They say writing shouldn't be a forced actitivity. At least That is something I've heard at some point along the line. Yesterday I really wanted to write a post, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Not sure why. I had plenty to share. Seems I just didn't have it in the feels I guess.
So,you get one today. The last couple of months, I have been looking for something more than my coin collecting hobby to keep me occupied in retirement. My youngest son received his Amatuer Radio Technician Level license a couple years ago. He has been bothering me ever since to get mine.
To give you a little background, my primary job when I was in the service when I first started out was radio communications. I loved the job, but as time went on and promotions toook me to different levels, I stopped installing, operating, and maintaining and humping them (humping is Marine speak for hiking), and was more involved in planning and staff type work.
Fast forward to present and I wasn't really interested in reliving the past, although it was interesting to me. Plus, I just wasn't in the mindset at the time to be reaching out over airwaves and talking to people.
However, this last cuple months, taking my break offline, living life more offline, I found I wanted to try it. os, I have been studying for my Technician level exam and will be taking it about mid-October. I've purchased a used HF Kenwood radio that is pictured in this post. I already had a VHF/UHF radio my son left here, and will be configuring all my antennas, grounding and such in the coming weeks.
There is an electrician coming Tuesday to install my outside ground and bonding bar for the antennas and equipment. They will also be installing a couple more electrical outlets in my office where the radios will will be located.
Once that is done, a friend of mine who is very much a handyman, will be helping me install my first VHF/UHF antenna on the roof along with removing my basement window, replacing it with plexiglass and adding some pass through connectors to it for the coax cables that run from the antennas. He will also help me run the coax from the roof to where I can finish running it without climbing.
That will get my VHF/UHF running. I also have a telescoping pole that is apporxiamtely 30 feet max when fully extended that I will be using as my elevation to configure my HF antenna from. Still thinking about what type of HF antenna I plan to put up for it. Most likely a dipole or sloping-V. It has to go in my backyard and I am limited in the direction and room I can use. If you know anything about radio communications, antennas for HF frequencies can get somewhat long at the half and quarter wave lengths.
Anyway, that is my update on that and my new hobby I am taking up. Now I am gonna finish my coffee, wait for the sun to come up, and figure out why the wife's car won't start. I think the battery has gone bad.
Have a great start to your Sunday and week folks!
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using MS Paint and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.
Just do what you enjoy @coinjoe be on your own drum beat!
!HUG
Thanks. Thats what I plan oon doing.
That is awesome Joe! That's very cool that you're getting a new hobby, not quite like in the Marine days, but it should be a lot of fun!
Yeah, I am looking forward to getting that license and hitting the airwaves.
We used to have a 30 foot antenna at my parents house for the CB setup that my dad had when we were kids. Part of the tower is still there I think. I don't know why my dad never got into HAM radio though.
I have had a CB in my pickup but it rarely gets used. I have it in there for emergency purposes. CB requires no license and is fairly cheap. HAM radios can be somewhat expensive unless you find some decent used ones and still they are a little pricey. I paid about $450 for the one pictured and it is a used older model.
That makes sense. We had a CB in every vehicle back in the day plus one at home as a base station. The main reason was because we lived 15 minutes from town and if our parents went in to get something they wanted to be able to communicate with my sister and I in an emergency.
That is great to get you mind active. Good luck with the exam.
Thanks, much appreciated. I think I am ready for it.
Excellent and glad to hear it
If the internet went burst, you are one of the few who can still be communicating to the far away people. hahaha. Enjoy your new (hmmm revived) hobby. I know some people who really love to talk over the radio, they even have the community here in my place.
sending some !LUV and !PIZZA to you
YEs, in fact they have emergency services tupe teams for natural disasters when communicationsis lost you can join. I am going to look into that eventually.
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@ekavieka(1/5) tipped @coinjoe
Come get MOONed!