Before I got my ham license I had a shoestring budget. I pondered getting a used rig like an Icom IC-706mk2g. They were still 300+ USD used. I decided I鈥檇 take a chance and buy a kit radio! Up to this point I鈥檇 only assembled a simple fm radio and other simple kits and drone repair. I figured the worst that鈥檇 happen would be a smoke show. When I finally got it fired up the first time I had a large towel with me to smother in case a 馃敟 started. 馃ぃ ...
I love BBS systems and old POTS stuff. I鈥檝e always wanted to try and setup a BBS node. I really enjoy doing APRS while mobile on my motorcycle. I found lots of good info from The Modern Ham ultimate guide his YouTube channel link I have ran a APRS digipeter/i-gate from my QTH on a raspberrypi4 for testing. I鈥檝e had a few chat with repeater owner about putting a node up on our site on the hill. ...
Wow it was so awesome to make a mobile cw contact. I worked my old instructor from CW Academy Dallas K1DW! I know he works remote he was in TX. Our QSO was on 15 meters. The lowest I鈥檝e been able to go and get a workable safe SDR is 10 meters. I need to put some radials on it. Also the plate that my mout uses is not grounded well. ...
Wow. The first one is the hardest? I don鈥檛 really care because it was absolutely thrilling. I鈥檝e called CQ many times mostly late at night and early morning. Just putting my foot in the water when it鈥檚 a little quieter and less pressure. I was about to call it a night. I thought just one more time it might happen. It sure happened, Victor WB5HOW came right back. Instantly my brain turned to potato, excited potato I鈥檇 add. I put a note to email me on QRZ.com if needed. foreseeable errors ahead FEA. Victor got the hint and shot me an email. I was thinking his call was WD5HOW. I should have sent it 3x to confirm now come to think of it. I asked him to send his x3. Lesson learned I guess. ...
I ended up finding someone calling for Polio On The Air 2025 - CQ SALK scrolling through my Mastadon feed! I love the instance I鈥檓 on there is tons of great armature radio related activities. I ended up getting to work W7P on 40 meters! It got me thinking about FDR. I recall reading that he was into helicrafter rx and had one behind his desk. I read that on swling blog post. I can鈥檛 seem to find it anymore though. My Google Fu is bad tonight. ...