KB1CKT: Ham Radio
Amateur Radio
Hello there! I started in amateur radio back in
Febuary of 1998, when I recieved my Technician (no-code) license, and the
call KB1CKT. One year later, I gained the 5 wpm requirement for Technician Plus. Then, at Hosstraders, I took the General test (wasn't it nice of them to
reduce the CW requirement?) and passed without too many problems. The examiners convinced me to try the Extra test, and I finally said, why not? I don't think I did really well, but I still passed!
I suppose it's no big deal to have my Extra; I operate very little on HF as it is. I used to have an interest in CW, but I'm afraid that I've lost it. I'm going to try and practice up once again, but I think I'm more interested in PSK31 and SSB on HF, and FM voice on 2m/70cm.
My home station is slowly coming together. I have a Yaesu FT-817, an LDG Z-11 autotuner, and a G5RV at my new house. I also have a TenTec Argosy (the first one, not the one with a digital display), that I tend to use when listening to the bands; the dial cord is sticking but otherwise is a nice sounding radio. Eventually, I'll put up a vertical and maybe at some point in time, I'll actually operate my radio, rather than listen to it...
My last car was a 2000 Saturn SL, in which I had an Alinco DR605TQ for a while, then a Piexx-modified Motorola Syntor for just 2m. The 605 wasn't a bad radio, but the Syntor was seemingly nicer, if not huge. I used some cheap 2m/70cm antenna at first, with an LDG trunk lip mount, but that mount damaged my trunk lid, and the antenna got water in it after only a year. I changed to an MFJ Ruff-Rider mount with a Comet(?) SBB-7 2m/70cm. The antenna is great, but the MFJ mount also gave out after a year or so, due to water damage.
My VW Jetta Wagon TDI has a Yaesu FT-7800 in it, for chatting on the local repeaters. Although I wish it did dual recieve, like the FT-8800 or 8900, the backlit buttons are really nice. I use it with a Diamond roof-rack mount and a (I forget the manufacturer) groundplane-less 2m/70cm antenna. I've noticed that this antenna, while not quite as good as the big SBB-7, does quite well on top of my wagon, where the radiation pattern isn't affected by the former car's roof.
Oh, I occasionly have a CB of some sort in the car, for monitoring traffic conditions when driving long distances, but not too often. Right now I have some cheapo Radio Shack handheld, with some 1/8th wave Radio Shack antenna. It seems to work ok.
I sometimes also have a scanner in the car, to listen to the local fire departments. I used to run a Uniden Bearcat 350C, which wasn't too bad, but these days I either just use the already mounted Yaesu or I'll just grab my (broke) FT-50RD. I don't use an antenna on the car for the scanner antenna.
Goto
the W1YA University of Maine Ham Club webpage.
Back
to my main page
Created: 8/30/98
Last edited: 2005-03-26