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• Hamming it up

Hamming it up

Controlling huge radio tower from a Virtual World

By Matteo Ligas, Jani Pirkola

Edited by: SP

Friday, May 22, 2009

Ham radio (also called amateur radio) is both a serious and a fun hobby. Radio communication can be used in areas of conflict or war where other means of communication are disabled. During peaceful times it is a sport where "hams" try to make as many contacts as possible with other hams around the world.

About six million people are regularly involved with amateur radio. There is nothing really amateurish in the hams or their equipment, the term amateur is used to reflect the fact that ham radio communications must be non-commercial and can not be used to make money.

Radio Arcala is one of the biggest and most important ham radios of the world: for its amazing towers and controlling hardware setup, for the success that it is collecting in the european and worldwide competitions, for the innovations that is bringing to the ham radio community and  for its activity to diffuse this wonderful and valuable passion amongs the new generations.

The first video presented below is a general introduction to Radio Arcala: its history, technologies and mission, shooted in Second Life and realXtend, the video explains pretty well how Radio Arcala team is using the net and the new communication technologies to reach the new generations and show them what Ham radio is about.

The second video below is a live demonstration of the usage of the real radio station via realxtend, Juha Hulkko  - OH8NC operating. 

2 comment(s) for “Hamming it up”

Ralf Haifisch said on Saturday, May 23, 2009 (6:54:17 PM) that´s just another good example to cooperate over distance to control technical equipment. While there are plenty solutions for remote controlling, a free (open source) standard interface, that enables cooperation and instand feedback in native way (showing the equipment) is something new and for sure something virtual worlds make sense. Even explaining the advantage to people new to this stuff is quite easy.

Michelle Argus said on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 (2:30:50 PM) I have already installed EchoLink for someone, would be a interesting way to comunicate with people Ingame... Voice via EchoLink ;)