COVID-19 has changed a lot about the world that we knew last year! The governments have limited the number of people that are allowed inside of businesses, disallowed any social gatherings over a handful of people, "requiring" people to wear masks and so much more. COVID-19 has affected ham radio. We can't have meetings anymore, testing sessions are severely limited and of course, no hamfests! The QSO Today Podcast has done something that I really wish I could've done myself, they have started a virtual hamfest! The first one is coming up on August 8 & 9, 2020. So let's take a look at what this new Virtual Hamfest is going to be about. QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo: https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/ Virtual Ham Expo Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tLxkopzkHM Social Media: Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Everythinghamradio Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/k5clm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everything_hamradio/ Check out my blog at https://www.EverythingHamradio.com If you liked this video and would like to help out financially, you can make some time donation through PayPal to help with the cost, simply go to http://www.everythinghamradio.com/donate DISCLAIMER: Please note that some of the links in this description may be affiliate links. Meaning that if you purchase the item or other items after clicking on the link, I get a small commission from your purchase. This does not affect the price you pay in any way.

If you still feel the need to get on the radio and make a bunch of contacts, check out the 13 Colonies Special Event that is going on right now! It started on July 1 and will run until midnight on July 7! You still have 3-4 days to make your contacts with each colony and the two bonus stations as well. Even better try to get a clean sweep! Social Media: Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Everythinghamradio Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/k5clm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everything_hamradio/ Check out my blog at https://www.EverythingHamradio.com If you liked this video and would like to help out financially, you can make some time donation through PayPal to help with the cost, simply goto http://www.everythinghamradio.com/donate DISCLAIMER: Please note that some of the links in this description may be affiliate links. Meaning that if you purchase the item or other items after clicking on the link, I get a small commission from your purchase. This does not affect the price you pay in any way.

With the social distancing and restrictions on social gathering because of the Corona Virus, COVID19, more operators are going to operating from their home stations this year than they did in years past. So the question becomes, what bonus points can you get while operating a home station during Field Day 2020? Check out my accompanying blog post for this video to see the full description of each of the bonus points that I talked about in this video and for the W1AW Field Day 2020 Bulletin Times and locations. https://www.EverythingHamradio.com Social Media: Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Everythinghamradio Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/k5clm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everything_hamradio/ If you liked this video and would like to help out financially, you can make some time donation through PayPal to help with the cost, simply goto http://www.everythinghamradio.com/donate DISCLAIMER: Please note that some of the links in this description may be affiliate links. Meaning that if you purchase the item or other items after clicking on the link, I get a small commission from your purchase. This does not affect the price you pay in any way.

It is time for the fourth annual State Of The Hobby Survey! I learned about this survey in 2018 for the second one and have taken it every year since. I really enjoy reading the results and seeing everyone’s opinion on the different topics that this survey covers. This survey only took me about 10 minutes to complete and I was able to do it on my phone. Please take 10-15 minutes and take the survey this year. The first year I took it there was about 1,000 people that took it, last year there was about 3-4,000! Let’s see if we can get over 5,000 responses this year!!! Take the survey here : http://bit.ly/2020SOTHSurvey Social Media: Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Everythinghamradio Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/k5clm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everything_hamradio/ Check out my blog at https://www.EverythingHamradio.com If you liked this video and would like to help out financially, you can make some time donation through PayPal to help with the cost, simply goto http://www.everythinghamradio.com/donate DISCLAIMER: Please note that some of the links in this description may be affiliate links. Meaning that if you purchase the item or other items after clicking on the link, I get a small commission from your purchase. This does not affect the price you pay in any way.

With the Corona Virus shutting down businesses, school, social gatherings and more, we all have to adjust the way that we do things. Amateur radio is no different! We can’t have regular club meetings, we can’t do training events, we can meet for breakfast somewhere and just chew the fat. We can’t even give tests to new potential hams anymore. So what does that mean for those that want to get their license? Virtual testing is a thing now. If you would have asked me six months ago if it would ever happen, I probably would have said no, but now, I have already heard from people that have taken their test virtually. Social Media: Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Everythinghamradio Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/k5clm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everything_hamradio/ Check out my blog at https://www.EverythingHamradio.com If you liked this video and would like to help out financially, you can make some time donation through PayPal to help with the cost, simply goto http://www.everythinghamradio.com/donate DISCLAIMER: Please note that some of the links in this description may be affiliate links. Meaning that if you purchase the item or other items after clicking on the link, I get a small commission from your purchase. This does not affect the price you pay in any way. There are even some clubs that are holding virtual meetings. Could this be a new way to keep your club alive? Could having a virtual meeting increase club participation?

Hello everybody and welcome to the first “normal” episode of the Everything Hamradio Podcast. In this episode we are talking about DStar DStar Some of the questions that we talk about in this episode are: What is DStar? What are the differences between Digital and Analog Pros Quality of Audio Other information beside just your voice being transmitted. You Call sign, location and possible other things go out every time you transmit as well. Can download all the repeaters in the US and put into your radio. Radio can find repeaters that are close to you Repeaters often connected to the internet Cons From the outside looking in, DStar seems to have a steep learning curve Analog radios can not talk on DStar repeaters DStar can easily cover a large area because you can link together multiple repeaters in the area over the internet or if installed over a 1.2 or 2.4 GHz link. Original cost of radios were high but has recently come down and is nearly in line with other radios. We talk about the different radios that are available for use with DStar as well as some accessories that you can use. Check out this post and this post for more information about DStar and the DStar radios and accessories. Ham Radio Club Spotlight In this episode we talk about the Mansfield-Johnson Amateur Radio Service club in Mansfield, Texas. This club is another club that is local for me and that is a fast growing club. The have about 49 members and growing. They have two radios, one on 1.25 meters and one on 70 cm. They also have access to a 2 meter repeater that they use as well. You can find more information about this club at here. News Below you will find links to each of the stories below: Ramsey Kits Calls it Quits Redesigned FCC Website Makes it Easy for Hams to File Interference Complaints National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) Event Gets Off to a Strong Start! That about wraps it up for this episode. If you like what you heard on the podcast or what you have read here, please subscribe to my site in order to get emails sent to you when I publish a new post or podcast. Also, please like me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. Links to all my social media pages can be found on the menu at the top of the page under Social. Also I ask that you go onto ITunes and subscribe to the podcast and rate it and please give me a honest review. Each of these things really helps me out to spread the word about my podcast. Until next time… 73 de Curtis, K5CLM * Music provide by Bensound.com Further Reading DStar DStar Radio and Accessories Icom Website for DStar