I have held an amateur radio license for ~ 15 years, I started out with Technician plus (5wpm code test) and when that was about to expire, I opted to upgrade to a General ticket rather than just renew. BUT, I really have not done anything with it. Oh sure, I got on the 2meter repeaters on a HT and actually ran packet on it for a time. Every few years, I get the itch to get back into the hobby and maybe get on the air on HF. I never yearned to get a large full powered rig, rather I love the small low power (QRP) radios. I remember as a kid seeing small one tube rigs in magazines and thinking that was cool. The Heathkit kits, really appealed to me back in the day. For some reason, instead of a radio, the Heathkit kit, I ordered was a computer - an H8.... so computers may have been the substitute hobby
Now a lot of Hams will say that starting out with low power and simple minimal antennas is not the way to go, but again, for what ever reason, I am not attracted to full size/power radios.
Anyway a few years ago, during an itch, I finally built a radio a Small Wonders Labs SW20+, a great kit and fun! I really love building kits, I ended up building a watt meter and frequency counter from Oak Hills Research and some of the kits offered by Amqrp and other qrp clubs, so I have the start of my low power shack. Unfortunately, I did not get my CW (morse code) (the 20+ is cw only no voice)skills up to speed and eventually Ham ended up on hold for a while.
Well, the kids are older and I got the bug again, so this blog will track my progress on getting HF portable/ QRP.
See HFPack for the type of operation I am working towards. Especially some of the utube videos. This ties in with my love of outdoors, camping and hiking.
Stay tuned...... de N8Mac
Ragnar LA1UH's Wonderful Museums in Norway
12 hours ago
1 comment:
Hey Buddy you're heading in the RIGHT direction! Keep going!! Rooster, Peanut and I hope to hear you on from the field soon! BTW powerful video on your blog about our country's boys fighting to keep us FREE! ...good stuff!
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