The Scariest Chart in Electrical Engineering

 

A Devastating Loss: Rest in Peace Trooper

Massachusetts State Police Announce the Death of Trooper in Off-Duty Motorcycle Crash

With heavy hearts, the Massachusetts State Police announce the unexpected death of Trooper Jacob Mick who died from injuries sustained in an off-duty motorcycle crash in Grafton.

A member of the 88th Recruit Training Troop assigned to the Holden Barracks, the life of this 31-year-old Northboro native has been cut short by this enormous tragedy. 

Speaking of the late Trooper, the Superintendent of the State Police, Colonel Geoffrey Noble said, “Together, we mourn Trooper Jacob Mick, and extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, their infant daughter, his family, and all who loved him. He was a proud Trooper and public servant who never hesitated to answer the call. We remember and honor Trooper Mick’s years of service, and all he gave to the Commonwealth as well as to the Department.”

Trooper Mick graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Academy in 2023. 

The facts and the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.

At this time, the Mick Family requests privacy as they grieve. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

I'm personally devastated by this. I'm not 100% sure, but this young Trooper looks like the young off duty trooper who assisted me at the scene of a motorcycle accident at the exact same location last October. I was the first to arrive and together we applied first aid. I'll never forget his calm professionalism and compassion. 

Whether this is the same trooper or not, it makes no difference. This is a devastating loss for his loved ones and the Commonwealth he served.

Trooper Mick's obituary follows:

Jacob G. Mick passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2026, as the result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Affectionately known to all as "Jake," he was just 31 years old.

Jake leaves behind the love of his life, his wife of one and a half years, Kaila S. (Chase) Mick, and their cherished infant daughter, Natalie, who was the center of his world. He is also survived by his mother, Kathleen (Byrne) Mick; his sister, Julia Mick and her partner, Liam Donovan; his nephew, Fletcher; his father, Hugh Mick; his in-laws, Jeffrey and Sonja Chase; his brothers-in-law, Nicholas and Alex Chase; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, lifelong friends, and the countless brothers and sisters who proudly wear the uniform of the Massachusetts State Police and local law enforcement agencies.

Raised in Hudson before moving to Northborough, Jake graduated from Algonquin Regional High School with the Class of 2013 before earning his Bachelor's Degree in Business from Worcester State University. It was during these years that he met the woman who would become his wife and partner in life, Kaila.

Jake was a man who believed in earning everything through hard work, determination, and commitment. He began his law enforcement career with the Stow and Northborough Police Departments after successfully completing the State Police Municipal Academy, (SPMA). Driven by a lifelong goal of serving the Commonwealth as a State Trooper, he returned to the academy, completed the rigorous training of the 88th Recruit Training Troop, and in 2023 proudly earned his badge as a Trooper with the Massachusetts State Police.

Assigned to the Holden Barracks (C6), Jake quickly became someone others could depend on. He approached every situation with professionalism, humility, and unwavering integrity. Jake understood wearing that uniform was more than a career—it was a privilege which he never took for granted. He served with pride, balanced obligation with respect and understanding, and was honored to stand beside the men and women who shared his commitment to protecting others.

While Jake took great pride in his profession, nothing compared to the pride he felt at home. He was a devoted husband, a proud father, a loving son, and a steadfast brother. Becoming Natalie's dad was the greatest joy of his life, and every moment with his family mattered. Whether traveling the country with Kaila, spending a day on the golf course with friends, lacing up his skates with his fellow Massachusetts State Police hockey teammates, taking his motorcycle out for a ride, or simply wrestling around with his beloved dog, Nash, Jake embraced life with enthusiasm, laughter, and an unmistakable sense of adventure.

Those who knew Jake will remember his confidence, his infectious smile, and his ability to make others feel welcome. His unexpected and untimely passing leaves an immeasurable void in the lives of those who loved him, but the love and time he gave of himself will not be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, Jake's family respectfully requests that memorial donations be directed to benefit Jacob’s daughter, Natalie Mick. Donations may be directed to: Avidia Bank, c/o Kim Perkins, 100 E. Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581.

Rest in peace Trooper.

We've Got The Watch From Here.

Goodnight Chesty, Wherever You Are

 

Happy Birthday, Chesty

I Miss You Dad

 

For all Hams: "This Too Shall Pass"

Beware of Killer Thumb Drives

Posted in The Broadcaster's Desktop Resource

By Barry Mishkind

You may never look at a USB thumb drive or cable the same way after reading this. What was just a precaution that seemed like overkill now may be a warning we need to know. See how this all progressed.

USB devices are so common that most people plug them in without a second thought. But that casual habit carries real risks — from data theft to hardware destruction. Here is why you should think twice before connecting an unknown USB device.

Some years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the office of a fairly well-known Group Chief Engineer. As we talked, I offered him a flash drive with information about a matter about which we had previously spoken and emailed. His response surprised me.

“That will not work. All the USB ports in our computers have been disabled and/or blocked. The only exception is one completely isolated unit in the studio for talk show guests,” he said. “If you want to get that information to me, just send it in an email.”

POLICY OVERKILL?

At first, I was taken aback. Flash drives were the key to the “sneaker network” many of us used all the time.

Getting information from studio to transmitter, for example was much easier when we could put it in our pocket and connect on site. IP and network connections, logins, and directory searches were bypassed in a moment.

But, here, all the USB ports were not only disconnected, many (most?) were actually blocked from accepting the plug at all.

A REASON FOR THE TIME

It only took a few minutes for the group chief to explain why this policy evolved.

Learn More About SDR

The Boston Software Defined Radio User Group, SDR-Boston, is hosting the New England Workshop for Software Defined Radio 2026 (NEWSDR), June 4 - 5, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The primary goal of this workshop is to provide a forum that enables software defined radio (SDR) enthusiasts to get together, collaborate, and introduce SDR concepts to those interested in furthering their knowledge of SDR capabilities and available resources. NEWSDR 2026 welcomes experienced SDR enthusiasts as well as individuals who are interested in getting started with SDR.

John Swoboda, Ph.D., Geospace Research Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Haystack Observatory, said the two-day event is open to all amateur radio operators who want to learn more about SDR.

“This an opportunity...to explore more opportunities...using SDR, how it works, and the advantages of SDR technology,” said Swoboda. “You don’t have to quit using the tactile touch of tuning a transceiver or give up tubes. SDR still has all of those familiar functions.”

The keynote speaker this year is ARRL Member Gregory Charvat, N8ZRY. A radar expert in his professional life, he operates SSB equipment that he has designed/built from scratch and vintage gear that he has restored. His work has been featured in QST magazine, on Hackaday, and many other publications. Charvat is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). His YouTube channel is Gregory Charvat - YouTube.

NEWSDR 2026 will be held at WPI, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, Massachusetts. The main event is scheduled for Friday June 5, 2026, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Eastern). Tutorials are scheduled Thursday June 4, 5:00 – 9:00 PM (Eastern). Attendance is free, but advance registration is required. Visit newsdr.org/workshops/newsdr-2026/.

Happy Marconi Day!

No wire. No cable. Just invisible waves sent across a raging Atlantic Ocean.

A 27-year-old Italian kid with a crazy idea proved the entire scientific world wrong.

That moment — that single crackling signal traveling 2,100 miles through a stormy sky — is the reason YOU are a ham radio operator today.

Every QSO you’ve ever made. Every DX contact. Every late-night pile-up. Every friend you’ve met on the bands.

It all traces back to one man. One antenna. One spark.

Today we honor the father of wireless — Guglielmo Marconi — born April 25, 1874.

Without him, there is no ham radio. No satellites. No WiFi. No modern world as we know it.

So today, get on the air. Make a contact. And when you do — tip your hat to the man who started it all. 

Silent Keys

 

World Amateur Radio Day

Every April 18, radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. It was on this day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris.

Amateur Radio experimenters were the first to discover that the short wave spectrum — far from being a wasteland — could support worldwide propagation. In the rush to use these shorter wavelengths, Amateur Radio was “in grave danger of being pushed aside,” the IARU’s history has noted.  Amateur Radio pioneers created the IARU to support Amateur Radio worldwide.

Just two years later, at the International Radiotelegraph Conference, Amateur Radio gained the allocations still recognized today — 160, 80, 40, 20, and 10 meters.  Since its founding, the IARU has worked tirelessly to defend and expand the frequency allocations for Amateur Radio. Thanks to the support of enlightened administrations in every part of the globe, radio amateurs are now able to experiment and communicate in frequency bands strategically located throughout the radio spectrum.  From the 25 countries that formed the IARU in 1925, the IARU has grown to include 160 member-societies in three regions. IARU Region 1 includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Asia. Region 2 covers the Americas, and Region 3 is comprised of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific island nations, and most of Asia. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized the IARU as representing the interests of Amateur Radio.

Today, Amateur Radio is more popular than ever, with more than 3,000,000 licensed operators around the world.  

World Amateur Radio Day is the day when IARU Member-Societies can show our capabilities to the public and enjoy global friendship with other Amateurs worldwide.

IARU is celebrated its centenary in 2025. Since its founding in Paris, France, IARU has worked tirelessly to promote innovation in amateur radio and to encourage the growth of the service in communities throughout the world.

IARU has represented the Amateur Services at international and regional regulatory bodies by relying on our volunteers who come from many countries and communities. IARU has been a sector member of the ITU since 1932 and the work of our volunteers has continued since that date with unmatched success, as was highlighted with the accomplishments at WRC-23.

We should take time to reflect on the remarkable achievements of radio amateurs over the last 100 or so years. While the Amateur Services have been in operation for over a century, 1924 was the first year that intercontinental amateur communication became more or less commonplace. Since that time radio amateurs have made unparalleled advances in technology related to the Amateur Services that play a critical role today in sustaining world-wide communications and allow us to respond to global emergencies. 

World Amateur Radio Day is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements since 1924. We should celebrate the many advances and innovations amateurs have made as we look forward to celebrating the IARU centenary next year.

HamClock Instructions and Tips for Open HamClock Backend Setup

Here are setup instructions (and more!) for HamClock and tips on how to connect your version of HamClock to Open Hamclock Backend (OHB) which is an open source backend server and the one that I use and recommend.  Just follow this link:

https://ohb.works/open-hamclock-backend-instructions/

They Took Down the Internet. They Couldn't Take Down Shortwave

 Iran’s internet was knocked to minimal connectivity.

60+ hours of near total blackout.

Government communications — gone.

State media — gone.

Public services — gone.

But on 7910 kHz — a signal kept transmitting.

Twice a day. Every day. Crossing every border. Through every cyberattack. Through every jammer Iran could deploy.

Shortwave didn’t flinch.

While world leaders scrambled and cyber warfare raged — ham radio operators and shortwave listeners were already tuned in. Already logging. Already analyzing. Ham operators worldwide detected and tracked a new Farsi numbers station within minutes — as it played out live on HF

We just needed an antenna.

This is not nostalgia. This is not a hobby. This is the most battle-tested communications technology in human history — and the Iran war just proved to the entire world that it still works when nothing else does.

HF radio crossed every border they tried to close.

Tune in yourself:

📻 7910 kHz — USB mode

🕐 02:00 UTC & 18:00 UTC daily

Check out w2re.com and follow Ham Radio 24-7 on Facebook.

The Potato Patch Fleet, Maine, 1917

When WWI U-boats threatened shipping, the U.S. Navy was short on patrol boats. In Maine, lobstermen and potato farmers converted their own boats. Elmer Brooks, 58, took his 30-foot Mabel B and mounted a surplus machine gun to the bow with planks and rope. The “Potato Patch Fleet” patrolled for subs in fog, 200 miles offshore, with no radios. They never sank a U-boat, but their presence stopped coastal shelling. The Navy gave Elmer a commendation. He hung it in his barn next to his seed potatoes.

39 Airports, 1 Grand Adventure

74 DAY CIRRUS JOURNEY FOCUSES ON GROWING REAL-WORLD PILOT SKILLS

Recounted by Blake Freedland in Flying Magazine

Like most pilots, I've always dreamed of a grand trip.  A shared passion for challenge, adventure and flying eventually drives all of us avgeeks to leave our comfort zones and explore.  So, to celebrate our graduation from Tufts University and Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts, I decided to fly across the U.S. and parts of Canada in my Cirrus SR22 with one of my best friends and copilot, Dylan Tamaroff. Our goal was to see new places, meet people, discover hidden gems, and most importantly, learn. I wanted to push myself, sharpen my skills, and become a better aviator.

Pilot Blake Freedland (right) and co-captain Dylan Tamaroff flew across the U.S. and Canada in a Cirrus SR22. 

While I had around 500 hours and seven years under my belt, I hadn’t flown much outside of my South Florida and Boston bubble. Most of our landings were at KFXE and KBED. Flying was not really a means of travel for me but rather a hobby. So I embarked on this once-in-a-lifetime flying journey. Dylan and I landed at 39 airports over the course of our 13,000 sm, 74-day, 100-flight-hour trip.

Overall Favorites

Iran’s Internet Blackout Becomes World Record‑Longest

Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has now lasted over 38 consecutive days, according to monitoring group NetBlocks, making it the longest state‑level internet shutdown documented anywhere in the world.

Since late February 2026, most Iranians have been cut off from the global internet, with real‑time connectivity reduced to near‑zero levels. Only a small fraction of users can access limited services via VPNs or satellite connections, and most online traffic remains confined to heavily restricted domestic networks.

The shutdown severely restricts access to independent news, communication platforms, and international information, leaving ordinary citizens largely isolated from the wider world.

Venerable Emil Kapaun, Catholic Priest, Heroic Chaplain, Future Saint

Fr. Emil Emil J. Kapaun, A Catholic priest, served as a chaplain in in the U.S. Army in the Korean War and was captured by enemy Chinese Communist forces after saving the life of an American soldier.  

Chaplain Kapaun was the victim of malnutrition and pneumonia after spending only seven months in the camp.  

Fr. Kapaun’s story is that of a saintly hero dedicated to living a life of Christian virtue and service to his fellow man under the most difficult and despicable conditions imaginable.  Fr. Kapaun’s heroism in the prison camp wasn’t an isolated event, however: his lifelong dedication to Christ and to His Church placed him on the path of priestly service that culminated in his ultimate sacrifice in North Korea at only 35 years old.

For his actions, Fr. Kapaun was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013 for his actions.  His Medal of Honor citation follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy at Unsan, Korea, from November 1-2, 1950. 

On November 1, as Chinese Communist Forces viciously attacked friendly elements, Chaplain Kapaun calmly walked through withering enemy fire in order to provide comfort and medical aid to his comrades and rescue friendly wounded from no-man's land. Though the Americans successfully repelled the assault, they found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Facing annihilation, the able-bodied men were ordered to evacuate. However, Chaplain Kapaun, fully aware of his certain capture, elected to stay behind with the wounded. After the enemy succeeded in breaking through the defense in the early morning hours of November 2, Chaplain Kapaun continually made rounds, as hand-to-hand combat ensued. As Chinese Communist Forces approached the American position, Chaplain Kapaun noticed an injured Chinese officer amongst the wounded and convinced him to negotiate the safe surrender of the American Forces. Shortly after his capture, Chaplain Kapaun, with complete disregard for his personal safety and unwavering resolve, bravely pushed aside an enemy soldier preparing to execute Sergeant First Class Herbert A. Miller. 

Not only did Chaplain Kapaun's gallantry save the life of Sergeant Miller, but his unparalleled courage and leadership also inspired all those present, including those who might have otherwise fled in panic, to remain and fight the enemy until captured.

Chaplain Kapaun's extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.

Fr. Kapaun was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2025 as part of his ongoing canonization process toward sainthood.  His courage, selflessness, and spiritual ministry amid extreme hardship will always be cherished.

Just Another Day in the W1WH Ham Shack...

Titanic Memorial Special Event Honors Telegraph Operators

The Titanic Memorial special event, EG1912T, takes place April 10th through April 15th honoring all on board the ship.

The event honors those who participated in the rescue, especially the radio station managers and telegraph operators Jack Phillips, Harold Bride and Harold Cottam, who played a leading role in the telegraphic communications of the most shocking rescue in history: the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

The event will take place on all bands utilizing all modes with an emphasis on CW. QSL cards will be available via bureau. More information is available on the EG1912T QRZ page.

HamClock Video: DRAP Explained

 Another great video from the OHB HamClock team...