Seven Free Neat Things for New Hams:

An overview of cool resources, tools and services

that they didn't teach you about in the license manual.

Donald K – AE6RF 9/4/09

Purpose & Scope

• Purpose:– To introduce new hams (and others) to a

number of fun and useful resources that they might not know about.

• Scope:– This is an overview, not in depth discussion

Neat Thing #1: www.qrz.com/db/(callsign)

• Online call sign look-up & database

• Each ham has their own personalized web page

• Please at minimum add your email address

• Customize at will• # of views is proxy

metric for activity (weighted to HF)– Bob, K6XX: 32833– Donald, AE6RF:

6480– Cece, KJ6BNO: 113

Neat Thing #2: www.eham.net

• Equipment reviews & Classified ads

• Paid members see ads 24 hours earlier than non-paid

Neat Thing #3: Free Logging Software

• DxKeeper – http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxkeeper/

• XMLog– http://www.xmlog.com/

DxKeeper

XMLog

Neat Thing #4: eQSL

Neat Thing #5: EchoLink

• http://www.echolink.org/• EchoLink allows Ham

Radio stations to communicate over the Internet, using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology.

• Computer-to-computer• Computer-to-radio too!

Neat Thing #6: Rig Control

• Ham Radio Deluxe– http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/

• Controls your radio from your computer

• REALLY Neat– Can control other, REMOTE radios over the

internet!!!

Neat Thing #7: Incoming QSL Bureau

• http://www.qslbureau.org/• Send them address stickers & $0.70 per envelope,

they’ll bring you DX QSL cards a couple times a year

• How to:– You must send a self-sticking label with

your call sign, name and address for each envelope ordered.

– The W6 QSL Bureau prefers to supply envelopes for you. Each envelope, including one first class stamp, is 70 cents each.

• I lied… This is is ALMOST free…

Time for a quiz!

1. QRZ.com

2. eHam.net

3. Free logging software

4. eQSL.cc

5. EchoLink

6. HRD rig control – even remote

7. Incoming QSL Bureau