My Ham Shack

My “ham shack” is not big at all. It’s literally more like me at my computer desk playing on a small radio. It’s not much, but hey, it’s mine! 😊

So what sort of hardware am I working with?

  • Elecraft KX2 transceiver
  • Baofeng UV-5R
  • Kenwood TH-F6
  • RTL-SDR
  • EchoLink (on PC and iOS)

At this time, I’m currently working with two handheld radios. My first radio was just a “cheapo” Baofeng. I know they aren’t considered great radios, but honestly, it’s the cheapest and thus the easiest way to start off in the hobby. It has no issues hitting the local repeaters and making contacts, especially when I pair it with a nicer antenna like the Signal Stick. This is the radio that I tend to take out with me when I’m mobile.

I inherited the Kenwood HT from my father after he became a Silent Key. The radio, while older, is still a great radio. While I still need to get a new tri-band antenna for this one, I really like the range of bands that this radio can utilize. And the step-up in quality compared to my Baofeng is also instantly noticeable. Being my nicer radio, this one tends to be used more at home. I had also inherited his RTL-SDR. I haven’t really gotten around to using it, it’s on my list of projects to do.

Having some amazing friends, one of them gave me their KX2 to use after I earned my Amateur Extra license. I truly can’t speak more highly of them. He basically earned top spot on my best friends list. I’ve been itching to get onto the HF bands and this baby will let me work everything from 10M to 80M. I’m humming with more happiness than a resonant frequency.

And the final thing in my shack is EchoLink. Think of it as voip-for-hams. It’s a great way to turn your computer or smartphone into your transceiver and connecting with other hams all over the world. I think it is a really neat digital means to get on the air. While analog radio is interesting, coming from an IT background I am really interested in learning more about these newer digital modes of radio.

Category: Antennas, Hardware, Radios | LEAVE A COMMENT

EASA A2 Drone license in Germany

What is the A2 License?

If you want to fly a drone in Germany that weighs more than 500g OR operate it in urban or populated areas, you need to obtain your EASA A2 Certificate of Competency (aka – the A2 license). This guide will walk you through the process of obtaining your A2 license in Germany.

The A2 Certificate of Competency is part of the European drone regulations, put out by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), for operating drones in the Open Category (A2 subcategory). Obtaining your A2 license in Germany is straightforward but it does requires training, studying, and passing an exam. This license allows you to fly your drone more flexibly and operate in urban areas, flying closer to people, while staying compliant with regulations.

  • Obtain the A1/A3 Basic Certificate
    • Before applying for the A2 Certificate, you must first pass the A1/A3 online exam provided by the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA).
    • If you do not currently have yours please refer to my post “EASA A1/A3 Drone license in Germany” as a great starting point to obtaining it.
  • Complete Self-Practical Training
    • Before taking the A2 exam, you must conduct self-training to gain experience flying your drone safely in an unpopulated area.
    • Training Requirements:
      • Practice in an area where you do not endanger people or property.
      • Perform various maneuvers such as straight-line flights, turns, and emergency procedures.
      • No official instructor is required, but you must declare in writing that you have completed the training.
  • Pass the A2 Theory Exam
    • Once you’ve completed your self-practical training, you need to take the A2 theoretical exam at an approved test center. The A2 theory exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. You are given 30 minutes to finish and you will need an minimum score of roughly 75% in order to pass.
    • Subjects covered:
      • Meteorology (weather conditions and their impact on drones)
      • UAS flight performance and limitations
      • Risk assessment for safe drone operations
    • The LBA provides a link with all of their recognized certified examination providers. The exam fee varies by the provider, and not all providers offer the exam in English. Expect to pay at least €120 and up for a test center that is giving the exam in English.
    • Link: LBA A2/STS Recognized Test Centers
  • Receive Your A2 Certificate
    • Upon successfully passing the A2 exam, you will receive [electronically] your Certificate of Competency for subcategory A2. This certificate is valid for five year and allows you to legally fly drones closer to people within the Open A2 subcategory.

Additional Considerations to Remember:

  • Ensure Compliance: Even with your A2 license, you still must follow German and EU regulations.
    • Maintain a minimum distance of 30 meters from uninvolved people (or 5 meters in low-speed mode).
    • Fly only drones that weigh under 2kg.
  • Mark your drone: You must have your Operator ID (e-ID) present on all of drones.
  • Follow local airspace restrictions: Check maps before flying to assure you are following airspace restrictions. There are websites like Dipol MapTool, and apps like Droniq or AirMap, which can assist with checking the airspace.
  • Respect privacy laws: When flying near people or private property respect their privacy.

If you’re planning commercial drone operations, consider looking into the Specific Category (STS or SORA approvals) for even greater operational flexibility.

Category: Licensing | LEAVE A COMMENT

EASA A1/A3 Drone license in Germany

I obtained my A1/A3 drone license in January 2025 using the steps that I lay out below. My only disclaimer is that while these steps are current at the time of this writing, but they may evolve over time as rules and regulations change. If you notice that things have changed, drop me a comment below and I’ll update the steps accordingly. Danke!

Since I don’t like unnecessary dealings with the authorities or having to pay fines, the first thing I needed to do as I get into flying drones was to obtain my actual license to fly. Easy, right? Well… yes and no. Easy because it actually isn’t too difficult of a process and you can complete it in a couple hours or less. Not so easy because I needed to research what the process is and then translate the steps from Deutsche into English. Luckily for you, I documented my steps. So, if your English is better than your Deutsche, then you are in luck!

What is the A1/A3 License?

According to “Das Rules”, if your drone weighs more than 250 grams OR is equipped with a camera or other recording sensors, you must register as a UAS operator with the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), the German Federal Aviation Office. Upon registration, you’ll receive a personal electronic identification number (eID) that must be visibly displayed on all your drones. My final suggestion before telling you how to get your license is that during the process below to use a browser plugin or other capability for translation, as the LBA website is completely in Deutsche.

To obtain the EASA A1/A3 drone license in Germany, follow these steps:

  • Get liability insurance
    • Insurance is mandatory for all drone operators, regardless of weigh or purpose, in order to cover third-party damages. If you have German Liability insurance, you might already be covered, I recommend that you contact your agent or look through your policy. If you are not already covered, you will need to look for either “Drohnen-Haftpflichtversicherung” or you’ll need a liability policy that covers drones. Knowing what you need to get will make it easier when you reach out to an insurance company.
    • While this step technically isn’t required until the end of the process, I’m putting it first as it might be the longest step if you don’t already have an insurance policy.
    • If you need a contact, that speaks English, at a reputable German insurance company please leave a comment below and I will reach back to you with their contact info.
  • Complete Online Learning:
    • The LBA provides an online training course covering essential topics such as air law, safety, human performance, operational procedures, and general UAS knowledge. The online materials to help you learn about the safe and practical operation of UAS, as well as the theoretical foundations that are essential for a responsible flight.
    • Link: LBA Online Teaching Materials
  • Complete Training Exam:
    • The LBA requires you to take a short training exam before they deem you qualified to take the actual theoretical exam. The training exam is pretty straight forward. It’s 20 multiple choice questions base on the content found in the learning content, linked above. You need to score 75% or better on this test before you are allowed to register for the theoretical exam. You can take this training exam as many times as you want.
    • Link: LBA Online Training Exam
  • Register as a UAS Operator:
    • This is where the fun starts to “take off”. That was a bad pun, I’m sorry…
      Once you pass your training exam, the portal will let you begin registering. Go ahead and do so. Part of registering, you will get an email from the LBA, and after that your progress up to this point is saved. Now, you’ll want to bookmark this link. As, you will be returning to this site to login and download your license (digital copy) or update your contact info later on.
    • Link: LBA UAS Operator Registration
  • Pass the Online Theoretical Exam:
    • After completing the training exam, the next step is to pass an online theoretical exam. You will be emailed a link to access the exam. The theoretical exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. You are given 45 minutes to finish and you will need a minimum score of 75% in order to pass. If you don’t pass, you can retake the exam as many times as needed.
    • Link: LBA Online Theoretical Exam
  • Obtain the EU Certificate of Competency (A1/A3):
    • Upon successfully passing the exam, you’ll receive [electronically] the Certificate of Competency for subcategories A1 and A3. This certificate is valid for five years and allows you to operate drones in the specified subcategories. There is a fee of €25 for the issuing the EU proof of competence A1/A3.
    • Link: LBA Certificate Information

Additional Considerations to Remember:

  • Age Requirement: The minimum age to obtain the A1/A3 certificate is 16 years.
  • Insurance: In Germany, it’s mandatory to have liability insurance for your drone operations. Ensure your insurance policy covers UAS activities.
  • Operational Limitations:
    • Always maintain a visual line of sight (VLOS) with your drone.
    • Do not fly higher than 120 meters above ground level.
    • Avoid flying over assemblies of people.
    • Respect no-fly zones, such as near airports or sensitive areas.

By following these steps and adhering to the regulations, you’ll be authorized to operate your drone safely and legally within Germany and the rest of the European Union.

Category: Licensing | LEAVE A COMMENT

Drone stuff

I know its a stretch, but since I didn’t feel like spinning up a new sub-blog, and drones are controlled via radio signals, I felt like it’d fit in here well enough with the amateur radio stuff… I’m not too sure yet what I will post here but it will be things relating to UAS and drones as I dive into the hobby.

Category: UAS | Drones | LEAVE A COMMENT

Raspberry Pi for Ham Radio Digital Modes

There I was sitting in my cave with a for now temporarily unused RaspberryPi (RPi) 3, having finished migrating my retro gaming onto a RPi 4. Having a itch I needed to scratch to get more into digital modes I thought it was a perfect time to look into setting up my RPi to do digital for me. That decision queued hours of YouTube videos and reading other people’s blog posts to figure out what I needed, as well as what I needed to do, to make my RPi work along side my radio as my newest little tool. Now that I have figured out a way forward to do so, I’m sharing my blog post to help you. And let’s be honest, it’s also to help me out with the build process for whenever the RPi’s SD card dies on me and I have to start over from scratch. Let’s begin…

Step 1: Reimage the SD card

In order to install the Raspberry Pi OS (previous known as Raspbian) we will need some software to “lay” the image on your SD card. To do this, there are many different software available but one of the simplest for all technical levels is the Raspberry Pi Imager from the folks that make the RPi. If you go to this link, https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/, you will find the imaging tool near the top of the page.

RPI OS Imager

Select the link for the version of the software that is appropriate for your computer’s operating system. Download and install it on your machine, then open the application.

Select the device type you are using. I have a RPi 3, so that is what I am going to select.

Select the OS version you are going to install. This will most likely be 64-bit, as it can run 32-bit stuff.

If it is not already, plug your SD card into your computer. If you get any pop-up messages about needing to format the card, you can disregard those for now. Click on the ‘Storage’ button and select the SD card you just plugged in. Remember to verify the capacity of the card you are going to be writing to so you can tell if you have the right device. Since this will completely wipe the SD card and you will loose any existing data on it, you want to make sure that you have the correct device selected.

Now that everything is selected, we can click on the ‘NEXT’ button. You then see a popup message that asks if you want to customize OS. This is optional, but you can edit and set stuff like hostname, wifi settings, enable ssh, etc…

Step thru the next couple popup messages, then it will kick off the reimaging. Go grab a drink, or a snack, as this will take a few minutes to complete. When it’s done, you will get a message just like what’s below.

Now you may eject that SD card from your computer and go plug it into your RPi.

Step 2: Prepping the Pi

Now that the newly reimaged SD card is plugged into your RPi, go ahead and turn it on. It will take a moment to start and load before you’re at the desktop and ready to proceed. Make sure you have either plugged in a network cable or have taken a moment to connect to you WiFi.

Open the command prompt. We’re going to run a few lines to set things up…

Lets run updates for starters.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Then run the Raspberry Pi Configution tool to setup and tweak the settings on your RPi. This is where you can enable SSH if you didn’t do so when initially imaging the SD card. Go ahead and poke your way thru all those settings to make sure you have them how you want. 

sudo raspi-config

Here are a few of the things you should consider looking at and setting up

  • System Options
    • WiFi enabled (optional but likely)
    • Hostname
  • Interface Options
    • SSH enabled (if you plan on remoting into it)
    • VNC enabled (if you plan on remoting into it)
  • Localization
    • Locale
    • Timezone
    • Keyboard
    • WLAN Country
  • Advanced Options
    • Expand Filesystem

Step 4: Ham apps

With all that initial BS out of the way. It’s time to install the fun stuff that we’ll actually use. 😎

We’re going to take a little bit of an easy button here, and use a script that another Ham has created and shared on his GitHub page. That guy is Jason, better known as KM4ACK in the ham community. If you’ve ever spent time browsing ham and amateur radio YouTube videos, you’ve probably seen a video or two of his. Here’s a link to his KM4ACK YouTube channel, check him out, he has a lot of great content on so many ham related topics.

KM4ACK deserves a lot of credit for his GitHub project named 73 Linux. He started it off as a project called “Build a Pi” that was a collection of scripts that installed a bunch of ham stuff on your Pi. It has since evolved into 73 Linux project, with other contributors, and it now supports the Raspberry Pi and Debian x32_64 hardware, full user control of the build when installing, and the ability to side load new apps. And it’s Open Source and shared on GitHub, talk about a software win! Here is a link to the 73 Linux project on KM4ACK’s GitHub.

Okay, enough talking… Let get to installing. The first step is to make sure that git is installed on your machine.

 sudo apt install git

Then you can run the following command:

 git clone https://github.com/km4ack/73Linux.git $HOME/73Linux && bash $HOME/73Linux/73.sh

The above command is two commands that are combined into a one liner. So lets break it apart so we can know what it is doing. Lets first look at everthing before the “&&”.

git clone https://github.com/km4ack/73Linux.git $HOME/73Linux

This is a git command to copy the repo of KM4ACK’s 73 Linux from his GitHub repo and save it to a folder named ’73Linux’ in the pi user’s home directory. Now lets look at what happens after the “&&”.

bash $HOME/73Linux/73.sh

This command will run a bash script that was downloaded from the 73 Linux repo onto your machine. It is essentially launching the installer that runs and adds all the handy ham stuff on to your computer.

And that’s it! You’ve now installed 73 Linux on your Raspberry Pi and you are ready to go!

KM4ACK has quite a few videos on his YouTube channel that will help you with the individual applications within 73 Linux. There is a link to his channel at the start of step 4 if you scroll back up.

This is also, unfortunately, where I’m going to stop this post. While setting this up and installing 73 Linux for this post, I’ve come to realize that the extra RPi 3 that I am using just doesn’t have enough resources to really run everything. For best results, you probably want to use an RPi 4 or better to truly have a usable experience.

For my next iteration in my shack, I’ve ordered myself a cheap netbook laptop. For just over $100, i was able to find a machine that has specs that are better than a RPi 4, a built in screen, and a battery for mobility. Stay tuned for the upcoming post where I’ll install linux and 73 linux on that laptop and we’ll be back off to the land of RX/TX.


Category: Ham Radio, Software | LEAVE A COMMENT

ARPS Symbols

Had to share a site a came across. https://aprs.tools/

If you’ve ever used ARPS, I’m sure you have all of the symbols and what they mean memorized. All kidding aside, I know that I know the more common ones and can make educated guesses at a few others. But there is no reason anyone should know all of them. In fact, with a site like APRS.tools, you should never have to! This site is awesome for it’s catalog of all the APRS symbols and being able to just hover over them to tell you what they are.

Category: Definitions, Ham Radio, Links | LEAVE A COMMENT

German Ham License under SOFA

If you are a licensed American Ham, then you can use your ham license throughout Europe, and specifically Deutschland, under the CEPT agreement. This works out to be fine for most folks, as they are simply traveling through a country and not staying for extended periods (up to three months).

However, if you are an American who is working for the US Government (possibly as a civilian, a contractor, or you are simply just a dependent) in Deutschland, then you are probably in-country for an extended period (greater than three months). You probably also have SOFA status.

For those who don’t know what SOFA is, it is simply a “Status Of Forces Agreement” between the US and Germany. It allows US personnel the ability to enter/exit the host nation and exempts them from having to register with the local authorities. The US has these types of agreements with many different countries.

Super exciting, right? Well, the good of that is since you are now living in Deutschland and have your SOFA status, you can request for yourself an actual German amateur radio guest license. Now that is cool!!! To make the most of this privledge, you will probably want to work towards elevating your US Ham license to the Amateur Extra level, so you can be unrestricted on their airwaves.

Okay, okay, well I’ve blabbed on about this. So how do you apply for and get your license?

As of the end of January 2024, here’s what you need to do…

  1. Obtain your FCC Ham License.
    • Honestly, aim for your Extra class ticket. Even if it takes a little longer as you work towards it, in the end, it’ll be worth it. You will have a better experience when you have what Germany calls their class ‘A’ license and you are not having to memorize band plan allocations.
  2. Read and understand the German Amateur Radio Service Regulations.
    These regulations are conveniently available from the Bundesnetzagentur or the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) website.
  3. Complete the reciprocal German amateur radio guest license application.
    • It is important to use both, your military mailing address (APO) and your local German mailing address on the application form. The German authorities will only send your new license to your German mailing address.
  4. Make sure that your application has all of the following supporting documents. Failure to include everything will cause delays.
    □ 1) signed original reciprocal German amateur radio license SOFA application.
    □ 2) photocopy of your valid FCC amateur radio license.
    □ 3) photocopy of the SOFA card placed inside your passport.
    □ 4) photocopy of your official military or Government orders or another official document that clearly shows that you are stationed or working in Germany.
    □ 5) photocopy of the front side of your military ID card. The date on your ID card is used to determine how long to initially issue your license.
  5. After you have completed all of the above you are ready to submit your packet. Send the completed application and all of your supporting documents via mail or email to:

    Bundesnetzagentur Außenstelle Dortmund
    Alter Hellweg 56
    D-44379 Dortmund
    Germany

    E-Mail: Dort10-Postfach@BNetzA.de
    Tel: +49 (0)231-9955-260
  6. The Bundesnetzagentur will notify you of any license fees due. If you wish to follow-up on the status of your application you can contact the Bundesnetzagentur via email or phone.
    • For SA, the current fee at the time of me writing this is €70,00.
    • The German license will typically be valid until the expiration date on your military ID.
    • You will need to resubmit your application and repay your fee to renew your German license.

I hope this helps any American Hams stationed in Germany to get their reciprocal guest license and stay on the air while in Germany. -73

Reference: https://www.arrl.org/sofa-agreement; https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/ausland/english-version

Category: Ham Radio, Travel | LEAVE A COMMENT

CEPT Agreement

Do you have your US ham license? If you answered “yes,” then you can operate in many places across Europe…

Okay, that was a dramatic oversimplification, but it is essentially true. European countries allow American ham radio operators to operate within their borders through reciprocity.

The CEPT, or the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, consists of 46 member countries. The CEPT agreement facilitates communication for radio enthusiasts across different countries without the need for obtaining a new license every time they travel. A license grants permission from the government to use a radio. Typically, each country has its own set of rules and tests for issuing licenses to radio users. However, the CEPT agreement allows some countries to accept each other’s licenses, making it easier for radio users to visit and communicate across borders. This agreement also fosters skill development, information sharing, and emergency assistance among radio users.

To operate a ham radio under the CEPT agreement, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. You must have a valid amateur radio license from your home country that grants you CEPT privileges.
    • For U.S. Ham operators, you need to have an Advanced or Extra class license, or a General class license with some limitations.
  2. You must carry and provide upon request your passport, your original FCC license document, and a copy of the FCC Public Notice DA 16-10483.
    • This notice serves as your CEPT license and contains information in English, French, and German.
  3. You must adhere to the regulations and operating conditions of the host country, such as frequency bands, power limits, and station identification requirements.
  4. You must use the prefix of the host country followed by a slash and your home call sign;
    For example, EA8/KH9ABC for operators in Spain.

If you want some more information, the DRRL has some great information for visitors at the following link: https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/ausland/english-version/visitors-to-dl/

Category: Ham Radio, Travel | LEAVE A COMMENT

Displayable (Better Looking) Ham License

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a better, more displayable FCC license to show off? Something worth actually hanging on your wall?

The FCC no longer mails out physical license cards, so you are likely printing out a very plain looking license on your generic white printer paper just to have on hand in your shack. You know, just in case someday day the FCC comes knocking on the door to check your papers. Sure, you can do that, I’m not going to stop you. But the problem is that “official” card, well it is just plain ugly.

Luckily for us a ham named Michael offers a solution on his website (wt9v.net/license) that generates something that you might actually enjoy framing and putting up as wall decor in your ham shack. Check out the link above to learn more and create your own displayable license.

Category: Links | LEAVE A COMMENT

Upgraded Ticket – Amateur Extra Class License

So shortly after getting my General ticket, I realized that it wasn’t going to be enough. I didn’t want to be subject to so many restrictions both in the US, and thru reciprocity, in Germany. So began my journey towards Amateur Extra. Unfortunately, this post isn’t going to be very different from my prior posts in regard to how I studied and the resources I used.

My main study tool was HamStudy.org. They have the entire exam bank of questions populated and their practice tests are fantastic, regardless of which exam you are sitting. I used them for all three of my exams. In fact, their sister-site is the website which most of the online VECs used to administer their online & remote testing. So, if you get comfortable with using the HamStudy resources, when you sit your exam, it will basically feel the same as doing all of the practice tests you’ve done in preparation.

The other resource I used, and have for all three of my exams, was FastTrackHam.com. I enjoy audio books, which is what this resource offers. So, if you can’t handle audio books, well then, this resource isn’t for you. For my Extra exam prep, I think that I must have listened to the book close to 10 times. I have time during my commute to listen to the audio books and soak in their wisdom. Or at least the author’s commentary as he reads though all the exam questions and tries to explain them. For as much content that is covered in the audio book, I feel like he does a great job of explaining why answers are either right or wrong, as well as suggesting helpful ways on how to remember the information where he can.

Hopefully these resources help you as much as they have helped me. Hope you earn your ticket soon and perhaps we’ll get to make a QSO.

Category: Exam Study, Ham Radio | LEAVE A COMMENT