Bud Talbot
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Any of my fellow #hamradio folks using a rolling toolbox solution (e.g., Milwaukee Packout, Rigid Pro Gear, etc) to keep their radio and electronics repair stuff organized?
I'd like to consolidate and store various cables, components, small electronic parts, batteries, and some tools.
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@chrisnelsonsdog there are lots of #hamradio folks around here! W0RMT here
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It is almost time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday May 15.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: On average, how many days per week are you on the air? [Numerical response]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
Please boost!
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I picked up a used Bencher BY-2 off FB marketplace today. I think it was a good deal for $80. It cleaned up very nicely and has some great stories behind it. I bought it from the son of a silent key KL7LF, who had stations in Colorado, Fairbanks AK, and Johnston Island. His son gave me a few of his dad's #QSL cards as well.
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There is a new, thoughtful comment on my "Inclusivity in Amateur Radio" post on the @kb6nu blog
https://www.kb6nu.com/inclusivity-in-amateur-radio/#comment-1045058
Thanks, K0BMM.
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#CW practice continues using mostly LCWO and also the IZ2UUF Morse Koch CW app. The characters are coming back to me and I feel like I am progressing. Some days I can copy faster code than other days.
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We had 25 check-ins from 4 countries for last week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet
The net webpage has been updated and confirmation messages have been sent via #Winlink
Last week's question and responses: Do you monitor 146.520 (or another simplex frequency outside the US) and if so, how often? 9 (N), 14 (Y), 1 (Sometimes)
Be sure to follow #FFWN for announcements and conversation. See you all later this week!
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I recently got a "Gold Plan" subscription for CloudRF for fire communcations and luckily I did not have to pay for this - it is very expensive. But it is amazing propagation modeling software! I'm generating some coverages for proposed #meshcore sites in our coloradomesh.org network and it is very cool!
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I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. With that in mind I restarted my practice with LCWO recently. It is coming back (I passed the 5 WPM test years ago when upgrading) but I have a way to go before I can copy real stuff reliably.
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Just saw the June cover of #QST. Once again it does not represent the amateur community at all. A bunch of old white dudes and maybe one older white woman?
At this point, I really don't think #ARRL is capable of self-reflection. This miss every chance to be a community for everyone, and they keep failing at it.
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It is almost time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday May 8.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: Do you monitor 146.520 (or another simplex frequency outside the US) and if so, how often? [Y/N, elaborate]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
Please boost!
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We need some new #FFWN questions of the week if anyone has ideas to share. Y/N questions are preferred, but I'll entertain any suggestions! What are you interested in knowing from the denizens of the net?
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We had 24 check-ins from 5 countries for this week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet !
The question of the week was Do you work on achieving any ham radio awards? Responses: 15 (N), 9 (Y)
The net webpage has been updated at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ and confirmation messages have been sent via #Winlink
Thanks for participating and see you next week!
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Got another patriotic AI-generated #QSL card today! Callsign redacted, again. This time, no weaponry in the image. Much classier
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Wow check out this patriotic QSL card that popped up in my logging software during a #QSO (callsign and location redacted)
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It is almost time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday May 1.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: Do you work on achieving any ham radio awards? (e.g., WAS, etc) [Y/N, elaborate]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
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Working some #FT8 tonight for the first time in about 6 months!
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We had 20 check-ins from 4 countries for this week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet !
The net webpage has been updated and confirmations are being sent via #Winlink
The questions of the week and responses: Do you prefer operating voice (V) or data (D) modes? 3 (V), 17 (D)
Please follow #FFWN for announcements and conversation, and we will see you next week!
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It is time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday April 24.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: Which do you prefer to operate more: voice modes or data modes? [V/D]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
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This conference is serving what is probably the worst #coffee (some Starbucks thing) I've ever had 🤢. And that's saying something because I'll drink gas station coffee if I have to. Luckily I've already had my own #AeroPress #Ozo coffee.
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NSF's future uncertain amid Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5835619-future-nsf-research-limbo/ -
We had 20 check-ins to this week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet ! Thanks to everyone for participating. The net webpage has been updated and confirmations are being sent via #Winlink
This week's questions was "How many different nets do you regularly check into each week?" A summary of the response data is shown in the embedded histogram.
See you all next week!
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It is time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday April 17.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: How many different nets do you regularly check into each week? [open response]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
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We had 24 check-ins to the 4/10/26 edition of the #FediFridayWinlinkNet !
The net webpage has ben updated and confirmations are being sent via #Winlink
This week we had a two part question: a) what is the lowest power that you have used to make a QSO and on what band? and b) what is the highest power you have used to make a QSO and on what band?
Here are the *interesting* responses:
- <100mW, but I don't have a meter that goes that low, 1kW on 6m.
- 5 watts on 2m/70cm
- 0.1 watts on 70cm and 100 watts on the HF bands
- 0.1W, for week 39 of last year's Ham Challenge. I used FT8 on the 40m band. 1kW, our legal limit, using my club's station on 20m
- 4W, 2M;100W most HF bands
- 0.1W on 2 meters, 1000W on 20M
- 1W 40M FT8 ; 100W 40/20M SSB/FT8
- 400 mW on 40m, 100 W on 20m
- 0.225 watts or slightly less on 40m. Close to 100 watts on 20m
- 1.5 watts EIRP on 8m band (SSB and FT8); est. 10 kilowatts EIRP on 23cm band (EME)
- 50mW on 70cm / 200W on 20m
- 10W FT8 on 10m, 15m, and 20m; 50W ssb on 20m
- 0.5W 2m, 25W, 2m
- 5w 2M, 100w 20M
- 1 WATT ON 15 METERS, 1500 WATTS ON 160 METERS
- 180mW 2m, 100W 160m
- 1W is the lowest power I've used, on 2m and 70cm. 5W is the highest power I've used, on 2m and 70cm
- 1 Watt, 440 DMR Simplex, 45 Watts FM simplex
- I've made FT8 contacts at 0% power on my IC-705, which should be about 50mW. I believe this was on 20m, I've never operated more than a 100W radio on any band
- 5 watts on 20m, 100 watts on 6m
- 1w 20m, 1500w 20m
- Probably 2W SSB or digital on 20 and 40m, I've never gone higher than 100W on any band
- 100 mw on 20m, 1.5kw on 80-10m
- Pretty sure I've made a 1W 2 mete FM QSO somewhere. I routinely use 100W HF -
Has anyone got a good system for getting non-Android Auto ready apps to show on a vehicle infotainment screen? I'm running #Android 16 on a #Pixel9Pro and would like to get #APRSDroid and some other apps to show up. Fermata and AAAD did not work for me.
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It is almost time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday April 10.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: We have a two part question this week: a) what is the lowest power that you have used to make a QSO and on what band? and b) what is the highest power you have used to make a QSO and on what band?
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
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Just saw an ad for "caffeine pouches" marketed to runners. Like Zyn but for #caffeine
Um no thanks.
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I think it is pretty cool that astronaut Victor Glover is carrying and wearing a #leatherman tool in #Artemis2. I wonder if it is an #Arc (my favorite).
I feel strangely validated for wearing mine on my belt most of the time.
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It is time to check in to this week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday April 3
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: What is the most obscure or unique ham radio or electronic thing you own? [Free response]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
Please boost!
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We had 28 check-ins to this week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet ! Thanks to everyone for participating.
Confirmations and being sent via #Winlink and the net webpage has been updated at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/
Responses to this week's question: When you travel away from home for work or pleasure, do you take ham radio gear with you? 23 (Y), 2 (Sometimes/it depends), 3 (N)
Be on the lookout for next week's #FFWN announcement which will be sent via Winlink and posted here.
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We are back in action this week and it is almost time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday March 27.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: When you travel away from home for work or pleasure, do you take ham radio gear with you? [Y/N, elaborate]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN on mastodon for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
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Interesting that #NewZealand is engaged in a big campaign to recruit #k12 #teachers from the US right now.
And it really seems like the right time to be doing this.
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This week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet announcement was just sent out via #Winlink and will be posted here tomorrow!
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We had 32 check-ins from 5 countries for this week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet. Confirmations are being sent via #Winlink and the net webpage has been updated at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/
🚨 REMINDER: NO NET ON 3/20/26! 🚨
This week's questions was What other hobbies or pastimes do you engage in together with ham radio? Here are the reponses. We are a fun group! Lots of hikers and cyclists!
- Electronics, RC helicopters, 3D printing
- POTA with camping.
- I'm involved in the Philadelphia open source community
- weather spotting
- Heavy metal drumming
- volunteer for the City of Bellevue, WA BCS (Bellevue Communications Support), I love my dogs - black lab and daschshund, going to the dog parks with my XYL, I love my fern collection, DIY home maintenance and mountain topping (with my microwave gear of course).
- Mountain Biking and Photography
- Hiking, dancing, gaming, socializing, farmers markets, art
- bicycling, especially operating bicycle portable
- I enjoy outdoor recreation so POTA/SOTA are a natural fit
- Cycling, Hiking, Backpacking, Camping, Travel
- Geocaching
- Hiking with SOTA
- Cycling, Camping, Hiking, and Computer Nerdery
- hiking -- pota
- Camping!
- Emcom, antenna building, POTA, learning CW
- CW
- walking or riding my bike
- County CERT team and EMA, working on the town climate resilience committee
linux and python programming
- gaming and lego building
- hiking
- Camping, Hunting, and "Exploring"
- Hiking, and computer programming
- Radio Controlled cars, maintaining my house
- cycling, cross country skiing, and riding motorcycles.
- AUXCOMM, Red Cross
- Storm Chasing
- Director of Operations for 505 Joint Task Force a non-profit humanitarian organization and i volunteer my time as well in the support and growth of Colorado ARES. My passion is education and community building. -
I just learned that Zack de la Rocha is 6 months older than me and now I feel much stronger and more hard core.
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It is almost time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday March 13.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: What other hobbies or pastimes do you engage in together with ham radio? [open response]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN on mastodon for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
** Reminder: no net next week on 3/20/26! **
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#Runners: is there a brand of long sleeve, hot weather running shirt (think UPF) that you prefer? I need to start wearing sleeves and cover more skin. But I also don't want to be hot.
#Sunscreen isn't enough at altitude.
*edit: there are some good cheap options on Amazon. I should add that I'd rather not spend a lot on a patagonia shirt, etc
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For last week's #FediFridayWinlinkNet we had 30 check-ins from 5 countries! The net webpage has been updated with responses and confirmations have been sent via #Winlink
Welcome to all the new folks! This week's #FFWN announcement will be sent via Winlink today and posted here on Mastodon tomorrow.
🚨 IMPORTANT: there will be no FFWN on 3/20/26. I'll post a reminder about that next week as well.
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Hey #fedihams: I wonder if we can have an activity where we try to get #QSL cards from as many other fedihams as possible? After geting a card yesterday from @Geojoek I realized I also have QSL cards from @kr1st and @wd9ewk !
This is also prompting me to develop and print some new QSL cards which I haven't done in years.
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Look what I got in the mail today from @Geojoek ! Very cool! Thanks, Joe!
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It is time to check in to the #FediFridayWinlinkNet!
Send your #Winlink message between 0000-2359 UTC Friday March 6.
Try to use a different band or mode to check in each week.
To: FFWN
Subject: check-inMessage body line1: [callsign], [firstname], [city], [state/province/locale], [country], [mastodon username], [VHF/HF/APRS/Telnet, etc]
Message body line2: If you operate HF digital modes, which is your favorite and why? If you don't use those modes, what mode are you curious to learn more about? [open response]
Message body line3: Do you agree to have your callsign shared in the check-in list? [Y or N/opt-out]
Follow #FFWN for details and conversation, and be sure to check the net webpage at https://w0rmt.net/ffwn/ for a list of weekly check-ins and responses to the question of the week.
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I'm so surprised that they find themselves under-staffed...🤔
#NSF Plans to Boost Staffing, Halve Grant Solicitations
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/science-research-policy/2026/02/26/nsf-plans-boost-staffing-halve-grant