I met Peter, M3PHP when Web2.0 shifted meaning and purpose of the Internet cosmos. We started with Google's Jaiku, Twitter, and a feed line worth of Web2.0 social networks. I experimented with each, eventually, as a result of social gravity, our cosmos collected galaxies, solar systems, and planets. Henceforth, Peter and I, in addition to #hamr network on Twitter, continue exchanging 140-character messages on a regular basis.
He applied his software developer skills and delivered extra value. DXAnywhere is one example of data delivery into the Twitter #hamr network. I receive DX updates, solar flux reports, and band popularity according to collected spotting information. The benefit is relevant decision making data when it is time for me to operate.
Additionally, when viewing M3PHP's personal website, one concludes that Peter is on the tip of the wave. He includes units of social media such as Flickr, Twitter, tag cloud, and really simple syndication. I recommend, that if one is considering a blog, please consider Peter's website as a model to follow.
Peter and his team of like-minded contributors are taking ham radio into the year 2020. His vision of the future suggests meshed networking where mobile devices, the Internet, and our hobby equal anywhere, anytime operations. The future is with Peter and his generation of emboldened operators who are awakening to the potential of ham radio, the Internet, and mobile devices.
One might say that a movement is underway for ham radio lead by operators like Peter, M3PHP.
What prompted your interest in ham radio?
My interest in ham radio started when my Dad had a ICOM IC71E Receiver on a table in the dining room, at first I had very little interest but curiosity set in and Dad let me have a tune across the HF spectrum, what really got my interest was the noises from digital communications nothing beats odd sounds at the age 13.
Over a period of time and a visit to another radio amateur in the area I soon discovered how to decode such signals and my interest went from there.
Tell us about licensing procedures in the United Kingdom?
I guess in a way the UK licensing system is a little different to most its based on 3 levels and you have to make your way through each before you can reach the pinnacle level
- Foundation: 10 Watts of power on all bands from 160m - 70cms
- Intermediate: 50 Watts of power on all bands from 160m - GHz
- Advanced: 400 Watts of power on all bands.
One good part of the UK system that I like is the practical training for example with the Foundation licence you get to do a QSO on HF and VHF, learn how to adjust antennas, and learn about Morse code.
The Intermediate goes a little further where you build simple circuits and a kit as apart of exam training, this might seem a little mundane to some but, at least there is practical experience behind all the theory.
The Advanced licence level is the only one which does not include any practical training but like all the other levels it includes a multiple choice question paper. Then once the exam is successfully completed, you can go to the Office of Communication's licensing system on-line, and apply for your life time licence but, one must update every x-number of years.
Would you recall your first experience operating high frequency?I'd experienced HF before I had gained my ham radio licence but I can only vaguely remember them! But I do vividly remember my first HF proper QSO from home it was back in the early part of 2002. I was still in school on arriving home to find my licence on the door mat, excited as ever I decided to have my first QSO, oddly enough I went on VHF first then turned on the ICOM IC718 and tuned across 20m in hope of finding someone to say hello to and I gave IK7BSU a shout in a nervous voice, luckily, it was a short 59 contact. It was onwards from that point staying in-front of the radio till late, when mum forced me to go to bed.
Can you give us an overview of DXAnywhere, PickMyRig, and HamTests?All three sites are very different to each other but link in certain areas,
DXAnywhere was designed to make working DX easy by setting up alerts for who you want to work, then if it ever gets spotted on cluster network, we'll pass you a notification either via SMS, Email or Twitter direct message. DXAnywhere also includes a number of tools for statistics like cluster spots and propagation, and anything else we can think of, in its current form its still very early in development.
DXAnywhere is my play ground for learning new web technologies.
PickMyRig, on the other hand, is a simple and clear way to help radio amateurs find their ideal radio. This is achieved by offering basic search criteria, and returning results from a database of radios that match their search. It was developed to help users of HamTests.
HamTests comes in two forms the UK version which was first launched in 2006 by Paul (
M0TZO) and myself with the idea of making revising for the UK amateur radio exams possible online by providing plenty of mock questions. This site has grown and now we have the help of Jon (
MI0JVI) who has been working on training lessons for the three levels. Then we have the International version
Hamtests.net for other countries making one's process a little easier. It supports FCC exams, at the moment, but we're in the process of adding more.
Tell us about the convergence of ham radio, software development, and the Internet?For me, the convergence between them is broad; software development is becoming a required part of Amateur Radio even with the radio which sat on the desk before connecting it into the PC, making it possible for manufacturers to update radios with new features and bug fixes. This wasn't happening even when I got licence in 2002.
Software and ham radio makes SDR possible and the development is going at a very rapid pace with affordable
softrock radios and the more expensive
FlexRadio controlled by clever software.
Software also supports ham radio as it provides us a way of controlling our radios, storing details about who we worked, and telling us if it counted towards that DXCC award. The Internet goes nicely on top allowing us to remote operate our radios from work, hotel or at a friends house all it needs is a good connection, then the Internet has its supporting role for DX clusters, news, technical information and forums.
With the developments of each of the components they have done there bit to help each other, ham radio is using bright software/web developers to bring new tools into the hobby either to scratch an itch or fix a hole where something was required.
What role do you see for mobile devices in ham radio's future?Mobile wireless will definitely have a roll to play within ham radio's future, what it will be I'm not fully sure; it will depend on how current and future radio hams embrace it. The use of wireless devices could make operating your station anywhere possible with the use of remote Amateur Radio setups. It sure would be fun to work DX on the train to work for example! Mobile devices could be used in contests for instant score and QSO logging onto a central system removing the need for having to send logs in at the end of the 24/48 period.
Whatever does happen it will be interesting.
Tell us about your station at home?The home station isn't very impressive. I live in the city centre of Oxford, on University campus so I have to get by with simple wire antennas for HF, I use a 80m CW special Windom and for 6/2/70cms a Diamond white stick. I also a Hustler 6BTV but that's currently in bits getting cleaned up.
I operate a Yaesu FT-950 with a Heil Pro-set and a Signalink USB for digital modes, and on VHF/UHF a simple Yaesu FT7800M mobile radio which hardly gets any use. Apart from ham radio, I'm also a bit of a weather nut, it seems to be a very British thing to always talk about the weather. I have a weather station on top of the HF mast and a
QFH 137MHz antenna for decoding the NOAA APT satellites as they pass over the UK.
Why RadioSport?Radiosport is exciting. It is fast paced and gives you an adrenaline rush when you get good QSO rates or work that much needed multiplier. Its also something you can do with others for example, part of a team and that's the way I really enjoy contesting. You can share laughs, stories, and beer!
You also get a good idea of how your station is working which is really important with conditions being poor like they are currently.
What is your vision for ham radio in 2020?By the time its 2020, I'll be 34 years old and I really hope that the hobby will be robust with people operating on air, embracing new technology, and supporting our productivity tools. The hobby is all about learning after-all;
I expect to see how we interact with radios change, either with radios that include bigger screens and clever internal software, or with the use of software defined radios while making better use of remote systems.The hobby is exciting and I expect to see more people making use of digital modes like PSK31 and I really hope there will be plenty of people still contesting in the future.
Who are the World Wide Young Contesters and what is their role moving into ham radio's future?WWYC is a group of young radio amateurs under the age of 30 who are interested in contesting regardless of bands and modes; it's not a formal organisation, there's no official board, but it all seems to work out just fine with unplanned meet ups taking place across the globe.
The role of WWYC in the future will no doubt encourage young hams to take part in the competitive side of ham radio and show as a whole that young people are interested in the hobby.
73 from the shackadelic on the beach.
We like to have fun in California and there is a lot of ham radio fun beaming into your shack this weekend. The ultimate State QSO Party is standing by with radio frequency and operators are preparing for a record turn out inside RadioSport Arena.
