My name is Rick Donaldson.
Call sign is N0NJY (that's a Zero there) and I'm an Amateur Extra Class License holder (ham radio operator).
I wandered in since I was invited over from another site.
Wife and I are new to sailing - and are in the process of purchasing a used boat, a Venture 25.
The boat is not-yet-named, but will be this spring in an "official" (read: Traditional) ceremony. We live in Land-Locked Colorado Springs and hope to be out on the ocean within 3-4 years (not with the boat we're buying).
This boat is our "learning boat". We'll be attending some ASA basic courses this spring, sailing around the same time and naming the boat right after we put her in the water again.
I'm here for advice, information and education.
I'm also here to help you folks.
I have over 40 years of experience in HF radio systems (as well as VHF, UHF and many other systems). I was in the Air Force for twenty-six years, retired in 2002 officially. I was in the active side for 14 years - during which I served in Combat Communications for five years and the White House Communications Agency for eight years providing Presidential Communications for Presidents Reagan, Bush and former Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter and several of the First Ladies. I've traveled all over the world - 45 countries now, almost every state in the US and about 300 major cities world-wide.
My last twelve years of military service were in the USAF Reserves and they shared me with a local college where I taught basic and advanced electronic theory, as well as digital theory.
I am currently working at a military installation somewhere near Colorado Springs on electronic systems.
Since I am relatively useless at the moment as a sailor but will have a boat by Saturday this week, I am offering my help in electronics, and in particular radio and antenna theory and with problems.
I have some experience with packet radio and will be looking into things like "Sailmail" and similar systems, and I've got some experience with many different types of computer operating systems.
Currently I have access to, and use, XP Pro, Vista, and use or have used Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS).
My wife is JoAnne and she may or may not join me here from time to time.
We started a blog recently which is about our dream to sail and cruise. That blog can be found at: Our Boat | Winds of Change
I have a "political blog" (of sorts) located at: Reality Check
A site I assist in administering is located at: The Trans-Asian Axis
(No I'm not advertising anything, those are simply places you can read about things I do or have done).
Last year my wife and I took radio gear to Jamaica for an unsuccessful "DXpedition" (that's where we set up in a foreign location and have local call signs, and attempt to make as many contacts with other hams around the world as possible). The "DXpedition" failed because the TSA folks managed to break my transmitter enroute and I didn't have the proper tools available to repair the radio system.
I look forward to doing my best to help folks with radio issues - and to learn from you folks as well.
Feel free to contact or PM me any time.
73!
Rick Donaldson, CET, NØNJY
It's better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for who you're not.
Call sign is N0NJY (that's a Zero there) and I'm an Amateur Extra Class License holder (ham radio operator).
I wandered in since I was invited over from another site.
Wife and I are new to sailing - and are in the process of purchasing a used boat, a Venture 25.
The boat is not-yet-named, but will be this spring in an "official" (read: Traditional) ceremony. We live in Land-Locked Colorado Springs and hope to be out on the ocean within 3-4 years (not with the boat we're buying).
This boat is our "learning boat". We'll be attending some ASA basic courses this spring, sailing around the same time and naming the boat right after we put her in the water again.
I'm here for advice, information and education.
I'm also here to help you folks.
I have over 40 years of experience in HF radio systems (as well as VHF, UHF and many other systems). I was in the Air Force for twenty-six years, retired in 2002 officially. I was in the active side for 14 years - during which I served in Combat Communications for five years and the White House Communications Agency for eight years providing Presidential Communications for Presidents Reagan, Bush and former Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter and several of the First Ladies. I've traveled all over the world - 45 countries now, almost every state in the US and about 300 major cities world-wide.
My last twelve years of military service were in the USAF Reserves and they shared me with a local college where I taught basic and advanced electronic theory, as well as digital theory.
I am currently working at a military installation somewhere near Colorado Springs on electronic systems.
Since I am relatively useless at the moment as a sailor but will have a boat by Saturday this week, I am offering my help in electronics, and in particular radio and antenna theory and with problems.
I have some experience with packet radio and will be looking into things like "Sailmail" and similar systems, and I've got some experience with many different types of computer operating systems.
Currently I have access to, and use, XP Pro, Vista, and use or have used Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS).
My wife is JoAnne and she may or may not join me here from time to time.
We started a blog recently which is about our dream to sail and cruise. That blog can be found at: Our Boat | Winds of Change
I have a "political blog" (of sorts) located at: Reality Check
A site I assist in administering is located at: The Trans-Asian Axis
(No I'm not advertising anything, those are simply places you can read about things I do or have done).
Last year my wife and I took radio gear to Jamaica for an unsuccessful "DXpedition" (that's where we set up in a foreign location and have local call signs, and attempt to make as many contacts with other hams around the world as possible). The "DXpedition" failed because the TSA folks managed to break my transmitter enroute and I didn't have the proper tools available to repair the radio system.
I look forward to doing my best to help folks with radio issues - and to learn from you folks as well.
Feel free to contact or PM me any time.
73!
Rick Donaldson, CET, NØNJY
It's better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for who you're not.