Digital TV isn’t technically a ham radio subject, but since it involves RF I consider it related. And, I like new toys. So, I signed up for the coupons the government’s offering for upgrading analog TV’s. I received my coupon a couple of weeks ago, and this week went in search of a digital TV box. I live near a mall, so I didn’t have to go very far; I also had a couple of other consumer electronics related things to look for, and Best Buy was on the way home from work, so that’s where I went shopping.

They make it easy; in front of the department full of HD TV’s (most of which wouldn’t fit in my apartment, much less on my credit card) was a display of Insignia Coupon Eligible Digital TV Converters for $59.99. There’s only one eligible model. So no, you don’t get a lot of choices, unless you want to drive around to different stores checking out what features each retailer’s box includes. (I didn’t shop around.)

Included with the box was a power adapter, an RF cable, an audio/video cable, a remote with battery, and a short & sweet instruction manual. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t need to buy anything else to make DTV work. (I will need to do some additional cabling to get my analog DVD player to coexist with the DTV box, as my TV only has a single coax RF input.) Channel programming was automatic, and simple; I did have to set my local time zone using the setup menus. With DTV, I have an onscreen channel guide that shows what’s on now and what’s on next, closed captioning, text, the ability to change the aspect ratio, access to the second audio program, and content access controls.

My antenna (if you want to call it that) is a 4-foot length of speaker wire alligator clipped to my window blinds—so if you have an antenna that barely works now, you may be surprised at what DTV does for you. Using analog, my local channels were generally pretty clear except for channel 3 (which was usually quite snowy). I often had ghosts, and got an occasional burst of audio static. With DTV, I get all of my local channels with no snow and no ghosts.

I also have some extra channels now. Instead of analog 3, 15, 21, 27, 47, and 57, I now have 3-1, 3-2, 15-1, 15-2, 21-1,21-2,21-3,21-4,21-5,47-1,and 57-1. Each broadcaster has slightly different programming available; your mileage here will vary. NBC 15-2 has weather, and WHA (PBS) has different programming on –2, -3, and –4 depending on the time of day. WHA also simulcasts Wisconsin Public Radio (including HD radio) when they’re not showing TV programming on each of those channels. DTV 3-2 carries My Madison TV14, which on broadcast is only available on DTV. As they say, check your local listings.

So, what’s the verdict? Yes, making the change is worth the effort. The sound and picture are better, even on my old TV. There are still times when there’s nothing on—TV is still TV—but by adding one small set top box I was able to increase my options and make my TV useful for a while longer. If only upgrading amateur radio equipment was so easy.

Coupons are available online at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ .

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I have (as usual) been rather busy with work and school, so I have not had much time to actually operate (vs listen to while I’m studying) the radios. I do occasionally have time to consider that I still haven’t learned the code, and I still don’t think I’ll ever find the time. I’m more interested in rewiring the microphone that arrived from MFJ so it works with my IC-735.

Side note: My experience with buying online direct from MFJ was great, and I have zero complaints. I wasn’t sure when I ordered it if the mike I bought would definitely work, but it’s much easier to rewire one that’s already got the right connector than have no mike in the first place. And, just as important, it gives me an excuse to get out the soldering iron.

Anyway, I came across this description of Morse Code skills on obsoleteskills.com:

Now that Morse skills are optional, the Code is increasingly popular on the Amateur Bands simply for relaxation and enjoyment.

Which is an answer to a lot of things that deal with amateur radio; there are a lot of reasons to buy certain types of equipment. You need emergency power so you can pass ARES/RACES traffic during a widespread power outage. You need a TNC so you can send and receive digital traffic; but these types of things are tools. A lumberjack needs a saw. A radio operator volunteering his/her services to an emergency management agency needs a VHF/UHF radio. No one needs to operate CW. Honestly, if an emergency situation is bad enough that CW is your only option, you probably should have bugged out 24 hours ago. People hang onto CW because they enjoy using it. And maybe that’s just the answer… Morse Code is just one of those things that some people like to do, because it’s unique and they enjoy it. I don’t need to learn Morse Code, but it’s there if I ever want to play with it.

I have made some purchases because I feel I need certain items; to be at all effective in ARES/RACES, you honestly need a certain amount of communications gear (and what that level is exactly, is a tough thing to pin down). Lately, I’m considering that I should make some purchases of equipment that’s meant to be used for fun. Specifically, I’m looking at 6 meter gear. No practical purpose for ARES/RACES, not useful for Skywarn, just a radio and band that’s there to play with when I do have time.

Cause yeah, it’s supposed to be fun.

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I have nothing too major to report… my dual band handheld still travels with me in my backpack, but I’m now in school three nights a week. So between work, being in class, doing homework, and my other part time job, I haven’t had much time to devote to fiddling with radios. There also hasn’t been much weather worth going to to see lately, so I haven’t done any storm chasing.

I did participate in a Dane County exercise in August, which was interesting mainly because it was my first operational exposure to ICS.
Exercises are actually very interesting… I hesitate to say “fun”, because emergency response isn’t something that’s supposed to be “fun”. It did feel good to step into a situation where something fairly major was happening, but everyone knew their roles and things gelled pretty quickly. Let’s call it a good working environment.

And with that, I have homework yet to do today, and I’m headed to work this afternoon. But yes, I’m still around.

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There’s been no weather to speak of around here lately… so just some random updates.

Picked up a new computer at the University of Wisconsin’s SWAP store. $55.00 bought me a 1ghz pc w/512mb of ram & a 20gig hd, a Sony Trinitron monitor, keyboard and mouse. SWAP sells most of their machines without an operating system, so I had to get a variant of Ubuntu installed (which is what’s running as I type). I’ll probably ditch this distro and install something nicer, but it’s pretty functional now. Anyway, UW SWAP sells loads of useful stuff; keyboards, mice, computers, network hardware, office supplies, furniture, etc. The chair I’m sitting on is from SWAP, too.

I have voice privs on 10m, and haven’t done squat with ‘em. Still looking for a used microphone that’ll work on my Icom IC-735. I’ve said before that someday I’ll learn the code, but I haven’t yet and I see no free time on the horizon… so part of the getting things running on this computer may be getting some Morse software running. I like the idea that low power with CW can get you places. It’s also been run-the-air-conditioning weather here, so I keep my window shut; meaning my coax can’t get outside to the dipole hanging on my patio.

Looking at a couple of equipment additions later this year; very strongly considering a dualband 2m/70cm amplifier for the car, and a wideband receive antenna for at home. Possibly considering a 2m antenna for the car (in addition to the dualband that’s already there), thinking it would be nice to have both the 2m and 2m/70cm radios available at once.

And I’ve made a couple of tweaks to the site; nothing major enough to talk much about. I’ll likely be posting more once I get this machine (hereafter referred to by her hostname Drew) set up properly and get the audio and such interfaced to the radios.

Rock on. \m/ oo \m/

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Hey all… I was offline for about a week due to my main computer (the iMac) finally giving up the ghost, and issues with getting my iBook to talk to my cable modem. I’m back now. Carry on. (Nothing to report from this past Thursday’s storms… KC9JME and I were on the east side of Madison, waiting to see if anything was going to develop. Nothing made it high enough without being pushed over.)

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