Topic: Amateurism

Eric Guth, host of the "QSO Today" podcast, donated $500 and invited listeners to the Virtual Ham Expo in August. He discussed the federated nature of amateur radio and his move toward using Mastodon for content syndication. The hosts discuss their own long-standing interest in ham radio and the importance of independent communication platforms.

The amateur radio community website QRZ.com faced backlash after temporarily removing all Russian call signs from its database. This move is criticized as a violation of the apolitical spirit of ham radio, which is intended to facilitate global communication regardless of government conflicts. The action is dismissed as a "virtue signal" that undermines the hobby's core purpose.

The Tokyo Ham Fair 2021 has been cancelled, much to the disappointment of the amateur radio community. The show concludes with several "end-of-show mixes," including a parody of "Eleanor Rigby" titled "COVID People" and a historical montage by Tom Starkweather. The hosts sign off, reminding listeners to visit the show's website for episode 1384.

A listener describes the "terrible" quality of mandatory California sexual harassment training. Another producer warns John C. Dvorak that the FCC is introducing a $35 fee for amateur radio license renewals, urging him to renew his expired license during the grace period. A meetup pool party is announced for Raleigh, North Carolina.

A formal notice is issued regarding the expiration of an amateur radio license under FCC regulations. The license holder is informed that as of November 2020, they are no longer authorized to operate certain equipment, though a two-year leeway period is noted. There is a suggestion to pursue a general class license to utilize more advanced radio rigs.

The hosts process donations from the ham radio community, noting that amateur radio operators view the current crisis as the scenario they have trained for. They also discuss the cancellation of barbecue and steak competitions, leading to a conversation about Texas-style brisket and hoarding of supplies.

The hosts discuss the revival of the "No Agenda Hams" amateur radio community. They are setting up an All-Star Link network based on Asterisk PBX technology, allowing listeners with inexpensive handheld radios to connect globally via internet-backhauled nodes.

The podcast promotes "Ham Radio 2.0," a modernized version of amateur radio utilizing All-Star nodes and Asterix voice switching technology. Unlike the "outrage culture" of Twitter, ham radio is described as a civil network requiring licensing and respectful communication. Listeners are encouraged to visit k5acc.com to learn how to participate using inexpensive equipment and digital interfaces.

Adam Curry announces plans to reinstate the No Agenda hams network, specifically monitoring Reflector 33 Charlie on D-Star. He proposes building a robust repeater-to-repeater network that does not rely on the internet backbone. The discussion covers the accessibility of amateur radio, the low cost of Chinese Baofeng radios, and the potential for a community CubeSat to ensure communication during infrastructure failures.

Jordan Goodfellow donated $1,111.11 to promote his AV rental website, GigRent.com. Another anonymous donor shared a personal story about welcoming twins with a genetic condition linked to autism, noting that the podcast provides a sense of calm during stressful times. The hosts observe that their audience includes a high concentration of teachers, engineers, and members of the intelligence community.

A lengthy segment acknowledges various donations and provides "de-douching" for first-time contributors. A mail carrier's note explains the financial struggles of the US Postal Service due to the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. The segment culminates in a formal knighting ceremony for several producers, including Sir Malinowski and Sir Dingus of the Burning River, who join the "Round Table."

The hosts, both licensed amateur radio operators, discuss the role of "hams" as a public service network of last resort during disasters. They play a clip from a North Korean number station known as "The Parrot," which broadcasts coded messages over shortwave radio. The segment explains the technical background of number stations and the hosts' own history with radio licensing and emergency preparedness.

A startup called Swarm Technologies launched four tiny "Space Bee" satellites for internet connectivity despite being denied a license by the FCC. The agency, which oversees satellite broadcasts and launches, is investigating the unauthorized deployment, which was tracked by amateur radio operators.

Adam Curry explores the use of the POCSAG protocol by the amateur radio community to build independent pager networks. He suggests that licensed hams could create a two-way messaging mesh network using high-wattage transmitters to bypass commercial infrastructure. The hosts joke about the potential to monetize such a network through subscriptions.

Sports commentator and lawyer Jay Bilas analyzes the novel legal theory used by federal prosecutors to classify NCAA rule violations as federal crimes. Because many universities receive over $10,000 in federal funding, prosecutors argue that breaking amateurism rules constitutes a victimization of the institution's assets. Bilas suggests that if the NCAA changed its rules regarding player compensation, these actions would no longer be considered criminal.

Adam Curry discusses his passion for high-frequency radio and his disappointment with existing ham radio podcasts, which he finds boring and self-indulgent. He credits the No Agenda chat room for providing valuable real-time feedback that keeps the show from becoming similarly stagnant.

The hosts, both licensed amateur radio operators, discuss the role of "hams" as a public service network of last resort. They play a recording of a North Korean "number station" known as "The Parrot," which broadcasts coded messages over shortwave radio.

Tiger Woods tells a story on Charlie Rose about being declared ineligible by the NCAA because Arnold Palmer paid for his steak dinner while Woods was a student at Stanford. To regain eligibility, Woods had to write Palmer a $25 check and have it faxed to the NCAA. The hosts use this to illustrate the absurdity of rigid institutional ethics rules.

The hosts read a long list of "boob" donations (amounts ending in .08 or .80) and acknowledge the high number of amateur radio operators (hams) in the audience. They grant various forms of "karma" to donors from across the U.S. and Europe.

One of the hosts plans to attend the Hamvention in Dayton, Ohio, described as the "Mecca of amateur radio." The segment includes donor notes from the amateur radio community and a discussion on identifying as "non-hex" or "non-binary" in a mathematical context. They also address a request to call out a "douchebag" friend of a donor.