Ham
Radio -
This is Radio Station KF2HP
For those who don't know about this hobby, let me
explain briefly. An Amateur Radio Operator or HAM, is a person that
studies and passes some tests. They are then issued a call sign that is
unique to them. Something like a commercial radio station gets. There
are various classes of licenses, each being a little more or less
difficult than the others. Obviously, the higher the class of license,
the more tests you have to take and pass to achieve a given class. You
are given more privileges with the higher class of license. In the old
days, you had to pass a morse code test to obtain any class of license.
Then the restrictions where relaxed and you could obtain some classes of
licenses without knowing morse code. The governing bodies are now
looking at dropping the morse code requirements completely. Who knows
where that will go. In any event, when I got my license I had to pass a
code test at 13 words per minute (WPM). The next step was 20 WPM and
there was no way I was going to make that. I had this block at about 18
WPM. At the time that prevented me from achieving the Extra class of
license which is the highest class license available. I had to settle
for second best which at the time was call Advanced class. So what does
all this buy you? Well, you can use radio equipment to communicate on a
variety of frequencies in a variety of ways. This includes operating
locally thru what are known as repeaters on VHF frequencies to talking
to people around the world on HF frequencies. HAMs send TV pictures,
code, voice and many other types of information. They have a system
called Automatic Position Reporting Service that track where you are at
any given time. Lots and lots of neat gadgets and toys. All done
without commercial intervention. You don't have to pay a cell phone
bill or subscribe to a service to enjoy these games. Just you and some
radio equipment. If you want to know more please visit the ARRL web
site listed on my links page. If you need some help in understanding
all this or are interested in becoming a HAM, please send me an email
and I'll be glad to help you all I can.
Update 10/08 - just a note. The
powers to be removed morse code requirements from the
licensing process. Now you just have to take a test.
I understand the objectives but I'm not sure the trade offs
are worth it. But I guess they had to do something and
honestly, Morse Code is becoming antiquated.
Update 01/16 - This is my
station setup here in Kentucky. I have all my
equipment up and running with a new vertical antenna in the
back yard, a 80 meter 1/2 wave dipole, a 2 meter/440 Mhz
vertical on the roof along with a 11 meter vertical. I
still have a 40 meter 1/2 wave dipole to put up.
Update 09/17 - I took my Extra Class exam
this month at the Greater Louisville Hamfest and passed.
So now I am an Extra. My thanks to Gary, WA0ASA
(formally WA4UNW) for the motivation to do it. Also, I
have not yet gotten my 40 meter dipole up. But I did
put up an end fed dipole good for 6 through 80 meters.
It plays very well and I use it as my primary antenna.
Update 01/19 - New shelving with Ameritron
AL811H amplifier in place.
Update 01/19 - You can now watch me at
radio station KF2HP by going to my Web Cams page or by
clicking here -
Radio
Station KF2HP
I now have my QRZ log book available for you to look at.
Here are my last 15 contacts:
Fish Tank -
In
2014 the grand children were treated to the Spencer County
Fair. While there they won some gold fish. Some
made it and some didn't. We bought a few to make the
kids feel better but bottom line I became the keeper of the
fish. So I now have a 10 gallon fish tank with 4 gold fish
and 1 sucker fish. It's a pain in the ass to keep
clean as gold fish are extremely dirty. I really need
to clean the tank at least once a month and change some of
the water at least once every other week. But it keeps
me busy for the better part of a day.
March 2017 - The gold fish are gone. One got sick and
died and shortly after the remaining fish died. So, fish tank
and all the pains here are gone. |