All topics related to emergency communications, not necessarily related to amateur radio.
Avoid first-byte collisions in trace path and manual path tools MeshCore’s trace path tool is essential for understanding how packets travel through the fascinating ether of our beloved multi-hop mesh network. Trace path helps us understand not only the path but the signal strength at each hop as well. In…
MeshCore repeaters are showing up everywhere these days and I am thrilled to see it happen. As folks place these repeater nodes on high-rise rooftops, hillsides, and on ham and commercial towers, they’re discovering that the key to smooth wide-area repeater behavior isn’t just about height or terrain—it sometimes comes…
The MeshCore Trace Path tool is one of many useful diagnostic features built into the MeshCore client. Similar to how the traceroute utility provides insight into TCP/IP networks, MeshCore Trace Path gives you visibility into how packets travel through the mesh network—whether you’re checking a single station or tracing a…
Most amateur radio operators probably think of tracking an object on a map when they hear the term APRS but it’s a whole lot more than that. APRS is the Automated Packet Reporting System and it is a powerful tool for situational awareness, emergency communications, and seamless global messaging. I’ve…
If you’ve ever wanted to access the APRS network directly from your Windows workstation, PinPoint APRS is an incredible tool that lets you do just that. Whether you’re monitoring APRS traffic, sending position reports, or messaging with other stations, PinPoint gives you a full-featured APRS-IS gateway right from your desktop….
My Gear of Choice: Jump below to see What Gear Makes the Cut in my Ham Shack As a licensed ham, I rely on lithium iron phosphate or LiFePO4 batteries to keep my gear running 24 hours a day. In fact, I am continuously on backup power. I have utility…
Two Rules are Specific to Radio Communications In the early days of maritime wireless communication, years before the Titanic Disaster, CQD emerged as one of the first standardized distress signals. Introduced in 1904 by the Marconi International Marine Communication Company, CQD was widely used by ships equipped with Marconi wireless…
The J-Pole antenna is a notable design that has gained significant traction among amateur radio operators due to its simplicity and effectiveness. The J-Pole antenna is a half-wave dipole composed of a vertical element and a quarter-wave matching stub for precise tuning. This simple configuration makes it a good choice…
