Any other Ham Radio OP's out there??

Just curious if this group has any other Ham Radio Op's out there ? I know of one sofar but see no mention of it in a search.

I have been a Ham for 56 years, starting at the age of 13. MY bio and some pictures can be seen at:

http://www.qrz.com then in the box in the upper left, above "headlines", type in W6ZKH.

When I am on the road, like now, as am just north of Santa Barbara, CA at Ocean Mesa RV park, I also run a tracker system to show my location when traveling. Although right at this location, it seems to be in a dead zone, as cant connect to the nearest digipeater to send my location to the internet. To see where I am, or have been in the past 24 hours, you can go to this URL:

http://aprs.fi/w6zkh-7

If you click on the symbol (red truck) you can see my speed and direction plus altitude at that given moment. Nothing like having big brother watching you, ha ha...

Hope to hear from other Hams if the are around.

John W6ZKH

I always wanted to get my Ham license, but just never seemed to get around to it. Should have done it in 1966 when I could pass the morse requirement with ease. I've heard that's not required any more, is that right?

Yes Bob, no more Morse Code requirements. Basic license is called a Technician class license, which entails some basic electronics and mostly regulations. Good entry level. There are now only 3 classes of license, where there use to be 6. All tests are given by volunteer examiners. Check around for a local ham radio club and they usually put on classes and also do the testing at certain periods of time during the year. Cost from $10-20 to take the tests, depending on the volunteer examiner group, but the FCC license is free.........sofar.........

I monitor one of the 2 meter simplex channels when traveling, and have a sign on the back of the RV stating so. Have had several chats with fellow hams who are traveling and kinda winds the day along...

I still operate Morse Code here myself. Infact, sitting here in the RV park along the Mexifornia coast, north of Santa Barbara, I threw up a small antenna and sat down at the outdoor table and have had several contacts this morning, both on voice and Morse Code. I run very low power, called QRP in ham lingo, which is about the same legal power output of CB, 4 watts .

Hi John, I have a SG-2020 that I plan on using portable at the campgrounds for HF, however I have been undecided on getting a FT-817ND or FT-857D for the VHF/UHF bands just not sure how effective the FT-817 would be for general SSB rag chewing on 6 and above (I keep reminding myself "it takes power to make power"), do you have any experience there?

Bill N5CCQ

Thanks for the info. _... _ _ _ _... _._. _.. _ .... _... . ._. _

I think that's right lol. Been a while.

KF5INW -- just got my license last year. I'm still learning and getting to know it all. I did Morse Code in the Air Force for 20 years, so that was never an issue. I just never thought to get the Ham license. Anyway, what little I do right now is fun!

Hey John,got my ticket around 1993 I run a 857d in shack and truck don't get on the air to often work and grandkids take most of my time.I live about 25 mi from dayton hamfest makes it nice going to try to make it out this year,i usually stay on hf and 6 when it's open.

Matt k8mlp

John,,, I'm showing you speeding on 101 doing 66 mph in a 50mph,,,,,

That is a cool tracker. Seems theres a tracker on everything these days, FB, cell phone, etc.....

k8mlp wrote:Hey John,got my ticket around 1993 I run a 857d in shack and truck don't get on the air to often work and grandkids take most of my time.I live about 25 mi from dayton hamfest makes it nice going to try to make it out this year,i usually stay on hf and 6 when it's open.

Matt k8mlp

Hi Matt, and thanks for the note. I also run a 857D here, but on an ALICE backpack !! I run alot of Pedestrian Mobile here and also QRP PM. Look at my http://www.qrz.com page to see my pictures. I took the 857D out of the truck, as the wife doesnt like hearing the noise (typical ham wife). I also have a simple setup for when camping, using a Hamstick Dipole mounted on a 20 ft painters pole. Use Quik-Disconnects for each Hamstick to make changing bands easier.

John W6ZKH

Yep My wife KB0ZUQ Sharon and I N0SMX Dennis have a Wildcat 31TS and replacing the usless couch with a desk for the radio and laptop. Usually only set up the rig on extended stays. QRZ.com has much more info.... Run a TS-440 in the 5er and an IC-7000 in the truck....

Dennis....well, the couch is my second recliner for watching tv...

Say, we are going to be in Monument, CO for the hamfest on July 16th. Anywhere near you?

John, That is about 20 miles South of Elizabeth and we live about 13 miles NE of Elizabeth. Hop skip and a jump. :-) I dont usually hit that fest but Im sure it will be fun...

KF7NJC reporting in. Got my General last winter in Mesa and took the hobby up where I left it off at age 18 when I sold my gear for college tuition. We are set up for APRS as well and now I am setting up HF in our Wildcat 313RE that looks like a twin to the one you have.
Looks like you live in the San Joaquin Valley where a whole bunch of my relatives live.
Just curious, how did you route coax out of the 313RE to the antennas?

Ive been crossing the same question all week . How to route the coax into the 31TS. This week while camping I ran the coax thru the slide out flaps on the door side. Ive been using a hamstik dipole setup on my flag pole hooked to the ladder @ around 18' up. Worked SSB, RTTY, JT65 all week and had a blast. I'll be removing the couch and replacing it with a desk for a more permanent setup, but te good o'le coax issue....

Dennis N0SMX

I've seen people who have drilled a hole in the floor for cables, but I value my life so I don't think that's an option.
I have been thinking of putting in a bulkhead SO239 in the small utility hatch in front of the hot water heater. That plastic tub like housing has the F connector for park cable and satellite along with park water and the tank valves. Only problem is that I'm afraid I'll get stuck crawling through the narrow bay to get to it from the passenger to the driver side where its located.
Hope somebody has a better idea or two.

Hmm, looks like everybody is on the west coast, I got my license back in '98, KF4NZO. The new TV is no longer the daily drivers, so at the moment my mobile rig is sitting in the garage, may have to see about getting it re-installed in something.

I got into radio communications in 1959. The U.S. Army sent me to school for code, TTY and Crypto. Now no code is required and we have a class twice a year for people that want to get into HAM radio. The cost is $20.00 for each course and you can get up to General or Extra depends on you. I was a operator for when Naval Aviation celebtrated 100 yrs and IOTA (Island on the Air, Santa Rosa Island). I try to work special events and on the air almost every night.

My call is AJ4XL. I take a 857D on the road w/Buddiepole.

Rhino wrote:I got into radio communications in 1959. The U.S. Army sent me to school for code, TTY and Crypto.

Hi Ken.......well the USAF sent me the same route in 1959 also, to Biloxi, MS. Already knew code and typing, so just had to learn those crazy 5 character codes groups, heh...

I work mainly QRP now both at home, on the road in the RV or while doing Ped Mobile (see my QRZ.com page). I have been using EFHW or switched dipoles, along with Hamsticks but have just ordered the Buddipole which is suppose to be here on Tuesday. Getting ready for the boondocking season in the deserts of the Southwest...

73 de John W6ZKH

I am using a little Tarhill on the truck and like many wifes don't like to listen to the radio going down the road. I always have 146.52 on the road and talk with a few others and can get away with it.
Yes, those 5 letter code group could drive a person nuts after awhile. I like my Buddiepole alot and have lots of fun with it. Like to go to the beach and set up and do radio and people are always asking who I am talking with. They can not believe how far away you can talk with people in Europe etc. 73's see you down the road or wire.
Ken

Hello. KB3TXH here. I am on 40 meters CW most week day afternoons.

Jim

uglystick wrote:Hello. KB3TXH here. I am on 40 meters CW most week day afternoons.

Jim

I am 100% QRP CW here with a FT-817nd and Fan Dipole, mostly on 20 thru 10M now that the sunspots are agreeing with my weak signal... still, I get my share of Q's.. I hang around the normal QRP watering holes of .060 on each band except 12M at .906...will be in the Mojave Desert Boondocking next week running the 817 and Buddipole antenna off the RV Poop holder.. Going to take the W8AMZ G5RV Jr also, and use the 21ft flagpole on the RV for the center support and see what I can do it with also..

I'm glad ya'll understand each other, Cause Ya'll sound like your from another country with all that radio talk,,,,,

I guess I need to get the rosetta stone for ham radio language.

Sorry ADMIN, I wasn't trying to shut anyone out. It's just a lazy way to tell other hams that I can be found between 7.025 and 7.125 megahertz, using morse code, most afternoons.
No harm meant, and I'll stick to English.

Admin wrote: I'm glad ya'll understand each other, Cause Ya'll sound like your from another country with all that radio talk,,,,,

I guess I need to get the rosetta stone for ham radio language.

I was thinking the same thing. I think I need an Ham to English translator.

Yep, sorry for the Ham Lingo.. We talk in code (Morse) and use alot of acronyms, or what we call Q-signals....actually was used even before radio via the old RR Telegraphers... sorta the Morse Code version of the Internet slang, i.e., LOL, TMI, etc... there are over 60 of them, but I can only remember maybe 5.... will now return to the Kings English...

Admin wrote: I'm glad ya'll understand each other, Cause Ya'll sound like your from another country with all that radio talk,,,,,

I guess I need to get the rosetta stone for ham radio language.

Sorta when I get down into your area of the southern states.....I cant understand you either, ha.... worse place for me is the state of Louisiana. Funny in our travels, I just love to listen to the different "English" that is spoken, and trying to figure out just what the heck did they say...

Carry on uglystick , I thought it was cool y'all understood each other. Especially glad y'all are around when things go haywire and y'all know exactly what to do and what

Hey John Just worked 9N7MD on 17m phone and 20m RTTY within 20 mins...... Nice signals into Colorado thru the QRM.... :-)