Ham Radio Outlet

I missed the last time Ham Radios were on sale with any meaningful discount and have been awaiting the Hamvention Sales, and they have arrived. There are some pretty attractive deals being offered thru 5/18/26. Ham Radio Outlet shows sales on Yeasu appear to be the best deals Sponsored

... house.  Kept tripping the GFCI outlet outdoors every time it got... have lot of antennas for ham radio but all on switches and...

... plug into the trailer wire outlet on his Subaru Forester. This... neat. I've seen large HF ham radio antennas secured with similar tripod...

... of. If EMP hits, ham radio operators won't be out there...that almost all the ham repeaters I've ever seen have... be able to touch radio gear which is either not.... That is where amateur radio has an edge. But again... a household outlet. I would never rely on amateur radio in an... have satellite, HF, regional radio networks, etc. Anything that takes... location of a random ham radio operator won't be much good...

... streaming trunked mobile and related radio protocols using Software Defined Radios... get you "all" of the radio traffic in that area since ... to place an order with Ham Radio Outlet today. What antenna(s) do ...

thomasbillman1 said: I am looking for a descent out door antenna for VHF frequency range You can find VHF and VHF/UHF base antennas on Amazon, ranging from a $25 no-name vertical to sub-$100 gain antennas like the Tram 1477. You can also find numerous, more expensive options online at Ham Radio Outlet, DX Engineering, Main Trading Company, or other amateur radio-related providers.

My RTL-SDR Blog v3 is working fine, so I'm not in a rush. I'm may look at what Nooelec & SDRplay have to offer, as well. SDRplay is available at Ham Radio Outlet, which is near my home. My biggest concern is bandwidth, as both systems that I'm interested in are at 3.5 MHz, above the limit of the v3.

...) as THEY listen to the HAM community and actually incorporate suggestions ... to me by the retail outlet are flat out WRONG by ... have a very expensive weather radio in the field, and desperately ... can hit and get a radio report of Crystal clear using ...

I find it very trippy that they scraped the FCC website for new hams to send junk mail to. Is this legal? submitted by /u/Just-Wall-1954 to r/amateurradio [link] [comments]

Is it feasible to run a 25 watt radio, specifically BTECH UV-25x4, through a 12v accessory power outlet? submitted by /u/TrafficOwn7771 to r/HamRadio [link] [comments]

Does anyone know of stores that sell radio related hardware like coax cables, amplifiers, connectors, baluns, radios or antennas? submitted by /u/Unique_Poet_4101 to r/askSouthAfrica [link] [comments]

[Check Latest Arrivals 50 amp power supply for ham radio on Amazon.] Best 50 amp Power Supply for Ham Radio [2025 guide] A 50 amp power supply is a crucial component for any ham radio operator who wants to run multiple radios or a high-powered transceiver. It provides a stable and reliable source of DC power, ensuring optimal performance and protecting your valuable equipment from voltage fluctuations and overloads. Choosing the right power supply can significantly enhance your ham radio experiance,allowing you to communicate effectively and enjoy your hobby to the fullest. It’s imperative to select a power supply that not onyl meets your current needs but also offers headroom for future expansion of your ham radio setup. This guide will explore some of the best 50 amp power supplies available in 2025, highlighting their features, benefits, and ideal user profiles, to help you make an informed decision. key Features Analysis The selection of a 50 amp power supply hinges on a few core technical specifications. Understanding these specifications is critical to choosing the right unit for your ham radio needs. Output Current and Voltage: A true 50 amp power supply should deliver a continuous output of 50 amps at a stable voltage, typically around 13.8 volts DC, which is the standard voltage for most ham radio equipment. It's crucial to ensure that the power supply can maintain this output under varying load conditions without notable voltage drop. Ripple and Noise: Low ripple and noise are essential for clean and reliable power. Ripple refers to the AC component that remains in the DC output after rectification and filtering. Excessive ripple and noise can interfere with sensitive radio equipment, causing distortion or even damage. Ideally, the power supply should have a ripple and noise specification of less than 100mV peak-to-peak. Protection Features: An ideal 50 amp power supply features several protection mechanisms, including over-voltage protection (OVP), over-current protection (OCP), and over-temperature protection (OTP). These features safeguard both the power supply itself and the connected ham radio equipment from damage due to abnormal operating conditions. Cooling System: proper cooling is crucial for maintaining the longevity and performance of the power supply. Most 50 amp power supplies use either a passive heatsink or a fan-cooled system. Fan-cooled systems provide more effective cooling, especially at high current loads, but can also introduce noise. Some power supplies feature variable speed fans that adjust their speed based on the temperature, minimizing noise at lower loads. Metering and Monitoring: Many 50 amp power supplies include built-in meters for monitoring voltage and current output. These meters provide real-time information about the power supply's performance and can definitely help diagnose potential problems. Some power supplies also offer remote monitoring capabilities, allowing you to track performance from a distance. Input Voltage range: Ensure the power supply is compatible with your local AC voltage.Many power supplies support a wide input voltage range (e.g.,100-240VAC),making them suitable for use in different countries.Verify the specific input voltage requirements of the power supply before purchasing. Key features of a good 50 amp power supply for ham radio include: High current capacity Low ripple and noise Robust protection features Effective cooling Accurate metering Wide input voltage range Core Benefits Investing in a quality 50 amp power supply offers several tangible benefits for ham radio operators. These benefits translate into improved performance, enhanced convenience, and greater peace of mind. Improved Radio Performance: A stable and clean power supply ensures that your ham radio equipment operates at its peak performance. By providing a consistent voltage and minimizing ripple and noise, the 50 amp power supply improves signal quality, reduces interference, and enhances overall interaction clarity. Reliable Power for Multiple Devices: The 50 amp capacity allows you to power multiple ham radio devices simultaneously without experiencing voltage drops or performance degradation. This is notably beneficial if you have a complex setup with multiple transceivers, amplifiers, and accessories. Protection of Radio Equipment: the built-in protection features (OVP,OCP,OTP) safeguard your valuable ham radio equipment from damage due to power surges,overloads,and overheating. These features provide added security and peace of mind, knowing that your equipment is protected from unexpected electrical problems. Headroom for Future Expansion: Choosing a 50 amp power supply provides ample headroom for future expansion of your ham radio setup. As you add more equipment or upgrade to higher-powered transceivers, you won't have to worry about overloading the power supply or purchasing a new one. Convenient Operation: Many 50 amp power supplies feature user-amiable controls, clear metering, and convenient connection options, making them easy to operate and integrate into your ham radio setup. This simplifies the process of powering your equipment and monitoring its performance. FAQs Section Addressing common questions from potential buyers helps clarify key aspects of the power supply and its usage. What type of connector does the power supply use for DC output? Most 50 amp power supplies use standard binding posts for the DC output. These binding posts accept banana plugs, spade connectors, or bare wire, providing adaptability in connecting your ham radio equipment. Can I use this power supply to charge batteries? While some 50 amp power supplies may have adjustable voltage settings, they are not specifically designed for battery charging.Using them for charging may not provide the optimal charging profile for different battery types and could potentially damage the batteries. Consider a dedicated battery charger for charging batteries. How noisy is the fan on this power supply? Fan noise varies depending on the power supply model and the load.Some power supplies have variable speed fans that adjust their speed based on the temperature,minimizing noise at lower loads. Other power supplies may have louder fans that operate at a constant speed. Check user reviews and specifications for noise levels before purchasing. Does this power supply come with an AC power cord? Most 50 amp power supplies include an AC power cord that is compatible with standard wall outlets. However, it's always a good idea to confirm this before purchasing, especially if you have specific outlet requirements.## Competitor Comparison A comparative analysis against key alternatives allows for a nuanced understanding of the product's advantages and disadvantages.### Product Comparison Overview [Powerwerx SS-30DV 30 Amp Switching Power Supply (scaled)] Output Current: 30 Amps (Scaled, for example) Ripple and Noise: submitted by

submitted by /u/5erif to r/amateurradio [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Hidemyface1 to r/milwaukee [link] [comments]

My wife and I recently visited Ham Radio Outlet in Plano on a Saturday afternoon around 1:00 p.m. When we arrived, we were the only customers in the store. Three employees were working the front area but barely acknowledged us. After a few minutes, one of them eventually directed us to an end cap for the accessories we were looking for, but without much engagement. Most of the accessories we needed were out of stock, and we hoped to browse or find out when more might be available. Throughout our visit, the employees remained deeply engaged in personal conversations and showed little interest in assisting us. My wife tried asking a question but was ignored. She raised her voice slightly to ensure she was heard — still no response. It felt as though we were completely invisible. Frustrated, we decided to leave and take our business elsewhere. This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced poor service there. One of the managers — an older gentleman — has always struck me as particularly rude during past visits. The overall atmosphere feels very unwelcoming, almost as if you have to be an engineer or a highly experienced ham operator just to be acknowledged. It was especially disheartening because my wife is new to amateur radio, and I was excited to bring her into the hobby. Being treated with such indifference was not only disrespectful but also discouraging for someone just getting involved in the community. Has anyone else had a similar experience at this location? I'm genuinely curious how they stay in business treating customers this way. Our options are dwindling and I haven't found a better alternative. I hope they stay around for a long time. Update: I have already had a couple of very positive conversations with HRO. It's nice to know that they care enough to reach out and look for improvement opportunities. submitted by /u/snarkysludge to r/amateurradio [link] [comments]

Hey r/hitched4fun community! Looking to stabilize your Ham Radio Outlet antenna mast for optimal operations on the road? 🚚📡 Check out our latest guide on top-rated mast mounts tailored for RV enthusiasts. Our mounts offer rugged construction, quick deployment, and are designed to withstand the rigors of RV travel. Whether you're gearing up for Quartzfest, field days, or remote operations, our solutions ensure your setup is both stable and efficient. Explore options like the Antenna Mast Bumper Frame Mount, Ladder Mount, and Hitch Receiver Mount, all compatible with masts up to 2-3/8 inches in diameter. Don't let a flimsy mount disrupt your next QSO—equip yourself with gear that's built by hams for hams. Discover more here: https://www.hitched4fun.com/where-to-buy-mounts-for-ham-radio-outlet-masts/ What's your go-to setup for mobile ham operations? Share your experiences and tips below! submitted by /u/Hitched4fun to r/hitched4fun [link] [comments]

Hey r/hitched4fun road warriors! I just posted a blog over at Hitched4fun.com—your go-to for RV camping gear and outdoor life hacks—about how to mount Ham Radio Outlet antenna masts on RVs with the best no-drill options. It’s got five sweet solutions—like ladder and hitch mounts —that keep your mast solid without RV surgery, perfect for mobile radio enthusiasts who love setting up quick roadside stations . If you’re into a Ham Radio Outlet RV mast, peek here: https://www.hitched4fun.com/how-to-mount-ham-radio-outlet-antenna-masts-on-rvs-best-options/. Anyone else got a slick setup for the road? submitted by /u/Hitched4fun to r/hitched4fun [link] [comments]

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Hi All, Definitely a different post than many made in this channel. I'm not a Ham radio amateurist, I'm a PhD student, but my dad is one (KsomethingSierraIndigo)! I am trying to develop a selective surface melting technique for these really rough parts we produce for my research. The method is along the lines of induction hardening, shown here; when you send MHz range (sound familiar?) alternating current through a part, it all goes to the surface, and if you have enough amperage you soften (or if fast enough, melt) just the surface of an article. Induction Hardening. The gear in the picture above can kind of be taken as a slice of a really rough cylindrical part (where the teeth of the root is the roughness). I want to send enough amperage through one of the parts' below's struts to just melt the protrusions on the surface and make them smoother. Of course, if I put them in an induction coil like above, just the actual outside of the lattice would melt. So I'm going to directly apply the amplified 1MHz signal to an inlet and outlet on the lattice. But I'm on a budget. The rough parts. Because the Ham radio community is so big, there are MHz-frequency signal generators/amplifiers that are within my price range. So I'm looking to you guys for suggestions on equipment to do the job. Because my research lab already has a signal generator, I was thinking of using that to generate the MHz signal instead of using whatever you radio guys use (to save cost), and just use a 100W-1000W amplifier (still doing simulation to figure out the required power to melt). If you see any flaws in this logic, please don't hesitate to point them out. This is my proposed circuit diagram. https://preview.redd.it/52inugixa41e1.png?width=825&format=png&auto=webp&s=b8b28c8321f66aa6666b7de51aa8188277d1b569 I'm in Pittsburgh if anyone has any assistance on my project, or thoughts. I am going to the Steel City Amateur Radio Club next week and hope to see if anyone has thoughts about my use of this equipment for my desired job. submitted by /u/Foreign_Argument_448 to r/HamRadio [link] [comments]

My dad, who was a Ham radio enthustist and who also manufacturer and shipped the chip boards pictured above passed away last week. A) he was so enthusiastic that people loved the board he produced pictured above and gave him good reviews. I'm hoping maybe someone here may have even bought one of the boards above. B) my family has hundreds of QEX magazines - does anyone have any interest in these? We won't want to part with the edition that he had written an article for, but otherwise if they have use to someone that would be awesome. C) Is there a good place to start if I have an interest in learning how to use his Ham radio and getting my license? Thank you submitted by /u/casually21 to r/HamRadio [link] [comments]

I’ve been picking up ham radio interference through my home studio setup for the last few years in the Newport/Elsmere area. I’ve tried using different speakers/receivers/wires, tried ferrite chokes, and switched outlets, but at least a few times a week when I plug in my guitar and start playing, I hear a voice through the speakers that sounds like a cb or ham radio. Anyone knowledgeable about how I could track this person down and ask them to lower the gain a little? It’s my understanding that it’s the operator’s responsibility to prevent interference, and I’m out of ideas of what else I can do with my setup. submitted by /u/FullLegalUsername to r/Delaware [link] [comments]

in the manual for RT95, i get speaker outlet from the backside and microphone input from the handset.... When using usb-audio-card, do i just connect them as follow: usb-card ->audioout mic in->RT95 usb-card submitted by

I'm looking for guidance on a few things here related to power and cable management for my 24 XL Mav: First Item - Running HAM Radio Antennas Into Cab In my '11 Ford Ranger, I ran the cables down the back of the cab, underneath the truck and up through the rubber grommets in the floor. This made it easy to take down and put them back up when I needed to move them to another vehicle (like rental vehicles). That is no longer an option now with the unibody design but I see there are rubber grommets in the truck bed. I will note my largest connector is a PL-259. Is there a reasonable path from those grommets in the bed to the cab interior? Second Item - Straight Wire Power Sources For Scanner and 12V Power Outlets In the attached image, I'm going to mount my existing scanner using a mounting bracket to the underside of the USB/12V outlet area. The antennas will need to run up to this area as well. From there I will also need to run straight-wire connection to the battery so I have a way to power the scanner without running the truck. From the looks of it this should be relatively straight forward to do. Now it appears that, unlike my Ford Ranger, there are no constant 12V outlets with which to plug in and run electronics from. My ranger had two of these (one on each side of the radio) and they really came in handy. It it reasonable to use another straight wire connection (with in-line fuses) to re-wire the existing 12V outlet underneath the climate controls and do the same to the one behind the center console arm rest so that they are always hot and leave the factory wiring alone? Thanks for any info or support you can provide on either topic. https://preview.redd.it/sqmvwvy0046c1.jpg?width=474&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62a56156fcc444542abf3f673550c1523bfeeb3f submitted by /u/osswmi to r/FordMaverickTruck [link] [comments]

Maybe I’m in the wrong place but looking for help.. New to the radio community, so I apologize in advance for stupid questions or wordings. I'm in a very large family and a bunch of my family members think it might be cool to be able to communicate via HF ham radio. Problem is we live on opposite sides of America. The little research I've done shows that it's going to be difficult to pull that off let alone all of us needing licenses i hear, but to start- what would a full bundle even entail in terms of a list and price on a setup for one person? Would one of you experts mind providing a newbie with some legitimate information? What is every item needed to communicate via HF ham radio from east to west coast of America? Specs would help immensely. Is 80W too much? 50W enough? Does that stuff even matter? Are large antennas needed for this distance? Do any outlets offer a FULL bundle for something like this, rather than purchasing item by item. Thanks in advance everyone. submitted by /u/vvaiii to r/radio [link] [comments]

New to the ham radio community, so I apologize in advance for stupid questions or wordings. I'm in a very large family and a bunch of my family members think it might be cool to be able to communicate via HF ham radio. Problem is we live on opposite sides of America. The little research I've done shows that it's going to be difficult to pull that off let alone all of us needing licenses i hear, but to start- what would a full bundle even entail in terms of a list and price on a setup for one person? Would one of you experts mind providing a newbie with some legitimate information? What is every item needed to communicate via HF ham radio from east to west coast of America? Specs would help immensely. Is 80W too much? 50W enough? Does that stuff even matter? Are large antennas needed for this distance? Do any outlets offer a FULL bundle for something like this, rather than purchasing item by item. Thanks in advance everyone. submitted by /u/vvaiii to r/amateurradio [link] [comments]

I am considering one of the used hf radios on ham radio outlet. With all the talk on qrz.com about parts swapping I’m worried about buying used. submitted by /u/chausi_1 to r/amateurradio [link] [comments]

Hi all, Over the holidays I have been thinking of an idea and wondering if y’all have any tips or have seen something similar. I’d like to remotely activate and deactivate a heater plugged-in to a standard 120V AC power outlet, from miles away. The location has no internet/wifi. There are many premade/commercial gadgets that do exactly this using cell phone data connectivity (not to mention the smart plugs that do it over the wifi that I don’t have in the location, too), but they are many hundreds of dollars and then you’ve got to pay per month for the cell phone SIM. But I’m a ham radio operator! I’ve been googling, and it seems the “operate a power outlet with an internet connected Raspberry Pi” is a well trodden path with lots of tutorials and examples. The “operate a Raspberry Pi from miles away with a HamShield or Baofeng” piece seems less developed, but I’ve seen some content and I believe it to be possible. I’m not opposed to using an Arduino either but think RPi is probably easier. I have an FT-60r already and would be open to buying some Baofengs (or the HamShield?) for the project. Ideally, I’d like to have a range of close to 20 miles, but I don’t have much hope for that given VHF/UHF frequencies in a QRM-heavy urban/suburban environment that while flat terrain has no miracle antennas or towers at either end. So I’d settle for a “radio bridge” of 2-3 miles from the heater location to a friend’s house. Friend’s house does have internet, so I could accomplish the rest of the distance from there over IP. Other idea is to ask a local club about using their repeater for the purpose - at most I’d want to control the heater two or three times per week and in the late evening hours so I don’t think a short infrequent transmission like that would be much of an impact to other users. Any ideas / tips / links for me to follow? Thanks and 73s de KB1NXJ! === more background for those interested === My other hobby is aviation, and we have a flying club with an airplane in a metal hangar at a small airport in the Philadelphia suburbs, about 20 miles from my home in Center City. (Another pilot is the friend 2 miles from the airport.) If we want to fly in the winter when it’s below freezing, it’s important for us to plug-in the engine preheater about 8 hours before starting up. But it’s not a good for the engine to keep the heater plugged in forever. So doing so requires a second lengthy trip to the airport to plug it in the night before a flight (without flying, where’s the fun in that!). submitted by /u/andrewbt to r/amateurradio [link] [comments]

If, like me, you are a fan of wasting time on social media, you might have come across this video of a beluga whale, apparently playing fetch with a rugby ball. I first saw this video when it went viral in November 2019, and it has been circulating ever since, usually presented as something cute and/or amazing – an apparently wild animal interacting playfully and intelligently with humans. There is no doubt that whales and dolphins are extraordinarily intelligent and social animals, and we are only just beginning to scratch the surface when it comes to learning about their complex lives and cognitive abilities. But unfortunately, this particular video has a much sadder and more mysterious story behind it. Hvaldimir’s Story The whale in the video is an individual known as Hvaldimir, a male beluga who has been seen regularly off the northern coast of Norway since April 2019. His name is a portmanteau of ‘hval’, the Norwegian word for ‘whale’, and the Russian name Vladimir. The first recorded sighting of him was made by a fisherman called Joar Hesten, fishing off the island of Ingøy in Artic Norway. He spotted the whale approaching his boat, and first thought the animal was tangled in netting or rope. The whale began to rub himself against Hesten’s boat, apparently in an attempt to free himself, and Hesten realised that he was wearing a harness. Hesten was concerned for the animal’s welfare and took some photographs. Back on shore, he struggled to find any local authority who would take any interest, and ended up sending his photos to marine biologist Audun Rikardsen from the University of Tromsø. Rikardson was able to confirm the harness was not part of any tagging or tracking programme that he was aware of, and, in addition to the mysterious harness, he was concerned that this whale appeared to be on his own. Belugas are highly social animals and are usually found in pods of up to twenty-five individuals. Rikardson put Hesten in touch with Norwegian Fisheries, who joined Hesten in a rescue mission. The beluga again eagerly approached Hesten’s boat, and this time, Hesten was able to enter the water in a dry suit and unbuckle the harness. “I just connected with him,” Hesten said afterwards. “I was never afraid in the water and I never felt any aggression. He was just seeking help.” Here is a video showing the before and after of the harness removal – you can see how comfortable the whale is being handled and petted by humans. After the harness was removed, the whale swam off and appeared to head out to sea. The harness removed from the whale had a GoPro camera mount but no camera, and the words “Equipment St. Petersburg” (written in English). This led to speculation that the whale had been trained by the Russian military, and subsequently escaped or released – and so he was christened ‘Hvaldimir’ by the Norwegian press. About a week later, Hvaldimir appeared again, and followed a boat into Hammerfest harbour, about 25 miles from where he had first been spotted. Hvaldimir remained in Hammerfest, hanging around the harbour, following boats, and attempting to interact with people. Initially, Norwegian Fisheries discouraged the public from feeding or interacting with him, concerned that he would become dependant on humans. However, it quickly became apparent that Hvaldimir was underweight and seemed to struggle to find his own food. Amid concerns he would die without intervention, a feeding programme was begun, and beluga feeding time became a twice-daily attraction at the harbour. Audun Rikardson, the marine biologist from the University of Tromsø, snorkelled with Hvaldimir in the harbour in May 2019. The whale was extremely friendly and keen to interact, and at one point pulled Rikardson’s flipper off – and then retrieved it as it sank into the deep, and presented it back to Rikardson balanced on his nose. Hvaldimir has also been recorded retrieving an instagrammer’s dropped iphone and happily receiving chin scratches as a reward. A kayaker who dipped his GoPro into the water to get a better shot of Hvaldimir got the close-up of his life when Hvaldimir stole the camera and dived, filming a beluga’s eye view of the seabed, before surfacing and returning the camera to its surprised owner. As cute as this footage is, it shows a sad truth – a member of a highly social species, isolated from his own kind, Hvaldimir seems desperate for social interaction. In July 2019, he left Hammerfest harbour of his own accord, and over the next few months was seen several times around the islands off Norway’s northern coast. He appeared to have learnt to feed himself, but remained alone, and was still approaching boats and people. In September 2019, he arrived in Alta harbour, where he sustained propeller injuries to his back, and unfortunately met with some less than kind behaviour from some of the locals, with objects being thrown at him. Norwegian Fisheries again issued an edict requesting people not to approach or feed him, and Hvaldimir subsequently left the harbour. In November 2019, the video of the beluga playing fetch went viral, and the Norwegian Orca Survey, which had been monitoring Hvaldimir’s welfare, have confirmed that the whale in the video is indeed Hvaldimir. The exact provenance of the video was somewhat mysterious itself – the individuals on the boat were described by some outlets as “South African rugby fans”, and the ball Hvaldimir is fetching is official merchandise from the 2019 Rugby World cup. Biologist and whale researcher Jackie Hildering did some digging and identified the vessel as a research boat linked to the Save Our Seas Foundation. We don’t know exactly when the video was taken, but the 2019 Rugby World Cup ran from September to early November, so it was presumably filmed shortly before it was uploaded. So, is Hvaldimir a Russian asset? It is obvious that at some point in his life Hvaldimir was a captive whale and was taught to retrieve objects. It’s likely he spent a long time in captivity, quite possibly from a young age, since he appears to struggle to hunt for himself and to find the company of his own kind. Given that his harness appears to have been made in St. Petersburg, the most common speculation is that he has gone AWOL from a Russian military training programme – possibly a spy programme, due to the camera mount on his harness. Ingøy, where Hvaldimir was first observed, is about 260 miles from Murmansk, a Russian naval base. In 2017, Russian state television aired a report on belugas, bottlenose dolphins and seals being trained by the Russian navy to undertake tasks such as guarding naval bases, assisting divers, and even attacking strangers who entered their territory (a task friendly Hvaldimir seems entirely unsuited for). The use of marine mammals in military programmes is by no means unheard of – the US Navy has a similar programme, training bottlenose dolphins to retrieve lost objects and locate mines. Cetaceans are extremely adept at locating and identifying objects on the ocean floor since they essentially have a built-in biological sonar system. However, there is no hard evidence of Hvaldimir’s military background, and in fact belugas were dropped from Russia’s marine mammal programme as they proved sickly in captivity and lacking in stamina for the tasks required. The Russian military have denied that Hvaldimir is anything to do with them, and retired Russian colonel Viktor Baranets has pointed out that a spy whale is hardly likely to be sent out wearing a harness labelled ‘St. Petersburg’, since that would tend to give the game away. Baranets also points out that Russia freely admits to using dolphins in military roles, and as such would have no particular reason to deny association with Hvaldimir. (For context, he did say this in an interview on Russian radio – although not on a state-owned channel). Personally, the fact that the writing on Hvaldimir's harness is in English gives me pause as to his Russian connections, though I admit I have no idea how common it is for the Russian military, or Russian manufacturers, to mark their products in English. Another possibility is Hvaldimir was part of a civilian training programme, either for entertainment, or a civilian working purpose. Dmitry Glazov, a Russian marine biologist, says there are civilian organisations located in Murmansk which train cetaceans to retrieve objects and assist divers in trouble. He does not believe Hvaldimir’s harness has any connection to the military, since it appears to be quite makeshift, and is constructed of materials easily acquired by civilians. Another potential tip came from a former Norwegian consul to the city of Murmansk, Morten Vikeby. During his time in Murmansk, he recalls visiting a diving centre which had a captive beluga who acted as a ‘therapy whale’ for children with disabilities and learning difficulties. The whale’s name was Semyon, and Vikeby saw him in Murmansk in around 2009. He jokingly says he sees it as his duty to clear the whale of charges of espionage. This article contains a video of Semyon interacting with children from his sea pen in Murmansk. The current head of the same diving centre says that there are no captive whales there currently, and the last one was sold to an oceanarium in 2016. He denies that any whale was ever released or escaped into the wild, and says that their whales did not wear harnesses. Around the same time Hvaldimir was going viral with his rugby skills, there was another Russian whale story in the news – that of the notorious “whale jail” in Srednyaya Bay in eastern Russia, a series of small, overcrowded holding pens used to house captured orcas and belugas destined for sale to oceanariums. The captures were declared illegal and that and the inhumane conditions lead to international condemnation, and the eventual release of the captives back to the wild. This negative publicity may have led to a reluctance among Russian sources to admit any knowledge of Hvaldimir. Where is Hvaldimir now? As of December 2019, since Hvaldimir appeared to be swimming freely and feeding himself, the Norwegian Orca Survey have ceased to monitor him. He was sighted by a diver in February 2020, and was seen in July 2020, unfortunately with a nasty gash that appears to be from a boat propeller. Although he is clearly able to feed himself, he is still alone, and his propensity for approaching boats and humans unfortunately makes him vulnerable. Norwegian film maker Regina Crosby is currently making a documentary about him, and conservation group the Dolphin Project are calling on the Norwegian government to install Hvaldimir in a fenced-off fjord to keep him safe from harm. “Hvaldimir is a defector,” they say, “And he needs asylum.” Links Norway finds ‘Russian Spy Whale’ off Artic Coast Norwegian Fisheries statement on ‘The white whale in Hammerfest’ This is Hvaldimir – a truncated article, but some very beautiful photographs A marine biologist swims with the ‘Russian spy whale’ Newstory in Norwegian about Hvaldimir’s time in Alta Harbour Beluga whale playing fetch in viral video ‘may have escaped Russian spy programme’ Beluga playing fetch in viral video confirmed to be so-called ‘Russian spy whale’ Mystery of the missing whale: is it a Russian spy or a child therapist? Military whales and dolphins: what do they do and who trains them? submitted by /u/scarypigeon to r/UnresolvedMysteries [link] [comments]

I am not familiar with the government laws regarding ham radio on HF there but I had an idea. I know they can use VHF and UHF (baofengs etc). Since the government there seems to be censoring and lying about that virus stuff what if we try and coordinate use of the ham sats and ISS? The idea is when they pass over the Chinese nation EVERYONE shut up and listen and see if anyone on the mainland can talk out? many other hams can be listening outside of China and recording the conversations etc.. and pass it along to media outlets. Seems like a viable plan to get accurate info out if we can get someone in lockdown there to do it.. I assume the Chinese government would try and fox hunt the transmitter so thats why you have different people in different places doing it each time the birds fly over.. Just a though. EDit - Also I think we can overlook the lack of broadcasting a callsign out of China also to keep those people anonymous because the government there can be quite brutal.. submitted by /u/Elfnet_Gaming to r/HamRadio [link] [comments]

First, I’m still new at this. I may be riding shotgun in a SAG truck this weekend for a bike ride. I’ve done this once before but used my own vehicle so there were no issues. This time the SAGs are loaner trucks from a dealer operated by a member of the rotary club putting on the ride. I have a good mag mount antenna set up so that part is fine, and I could use an HT hooked up to it, but I’d love to use my Icom mobile for peace of mind. I know tying into the battery directly is the best thing to do, so would it be appropriate to ask if I can clip to the battery and run the power cable from the engine bay to the inside of the truck? Is that common practice? It would be battery clips to powerpoles, and properly fused. I’d rather not risk blowing a fuse right off the bat trying to use a 12v outlet inside the truck. What sucks is that I don’t even know if I’m going to be in a SAG as of right now. We get assignments on Thursday so I want to be ready for whatever they throw at me. I don’t know what the trucks will be either. Probably F150s or Silverados though. Would a 50 watt mobile radio blow the cigarette lighter fuse in one of those? ​ EDIT: Updating to possibly help others in the future. Ride is done, and I was not placed in a SAG, but I was told to be ready for anything because things change day-of. I was prepared, and they ALMOST put me in a SAG after another guy said he'd rather be stationary, but he ended up still doing it in the end, so I was "off the hook." I saw ham radio operators with 3 different setups for SAGs: HT with a mag mount just using the HT's battery Mobile plugged into a 12V outlet Mobile with battery clips Everyone had a backup radio, and some also used a second dedicated antenna for their backup. So it seems like anything goes as long as you know your communication will be solid and have a backup. submitted by /u/Shirkaday to r/amateurradio [link] [comments]