Regularly Scheduled Geekery
with Adam Fast

I am an amateur radio operator, federally licensed by the FCC.  My callsign is KC0YLK.

I've spent a lot of time with the 146.775 MHz D-Star repeater in Ozark, MO prior to moving to Lawrence - W0OMD.  D-Star is a new technology from Icom that transmits voice and limited data digitally over the normal "airwaves".  It's an incredible mode, but is still a novelty in the early adoption stage.  I think it will grow, and more hams will begin enjoying how much it enhances communication - the clarity of transmissions is the primary thing that amazes me.

I have posted an online version of the D-Star presentation I present live. It does not contain all of the material, just what fits in a non-personal medium. If your group in the SW MO and surrounding areas would like to see the presentation live, please contact me. It's also very out of date. I do have a new version written and it's what I present live from, but the time to record / edit it together hasn't been available.

Other Videos:
Programming callsigns on the IC-2820 for Gateway operations

I have gotten the APRS bug big time. I've got an Argent Tracker2 connected to a Garmin Nuvi 350 - it gives me a great majority of the functionality of a Kenwood D710 + AvMap system (which I'd call the ultimate wishlist rig) but at a fourth the cost. I've written some Python / Django to deal with the APRS-IS network and aggregate my positions, etc. for use on this site.

I have a side project related to ham radio, QTHmap. QTHmap is a mashup of Google Maps and the FCC's released data of amateur radio operators.  QTH is 'jargon' for an amateur's home, so the site allows a callsign to be entered, and then puts that callsign on a map.  It also allows for city view to see what other amateurs are in an area, and a net view for net control to keep track of where checkins are coming from.

I've also done a good deal of experimentation with an RFSpace SDR-IQ software-driven receiver and CW Skimmer software - aggregating active callsigns on CW and plotting them on maps as a propogation / contesting tool.

You're not likely to hear me on the air, really...my fun in ham radio comes from the non-verbal and experimentation. I'm happy to talk about my projects with groups or individuals, but I'm just not into the usual "chit-chat" on the air. I'd rather be building something!