New ARDC Director of Technology

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Software developer Schuyler Erle NØGIS has joined the team at Amateur Radio Digital Communications as its new director of technology. Announcing his arrival on their website, ARDC called Schuyler uniquely qualified for the post because of his long history in open source software development, ham radio and wireless technology and engineering management. He has been a licensed ham since 2011 and is a former member of the Auxiliary Communications Service in San Francisco, California, which operates in times of crisis.

Schuyler is the coauthor of "Mapping Hacks," published in 2005 by O’Reilly Media. The book explores the potential held by Free / Open Source geographic information systems. In Sonoma County, California, he was able to establish a cooperative that helped bring high-speed Internet access to a rural community living in the coastal hills.

Canadian Teens Gain Licenses After Ham Radio Coursework

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Canadian Teens Gain Licenses After Ham Radio Coursework

In many parts of the world, school is back in session and regular lessons have resumed. Even before regular classes began, however, 21 teenagers in British Columbia, Canada, were already entrenched in some pretty important homework - or should we say hamwork?

Adam, VE7ZAL, and John, VE7TI, believe that their recent course on radio frequencies and electronics may well be unprecedented for secondary school students in Canada. That was what John wrote in the September/October issue of The Communicator, the magazine of Surrey Amateur Radio Communications. John and Adam, a robotics teacher at Kwantlen Park Secondary school in Surrey, British Columbia, teamed up to help nearly two dozen 13- through 17-year-olds get a better grasp on the principles behind amateur radio and pass the gift of radio on this next generation. By the time the course concluded, the students were able to sit the exam for the Canadian Amateur Radio Certificate.

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Silent Key Who Made A Difference

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Silent Key Who Made A Difference

Gathering hams together for the past three years to support research for pancreatic cancer, a prominent Pennsylvania amateur radio operator has lost his life to the disease. A little more than a year ago, Richard Ryba, WQ3Q, put out a call to his fellow hams asking for them to join the on-air team for N3P, a special event station to raise awareness and donations for pancreatic cancer research and provide aid and resources to families.

On Thursday 5th September 2024, the Skyview Amateur Radio Society issued another call during their 2-metre evening net on Richard's behalf. It was a final call: Richard became a Silent Key on the 31st August, five years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the same illness that took the life of his younger brother years earlier. An advocate for supporting research, Richard had been the driving force behind an annual special event station that went on the air throughout the US in conjunction with a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania walk-a-thon to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

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