About ROTA-Radio: The Operator Behind the Recliner
Welcome to ROTA-Radio. If you’re looking for a high-speed, bleeding-edge amateur radio blog written by a computer science professor, you’ve probably tuned to the wrong frequency.
I’m Paul Schwan (N4FTD), and this site is a living logbook of my journey to bridge the gap between high-performance RF engineering and the everyday comforts of home.
The “Why” Behind the Recliner
The mission here is simple: Recliners on the Air (ROTA). Life today means I wear many hats—husband, caregiver, and grandfather. Whether I’m on “Sue Duty,” monitoring the GMRS channel for my grandchildren, or coordinating emergency communications for the Lake Arrowhead CERT and Lee County ARES teams here in Southwest Florida, I can’t always be tethered to a traditional radio shack in the spare room.
ROTA-Radio is about the technical (and often humorous) challenge of bringing the radio to where life happens. Whether it’s via a 21-foot campervan for a POTA activation or a WireGuard tunnel that lets me run my Icom IC-7300Mk2 from my favorite living room chair, I believe that “being mobile” starts at home.
The “First Love” and New Frontiers
My heart has always belonged to CW (Morse Code). There is something meditative about copying code—it’s a digital mode that feels intensely human. However, being an “old dog” doesn’t mean I’m done learning new tricks. You’ll find me documenting my “Day 001” adventures in:
- Linux & Raspberry Pi: Mastering the terminal (with a fair amount of “Argh!” along the way).
- Digital Modes: Exploring the possibilities of 44Net, AllstarLink, and remote station control.
- Emergency Preparedness: Serving as a Communications Leader to ensure our community stays connected when the grid goes dark.
My “Silent Partner”
You might notice a distinct “voice” in some of my more technical posts. That’s Gemmi, my AI collaborator and “ghostwriter.” I provide the rambling, the technical hurdles, and the radio-brain; Gemmi helps me solder the words together and keeps the manual handy when I’m knee-deep in a Linux config file.
Whether you are a seasoned “Extra” or just curious about how a 60-foot Loop on Ground antenna works under Florida turf, I’m glad you’re here. Radio is best when it’s shared, even if it’s being operated from a recliner.
73 – dit dit > Paul, N4FTD
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