Tom - You're welcome. Every week, Zero Retries is a love letter to Amateur Radio.
As for paying for content, or not, as I said in ZR 0099, I think there is content worth paying for (and I do), so we'll have to agree to disagree on that.
See Zero Retries 0101's Request to Send for more on this subject.
Here in Germany we have the "Verwertungsgemeinschaft Wort" (VG Wort, https://www.vgwort.de/, selling syndicate word) that collects copyright royalties and distributes them among the creators. The basis is German law according to the Berne Convention. About a third of the pages in my Web site contain "tokens" by the VG Wort - technically 1x1 pixel pictures delivered from the VG Wort servers. If a page gets hit often enough from German IP addresses, I get a part of these copyright royalties that add up to around 500 EUR a year. That about covers the cost for Web space and the few tools I need for the Web site. I do not know if other countries have similar institutions.
For many years I have collected ham radio magazines. For example I have about half of all QST editions ever published, starting in the 1930s. Most of my collection is in German. You find my catalog at the URL above.
If someone has a specific question - for example "which transistor did DL3xx use in his 2m preamp described in VHF Communications edition 3/1968" I will delve into my collection and find an answer.
Much paper I got from older hams that had to separate from their collections or from their heirs. I always promise to find further uses which led to many duplicates. So from time to time I can ship copies, either to other collectors or to hams that need a special issue - for example to obtain a dimensionally stable pattern for a PCB.
Until now I have evaluated only small parts of my collection. For example I rewrote the history of ham radio in Germany in the early years after WW2, see https://www.dl4no.de/thema/rufzeich.htm.
I was unaware of your archive. I too had* a large paper archive that was contributed to by others, but in the end I was persuaded to donate my collection of Amateur Radio material to the DLARC project at the Internet Archive, because they're in a better position to make it publicly available AND most importantly, preserve it. (Long term preservation, not just scanning / online access is a little-understood aspect of Internet Archive.)
* Still have, but in subject areas other than Amateur Radio, such as early microcomputers. I hope to donate that material to Internet Archive.
Thanks as always for a very thought provoking issue.
I've never made an EME contact but it's in my ham radio bucket list for sure. I find the Neil's night idea inspired. It's definitely something I would love to participate in, although of I'm honest with myself it probably won't be possible until my kids are old enough to understand it.
I agree that a focus on fun is key, but wouldn't it be neat if ARISS did get on board with an SSTV event or just making random contacts during Neil's Night. I bet a 10 year old techie would hang up a received SSTV image or a qsl card as well. Of course this shouldn't interfere with the EME focus and with the time between passes it probably could only ever be a fun add-on. The more I think about this the more I think an SSTV event would be preferable to avoid frustration from people who weren't able to get a QSO. Well, maybe it's a build it and they will come sort of thing.
One suggestion I would be to avoid setting any official or unofficial software requirements or even suggestions. As someone who actively avoids proprietary software anywhere near my ham shack the somewhat arbitrary Windows requirement rubbed me the wrong way a little. On one hand I agree that for the uninitiated SDR# is easier to pick up than GQRX, and it's probably easier to find help on Windows. On the flip side it's trivially easy for a Linux user to route received audio from GQRX to WSJT-X using PulseAudio's built-in monitor sink. No need for any "virtual audio cable" nonsense. The bottom like is that by deliberately not making a requirement or suggestion you avoid creating a situation where Linux or Mac users feel like their configuration is unsupported, or worse creating a community where Linux or Mac users are told to "just use Windows" when they ask for help. A better way to handle it might be to have a wiki where hams can share everything from software setups to antenna build ideas. This would encourage innovation and an open sharing of ideas. If you are looking for volunteers to get a wiki up and running let me know!
Thanks for all the work you put in to each and every issue.
Thanks for the feedback. My intent in mentioning Windows was to provide at least one plug-and-play "recipe" for setting up the software for a Neil's Night station, not much different from including instructions on how to build an inexpensive high-gain Yagi antenna.
I hope you, and the Zero Retries audience, understand that I'm not a fan of Windows, especially now that Microsoft seems intent in embedding spam (advertising) into every corner of it. But I digress.
I completely understand the philosophic issues with using only open source systems. My mileage varies a bit from that perspective, but I can sympathize with it.
A couple of reasons for offering a Neil's Night "software recipe" for Windows:
* If you're a Linux user (especially an Amateur Radio Linux user), almost by definition, you're already sufficiently savvy to not NEED a recipe. Linux users know what works, where they can get the required software, how to fix problems, etc.
* One of the primary audiences for a Neil's Night station was bright, young techies, some of which are going to need parental help (financial, help with building) in getting a station going, and most adults are familiar with Windows from work even if they use other operating systems.
I think your idea of a Neil's Night wiki is a great idea!
Ben - apologies for the late reply comment. Wow - that was an informative thread - found three new vendors and products I wasn't aware of. Glad that /r/amateurradio isn't one of the dark subreddits.
Hi Steve, Neil's Night is finally starting to click and I'm becoming quite interested in this thought experiment. I'm ready to help make this experiment real. Let me know how I can help bolster this event. (I'm already making a mental list of items I need to get together to attempt to listen in.) 73 Cale K4HCK
Cale - apologies for the late reply comment. Will do! Zero Retries 0104 or 0105 will return to the Neil's Night theme, and I'll pack all the disparate issues together on one page for saner reading. Then, please do help publicize!
Steve,
I NEVER pay to get past a Paywall, no matter what the “valuable” content is.
And I was a fan of Wayne Green since the days of the TRS Model I.
Thanks for all you do.
Tom
N2RZ
Tom - You're welcome. Every week, Zero Retries is a love letter to Amateur Radio.
As for paying for content, or not, as I said in ZR 0099, I think there is content worth paying for (and I do), so we'll have to agree to disagree on that.
See Zero Retries 0101's Request to Send for more on this subject.
Ham Radio magazine is also available here https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/Ham%20Radio/80s/ It was always my favourite.
Chris - There was a LOT of good stuff in Ham Radio Magazine and I'm glad that some issues of it (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ham_Radio_(magazine) are available on World Radio History.
The inclusion of the 2.4 GHz band in the M17 radio is more to do with using it via QO-100 than with it being license exempt.
Jonathan - Ahhh... that makes total sense. I remain envious of Eurasia Amateur Radio Operators having RF access to QO-100.
Two remarks to "content behind paywalls":
Here in Germany we have the "Verwertungsgemeinschaft Wort" (VG Wort, https://www.vgwort.de/, selling syndicate word) that collects copyright royalties and distributes them among the creators. The basis is German law according to the Berne Convention. About a third of the pages in my Web site contain "tokens" by the VG Wort - technically 1x1 pixel pictures delivered from the VG Wort servers. If a page gets hit often enough from German IP addresses, I get a part of these copyright royalties that add up to around 500 EUR a year. That about covers the cost for Web space and the few tools I need for the Web site. I do not know if other countries have similar institutions.
The other is a private activity of mine: https://www.dl4no.de/thema/amateurfunk-zeitschriftenarchiv.htm
For many years I have collected ham radio magazines. For example I have about half of all QST editions ever published, starting in the 1930s. Most of my collection is in German. You find my catalog at the URL above.
If someone has a specific question - for example "which transistor did DL3xx use in his 2m preamp described in VHF Communications edition 3/1968" I will delve into my collection and find an answer.
Much paper I got from older hams that had to separate from their collections or from their heirs. I always promise to find further uses which led to many duplicates. So from time to time I can ship copies, either to other collectors or to hams that need a special issue - for example to obtain a dimensionally stable pattern for a PCB.
Until now I have evaluated only small parts of my collection. For example I rewrote the history of ham radio in Germany in the early years after WW2, see https://www.dl4no.de/thema/rufzeich.htm.
Alexander - Thanks for this feedback. Interesting!
The payment method of "VG Wort" sounds much like "micropayments" as envisioned (pre-WWW) by Ted Nelson (https://caseorganic.medium.com/who-killed-the-micropayment-a-history-ec9e6eb39d05). Interesting that micropayments were made workable in Germany.
I was unaware of your archive. I too had* a large paper archive that was contributed to by others, but in the end I was persuaded to donate my collection of Amateur Radio material to the DLARC project at the Internet Archive, because they're in a better position to make it publicly available AND most importantly, preserve it. (Long term preservation, not just scanning / online access is a little-understood aspect of Internet Archive.)
* Still have, but in subject areas other than Amateur Radio, such as early microcomputers. I hope to donate that material to Internet Archive.
Hi Steve,
Thanks as always for a very thought provoking issue.
I've never made an EME contact but it's in my ham radio bucket list for sure. I find the Neil's night idea inspired. It's definitely something I would love to participate in, although of I'm honest with myself it probably won't be possible until my kids are old enough to understand it.
I agree that a focus on fun is key, but wouldn't it be neat if ARISS did get on board with an SSTV event or just making random contacts during Neil's Night. I bet a 10 year old techie would hang up a received SSTV image or a qsl card as well. Of course this shouldn't interfere with the EME focus and with the time between passes it probably could only ever be a fun add-on. The more I think about this the more I think an SSTV event would be preferable to avoid frustration from people who weren't able to get a QSO. Well, maybe it's a build it and they will come sort of thing.
One suggestion I would be to avoid setting any official or unofficial software requirements or even suggestions. As someone who actively avoids proprietary software anywhere near my ham shack the somewhat arbitrary Windows requirement rubbed me the wrong way a little. On one hand I agree that for the uninitiated SDR# is easier to pick up than GQRX, and it's probably easier to find help on Windows. On the flip side it's trivially easy for a Linux user to route received audio from GQRX to WSJT-X using PulseAudio's built-in monitor sink. No need for any "virtual audio cable" nonsense. The bottom like is that by deliberately not making a requirement or suggestion you avoid creating a situation where Linux or Mac users feel like their configuration is unsupported, or worse creating a community where Linux or Mac users are told to "just use Windows" when they ask for help. A better way to handle it might be to have a wiki where hams can share everything from software setups to antenna build ideas. This would encourage innovation and an open sharing of ideas. If you are looking for volunteers to get a wiki up and running let me know!
Thanks for all the work you put in to each and every issue.
73,
Ben - KU0HN
Ben:
Thanks for the feedback. My intent in mentioning Windows was to provide at least one plug-and-play "recipe" for setting up the software for a Neil's Night station, not much different from including instructions on how to build an inexpensive high-gain Yagi antenna.
I hope you, and the Zero Retries audience, understand that I'm not a fan of Windows, especially now that Microsoft seems intent in embedding spam (advertising) into every corner of it. But I digress.
I completely understand the philosophic issues with using only open source systems. My mileage varies a bit from that perspective, but I can sympathize with it.
A couple of reasons for offering a Neil's Night "software recipe" for Windows:
* If you're a Linux user (especially an Amateur Radio Linux user), almost by definition, you're already sufficiently savvy to not NEED a recipe. Linux users know what works, where they can get the required software, how to fix problems, etc.
* One of the primary audiences for a Neil's Night station was bright, young techies, some of which are going to need parental help (financial, help with building) in getting a station going, and most adults are familiar with Windows from work even if they use other operating systems.
I think your idea of a Neil's Night wiki is a great idea!
Also Neil's night made recall seeing this reddit post a few months back. 23cm portable EME.
https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/10phhvy/-/j6kmc9x
Ben - apologies for the late reply comment. Wow - that was an informative thread - found three new vendors and products I wasn't aware of. Glad that /r/amateurradio isn't one of the dark subreddits.
Hi Steve, Neil's Night is finally starting to click and I'm becoming quite interested in this thought experiment. I'm ready to help make this experiment real. Let me know how I can help bolster this event. (I'm already making a mental list of items I need to get together to attempt to listen in.) 73 Cale K4HCK
Cale - apologies for the late reply comment. Will do! Zero Retries 0104 or 0105 will return to the Neil's Night theme, and I'll pack all the disparate issues together on one page for saner reading. Then, please do help publicize!