Ham Radio-related Links

APRS operators in central TX:  on Google Map   on Google Earth   (install Google Earth)

American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

ARRL Sections: List (pdf)    Map

AC6V Amateur Radio And DX Reference Guide: a huge compilation of ham radio links!

Antenna Design Information & Software Great collection of antenna advice

Band Plan for U.S. Amateurs (color pdf, current FCC plan)

BatteryUniversity.com: the straight facts about batteries (e.g., recharging truths and myths)

Central Texas 2m/440 Repeaters: N5ZXJ list    Our own list

Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide (suggested freqs for various modes)

D-Star: All about D-Star (by Icom)    D-Star repeaters directory

Sunspots are Essential for Ham Radio!

DX Summit (catch that rare DX on HF)

EchoLink (get started using ham radio over the Internet)

FCC (amateur radio services)

How to Query the FCC datbase (ppt)

FCC Forms (links to common forms via ARRL site)

FCC Rules (Part 97)    ARRL site    GOV site    pdf

Geomagnetism and Declination (calculate your magnetic declination)

Grounding Your Ham Station (from one who's done it well!)

Ham TV (continuous streaming videos from ARRL...very cool!)

Hamdata (lists FCC stats, like the latest callsign activity)

Log Book of the World (ARRL's instant QSL card system)

Mobile Radio Installations (hundreds of valuable tips and advice from KØBG)

N4MC Vanity HQ (great resource for call signs, maps, etc. See links on left.)

National Weather Service (Dallas-Fort Worth): Home page   Skywarn repeaters

NIST Home Page (WWV time servers and all about "time")

Packet Radio by TAPR (a library of info about packet!)

QRZ.com (ham radio forums, call sign lookup, practice tests, etc)

QSL.net (Free web space and email forwarding for hams by Scott KA9FOX...check it out!)

Radio Study Guides: Another large collection of radio-related links (both ham and otherwise)

Software Defined Radio (SDR): Experiment with SDR using the free control program (16MB) from Flex-Radio using a demo sound file (179MB), as demonstrated by K5ZOH Scott (Sept 2011)

Times and Dates around the world: Time and Dates    World Time Zones

VoiceNation (all about ham radio) (terrific collection of ham radio links)

Stores and Parts Supplies

All Electronics (surplus electronics)

Amateur Electronic Supply (ham radio store)

ATV Research (lots of ATV goodies)

Cable X-Perts (coax cable and connectors)

Communication Concepts (home-brew components)

DCI Digital Communications (amateur radio filters)

Digi-Key (supplier of electronics parts of all kinds/specs)

Down East Microwave (antennas and aplifiers)

Ham Radio Outlet (ham radio store)

Intuitive Circuits (home-brewed products for ATV & other uses)

M2 Antenna Systems (antennas)

P.C. Electronics (ATV store)

R.F. Connection (coax cables and connectors)

R&L Electronics (ham radio store)

Links to Other Central Texas Amateur Radio Clubs

Baylor Amateur Radio Club (BARC), WA5BU ['off the air'?]

Bosque County Amateur Radio Club (BCARC)

Temple Amateur Radio Club (TARC)

Texas State Guard Amateur Radio Club (W5TSG)

Other Links

Boost your home Wi-Fi range (15-minute project!)

Everything You Need to Know about GMRS/FRS:
   Article (by Larry Bush, W5NCD & John Chamberlain, AC5CV)
   Table of GMRS/FRS Frequencies (by AC5CV)
   Ultimate GMRS/FRS Radios site
   FCC Rules, Part 95 (pdf)

City of Waco Vistors Bureau (what to see and do in HOTARC's hometown)

ARRL Webinar (May 31, 2012) on Creating Good PR Video (~90 minutes)

Digital TV Conversion

Synoposis: All over-the-air television signals are now digital, requiring either a new digital-capable TV or a convertor box (for your old TV set). Signals output from a cable-convertor box can be either analog, digital, or both, depending on what level of service you're paying for. If the box outputs digital signals, you'll likely want a digital-capable TV to enjoy the full benefits offered by HD stations. If your HDTV includes a tuner, you can receive over-the-air HD with a suitable antenna. See links below for tips.