Because...coffee ☕️
I'm beginning my studies for the Advanced Amateur Radio Certificate and the CW (Morse code) endorsement, diving deeper into the theory and craft behind radio communication. It’s a return to learning that blends technical challenge with the timeless appeal of mastering Morse.
This is post 23 of 24 in the series Amateur Radio Posts about my adventures in amateur radio. Step by step 1st Class Step-by-Step 2nd Class Amateur Radio Codes of Conduct Step-by-Step 3rd Class Step-by-Step Class 4a Step-by-Step Classes 4b 4c Step-by-Step—Class 5 Step-by-Step—Class 6 Step-by-Step—Class 7 Step-by-Step—Class 8a [ ]
This post looks back on my journey from childhood curiosity about radios and electronics, through a career in engineering, to rediscovering that sense of wonder while earning my amateur radio qualification. It’s a reflection on learning, community, and the enduring joy of exploring how the world works.
This post explores the regulatory foundations of amateur radio, from the ITU’s global framework to Canada’s Radiocommunication Act and ISED policies. It connects the technical, legal, and historical elements that shape how radio amateurs operate today.
This post explores the essential safety principles every new amateur radio operator should understand, from electrical hazards and grounding fundamentals to RF exposure and lightning protection. Drawing on both professional machinery-safety practice and Al Penney’s RAC safety chapter, it connects well-established engineering concepts with practical, real-world station design.
This post explores the practical and technical realities of radio-frequency interference, blending lessons from Al Penney’s RAC Basic course with my own experience in machinery EMC testing and functional safety. It breaks down the core mechanisms behind RFI, troubleshooting strategies, and the human side of resolving interference issues with neighbours and consumer electronics.
This post is my deep dive into what makes radio receivers tick, inspired by Al Penney’s Chapter 14 and grounded in both theory and the hands-on lessons I learned back on the Hammond shop floor. From sensitivity and selectivity to noise, intermod, and the beauty of a simple crystal set, it’s a practical walk through the fundamentals that shape how we actually hear signals on the air.
This is post 17 of 24 in the series Amateur Radio Posts about my adventures in amateur radio. Step by step 1st Class Step-by-Step 2nd Class Amateur Radio Codes of Conduct Step-by-Step 3rd Class Step-by-Step Class 4a Step-by-Step Classes 4b 4c Step-by-Step—Class 5 Step-by-Step—Class 6 Step-by-Step—Class 7 Step-by-Step—Class 8a [ ]
This is post 16 of 24 in the series Amateur Radio Posts about my adventures in amateur radio. Step by step 1st Class Step-by-Step 2nd Class Amateur Radio Codes of Conduct Step-by-Step 3rd Class Step-by-Step Class 4a Step-by-Step Classes 4b 4c Step-by-Step—Class 5 Step-by-Step—Class 6 Step-by-Step—Class 7 Step-by-Step—Class 8a [ ]
This is post 15 of 24 in the series Amateur Radio Posts about my adventures in amateur radio. Step by step 1st Class Step-by-Step 2nd Class Amateur Radio Codes of Conduct Step-by-Step 3rd Class Step-by-Step Class 4a Step-by-Step Classes 4b 4c Step-by-Step—Class 5 Step-by-Step—Class 6 Step-by-Step—Class 7 Step-by-Step—Class 8a [ ]