Due to all the crises here in Northern California - environmental (fires, tensions in the community over socio-political clashes, Covid-19), I've had too little money left over to suitably buy the parts for building my SBC cluster, for the beginning of an Asgardia network. However, I've been buying a few parts at a time, I have already received the PoE Pi Hats, I just received the bulk order of MicroSD cards yesterday, and a few days ago I ordered the Ethernet cables to be used in connecting everything together. I already have a PoE router/switch, and the power supply for it. I'll be physically connecting it to my house's internet, to minimize the chances of the WiFi functions interfering with other WiFi devices. Most WiFi routers and modems are limited in the numbers of devices they can connect at any given time, thus making the cable connection... essential, really. Furthermore, the cable connection reduces the chances that major EMF bursts - like from high solar activity - will interfere with the data transfer rates from my cluster to the next cluster. As an amateur radio operator, I've observed these interferences a few times, now, some of my readers will have also, with how their mobile phone service seems significantly less reliable during those solar events, or when the neighbor is using large electrical equipment, with poor electrical shielding. Essentially, more parts arrived, more parts on order... the most expensive parts, the Pi 4 boards themselves, have yet to be ordered, and I will likely have to order them one or two at a time, due to financial restrictions in my home. I'm posting this, here, so my friends and colleagues understand I've been continuing to do what I can, in between some fatiguing and stressful weeks at work and here at home. I haven't quit, and I will survive!

Once again, I have been very busy, as an employee, as a family man, and as an emergency services volunteer. I miss my time posting on Asgardia, I miss my time chatting with my fellow Asgardians, and I miss my time contributing to the continued growth of Asgardia. I will return as soon as possible, and in the mean time, I continue to work at assembling my SBC cluster for Asgardia. Parts are arriving, but still budgeting parts of pay checks to purchase parts of the project.

Amateur radio enthusiasts have been helping study space for decades. Here's another great example of how we can contribute to Asgardia, studying Amateur Radios. Admittedly, the hobbyist level skills I have aren't even close to ready for helping in this, but we can build our skills together, starting with communicating with our neighbors, and building our skills from there! My gratitude goes to Asgardia's Discord server, the Social News channel, for finding and sharing this article first. https://newatlas.com/space/fast-radio-burst-repeats-predicted-schedule-frb/

Once again, I apologize to you, for my not being a frequent contributer here, at this time. I hope to rectify that as soon as possible. In the mean time, here's an article that was shared on one of my facebook groups, that help explain why radio skills are necessary education for All Asgardians. Enjoy! https://www.qsl.net/sv1bsx/antenna-pol/polarization.html?fbclid=IwAR0kPoJwLqsyTO9VJo3XL4iVxyV74F-rBOK0OdIAzPETtNcoPCa2ddmDhj0

I wanted to apologise to you members, for my slow contributions to the Community. I still work my day job, and because my teammates are taking their vacations this month, I am working their shifts AND mine, and unable to get online with any reasonable frequency. I'll be back online and posting more, ASAP. Please, feel free to post any articles you find about signals, radios, licensing, or communication!

There's an organization that keeps track of all the countries that have Amateur Radio agreements. The website is https://www.iaru.org/. This information might help find the agency in your country, and the rules therein.

In the USA, anyone who wants to get licensed for using HAM radios for communication, must go through the FCC, or Federal Communications Commission. The FCC regulates all areas of Communication here, but also has an international agreement to share use of HAM radios, for travelers. What agency in your country, regulates the use of HAM radios?

I just want to say hello, and welcome, to Martin Kirder and Rajat Raina. I thank you both for your interest. I'm curious, what are the names of the agencies that govern the use of VHF, UHF, and HF radios, where you live?

Much to my chagrin, I do not have the time to vet the people seeking elected positions. I wish I could find a page showing a candidate's positions on various topics, their qualifications, references, and the history of their behaviours. I must hold out hope of finding the candidates who value Honesty, Integrity, and Accountability, to the fullest degree.

The following paragraph is taken directly from the ARRL website- "Amateur Radio (ham radio) is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together. People use ham radio to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It's fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need." - http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio How is HAM Radio useful to Asgardia? Amateur Radio operators, also known as HAM radio operators, or sometimes just "HAMs", assist with monitoring Radio Frequency (RF) emissions from space, from the Earth's core, and from radio users around the planet. HAMs can communicate with Astronauts, using simple, and often home made, equipment, like antennas attached to their hand-held, car mounted, or shack/house mounted transceivers. HAMs assist with communications relays when cellular towers and internet relays are out of commission. HAMs use triangulation, while measuring signal strength with well-calibrated equipment, to help measure distances from signal sources. These skills have been, and continue to be, significant in the charting and exploration of both, Earth, and space.

Are there any other HAM operators here in Asgardia? I'd love to connect with others. Communications skills are important for building community, and community is vital for building a new nation. It's also a useful skill for emergency situations.

Wondering what sort of emergency basic survival medical training we would want. Aside from the cold vacuum of space, electrical shock from hardware malfunction, and solar radiation, what other environmental hazards would we likely face? I am looking at this from the perspective of a First Responder, someone who may have or get EMT training. What would an EMT focus on, in space? I actually tweeted about this to SpaceX a few minutes ago, and will be doing the same to NASA momentarily, but I'd love to hear what other folks might have to contribute.