Nothing special, but I added some clocks to the side of the page... You can find the process, for free, here:

https://24timezones.com/clock-widget/analog#widget-code

The Journey Continues

It's been some time since I last posted a message.  I've been doing well and trying to find time to spend on this hobby.  In a few years I'll have more time to spend, but I'm having fun.  My shack is in good shape and other than some additional antenna's I'd like to put up, I'm doing well... I have my ICOM 9700, 7300, and a recent addition I really love, an older 9100... What a shack in the box!  I also have DMR running on my little Anytone shown to the right.

I setup an end fed 203' long wire which is working better than I could imagine.  I talked to a gentleman in Norway today on 10M and he was booming in here.  He said my signal was excellent as well.  He he had a huge beam and 500 watts.  I had my end fed and 100 watts! Go figure.

I've also got a pretty good rover setup now and will post more about that later!  73's!  Ed

Rigs Ordered and Installed!

So I finally purchased my rigs!  I've been using them for just under a month and I have to say I'm very happy w/them so far.  Here's the line up:

Rigs/Radios

• Icom-7300
• Icom-9700
• Icom SM-30 Desktop Microphone
• Icom SP-23 Filtered External Speaker

Other Radio's I already had

• A couple Bofangs 2M, 1.25M, and 70c
• Uniden BCD996PD Scanner
• Uniden Bearcat 980SSB CB

 Power Supply

• Alinco DM-330MVT Power Supplies DM-330MVT

Antenna/Cable

• Comet Triplexers CFX-431A
• Comet Tri-Band VHF/UHF Base Vertical Antennas GP-95 (2M/70CM/1200MHZ)
• 400’ LMR-400 Cable: DXE-400MAX
• MFJ Ultra-Lite Off-Center Fed Dipole Antennas MFJ-2010
• Taurus D1000 Scanner/Ham/General Coverage Discone Antenna, 25-1300 MHz
• 500’ RG8x

Software

• Icom RS-BA1 V2 IP Remote Control Software
• Chirp
• Many others I’ll add later

I also put together a kit for wiring and other such activities related to cabling and support.  Pretty basic but stocked with everything I thought I might need, including a digital volt meeting and nano analyzer and lots of connectors. 

 More pictures to come soon!

The Rigs I Think I'm Going to Buy

In the last post I described what I wanted to purchase. Here I'm going to outline what I think I'm going purchase in Phase I.  In a year or two I'll try to pick up everything described in the last post and call that Phase II.  

Let me first say that I have a few challenges as far as antenna placement and that played into some of my decision making. First I live on the downward slope of a hill. I drew a quick picture to give some reference. I already ran some RG-8X up the hill and added a discone antenna for a scanner and an extra cable for the future. The good side of this is the antenna(s) are or could easily be, above the top of the hill.  Unfortunately, the cable run is 150'.  For RG-8X, in the HF bands I'm losing more than 50% of my power in the cable.  For the VHF ranges I'm losing more like 75% so it's really inefficient. 

I've priced low loss cables that are 150' long and the cost would be nothing less than $200/cable and probably more.  I also looked at mounting an antenna 20' above the top of the chimney, but I was strongly advised by an experienced ham not to do that.  My wife isn't found of the idea of adding a tower close to the house, which again is expensive.  In time I may buy low lose cables or install a tower, but for now I've decided to try putting my antenna's in the attic.  I've talked to a few hams and read a lot online and I figure I can give this a try and see how it goes.  My attic is 9' tall and about 45' long so I have plenty of space.  I just hope it will be high enough to work.  

So here's what I'm thinking:

ICOM-7300 – 160M – 6M bands - I'm going to stick w/the 7300 setup as is

• This will give me voice access and DX on the 10M and 6M bands – that’s all my license allows me until I get my general license.
• MFJ MFJ-2010 - MFJ Ultra-Lite Off-Center Fed Dipole Antennas – this will cover 40M, 20M, 10M and 6M for SSB (voice).  I'll expand my antenna's as time permits.  Dave Casler (KE0OG) gave it a good review so that makes me feel like this will be a good start.
• 50' LM-400 low loss coax

 ICOM-5100 – 2M and 70cm FM Transceiver

• This will give me access to all the repeaters but not the phone/SSB I was hoping for.
• When I can afford a 9700, I'll move this unit into my vehicle so it won't go to waist.
• Comet Antennas GP-95 - Comet Tri-Band VHF/UHF Base Antenna – this will give me access to most if not all the repeaters in the general area using FM.  I figured I'd stick w/this antenna so it's ready when I purchase a 9700.

So, what do you think?  If you have any comments or suggestions please let me know.  I plan on purchasing this equipment by 12/20/2020...

Thanks!  Ed. 73

Picking My First Rigs and Antennas

I've been researching what rig(s) and antenna's I'd like to purchase.   For me this is a daunting  task since there are so many options and you have to align your hardware around what you want do. All this equipment isn’t cheap too, so I’m trying to make sure and purchase something that will work now and have the ability to grow with me as I advance my skills and go for my general license. 

 

There are many more options and features now than back in 1980 when I had my novice license!  Back then it was CW and Voice and that was about it. 

 

I think I’m going to start by focusing on the following areas:

• Voice – Repeaters and FM
• Voice – distance (dx) – I used to love contacting people in far away places
• I may also get back into CW but I’ll have to refresh my morse code for that. 

Assuming I’ll get my general license next year, my hours of web searching and watching YouTube videos have led me to the following configuration: 

ICOM-7300 – 160M – 6M bands

• This will give me voice access and DX on the 10M and 6M bands – that’s all my license allows me until I get my general license.
• MFJ MFJ-2010 - MFJ Ultra-Lite Off-Center Fed Dipole Antennas – this will cover 40M, 20M, 10M and 6M for SSB (voice).  I'll expand my antenna's as time permits.  Dave Casler (KE0OG) gave it a good review so that makes me feel like this will be a good start.
• 50' LM-400 low loss coax

 ICOM-9700 – 2M, 70cm and 23cm bands

• This will give me access to all the repeaters and V/UHF SSB and DX options.  Plus other fun items down the road like satellite, bouncing signals off the moon and other fun things I'd love to try someday!
• Comet Antennas GP-95 - Comet Tri-Band VHF/UHF Base Antenna – this will give me access to most if not all the repeaters in the general area using FM
• This antenna will require a tri-mixer because the 9700 has three antenna ports
• 2M Yagi – Cushcraft A1483S for SSB and distance
• 23cm Yagi - Cushcraft A4496S for SSB and distance
• These antenna’s will require switches or a patch panel so I can switch back and forth between Comet and Cushcraft antenna's. 
• Several LM-400 low loss coax cables

I mean look at the clean look and feel of these units!

Of course - I do not have =>$4000 just laying around to get started...  How disappointing, right!  So - I've decided to cut back on some of this to reduce that amount in about half...  Read the next post for what I think I'm going to purchase!  I'd love some feedback though in case someone with more experience could provide some additional insight!

I'm Back!

Hello Everyone!

After nearly 40 years, I've renewed and upgraded my Ham radio license!  I currently hold a technician license and hope in 2021 to acquire my general license. I'm going to document my path back into being a ham radio operator.  

I setup this blog to assist me with this activity.  Feel free to comment and provide feedback as I share my adventure...  Soon, I'll be buying a new rig and antenna(s)...

Thanks, Ed.