I’m also going to put together an even more inexpensive option, for example, I could have saved a bit by choosing a dual-core instead of the quad.

This is a fun project, has resulted in a couple of late nights fiddling with audio/video, but I’m happy with where it is at this point.

its def been a while but i like where this post is going. i also had considered a file server/nas but decided to instead just upgrade my desktop since i am the only user in my apt/place :)

however, i’m gonna be keeping tabs on your progress to see if perhaps i’ll rethink about getting a server setup.

also, since your rocking Vista x64, are you gonna upgrade to > 4gb of ram? i’m sporting the 8gb myself and must say my virtual machines run like a charm!

In the Jackson, MS area, there are several “nets” - a loose term for “bunch of people tuned in to the same frequency / repeater at the same time”. A couple of them are associated with emergency services, so those are interesting to hop on. There is an 8AM weekday net, just a group of people chatting about whatever. Since I’m usually running into the office, I don’t normally get to hear much of that one.

Since getting the external antenna, it has opened the morning and afternoon drive conversations. Many amateurs operate mobile stations from their car - this time can be quite active. (Looking for donations to the Yeasu 857 fund!)

The range of some of these radios is quite amazing. I’ve heard people on the local repeater from Texas and Arkansas. In the HF bands, worldwide communication is possible, even on low-power equipment.

Augmenting this capability is a couple of VoIP implementations. One repeater around here is connected to EchoLink, a network of internet-connected repeaters. This system allows an amateur to seize the repeater, then connect it to another EchoLink repeater. This link transmits the amateur’s signal to the other repeater for broadcast. Even with a simple HT, EchoLink allows worldwide communication. (Which reminds me, I need to get Allen on that…)

i’ve always wanted to know that type of stuff but never had the math (used to but after calc 2 at the umn my brain refuses to do anything above pre-calc… hehe)

on a side note, i’ve always wanted to run my own pirate radio station as a teenager/young adult but realized that on my parents farm, i’d only have a max of 3-4 listeners including myself. hehe..

You’ll still find guys who bang Morse, but most people these days are using other methods, like RTTY (Radio Teletype). StationID is acceptable in Morse everywhere, so you’re likely to hear it from time to time.

I would imagine if you run through the tech section on qrz.com/testing.html, you’ll be surprised with what you know. The main thing is “be nice”, then some basic electrical stuff. If you know what Amps, Volts, and Watts are, you’re well on your way.

I’m currently experiencing the hard part - waiting for the FCC database to tell me my callsign! (wireless.fcc.gov/uls)