Howdy!

[KD0DQZ]

Didn't see an "introductions" area, so thought I'd just jump in with both feet. Name's John, newly-licensed as KD0DQZ....a long-time ham wannabe who could never hack the code. No-code=license! I've been in the radio biz since 1969...nearly all of that time on the air. I've also spent a lot of time up to my neck in various AM & FM transmitters as a station engineer as well. Currently working in sales & marketing, but I keep my hand in it with a fun part-time on-air position. Still have the gear I bought with paper route money back in '65...a Knight T-60 and a National NC-109. The T-60 should come to life with a recapping, the National has some problems in the bandswitch area that may prove vexing. So...recap the backup...an RME-45. ($25 at a garage sale!) Also have a 10 meter SSB rig given to me by my Godfather, Charlie W0GBA...which will prove useful as the sunspot cycle starts heating up again. And, a former ham I know has a Kenwood transceiver that's surplus to his needs. Priorities are everything...there's a number of non-negotiable house items that I need to complete before I can start "playing with radios". (quoting my wife!) But, my intention is to get a suitable antenna system built before fall so I can enjoy the long Minnesota winter in a cozy shack!

[VE7DCW]

Welcome to the hobby John! ...oh boy ..you're in for it now.I hope you have just as much fun with Amateur Radio as I have in the 30 or so years i've been associated with it.And while we're at it...welcome to QRZ...and take my word...when you're in the forums..watch your back hee hee :D

73

[n7wr]

Welcome aboard. Have fun, and hope to catch you on the air

[N8GAV]

Welcome John, I work in Radio too, Engineer and do as I please around the station. ( That's whats nice about being an engineer, get me a hard time and you will be off the air:D) Just kidding anyway don't take things you see posted here to hart , the ZED is like the WWE all talk and action to keep people comming by. Enjoy and try CW you may surprize your shelf :)

Hank

[k8wpj]

WElcome to the bands John,

I am also a former DJ, and spent several years kicking around several Central Ohio stations, before I met and married my wife, and she told me I would need to 'clean up' ...

Oddly, the same 'wild child' DJ persona she enjoyed getting to know while we were dating, suddenly needed to 'clean up' once we got married...

Go figure! :D

As you peruse the pages of QRZ, let me offer you this, Don't feed the trolls, try not to take anyone too seriously, and please be sure to keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle while it's in motion, at all times.

Hope to work you on the bands sometime!

73

Matt
K8WPJ

[wa9cwx]

Welcome ! :)

[KC2TAU]

Welcome! You just wait until we hit solid patches of Sporadic E on 10...
Oh boy... :D

[w6ire]

Hey John! ..........

[KD0DQZ]

TAU: Yah...I've given some thought to the onset of the E season as well....been fiddling with a simple wood n' wire ground plane to see if the 10M rig will load up into it. Also have given some thought to tossing up a plain old dipole and seeing what it'd do. I need to acquire a tuner.

[KD0DKI]

Welcome from another short timer and Minnesota Ham.

KD0DKI Sam

[kc9jwa]

Sweet, welcome, its good to have you here. I like to see alot of hams join. Yeah dont worry many here are nice.:):cool:

[K0RGR]

Welcome, John.

I also had a T-60 that went into storage in the garage in 1966. About 4 years later, a younger brother got his Novice and we pulled the T-60 out and plugged it in. "Snap" "Crackle" "POP!" - ALL of the little plastic RF chokes in the thing had exploded! As I recall, there were some shorted caps to blame.

Fortunately, it was quite easy to rebuild. I'd recommend making note of the components before powering it up - some of them might vaporize! I don't know if bringing it up slowly with a variac transformer would help, but it just might. After a 40+year hiatus, however, the odds would seem to be slim.

Are you looking to get into CW with the T-60 and RME? If so, you might want to look into some of the great stuff that's come around since the 60's. Elecraft and TenTec have some great stuff - the Elecraft K1 is a real little jewel.

[KD0DQZ]

The T-60 will get a full re-cap before it ever sees a volt...that's the procedure I've always followed with vintage radios under restoration. Then bring her up slow on a Variac and keep a close eye on things. Its ultimate role will probably be as an exciter for a vintage homebrew plate-modulated amplifier running 5-600W input. I love vintage AM...having worked on enough AM BC transmitters I have a real fondness for that sound. But...who knows where this hobby leads? I might end up becoming a hardcore contester or spend hours chasing DX. Ragchewing will be central to my activities, that's for sure.

[N8UZE]

Please do not believe that you "cannot hack the code". Someday you may want to and that belief will sabotage you. There are and were many bad methods used to teach/learn code. Some people learned despite the bad methods used. If you ever do want to tackle code, download the free G4FON program and follow the directions exactly. Practice daily for 30 minutes broken into several shorter sessions so the brain does not get fatigued. Also expect it to take several months not weeks or days. The latter are very unrealistic expectations (although some of the "wunderkind" have done it) and will cause you to get prematurely discouraged.