BREAKING NEWS!!

IT'S UP! THE 2 METER/220/440 COMET ANTENNA IS IN THE AIR! FINALLY, AFTER 3 YEARS OF WAITING! A BIG THANK YOU TO N8NWA, JOHN! 

Licensed since 1989. Got my novice license in March of that year.

I am primarily on HF. I have a Kenwood TS-950SDX and a Homebrew Wire antenna.

I do have a 2 meter Mobile, and a Yaesu VX6R Tri-band H.T.

I mostly run HF, and if you read on, you will see why.

However, if and when I do decide to operate VHF/UHF, you can find me on these repeaters:

• 147.240

• 224.52

• 145.27

• 146.52 simplex

• 444.225 (I have a hard time getting into this from the HT. But I listen to it, I can get it, if I am in the mobile.)

• 147.14 (I listen to it, but I am not a regular there.)

• 443.075

I also listen to MANY other repeaters. I just don't talk. You learn more when you listen.

So, I mostly stay on 40 meters during the day; and listen to 75 at night.

When the bands are up, I like to play a little DX too.

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Also too, just a word of warning to everyone who reads this bio. If a repeater trustee says that he does not want you operating on his repeater; he does not need a reason at all. I inquired about this to Laura Smith, the FCC's enforcement person, and this was her reply:

If he is the trustee, he certainly can tell you to stop using the repeater and he does not have to provide either you OR me a reason. The rules completely support his position. Sorry, but you must stop using his repeater or you could be subject to a possible enforcement action.

.and before you tell me that Laura Smith is full of it; here's the rule: 97.205E:

Ancillary functions of a repeater that are available to users on the input channel are not considered remotely controlled functions of the station. Limiting the use of a repeater to only certain user stations is permissible.

Usually that underlined part is for repeater owners who choose to have a private repeater; but it does not stipulate that a repeater owner must have a valid reason to tell you to leave, if a repeater trustee does not like you, you have NO recourse at all. Now, if you try to be smart and start transmitting on the repeater's output frequency, you will be cited for intentional interference of a repeater: (This was suggested)

(d) No amateur operator shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communication or signal.--- FCC rule 97.101D

So, that means, if a repeater trustee does not like you; you are screwed. Hence the reason I will not be operating much repeater or VHF/UHF anymore. Click here and here to watch a video that explains this whole situtation. Basically, I got chased off a 70CM repeater; for no reason.

For this reason, I am very careful as to where I operate on VHF/UHF.

Best of 73!

-Chuck K8CPA (Formerly N8QXP, N8MCY, KB8HHZ) (23 Years in Amateur Radio! Yeeeesh! I feel OLD!)