N8OIF.net

I have set up this page to showcase some of my hobbies, and to provide some links to the World Wide Web that you may find useful if you share the same interests as me. By the way, it also makes it easier for me to surf my favorite sites. I Hope you enjoy everything. Stop back often to see what I have added.

I am interested in the global positioning system (GPS). I currently own the Garmin GPSmap 76CSx, and StreetPilot 2720 receivers. Garmin recently announced the 76CSx at the 2006 Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. This new receiver is quite similar to the 60CS that I previously owned, however, it floats whereas the 60CS does not. The 76CSx also has the new SiRFstarIII GPS receiver chipset which equates to greater sensitivity. It should perform better during geocaching (see below) and walking. Finally, the new 76CSx allows for expandable memory via a MicroSD slot. I am thinking about upgrading the 2720 to a 2820. There are several reasons why I am considering this upgrade. The 2820 is a 2720 plus it adds XM Satellite Radio (see below), XM Weather data, XM NavTraffic, MP3 playback capability, Audible playback capability (for audiobooks), and offers Bluetooth connectivity. It transmits all of the audio to the car stereo via a built-in FM modulator. I am also trying to understand how the GPS system works. Here is one of the best GPS sites around.

I work at the Defense Supply Center Columbus, DSCC, in Columbus, Ohio. One of the current projects that I am assisting with is the development of an electronic version of the Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) and Qualified Products List (QPL). QMLs and QPLs indicate those electronic component (and other commodities) manufacturers who have met certain minimum criteria as spelled out in the military specifications. I am the co-developer of the web pages for our entire unit, the Sourcing and Qualification Unit, at DSCC.

Another location to check out is the Ohio Northern University web pages. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Ohio Northern in 1988. You can also specifically check out their engineering department pages.

Coming soon (or already available) to these pages:

My music and movie (and wish list) collections. Also, my Amazon.com Wish List.
Links to my other hobbies and interests: computer programming, photography, videography (including DVD creation), amateur radio, XM Radio, geocaching (short video), and astronomy (although not directly astronomy-related you can watch a video of a flyover (Flash Player 8 required) of the International Space Station; its flyover was predicted by Heavens Above and by one of the meteorologists on WCMH-TV Channel 4). You can also visit the website of the Columbus Astronomical Society.
Information about cellular telephone technologies and cell phone manufacturers. As far as cellphones go, I own a Motorola E815 phone and use it on the Verizon network. This is an all-digital phone that supports the EV-DO, 1xRTT and traditional CDMA networks. The phone has quite a few features: a 1000-number phonebook, VCAST capabilities, Get It Now, Mobile Web 2.0, 1-megapixel camera, video capabilities using the 3GPP2 file format, expandable memory with MicroSD cards, MP3 player, and much more. I did most of my research on HowardForums. I've previously owned the following phones: Audiovox CDM9900, Audiovox CDM8900, Audiovox CDM9000, Kyocera QCP-6135, some Qualcomm phone (back when they manufactured digital phones), and some Motorola phone (3-Watt analog-only model).
My blog on Blogger.
My blog on this site.
My discussion forum on this site.
Miscellaneous other projects