Updating the Kantronics KPC-3 TNC

I've added some information on breathing some new life into older Kantronics KPC-3 TNCs. These are often available at bargain prices and you can make them very useful as digipeaters for APRS, etc.

Finally, the New Web Site

For quite some time now I've been meaning to move my web site and redo some things. That has finally happened to some extent. The site continues to be found at www.n9puz.com. Hosting is provided by HAMS4U and I highly recommend them. They do a great job and obviously cater to Amateur Radio.

A few of the articles on the old site are missing. They will be back but contained outdated information, broken links, etc. that will get fixed in due time.

73, Tim N9PUZ

A Busy Spring...

2010 has certainly turned out to be a busy time. So much that I've done a really bad job of keeping up with the N9PUZ blog here. Hopefully this post will bring you up to date and I'll have to post more on projects as I go.

First off there was exciting EmComm news here in Illinois. The Governor and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency announced that RACES once again has a role here. Shortly after that announcement Brad Pioveson W9FX who is the State RACES Officer and Jim Pitchford N9LQF who is one of the two Assistant RACES Officers asked if I would help with station planning for the primary Amateur Radio station that will serve the State Emergency Operation Center.

Next up I was appointed to the ARES position of Illinois Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator for Digital Operations. This covers some of the same issues we're looking at on the RACES team but also encompasses what I hope will be some opportunities to help ARES groups in other counties use various digital communications technologies more effectively. At this point in the process I am in learning mode. I'm trying to find out what people are currently doing, what they would like to do, etc.

There are some fun things on the horizon as well. In a couple of weeks my wife Teri K9TLM and I are heading to Branson, MO for the 2010 Ozarkcon QRP Conference. We'll also be making our annual pilgrimage to Hamvention and FDIM in Dayton in May.

There are a couple of interesting projects in the works too. I'll save those for another post.

73, Tim N9PUZ

Wisconsin QSO Party

Today was the Wisconsin QSO Party. I didn't have a lot of time to play so I decided to stick to 40 Meters and operated QRP CW. Those multipliers really add up -- my 10 contacts netted me 320 points!

73, Tim N9PUZ