I picked up this SignaLink USB interface while at the Ararat Hambash in Kansas City, MO. I really have been looking at them for a while now. Associated Radio out of Overland Park, Kansas was at this event also and I decided to pick one up and give it a try. I purchased the SignaLink USB and the ICOM 13-pin DIN Accessory Port Connector to connect to my ICOM IC-706. Furthermore, Dan at Associated Radio made sure Read More …
My YL was gone and I had a couple of days left unattended so I made a quick dash up to the Ararat Shrine Hambash in Kansas City, MO. I had attended this event last year but I didn’t arrive till later in the day. This time I was there before they opened the doors at 7:30 am. There were a whole bunch of people and vendors there. I did run in to a few Read More …
The Green Country Hamfest is a great hamfest! People come from all over several states to go here. This is the 3rd year in a row that the XYL and myself have attended. This year was different though. We decided to pre purchase our tickets this year and save a few bucks. We also planned to camp at the campgrounds right next to the expo center. The camping did not work out and if you Read More …
VHF Contest Time! This time I kinda stepped up my game. September 2017 VHF contest I ran 7 watts of power into a 3 element yagi antenna. Furthermore, I had some time to somewhat prepare for this one. Bumped up my power to 50 watts SSB I bought(2 days before contest time) a 6m 3 element yagi (never did get it tuned up in time for the contest). Bought a 30-foot push-up pole because height Read More …
Furthermore, I had bought the LDG Z-100Plus Autotuner about 10 months ago and have thoroughly enjoyed using it. It is a small, low-cost automatic tuner suitable for a base station, mobile or portable use. LDG Z-100Plus Autotuner advanced memory tuning, providing 2,000 memory locations. It handles up to 125 watts SSB or CW, but requires only 0.1 watts to tune, making it ideal for QRP operation. This little tuner requires very little electrical power. About Read More …
A couple of weeks back I went to a local hamfest here in southwest Missouri. Eventually I picked up a 2-meter linear amplifier. I also did participate in the 2m VHF contest back in September of 2017 and I enjoyed the contest very much and wanted to up my power from 10 watts to 80 watts. My ICOM 706 is an older model that does 2m-160m. 100w on HF and only 10w on VHF. I guess Read More …
I didn’t prepare much for Septembers VHF contest. I threw together a 6m dipole and I already had a 3el 2m beam that I hadn’t used much yet! So that was my total preparation. My wife had some family property that was only a few minutes away from our QTH that was at a higher elevation than we were at home. So that is where we found ourselves with the Jeep and the rooftop camper. I only Read More …
Simple 6m copper dipole I made for the September VHF contest.
The wife and I hopped in the Jeep and headed for the Joplin hamfest. However, the Hamfest that was held on August 26th this year. On the way down we listened to the 7.290 Traffic Net. This was Hurricane Harvey that was hitting Texas. Lots more people here this year than last year! Hung out with W0EBV and had an eyeball QSO! After all that walking around and looking at what Joplin Hamfest had to Read More …
Field Day is a day I look forward to and making a bunch of contacts all over this wonderful world. Last year’s field day, I was with a local club in west-central Missouri. We made just a little over 100 contacts — all on battery and solar power. This year, I had different plans. My wife and I needed to be in Tennessee. She had a conference in Franklin the same weekend as field day. Read More …