Simulated emergency drill: very educational
Scenario: A major earthquake has hit the San Juan Islands, resulting in a tsunami that pounded shorelines in the Puget Sound region. Power is out throughout much of the region, and radio and cell towers have toppled over. Many roads are impassable, and only military vehicles and helicopters have access to some areas. The Olympic Peninsula is essentially cut off by road. Communications are limited. Local hospitals are already heavily affected by the H1N1 flu virus. Read More…
Radio (re)enters my life
I’m interested in things we can’t see that markedly affect our lives. I sail because the invisible wind is a living force that fascinates me. I watch weather, where clouds are symptoms of deeper causes. And I am enjoying radio, with unseen radio waves passing over, around, and through me.
There was nothing really spectacular in my past that stimulated my interested in amateur radio. But when I think back, I remember listening in fascination to the radio exchanges between ground control and the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions. Maybe it started as an adjunct to the magic of those years. Read More…
I am also known as KF7DGF
I’ve been interested in ham radio most of my life, but never took the time to dive into that world…until now. A few weeks ago I passed my technician exam, and a few days ago I received my new call sign from the Federal Communications Commission. I am now known to the FCC and other hams as KF7DGF: kilo foxtrot seven delta golf foxtrot
UPDATE 14 July 09: My call sign has changed to W3ROK
UPDATE 21 May 10: My call sign is now a “7-land” call: N7ROK
I have yet to make a transmission, but I’m learning how to use my radio and the protocols for using the local repeater. Read More…
Pacific Northwest Weather Interests Me
I enjoy learning about the weather we experience in the Pacific Northwest. As a geologist, I appreciate the dynamic nature of weather systems. As a sailor, my interest becomes much more immediate when I’m on the water.
