Well we are only a week into May and work has been keeping me quite busy! Not much time to mess around on the radio.

I made a few changes to my setup since my last post. I now have a new L-shaped desk (more room for radios!). I picked up a new desk chair (way better for my back!) to go with the new desk. I've been working on cable management for the pat few days and I'm still not finished!

I was able to get a new G5rv up in the air with some help from Dad. This one I purchased from HRO. It is a Radiowavz brand G5. Seems to preform about the same as the old antenna. This one supposedly tunes on 6 meters. I haven't had a chance to try it out down there yet. But I was able to make several DX QSOs right off the bat. While I was placing and order I also picked up a pretty nice SWR/Power meter. It is a Daiwa CN-901. It makes a nice addition to my setup. I was using the LED bar graph on my LDG tuner for a wattmeter but it doesn't have the accuracy that I wanted. I also picked up a few short RG8x cables that are a little more flexible than what I was using. I wanted them to be more flexible to alleviate strain on the connectors on the equipment.

Now that I have an HF antenna back up in the air I've been working some FT8. I actually applied for a few more awards through the FT8DMC. Hopefully I'll get them soon.

I've started looking at options for a new desktop computer to replace my current PC. It's looking like it's going to cost about $1,000-1,800 to either build or buy a PC that meets my specifications. It's been hard to price components due to a LOT of electronic parts being out of stock. I'm looking forward to updating my setup.

I was able to attend the May KY4ARC meeting IN PERSON!! It was nice to actually be in a meeting with people instead of staring at a monitor. Hopefully I will be able to attend future meeting. It's hard to tell when I'll be able to go with my work schedule the way it is currently.

Lastly an administrative update for email subscribers. I was notified in the last month that FeedBurner, the service I use to automate email subscriptions will be shutting down in July 2021. I'm currently looking at a couple different options for a new service. I hope to have a solution in place next month.

Well no pictures in this one (again).

Hope to catch ya' down the log!

73

Cam

 Well it's been a while since my last update. Things have been quite busy. First I now have a full-time job! My schedule hasn't been set yet so it's been quite hectic not know what times or days I'm working.

Now onto the radio stuff.

During the recent ice storms we had a few trees fall. One of them happened to take down my G5RV. One of the legs is completely broken into two pieces and frayed really badly. Haven't looked at the otherside but it's on the ground as well. I'm going to need to replace it. Right now I'm not sure if I want to get another G5RV or something else. I'll probably take the remnants of the current antenna and make some other dipole out of it. The VHF beam seems to have survived the ice buildup with no damage. Overall we were without power for about 6 days.

As you can guess without an HF antenna and a new job I haven't had much time to get on the air. Due to my chaotic schedule I've been missing local nets. I was able to make the March Zoom meeting of KY4ARC (I'm actually a member now). If I end up working nights I won't be able to attend any in-person meeting now that they are starting back. Hopefully I'll still be able to make field day.

I was hoping to work the KA6LMS Last Man Standing special event but that's not happening. If I get around to it before the event ends I may try and work them on Echolink or DMR.

Well that's all I've got for now! Hopefully I'll have more it the next one!

 73

Cameron

 Well happy 2021 everyone! (I know I'm a month late 😂) 

January started off with another meeting of KY4ARC via Zoom. I finally sent in my dues so I should now be a member.

This year I decided to set a goal of participating in as many contests as I can. I started off this month with the North American QSO Party, SSB. I didn't have as much time to operate as I originally expected. After operating for about 2 hours I only ended up with 15 QSOs. Noise seemed to really bad on 40m. 80 meters was a little better, though I had some trouble breaking through the pileups. Of the 15 QSOs 13 were on 80 meters and 2 were on 40 meters. Overall all I had 12 multipliers for a total score of 180. 

Winter Field day was supposed to be my next contest, but thanks to a power outage the Friday before the start of the event my main shack computer shutdown and now fails to boot. So my logging and digital software were inaccessible. It's been on it's last leg for quite a while. It desperately needs to be replaced. I'll eventually finalize a parts list and start purchasing parts to build a new more powerful computer for the shack. Until then I'm going to try and nurse the current one back to health.

Other than a couple of DX FT8 contacts earlier in the month that is about all I've done radio wise. I did manage to make a contact with South Africa I think that's my first. I may send out a couple of QSL cards to stations from the NAQP. I haven't sent any out in a while.

Well that's all for now. Hope to catch ya' down the log!

73

Cam 

 Well October flew by. I didn't get around to half of what I wanted to.

I worked some FT8 here and there. I qualified for a few awards from the FT8 Digital Mode Club. I got the Worked Prefix Award for working 100 prefixes on 40 meters. I got the Worked All South America Bronze award for working stations in all 10 South American Countries. The Worked All Members 100 Award was issued for working 100 members of the FT8DMC. I got the Worked United States Station 200 Award for working 200 US Stations. And lastly I got the Costa Rican Station Award for working 3 Costa Rican Station.

FT8DMC Awards

I was also able to attend a yard sale and acquire some equipment. I picked up a few sections of tower (with two toppers) along with a Alliance HD-73 Rotor (need to find a control box). Included with the towers was a 2m vertical and what I believe to be either a 2m or dual-band(2m/70cm) beam. 

Equipment wise I was able to get the following: 

• Heathkit SB-401

• Heathkit DX-40 Transmitter
• Hammarlund SB-600
• Knight Ocean Hopper
• Signal Corp BC-342-N (Farnsworth Television & Radio)
• Bendix Radio Type TA-12C Aircraft Transmitter
• (2) Midland 75-764B
• Uniden Pro 510XL
• BIG BOX OF TUBES

Equipment, Antenna, Tower

I need to go through all of the equipment and see if it works or what parts it needs. A couple are in a little rough shape. Looks like most will need new tubes. One needs new knobs. I think the 401 needs crystals but that's as far as I've gotten 😁. I haven't even looked through the box of tubes yet, that's going to be a chore.

Looking ahead I've found a few things to update my room a little and picked out paint colors so hopefully I can get that started soon. Ham wise I'm thinking about trying to work the ARRL SSB Sweepstakes this month. We'll see what happens. 

Well that's all for now! Kinda short, but there's pictures this time!!

73

Cam

 Well September has come and gone in this crazy year. EMT Class has been keeping me pretty busy so not much has happened radio wise. I've made a few contacts on good ol' FT8, but that's about it operating wise.

I applied for several awards from the FT8 Digital Mode Club. Hope to hear back that they are approved soon!

Some home improvement projects have been completed so I can finally start looking for a new desk. Moving back from my apartment I lost a decent chunk of desk space so everything (radio and non-radio) is crammed on one desk with no storage, just a hutch on top of it. I forgot how hard it was to find a desk that fits both space and personal requirements 😁. 

In other news I received my ARRL ballot for this years election of the Great Lakes Division Director and Vice Director. I hope all of my fellow members with elections in your division/section cast a vote!

I also made a few updates to the code plug in my 878UV. Eventually I'll get around to updating the radios in the car. Unfortunately my pi-star hot-spot has stopped working. Not sure what happened to it, seems like the MMDVM board is functioning but the Pi-zero is not. I've tried re-flashing the image and replacing the SD card. I've been wanting to upgrade to a duplex model, maybe this is a sign to pick up a duplex board!

I was able to attend KY4ARC's monthly (virtual) meeting for October. I'm looking forward to becoming a member in January when the dues are due!

Well that's all for now! No pictures this time!

See ya down the log!

Cam

I acquired some new equipment as well. To better facilitate my goals for my home VHF FM station I picked up a Yaesu FT-2980R to use as the primary transceiver from Ham Radio Outlet. The extra 30 watts should help me get into the local repeaters as it was a bit of a

6-element beam at 20-ft up up the mast with center of G5RV at the top.

struggle on 50 watts. I also purchased 50ft of ABR 25400F coax (also from HRO) to connect the Yaesu to the 6-element beam that I grabbed at the Louisa hamfest. The beam is up on the mast behind the house about 20-ft. I still have very low audio into the KY4ARC Paintsville, so I still have a few issues to resolve.

Parts for Suction Cup Mount. Note: I decided not to use the lock washers.

• 1 x 4-1/2" Diameter Suction Cup (Harbor Freight, $3.89)
• 3 x #8-32 x 3/4" Machine Screws (Lowe's, $1.28)
• 1 x #8-32 Wing Nut (Lowe's, $1.28)
• 8 x #8 Washers (Lowe's, $1.28)
• 1 x 2-gang Square Metal Electrical Box Cover (Lowe's, $0.60)
• 1 x 3' x 1/8" Brass metal round (Lowe's, $3.28)
• Drill
• 11/64 Drill Bit
• Heavy Duty Wire Cutters
• Pliers (I just used my Leatherman)

To start the build, I placed the box cover on the suction cup handle and marked where I needed to drill the first hole on the suction cup handle, for the holes in the suction cup you are only drilling holes through the static handle. (Note: Some of the box covers are a little different. Mine had a keyhole with a diagonal cut in the opposite coroner.)  After drilling the first hole I used a machine screw, washer and nut to secure the cover to the suction cup. I drilled the 2nd hole in the suction cup

Drilled Cover

handle allowing the drill bit to contact the cover marking where I needed to drill the hole in it. I removed the screw and nut and drilled the hole in the cover. While the cover was free from the suction cup, I drilled the hole for the screw that the brass rod for the tiger tail will be secured. I put this hole on the front side of the cover opposite the keyhole. 

Completed Mount for 2m.

For the screws used to secure the cover to the suction up I placed the screw through the hole with the screw head on the bottom side with the moving handle. I placed a washer on top between the cover and the suction cup handle then a second washer between the cover and the nut. For the screw that is used for the tiger tail I placed a screw with a washer through bottom side of the hole and placed a second washer with a nut on the topside. I bent the top of the brass rod into a loop that would fit onto the screw. I then put a bend in the rod so it would be perpendicular to the cover plate. I measured 19.5" (1/4" wave for 2 meters) from the bend and cut the rod with a set of heavy cutters. I attached the tiger tail by placing a washer on the bottom and top of the loop and securing it with a wingnut. This allows the tiger tail to be removed for easy storage. Now time to try it out! 

This week I also registered for and started the ARRL's EC-001 Introduction to Emergency Communication Course, so I'll be working on that for the next few weeks. Hopefully this course will help further my knowledge that I can use with ARES and EMCOMM.

On Thursday the 1st I attend the monthly KY4ARC meeting in Paintsville, KY. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the local hams and make a few new connections. I hope to get more involved with this club in the future. 

KY4ARC Meeting

I think that's enough for today I have a few other projects I want to work on so there may be some more posts like this! I will also be heading back to WVU and starting classes in the couple weeks so posting will most likely switch from every week to every other week (Unless I have something that deserves its own post!)!

73
Cameron, KN4CFI