History Matters: Samuel B. Morse statue unveiled April 1871

May 5, 2024 - by Nancy Austin

Scott Tillotson, WX1X wrote about his recent visit to see the Samuel F.B. Morse statue in New York City’s Central Park East: 5th Ave and E. 72nd St.

Scott, WX1X wrote:

This statue was unveiled in April 1871 in celebration of his 80th birthday. Samuel Morse was there at the time and took the occasion to “broadcast” a telegraph message across the country and to thank all the telegraph operators who gave their donations for this statue for this occasion.

His left hand is on a morse code-tape printing machine and his right is holding a portion of the tape output.

Samuel B. Morse statue in NYC. Photos courtesy of Scott Tillotson, WX1X (longtime RI-ARES Net Manager).

Ham Radio & Medical Slow Scan TV

January 25, 2024 - by Nancy Austin

Dr. Greg Jay, W1EDY has stepped up to be a mentor on the team revitalizing the collegiate Brown University Amateur Radio Club, K1AD. When asked for an example of how a background in amateur radio can help advance professional STEM innovation today, Dr. Jay immediately thought of this recent research utlizing slow-scan television (SSTV) he had read in a 2023 issue of WILDERNESS & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2023.05.009

“Introduction—Point–of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is used in wilderness medicine and could potentially be the only imaging modality available. Cellular and data coverage is often lacking in remote areas, limiting image transmission. This study evaluates the viability of transmitting POCUS images from austere environments using slow-scan television (SSTV) image transmission methods over very-high-frequency (VHF) hand-held radio units for remote interpretation. …

Conclusions—Slow-scan television image transmission is a viable option for transmitting ultrasound images in remote areas where more modern forms of communication are unavailable or not practical. Slow-scan television may have potential as another data transmission option in the wilderness, such as electrocardiogram tracings.”

[Note: At the December 2023 RI ARES meeting, Jeremy Taylor, K1JST (RI-SEC) gave a demo on Slow Scan TV apps and why he considers SSTV a ham skill worth knowing.]

Amateur Radio – a growth mindset community of curious innovators.

Please reach out if you are interested in being a mentor helping revitalize any one of Rhode Island’s currently dormant collegiate Amateur Radio Clubs. Please share examples you would use to pitch how a background in amateur radio can be a professional super power.