My name is Jerry and I have been licensed since 1985. I live in Castle Rock, Colorado at an elevation of 6,600 feet. Within just the last few years, I have built a modest shack in the office area of my home. My primary rig is a Yaesu FT-950, complemented by the DMU-2000 Data Management Unit (DMU). The add-on DMU is a great addition to the rig and offers several functions including RF spectrum scope, audio scope/oscilliscope and menu mode for the rig. There are other functions, though these are the ones I use most frequently. The FT-950 is a wonderful radio and I will have it for many years.
I live in a covenant restricted location and have had to accommodate with stealthy antennas. Currently, I run two different loops, one 48 feet in length (horizontal), the other 64 feet in length (vertical), located indoors but out of view. I feed them via two SGC-239 auto-tuners. My advantage is location. Though not the best, it is better than many. I live on the East side of the valley on a hillside on the top floor of the highest building in my complex.
The antennas are working out better than I expected and even amidst the moderate band conditions, I work stateside and DX contacts on a regular basis on 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters. I have modified my largest loop to a full wavelength on 40 meters and am able to work that band with more regularity now.
In addition to HF, I am also moderately active on VHF and UHF. with two Arrow Antenna, open stub J-poles stashed in an outlying storage area. They work very well at my location and I have little problem accessing 144, 222 and 440 machines up and down the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
Most recently, I have begun working SSB weak signal VHF and UHF. My small station includes a Yaesu FT-817, and Mirage B-310-G and D1010 amplifiers The VHF signal feeds into a Directive Systems 5 element beam, while the UHF signal feeds into an M2 11 element beam. I am having a great deal of fun with this segment of the hobbyand I have started working satellites as well.
I have a few hobbies, though none of them compete with my enjoyment of amateur radio.
