I can't stress enough the importance of #DEI in #hamradio and other #STEM, #STEAM, and #STEMM activities. There simply ain't enough old white dudes with cats to keep #amateurradio going. Besides, wouldn't you like to #mentor someone young who is not like you? My first #mentors (#elmers) were a white couple who taught in #Montclair (#NJ) public schools. They gave me my novice test in their apartment. (I'll never forget getting bitten by ants as I took the exam on their couch. 😂 )

Follow up: I cut my thumb trying to saw into a bottle of colour change #Elmers glue! Must revise the #slime job hazard analysis. It’s my texting thumb too 😣 #parenting #InjuryPrevention #safety

@KI5AYO Welcome. Two things that might be useful are remote SDRs (e.g. kiwisdr.com/public/) and pskreporter.info/.

The first lets you control a remote software defined radio (SDR) over the internet so you can hear how well you're getting out. Transmitting a carrier and looking at the remote S-meter reading can be useful for comparing antennas too.

PSKreporter is a site that reports stations it's heard using digital modes, possibly filtered with your own call. This also lets you see how you're getting out. The reverse beacon network www.reversebeacon.net/ does the same thing but listens for stations calling CQ in morse code.

Finally for a really deep rabbit-hole, have a look at the antenna modelling program MMANA-GAL www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_5H1E…. This enables you to get an idea of how well an antenna will perform before you build it.

There are lots of web resources and YouTube videos on the all of the above.

#amateurradio #elmers #mmana #antennamodelling #kiwisdr #reversebeaconnetwork #hamradio