APRS (data/position transmit on amateur frequencies), QRP (low power operation), and CW (morse code)operation.
If you’ve ever considered getting your amateur radio license (aka ham radio license) this is the time to do it. The FCC has dropped the morse code requirements for every class of license and simplified the class structure. At present there are 3 different classes (technician, general, and extra) and the waiting periods have also been eliminated so it’s possible to take all three tests on the same day. Each step up in class allows you to operate on more bands (basically more frequencies). You can find more information on the ARRL website. The ARRL publishes some excellent study guides, or you can find some good online resources.
I’m still playing around with the Arduino platform. I think I am going to order some PicAxe processors soon as well. I’ve got a few ideas in mind for ham radio and other projects using both platforms.
Keep an eye out for upcoming posts with more links to good online resources and updates on some of my projects!
