Ham radio pleasures

[WA7KKP]

In the 35 years I've been a licenced ham, I have fond memories of being a novice and working ZL3ZC as my third contact. I was frantically looking on the back page of my ARRL log book trying to find out where he was. I knew he wasn't a US ham . . . . This by far was the most thrilling moment in my ham experience.

I've never had the newest, fanciest, latest wondertoy from the Japanese. My first 2 meter rig was a surplus Motorola that was older than I was -- I had to install it, build a control head as well. My HF gear has always been pre-admired by another ham. I've never had a beam or tower to work DX, but I've done it mobile while on vacation . . . .

I've recently purchased an MFJ 6 meter QRP SSB radio for an almost giveaway price, and yesterday I had the thrills of a band opening. Using a twinlead folded dipole tacked to my bedroom wall, I worked several states on the East Coast, and even heard an Ontario station. I'm looking forward to more band openings, now that I know that I don't need a beam, tower or a KW to have fun.

The more bells, whistles, features, computer controlled modes the new gear has doesn't directly equate into simple pleasure or sheer fun. I've proven to myself that having the simplest gear can make for the most fabulous feats.

I've come close to working all states on 10 FM with a crystal-controlled surplus radio, one frequency, with a trimmed CB antenna. Sure, anyone can do WAS, but handicap yourselves, don't just spend thousands in the gear.

QRP operation is a step in that direction. Here KISS rules, and home-brew is the norm, not the exception.

Like the old saying: the magic isn't in the wand, but the skill of the magician. Doesn't take much skill to open boxes and plug in the microphone and antenna and call CQ. The real magic comes in the accomplishment of something most people would say you couldn't do.

Gary Hildebrand WA7KKP
St. Joseph, MO

[KB1GYQ]

Oh, "KISS"! That's what a good YL is for! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

As to stations, simple is better... less to go wrong and easier to build and repair.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (WA7KKP @ May 26 2003,07:17)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I've recently purchased an MFJ 6 meter QRP SSB radio for an almost giveaway price, and yesterday I had the thrills of a band opening. #Using a twinlead folded dipole tacked to my bedroom wall, I worked several states on the East Coast, and even heard an Ontario station. #I'm looking forward to more band openings, now that I know that I don't need a beam, tower or a KW to have fun.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Too fun! I love my &quot;KISS&quot; station too. I don't have any desire for an amp or beam; half the fun is in the challenge of being in a pile-up and getting heard despite using only 100 watts on a vertical or dipole.

May I ask, where did you pick up this transceiver? I've been looking for one similar to it for awhile. I don't want to spend $800 for a multiband H/V/UHF rig (I've got an IC-718 and an FT-90R) but I would like to get a 6 meter rig soon. The band is open and I want to take advantage of it before it dies. Also, I would not mind getting a used version, as I'm looking to stay under $250 for the rig/Cu loop antenna.

The simple answer is..


'WHATEVER MEETS YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS AND DESIRES' is what provides you the pleasure you enjoy.


For the previous posters, it's the simplicity in the setup -rig, antenna, etc.
For others who enjoy the thrill of the contest - it's having a A1 setup for whatever category they want to enter.
For others who want to do weak signal work it's having the bells and whistles to allow them to pursue that goal.
For those who enjoy the mountaintopping roving for VHF/UHF and above it's the bells and whistles that allow them to do it easily and safely

So, the bottom line is this..

Whatever floats YOUR boat is what you derive pleasure
I tend to like contests.. and I tend to like to be competitive.. So I get pleasure from a rig with bells and whistles that make it possible for me to tune in stations on a VERY busy band, amongst high QRN levels along with having access to a premier antenna so my signal is competitive.

Whatever you have.. ENJOY!

Gotta love ham radio! MORE NOOKS AND CRANNIES THAN A THOMAS&quot; ENGLISH MUFFIN!

73
Chuck K3FT

[KD5KUF]

I enjoy operating a modest station, but that is just me. When I got into photography, I enjoyed it immensely with my trusty old mechanical camera. The fun went out when I bought my computerized fully automatic Canon 35mm SLR.

I have witnessed hams who took this path and bought the latest do-all radio and upgraded to extra in a year and two years later they are off the air, looking for something else to fill the void. And this is without ever even exploring all that a technician class license offers them.

Take time to smell the roses. Enjoy your ragchews or contest or whatever. Ever so often try a new mode or band to add to the fun you are already having.

Experiment with building antennas and when you get a few proven designs done, try any harebrained scheme you come up with. You might be surprised, and invent a new antenna in the process. If you can't find any record of it elsewhere, you get to name it with your call sign. But don't patent it, leave it for others to freely try too.

Amateur radio is what you make of it. Just don't be in a rush to reach the end of the journey. It should be a lifelong path. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[KC8QMU]

I've learned that the enjoyment of the hobby is not the yearning for high dollar equipment that you never will afford, but enjoying what you have, learning from it, and using it! Anybody with a ton of money can build up a superstation overnight, but it takes a real ham to learn to be successful with what he has to deal with, and keep it running.

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif personally I like the K I S S system, like another person said earlier...the simplier the station is, the easier it is to FIND and FIX any problems that occur... but then , amateur radio is soooo diverce in its own little way, some folks want to spend mucho bucks and talk 3 times a year and others spend less than a weeks pay check and talk every night.... to each his/her own !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ..... it dont matter how loud you are... if the other station can HEAR you, acknowledges you, that is all that matters, whether you are a weak s - 3 on the meter or a whopping + 60 on the meter, the important part is that the other station recieved your message. I use a yeasu ft - 840 for hf with a g5rv at 40 feet high at the highest point, and transmit not more than 50 watts out put, and have NO problem talking to any one I can hear... personally no need to buy a beam or an amplifier...but others want/need that kind of equipment so let them buy/use it to their satisfaction... it helps keep the amateur economy moving !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif .... glad and proud to be an AMATEUR radio operator ( i hardly ever use the word &quot;ham &quot; ).... looking forward to talking to all on HF ssb or 2 meter fm...

[w9ass]

I've seen those MFJ rigs in catalogs for AES and the like, is 6 meters any good? When I mean good, I mean are there an abundance of hams there, how is the signal propagation, and would it be worth purchasing one of those rigs for DX? I am still a no-code tech, and I'd like some DX on my plate instead of some jackleg on 2 meters jamming the repeater.

73,

KC9DGM

[KC8QMU]

About a year or so you would have had fun working all kinds of dx with one, provided you would have been on the air during the seemingly daily openings in the late morning and late afternoon, but as of right now, there was an opening last weekend that I missed out on, so things have really been slow on 6 and even 10. We are heading downhill in the solar cycle, and things are going to get even worse before they get better. 6 is a very fickle band. It takes a very patient kind of dx'er to be a 6 meter operator. But unknown to many 6m SSB is very good for local work even when the band is not open for skywave propagation.

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif 6 meters is sometimes called the &quot;magic band &quot;... a combination of hf and vhf.... personal experience has shown it to be quiet for weeks at a time, only to erupt into 1000 mile contacts for a few hours ( while you are away from the rig...murphy law ) and then back to calm for days or even weeks afterwards....or the exact opposite, great dx for 5 - 8 days at a time...I am referring to the ssb part of the band... you possibly already know of the FM repeater sites in your area ... there are 2 in North Alabama---I think the freq. are 53.310 and 53.330 but not sure, the 53.170 is the one disconnected --- and a ssb net on 50.150 ( dont remember the exact freq. but it is 9 pm Central time zone)...6 meters is all kinds of fun... might be worth the investment in your area too... the dx is kind of strange as mentioned earlier... that may be part of the &quot;magic&quot; ...i sold all my 6 meter equipment last year and confine my self to HF and 2 meter FM ...go for it it may some of the most FUN you ever had on amateur radio !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif