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Back into ham radio after a 30 year hiatus, I got my General ticket in Dec. '05
and had my first QSO Jan. 10, 2006 on 40m with the Hawaii Afternoon Net.
Up-graded to Extra class in Aug., 2006. I had heard about the butterflies that
accompany your first contact...now I understand! The guys were great and really
deflected the first time jitters. My dad peaked my interest in ham radio many
years ago when he called me out to his shack to hear Sputnik pass overhead on
an old SX-28A with the gauges all aglow. Later, a high-school buddy collected
QSL cards from all over the world as an SWL'er. I got my novice ticket, WB6BLG,
in the mid-70's and operated CW on ground-wave 80m in the San Diego area. In
the late 70's my career as a geologist took most of my time and I let ham radio
slide. I retired in 1996. Today, my xyl and I run a vacation rental cottage
here in sunny south Maui. The cottage, called Hala Hut, after the indigenous
Hala tree, is equipped with a complete modern ham radio station fed by a 3
elem., 6m thru 40m, Steppir antenna at 67'(20m). Information is available on
our website link listed above.
These days, I operate primarily on HF, 10m - 80m. When at home, I set aside
some time each day to get on the air and at least get a "feel for the band
conditions". Currently, my favorite set-up is the Icom 775DSP and Icom
IC-2KL ss. amplifier. I swear, it's been bullet-proof!
I'm pretty stoked about what the future holds on the bands. I enjoy
rag-chewing, talking to the young folk next generation hams, and the DX chase.
In the near future looking to go mobile w. my Yaesu FT-847, Smartcube amp, and
Hi-Q antenna from my old restored '69 Toyota FJ-40. BTW, based on the QSO's
I've had so far, I have to say ham radio has a bright future. 73 and aloha to
all.
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