Biography

I'm a new Technician operator and got my ticket officially April 20th, after testing with the Bloomington Amateur Radio Club (BARC) ARRL VEC on April 10th. Far as I can tell I am the first and only one in my family to become a ham (update- I suspect a great-grandpa may have been in the 50s/60s, and my estranged uncle or his son is according to ULS).

How I started

What got me interested in the hobby was from rediscovering local CB use/listening; although, I never learned the endless slang. I did learn looking up most of the slang online there is no translation for it. Anyway that lead me to SDR to catch more 11m freeband channels, and before I knew it I was listening to hams on all the bands and local FRS/GMRS/MURS.

I was a FlightAware node for awhile with COAA PlanePlotter - as airplanes pass directly overhead as it is a very active flight route here. With active communication keeping my interest and using a DIY CANTENNA decoding ADS-B I kept busy.

I was drawn to ham radio after hearing locals KC9UNI and W9YEA talking nightly. The final straw was listening to N9DHX talk about new hams and repeaters and I wanted to be a ham. I started taking pretests on HamExam and watched the Ham Radio 2.0 Technician prep videos a few weeks before taking my test. I now ragchew with them, which is still odd sometimes, after listening to them on SDR for so long previously.

Since then I've talked to many other great local hams, some in other parts of the world with digital services, and have been enjoying the hobby.

My Gear

For 2m and 70cm a ICOM ID-5100A Deluxe with UT-133A Bluetooth hooked-up to a KF5INZ USB Easy Digi interface, and DIY CP2102 CI-V CAT setup. Mounted in a KK4RON radio bench along with extra goodies including a Astron SS-30, Daiwa CN-620B, MFJ-1106 Anderson Powerpole unit, and a dual band Jetstream JTB3 antenna mounted 40' up in the attic. Also a RTL-SDR with a DIY discone for panadapter in SDRConsole/SDRSharp/HDSDR; although, I find IZ2BKT CatBKT Control more useful when using the radio. A 4 in/4 out 3.5mm switcher which I find is a must-have for switching my radio's dual speaker outs to my main President 711-SX speaker, to my PC, or headphones. The PC is just a old spare HP I had around and got upgraded to Windows 10 free, and I run Debian on a external drive.

I have a Uniden Pro510XL hooked-up and hear some communication, but using it barefoot I have not managed to reach anyone recently. I also have a Sears RoadTalker 40 with SSB+ but with no SSB in my area I keep it packed away.

I do use Log4OM2 for logging contacts, but use paper notepads too. I find the ICOM's automatic recording to SD card WAV files a lifesaver for keeping better logs/notes, especially when trying to decipher misheard callsigns.

I use a Mpow PA071A USB headset that I have EQ'd with VB-Audio VoiceMeeter Banana (highly recommend for mic boost). Currently it's used for my external USB drive I have AllStarLink installed that boots on my PC, and also for CQ100 (QsoNet) and EchoLink. I have plans to use that headset over on my ICOM via the Easy Digi for mic, along with some other mic options (Perhaps a Astatic D-104, Turner Plus Three, or a Bluetooth headset). I am finishing up a custom DIY mic controller for inputs and a dual foot switch pedal controller for the headset.

I have a TIDRADIO HT (Baofeng UV-5R variant 8W) with a upgraded KD7BBC Super-elastic Signal Stick antenna. It does amazingly well for nearby counties especially for the price. Perhaps one day I'll upgrade further by buying a digital HT.

No HF rig or anything as a Technician ham, perhaps one day when I can afford another rig. In that regard I got my gear using my covid relief stimulus; otherwise, I would have been using my Baofeng for years to come.

Other Hobbies

Besides amateur radio I also do some 3D printing with my Creality Ender Pro 3's setup with Capricorn tubes and fittings, glass plate beds, metal feeder assemblies, and other upgrades to get the best results with PLA. I also have a 4-axis CNC router for creating projects in wood primarily - though I hate to use it due to the loud working noise.

I'm also a fan of tube (valve) radios and related of all sizes. I have a Spitfire AM transmitter I broadcast OTR (old time radio shows) on to my radios for a more authentic experience. I do get some late night AM DXing with my DIY passive tunable AM loop.

I have several radios ranging from my Philco 90, Gamble-Skogmo/Knight 1682, RCA 1BX59, Philco A361 floor radio (WW2 era that is a old car radio inside), unknown TRF's, Four-Star FS701, Sarkes Tarzian 723-504 (locally made FM radio in Bloomington IN), GE T-210A (my daily user), and a handful of reproduction radios I get for fun/projects. The radios range from restored to waiting to be restored - and I have various testing equipment bought restored already or custom made by me to try and repair the radios I find myself.

I keep more modern radios too including a couple Retekess V115, Kaito KA009S, RTL-SDR's, Reader's Digest RDA-127 (great for multiple bands), Victrola VJB-125 Jukebox (and another for a project), Uniden Bearcat BC248CLT scanner, and a drawer of other small radios.

I also have some Onkyo and Technics gear for 8-track tapes, cassettes, CD's, records, and my Echo Show and retro 12V car radio for Bluetooth/Internet services. That gives me access to nearly all physical and digitally streamed radio stations, playlists, podcasts, and more and to add to it I have Amazon Music Unlimited so I can play whatever I want to hear.

I have too many other hobbies to mention. Some include metal detecting with the newer version Fisher Gold Bug, Fisher F-75 LTD+, Garrett Z-Lynk system and pinpointer - raising praying mantids (mantises) and related feeders (and their feeders) - raising arachnids (tarantulas, jumping spider varieties, etc) - flying a Yuneec Typhoon Q500+ drone - arcade machines repair/rebuild/custom (including original hardware or JAMMA/LaunchBox/RetroPie/etc conversion) - older game systems (Pong system up to PS2 and Wii) - comics/cartoons - woodworking - computer programming - PC gaming - etc - etc...

Too many projects and hobbies and too little time to do them all. I swear if I could do everything I wanted the rest of my life I'd still run out of time to do them all.

- 73

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Icom ID-5100A Deluxe with UT-133A Bluetooth, Astron SS-30, Daiwa CN-620B, MFJ-1106 Anderson Powerpole unit, and a dual band Jetstream JTB3 antenna mounted 40' up in the attic. Also a RTL-SDR with a DIY discone for panadapter in SDRConsole/SDRSharp/HDSDR; although, I find IZ2BKT CatBKT Control more useful when using the radio.

Also I have a Uniden Pro510XL hooked-up and a TIDRADIO HT (Baofeng UV-5R variant 8W) with a upgraded KD7BBC Super-elastic Signal Stick antenna.