An Overview of this Site
Welcome to my Amateur "Ham" Radio site. If you're looking for more general information about who N8ZAK is (previously KD8JGR), you can check out my personal website at www.ZackBurns.com, but I primarily use this site you're on now to detail my foray into Amateur Radio.
You can navigate my site using the navigation links on the left hand side. If you have trouble or just want to chat, look me up online (or on the airwaves!).
How did I get into Ham Radio?
I was a 1970's baby and on summer family trips out to Missouri to see my grandparents my Dad would fire up the CB radio (whether is was the Yellow Chevrolet Chevette or Dodge Aries Station Wagon) mostly to keep abreast of the traffic conditions and to call for help (you'd understand if you ever had either one of those vehicles!).
In the late 1980's I was running a BBS (dialup Bulletin Board Software on my Tandy 1000 and a 16Mhz 386 Clone) and trading freeware/shareware files on a public net. I'd always run across 2m Safety Bands as part of the freeware/shareware file scene. So that peaked my interest in exploring more about scanning public safety.
I used to frequent the local Radio Shack and ran across a crystal-based base station scanner. So I bought it (not knowing what I was getting into and what frequencies were covered) and found most of the analog police/fire/rescue frequencies were covered. I'd fall asleep every night listening to that.
One Christmas I asked Santa Claus for a new scanner. "He" brought me a Uniden Bearcat BC200-XLT (with Cell Frequencies). This was AWESOME and I still have it (it's pushing Perrysburg Police - my QTH - to Radio Reference) so check it out. Anyway, the great thing about this was it was mobile, and I could program the frequencies in it. I loved this unit (and still do) - it's too bad some slimy U.S. Senator caused the blocking of cellular bands in almost every unit after this one.
Several years passed...I'd frequently purchase the Gordon West Ham Radio books, and just find myself bored by reading them and always was afraid of learning CW (Morse Code). In the late 1990's I even picked up a No-Code Novice book, but still didn't like reading his books.
Again several more years passed, and in 2008 I purchased a couple of FRS (Family Radio Service) which transmit/receive in the 400Mhz spectrum and doesn't required licensing (if you stay within the rules), but you're limited to a few channels legally. Me being a good citizen went to register mine with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) so I could use the entire 22 channel spectrum and up to 50 watts of power (even though most of the portables you buy are less than 5 watts) that will get you up to 20 miles - given ideal conditions, but most likely you're lucky to get 5 miles tops.
On the FCC site I dug around and noticed Amateur Licensing registration and then that got me to the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) which published testing locations and dates for upcoming license exams. So in late 2008, I studied the ARRL technician exam books, and with the help of the TMRA (Toledo Mobile Radio Association), I took my test and passed.
Now, I did things a little backwards and instead of getting a full-blown rig, I like to be more mobile and again thanks to Santa Claus I got my first HT mobile radio for Christmas in 2008 and that got me on the air waves.
What equipment do I run?
Check out My Equipment page here (or using the menu on the left)...
Other Items of Interest...
This really is a great hobby to explore. You don't have to be a math wizard or nerd. You just have to have the desire to learn. There are 7 year old's with an Amateur Radio License, so you can do it! Some of the things you'll learn about are...
Local/Regional/Statewide/World Wide Communication (for free, no cell phone minutes, etc, etc)
Make new friends and find old ones! (there are almost 700,000 licensed ham radio operators in the U.S. - almost 2.5 million world-wide)
Radio Wave Propagation
Satellite Communication (AMSAT)
Communicate with Astronauts in space (or the International Space Station ISS)
Sun/Earth Relationships and Solar Waves/Auroras
ARES and Traffic Nets (help others in need)
Build Antennas for those that are handy and like hands on tinkering
Radio Astronomy
Ham Radio via Balloons, Bicycles, Hiking, Boating, etc.
Old Radio Collecting or Inventing New Radio techniques
Morse Code - yes, it's faster than cell phone texting! (see video)
Civil Air Patrol
Computer Control
Radio Control (Aircraft, Land, and Sea Based Model Vehicles)
Contesting (this can be really fun - but you've got to be patient)
Fox Hunting
Internet Communication and VOIP over the airwaves
EchoLink
Emergency Communications (EMCOMM)
Field Day (Camping and Ham Radio do mix!)
Handi-Hams (help the handicap get licensed)
Build receiver and transmission kits (if you like building and soldering)
Moon Bounce communications
Digital as well as Analog communications (PSK-31)
SSTV (Slow Scan Television)
Microwave Transmission (point to point)
Skywarn and Severe Weather Tracking
FSTV (Fast Scan Television)
Teaching/Testing (become a volunteer examiner)
Promote Science for Youth and Young Ladies (we need more science)
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