SKN 2008

My second SKN (Straight Key Night) and my first time posting to the ARRL Contest Soapbox for this event - was surprised to see what a wild assortment of varied comments, pictures, esp of vintage gear. http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/index.html?con_id=149&call=&ofst=80

SKN runs yearly from 7pm New Years Eve through 7pm New Years Day - emphasizing ragchewing rather than racking up contacts, and bringing out the old gear for fun (and sometimes anguish! when trying to switch from paddles to bug) info at http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/skn.html

It's real easy to post comments and photos to the Soapbox.

Check out the other contest soapboxes for cool photos and comments. Simply amazing!

Shirley N2SKP

3 Steves and Kurt at W1AW

(from Shirley N2SKP) I thought I'd share this email and link from Kurt W2MW:

Greetings all; As everyone may or may not know I've been involved in Amateur Radio for over 20 years. Here is something that I've participated in for at least 10 years... it is called the "3 Steves and Kurt" Amateur Radio Adventures at W1AW. Take a moment to check out this Youtube video which was taken on 12/26/2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZc08faIENM
You will get a glimpse of me operating on the 30 meter band using one of my favorite modes, Morse Code. At the time I was working other Amateur Radio operators around the United States and various other countries around the world. I had made over 100 contacts on12/26 and had contacted other countries such as South America, Mexico, Canada, England, Italy, South Africa, Germany, Bulgaria & Hungary. Between the other "3Steves" and myself we contacted over 500 other Amateur Radio stations around the world. Enjoy. Happy Holidays and have a great New Year. Kurt - W2MW

Other links of Interest from Kurt: http://www.qrz.com/w2mw
http://www.qrz.com/wk3ss
http://www.the3stevesarc.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBzefGyJs20&NR=1
this one of Jay Leno which may really surprise you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhsSgcsTMd4

My favorite web sites

Since I did not make it to the December meeting,
here are my favorite web sites :
73 Finn WB2UWU

http://www.google.com
I think that Google is self explanatory.
http://www.onelook.com
OneLook is my favorite when I need a Dictionary.
http://www.wikipedia.org
For more detail of a subject I go to Wikipedia.
http://www.nist.gov
I go to NIST when I need to know the exact time.
http://www.qrz.com
To look up a call sign I use QRZ.
http://www.qsysociety.org
I use ftpCommander to edit the QSY Society web pages,
and check qsysociety.org to see if I did OK.
http://www.wr2abb.org
I check the MBARC website once in a while.
http://www.arnewsline.org
I download the two Newsline files once a week so I can
read the text and transmit the .mp3 file on Monday night.
http://www.obriensweb.com/skccsked/skccsked.php
I use O'Briens Web page to see who among the SKCC members
are looking for a contact.
http://www.hvfcu.org
I do my on-line banking in the Credit Union.
http://www.medco.com
I order prescription medicine from Medco.
http://www.ezcardinfo.com
I check our VISA credit card postings between statements.
http://www.ebay.com
I have done quite a bit of buying and selling on eBay.
http://www.paypal.com
I use PayPal to do business on eBay and other places that
accept PayPal.
http://www.half.com
If I am looking for a book, DVD or VHS tape I go to Half.
http://tvlistings.optonline.net/epg.do
My personalized TV-Listings.
http://gmail.google.com/mail/
My Google Mail.
http://www.weatherunderground.com/US/NY/Poughkeepsie.html
The Poughkeepsie weather and a lot of other info.

del.icio.us

Del.icio.us is a free online social web page book marking service that allows you to get your links from any computer. It also allows you to share your links with other like minded people like QSY. Check out my del.icio.us page at:

http://del.icio.us/markalewis

HAM RADIO PROMOTION: MGM FILM PRESENTS "RADIO HAMS"

A film from Metro Goldwyn Mayer that promotes Amateur Radio has surfaced
on the Internet. Produced in 1939 by Pete Smith, "Radio Hams"
centers on a family called to dinner. All but the teenage son respond.
When family members go looking for him, one by one they are snared into
a world of ham radio high adventure. One that includes a rescue in
Alaska and a tragic search for a downed aircraft at sea.

Unlike most films promoting ham radio, this one is _not _a documentary.
It's a fully scripted 10 minute dramatic presentation featuring a cast
of professional actors well directed by Felix Fiest. E. Mauriece Adler
is credited with writing the screen play.

"Radio Hams" is really a nostalgic look back at ham radio, the way it
never was.

You can see it on-line at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBGIdf0VjQ4

Posting suggested by Nick, N2QZ

Happy Birthday Radio

WCVB's recent broadcast with snippets and radio history from the New England area.

Mapping Call Signs

Visit this interesting site by N4MC where you can map callsigns by zip code, state, or individually.