National Homebrew Day 2024 is on Friday, May 3, 2024: What beer have you drank that suprised you by tasting better than expected?

Friday, May 3, 2024 is National Homebrew Day 2024. American Homebrewers Association National Homebrew Day,

What beer have you drank that suprised you by tasting better than expected?

My own homebrew. I had one in my early days that I felt was nice. I gave one to the owner of the brewery that I was brewing for. He later said that he was considering brewing it. He/we never did. But that one brew is my biggest surprise.

I had Young's Double Chocolate Stout just to try it so I have have an honest opinion and it was surprisingly good. I also have had some strong IPA that I thought was better than they had appeared. I however still think they are a strange beer trend and akin to national brewery marketing gimmicks.

What type of ham radio can I operate with an technician Amateur license?

What type of ham radio can I operate with an technician Amateur license?

Congratulations

Let me answer your question, but realize I am NOT being smart or trying to be.

You can operate any radio, and not even be licensed (now being able to transmit is another point).

As a new Technician, I would suggest getting an inexpensive radio, take for instance one from Yaesu or an Icom or actually any brand. Get information for your areas local repeaters etc.. and listen in on them and begin to save some money to buy or get an inproved rig or better equipment.

Why.. well if a 50$ radio is going to work for you no need in getting a 350$ one

An entry-level Technician class license will give you access all ham frequencies above 30 MHz. This gives you access to the popular Two Meter (144 MHz), 1.35 Meter (222 MHz) and 70 Centimeter (440 MHz) ham bands.

ref:

Technician class operators now have 10 meter voice privileges

plus CW on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters!

It authorizes you ALL ham radio privileges above 30 Megahertz (MHz).

1500 watts of power and these privileges include the very popular 2-meter band. Many Technician licensees enjoy using small 2-meter hand-held radios to stay in touch with other hams in their area or operating from just about any vehicle, boat, etc. Imagine sending live TV in realtime or just still pictures over the air! Technician class Hams may operate FM voice, digital packet (computers), television, single-sideband voice and several other interesting modes. As a Technician class Ham Radio Operator, you can even make international radio contacts via Ham Radio satellites ref:

Now as far as what net/freq you can use, that is hard for me to answear, if you can send me an email, and I will get your information and help you locate your area repeaters etc.

also very IMPORTANT tip and suggestion ...

ARRL Field Day is June 27-28 (The ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the USA)

and also you can locate a Field Day Station at

I am sure at this location you can get person to person help and further information

also just cause you have passed your test, please wait to 'transmit' until you get your license.

Now as far as what I use and do.... I have 3 radios. 1 hand held -1 Motorola spectra (this was a Hand me down) and my favorite YAESU FT-2800. With homebrew'd antenna's BTW

Visiting Prague, what do I need to know?

Visiting Prague, what do I need to know?

Be prepared to walk about a lot! Wear comfortable and warm shoes (a little water resistant does not hurt). All of the downtown area - Prague's Old Town and the Lesser Quarter + Castle district across the river are very pedestrian. The architecture is stunning, the castle overlooking the town is amazing, Charles Bridge ... I miss it already and I've only been gone for two weeks now (I live there).

Be prepared to drink some beer! Try the pale ("svetle" - either the light pale "desitka" or the stronger pale "dvanactka") and dark ("tmave") lagers, or if you are really into a beer tasting experience make the small hike out to the corner of Stepanska and Jecna streets to the "Pivovarsky Dum", the Brewery House, and try their wheat ("psenicne") and flavoured homebrews as well. To warm up, have some herbal liquor - sweet Becherovka or bitter Fernet.

Prepare to eat pork! The national dish is pork with stewed cabbage and bread dumplings. If you are vegetarian, you can enjoy fried cheese, fruit dumplings with white cheese (ovocne knedliky s tvarohem) or my favourite, which you would have to ask for a la carte, is spinach and potato dumplings with a fried egg (sazene vajicko se spenatem a bramborove knedlicky). It's winter, with all the walking in that chilly weather you'll work it off.

Expect few tourists! It's cold and kind of grey weather, bit IMO it's the best time of year to come. You'll have the place to yourselves. The local people will be doing their Christmas shopping out at the malls along the outskirts; downtown (including Nove Mesto or the "New Town", which is also old but not as old as the Old Town) should not be very crowded.

BTW, weather wise ... prepare for around freezing during the day, a tad below at night. It can get drizzly and you could see a little snow, but it rarely snows more than an inch in Prague.

Re language - even though Czech is, like Russian, a Slavic language, Czechs could never really "speak" Russian, the language of their invaders. Anyone under 35 will be able to speak some English, the older generation tends to know a little German. It will not be a problem to at least get directions if you do not speak Czech. Waitstaff will speak "restaurant English" and "restaurant German".

Re transport - municipal public transportation is great, cheap, reliable. Get a pass for the five days you will be there and you will not have to worry about buying and stamping tickets all the time. DO take SPECIAL CARE OF YOUR BELONGINGS when you are on the metro and the trams, especially the numbers 17, 18, 22 and, to some extent, the 9.

Watch out for "the squeeze", some pickpockets block the doors while other pickpockets sqeeze you in (or out) from behind. The Prague metro does not work like the Tokyo metro, no one should be shoving you in or out and if anyone does get touchy feely with you, be firm and let them know in whatever language that their hands belong to themselves. Everyone understands the international word "police".

That little serious part aside, I'm sure you'll love it. So: Prepare to have fun!

Holidays also on this date Friday, May 3, 2024...