Regularly Scheduled Geekery
with Adam Fast

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

In the past I have belonged to the Southwest Missouri Amateur Radio Club in Springfield, MO, though I no longer live there.

I also belong to and support the Joplin Amateur Radio Club in Joplin.

Most of my time on the air lately has been on the 146.775 MHz D-Star repeater in Ozark, MO - 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'm still waiting for a D-Star repeater in the Kansas City area I can make it into to get back on the air from my new location.

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.

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

Other Resources:
Callsign calculator for deciding how to program your D-Star Radio for operation on the Gateway system

I have finally bought a TNC and now also have a GPS, so I will soon begin experimenting with packet and APRS...they look cool, I've just been spending time elsewhere for now.

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.