Late in 2015, the HAM itch resurfaced from my first interest in the 1990s. I passed my Technician on 11-25-2015. Then, thanks to the peer pressure of WØEBV, I passed my General on 01-09-2016. I passed my Extra on 03-28-2016!!!!
My original call sign was KEØGTT…NØRVS is my vanity sign. I think I might keep it for a while since the last three letters are my initials.
Subsequently it has been a while since I’ve been on mobile HF radio. I was really missing it recently and decided to install it in our new vehicle. However I still have some more grounding to work on but the radio is happy, the antenna is happy and there is no crazy things happening in the vehicle. Meanwhile I am still using my homebrew loading coil that I made several years ago. On top of Read More …
I have been wanting to try FT8 on my ICOM IC-706 for quite some time. Recently my brother finally got his ticket and is a General Class. He also purchased a Yeasu FT-450 as his first HF rig. In the past I have done a few digital modes such as PSK31, SSTV, and some RTTY! But for the life of me I could not get FT8 to work with my ICOM IC-706. My brother did Read More …
I recently purchased two RF Concept amplifiers that did not come with power cords. I had a heck of a time finding some Jones plugs/sockets for a decent price. I had spotted a couple on Ebay for a $20 bill. I thought that was a little bit steep price for a small plug/socket. I ended up finding a pair of Jones plugs/sockets at the Joplin Hamfest for $4.00! That is right $4.00!!! This is just Read More …
Here is a visual look at the 2019 Joplin, Missouri Hamfest! There was a ton of neat stuff for sale and on display here. Furthermore, if you are in the area you might as well stop by the Joplin hamfest.
For several years I have been using my HM-103 microphone on my ICOM IC-706 with no tab to lock the RJ45 microphone tab in place to the transceiver. In addition, I recently ordered a cable crimper from Amazon for about $19.00 that also came with a cable tester and 100 pieces of RJ45 connectors/plugs. After a little bit of some research on Youtube. I found some videos on how to replace network cables. I had Read More …
The Ararat Shrine Hambash was finally here. We had just got back the weekend before from the Green Country Hamfest in Claremore, Oklahoma. There was not too much on my list of this to get at a hamfest but we wanted to make a day trip up to Kansas City, Missouri anyway. This is the 3rd year in a row that we have attended this Ararat Shrine Hambash. This year it was PACKED. I mean Read More …
This year we decided to camp at the Expo for the Green Country Hamfest. They do have a small county run campground next to the Expo center. My wife and I left before the sun even thought about coming up from west central Missouri. We took nothing but back roads all the way to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. You say why Bartlesville? Well we actually had another event that we wanted to attend before the hamfest and Read More …
Well not exactly! I thought I let the magic smoke out of my ICOM IC-706. Furthermore, I was messing around the back of the radio with it turned on I bumped something and POOF! Radio shut down and would not turn back on. I checked the fuses on the power cord and they were fine. I opened up the chassis and peeked inside and found nothing out of the ordinary. Then I spotted a fuse Read More …
Ever wanted to see inside a ICOM IC-730? Well here is your chance. I do enjoy taking pictures inside of radios and electronics.
I never have tried WPX RTTY yet. I previously learned that there was a 2019 CQ WPX RTTY Contest the weekend I happened to be at my in laws. Yours truly setup an off center fed dipole in the backyard about 10 foot off the ground. Then I tuned around to see what I could find. This RTTY contest is all new to me. I tried to setup the software and macros is always cumbersome Read More …