Back when digital cameras first began to overtake 35mm film in terms of resolution and fidelity, I did a weird thing – I bought a large-format film camera kit which I built from wood, glue and a bit of ground glass.
The camera used 4X5 inch sheet film and required a lengthy amount of time under the dark cloth in order to compose and focus an image.
Its design and movements allowed things not possible with any other camera type in terms of focus thanks to the Scheimpflug principle.
At the time, it did for me what QRP would later do – it got me out and about on various trails. I discovered the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey – places I would later go on QRP excursions with Sam Morse’s code. Continue reading 'The appeal of retro'»
As DXers start looking ahead to the next DXpedition to Heard Island (Jan 2014), it’s interesting to read about the VK0IR operation back in 1997.
Dr. Bob Schmieder KK6EK has written a 222-page ebook on that trip and made it available online for free. BTW, he’s the team leader of the group who will be activating Heard in 10 months.
Containing many photos, drawing and charts, different sections of this 100MB pdf document will appeal to a variety of readers – future or wannabe DXpeditioners and those who simply like to read a good story about travel to an exotic locale. Continue reading 'Activating Heard Island, past and future'»
Limited openings in theatres one month from today, general opening on April 26th - The Numbers Station starring John Cusack.
I hadn’t personally heard a numbers station in years, then heard one about three weeks ago (in CW) on 30 meters. By the time I could get set up to record it, it went QRT. Others have heard it and periodically spot it on the DX Cluster.
We’re less than two weeks away from 1 April when (hopefully) my fellow bloggers will be posting the traditional BS stories, tall tales and outright lies.
In the Old Days, I liked to work DXpeditions. And that was enough.
But these days I get just as much pleasure (well, almost) from reading about them as they progress through their operation. DXpeditions have assembled descriptive websites for as long as the internet has been around but lately more and more of them are moving to “blog format” websites.
The main behind-the-scenes advantage of this format is the ease with which new pages (posts) are added. Updates can be posted quickly without the need to create a whole new page. Only the content need be added; no need to be concerned with html, CSS issues, etc. That’s all taken care of automatically by the blog’s “theme” or template. Continue reading 'Dynamic websites for DXpeditions'»
Various blog postings and DX forums have recently discussed the poor behavior of many DXers in pile-up situations - intentional jamming, pirates and other forms these folks have of demonstrating their inbreeding.
“What to do about it” is an ongoing theme…but it is a theme that can’t be implemented without knowing who they are.
With today’s DSP capabilities and with powerful computers and sophisticated software, there may soon be a way to tell who these people are. I believe the possibility could exist.
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Photography, Radio
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CW, Other, Photography 
I loves me a good, funny story!
In the Old Days, I liked to work DXpeditions. And that was enough.
Themocracy