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Author Topic: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.  (Read 322 times)

AH6GT

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Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« on: September 24, 2022, 05:24:38 PM »

No, it's not Zoom. It is not an organization. It is a collection of video chat rooms where you can meet and chat with hams for many different countries. Talk about your equipment, your latest projects, propagation, etc.

A great place for those who really enjoy a good Rag Chew! A great place to work the world without dealing with your Home Owner's Association and their antenna restrictions. No software required. Just join a room with your web browser. That's it!

https://www.konaweb.com/hamcam/index.cgi


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K4HB

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2022, 05:54:41 PM »

Hams have been doing all the above not only for years, but for decades. Now we need the internet to to that? What's the point in getting a license and getting on the air if the internet becomes our mode of communication? And BTW, Sunspots are returning. Get on the air, reach out and touch someone.
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KF4HR

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2022, 07:07:55 PM »

It's seems for some, the Internet is becoming the antenna of choice.
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AH6GT

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2022, 07:12:24 PM »

An excellent points. But you are assuming that I don't do HF. I do, and often patch guys on the video into our local 40 meter net here in Hawaii. HF is great! However this mode is also very special. How many times have you ever seen someone smile using sideband or cw? Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing a smile on the face of a friend in Sweden. An 80 year old, he was in the hospital with his laptop. He introduced me to his nurses, and also showed me his new haircut the nurse had given him. Others share videos of projects they are working on. Not easy using HF. Try it sometime. You don't have to give up HF to try something new.
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AH6GT

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2022, 07:56:57 PM »

This morning he (SM2AYE) was back home, showing me the 15 hf transceivers he has in his shack. He is really into 80 meters, but really enjoys learning new things. Hope some of you will click on the link I have posted and check out the list of callsigns that are available using this mode.
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W9FIB

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2022, 01:30:30 AM »

A nice distraction if the bands are dead but would rather search for that new one with a VFO. But that's simply my opinion.
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73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.

SWMAN

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2022, 06:09:43 AM »

Interesting, but I think for now I will stick to my little VFO knob on my Kenwood.
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AI5BC

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2022, 08:50:33 AM »

What's the point in getting a license and getting on the air if the internet becomes our mode of communication?
OK Boomer. The better question is why hams don't get with the times?
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SWMAN

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2022, 09:00:44 AM »

 Sounds as boring as FT8, that’s why.
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AI5BC

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2022, 09:04:27 AM »

Sounds as boring as FT8, that’s why.

Well Boomer, at least the bFT8 guys figured out how to make their VCR quit flashing 12:00
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SWMAN

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2022, 09:31:09 AM »

 Now that’s funny, thanks for the laugh.
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K4HB

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2022, 01:23:56 PM »

I've got nothing against forums for amateur radio ops. If I did, I wouldn't be posting on eHam. The introduction in the original post made it appear these chat rooms are what we need to meet and chat with hams from many different countries, talk about our equipment, our latest projects, propagation, etc. We have been doing this with our radios for decades.

In the second paragraph, it stated the chat rooms are a great place to "work the world." Well, "working" other hams can't be done on the internet, that can only be done with a radio. If people are enjoying these video chat rooms, that's great. But chat rooms and operating a radio are not the same thing. For someone in a nursing home, or someone stuck where they can't have a radio and antennas, this could be the next best thing to operating a radio, but it ain't the same.

As for VCRs that flash 12.00, I know two solutions to solve that...

Simple solution...
Tools needed
Safety glasses
Ruler
Electrical tape
Scissors
Measure the surface of your VCR display
Cut the electrical tape to fit the surface
Apply the tape to your VCR display

Best solution...
Toss the VCR in the trash. Like anything else that uses magnetic tape to record and play, it's a dinosaur.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2022, 01:28:44 PM by K4HB »
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AH6GT

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2022, 08:04:34 PM »

K4HB, what I actually said was... "work the world without dealing with your Home Owner's Association and their antenna restrictions." But really, I have worked the world using FT8. Interesting, but never made a single friend.

A guy in England told me that his wife is always asking; "Why are you always smiling when you get off the HAMCAM? You don't know these guys."  He told her; "I actually know more about my friends all over the world than I know about the guy who lives across the street."

I know some of us feel that "communication" means signal reports and not much more. If that is all ham radio is to you, enjoy your pile ups. I'll be enjoying getting together with my friends.

I visited K4HB.com. It looks like you have not upgraded it since 1985. Let me know if you would like some help with it.

AH6GT https://www.konaweb.com/hamcam/index.cgi
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N8YX

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2022, 07:13:41 AM »

... "work the world without dealing with your Home Owner's Association and their antenna restrictions."
If you're living in an HOA restricted area, FAIL.

That aside, many years ago I put together a portable CW station for use with one of my touring motorcycles. The rig was an HW-8 but an IC-703/705, Xeigu G90, KX3 or any other modern QRP transceiver could be pressed into service. Antenna can be whatever you want along with a lofting mechanism; I used random length wires or dipoles as they'd easily fit in the bike's saddlebags.

Power was obtained from the bike's battery. My latest iteration of this concept has two batteries and a smart controller: The main battery for the bike and a 9AH sealed battery for the two transceivers (IC-703+ and FTM-10R).

I can operate 12M through 440MHz while underway or park the bike at a campground, throw an OCF dipole or EFHW into the trees and operate the radios from an adjacent picnic table. Every band down to 160M can thus be covered.

All this without Internet. Many years ago, W0RLI took a huge amount of flak for positing that Internet =! "amateur radio". Turns out Hank was spot-on.
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K4HB

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Re: Hamcam Video Chat Rooms.
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2022, 07:28:51 AM »

K4HB, what I actually said was... "work the world without dealing with your Home Owner's Association and their antenna restrictions."

Yes, but that's still not "working the world" if it's done via the internet. Working as we know it as hams, is using a radio. Personally, I wouldn't live in a HOA. Gotta have my antennas. (and my chickens) Not knocking anyone who chooses to live in HOAs, it's their choice. eHam has a forum for that topic with ideas for stealth antennas. But if anyone is just as satisfied communicating with other hams via the internet, good for them.

I visited K4HB.com. It looks like you have not upgraded it since 1985. Let me know if you would like some help with it.

K4HB.com wasn't around in 1985, it was started in 2000. That's shown at the bottom of the home page. By upgraded, I guess you're talking about modern styles for web pages. The site is updated regularly, I do that every time I get confirmations for new band countries, grids, prefixs, IOTAs, etc. As for changing the format to something new, thanks for the offer, but no thank you. I'm old school and rather leave it like it is.



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