Wow I just had my first FM satellite QSO on SO-50 and it was with @wd9ewk ! And he was at Canyon de Chelley National Monument US-0908. Thanks, Patrick!
Right after that I had a QSO w/W5QZ in TX.
I need to figure out how best to record audio from these sessions as the GD-77 does not have a recorder. I'll use my phone recorder next time, which will make logging a lot easier.
Fun!
Vortrag: "Amateurfunk - ein magisches Labyrinth von Kaninchenlöchern"
Der Ort: Hamburg. Die Veranstaltung: Easterhegg. Der Tag: Jetzt Samstag, 19. April. Die Zeit: 17:50 MESZ (15:50 UTC). Die (nicht sehr geheime) Agenda: Von der Freude zu erzählen, die #HamRadio macht. Der Erklärbär 
: Meine Wenigkeit.
Details zum #EH2025 siehe https://cfp.eh22.easterhegg.eu/eh22/schedule/ bzw. direkt zum Talk https://cfp.eh22.easterhegg.eu/eh22/talk/LW9K3B/ .
Ich freu' mich schon! Ich mach sowas geeeeerne! 
While everyone else on the highway was headed to some coach fella place, I took Friday off and activated the never before activated remote summit W6/SD-494 aka “2992”. The desert is HOT during the day so I set off super early and got back to the van before the real heat set in. 10 contacts in the log. #sota #hamradio
Ham connect meeting open to the public tomorrow in Seattle, 4/12, ACS mtg: 9a-1030,
Ham Connect mtg 10:30 am to?
Next meeting will be hosted by Seattle ACS at the north Seattle College, and can also be attended via zoom link.
Ham radio nerds at my work posted about it.
Details can be found at https://www.hamconnect.org
#AmateurRadio post
Last week, we visited Genova, here in Italy. While tuning into the local frequency 
with my portable Quansheng UV-K5, I managed to make contact with Fabio #F5VKV from France! It still amazes me every time I make a cross-border contact with just a handheld. 
I have been enthralled with Space Exploration since that October day in 1957. Reading about Sputnik that October in Weekly Ready wasn't enough to quench my curiosity. Thankfully today @nasaradioclubs helps my #AmateurRadio #HamRadio Space fascination
thanks to the nice people on the cascadia radio discord i was able to verify that i can in fact reach people on my little handheld ham radio ("ht")! i was starting to worry that the transmitter maybe didn't work.
however, i reached AJ7CM - who has a MUCH better kit than mine xD - in roosevelt and everything was actually pretty clear too! so yay ^_^
Another tough day on the AmateurRadio #HamRadio #HF bands. But thanks to #MastodonHam J.C. @KC8JC started the morning off GREAT on 40 meters with this #POTA #parksontheiar #MorseCode CW #QSO at US-7956 Beargrass Creek State NAture Preserve Louisville, KY . USA
just letting my #hamradio software decode rf noise as ascii for a bit
What You Can Do
1. Submit Comments to the FCC (Deadline: April 11, 2025)
The FCC is accepting public input on potential deregulation. It’s critical that amateur operators and supporters submit comments to ensure our voice is heard.
How to Submit Comments:
Upload Document: Standard Filing
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/standard?proceeding[name]=25-133
Express Comment: Express Filing
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express?proceeding[name]=25-133
Docket Number: GN Docket No. 25-133
Sample Comments: Example 1
https://hamadvocate.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hamadvocate-draft-letter.txt
– Example 2
https://hamadvocate.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hamadvocate-draft-letter-2.txt
Reliable Communication in Rural and Remote Areas:
In Alaska, many off-grid communities rely on amateur radio for essential communication where there is no access to cellular networks.
Sailors, mountaineers, and researchers depend on ham radio for long-range communication in extreme environments, ensuring safety and coordination.
Ham Radio in Cybersecurity & Emergency Drills:
In simulations of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, ham radio networks have proven to be reliable communication channels when conventional systems are compromised.
Government agencies conduct nationwide emergency drills with ham radio operators as key participants, highlighting their importance in disaster preparedness.
(continued)
Community Service & Public Events: Ham operators provide free communication support for public safety efforts.
Large-scale events like marathons and parades rely on ham radio volunteers to coordinate safety and logistics.
During wildfires and other emergencies, hams have been instrumental in relaying evacuation orders when official channels were down.
https://emergencyservices.westchestergov.com/information-and-alerts/amateur-radio-emergency-communications-races
International Disaster Response & Global Connectivity:
After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, amateur radio operators provided essential communication links in affected regions where infrastructure was destroyed.
During the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, ham radio operators were among the first to establish emergency communications, aiding in relief efforts.
STEM Education & Innovation: Ham radio is a gateway into engineering, physics, and communications.
NASA collaborates with amateur radio operators to enable astronauts to communicate directly with students on Earth, inspiring interest in science and technology careers.
https://www.nasa.gov/general/science-on-station-november-2023/
The ARISS program allows students worldwide to engage in direct communication with ISS crew members, fostering interest in STEM fields.
National Security & Disaster Preparedness:
Amateur radio provides decentralized, independent communication that cannot be easily disrupted by cyberattacks or infrastructure failures.
The Department of Homeland Security recognizes amateur radio as a critical backup for emergency communications.
Ham networks have supported military and intelligence operations when other communication lines were compromised.
https://www.domesticpreparedness.com/articles/unleashing-the-power-of-amateur-radio-in-times-of-emergency
Survivalists rely on ham radios for emergency preparedness.
Why This Matters
Amateur radio may seem antiquated, but its unique capabilities make it irreplaceable in certain scenarios. Here’s why preserving these frequencies is crucial:
Emergency Communications: When natural disasters take out cell towers and internet infrastructure, ham radio remains operational. Examples:
During Hurricane Katrina, amateur radio operators provided vital communication links when all other systems failed.
https://hamadvocate.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hurricane-Katrina.pdf
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, ham radio operators were instrumental in relaying messages from Puerto Rico when conventional communications were disrupted.
During Hurricane Harvey, ham radio operators sprung into action to set up temporary communication networks when cell phones failed.
https://www.lastwire.ca/the-surprising-role-of-ham-radio-in-disaster-response-from-hurricane-katrina-to-hurricane-harvey/
Ham radio operators volunteer with their own equipment to help their friends and neighbors by setting up emergency communication systems.
https://emergencyservices.westchestergov.com/information-and-alerts/amateur-radio-emergency-communications-races
Forwarded on our local ham radio groups:
April 11th (Friday) is the last day to submit comments to the FCC. Help us protect the bands!
Under a new deregulation mandate, the FCC is soliciting public input on rules that may be deemed outdated or unnecessary. If amateur radio frequencies are seen as underutilized or commercially valuable, they could be auctioned off to corporate interests, permanently limiting our ability to operate.
Please visit the website to sign our petition and make a comment directly to the FCC about protecting our airwaves.
https://hamadvocate.org/
The Threat: FCC Deregulation
Under a new deregulation mandate, the FCC is soliciting public input on rules that may be deemed outdated or unnecessary. If amateur radio frequencies are seen as underutilized or commercially valuable, they could be auctioned off to corporate interests, permanently limiting our ability to operate.
Vibroplex recently raised prices on Spiderbeam with an explicit reference to tariffs. That's reasonable though unfortunate for us hams. The prices are still elevated, but the references to tariffs were removed as far as I can tell. Were #HamRadio Trump supporters annoyed and caused them trouble? 
Why I like UK and EUR ham radio youtube channels over US channels
US channels: "Look at the thing I bought!" OR "I made this. You need $750 in tooling and $500 in material to make your own."
UK/EUR channels: "I repurposed this cheap stuff. All you need are basic tools to do it yourself. It works better than anything you can buy."
For giggles, I'm periodically calling on 146.52 from the mobile while my kiddo has lessons, if anyone thinks they are within simplex range of Lititz PA
Times like these are the only ones where I miss having HF in the car. (I'm not in the car much anymore so it's hardly worth the effort to get it all set up for HF)
