The RAIN Report Archive | The Rain Hamcast

The RAIN Report for 06-16-2019

This is the very last RAIN Report
Welcome, fellow hams and shortwave listeners to the very last RAIN Report. I’m Will Rogers, K5WLR, reporting from Fayetteville, AR.

Well, where to begin in placing the capstone on what was previously known as the RP Report and now known as the Radio Amateur Information Network? The RAIN Hamcast, the Audio Ham Radio Feature Magazine of the Internet, has run from 1990 until 2019 under the command and control of its head cook and bottle washer, Hap Holly, KC9RP.

First, a tip of the RAIN cap goes to all of you who allowed us to interview you and/or use sources of information from you in the preparation of programs for the RAIN Reports. Among those that Hap interviewed were Rich Moseson, W2VU of CQ Magazine, Wayne Green, W2NSD (SK), of 73 Magazine fame, Carol Perry, WB2MGP, an accomplished middle school teacher and Dayton Hamvention Ham of the Year, and Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH formerly of the FCC. Another would be Gordon West, W5YI, who provided a number of forum segments from the Hamvention over the years. Others included Joe Mel K0OV, Shirley Roberts N8LX, a blind ham friend from the Hamvention, and many, many others. To each and every one of you, thank you ever so much!

Also, I certainly want to include all of you, our faithful listeners, for without you, there would not have been any reason for the RP Reports and RAIN. Thank you for being there!

Hap has had the able assistance of many fellow hams and voices over the years. Here are but a few samples of some of them. First, a group Hap sent me…

[Insert RAIN Report Voices from Hap]

And here are some I culled from the RAIN Report website.

[Insert RAIN Report Voices from Website]

These samples do not include all of those voices that were a part of the RP Reports and the RAIN Reports over the years. Unfortunately, the archive I had available to me began in 2004. Please forgive me if your name or voice has been lost in the mists of time. To all of you who contributed to this effort, a great big RAIN thank you!

Hap was able to obtain some email kudos about RAIN.

From Rob Orr, K9RST

I am so sorry to hear that the RAIN Report is soon to be retired. You have done a wonderful job with this service over the years. It has become a consistent staple of our net’s life. I certainly understand the burden of producing such programs can be, especially when you aren’t making big bucks. Facing deadlines and weekly programming is draining. We will miss your perspectives, humor and personality. We understand your position and just wanted to say how grateful I am for your dedication to the ham radio community.

Best,

Bob

And from Mark Klocksin, WA9IVH

Hap, I just heard the news (via the RAIN REPORT!) that you’re stopping production. Wow. The end of an era!

Frankly, it’s amazing that you were able to do this for so long! Anyone else would have burned out long ago. And I suspect it will turn out to be a relief for you…perhaps you’re already at that stage. And I’m sure Stephanie supported this decision as well.

73, OM, and thanks for all you’ve done for our fabulous hobby!

Mark

Other kudos came in the form of audio files…

[Insert Audio Files AA9KK, WA0RCR, KD2GUT]

Lady and gentlemen, thank you for your kudos!

Over the years, the RAIN Reports have woven a rich tapestry of what is the king of hobbies, amateur radio. But don’t take my word for it, Just point your web browser to therainreport.com and select the archive section. Click on any of the many selections available there and begin your own exploration of the wonders of ham radio as presented by the RAIN Reports.

So, let’s get back to that capstone I mentioned earlier. The capstone would read as follows:

On the first line: RP Reports
On the second line: Radio Amateur Information Network
On the third line; 1990-2019

I would like to concentrate on the third line. The first number is the year the RP Reports was started. The second number is the year the Radio Amateur Information Network ceased production. While those two numbers are important, the most important part of that third line is the dash. For within that dash is contained ALL of the work that was done in those 29 years the RP Reports and RAIN existed. And, if I may add, there was one heck of a lot done in those 29 years! So, to you, Hap, a hearty JOB WELL DONE! And, thank you for your friendship, Hap.

Now, for the final time, on behalf of our founder and producer, Hap Holly, KC9RP, and from all of us, both past and present, who have been involved with the RP Reports and the Radio Amateur Information Network, I’m Will Rogers, K5WLR, wishing all of you, our loyal listeners, very 73. The RAIN Hamcast is Copyright 1990-2019, RAIN, all rights reserved. And always, always remember to KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 06-02-2019

This is the RAIN Report for June 1, 2019; I’m WR.K5WLR. This week I’m seeking your help. The RAIN Hamcast is closing up shop after 30 years of production. RAIN Founder and Producer, HH/KC9RP and I are attempting to put together a ‘farewell’ to the RAIN Report. But we need you to be part of it. While we have located a few folks from the RAIN Report from some years back, there are a number of you we haven’t. If you voiced some scripts from past RAIN Reports or were interviewed for it and would like to participate in our tribute, PLEASE send us a 1-minute voice or text file about your experience with the RAIN Report. You can review the RAIN archive on therainreport.com to help refresh your memory. The only catch is our archive only goes back to around 2004. If you know you were heard on the RAIN Report sometime between 1990 and 2019, we’d REALLY like to have you participate in our Farewell. Please send your text or voice file (not to exceed 10 MB) file as an email attachment to hap@therainreport.com. That’s h hap (one P) @therainreport.com. We’ll piece your text and audio responses together over the next several weeks into what we hope will be a two-part farewell to the RAIN Report. Hope we hear from you.In the meantime, very 73 from the Radio Amateur Information Network.

The RAIN Report for 05-25-2019

Here on the May 25, 2019 RAIN Report we present the third and final excerpt from a 1990 conversation with Bill Pasternak/WA6ITF, who was one of Hap’s two audio mentors in the early to mid 80s. Bill was the co-Founder of the Amateur Radio Newsline, formerly Westlink Radio in 1977. He was recipient of the Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award in 1981; and recipient of the Hamvention Ham of the Year Award in 1989. Writing news copy is a rare talent, regardless if that script is being prepared for the six o’clock network news or for Newsline. Bill wrote most of the copy for Newsline from 1977 ’til his passing, June 11, 2015. First licensed in 1958, Bill retired from the videoo side of the broadcast industry with Fox television in Los Angeles in 2012. 1990 P3 16M] The early 80s Newsline were a major influence in Hap’s early ham radio audio production career. Though Bill became a silent key on 06-11-15, Newsline continues today under the tutelage of Caryn Murray/KD2GUT. Hap has accepted an invitation to become jpart of the Newsline family.

The RAIN Report for 05-18-2019

Did yoo have an elmer or mentor that influenced you for good as a young ham? RAIN Founder HH/KC9RP did in the early to mid 80s. That mentor was Bill Pasternak/WA6ITF. Bill was co-founder of the Amateur Radio Newsline, formerly Westlink Radio in 1977. While Bill’s voice was not heard on a lot of RAIN Report hamcasts over the last 29-plus years, Bill’s experience and support played a major role in Hap’s growth in his early production years. While Hap is still alive and well, Bill Pasternak has been gone several years. In Bill’s honor Hap opted to run his three-part interview with Bill from 1990 as the last three RAIN Reports. Here’s part 2 of that conversation from 1990. We’ll bring you our third and final excerpt from their conversation next week. In case you’re wondering, Hap and Stephanie did not get to the Hamvention…first time in 30 years!
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2019 RAIN, all rights reserved. For another week or two this hamcast will update Saturday mornings on therainreport.com; and Saturday evenings via WTWW from Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHz. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 05-11-2019

This is the Best of RAIN for May 11, 2019; introduced by Will Rogers/K5WLR. This week’s memory from the RAIN archives features a conversation with the late Bill Pasternak/WA6ITF. Hap Holly/KC9RP credits Bill as being one of his two mentors back in the early 80s. While you may not recognize who Bill was, he was co-founder of the Amateur Radio Newsline (formerly West link Radio) in 1977. Hap interviewed Bill in 1990. Here’s part 1 of that conversation. [1990 P1 15M] Next week we’ll bring you our second and final excerpt from Hap Holly/KC9RP’s 1990 conversation with Bill. We’ll wrap up their conversation next time. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 05-05-2019

This is the Best of RAIN for May 4, 2019; Will Rogers/K5WLR with another memory from the RAIN archives. This one featuring a QSOToday podcast interview with Art Bell/W6OBB. Walk into a radio station even now and you’re likely to find a ham or three keeping that station on the air. Back in the 80’s an aspiring young announcer named Art Bell made his home on radio station KSBK, on the island of Okinawa . It wasn’t until 1993 to 2002 that Art would be heard literally coast to coast on more than 500 commercial radio stations stateside by some 10,000,000 listeners in the wee hours each night. Sadly, Art became a silent key April 13, 2018. To celebrate the career of this remarkable communicator and his voice, The RAIN Hamcast brought you the essence of an hour-long conversation QSOToday’s Eric Guth/4Z1UG conducted with Art three years ago. Here’s the conclusion of that conversation. [2018 P2 18m] KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 04-27-2019

This is the Best of RAIN for April 27, 2019. I’m Will Rogers/K5WLR with another memory from the RAIN archives. This is a very special RAIN Report, featuring a QSOToday podcast interview with Art Bell/W6OVB. Art hosted a commercial radio show from 1993 to 2002 on more than 500 stations nationwide and, according to Wikipedia, was heard nightly in the wee hours by more than 10 million listeners. The show was called Coast to Coast A.M. Art became a silent key, April 13, 2016. Earlier that year Eric Guth/4Z1UG spoke with this remarkable communicator. This is part 1 of that conversation.
[2016 P1 18M] According to Wikipedia, Art fielded topics from the paranormal, the occult, and ufo’s, to proto science and pseudo-science. Sadly, Art became a silent key on April 13, 2016. We’ll hear the conclusion to this interview next time. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; and on WTWW from Lebanon, TN on shortwave…5.085 kHz. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 04-20-2019

Here’s a commentary we just received from Rob Orr, K9RST. Rob has been a ham for about 25 years, pursuing his youthful interest in short wave listening. While an early interest in commercial radio caught his attention, he ended up actually working in the film and video business. Today he is president of rob orr productions, makers of video for business, documentary and advocacy. Rob has been president of the North Shore Radio Club in Chicago’s northern suburbs for 10 years. He has lead a group of 140 ham radio operators in providing radio support for the Chicago marathon for the past 11 years. Rob Has been active with many aspect of public service including volunteering 10 years with the American Red Cross. A resident of Glenview, IL. Rob and his wife have two adult children; and two grandchildren. We present his commentary called Being Prepared. (2019 10M) You can read his commentary mmentary on nS9RC.org. If Hap can get Skype to function properly on his Windows 7 box again, he hopes to bring you a preview of the Dayton Hamvention, scheduled for May 16 through 18 in Xenia, OH. The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2019 RAIN, all rights are reserved. This hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; and on shortwave via WTWW, on 5.085 from Lebanon, TN Saturday evening. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 04-13-2019

For April 12, 2019 this is the Best of the RAIN Report, a weekly hamcast Hap Holly, KC9RP produced for 29 years beginning in 1990. One of the notables Hap occasionally featured in the mid to late 90s was Riley Hollingsworth/K4ZDH, Special Counsel with the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission. In fact for a few years in the late 1990s, Riley voiced a weekly voice posting produced by RAIN Founder Hap Holly/KC9RP called the FCC Enforcement Log with Riley Hollingsworth. Unfortunately the RAIN archives don’t include any of Riley’s weekly enforcement log. In 1999 Riley gave a presentation at the Dayton Hamvention during the FCC forum. That talk was aired as a RAIN Report in 2000. Here it is, voiced by a most non burocratic FCCburocrat. [2000 19M] Riley retired from the FCC in 2008. He was the classiest FCC burocrat to ever speak at the Dayton Hamvention FCC forum. Unfortunately the “way-back machine” has some of Riley’s FCC Enforcement Log, but in Real Audio.
The Best of RAIN updates Saturday on therainreport.com; and on WTWW SW from Lebanon, TN on 5.085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 04-06-2019

For April 5, 2019 this is the Best of the RAIN Report, a weekly hamcast Hap Holly, KC9RP produced for 29 years beginning in 1990. One of the notables Hap occasionally featured in the mid to late 90s was Wayne Green/W2NSD. the founder and for decades publisher of 73 magazine. For over a year Hap featured Wayne weekly in a 10-minute audio column Wayne called “Wayne Green Pontificates”. And pontificate he did. Here is one of those columns Produced by Hap Holly/KC9RP. [1998 10M] Wayne became a silent key in 2013.
I have a question for our blind listeners: Have you used an audio production piece of software called Zoom (Z-o-o-m? Hap Holly has used Skype for years but always has had challenges when Microsoft introduced new versions of it, like the current one, 8.42. Hap’s email is hap (h-a-p @therainreport.com. The Best of RAIN updates Saturday on therainreport.com; and on WTWW SW from Lebanon, TN on 5.085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 03-30-2019

For March 30, 2019 this is the Best of the hamcasts Hap’s produced over 29 years of RAIN Reports. This week we conclude a 1997 hamcast called Gingrich, Ethics &the ECPA. It’s the conclusion of an interview Hap conducted in 1997 with Ben Kobb/KC5CW, a telecommunications reporter for several industry publications in the Washington DC area; Editor and Publisher of the Radio Guide, a handbook of the radio spectrum; and expert on the ECPA, Electronic Communications Privacy Act. [1997 P2 12M] A few of you have asked if Hap is going to produce any more RAIN Reports. The answer is yes and no. He plans to produce a RAIN Report periodically but not weekly as he did from 1990 to the end of 2018. He intends to post the Best of RAIN until mid-May. After that he hopes to occasionally surprise us with something. The RAIN archives will remain on line and available for
transmission. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 03-23-2019

This is the Best of RAIN for March 23, 2019. This week we return to the year 1997. Congress got off to a decidedly rocky start that year. The Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, was targeted for ethics violations. Then Democrat Jim McDermid stepped down as House Ethics Committee Chairman for divulging a tape recording of a cellular phone call involving Gingrich. In the latter incident a Florida couple reportedly intercepted and taped a cellular phone call made by Gingrich, turned it over to McDermit, who in turn released it to the New York Times for publication. Just what federal laws were broken if any? RAIN Founder, Hap Holly spoke with Ben Cobb/KC5CW, a telecommunications reporter for several industry publications in the Washington DC area; Editor and Publisher of the Radio Guide, a handbook of the radio spectrum; and expert on the E-C-P-A, Electronic Communications Privacy Act. We’ll conclude Hap’s 1997 interview with Ben next time. [1997] P1 17M)
This is the Best of RAIN for March 23, 2019. This week we return to the year 1997. Congress got off to a decidedly rocky start that year. The Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, was targeted for ethics violations. Then Democrat Jim McDermid stepped down as House Ethics Committee Chairman for divulging a tape recording of a cellular phone call involving Gingrich. In the latter incident a Florida couple reportedly intercepted and taped a cellular phone call made by Gingrich, turned it over to McDermit, who in turn released it to the New York Times for publication. Just what federal laws were broken if any? RAIN Founder, Hap Holly spoke with Ben Cobb/KC5CW, a telecommunications reporter for several industry publications in the Washington DC area; Editor and Publisher of the Radio Guide, a handbook of the radio spectrum; and expert on the E-C-P-A, Electronic Communications Privacy Act. We’ll conclude Hap’s 1997 interview with Ben next time. [1997] P1 17M)
This IS the Best of RAIN, which updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; and Saturday evenings on shortwave via WTTW, Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 03-17-2019

For the Ides of March, 2019 this is the BEST of RAIN. Be advised this two-part RAIN Report interview with Al Lotze/W6RQ about WWV and the sun first aired in 1994; Al became a silent key in 2000. [1994] 19M This has been another Best of RAIN in which RAIN’s Founder, HH/KC9RP has been picking out some of the best of the RAIN archives, something he’ll be doing until sometime in May. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com. You can hear this hamcast on shortwave Saturday nights on WTWW from Lebanon, TN. on 5085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 03-09-2019

For March 9, 2019 this is the BEST of RAIN; I’m WR/K5WLR. In the early to mid 60s the Swan Company was the mainstay in ham radio with their release of single sideband mono-band radios like the SW120, SW140 and SW175. followed by multiband transceivers like their 240, 350 and 400. In 1966 Swan released the Swan 500, which was similar to its predecessor, the 350. In fact both transceivers used the same final tubes, a pair of 6FH5 sweep tubes. The 350 was rated at 350 watts(peep envelope power); the 500 was rated at 500 watts. Why? We now continue the 1993 interview RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP conducted with Swan’s founder Herb Johnson/W6QKI.
[1993 P2 17m] The BEST of RAIN updates Saturdays on therainreport.com. These hamcasts air Saturday nights around 7:30 PM central on WTTW, which broadcasts out of Lebanon, TN on 5085 KHZ. keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 03-02-2019

For March 2, 2019 this is the BEST of RAIN: Once upon a time there was no ham gear imported from Japan. In the early 60s there were only two domestic manufacturers of single sideband ham gear stateside. One was Collins…the other Swan. Swan later became Cubic, and later Cubic was replaced by Atlas…and so on. Let’s start at the very beginning of the Swan-Atlas story. Swan’s founder was Herb Johnson/W6QKI from Cardiff, CA. Herb became a license ham in 1936 while in high school. In 1940 he was scheduled to begin attending Ohio State University…He never got there because Dawson Bliley/W8GU of the Bliley Crystal company put Herb to work for the next 13 years doing electrical and design work in self-excited oscillators and crystals. In 1953 Herb left Bliley and went to work for the Gonsett company in CA., where he designed the G66 Amateur Band and broadcast band mobile receiver and matching G77 mobile amateur transmitter. Three years later in 1956 Herb continued his design work and consulting for Gonsett from his new home in Benson, Arizona. Herb left Gonsett in 1959; and that’s where Herb Johnson/W6QKI picked up the story with Hap Holly. [1993 P1 18M] This was P1 of The Swan-Atlas Story, a 1993 interview with Herb Johnson/W6QKI, the man behind Swan and Atlas Radio. We’ll conclude the Swan-Atlas Story next time.
The BEST of the RAIN Report updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; this hamcast airs Saturday evenings on WTTW out of Lebanon, TN on 5.085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 02-23-2019

This is the best of RAIN for Feb. 23, 2019. On Sept. 12, 1988, Hurricane Gilbert leveled the western Caribbean island of Jamaica with 180-mile-per-hour winds and 12 inches of rain. Dave remembered it well as he was on the 7th floor of Montego Bay’s largest hotel. Now a silent key, Dave was a broadcast cable consultant by profession, and a licensed ham since 1955. [1991] 15M] Dave was interviewed by RAIN Founder, Hap Holly/KC9RP at the 1991 Dayton Hamvention. These RAIN Reports are updated Saturdays on therainreport.com. These weekly hamcasts can be heard Saturday evenings around 7:30 PM on the shortwave station WTWW from Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 02-15-2019

This is the Best of RAIN, Feb. 16, 2019. I’m WR/K5WLR. This week we bring you another of Hap’s fave RAIN Reports, this one from 1991. You who were frequent listeners to the weekly Amateur Radio Newsline Report then, you may recall this sad story voiced by Andy Darima/N9TCQ (Dar-EE-ma). (audio insert) While the majority of stateside hams had forgotten about Hurricane Gilbert in the aftermath of the Armeenian quake, Hurricane Hugo, and the northern California quakes of that decade, David Porter/K2BPP never forgot the three harrowing days he endured watching Hurricane Gilbert flattened the Carribean island of Jamaica Sept. 12-15, 1988. A licensed ham since 1955 Porter was a broadcast cable consultant. The following is part 1 of the dramatic tale he shared with RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP at the 1991 Dayton Hamvention. [1991 16M] We’ll conclude Hap Holly/KC9RP’s Dayton Hamvention interview from 1991 next time.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2019 RAIN, all rights are reserved. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; You can catch this hamcast Saturday evenings around 7:30 PM CST on shortwave station WTWW from Lebanon, TN. on 5085 kHZ.. I’m WR/K5WLR.
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 02-09-2019

This is the Best of RAIN, Feb. 9, 2019. This week we bring you another of Hap’s fave RAIN Reports, this one from 1990, the first year of the RAIN Report. It’s a talk entitled “My Early Days as A Ham” voiced by Dick Helton/W9CTY, for years a familiar voice on Chicago radio, specifically WBBM News Radio 78. This talk was delivered before the North Short Radio Club in Highland Park, IL. [1990 25M] According to the KNX website Dick is still broadcasting weekday mornings from 5:00 to 10:00.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2019 RAIN, all rights reserved. The RAIN Hamcast updates on therainreport.com, Saturdays. You can catch this hamcast Saturday evenings around 7:30 PM CST on shortwave station WTWW from Lebanon, TN. on 5085 kHZ.. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 02-01-2019

This is the Best of RAIN, Feb. 2, 2019. This week we conclude a gem from the RAIN archive that is one of Hap’s all-time faves. It is called “Your Code Record is Cracked”. As with our first two gems we brought you in January, this one originally aired as one of Hap’s RP Reports, Vol. 3 #20. This two-part RP Report was narrated by silent key Bill Pasternak/WA6ITF, co-founder of the Amateur Radio Newsline, formerly Westlink Radio. Bill introduces part 2 of Your Code Record is Cracked”. [1989 P2 23M] Your Code Record is Cracked” was voiced by Hollywood movie producer Dave Bell/W6AQ at the 1989 Dayton Hamvention banquet. Dave’s talk was one of the most popular Dayton Hamvention excerpts that aired prior to the introduction of the RAIN Reports in 1990.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2019 RAIN, all rights reserved. The RAIN Hamcast updates on therainreport.com, Saturdays. You can catch this hamcast Saturday around 7:30 PM CST on shortwave station WTWW from Lebanon, TN. on 5085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 01-26-2019

This is the Best of RAIN, January 26, 2019. This week we pull out a gem from the RAIN archive that was one of Hap’s all-time faves. It was called “Your Code Record is Cracked”. As with our first two gems we brought you the last two weeks, this one originally aired as one of Hap’s RP Reports, Vol. 3 #19&20. This two-part RP Report was narrated by silent key Bill Pasternak/WA6ITF, co-founder of the Amateur Radio Newsline, formerly known as Westlink Radio. Here he is with part one of Your Code Record is Cracked”. [1989 P1 20M]
Dave Bell/W6AQ’s talk was one of the most popular Dayton Hamvention forum excerpts that aired just prior to the RAIN Reports in 1989. Ah, but you’ve only heard the first part of Dave Bell’s humorous talk he gave 30 years ago at the Dayton Hamvention. We’ll bring you the conclusion to Your Code Record is Cracked next week.
The RAIN Repord is copyright 1990-2019 RAIN, all rights reserved. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com. and can be heard Saturday around 7:30 PM CST on WTWW out of Lebanon, TN. on 5085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 01-19-2019

This is the Best of RAIN, January 19, 2019. As mentioned last time For the next four-plus months we’re going to dig up some of Hap’s fave productions going back to this one, Vol. 1 #24 from 1987 during what was known then as the RP Report. This is part 2 of Hap’s first interview with Carol Perry/WB2MGP, who was named that year (1987) the Dayton Hamvention Ham of the Year. {1987.Each fall more than a million youngsters trudged back to school in New York city. 1,800 of them to Rocco Laurie School #72. Of those more than 350 enrolled in a class that changed many of their lives. The class was Amateur Radio. The teacher was Carol Perry/WB2MGP. A Staten Island, New York resident for decades, Carol Perry taught Amateur Radio full time from 1981 to 2011; she’s been a licensed ham operator since 1975. Carol was the recipient of the coveted 1987 Radio Amateur of the Year plaque by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association in Dayton, OH. This is part two of a very special interview with THIS very special lady, conducted bby Hap Holly/KC9RP, RAIN’s Founder and Executive Producer for more than 30 years! Hap picks it up here.

CLOSE: the Best of RAIN is copyright 1990-2019 RAIN, all rights reserved. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; and on WTWW shortwave out of Lebanon, TN. on 5085 Mhz around 7:30 PM CST. I’ll be back next week to bring you another memorable gem from the Radio Amateur Information Network archive. I’m WR/K5WLR bidding you very 73 from the RAIN Report. KEEP ON HAMMING!,

The RAIN Report for 01-12-2019

Please Note that because of the pacing of this interview, this RAIN Report has two ID breaks.

We’re suggesting you investigate the RAIN archive where you will find a treasure of material from the 1990s or 2000s. Just be sure to properly identify the complete audio file you use. And you may want to begin downloading Newsline for your net (arnewsline.org) in place of the RAIN Report.

In my conversation with Hap about the future of the RAIN Report, or rather the lack thereof, Hap reports that The RAIN Hamcast is facing the same aging, financial, and manpower issues that Amateur Radio is facing nationwide. The Amateur Radio Newsline faced its own demise when its co-founder, Bill Pasternak/WA6ITF passed on several years ago. For some months what we refer to as Newsline Line was defunct. Such is the case today with the RAIN Report hamcast. Just to set the record straight, Hap Holly/KC9RP is alive and well – for the most part anyway. Hap, his long-time wife Stephanie/KA9WKD, Vern Jackson/WA0RCR nor his helpful wife, Dottie/KD0VN intend to make the sojourn to Hamvention this May for the reasons offered in this week’s interview with Hap. His interviewer, Will Rogers/K5WLR, certainly would like to help set up the necessary audio equipment with which to record the forums in all 5 Hamvention forum rooms but he too reports to having to deal with ambulatory issues that prevent him from traveling to the Hamvention let alone being able to participate in Hamvention activities for the three days. Keep in mind Hap has relied upon the many hours of audio forums during the Hamvention annually for a great deal of his audio program material since the late 1980s. Maybe someone will come along to take Hap’s place or at least assist him in helping to supply forum audio from the Dayton Hamvention, the Huntsville Ham fest , or elsewhere. In the meantime you’ll find LOTS of RAIN archived on the RAIN Archive pages. Check back occasionally and see if we’ve added anything. You can always drop Hap an email to hap@therainreport.com. Many thanks to WTWW on 5.085 MHz from Lebanon, TN, and all our faithful listeners worldwide over the years, THANK YOU for your input and feedback. the Radio Amateur Information Network.

KEEP ON HAMMING!!!

The RAIN Report for 01-05-2019

Please Note that because of the pacing of this interview, this RAIN Report has two ID breaks.

KEEP ON HAMMING!!!

The RAIN Report for 12-16-2018

So what is ham radio anyway? This week we have a UK perspective. When one hears a discussion about Amateur Radio’s interfacing with digital technology, like EchoLink, JT68, JT8 and even RTTY, invaribly some 80-meter redneck has nothing better to say than “Ahhhh, that’s not real ham radio. So just what is real ham radio? For a European perspective For a European perspective we turned to Chris Rollinson. Chris recently penned and voiced a commentary addressing this question. [2018] )15M)MP3

The RAIN Report for 12-01-2018

The RAINREPORT is challenging you to find a RAIN Report from the archive worthy of your next net. RAIN’s Founder, Hap Holly/KC9RP has been down for the count. See what you can find in the Archive that would be a good choice. The RAIN Hamcast will return next week.

The RAIN Report for 11-17-2018

how can you get good microphone audio on Echo link, Skype, or other computer application? In the second excerpt from our Skype conversation with Rock-n-roll Hall of Famer, Bob Heil, K9EID, ne was talking about the importance of parametric equalization in the mic audio chain in your computer. Here’s our third and final excerpt (11-17-18) from Hap Holly/KC9RP’s hour-long conversation with Bob covering the facts about microphones. [2018 12M] Bob Heil/K9EID has sold well over 100,000 Heil Sound microphones during his illustrious audio career. If you open up your modern day ham transceiver, chances are you’ll find his handiwork in the audio section and his HC3 or HC4 elements in the microphone plugged into your base or mobile transceiver. Mega thanks to Bob for his time and expertise. All three parts of Hap’s conversation with Bob are now posted permanently on the archive page on therainreport.com. As with all RAIN Reports, these three may be transmitted in their entirety on Amateur Radio. You can catch Bob Wednesday evenings around 8:30 CST on his “Ham Nation” show on WTWW from Lebanon, TN on 5.085 kHz. You likewise can catch the RAIN Report hamcast Saturdays around 7:30 CST following Newsline at 7:00. on WTWW, 5.085 kHZ The RAIN Hamcast hamcast updates Saturday morning on therainreport.com. if you can’t tune in WTWW where you are, you can catch Newsline and the RAIN Report on WTWW.com and WTWW via Alexa. on your Smart Speaker Happy Thanksgiving to you all and KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 11-11-2018

So what microphone does Bob Heil detest the most? The microphone world was set on its collective ‘ear’ when Bob Heil/K9EID introduced Heil Sound microphones decades ago. Open up your mic attached to your modern day ham transceiver and chances are you’ll find his handiwork in the audio section. His HC3 or HC4 mic element will likely be found in the microphone of said transceiver. In fact Bob has sold well over 100,000 of his “HC” microphone elements since 1982. But what is it about those desk mics and hand mics that drove him to distraction all those years ago? You’ll learn in this the Nov. 10 RAIN Report, our 2nd of three excerpts from an hour-long conversation RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP had with this audio pioneer. [2018 17M] One more round with Bob next time. parts 1 and 2 of our Skype call with Bob will be found on therainreport.com.
This hamcast updates Saturday morning on therainreport.com, and Saturday evenings around 9:00 CST on WTWW, Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHZ.
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 11-09-2018

The RAIN Report for 11-02-2018

The RAIN Report for Nov. 3 asked the question: What’s your favorite microphone in your ham shack? You may change your mind after you listen to the next three RAIN Reports. The guy who may change your mind is Bob Heil/K9EID, the only microphone man in the Rock-n-roll hall of fame. Bob has sold well over 100,000 microphones of his own design. RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP recently spoke with Bob for more than an hour on Skype about Bob’s preferred microphone and those he absolutely despises. This is our first excerpt from that interview. [2018 P1 17M]
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights are reserved. This hamcast updates Saturday morning on therainreport.com; and Saturday evenings on shortwave station WTWW from Lebanon, TN on 5.085 MHz. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 10-27-2018

Homebrewing is alive and well. In fact this is the ‘golden age of diy Ham Radio’ according to George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU, cohost of the Ham Radio Work Bench podcast. [2018 14M] This is an excerpt from a 2018 Dayton Hamvention forum presentation by George.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights are reserved. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturday mornings on therainreport.com, and Saturday evenings on WTWW, an international shortwave station out of Lebanon, TN around 9:00 CDT on 5.085 kHz KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 10-20-2018

If you’re a newcomer to a local repeater here on Oct. 20, but haven’t listened to it very long, you may be puzzled by the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of that repeater. One ham who has some definite ideas about good repeater etiquette is Mitch Stern/W1SJ, a Vermont ham who is an inveterate DX’er, contester, and public service net control station. [1999 11M) Excerpted from his 1999 Dayton Hamvention forum talk. Remember local traditions and customs may vary from repeater to repeater.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN All rights reserved. This weekly hamcast updates on therainreport.com Saturday mornings; and on international shortwave station, WTWW, Lebanon, TN Saturday night Central time on 5.085 kHZ around 9:00 o’c.

The RAIN Report for 10-12-2018

This is the RAIN Report for Oct. 13. Assemble a room full of yl’s whose spouses are hams. Then take a poll as to how many of those yl’s are favorably disposed toward ham radio. You might be surprised how few of those ladies have little if any tolerance for this hobby their husbands devote so much time to. But that family dynamic is meant for another RAIN Report. A MOST notable exception are Dan and Maline Fish, the co-owners of Radio City, a ham radio store near MNPLS that will be closing in December after 34 successful years in business. During Hap Holly/KC9RP’s conversation with Dan/KB0XC, he credited a great deal of the store’s success to Maline. [2018 18M] their story is a testament to what a couple can accomplish when both are on…the same frequency.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. This weekly hamcast updates Saturday mornings on therainreport.com, and Saturday evenings immediately following the Amateur Radio Newsline around 9:00 on WTWW shortwave out of Lebanon, TN on 5.085 kHz.KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 10-05-2018

This is the RAIN Report for Oct. 6. Independently-owned ham radio stores are few and far between. Radio City has weathered a number of business storms since opening its doors in the mid 1980s. The store is a rarity in ham radio circles; its owners are Dan and Maline Fish. they have shared the ownership 50/50 since its opening 34 years ago. Radio City, located in suburban MNPLS, MN. Is scheduled to close in early December. For the next two RAIN Report hamcasts we’ll hear RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP conversing with Dan about some of the challenges that owning and maintaining a successful brick and mortar ham store present. It all started for Dan in 1973. [2018 19M]
How has this store outlasted a number of other ham radio stores nationwide? We’ll find out next time.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. This hamcast updates Saturday mornings on therainreport.com; and on shortwave Saturday evenings on WWTWW out of Lebanon, TN on 5.085 kHZ after the Amateur Radio Newsline.
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 09-29-2018

From the studios of the Radio Amateur Information Network, this is the RAIN Report for Sept. 29. One of the most bombastic hams to use a national ham magazine he published to pontificate about his disperate views on life in the 90’s was Wayne Greene/W2NSD (Never Say Die). One of the early interviews RAIN Founder and Producer, Hap Holly/KC9RP, conducted was with Wayne in 1991. In fact later that decade Wayne voiced a weekly audio podcast for RAIN that Hap named Wayne Greene Pontificates. And pontificate he did! But in 1991 someone wrote a book about Wayne called See Wayne Run, Run Wayne Run. In those years Wayne Greene was a household name to many, especially those who had the opportunity to read his outspoken monthly columns in ’73’ magazine. Incidentally, Wayne was the founder of ’73’ in 1960. As Hap’s interview with Wayne began, he learned the author of the anti W2NSD book was reportedly a Mr. G. Williamson. Wayne claimed G. Williamson was in fact his ex-wife. {1991} 12) Wayne Greene became a SK on Sept. 13, 2013.

The RAIN Report for 09-22-2018

P-S-E-W-G. Try to say that phonetically! We won’t but we will hear just what P-S-E-W-G is in the Sept. 22 RAIN Report. If you were to peruse a list of the myriad committees and associated groups affiliated with the ARRL, the national organization of Amateur Radio, there’s one of which you may not be familiar. It’s P-S-E-W-G, otherwise known as the Public Service Enhancement Working Group. PSEWG was discussed during the ARRL forum at the 2018 Dayton Hamvention. The Chair of PSEWG is ARRL Great Lakes Division Director, Dale Williams, WA8EFK. Dale was introduced by forum moderator, ARRL President, Rick Roderick, K5UR. [2018 16M] Dale talks about some of the intricacies that have gone into the Public Service Enhancement Working Group, an ARRL working committee that is endeavoring to standardize the national innerworkings of ARES, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service; and NTS, the National Traffic System.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights are reserved. This hamcast updates Saturday morning on therainreport.com; and Saturday evenings around 9:00 on WTWW shortwave from Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHZ Oh, if you run into Ted Randal at WTWW, please ask him to contact RAIN Founder & Producer, Hap Holly/KC9RP. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 09-15-2018

These days it’s not unusual to find an EchoLink interface on local VHF and UHF repeaters worldwide. For the uninitiated, EchoLink is a software package that combines the best of Amateur Radio and the Internet. The man behind EchoLink is Jonathan Taylor/K1RFD. Jonathan talked about “combining the old with the new” in a 2004 Dayton Hamvention talk. [2005 12M] Ok, this presentation is a bit dated, going back 14 years. This is just a crass way of announcing that the RAIN archives now goes back to the beginning of 2004, more than 2 years further back than ever before. Check out the extended archives on therainreport.com.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights ARE reserved. This hamcast generally updates Saturday morning on therainreport.com; and Saturday evenings on shortwave station WTWW from Lebanon, TN around 9:00 PM CDT on 5085 kHZ.
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 09-08-2018

So just what is the new paradigm in Amateur Radio? We find out in this RAIN Report for Sept. 8. Paradigm is a term not often used but is defined by Meriam Webster as: “A philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated.” So just how does this term fit into Amateur Radio today? During an ARRL forum at the 2018 Dayton Hamvention Rick Roderick, K5UR, President of the ARRL, the national organization of Amateur Radio, elaborated on his vision of Amateur Radio’s new paradigm. [2018 14M. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturday mornings on therainreport.com and Saturday evenings on the Lebanon, TN shortwave powerhouse, WTWW on 5085 kHZ around 9:00 CDT.
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 09-01-2018

The September 1 RAIN Report answers the vexing question: What’s the longest-running ham info service on 160 meters? It’s the Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter out of Wentzville, MO. Its founder and producer is Vern Jackson/WA0RCR. Now his name won’t be familiar to a number of you. However virtually every excerpt that you hear on these RAIN Reports from Dayton Hamvention forums is due to Vern’s efforts setting up the audio cabling in each of the four forum rooms to our recording devices every year since RAIN’s inception more than 28 years ago. So just how did this Missouri radio broadcast engineer get into the Amateur Radio info biz? RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP spoke with Vern in the RAIN booth last spring at the 2018 Hamvention. [2018 20M] Vern and Hap are two long-time friends who dedicate MANY hours each week making these RAIN Reports possible. Vern’s weekly ham radio info service airs Saturday afternoon into the wee hours Sunday on 1860 kHZ from Wentzville, MO.

The RAIN Report for 08-25-2018

The August 25 RAIN Report gives you a 14-minute introduction to sdr, software defined radio. Software Defined Radio technology (SDR) has been around for a number of years. So just what is SDR? One non ham across the pond who knows is Steve Brightman, the mind behind SDRPlay LTD. Steve talked about SDR in a 2018 Dayton Hamvention forum. [2018 14M] For more info about SDR check out Steve’s website, sdrplay.com. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com and on shortwave Saturday evenings on 5085 kHZ from Lebanon, TN on WTWW around 9:00 PM CDT following the Amateur Radio Newsline. Oh, a last second congrats to RAIN Founder & Producer, Hap Holly/KC9RP and his forever young wife, Stephanie/KA9WKD , on celebrating 42 years of matrimonial bliss on Aug. 28. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 08-18-2018

The Amateur Radio Newsline announced that the 2018 Young Ham of the Year (YHOTY) is 14-year-old Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO. Bryant was interviewed on Ham Nation by Newsline’s Don Wilbanks, AE5DW. [2018 8M]

As we went to press on August 18 the Huntsville ham fest was in full swing. Congrats to Bryant for being selected Young Ham of the Year for 2018. So just how did the YHOTY program get started and by whom? Here’s the story behind YHOTY from the late Bill Pasternak/WA6ITF. RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP spoke with Bill in 1996. [1996 13M] Bill was co-founder of the Amateur Radio Newsline in 1979 and later founded the YHOTY award program in 1986. Bill became a silent key in 2015. The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. YHOTY Audio courtesy of Don Wilbanks, AE5DW. This hamcast typically updates Saturday morning on therainreport.com; and Saturday evenings on shortwave via WTWW, Lebanon, TN on 5.085 KHz around 9:00 PM CDT following the Amateur Radio Newsline. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 08-11-2018

By popular demand you’re going to hear more about What should be in your ham radio tool boxhere in the August 11 RAIN Report. Last week we learned about what you should have in your ham radio toolbox. The guy who should know is Ken Bailey, K1FUG, ARRL Emergency Preparedness Assistant and Continuing Education Program Administrator. By request, we’ll hear from Ken once again in a second excerpt from his 2018 Dayton Hamvention talk. [2018 17M] If you missed our first audio excerpt from his presentation, you’ll find it on the Archive page on therainreport.com.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. This hamcast typically updates Saturday morning on therainreport.com; and Saturday evenings on WTWW, a Lebanon, TN shortwave station on 5.085 KHz around 9:00 PM CDT following the Amateur Radio Newsline. Keep On Hamming!

The RAIN Report for 08-04-2018

More and more folks today are changing horses in the middle of life’s virtual stream. One ham who has is Bob Bruninga/WB4APR, the man whose Automated Packet Radio System radically changed Amateur Radio tracking back in the 1990s. In 2007 Bob discovered a whole new world of energy. He now has made getting off the power grid his life focus. Bob’s new world of energy is the electric vehicle (EV). He talked about his new crusade at the 2018 Dayton Hamvention in May. This is our second and final excerpt from that talk. [2018 15M]
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. This hamcast updates Saturday both on therainreport.com and on WTWW shortwave out of Lebanon, TN around 9:00 PM CDT on 5.085 MHz.
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 07-28-2018

The RAIN Report for 07-21-2018

This week on the July 21 RAIN Report we learn about a whole new world of energy. A-P-R-S…These four letter revolutionized Amateur Radio tracking in the mid-1990s. The man behind APRS is Bob Bruninga/WB4APR. But wait a darn minute here…Bob isn’t talking a lot about his Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) these days. If you attended his hour-long plus forum at the 2018 Dayton Hamvention last May, you already know his new crusade is: a whole new world of energy. [2018 14M] Bob will continue his whole new world of energy diatribe in our second excerpt from his Hamvention talk next time.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. This hamcast updates Saturday both on therainreport.com and on the Lebanon, TN shortwave juggernaut, WTWW, around 9:00 PM CDT Saturday night on 5.085 MHz
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 07-14-2018

Due to some problems with Hap’s primary PC we’ve had to delve into the RAIN archive to a shorter program, this from March, 2004. After the obligatory break around 9 minutes, we’ll bring you a 5-minute interview about the K9V (K9s for Veterans) special event coming up July 21. But first another approach to the Press introduced by Blair Alper/KA9SEQ. [2004 9M]

Tune around the ham bands most any weekend and you’ll hear one special event station or another. One that RAIN’s Founder, Hap Holly/KC9RP is going to participate in next Saturday, July 21, is the K9V special events station. Hap spoke with John Plecki/KD9BWY about this Chicago area event, scheduled for Saturday, July 21 near Joliet, IL. If you make contact with K9V, let them know you heard about this special event station on the RAIN Report. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 07-07-2018

In the late 1970s, the 220 band was gaining popularity nationwide. In Chicago a small publication emerged; it was called ‘220 Notes’. 220 Notes almost ceased publication in 1981 until a local 220 enthusiast, Art Reis/K9XI decided otherwise. RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP spoke to Art about 220 Notes and a short segment of interest to Chicago hams. [2018 15M] Art was a frequent contributor to the Bear Information Service in Chicago during the mid and late 80s and the RAIN Report in the 90s.
If you are in the Chicago area, you’ll want to stick around five additional minutes for a blurb about a ham fest coming to the Will County Fair Grounds next Saturday in Peotone. It’s the Kars Fest, Its Chair, Art Reis, conversed briefly about this upcoming Chicago-area ham fest with Hap. [5M] For details go to w9az.com.

The RAIN Report for 06-30-2018

Could you name off all the major Amateur Radio affiliated emergency preparedness organizations in the United States as we go to post on June 30?
During one of the ARRL-sponsored forums held at the 2018 Dayton Hamvention in mid-May, many of the major emergency preparedness organizations connected with Amateur Radio participated in a panel discussion narrated by ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager. Mike Corey/KI1U. This week we present an excerpt from that forum. [2018 19M] The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all right reserved. The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturday on therainreport.com. This hamcast is heard Saturday evenings around 9:00 CDT from Lebanon, TN on shortwave station WTWW on 5.085 MHz
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 06-23-2018

Were you active on packet radio in the 80s and 90s?Larry Miglore/KB9DIP, this week’s RAIN reader is probably one of the relative few who can say he was an Administrative Sysop on VHF/UHF packet in Chicago back then on what was called back in those years a packet bulletin board. One ham who remains active on HF packet here in 2018 is Sholto Fischer/K7TMG, who works at West Mountain Radio. This week we bring you an excerpt from Sholto’s presentation about HF Packet – Then and Now voiced at the 2018 Dayton Hamvention. [2018 18M] The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN all rights reserved. This hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; it can be heard around 9:00 PM Saturday evenings CDT on shortwave from Lebanon, TN on WTWW, 5085 kHZ KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 06-15-2018

More spacial updates coming your way in the June 16 RAIN Report. Look up in the star-studded heavens most any night and you may get a glimpse of the International Space Station, home of ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. AMSAT-NA, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, is likewise alive and well as you’ll hear in this week’s RAIN Report. We have two excerpts from the 2018 Dayton Hamvention AMSAT forum: The first voice you’ll hear is Frank Bauer/KA3HDO, International Chairman of the ARISS committee as well as Vice President of Human Space Flights for AMSAT-NA. Our second speaker will give us the low-down on AMSAT’s Fox cube sats; he’s Jerry Buxton/N0JY, Vice President of Engineering for AMSAT-NA. [2018 18M] To read more about AMSAT go to amsat.org.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights are reserved. This hamcast updates Saturday mornings on therainreport.com; and is heard on international shortwave Saturday evenings in north America on WTWW out of Lebanon, TN. on 5.085 MHz. Hope you’re going out to a local Field Day site June 23. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 06-09-2018

No doubt most of you have heard of AMSAT over the years. But likewise most of you are unaware of what AMSAT has been doing recently. Here’s the first short excerpt of two from the AMSAT forum held last month during the 2018 Dayton Hamvention. This week you’ll hear from Joe Spire/K6WAO, President of AMSAT since October, 2017. [2018 11M] Next week we’ll hear some nuts and bolts as to what lies in the future for the Amateur Radio satellite program from Frank Bougher/KA3HDO, the International Chair of the ARISS committee. The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights are reserved. This hamcast updates Saturday mornings on therainreport.com; it hamcast is heard on international shortwave Saturday evenings in north America on WTWW out of Lebanon, TN on 5.085 MHz Kind regards to two new Chicago area silent keys: Dan Atwell/WA9WVX and Art Appel/N9JKK. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 06-02-2018

Bob Heil and Ham Nation at Hamvention? Of course! Do you know what Ham Nation is? Have you ever even HEARD of Ham Nation? With some answers as to who and what Ham Nation is, here’s rock-n-roll hall of fame audio guru, Bob Heil/K9EID. [2018 13M] In this RAIN Report ham cast you’ll hear (Among others) Bob Heil/K9EID and George Thomas/W5JDX. The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. This ham cast updates Saturday mornings on therainreport.com; it is heard Saturday evenings after the Amateur Radio Newsline around 9:00 DCT on WTWW from Lebanon, TN on 5.085 MHz.
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 05-26-2018

So just what is HamSCI? We’ll find out in this week’s RAIN Report, the first excerpt from the 2018 Dayton Hamvention forums. we begin with a Tapper forum talk about HamSCI, the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, a major mover and shaker in Advance scientific research and understanding through amateur radio activities. The forum moderator was Nathaniel Frissell/W2NAF. [2018 12M] To learn more about HamSCI, check out their website hamsci.org. The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. This hamcast typically updates Saturdays on therainreport.com. You can hear this weekly podcast Saturday evenings around 9:00 PM CDT on Lebanon, TN shortwave station, WTWW on 5.085 MHz Now for all you who couldn’t get enough of those pork chop sammiches at this year’s Dayton Hamvention, I’m WR/K5WLR still gimping around but hoping to imbibe in the Xenia culinary delights next year.

The RAIN Report for 05-21-2018

The first time the RAIN crew visited the Dayton Hamvention was 1988, 30 years ago. While the RAIN Report technically did not exist until 1990, Hap Holly/KC9RP began producing audio ham radio programming for national consumption in 1988 under the name R.P. Report. This week we bring you one of those early interviews Hap did but which never showed up as a RAIN Report. It was a conversation with Jack Althouse/K6NY, the man behind Palomar Engineers in Escondido, Calif. [1988 9M]
I?m sad to report that Jack became a silent key in 2013. Next week we?ll bring you our first of many excerpts to come from Hamvention 2018. The RAIN Hamcast hamcast is copyright 1990-2018, all rights are reserved. It updates Saturdays on therainreport.com and on the Shortwave voice of Lebanon, TN, WTWW around 9:00 PM CDT on 5.085 MHz Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 05-11-2018

Here comes the 2018 Hamvention, May 18, 19 and 20 in Xenia, OH. For a sneak preview RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP caught up with Brian Markland, N8UDQ, Inside Exhibit Chair. [2018 17M] The RAIN Hamcast and the Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter will be holding forth at the Hamvention in booth 6204. Drop by and tell us where you hear the RAIN Report and Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter. Your ham story might get you interviewed on the RAIN Report hamcast. The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. This ham cast usually updates Saturday on therainreport.com. You can hear it Saturdays following Amateur Radio Newsline around 9:00 PM CDT on WTWW, the shortwave voice of Lebanon, TN. on 5.085 MHz;
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 05-05-2018

As we went to press we were less than two weeks away from ham radio mecca, the Dayton Hamvention, scheduled for May 18, 19 and 20. This will be RAIN’s 30th visit to the Hamvention, where we retrieve countless hours of forum audio for these RAIN Reports. That’s all well and good but it’s not real time when we bring excerpts to you from those forums. There is a ham who streams audio AND video from the Hamvention. In fact Tom Medlin, W5KUB begins streaming the 10-hour sojourn he makes annually to the Hamvention from his car. If you don’t recognize Tom by name, you may recall that when he started his Hamvention Marathon, Tom was known as Helmet Cam. [2018 20M] You can catch Tom’s Hamvention stream beginning May 16 on W5KUB.com. His Amateur Radio Round Table can be heard 8:00 PM CDT Tuesdays on W5KUB.com as well as on WBCQ shortwave on 5130 kHZ
If you’re going to attend the Hamvention May 18, 19 and 20, stop by booth 6204 and tell us where you hear these RAIN Report hamcasts. And while you’re at booth 6204 we hope you’ll talk to Vern Jackson/WA0RCR, whose Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter has brought hours of informational ham radio programming (including the RAIN Report) since 1979 on Saturday afternoons, evenings and the wee hour Sunday from Wentzville, MO. on 1860 kHZ in magnificent amplitude modulation…A.M.
the RAIN Report updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; and is heard Saturday around 9:00 PM CDT on WTWW shortwave from Lebanon, TN on 5.085 MHz. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 04-28-2018

Walk into a radio station, even today, and you’re likely to find a ham or three keeping that radio station on the air. Back in the 80’s an aspiring young radio announcer named Art Bell/W6OBB made Okinawa his home on radio station KSBK. It wouldn’t be until 1993 to 2002 that Art would be heard nationwide on his “Coast to coast A-M” talk show on more than 500 stations by over 10.0 mln folks week nights in the wee hours. Sadly, Art became a silent key April 13, 2018. To celebrate this most unique communicator and his voice, we’ve brought you the essence of a lengthy 2016 interview Eric Guth/4Z1UG conducted with Art for Eric’s QSOToday podcast. This week we bring you our second and final excerpt from that conversation. [2016 P2 19M] Our two excerpts from that conversation will remain permanently on the RAIN archive page on therainreport.com. This program update Saturdays on theraiinreport.com; it is carried on shortwave station WTWW on 5.085 mHZ from Lebanon, TN around 9:00 PM CDT.

The RAIN Report for 04-27-2018

The RAIN Report for 04-21-2018

This week we bring you a very special RAIN Report about a Most Unique Communicator, Art Bell/W6OBB(SK). From 1993 to 2002 Art hosted a commercial radio show that boasted a listenership exceeding 10 million folks nationwide in the wee hours on some 500 stations coast to coast. Coincidentally the name of Art’s show was Coast to Coast A-M. According to Wikipedia, Art fielded topics ranging from the paranormal, the occult, and UFO’s to proto science and pseudo-science. Today millions of his listeners are mourning his passing, April 13. In honor of his remarkable radio career, we are once again presenting a 2-part interview Eric Guth/4Z1UG conducted with this most articulate man in 2016 for Eric’s QSO-Today podcast. [2016 P1 19M] So how and where did Coast to Coast A-M get started? And what is the story behind the BIG RED BUTTON Art never pushed but came perilously close to doing so many times? These vexing questions and more will be answered in our second excerpt from Eric’s conversation next time. these RAIN Report hamcasts update Saturdays on therainreport.com. You can support the RAIN Report via PayPal, and hear it Saturdays from Lebanon, TN on shortwave on WTWW on 5.085 kHZ immediately following the Amateur Radio Newsline around 9:00 PM CDT.
If you’ll be attending the Dayton Hamvention, drop by booth 6204 and say hello to the RAIN Report and Vern Jackson/WA0RCR’s Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights reserved. Mega thanks to Larry Miglore/KB9DIP for ‘standing’ in for Will Rogers/K5WLR while he gimped around as a result of an ankle he fractured in December; and a rib injury he sustained earlier this year.
Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 04-13-2018

In mid-March Kent Peterson/KC0DGY was working on a story for Amateur Radio Newsline about the Jupiter Amateur Radio club and HF Voyager, their automatically piloted, maritime drone operating in the Pacific Ocean with an interactive digital FT8 ham radio station aboard. Kent had to edit down the interview to under 3 minutes for the Newsline presentation. His conversation with Kurt Kiesow/N6FW contained so much useful info that Newsline decided to share a much longer version of that conversation with the Rain Report audience. Here is an excerpt from Kent’s conversation with Kurt. [2018 19M] The RAIN Hamcast hamcast updates Saturday on therainreport.com; it can be heard Saturday evening as part of the block of Amateur Radio programming on WTWW shortwave on 5085 kHZ from Lebanon, TN. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 04-07-2018

As we learned in the first excerpt from Hap Holly/KC9RP’s 2000 conversation with author and Morse code historian, Lewis Coe/W9CNY(SK), Morse Code certainly left its mark on the American frontier even before the Civil War. [2000 P2 14M] Though the FCC dropped Morse code from the entry level Amateur Radio exam in the early 1990s, American history was forever changed by dits and dots. Incidentally Lewis Coe/W9CNY penned a book in 1993 called “The Telegraph, The History of Morse’s invention and his predecessors in the United States.” It was published then by McFarland and Company. That paperback can still be found on Amazon and on the Mcfarland website.
The RAIN Hamcast hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com. It can be heard Saturday nights at 9:00 PM following the Amateur Radio Newsline on the Lebanon, TN shortwave juggernaut, WTWW, on 5085 kHZ KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 03-30-2018

Morse code was the bane of many a wanna-be ham for years until ‘code’ was dropped by the FCC from the entry level testing program of Amateur Radio. For the uninitiated the use of Morse code goes back well over a century. Lewis Coe/W9CNY of Crown Point, Indiana got his first ham ticket way back in 1927. Later on he became a CW historian of sorts. In 2000 RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP spoke with Lewis about the evolution of dits and dahs. [2000 P1 16M] More about the evolution of CW with Lewis Coe next time. The RAIN Hamcast hamcast is downloadable from therainreport.com; and broadcast on shortwave around 9:00 PM CST Saturdays on WTWW from Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHZ KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 03-24-2018

When one hears a discussion about Amateur Radio’s interfacing with digital technology, i.e. the Internet, Echo link, FT8 and the like, invariably some diehard 80-meter redneck has nothing better to say than “Ah, that’s not REAL ham radio!” So just what IS real ham radio? For a European perspective, we turn to Chris Rolinson/G7DDN. Chris recently penned and voiced a commentary addressing this question. [2017 16M] You will find a written copy of Chris’s commentary on his website, g7ddn.com; click on ‘articles’. Chris happens to be a musician. He has a New album “Piano Reflections” now available on iTunes, Google Play Music, and Amazon Music; he also has a YouTube channel. Your rebuttal to Chris’s commentary are welcome, preferably in MP3 format to hap@therainreport.com. This hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; and via shortwave Saturday nights on WTWW out of Lebanon, TN. on 5085 kHZ KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 03-16-2018

While we won’t be dealing with the luck of the Irish this week, we will travel once again to World War II Germany. A number of civilians known as the French Resistance kept tabs on the German military and High Command in WW2. They surreptitiously transmitted decoded data to the Allies at great personal risk. Tom Perera PH.D/W1TP, an authority on clandestine radio operations of World War II spoke at the 2015 Dayton Hamvention. {2015 P2 17M} You can read a great deal more about the so-called ‘enigma cider the primary coding machine adopted in 1926 by all branches of the German military and Hi Command on Tom’s Enigma museum web site; See the RAIN Sites Mentioned page for the url.

The RAIN Hamcast is heard anytime on therainreport.com; and readily heard Saturday evenings on shortwave via Lebanon, TN’s WTWW on 5085 kHz. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 03-09-2018

This week we bring you an encore presentation of a 2015 Dayton Hamvention talk about Clandestine communications during World War II. Regular listeners to this hamcast will recall the intriguing story about Russell Hutchinson, Radio Boy, the American P-O-W who virtually risked his life to construct AM radio to help maintain the morale of his fellow 1,600 American prisoners of war in a World War II Japanese p-o-w camp in the Philippines. While Hutch was seripticiously catching war updates broadcast by KGEI radio from San Francisco, on the other side of the world the French Resistance and a number of other civilians were keeping tabs on German communications and the German war machine, transmitting coded data back to the Allies in England and elsewhere. Tom Perera PH.D/W1TP is an authority on these clandestine radio operations. Tom has spoken at the Dayton Hamvention about so-called Enigma machines with which the German Gestapo communicated. At the 2015 Hamvention Tom spoke about the clandestine WW2 ‘spy’ radio operations in general. {2016 P1 17M] Just a heads up that RAIN Founder Producer, Hap Holly/KC9RP will talk about the evolution of the RAIN Report Thursday, March 15, at the Chicago Suburban Radio Assoc., (CSRA)meeting in the Grace Lutheran church, 1100 Manchester Ave. in Westchester, IL; doors open at 7:00 PM. The RAIN Hamcast is available anytime on therainreport.com; and heard 9:00 PM CST Saturday on WTWW from Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHZ shortwave.

The RAIN Report for 03-03-2018

In this first RAIN Report for March, 2018, we present our second excerpt from a lengthy interview with CQ Propagation Columnist Tomas Hood/NW7US by QSOToday’s Eric Guth/4Z1UG. Tomas is known worldwide for his ability to simplify the complexities of solar propagation. [2018 P2 20M] You can hear the entire 1-hour unedited interview of Tomas on QSOToday.com. [Used with permission)
The RAIN Hamcast updates Saturdays on therainreport.com; and can be heard 9:00 PM CST Saturday as part of the Amateur Radio block of programming on Ted Randal’s QSO program on WTWW radio from Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHZ shortwave.

The RAIN Report for 02-23-2018

If you have been following solar propagation over the years, you probably have read propagation columns from Tomas Hood/NW7US. Tomas has been featured on these RAIN Report hamcasts over the years. However, this is the first time we have featured him telling his story. This week we bring you the first of two excerpts from a lengthy conversation between Tomas and Eric Guth/4Z1UG of QSOToday. [2017 P1 20M] We’ll bring you our second and final excerpt from this interview with Tomas Hood next time. The RAIN Hamcast hamcast updates Saturdays on www.therainreport.com; it is heard 9:00 PM CST Saturdays as part of Ted Randal’s QSO program on WTWW shortwave from Lebanon, TN on 5085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 02-17-2018

One of the really unique features of the Dayton Hamvention is its forums. If you’re a regular listener to this hamcast you already know that from how frequently we excerpt from them. One of them is the Collins Radio forum. If you repair, restore, or collect Collins gear, (once the Cadillac of ham radios) the hour-long Collins radio forum at Hamvention is the closest thing to Collins Nirvana you’ll ever find. And there are only a few Collins enthusiasts like David Knepper/W3ST, publisher of the Collins Journal. He has gone so far as to exhibit his Collins collection in what he considers his own museum in Sidman, PA. This week we excerpt from David’s 2017 Hamvention Collins Radio forum talk in which he verbalizes his love for an era of radio long since gone. [2017 13M] David is the publisher of the Collins Journal, available now only on-line. David’s email is: collinsradio@comcast.net.

The RAIN Report for 02-10-2018

Pile ups…no, I’m not talking about the recent multi vehicle collision on a nearby freeway the other day. I’m AM referring to pile ups on the HF ham bands when a hard-to-find DX station attracts scores of high profile sing sideband stations. According to inveterate Vermont contester and DX’er Mitch Stern/W1SJ, there is an art to cracking pile ups. [2017 13M] The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights are reserved. The Radio Amateur Information Network is streamable from therainreport.com, and is heard on WTWW from Lebanon, TN., Saturday nights on 5085 kHZ.
KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 02-09-2018

The RAIN Report for 02-03-2018

It seems that everywhere one turns today there are lawyers rewriting or trying to rewrite modern and not so modern law. telecommunications lawyer Fred Hopengarten, K1VR has carved out a careerlegal assisting U.S. hams to circumvent cc’n’rs, common covenants and restrictions that prevent so many radio amateurs from erecting reasonable outdoor antennas. The federally mandated PRB1 legislation has been of some help in doing so for a number of years. However as Fred pointed out in his 2017 Dayton Hamvention Amateur Radio and the Law talk, there are 23 states that do not presently have a PRB1-style statute within the state. [2017 12M] The RAIN Hamcast podcast is available via therainreport.com and heard during the Amateur Radio program block, Saturday nights on WTWW, 5085 kHZ from Lebanon, TN. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 01-29-2018

The U.S. Amateur Radio Service has had a partnership with the National Weather Service for years. But just how does the modern radio amateur interact with the 192 weather offices nationwide? This week we present some of those answers in an excerpt from a 2017 Dayton Hamvention talk by Brandon Palquin, a Wilmington, Ohio employee of his local regional weather service office. [2017 19M] If you aren’t already connected with the NWS, checdk your calendar as spring and its unpredictable storms is just a few weeks away.
The Radio Amateur Information Network is accessible via therainreport.com and heard during the Amateur Radio program block, Saturday nights on WTWW, 5085 kHZ from Lebanon, TN. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 01-20-2018

Do you remember some commentaries in the 90’s called Bytes From Q-zed-B? A Chicago area ham named Mark Thompson/WB9QZB expressed his controversial ham radio viewpoints in those days on these RAIN Reports. So just what did his bytes sound like? We’ll present two of them for you this week. The first is entitled “Your No Code Accent” from 1994. Our second Bytes, “Ham Radio and Personal Responsability”, was penned and voiced by Mark in 1995. [1994&95 13M] Is we can dislodge Mark from his digital absorption, maybe we can cajole him into writing some new Bytes From Q-ZED-B.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN all rights reserved. This podcast is available on therainreport.com; and is heard on shortwave 9:00 PM CST Saturdays on WTWW, broadcasting on 5085 kHZ from Lebanon, TN. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 01-13-2018

If you have ever served on the technical committee of an urban repeater that maintains links to multiple receive sites, you already know that keeping those links functioning properly can be a real character builder. Now imagine what challenges a handful of mountain-top machines linked together digitally pose. In the mid-1990s Frosty Oden/N6ENV, a CBS television technical director at the time, was trustee and builder of SEVEN such mountain top repeaters on 220 and 440 mHZ in Southern California. This week we concludes our two excerpts from a 1995 conversation RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP had with Frosty. [1995 P2 13M] According to QRZ.com, Frosty relocated not long ago to Litchfield Park Arizona.
The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2018 RAIN, all rights are reserved. This weekly podcast is available for transmission under a Creative Commons license on therainreport.com. You can hear it Saturday evenings at 9:00 CST on WTWW shortwave from Lebanon, TN. on 5085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 01-06-2018

*Kent Peterson/KC0DGY is holding down the virtual fort for a few weeks while Will Rogers/K5WLR, the default voice of these RAIN Reports gets his erstwhile feet under him from his recent spill.*
Most ham operators east of the Rockies live on flatlands. Travel to southern California, however, and the Amateur Radio VHF and UHF horizon undergo a RADICAL change called ‘mountains’. While the phenomenal elevations of mountains out west provide extraordinary repeater and remote base coverage today, there are some significant technical challenges that were faced even 20 years ago by repeater owners like CBS Television Technical Director Frosty Oden/N6ENV. Frosty experienced challenges with his 7 220 and 440 mountain-top repeaters that the average flatland repeater owner did not. RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP spoke with Frosty Oden/N6ENV 20 years ago [1995] 13M. the RAIN Report is available on therainreport.com; it can be heard Saturday evenings around 9:00 Central time on WTWW, Lebanon, TN.’s shortwave station on 5085 kHZ. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 12-30-2017

Are you experiencing extraneous noises or RFI to a ham rig in your home, car or recreational vehicle? Well, from our ‘you think you’ve got problems’ department, Imagine the racket Tiffin, Ohio trucker, Gerry Stanford/N8YMP dealt with back in 1995. Here’s an excerpt from his Hamvention forum presentation from that Hamvention. [1995 11M] The RAIN Reports update weekly on therainreport.com; and on shortwave Saturday nights on WTWW from Lebanon, TN. on 5085 kHZ. The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2017, RAIN, all rights are reserved. keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 12-23-2017

We DO have some exciting news from the Dayton Hamvention this week. However, first things first. We wanted to bring you a VERY rare RAIN Report that consisted of the reading of A piece called “A Ham’s Christmas” that was penned by the late Walter A. Tompkins/K6ATX, voiced more than 25 years ago for the RAIN Report by Chicago ham and broadcaster Oren Brand/K9KEJ. However, that recording is nowhere to be found!…MOST unfortunate. However, back in the mid-90s when Iowa ham Blair Alper/KA9SEQ frequently read items from packet for these RAIN Reports, his mother, Elaine Alper (no call) voiced a legalistic version of a written piece entitled A Visit from St. Nicholas. [1994 8M]
From: “henry.ruminski@wright.edu [hamvention]”
To: hamvention@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2017 5:02 PM
Subject: [Hamvention] Hamvention News

News Release December 20, 2017
Greene County Fairgrounds/Expo Center Building Expansion
We are pleased to announce The Greene County Commissioners and the Greene County Fair Board have approved the construction of a new building at the Fairground/Expo Center.
Greene County officials have decided to move forward with construction of a new building as it will continue to expand their presence in the region as a world class Exposition Center!
Hamvention certainly benefits from the decision to expand the Expo Center footprint. Construction is planned to be complete ahead of Hamvention 2018 and will be used for the event.
Additionally, another building on the property previously known as Fairgrounds Furniture, is being vacated and will be available for use by Hamvention 2018.
More details regarding the building sizes will be forthcoming but Hamvention is told the floor space added will cover an area larger than the tents Hamvention used in 2017.
Although this decision was made to expand opportunities at the Expo Center, Hamvention is grateful for the support Greene County, Xenia Township, and the city of Xenia.
Ron Cramer, General Chair
Jack Gerbs, Asst. Gen. Chair
Michael Kalter, CFO/Official Spokesperson
Hamvention

The RAIN Hamcast is copyright 1990-2017 RAIN, all rights are reserved. These RAIN Reports are available 24/7 on therainreport.com. It can be heard at the north pole on the Lebanon, TN. shortwave powerhouse, WTWW, transmitting a block of Amateur Radio programming Saturday evenings on 5.085 mHZ. 44’s and keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 12-16-2017

This week we bring you a most unique approach to what would normally be an audio/video presentation. It has been said that a picture tells a thousand words. In this case, however, you’ll have to use your imagination to ‘picture’ a truly amazing antenna farm. It belongs to world-class Midwest contester, Tim Duffy/K3LR. While you can’t visualize what Tim’s phenomenal multi multi contest station looks like, put your mind’s eye to work and absorb how Tim’s described his ten-acre midwestern antenna farm. We excerpted from Tim’s 2017 Dayton Hamvention forum talk. [2017 15M] Now that you’ve heard about Tim’s station, go see what you can see of K3LR’s amazing antenna farm on YouTube! “It’s really SPECTACULAR!”

The RAIN Hamcast is downloadable and streamed from therainreport.com, and is heard Saturdays at 9:00 PM CST on the 150,000 watt Lebanon, TN. blow torch, WTWW, on 5.085 kHz. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 12-09-2017

We go ‘tropo’ this time with a short excerpt from the 2017 Dayton Hamvention ATV forum, voiced by ham radio instructor and 2006 Ham of the Year Gordon West/WB6NOA. Many of you will recognize the name Gordon West from his well-known Radio School, and radio study materials sold for decades in Radio Shack. “Gordo” lives in SO. Cal. and loves the ever changing weather conditions that make long-range oceanic tropo possible. So just what is tropo anyway? Just ask Gordo! [2017 9M] While the winter doesn’t lend itself to good tropo ducting in much of the United States, you now have something to explore come the warm weather months.
The RAIN Hamcast can be found on the web on www.therainreport.com; and heard Saturday evenings as part of the Amateur Radio block of programming on WTWW in Lebanon, TN. on the shortwave frequency of 5085 kHz. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 12-02-2017

One of the most popular Dayton Hamvention forums is Carol Perry/WB2MGP’s Youth forum, which features young hams under the age of 19 telling their ham radio stories. This year The Youth forum celebrated its 30th anniversary with the viewing of a video compiled by L.A. TV producer John Amodeo/nn6ja, producer of Last Man Standing. The following testimonials are from that video. There is some “incidental” music that we have edited out best we can. [2017 13M]. Archives of the RAIN Report going back to 2006 can be found on therainreport.com; and this very podcast along with Ham Nation and Amateur Radio Newsline can be heard Saturday evenings beginning at 8:00 CST on WTWW radio from Lebanon, TN. 5085 kHz. KEEP ON HAMMING!

The RAIN Report for 11-25-2017

Michael Lisenko/N2YBB is Hudson Division Director with the ARRL, the national association of Amateur Radio; and Chair of the ARRL’s Legislative Advocacy Committee. Recently RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP caught up with Mike on Skype to learn the ins and outs of ARPA, the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017. Hap began our second and final excerpt from his chat with Mike requesting a brief explanation as to the differences between the proposed ARPA legislation and PRB1, legislation many hams have benefitted from the past several decades. [2017 P2 12M] Editorial Comment: You just may be fortunate enough today to not be living under the stifling umbrella of a Home Owner’s Association with its covenants and deed restrictions. But that time may come, in which case you’ll wish you had proactively participated in being a part of the solution, i.e. supporting ARPA of 2017, not part of the ongoing problem many hams are living with today. the RAIN Report is the weekly podcast of the Radio Amateur Information Network (therainreport.com), and heard Saturday at 9:00 CM Central Standard time from Lebanon, TN. on shortwave station WTWW/5085 Khz. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 11-18-2017

ARPA, not to be confused with AARP, is the achronym for Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017. If Arpa can find its way through Congress in 2018, hams who just dream about erecting outdoor antennas today may not have to dream about doing so much longer. So what’s the skinny behind ARPA? For some answers RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP turned to Mike Lisenco/N2YBB, Hudson Division Director for the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, and Chair of the ARRL’s Legislative Advocacy Committee. [2017 P1 14M] So what’s the future of ARPA as we approach 2018? We’ll find out next time. These weekly RAIN Reports are available on demand from therainreport.com, and via shortwave radio along with Ham Nation and the Amateur Radio Newsline 8:00 PM Eastern Saturday during the Amateur Radio programming block on WTWW, 5.085 mHZ from Lebanon, TN. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 11-11-2017

Warren Pugh/KC9IL has worked the world digitally using FT8, the newest craze in Amateur Radio digital modes. RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP spoke with Warren via Skype about FT8 and the evolution of digital modes in general. [2017 P1 12M] We’ll learn more about FT8, the most popular digital mode these days next time. The RAIN Hamcast is available 24/7 on therainreport.com; and heard as part of the Saturday night Amateur Radio block on shortwave station, WTWW on 5.085 kHz. keep on hamming.

The RAIN Report for 11-04-2017

The RAIN Report for 10-28-2017

Mitch Stern/W1SJ, is one of the more entertaining forum speakers you’ll hear at the Dayton Hamvention. Mitch has participated in many public service events and DX contests; and he’s is a most gregarious Vermont ham, who has many a-pointer for the new ham as heard on the RAIN Report last week. Here in the second excerpt from his 2017 Hamvention talk, Mitch pontificates (now there’s a 25-cent word for ya) on some do and don’t for using your handheld in a public service event. [2017 P2 15MIN] Mitch Stern/W1SJ’s ideas and opinions are his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of anyone connected with the RAIN Report. Having said that, Mitch is indeed an entertaining and (even at times) a thoughtful speaker.
These RAIN Reports are available 24/7 on www.therainreport.com; and are heard during the Amateur Radio block Saturday night on the tropical band via WtWW shortwave from TN. on 5085 kHz. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 10-21-2017

Mitch Stern/W1SJ is a veteran public service participant and inveterate contester. Mitch is a perennial speaker at the Dayton Hamvention. While you may not agree with everything he says, his forum talks are a wealth of useful operating pointers for the new ham. [2017 P1 19M] We’ll hear some of his pointers for new hams participating in public service events next time in our 2nd excerpt from his presentation. .

The RAIN Report for 10-14-2017

Dave Casler/KE0OG is the ham behind Ask Dave and scores of other ham radio educational videos on YouTube. Eric Goof/4Z1UG spoke with this Colorado ham on QsoToday, a weekly podcast Eric produces from Israel. This is our second and final excerpt from that hour-long conversation. [2017 P2 15MIN] You can hear Eric’s entire interview with Dave as episode 165 on qsotoday.com. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 10-07-2017

The name Dave Casler/KE0OG won’t ring a bell with many of you unless you have watched his ham radio videos on YouTube. So just who is he? Eric Goof/4Z1UG recently spoke with Dave on Eric’s weekly QsoToday podcast. This is the first of two excerpts from that conversation, which began with Dave talking about his radio roots. [2017 P1 15MIN]

The RAIN Report for 09-30-2017

This is a replay of the May 6, 2017 RAIN Report about the Nut Starter, a program that generated a surprising amount of good response. [2017 11MIN]

The RAIN Report for 09-24-2017

This week we conclude Hap Holly/KC9RP’s conversation with Rich Moseson/W2VU, Editor of CQ magazine since 1999. CQ recently announced the re-release of Don Miller/W9WNV’s DX Handbook, originally published by CQ in 1968. Hap spoke with Rich in August, 2017 via Skype. [2017 P2 12MIN]

The RAIN Report for 09-23-2017

The RAIN Report for 09-16-2017

If you entered ham radio as a youngster, just how many ham magazines did you read growing up? At one time there were a handful of major ham radio publications: the likes of 73, Popular Electronics, Ham Radio, World Radio, Ham Radio Horizons, Radio Scan, Spectrum, even one called Flying Pigs QRP newsletter! They all had at least two things in common: (1) they catered to the ham radio enthusiast; (and (2) they were print publications. Today there are only two major ham mags left. One of them is CQ magazine, whose editor has been Rich Moseson/W2VU since 1999 . Rain’s Hap Holly/KC9RP spoke with Rich in late summer, 2017. This is the first of two excerpts from that conversation via Skype. [2017 P1 12MIN]

The RAIN Report for 09-08-2017

Kit-building is alive and well in Amateur Radio. Take a peak at any issue of CQ magazine the past 9 years and you’ll see Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB’s kit-building column. Now if you’re a novice at kit-building, the whole process can be abit overwhelming. This is our 2nd excerpt of two from a talk Joe gave about kit-building basics at the 2017 Dayton Hamvention. [2017 12MIN] To contact Joe send an email to k0neb@cq-amateur-radio.com. And if you know the composition of that ‘magic smoke’ he mentioned, let us know! Keep on hamming.

The RAIN Report for 09-02-2017

Kit-building is far from a dying art in Amateur Radio. Just open up an issue of CQ magazine today and you’ll find a monthly kit-building column that has been edited by Joe Eisenberg/N0NEB since 2008 from his Lincoln, NB. home. In real life Joe is an IT technician, dealing daily with cranky printers that go haywire; and troubleshooting Wi-Fi systems. This is our first excerpt of two from a refresher talk by Joe about kit-building at the 2017 Dayton Hamvention. [2017 11MIN]

The RAIN Report for 08-25-2017

Would you be shocked to hear the 16th President of the ARRL, Rick Roderick/K5UR proclaim the following? “I had to change. and change doesn’t come easy. But we’ve GOT to change. I think we got to rebrand Amateur Radio…I think we got to rebrand the American Radio Relay League!” Whether or not you are a member of the ARRL, the national association of Amateur Radio, Rick Roderick is an innovative and refreshing *change* for the League. This week we bring you an excerpt from his call to action he delivered this past spring at the Dayton Hamvention. [2017 14MIN] It will be interesting to watch the League’s progress in its attempt to rebrand Amateur Radio…and itself.
Check out these RAIN Report podcasts that now can be heard Saturday evenings via WTWW on 5.085 MHz from the great state of Tennessee.

The RAIN Report for 08-18-2017

In observance of the August 21 solar eclipse we searched the RAIN archive for RAIN Reports that would commemorate past solar eclipses. Problem is we haven’t had a total solar eclipse in the United States since 1979, five years before RAIN’s Founder, Hap Holly/KC9RP, began producing any ham radio sh’tuff. The most recent RAIN Report that came close was last summer. It was an interview with Pontotoc, MS. ham, Matt Hickman/AF5FM, trustee of what is reportedly the first solar-powered UHF repeater in Mississippi, situated in the rural northern town of Pontotoc. Kent Peterson/KC0DGY, one of the voices of both the Amateur Radio Newsline and RAIN, spoke with Matt last summer. (2016 13M)

If you are trustee of a completely solar-powered repeater, we’d like to hear from you. Just drop RAIN Founder, Hap Holly/KC9RP, an email to hap@therainreport.com. Keep on hamming!

The RAIN Report for 08-10-2017

On August 1 CQ Amateur Radio magazine posted the following press release:
“This is sent on behalf of our friends at the Amateur Radio Newsline. CQ is a proud co-sponsor of the Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award.
August 1, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, YHOTY Chairman, Amateur Radio Newsline, (newsline@arnewsline.org)
Marty Sullaway KC1CWF is 2017 Young Ham of the Year
NEW YORK – Marty Sullaway KC1CWF, of Newton, MA, has been selected as the 2017 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year.
Marty,15, is the son of Robert David Sullaway and Gail Cheryl Schulman.
Marty was first licensed as a Technician in November 2014. He quickly worked his way to General earning his ticket in February 2015. He became an Extra Class operator this past February.

RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP caught up with Marty a few days back on Skype. [2017 17M] Congrats Marty!

The RAIN Report for 08-05-2017

This week we have a couple items never aired on the RAIN Report. Parenthetically, we’ve had to postpone our coverage of the Amateur Radio Parity Act until later this month for logistical reasons. In the meantime, we’ve dug up a couple Items from the KC9RP archive. One is serious, the other is fun. The first is an early editorial written and voiced by RAIN’s Hap Holly, KC9RP, producer of the Bear Information Service (BIS) in suburban Chicago in the mid to late 1980s. It was a time in Amateur Radio history that saw growth of stateside Amateur Radio bulletin services. It was a time of turmoil and controversy primarily surrounding the so-called International Amateur Radio Network, I-A-R-N. We present a 1989 editorial, Broadcasting on the HF Bands, by RAIN’s Founder, Hap Holly/KC9RP. [1989 7M) We also have a fun piece written and voiced by Chicagoan Ken Piletic, W9ZMR, who for years maintained the Midwest Amateur Radio Newsline phone line service from his Cook County home. In 1987 he cleared up some mysteries about the holey ham fest ticket. [1987 3M] Next week: we’ll hear the story behind the recently-announced Young Ham of the Year

The RAIN Hamcast may be transmitted in accordance with a Creative Commons license. .

The RAIN Report for 07-28-2017

Alabama ham Don Keith/N4KC has authored 34 books; the newest is Dial Dancing, a collection of nine stories focusing on the diversity of ham radio. This week we conclude Hap Holly/KC9RP’s conversation with this prolific writer. [2017 13M] One of Don’s earlier books, Firing Point, is nearing completion as an action movie, called Hunter Killer. Keep an eye out for it either late this year or early 2018. You can learn more about Don’s prolific writing career on donkeith.com. Our thanks to Don for giving of his time to the RAIN Report.
The RAIN Hamcast is available for transmission under a Creative Commons license.

The RAIN Report for 07-21-2017

Don Keith/N4KC is a prolific writer of 34 fictional and nonfictional books on some of his favorite subjects as World War 2, ham radio and more. His newest book, Dial Dancing, is being released as this RAIN Report goes to press. RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP caught up with this energetic communicator on Skype. [2017 12M] We’ll delve more into the little-publicized world of book writing and publishing in a digital world next time. The RAIN Hamcast is available for transmission under a Creative Commons license.

The RAIN Report for 07-14-2017

In a June 19 Handiham-World email posting, it read: “We are pleased to announce that Lucinda Moody, AB8WF, will join Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute’s Handiham Program as program coordinator, effective June 26th. Moody succeeds Patrick Tice, who retired after leading Handihams for the past 25 years. Moody holds an Extra Class amateur radio license and has been a Handiham volunteer since 2011. She has served as an instructor at several radio camps in addition to working with Handiham members outside of camp through internet-based platforms. Outside of the Handiham Program, she has served as a volunteer coordinator for her local Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, including incident command, communications specialist and recruitment and training of volunteers. As the Handiham Program celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, We know she will be a great person to lead the Handiham Program.”
RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP caught up with Lucinda after her first several days. [2017 14M]

The RAIN Report for 07-07-2017

On June 11, 2015, Amateur Radio Newsline Co-Founder, Bill Pasternak/WA6ITF became a silent key after 37 years of writing and editing what started out as Westlink Amateur Radio News in 1977. On July 10, 2015, a month following Bill’s passing, Newsline listeners were introduced to a new copy editor, Caryn E. Murray/KD2GUT. Now two years later Caryn is reflective about her first two at the helm of Ar-Newsline. RAIN’s Hap Holly/KC9RP caught up with Caryn a week before this RAIN Report was posted. [2017 17M] Next week we’ll revisit Handihams, an organization that has served the disabled ham for 50 years; and now has a new Program Coordinator.

The RAIN Hamcast can be transmitted under a Creative Commons license; this audio production is available on therainreport.com, on Twitter @therainreport, and iTunes.

The RAIN Report for 07-01-2017

The Arrl, the national association of Amateur Radio, is in its second century. So what is it doing now to make it a more viable ham radio organization than before? Its CEO, Tom Gallagher/NY2RF spoke about that at the 2017 Dayton Hamvention. [2017 14M] You can hear two excerpts from a more in-depth interview with Tom by Eric Guth/4Z1UG on the RAIN archive page from April, 2016.
A note about next week: Caryn Murray/KB2GUT is observing her second anniversary at the helm of the Amateur Radio Newsline. How has it gone so far? We’ll find out next week. Keep on hamming and go six and ten!