More Theories From Bill W2XOY! Reactions To A Contemporary REACT!

.

This last Sunday, a bunch of hams got together at the Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany for The Great Train Extravaganza! In attendance were Tony W2BEJ, Bill W2XOY, Zach KC2VWY and myself N2FNH. After the show, we convened at the Wolf Road Diner in Colonie for a little late afternoon lunch. Bill offered tales of his recent involvement with REACT, a national volunteer emergency services organization. Naturally, these stories were documented by yours truly and packaged as another ongoing edition of the RANDOM ACCESS THOUGHT. Here is the link to that presentation:

http://twaud.io/q5Hr
.
And don't forget! This Week In Amateur Radio lives on at the TWIAR home page at:
http://www.twiar.org/
.
And also via Twitter, at this location:
http://twitter.com/TWIAR
.
And of course, on Facebook. Try this boatload by clicking:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118165121555935#!/group.php?gid=118165121555935&v=wall
.
If this mess doesn't gel, then search "TWIAR" at your Facebook search bar.

WANT? ASK! GET! GOOD!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
requesting a podcard
---
TWIAR, Thank you for your wonderful program. It is by far my favorite show on Shortwave. I have been listening regularly for several years on WBCQ on 7.415. This week's program was heard ending at 2200 with a very nice signal 59+. I would enjoy receiving a QSL card. Michael Maher (NJ2X) 121 Taylor Ave. Hillsborough, NJ 08844 Michael NJ2X
---
Been listening to the podcast. AJ4FJ -Greg
---
Hi,
I heard the Random Access Thought on TWIAR podcast and it was great!
Please send a PodCard.
73, Eric Taylor KB1PJN

The Random Access Thought Covers KIDS DAY 2010!

On Sunday, January 3rd, my number one and only son Zach and I made the yearly pilgrimage to the Schenectady Museum to participate in KIDS DAY. KIDS DAY is a nationwide ham radio event sponsored by the American Radio Relay League and covered on the local front by the Schenectady Museum Amateur Radio Association. On hand to greet visitors young and old alike, and to show them the mysteries of amateur radio, were Mike KB2VQS, James N2UZQ, Jerry WA2IWW, Daniel KC2VEX, along with Zach KC2VWY and yours truly Bill N2FNH.
.
Armed with my trusty cheap forty-nine dollar Radio Shack audio cassette recorder, otherwise known as the C49DRSACR, I was able to secure what I like to refer to as audio snapshots. These audio snapshots were then clipped, trimmed and rolled up into a neat seven and a half minute Random Access Thought special feature currently posted on TWAUDIO and soon to be heard on an upcoming This Week In Amateur Radio. Zach did the hosting chores while I got in close, microphone in hand, with some really amazing kids who were equally amazed by everything they saw and heard. Factored into the mix too are some vintage late 1950's animation sound effects. A RAT is not a RAT without some of those!
.
So! Check out the SMARA webpage at http://www.smara.com/ for more on this ham radio club's special events activities. Likewise, click on http://www.twiar.org/ for all the latest amateur radio news and views.
.
What follows are some mug shots of the usual suspects:

.
THE MIKE DEVICE KB2VQS!
JAMES N2UZQ!
JERRY WA2IWW!

DAN KC2VEX!

THE Z MAN!

THE SMARA DISPLAY TABLE!

All The E That's Fit To P!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
Please send me a TWIAR podcard at your earliest convenience.
Thank you!
73
de russ/n3yi
---
Just heard TWIAR via podcast. If I think of it and conDX allow, I'll listen Saturday afternoon on WBCQ, but that doesn't always happen, so this allows me to listen whenever, and to take it with me around Boston.73'sDan MalloyEverett, MA 02149
---
I lesion via a pod cast and love the program. TWIAR is saved into my favorites on my laptop, keep up the great work!Jacob Fields (kb0zia)Amateur Radio
---
Request for TWIAR podcard. 73 MM6ADR

---

Listening to that last podcast, and i would love a copy of the new card.PS tell Leo Laporte keep up the good work.Tom Tishken Ham Radio: KD4WOV GMRS: WPON678 US Army Mars Member Currently Hold a Commercial FCC License (General Radiotelephone Operator License GROL)(licensed FCC Radio Tech) 10 10 international: Member #74478 Central states VHF Society: Life Member Founder of the Florida 10 meter Group Founder of the Florida Amateur Radio Technical Society Strait Key Century Club #3684 ARRL Certified Volunteer Examiner W5YI Certified Volunteer Examiner Founder of the Cypress Chapter, and was removed member of the chapter.

The Invasion Of The PODCARD Snatchers!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
Hi Bill,
So you have the new Podcard? Sign me up.
I still continue to listen to TWIAR and look forward to your segments.
I also follow you on Twitter. (I'm ArcaneRadio)
Please send the card to
Jim Deneen kd8lwp
Pinckney, MI
---
Hi,
Just heard about the new podcard in podcast edition 863, sounds good, could you email me one please?
Thanks
Tony
Twitter: swlistener
---
Bill,
I really, really, did visit your blog. Awesome job.
Secret promo code: RATRAT
Would love to have an Official This Week in Amateur
Radio QSL card.
I am:
Charles Schaaf (wb8sho)
---
Please send the new PODCard to
Bill Alpert, KG6NRV
Alta Loma, CA USA
Thanks!
---
These are the latest This Week In Amateur Radio listeners to receive our brand new TWIAR PODCARD (with the secret mystery message). For more details, check out the following addresses:
http://twaud.io/qFQ
http://twaud.io/N2FNH
My good buddy Boleslav Krasnov, senior technician at Canarsie Wireless in Brooklyn, explains it all!

MAIL'S IN!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
Subject: Re: @GOWRONE A QSL FOR YOU! BEST 73 DE N2FNH
wow that was cool! hahah funny too! you should do one with all the voices you have lol. i know some of the names of them, but who all do you have running the machine? lol.
---
Hi Bill,
Jim Fidler here, VO1RV.
I'm a recording artist, white caner and have been doing a show called Republic Of Avalon Radio for 5 years now. Oh, did I forget to mention a huge fan of the Random Access Thought? I've been radio since birth; starting with a transistor radio, tuning around the AM band at nights, SW listener, broadcaster and advanced amateur operator since 1984. Due to RFI problems, I've been off the air for longer than I'd like to say. Recently, I've ordered the IC706 MKIIG. Those pesky nabours will have to follow me around in the mobile now if they want to complain. I'm beyond happy about finally being able to get back on HF, as you could well imagine.Well, the long and the short of it is, in celebration of my revived status as a ham, a radio ham that is, I've been the other kind all the way through, I'm producing a special edition of our show all about radio. As part of this show, I'd be tickled if I had a piece from you for inclusion. It need not be anything too complicated; even a brief bit just IDing Republic Of Avalon Radio would be fantastic. I'd love to have an ID from you anyway and link to you and TWIAR through our website at: www.republicofavalonradio.com So, what do you think? Can ya help a guy out??? Well, hopefully, thanks in advance. Cheers and a big 73 from myself and 88 from my XYL Lillian, who's call just happens to be VO1XYL.
Best, Jim
http://www.jimfidler.com/
http://www.republicofavalonradio.com/

Thanks a million Bill!
I very much look forward to it. Well, it's off to play some more with my new IC MKIIG. What a nice little radio. Can't wait to get it into the mobile and tak'er on the road.
Cheers and 73,
Jim - VO1RV
---
lost my QSL card for TWIAR during my move. Please send me a new one! I still listen to you via the podcast. No one in my area seems to be broadcasting the show.
Jim Deneen - KD8LWP
I'm ArcaneRadio on twitter.
Thanks

We Got Mail! Mail Is Good! We Like Our Mail!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
Hi! Thanks for your great blog entry regarding packet radio! Your mention of upstate NY prompted me to send this email. I will have been in the hobby for 2 years in Sept, and am involved with the Saratoga and Warren County groups. Saratoga does have a node that I really can't hit with my antenna (tuned too high), but I hope to eventually resolve that. I am also in a position to suggest that a digipeter be placed on Gore Mt, along with the APRS setup there. Last month, while in Saratoga after our NYSDOH Hospital drill, I messed around on the K2DLL machine and got into TARA's packet BBS. It was quite interesting :) I was heavily involved in Fidonet BBS's back in the late 80's and early 90's, so I have something of a clue. I'd really like to build a packet BBS here and tie into the Flexnet system, and have dreams of building some internet gateway services into it. I've emailed Rusty KE2PW, and he has offered a TNC, that may need some work, toward the project. I'd love a 9600 baud system, but the other links are just 2400, so I'll go slow at first. It's interesting to note that my internet access is also wireless, via satellite, thru wildblue.net, since cable is 5 poles down the road and I'm about 5 miles too far from the nearest CO for DSL. It's not that I'm really wanting to beat a dead horse, but I see the value in experimenting with an aspect of the hobby so close to my interest in computers, as well as it's value in emergency communications. I'm also interested in HSDD "hinternet" stuff, but I'm in "the boonies" so I hay have to wait for interest in that to restart. Anyhow, thanks again for the history lesson to this newbie. :) I can hit the Schenectady .06 machine fairly well from here, if you want to try a 2m QSO, and also have 10-80 HF available. 73 de Jeff KC2SDS Jeff Archambeault
---
Hi!
I'm Etienne Ali, VA2SSS, listening through mp3 file downloads. I wish to receive the twiar qsl card. My address is: Etienne Ali Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
---
Hey........
Love listening to ya'll. I listen at work while designing Electrical Circuits for commercial laundry equipment.
Keith w5kb
---
this is kc0qjj. i've been a ham since 2003. not sure how qsl's work, just know the theory behind them. no idea what i need to put here? i live in springfield, mo. i listen via the podcasts (bcq can be hard to get and no repeaters here carry any of these cool ham radio shows) and i synch them to my new iphone!!!!!!!! beats having to be tied to the computer. the phone uses the built in screen reader so blind and visually impaired and blind people like me can use the phone. everything i encounter when i touch the screen will speak to me. it's wonderful! it's the same screen reader in my imac. i just followed the twitter account. i'm gowrone. if you guys tweet, feel free to follow me!!!!! i like your shows that you guys make! i also subscribe to the ar newsline, arrl, and rain podcasts. am i missing any? grin. oh yeah world of radio too....... lol am i still missing any? :). 73.
---
Greetings! I been downloading TWIAR onto my iPod and listening to it while at work. Great way to keep up on things.

Billy (N4WJT)
---
Mr Bill Baran N2FNH.
Greetings.
My name is Greg McCulkin, VK1TEQ, and I'm from Canberra, Australia. Finally I took a proper look at your blog. Saw the photo of You and Bill Continelly W2XOY Now I know what you look like. Always waited anxiously for your segments in TWIARI. Your segments have a thought provoking moral, "The Process Is More Important Than The Result". True. It seems indeed that the human race seems to prefer "presentation" than "functionality". I work in retail, my chosen career was supposed to Electrical Engineering. A long time age. P.S. Iv'e been here for 18 months, I'm a Sydney man born and bred, will "go home" one day. Always look forward to Bill Continelli's, W2XOY, segments as well. Would you please be kind enough to pass onto Bill too, thankyou. All the best. Gre.J.McCulkin VK1TEQ, (formally VK2TEQ

---
We also received written letters from the following folks:
Hank Vandenbrand, of Merlin, Ontario Canada and Gori Roberto, of Livorno, Italia! Many thanks to everyone who contacted This Week in Amateur Radio: QSL cards are on the way!
Bill N2FNH

ECHELON Wouldn't Be Interested...But You? Maybe!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
Hey Bill, I must say I have enjoyed your blogs and musings on TWIAR for some time. Just thought I'd drop you a quick line to say "hello"! As a wise man once said: "The static has ears"! On that 158.400 thing. It turns out there are a couple of blogs on the popular wireless on the topic. You kinda have to wind your way around that site to find them. I have my theories about how this might be happening. I will not say yet though. I will say that one of those blogs had someone track one of their sites to near Brunswick NY. I will also say that if you listen in the early morning to 158.400, you will hear some somewhat "regular" QSO's from guys who I think are the real "players" on this - one of whom's voice sounds very familiar??** Coincidence?? Apparently this has been an ongoing thing for the past 4 years or so and involves a network of repeaters which spans Northern Jersey to Northern NY. Hmmmm........ If you can stand it, listen to 158.4000 in the backround for a couple of days.
73's - Joe
.
** JOE MADE A REFERENCE TO A REGIONAL SYSTEM IN THIS AREA WHICH I WITHHELD UNTIL MORE INFORMATION COMES FORTH. DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY!
---
Hi Bill;
My name is also Bill. I visited your Random Access Thought blogspot. I enjoyed reading it. I also listen to you on radio station WBCQ, 7.415 Mc Shortwave, when I can hear the station. I used to listen to you on a local amateur radio repeater on 145.19 Mc, but you are not there anymore. I would like a QSL card. I just had lunch, a bowl of Cream of Mushroom soup. I made it with milk instead of water. My computer, with which I visited your blogspot, is a Dell INSPIRON E1505 laptop. I have many shortwave radios, but I use a Kaito 1103 to tune in WBCQ.
.
I enjoyed your blogspot very much. I made it a Favorite on my computer, and will visit it again. A friend of mine, also named Bill, wants me to start a blog. After visiting this site, I may.
.
I like the name Bill, don't you? Although sometimes I want to be called "Louie". Some people call me "CLO", I don't know why. Please send me a QSL card. The secret code is RATRAT.
.
My address is
Bill Continelli
Rensselaer, NY

THERE'S A LETTER IN YOUR MAILBOX!!!!!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
(Editor's Note: With reference to The Random Access Thought: The Story of Reginald)
.
Great job be it true or fiction just a great story. Since you are in Buffalo I would have liked to heard a short WKBW clip worked into to show.
.
Jerry Fisher
VE4SAT
---
Hi, I didn't write for a QSL..But would like one....My comment was about the Security Gard/CB story. I don't know if this was true or fiction but a great piece. If it was in Buffalo I thought you could have worked a WKBW clip into the background... KW is Buffalo..The last time I was there was in 1999. I turned on the radio expecting KB to be rockin away instead a baseball game-times change. I lived in the Springfield,Mass area in the early 60's and remember WKBW and WTRY in their prime as rockers.
.
Jerry Fisher
VE4SAT
---
Hi, I am sure that a good segment of your audience are Viet Nam Era Vets...Stratovision was used during the early phases of the War. A mention of this would have been great.
.
Jerry Fisher
VE4SAT
.
Hi Jerry, Thanks for writing! During the course of research on Stratovision, there was no direct reference to Viet Nam era deployment but I have also heard that such techniques have been used by the USA in Afghanistan in recent times. The orginal concept for Stratovision took place in 1940's and 50's as a non-military educational apllication. But perhaps we have some core material for a future Random Access Thought. I've been on hiatus for a few months and plan to start cutting new programs soon, so this may be good follow-up. > Anyway, thanks for writing. I believe you wrote for a QSL Card. I was wondering if you received it. More later!
.
Bill/N2FNH
---
found your programs on backmasking and oija entertaining (though the latter was creepy). My friend in Pennsylvania recorded the programs and sent them on a CD to me (in Kansas city, mo) and I found them cool. My friend has lots of radio equipment and an huge antenna he strings through a fence, so he can record stuff from WOKIE and WBCQ, which is probably where he got your program from. I don't have much use for a QSL card (except as a coaster), but anything else would be cool. I guess my friend could use such a card, but I'm not sure. Anyways, please make more shows about weird or silly stuff and less rants about radios.
.
"Wagner, Christopher"

Seen the Price of Stamps? Yikes! E-Mail Us Already!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
February 17, 2009
.
This Week in Amateur Radio
P.O. Box 30
Sand Lake, New York 12153
.
Dear TWIARi,
.
Greetings from Brampton, Ontario, Canada! I would like to report reception of your program from station WBCQ, broadcasting on 7415 khz on February 15, 2009 from 21:00-22:00 hrs.UTC. I am using a Grundig G6 receiver and its telescopic antenna indoor located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The SINPO rating is 54344.
.
The broadcast was overall good. I was listening to the program This Week in Amateur Radio International. I find the program very interesting.
.
Program Details:
21:00 Station ID, TWIAR INTL program commences. Amateur radio and UFOs,Area 51, Random access thought, ancient amateur archives by W2X2Y,A talk about computers. Topic on Amateur radio in schools. 22:00 hrs station ID
.
I find your program very informative.I would like to receive your special edition QSL for this broadcast.
.
Please confirm reception with a QSL card, a pennant, sticker and your program schedule. Thank you very much.
.
Joel Baile
63 Sweet Clover Crescent
Brampton,Ontario L6R 3A1 Canada e-mail:jabyet@yahoo.com.

What Say, Old Man? QSL?

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

------
Bill,

I download TWIAR every Sunday night or Monday morning and listen to it and Soldersmoke on my way to work. Both together last about three mornings and make my driving much more enjoyable. I have been licensed since 1960 with my original call K8WPE. No need to change as it rings well with CW. Finally made extra class about 1980. Mostly on HF with QRP with an assortment of kit built radios from Elecraft, Heath, Wilderness Radio, and the new PFR 3. Antennas are a dipole, long wire, G5RV, a Buddipole and a Black Widow fishing pole vertical. Do more listening than transmitting.

Thanks for all you do for the amateur community. Your program is like another ham radio magazine every week and I don't have to stop what I am doing to read it.

72,

Dave K8WPE
David J. Wilcox
3196 Zimmerman Road
Traverse City, MI 49684

QSL??? Yeah! We Got That!!!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

------
Just dropping you guys a line to get the QSL card. I'm a new ham, got my ticket in April, just upgraded to general 2 weeks ago, and a friend told me about the show on 7.415 Mhz, and with my shiny new rig, and horrible dipole that looks like something the cat rejected as being too pitiful to even bother with, and probably right from being half baked by incidental RF experiments in the front room. So I first picked you up on 7.415, then to the website, and downloaded a few past issues, love the amateur archives and the ham humor parts of it, my father use to work with Bill Hamilton the guy who recorded the repeaterisms for the 7.76 repeater here in Columbus, and quite a few horror stories of how bill used to torment his bosses, apparently quite a character. Any ways I heard the email addy for the QSL card, (haven't gotten one yet) so thought i would throw you an email, and snail mail for the shiny QSL card.
Charles Johnston III (W8KWA)
3444 Independence Street
Grove City Ohio 43123

RAX3! Yet Another Random Access "Twas The Night Before"...And So Forth!

.
This week's Random Access Christmas features Bill Continelli W2XOY serving up another amateur radio version of "The Night Before Christmas". Your humble producer (that's me) performed the introduction to Bill's holiday story. I assumed the role of Father Christmas, complete with heavy blustery winds and blinding snow - you imagine all this in your personal theater of the mind since this whole thing is an audio presentation.
.
But here's a bit of inside, behind-the-scenes, information! At the time when I recorded that intro, I was suffering from a G*dawful head cold and as such my voice was quite raspy. This was actually not a bad thing but to enhance the gravelly effect even further, I took my Father Christmas voice track and modulated it with a 7 Hz tone. The result was a curious, fluttery effect
which worked well with the all the blowing and howling winds.
.
Unfortunately, none of the Random Access Christmas programs are currently on file in my RATParts at TWIAR because those shows kept on George's harddrive. But! You can certainly download either the This Week in Amateur Radio ham service or This Week in Amateur Radio International for the week ending December 20th.
.

You've Got Mail! Or Some Such Similar Registered Trademark...

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

------
Thanks for the write up on this subject. My brother is trying to get me into this stuff. I hope it does not die to soon. Keep up the good work
John Flint KC9MVQ
9216N 100E
Lucerne, IN 46950
secret promo code: RATRAT
------
Hi,
I would love to get a QSL card for the show. I heard your station (listening now) on 7.415MHz @ 22:00 UTC 11/30/08…. You’re S9 + 10 into North Florida. I’m running a Yaesu FT-840, along with a vertical 180 foot loop.
73!
John Lynes
K4NIN

The KXKVI TWIAR Podcast Portal! The Other TWIAR Podcast Download Site!

.
The other day, while in QSO on the local 146.82 machine, George W2XBS asked if I had been downloading any This Week in Amateur Radio podcasts lately. I said I had not in quite some time due to issues with the various webpages that provide TWIAR and TWIARi RSS feeds. For retrieving podcast downloads in the field , I have been making use of my Sony PlayStation Portable 2000. The Sony PSP is first and foremost a portable videogame console, which in addition to the proprietary UMD videogames and motion pictures, can also reproduce WAV and MP3 audio files as well as MP4 video.

.
But there is more. The PSP is capable of accessing wireless Internet hotspots, has it's own onboard web browser, Internet radio, RSS feed for podcasts and access to Skype. When it comes to transacting podcast downloads, there is usually little or no problem since most commercial sites provide pages which are light on HTML components such as graphics, video, audio, advertisements, pop-ups and other behind-the-scenes junk that makes a webpage a beautiful thing to view.

.
But the Sony's primary limitation is that it does not have the same power that a conventional laptop or desktop computer can offer. While the transmission speeds are whatever the wireless access point provides, the time needed to electronically assemble the webpage inside the PSP brainiac may take much longer. Thus, if the target location is heavily bloated with all sorts of digital detritus, then the page becomes a liability for the PSP user and there will be no point in pursuing the attempt any further. "Detritus", by the way, is a five dollar word, used by crossword puzzle authors and science fiction writers everywhere.

.

Unfortunately, many of the available This Week in Amateur Radio download sites are indeed quite bloated but this is not so much their problem since the vast majority of users will be arriving via their desktops and laptops. However for the Sony PlayStation Portable user, it's another story. According to George, who has performed some background observation on the types of devices that download the TWIAR podcasts, there are a fair number of folks making use of the PSP for just that purpose.

.
So in our recent QSO, we came up with a simple solution. Since George was sitting on a second undeveloped Blogspot account, we could follow a model established by commercial websites such as eBAY and compose a podcast page devoid of anything...except TWIAR and TWIARi RSS feeds. Nothing but the links. SO! If you have a SONY PlayStation Portable or any other similar wireless device, plug in the following address http://kxkvi.blogspot.com/ and go get those TWIARs right now!

Lots and Lots of Letters!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

------
Just wanted to say that I enjoy listening to TWIAR. I use an old Hallicrafters S-38 with 40 feet of wire to pick up WBCQ. My QTH is in Ohio and the radio show comes in great! I have turned 3 other hams in my area on to TWIAR and we enjoy listening to the show and making comments on the 2 meter band while listening to the broadcast.

Thanks again and keep up the great work.

73
KC8MXW

Aaron Beatty
------
QRA IO83LW
63 Manor Road
Fleetwood
UK
John Earnshaw
M0JFE
Ride The Waves And Make New Friends
Packet M0JFE@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
------
just finished listening to another episode of TWIAR… I enjoy the Random Access the best. You had solicited email to obtain a QSL Card if I sent information about me. I'm Kevin Prodromides (KE7OSU) I'm in Tucson Arizona
9331 N Denise Ann Pl
Tucson, AZ 85742
I receive TWIAR pod cast from http://www.twiar.org/international.html
73's, Kevin (KE7OSU)
------
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel
(wrote back asking for address)
------
Also, This Week in Amateur Radio received standard mail for the following listeners!

Peter Bentley East Aurora, New York
Robert Garland NX3S Perkasie, Pennsylvania
George Dupee K1AAG Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Everyone mentioned here in this posting will receive an Official This Week in Amateur Radio
QSL Card!

KE7OSU M0JFE

A Random Access Christmas! Hosted By Jock Elliott KB2GOM!

Jock Elliott KB2GOM, columnist and contributor to Monitoring Times and net control for a daily early morning traffic net on the local 146.940 repeater in nearby Troy, New York is the host of a special Random Access Christmas with some suggestions on low cost Christmas gifts for amateur radio operators. This edition of the Random Access Christmas is heard exclusively over This Week in Amateur Radio and This Week in Amateur Radio International via WBCQ, your local VHF/UHF repeater or by Internet podcast download.

.
The intros and outros for the program were voiced by MNOAOS Zach when he was ten. Included in the effects track were some Star Wars sounds because Zach is an A Number 1 fan of the film/book/video game science fiction series.

.
Likewise, the promos that go with the RAX were cut when Zach was ten and when Mother Radio(Beverly Krasnov) was just honing her acting skills as a broadcast radio performer.

.

QRZ? FB! QSL! 73!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

------
Just wanted to say that I enjoy listening to TWIAR. I use an old Hallicrafters S-38 with 40 feet of wire to pick up WBCQ. My QTH is in Ohio and the radio show comes in great! I have turned 3 other hams in my area on to TWIAR and we enjoy listening to the show and making comments on the 2 meter band while listening to the broadcast. Thanks again and keep up the great work.
73
KC8MXW
Aaron Beatty
------
QRA IO83LW
63 Manor Road
Fleetwood
UK
John Earnshaw
M0JFE
Ride The Waves And Make New Friends
Packet M0JFE@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU

Get the Door! It's the Mail!

Here, in no particular order, are a few recent e-mail requests for an Official This Week in Amateur Radio QSL Card. The more traditional pathway of writing a reception report and mailing it to: This Week in Amateur Radio Post Office Box 30, Sand Lake, New York 12153 has given way in recent years to an e-mail request sent to n2fnh@capital.net. So, whether you receive the program over your local VHF or UHF repeater, copy the show over WBCQ or download the latest weekly Internet Podcast, you can get your own TWIAR QSL Card by taking pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. either way works!

---
Hi Bill Just stumbled across your Telnet News article, where you traversed some of the Dutch CB Packet network, including my own. Was quite interesting how you have a poke around there, pity we didn't get to chat at the time :) Regards Greg aka PE2GRT
---
Hi,
I'd like you to know that I'm enjoying listening to TWIAR every week since about 2 months. I download the podcast usually on Sunday and listen to it over breakfast. I am a ham since 1972, my callsign is PA0RDA There are no repeaters broadcasting the show so download is the only option for me. Tanks for the entertainment.
Adrian
---
Can you please send me one of the TWIAR QSL cards?
Greg Stoddard
4750 E. Union Hills Dr. #2012
Phoenix AZ 85050
---
Hello OM,
I finally decided to send a reception report as you so earnestly request each week. I receive the TWIAR podcast each week and have been listening faithfully for two years or more. I really enjoy your editorial pieces and the sound effects with which you accentuate really makes for a FB production. Speaking of sound effects, might I suggest that your listeners likely would want to hear more of how you became involved with audio work and the sources of the sounds. Every time I hear your stuff, I wonder how the creativity and humor came about.
73 & best wishes,
Norm
WB5MJM
Fort Collins, Colorado

Does This Still Work?

A few months back, the TELNET NEWS/LAND LINE LID THIS WEEK (July 19, 2003), offered a RANDOM ACCESS FILE detailing several commercially available desktop news tickers that you can use to stay up-to-date. What follows is some HTML source language that may be of interest. This is the THIS WEEK IN AMATEUR RADIO NEWS TICKER. Edit out this language, give it a file name like TICKER.HTM, put it in a convenient folder and put a shortcut icon on your desktop. Then when you are online, you can click on the document which will bring up IE Explorer. The file will then subsequently make a call out to the home server for the current headlines. What is unique about this ticker is that the news provided is AMATEUR RADIO news and even though it brings up an instance of IE, you can squash the interface with your mouse so that it's about the same size as the ticker. The author of this ticker is Greg - K4HSM and permission to distribute was given by George - W2XBS.

.............................. snip here ...................................