I have to say that I am fairly impressed with this combination. Once or twice I had to reset the phone due to glitches with the mapping software, however, overall the solution was very good. Map4PDA essentially provides a slick PDA interface into Google maps (or a few other mapping sites) and gives you LBS (location based services) in the palm of your hand. What does all that mean? Well, for example, I was able to pull up a map of my area and get directions (standard fare for mapping solutions) – and then perform a google search geographically localized to the vicinity on my PDA screen. Find a hotel, gas station or business address simply by typing it in. That was way cool. I only hope they continue to make improvements to the software (improvements in directions and stability were issues).

Ham radio applications of this solution? Hmmm… I’ll have to think about that. If they were to open the API or source code, I suppose it could be a cool APRS platform… Could even attach it to find-u.com I suppose. Hmmm.

It’s interesting work and it does have its rewards, but the frequent travel (25%+) and job demands have been taking a little too much time lately away from my family. Of course, ham radio takes a back seat to both my job and family… but I guess life is all about finding the right balance, isn’t it?

Here’s a pic of me from San Fransisco’s Fisherman’s Warf with Alcatraz Island in the background. I wonder if it has an IOTA number designation?

• wake up in the U.K. at 4:30 A.M. to catch a 6AM flight from Leeds to Amsterdam
• layover in Amsterdam followed by a ~9 hour flight to Minneapolis
• my bag doesn’t arrive in Minneapolis
• my connection was too tight, so I miss my flight to Des Moines
• finally get to Des Moines at 5pm central time, NorthWest says my bag was misrouted
• exhausted, I start my ~40 minute drive home (19+ hrs of travel at this point)
• accident on I-35 has things to a crawl, so I take the back roads
• turn on the Icom 706-MKIIG to hear a guy (GØREK) on 20m from Yorkshire of all places.

I made a few attempts to work Darren, but conditions just aren’t quite good enough to make it through the QRM and noise. I’m still not convinced that my mobile HF setup is fully functioning (I think my High Sierra Sidekick needs some additional grounding).

Ever the optimist, I think “oh well, I’ll give him a call and let him know that I was in his neighborhood this morning once I get home”. That was the idea anyway. When I tried to call the guy, no luck. I’m fairly certain that the cheap RadioShack coax is either flaky or has a bad PL-259 (naturally, that’s the “temporary” section purchased in a hurry that was never replaced).

Well, back to the bright side… hamfest this weekend in Cedar Rapids… tower work will start soon… got a shipment of rotor cable today from Jay @ ArraySolutions….won’t be long now.

While on this trip, I’ve also been able to arrange the details of delivery of my tower, mast and rotor. Dan at ANWireless.com has been great to work with. He’s responded to all my questions quickly and always with an attitude of customer service.

Ironically, one part of my visit to the U.K. has been to work through customer service issues. While sitting in meetings and talking about the DO’s and DON’Ts of handling our customers I’ve been emailing Dan who’s been simply easy to do business with. Who would have thought that the owner of a tower manufacturing company would work so well with customers, taking time to email and provide suggestions to problems I hadn’t honestly thought through myself prior to placing the tower order.

Everything from discussing the step (climbing) bolts, rotor plate position, mast choices… you name it, Dan can walk you through it.