Amateur Radio
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Activating Locations
From time to time, I like to reflect on where I’ve been with my Ham radios. Here are some pictures from 2016 until now of some of my activations. None of them are NPOTA (National Parks On The Air) and none of them are SOTA (Summits On The Air). They are just plain old QSO’s and to keep in touch with my friends in Missouri & Tennessee when I’m traveling. Lost Dutchman’s State Park – Read More …
QRPGUYS Single Lever Paddle
I purchased this single lever paddle kit from QRPGUYS website a couple of days ago. It was a simple fun kit to build and took about an hour to do the build. I tried to remember to take pictures as I was doing this build. As you see, it fits nicely in an Altoids tin…..
Winter Field Day 2017
I heard about Winter Field Day about late November 2016 and I decided that I wanted to get in on the action. I didn’t prepare too much for this event because I usually do portable operations anyway. As you can see by the picture below, we threw stuff in the car and went to some family property nearby and set up in the middle of a field. First things first is to set up camp. Read More …
3 Band HF Receiver Build
Been working on a winter project. This is a 3 band HF receiver kit from Dick Smith Electronics in Australia. 1st thing is to do inventory. This was an open box kit so I am still sourcing parts as I write this. Only a few items to source and it will be done and ready for use.
Heathkit Multimeter
New addition to the shack! Heathkit MM1 Multimeter. Had to replace the corroded battery compartment. Now it works like it should!
Portable HF in Clear Lake, Iowa
Portable HF has always been a fun thing to do. A couple of weeks ago we had a 4 day weekend. So the wife and I packed up the car and drove till we got tired. We stopped for the night in a very historic town of Clear Lake, Iowa. In addition, Clear Lake, Iowa is also the town where Buddy Holly, The “Big Bopper” and Richie Valens played their last gig before their fateful Read More …
Surf Ballroom – Clear Lake, Iowa
The current Surf Ballroom reopened on July 1, 1948. The building project cost approximately $350,000. The Surf is closely associated with the event known as “The Day the Music Died” – early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and “The Big Bopper” gave their last performances at the Surf on February 2, 1959. The Surf Ballroom still hosts numerous events year round and has a seating capacity of 2,100 and a 6,300-square-foot dance floor. Clear Lake, Iowa is spectacular in Read More …
Handy Talkies
I recently purchased a “cheap Chinese radio” Baofeng UV5R just to use while hiking and portable operations. I already own the Yaesu FT-60 handy talkie and love the heavy duty construction.
Warrensburg Hamfest
I got up semi early and made the 85 mile trek up to Warrensburg Hamfest. It was held at the Johnson County Fairgrounds just outside of Warrensburg. Also you never know what you might find or who you might see at these smaller hamfest. In conclusion, do yourself a favor and go to the smaller hamfest and support the little guys. Check out some of my other Hamfests I have attended.
Happy Fourth of July
Wishing everybody a happy and safe Fourth of July!