Welcome to the WD4HIM.com / WR4B.com / ORLANDODSTAR.info website.
This site is dedicated to My Dad WR4B (SK Silent Key) and a few of my hobbies like Amateur Radio (aka Ham Radio), CB Radio, Shortwave listening, Radio Control (planes,helicopters,etc.), Ram Trucks and Motorcycling. Sounds like a lot but it keeps me out of trouble! Oh, cannot forget the Saltwater Reef Tank Project. Setup was recently completed, still a work in process but you can view it here:
70G Reef Tank or
Here on this site for the same live video when available.
You can click here to view my
Ham Shack and
my Dad - WR4B and don't forget the
RamShack.
My Dad - Joe LaPointe WR4B passed away December 13, 2010. He was 84. He wanted me to inherit his callsign so I upgraded my license in 2009 to Extra class in order to be able to apply for his callsign. You have to have the same class of license depending on the callsign type. In this case a 2x1 (ie. WR4B) is reserved for Extra class. I was Advanced class for 34 years. Licensed in April 1977. My Dad received his license in 1979 as KA4EOU and later upgraded to Extra in 1984 I believe. At this time you had to pass a Morse code test of 20 words per minute. He was proficient at about 35 wpm. My advance class only required 13wpm. Today there is no morse code requirement. Getting your Ham license is just a matter of passing a written exam. You can find more out at the
ARRL website.
If you are on
Google Plus (aka: Google+, G+) you can
follow me there 
for more recent updates. If you have a GMAIL account just click on the +You (or your Gmail account name with the plus to the left of it) along the tool bar in Gmail and go to your Google+ page and add me to your Ham Radio circle.
This is a much better platform for me than Facebook for keeping up with the Ham Radio world via the Internet. If you are new to Google+ let me know via Google+ messaging button on my profile page and I will share my Ham radio circle with you so you having something to view. You have to be signed in to Google to send the mesage which makes sense, no reason for the circle without G+. Until you start following people your Google+ page will be blank and boring.
I am going to start updating the D-Star section as I get time. I am also trustee for the
W4AES Repeater here in Orlando Florida on 444.125 Mhz. Also HT coverage has been improved with the addition of a new antenna, dual bandpass filter and pre-amp.
Check the
Central Florida DSTAR Group website for information on area events.
D-STAR news 11-5-11: The KJ4OVA 440MHz./1.2GHz. DSTAR system has been moved to Bithlo FL at 1400 feet. Internet gateway is active but some issues with data droputs which should be resolved soon.
They are on 443.1375 and 1291.300 voice/1251.300 data. Sponsored by the 1K Dstar Association
(KJ4OVA)
D-STAR news 6-13-09: The W4AES 440 DSTAR module has been separated from the 2 meter stack and moved to a new home downtown Orlando along with a frequency change to 443.625MHz.
Now the 2 meter antenna can be moved to the top of the tower in place of the UHF so they don't have to be so close to each other. The 2 meter module is on the air with an active gateway. The callsign is now KJ4MMC (Mickey Mouse Club) due to being on a different IP address than W4AES UHF. Coverage is much better on W4AES 443.625 repeater. More updates to be listed on the W4AES D-Star info page.
As of 6-26-09 W4AES and KJ4MMC are on the air with active gateways to the internet.
Follow W4AES and KJ4MMC on
Twitter for recent updates and changes.
DSTAR activity is picking up in Orlando Click here for
CURRENT STATUS of W4AES and here for
CURRENT STATUS of KJ4MMC. Accept the security certificate error, it is a secure web site (https) with a generic certificate.
Go to the W4AES D-STAR Page for more info.
Feel free to use the W4AES & KJ4MMC D-STAR digital repeater and analog repeaters, IRLP or Echolink during your visit to Orlando Florida.
Both are open for general use and linking is allowed on all of them. The VHF port of the KJ4MMC D-STAR repeater is usually connected 24 hours to REF001C, the UHF port B of W4AES is normally available for linking. The analog repeater is usually available for linking also. Feel free to drop the links if needed. Visit the
W4AES Repeaters page for more info and pictures of the W4AES repeater installation.
Some of my radio operating is done from my truck. You can view my most recent location while I'm mobiling around by clicking on the tower with the flashing lightning bolts on the left. I have some new pictures in the
Ram Ham Shack Gallery, includes some old too so please check it out, just follow the menu above or at the bottom of the page. I have some new pictures to add of my crumbling Ram tough dashboard which was reluctlantly replaced by Dodge, I'll post them asap. Check back later.
My latest project has been getting back into the Radio Control hobby. I thought I would try RC Helicopters and am working on a
RC web page for that. It is partially up but still under construction so keep checking back. I bought a RC-Tek Diablo which is a 450 size elctric. I still have 1 plane a Diablo 150 from about 20 years ago and need to get it back in the air. It's hard to find a place to fly anymore, houses and shopping centers have gobbled up all the real estate which is one reason I haven't done much with RC lately. Helicopters are a bit easier to find a place like the local school yard.
Some of the links in the
Ham Radio section may be dated since I seem to get more hits on the
CB pages so I tend to keep those updated more. The "Internet & Misc" links are empty but I have some ideas for that area and should be working on that section soon. I also added some pictures I had taken of the destruction Hurricane Charley caused in August of 2004 here in Orlando click here for
Page 1 and
Page 2.
I have made some layout changes using strictly CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for web design and for making columns for content. I used an excellent example from
Layout Reservoir. I try and test as many browsers as possible. If you want some good web design ideas for laying out your own website check them out.
The latest addition has been the Google ad's. Hopefully they will provide some additional resources along with helping fund this site so please feel free to check them out. If you see something click the link and bookmark it before it gets away!
There's a lot of interesting stuff I have collected, you just have to find it! Take your pick and feel free to browse, hopefully you will find something interesting. Here is something I know you will like, it is a website listing
CELEBRITY HAMS, check it out, you will be surprised who is on the list. Anyhow I hope you enjoy the changes I have made so far....73 Bruce WD4HIM.
