Amateur Radio:The Original Nerd HobbyRyan Sayre, 2E0RYS, NØRYS@ryanslayer

Personal Motivation / Acknowledgements

Thanks:

Jim Bryce, W5HFS – inspiration for this talk of the same name

Dr. Roger Bleaney, MØRBK – My UK ‘elmer’ and advisor

Robert Clark, constructive feedback, continuity

London Hack Space, Verulam ARC, Oregon Tualatin Valley ARC

Note: Attributions of photos, text sources in slide deck speaker notes

What is a Nerd?Nerd (adjective: nerdy) is a descriptive term, often used pejoratively, indicating that a person is overly intellectual, obsessive, or socially impaired.

They may spend inordinate amounts of time on unpopular, obscure, or non-mainstream activities, which

are generally either highly technical or relating to topics of fiction or fantasy, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. [..]

Though originally derogatory, "Nerd" is a stereotypical term, but as with other pejoratives, it has been reclaimed and redefined by some as a term of pride and group identity.

What is Amateur Radio?Amateur radio (also called ham radio) is the use of designated radio frequency spectra for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication.

The term "amateur" is used to specify persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without direct monetary or other similar reward, and to differentiate it from commercial broadcasting, public safety (such as police and fire), or professional two-way radio services (such as maritime, aviation, taxis, etc.). [...]

All countries that license citizens to use amateur radio require operators to display knowledge and understanding of key concepts, usually by passing an exam; however some authorities also recognize certain educational or professional qualifications (such as a degree in electrical engineering) in lieu.

What about CB radio?No. CB is an unlicensed spectrum that attracts the dregs of society*.

Stereotypically used by lorry drivers, prostitutes and drug dealers, people obsessed with echo mics, cheesy American media, and profanity enthusiasts, usually all arranging to meet at the same roadside meeting point.

These are not nerds and they wouldn’t want to be considered as such.

*Flippant quips are also license-free, however (CB was once licensed)

Sorry,

Snowman.

SEPTEMBER 11

(1958) NEVER

FORGET

But weren’t the Ancient Greeks the original nerds?

No! They were intellectuals, supported in their intellectual explorations, pure or applied.

Their work was considered widely influential within the culture and were elite

Pocket protectors, thick glasses, and the shallow anti-nerd popular crowd hadn’t been invented yet.

Electricity Enables Experimentation Guglielmo Marconi

successfully sends wireless telegraphs in 1894, cross- Atlantic transmissions in 1901

Bandwidth Pig (via Spark-Gap)

First Amateur Radio station listings in 1909

1900s to 1930s: Hams made their own radios (mostly)

Spark Gap VLF LF HF VHF UHF SHF

World War II: Trickle-Down InnovationWorld War II leveraged the technological leaps

of the previous 40 years yielding international radio communication, computation, algorithms

Hedy Lamarr, Co-Inventor of spread-spectrum (frequency hopping) communications in 1941.

The fundamental concept behind how mobile phone networks operate today!

After WWII: Massive surplus of equipment to play with!

Spark Gap VLF LF HF VHF UHF SHF

Post-War Nerd-dom: 1950-1990s

‘Nerd’ actually coined as derivative slang in 1951

Nerds leveraging communications components and tech to tinker with everything – leveraging the amateur radio curriculum as their technical foundation

Amateur radio was the ‘original social network’ sharing ideas and innovation across regions, borders, cultures

Hobby led to some impressive modern inventions

Morse Code requirement dropped

Spark Gap VLF LF HF VHF UHF SHF

A Sample of Post-War Amateur Radio Nerds: (Inventors, Leaders, Celebs)

Steve Wozniak WA6BND

Nolan Bushnell W7DUK

Robert Moog K2AMH

Bruce Perens K6BP

Jack Kilby W9GTY

Maurice Wilkes G5VF

Helen Sharman GB1MIR

Marlon Brando KE6PZH

Priscilla Presley NY6YOS

Amitabh Bachchan VU2AMY

Today, Something for Everyone: Different Hamming for Different Nerding International Goodwill &

DXpeditions

Community Involvement

Emergency Preparedness

World Radiosport Events

Packet Radio

Software-Defined Radio

Amateur Television

Low-power Transmissions

Morse Code

Amateur Radio Satellites

Special Event Stations

Scientific Experiments

Earth-Moon-Earth Communication

Environmental Research

QSL Card Collecting

Open Source Voice Codec Development

Tech for Tech’s sake

Obscurity factor – tubes! Germanium!

Modern Resurgence: Why do it now? We’re in the next golden era of tinkering

– Arduino, RaspberryPi, mesh networks, personal drones, and rapid prototyping

Communication should be free – we don’t have to pay for an Internet uplink in order to build networks of amazing things

Use it or Lose it: Governments can take it away if we don’t exercise our rights

‘Tech Hipsters’ and ‘Ham Elmers’ are basically the same, one just can’t use a computer very well and the other strives for lifestyle irony

Curious? Come visit the EMF Amateur Radio Village

GB2EMF special-event call sign making contact around the world in the Amateur Radio Village

Other talks and information on how to learn about amateur radio

Take a peek at the live radio spectrum and listen on your own computer: go to WebSDR.org!

Have fun – learn something, and join us!

Questions? (Time for the ham radio stereotype bonus?)

Ham Nerd Bonus Time: Every Culture has its Stereotypes ‘200 Russian Watts’

Italian operators vs. following rules

Cuban PSK31 over-modulation

Japanese – the most courteous operators (and most licensed)

“If you don’t know Morse code, you don’t know dit.”

Oldsters love to talk about back pain on 80 meters (3500khz – 4000khz)

Radiosport contesters – the jocks of the band?

Women are fantastic radio operators: but too far and few between!

Thank you!73 de 2E0RYS / NØRYS@ryanslayer