Stephen’s Space

I finally made it! I passed my Extra class exam this evening:

I studied my BUTT off for this test, glad to finally get it behind me…… now I think I’ll move onto a commercial license
73’s de K1LNX “Extra” class licensee!

I started playing with PSK31 recently and that is one cool mode! I managed to make a contact to K1NOX in Maine, and made my first PSK DX contact yesterday to Cuba, CO3JN.

I wasn’t sure my setup was working properly, but indeed it is! I am running a Buxcomm soundcard interface from my Ubuntu linux box to an Icom 706MKIIG, I was using gMFSK for the PSK software.

For those of you that read my blog that are asking yourself what the heck is he talking about, PSK31 is an HF radio digital mode that allows text based conversations to happen over the airwaves. Pretty neat stuff

This is big big news. There has been a longstanding running debate over this for a long time. Some think it will kill Amateur Radio and that it’s the end of the world, I personally see it as a much welcomed advance in Amateur Radio. Good job FCC!

I got my license in September of 1994 as a no-code tech. I couldn’t have learned the code if I had to, and it was all due to a mental block. Code is not hard to learn and master after you use it for a while.

Amateur radio has been one of the most fascinating and rewarding hobbies I have ever undertaken in my lifetime. I am proud to be a ham and do all things that are associated with ham radio as a whole. I have talked with people on the other side of the world using a simple radio and a wire antenna. No other hobby has brought me as much satisfaction as that. I have met and gained knowledge from other like minded hams and formed many friendships, again, no other hobby has ever awarded me this satisfaction.

My journey with code started back in 1995 when I was itching to get on HF. Being a no-code tech meant I had to pass at least the 5wpm test to become a tech plus. I was determined to get on HF, so I made it a point to learn the code.

I went to my local Radio Shack and purchased the code tapes from Gordon West, WB6NOA. I initially got frustrated but kept at it and the way I learned was anytime I saw a street sign, read a newspaper or magazine article, I would recite it back in code in my head. I also bought a little 80m W1AW code practice receiver kit, this was one of the first kits I had ever built. It worked great from our second-story apartment in Leominster, MA. I hung a piece of wire out the window to the ground and was able to copy W1AW no problem.

I finally passed my 5wpm test sometime late in 1995. I didn’t have an HF rig at the time, as finances for a 20 year old were next to nothing, and I was getting ready to go into the Air Force. I joined the Air Force in May 1996 (Massachusetts Air National Guard) as a ground radio repairman, I was making my love of radio into a career.

Got to tech school in July of ‘96 at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. This is where the bulk of my journey with code would take place. I had the mindset that I would never use code, because I now had voice privileges on 10 meters. Little did I realize what an impact the sunspot cycle would have on that. We were just starting a new cycle at the time, so sunspots were at a bare minimum. When we have more sunspots on the sun, it is better for long range often worldwide radio communications on frequencies below 30 megahertz.

I was fortunate enough to have a club on base with a fully equipped station, K5TYP. I spent many hours in there playing with a very nice radio, and had an 80m loop and 3 element beam to match it.

After not getting anywhere with 10 on voice, I opted to start getting my feet wet with code on 40 and 80 meters. At first my QSO’s were very slow and often short, but as time went on I gradually got faster and faster. Before I knew it I was hooked!

Then came that elusive first DX contact. I copied a very weak italian station running QRP at about 1 watt into a dipole. I tried 3 or 4 times throwing the club’s callsign out there and finally he copied me!!!!

I continued on with code, did QSO’s almost daily for a long time. I was able to pass a 20wpm code test and upgrade to general class while I was in tech school.

I’m not sad to see code go. I will continue to use it and support those that want to learn. This is going to bring more licensees into our hobby than ever before.

Ham radio has a bright future ahead, and I am proud to be a part of it and continue to watch it blossom.

73’s

Stephen - ARS N1VLV

I’m heading to the Waynesville hamfest this morning with my good friend and fellow ham, Bob, N1UAN. It is going to be loads of fun down there and I should be able to come back with some goodies

Well field day is here and I am loving it. I just got home, it os 0110 in the morning. I am dog tired, I really wanted to spend the night, but just wasn’t equipped this year, perhaps next…. Got to work a few stations on 80 meters, that was lots of fun. Had my APRS station up and running full bore, lots of people were interested in that. I’ll be back at it again in the morning…..

Mount Mitchell

Originally uploaded by sbrown6079.
Man oh man did I have time this weekend! I went roving with Mike, N4OFA and operated in the ARRL June VHF QSO Party.

Had a great time, I would definitely do this again! You can read my testimonial here

73 de N1VLV

I am participating in my first ever contest this weekend, with my good friend and elmer, Mike, N4OFA. We will be participating in the ARRL June VHF Contest, I am really looking forward to it. I hope I got everything I need packed, we will be up in the mountains/blue ridge parkway for most of the contest, so I will be “roughing” it for few days
This will certainly be an experience I will always remember. I am really thankful to be able to go do this tommorow.

I will be posting our experiences on my main website, n1vlv.com

73’s and wish us luck in the contest!