Been a while, sorry, I got sidetracked by life on the road, and have not taken the time to tell anybody about it.
I am pretty sure the last place I was that I checked in was in North Pole Alaska. That would put us about 7000 (backroad) miles since the last check in. (and a couple months)
In that time….. I have NOT neglected KL4WQ. I ordered and received and set up an SDRplay (DX) I have heard some interesting contacts, mainly air band, everything else is digital nowadays and that takes a little more effort to eavesdrop.
So, I also (ordered, received, dinked around with, gave up, revisited a few times, than finally got it.) a DMR radio.
Lessons learned?
- Research DMR, and especially, local DMR before you buy a radio.
- Dual band (VHF/UHF) especially if you plan to travel.
- Dig in for a frustrating but rewarding learning curve.
- Stick with it, Will will not only get it eventually, but you will then be able to think in 4 dimensions AND talk around the world instantly (even if it is technically cheating)
My first contact! Alaska talk group (3102) Talked to a guy in Washington, another guy in Ketchikan, and a guy in Kiev Ukraine. (and I am in Mississippi.
GOD I wish I could do that without CHEATING and using the internet.
In other news, I Fixed the CB in the rig. Turns out I didnt have to buy a new one after all. A new antenna, and a new radio, and I did some troubleshooting only to find a bad connection at the antenna mount. Go figure!
Well, now I guess I have to install my “spare” CB in the rover. 🙂 (think 102″ whip)
Well it is slow going out here. I spend a lot of my time with face to face contact with those I share this journey with. I have not felt comfortable deploying my 130ft. Dipole (since north pole) so I could “listen” down to 80 Mtrs. (yet)
I have been working on My general through hamtest. I feel so dirty when I memorize instead of learn. (I am passing 75%, 60% of the time) but, it will be worth it to open up all the HF bands. THEN I can start learning!
73 and God bless…