Another blog suffering from neglect. So a brief drive-by update:
Received my Wis key Zero call. I like it, it rolls off the tongue, though, being who I am, I've had my share of second thoughts.Wife has gotten a pretty cool November Zero call.
Worked several public service events over the summer and enjoyed them all in one way or another.
Ran a public service event in near by town. Small event that only lasted a couple of hours but it seemed to go quite well. As always there were some bugs, but in the end we learned alot and if we do it again next year we'll be significantly improved.
Completed the "Shack in a box" and will have to do a more extensive post on that. It works very well. FT-897D, power supply, and tuner mounted in a rack box (for audio equipment). Very heavy, but still quite luggable.
Failed start on our Extra licenses. Were well on our way to studying up when real life got in the way. Still plan to do it before the question pool rolls over.
Committing to keep this a little more updated... expecting to fail, but it sounds good right now.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Enough bad, on to the good
If you don't want to read a lot of complaining by me, don't read my previous post. Read this one instead:
Things in the world of Ham are going well. My wife and I have passed our General written test with out trouble (the VE's made a point of saying that my wife scored better on the test than I did, which I think is quite amusing). She's very enthusiastic and we're both now working on studying for our Extra. I want to do that. I wasn't sure I would but my desire to reach the "top" of the licenses is strong now. It's going to be work with the larger question pool and longer test, but I think we can do it.
Also thanks to some new consulting working coming in I have the money to buy and HF radio. I probably should save that money, but I really want to get on the air. We don't have the Ham support structure in the area to give us another place to operate, at least not conveniently, and as such, we must do for ourselves. Looking at the Yaesu 897D, all band all mode. Looks like a good radio and not bad on price as these things go. Going to do that, and some form of portable HF antenna (Outbacker maybe, or perhaps a wire dipole depending on money) and just operate when and where we can. I don't plan to do much from home, mostly to keep the neighbors on good terms. There are a lot of possiblities, and I'm looking foward to getting involved in the wider HF world.
I did request a sequential call change when I upgraded, but what I got wasn't very satisfactory. It's a group D call (2X3) and not very interesting, so I went ahead and put in for my vanity call. We'll see which off the list I get. I'm sorry to let go of my KC8 call but really I've lived in Zero country for 10 years, I figure its time to change.
Wife and I have set a deadline of August for our Extra written test. Lots of studying to do.
Things in the world of Ham are going well. My wife and I have passed our General written test with out trouble (the VE's made a point of saying that my wife scored better on the test than I did, which I think is quite amusing). She's very enthusiastic and we're both now working on studying for our Extra. I want to do that. I wasn't sure I would but my desire to reach the "top" of the licenses is strong now. It's going to be work with the larger question pool and longer test, but I think we can do it.
Also thanks to some new consulting working coming in I have the money to buy and HF radio. I probably should save that money, but I really want to get on the air. We don't have the Ham support structure in the area to give us another place to operate, at least not conveniently, and as such, we must do for ourselves. Looking at the Yaesu 897D, all band all mode. Looks like a good radio and not bad on price as these things go. Going to do that, and some form of portable HF antenna (Outbacker maybe, or perhaps a wire dipole depending on money) and just operate when and where we can. I don't plan to do much from home, mostly to keep the neighbors on good terms. There are a lot of possiblities, and I'm looking foward to getting involved in the wider HF world.
I did request a sequential call change when I upgraded, but what I got wasn't very satisfactory. It's a group D call (2X3) and not very interesting, so I went ahead and put in for my vanity call. We'll see which off the list I get. I'm sorry to let go of my KC8 call but really I've lived in Zero country for 10 years, I figure its time to change.
Wife and I have set a deadline of August for our Extra written test. Lots of studying to do.
Field Day Disapointment
A lot of good things are happening in the world of Whiskey Zero, and I'll get to those in a moment, but first I've got something to get off my chest. (Yes I know, it's more healthy to focus on the positive than to focus on the negative, but this is just bugging me and I've got to throw it out there.)
I've been looking forward to field day a great deal. I love getting on the air and working all those stations out there. I used to have great fun with it back east when I went to the ones there. So I was excited to get involved with the local (remaining nameless) club and their field day efforts. I went out and helped a couple of weeks ago when they set up their portable tower and got everything ready. I did notice back then a significant disorganization, and lack of leadership, but that's not unusual in a group like that, and really it was something I could live with. I was doing my best not to step on other's toes by jumping in and leading myself. I suppose it could have done so, but that's not my style. I don't want to threaten anyone. I helped out as much as I could and I got excited about Field Day again.
So Yesterday, I'm at work but I'm able to stop by the site where they're operating and help them set up a little. Again I had to restrain myself from not jumping in and bringing organization to the chaos, but it was still fun. Later in the day I even got on the air and worked some contacts. I was really looking forward to coming back this morning and working the morning until quit'n time.
So the wife and I head back over there after breakfast and... nothing. Basically we seemed to be more of an uncomfortable intrusion on the guys that were there than a welcome part of the group. The guy that was organizing things wasn't there, probably after a long night, and the two guys that were, were kinda... let us say more technology than people focused, and that's fine, I understand that. But basically they just let us sit around and watch and made no effort to involve us at all. There may only have been a couple of hours until the end but we had plenty of time to work some contacts. Instead they just sat at their own radios and made contacts themselves and no offer was ever made to help or to get involved.
Now I suppose I could have forced my way to one of the radios or been more vocal about becoming involved, but frankly, that's their stuff. I'm not going to be so rude as to demand to use it. And really I have no idea what's set up where, or which antenna is which or anything like that. After talking to them for a little while, then being ignored for the better part of an hour we gave up and left. They seemed surprised we were leaving, or maybe distressed that we weren't gonna stay to help take all the stuff apart, but frankly, we weren't given the opportunity to be involved, and I didn't see any reason to stay and do the work.
The whole point of field day is to get people involved. It's a great chance to sell the club and interest new members. And really this group completely failed at that with us. I'm tempted (though I won't follow through) to chancel my very recent membership to the group. I suppose I understand... they'd been there all night, they were tired, and perhaps didn't have the best interaction skills and so on, so I get why it happened. That doesn't change my significant feeling of being unwelcome compounded by my disappointment at missing out on working stations on field day!
Basically for me, it was a total club field day effort fail. I certainly have no desire to help them with future field days, at least not that group of people. I'm sure as I calm down, and the disapointment fades, my attitude toward the group will improve, but really... I don't see why any significant effort on my part is worth it with that crew. It's a shame really.
It definitely motivates me to get my own station on their air for FD next year. That way I don't have to worry about what someone else is doing and I can get my Field Day work in.
I've been looking forward to field day a great deal. I love getting on the air and working all those stations out there. I used to have great fun with it back east when I went to the ones there. So I was excited to get involved with the local (remaining nameless) club and their field day efforts. I went out and helped a couple of weeks ago when they set up their portable tower and got everything ready. I did notice back then a significant disorganization, and lack of leadership, but that's not unusual in a group like that, and really it was something I could live with. I was doing my best not to step on other's toes by jumping in and leading myself. I suppose it could have done so, but that's not my style. I don't want to threaten anyone. I helped out as much as I could and I got excited about Field Day again.
So Yesterday, I'm at work but I'm able to stop by the site where they're operating and help them set up a little. Again I had to restrain myself from not jumping in and bringing organization to the chaos, but it was still fun. Later in the day I even got on the air and worked some contacts. I was really looking forward to coming back this morning and working the morning until quit'n time.
So the wife and I head back over there after breakfast and... nothing. Basically we seemed to be more of an uncomfortable intrusion on the guys that were there than a welcome part of the group. The guy that was organizing things wasn't there, probably after a long night, and the two guys that were, were kinda... let us say more technology than people focused, and that's fine, I understand that. But basically they just let us sit around and watch and made no effort to involve us at all. There may only have been a couple of hours until the end but we had plenty of time to work some contacts. Instead they just sat at their own radios and made contacts themselves and no offer was ever made to help or to get involved.
Now I suppose I could have forced my way to one of the radios or been more vocal about becoming involved, but frankly, that's their stuff. I'm not going to be so rude as to demand to use it. And really I have no idea what's set up where, or which antenna is which or anything like that. After talking to them for a little while, then being ignored for the better part of an hour we gave up and left. They seemed surprised we were leaving, or maybe distressed that we weren't gonna stay to help take all the stuff apart, but frankly, we weren't given the opportunity to be involved, and I didn't see any reason to stay and do the work.
The whole point of field day is to get people involved. It's a great chance to sell the club and interest new members. And really this group completely failed at that with us. I'm tempted (though I won't follow through) to chancel my very recent membership to the group. I suppose I understand... they'd been there all night, they were tired, and perhaps didn't have the best interaction skills and so on, so I get why it happened. That doesn't change my significant feeling of being unwelcome compounded by my disappointment at missing out on working stations on field day!
Basically for me, it was a total club field day effort fail. I certainly have no desire to help them with future field days, at least not that group of people. I'm sure as I calm down, and the disapointment fades, my attitude toward the group will improve, but really... I don't see why any significant effort on my part is worth it with that crew. It's a shame really.
It definitely motivates me to get my own station on their air for FD next year. That way I don't have to worry about what someone else is doing and I can get my Field Day work in.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Whiskey Zero?
What's in a name?
Good question. I've had a KC8 call since I got my license. 8 being the region code for Michigan. I've kept it thus far because it was my first license and I've used that call for a while now. But... time has passed and Missouri is home now. So I decided when (notice I said when) I update to General I'll take a Zero call.
(As a side note, I'm not giving my full callsign because having that allows readers to gather a great deal of info on the holder of that callsign, and this is a public blog. It's a privacy thing. If you're interested in knowing the "real me", email and I'll be happy to share)
I'm planning, after my upgrade, to get a vanity call. As a general I'll only be elegible for a C or D group call. 2X3 or 1X3. Which is ok with me really. some of the 2X1 calls are just a little strange to my ear. I'll be happy with a 1X3. (this is all suffering to the number of letters before an affter the region number, by the way). I like the idea of having a Whiskey Zero call, though what 3 letters I'll pick for the suffix I'm still pondering.
Good question. I've had a KC8 call since I got my license. 8 being the region code for Michigan. I've kept it thus far because it was my first license and I've used that call for a while now. But... time has passed and Missouri is home now. So I decided when (notice I said when) I update to General I'll take a Zero call.
(As a side note, I'm not giving my full callsign because having that allows readers to gather a great deal of info on the holder of that callsign, and this is a public blog. It's a privacy thing. If you're interested in knowing the "real me", email and I'll be happy to share)
I'm planning, after my upgrade, to get a vanity call. As a general I'll only be elegible for a C or D group call. 2X3 or 1X3. Which is ok with me really. some of the 2X1 calls are just a little strange to my ear. I'll be happy with a 1X3. (this is all suffering to the number of letters before an affter the region number, by the way). I like the idea of having a Whiskey Zero call, though what 3 letters I'll pick for the suffix I'm still pondering.
For someone who doesn't write in blogs much, you sure have a lot of them
Yes it's true. Another blog? Yes...
This one is intended to focus on my adventures in Amateur Radio. I've got the bug (again), as is known to happen, and as is known to happen I'm setting this space aside to record thoughts focused on this particular of my passions.
I've been an Armature radio Operator at the Technician (no code) level for the last 14 years. Ever since the FCC removed the code requirement for HF privileges I've been thinking about upgrading. I love VHF/UHF operation, but the times (field day's and such) that I've gotten to operate HF I've loved that too. So I'm making an effort to that end. I'm studying, and I've set myself a testing date, June 18th. Hoping I can stay with it.
Another thing that's got me going is the Emergency Communications aspect of it all. In my profesional life, I went down to Joplin MO right after the 2011 Tornado went through. On a whim I grabbed my HT (a Yaesu VX8-DR) and was listening in on the local skywarn net while I was there. It got me fired back up for Emergency Comms.
I was a member of ARES and RACES when I lived in Michigan and volunteered for the Wastenaw County Emergency Operations agency. I tried to be involved in ARES when I moved out to MO, but the local group was a little disorganized and I got focused on other things.
I have plans for a "Go Box" radio, and if a promised consulting job comes through, I'm going to alocate money for that. I've never had anything bigger than an HT, and I want to change that. Also looking (dreaming about) HF gear. Maybe for Christmas.
So we'll see how this all turns out. If you're reading this blog and it's been two years since I updated, well... I guess we both know then don't we?
This one is intended to focus on my adventures in Amateur Radio. I've got the bug (again), as is known to happen, and as is known to happen I'm setting this space aside to record thoughts focused on this particular of my passions.
I've been an Armature radio Operator at the Technician (no code) level for the last 14 years. Ever since the FCC removed the code requirement for HF privileges I've been thinking about upgrading. I love VHF/UHF operation, but the times (field day's and such) that I've gotten to operate HF I've loved that too. So I'm making an effort to that end. I'm studying, and I've set myself a testing date, June 18th. Hoping I can stay with it.
Another thing that's got me going is the Emergency Communications aspect of it all. In my profesional life, I went down to Joplin MO right after the 2011 Tornado went through. On a whim I grabbed my HT (a Yaesu VX8-DR) and was listening in on the local skywarn net while I was there. It got me fired back up for Emergency Comms.
I was a member of ARES and RACES when I lived in Michigan and volunteered for the Wastenaw County Emergency Operations agency. I tried to be involved in ARES when I moved out to MO, but the local group was a little disorganized and I got focused on other things.
I have plans for a "Go Box" radio, and if a promised consulting job comes through, I'm going to alocate money for that. I've never had anything bigger than an HT, and I want to change that. Also looking (dreaming about) HF gear. Maybe for Christmas.
So we'll see how this all turns out. If you're reading this blog and it's been two years since I updated, well... I guess we both know then don't we?
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