Ham radio - never know what you might learn

So far I've just been working 2 meters with my home-brew Jpole and IC-7000. I'm planning on working HF as soon as humanly possible but a new job opportunity and an upcoming move are keeping me really busy.

I've loved all the things you learn or get to experience by being part of the community. Earlier this week I was working away at the computer when someone keyed up the PSRG repeater and said that the International Space Station was flying overhead.

I hopped up and slid out on the deck to watch it fly by. It was right overhead and fairly low and I had a good 5 or 6 minute look before it flew out of sight.

Before Ham radio I would never have remembered to check something like that. By simply having my radio on or participating in the 9:00 nets, I've found out about wildfires back in my old town, traffic snarls to avoid, upcoming road construction and closed roads, space phenomenon like the ISS or Curiosity's Mars landing.

I have no regrets about getting my license and look forward to more of the same in the months ahead.

Now if I could just find a place to move into that would let me string up an HF antenna....

K7TXX - It's official!

My new callsign came through today as expected.

Goodbye KF7WUF - it was fun while it lasted.

Making Contact with the Niece

One of the things that inspired me to get my ham radio ticket was when my 11 year old niece received her technicians license. Here’s a picture of her on her own HT making contact with me this week.


There’s also some great video of her working field day this year. I didn’t have my license yet so was unable to participate. She did a great job.

The Niece working Field Day 2012