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Ham Radio: my geeky indulgence

April 3rd, 2009 · 15 Comments · Ham Radio

hamvacationSometimes a girl just needs to get away from it all. And I enjoy a nice morning of making contacts on ham radio when the propagation is good.

Like radio, ham radio has different frequencies on which you can talk to other ham radio operators. But you can direct where your radio signal goes. You can bounce it off of the atmosphere and talk to people all over the world. You can direct it towards satellites and the international space station. Working satellites is one of my favorite things to do because you have to trace the path of the satellite as it orbits the earth with your antenna.

I recently returned from a ham vacation operating from rare location VP5 in Turks and Caicos.

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15 Comments so far ↓

  • Fimion

    where does one acquire a ham radio?

  • Mike

    hello, i heard you on the 20 meter band today (apr 5) with the Russian station. good contact.
    see ya on the bands, Mike,KC0UWF,

  • diana

    Hi Fimion,
    There is much more information about ham radio here http://www.arrl.org/ such as where to get started, how to get a license, etc.

    If you are looking to buy a radio, I like http://www.universal-radio.com/

    Hope this is helpful!

  • Natalie

    Oooh look at you with the beautiful beach! So cute!

  • Abbey

    OMG.. you totally have to come to Dayton Ohio for the largest HamFest.. the HamVention!

    http://www.hamvention.org/

    Lemme know if you are coming!

  • mike Lavin

    Nice beach, what type of antenna were you using?
    73
    Mike
    N2NET

  • diana

    Hi Abbey,
    I am indeed going to Hamvention. We bought tickets last week! I’m so excited.

  • diana

    Hi Mike,
    We were using a buddistick vertical antenna. We have a buddipole too and have been going to a lot of parks with it operating “picnic table portable”.

  • Kelly

    Wow! I’m into Ham radio and fashion too. I am not so good with math, but otherwise it seems like we’d get along!

    73

    KE7OIO

  • Jesse

    Ms. Eng,

    From the pictures on Makezine.com it looks like you had a total blast! I missed Hamvention this year but I plan on checking it out next!

    Are you doing anything for Field Day?

    73
    WB2IFS/3

  • Ripples in the Ether » Fashion Nerd Meets Ham Radio

    [...] in satellite ops (not surprising given that she is a resident of NYC) and has already been on a DXpedition. Fashion Nerd at Dayton [...]

  • diana

    Hi WB2IFS,
    It was a lot of fun. Since, I am a new ham, being able to see all of the different things in person really helped me learn a lot. I might get into QRP soon.

    No plans yet for Field Day.

  • 9w2pju

    cool place and good weather

    73 de 9w2pju

  • Jonathan KD5QLM

    What do you like more when doing portable OP.. The End Fed Zepp as in your YouTube video or the Buddiestick and then last the Buddiepole?

    I have been trying to pick what to use on a upcoming trip to Canada..

    Thanks
    -JD

  • diana

    Hi JD,
    The EFHW (end fed half wavelength) antennas are more portable but they only work on one band. So you may wish to bring multiple wires. Te Buddipole/Buddistick work on multiple bands but are a lot less portable. As a small person I usually tend to go for the lighter EFHW antenna if I am hiking.

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