N5DUX - Work All States

radio : by Tommy — February 28th 2005, 01:58AM
radio
edit:I just passed my Amateur Extra class license test!
As most of you know, I got my General class license for ham radio. This allows me to operate on the HF (<50Mhz) bands. These are the bands that are what most people associate with ham radio: talking around the world. I have been logging my contacts in my log book and have decided to start trying for the ARRL Worked All States Award.
As you can see from the map, I have quite a ways to go, but it should prove to be a fun goal. This is only using the 20m band, which is what my dipole was contructed for. The limitation to this is that it is virtually dead at night.

As far as distance goes, I have logged contacts from my apartment with a station in the Cook Islands (in the South Pacific), the island of Trinidad (in the south Carribean) and 2 contacts in Canada (one in BC, the other in SK). At the SFA radio club station, I have logged various states, Canada, England and even Serbia!

While I'm on the subject of ham radio, I attended a "Hamfest" (ham radio swapmeet) this weekend in Orange, TX. I picked up some radio odds and ends, and an Extra Class study manual. I hope to take this test at the end of next month, but more realistically, it will be in the coming months. The Extra Class test (Element 4) is the highest level test for amateur radio, as well as the hardest and most technically challenging. By passing the test, I will be afforded access to certain portions of the spectrum reserved for other Extra class operators. Big whoop, I know.

update: still making contacts...

Soothe your musical senses.

music : by roboprobe — February 20th 2005, 07:25PM
musicOk, this is my first post. I am reviewing a newly released electronic album I have purchased. If you don't like electronic dance music (EDM), please do not waste space posting comments or I'll have to smack you.

Those who are biased against it might think it all sounds the same... right? Wrong, it's a lot more diverse than the mainstream, I'll tell you that; all of the crap that has been forced down our thoats by MTV, Clear Channel, top 40 radio stations and so on. As we watch people en masse follow the stupid trends that the idiots in these bands and so-called "musical icons" portray, it is refreshing to sit back and listen to a few albums that are rockin' from start to finish. That's how its supposed to be. Yeah, albums of this caliber are the equivalent of listening to Pumpkins' Siamese Dream all the way through. You get that tingly feeling all over when the last track is over.

But enough of my ranting, lets get to the music. The album I am reviewing is not a well known production. Kyau Vs. Albert from Germany. The album Here We Are Now is excellent from start to finish. The first disc is their production album. This isn't just another DJ mix. Every track here is their own and they are superbly mixed as well. This has it all. Emotional breakdowns, slammin beats, groovin basslines, fantastic vocals. A few guest vocalist are featured. CD2 is a mix compilation of some of their remixes and other artists as well.

This is an excellent duo that can only be compared with that of Gabriel and Dresden, Paul Van Dyk, and Sasha.. but with the Kyou vs. Albert twist and a their own defined style, shattering the rules of trance and defying the laws of breakbeat. Here We Are Now is a terrific Progressive album. EDM lovers, you should not be caught dead without this in your collection. It even says that on the back of it.

Grendel sez: All album titles linked to Amazon, neodux receives 5% of sale for the referal if you buy from the link.

Notorious sez: Buy Siamese Dream if you don't own it yet.

N5DUX now General

radio : by Tommy — February 16th 2005, 07:42PM
radioTonight I passed both the written and code section of the FCC Amateur Radio Licensing tests to gain my General license. I had studied Morse Code off and on for the past few months. I thought I was ready back in December, but failed at that attempt. Tonight I passed, not perfect, but a good showing, nonetheless. I was sure I would walk away defeated once more, but after Army, AE5P, counted up more than 35 characters in a row, I was elated to find out I passed.

I also gave the written portion of the test a try and found out I remembered more of it than I thought - I hadn't studied since December! (...and that was studying with a slightly outdated book!) I passed with a 24/30, not as good as I'd liked to have made, but a passing score is a passing score.

It will take a few weeks for the FCC to process the paperwork to officially grant my General class standing, but in the meantime, I can still operate as a General license holder by appending "/AG" to my call. (I think it stands for Awaiting General)

I was really shocked, I was only expecting to eek by on the Element 1 code test, but, in the end, I got both. Very glad to have accomplished this.