---------------------------  CURRENT LOG at bottom of page --------- LAST 100 Contacts -----------------------------

 

Hello,                                                                        Dec    2016    update

--------------------------------------------      A  41  year     License  Holder   --------------------------

I have been licensed since 1975  (Novice---WN4AJT  /  WB4AJT  The FCC dropped the "WN" prefix during my novice days).  During the next 4-5 years made my way thru Tech. and Gen. to the Advanced license .    Inactive from late 80's/early 90s/??? till 2011 + -  ; i.e. I missed a couple of sunspot cycles (life and kids will do that to you).   As of 7/28/2014 make it EXTRA Class.   VE credentials arrived 11/12/14.       Got WAS certificate early 2015.   Got DXCC August 2015.    

Current count is 196 worked,  177 comfirmed-–Dec 2016. 

3-4 years ago changed call to K4ELI,   a bit shorter for cw (which I seldom do) and  #1 grandson's name is Elias----I kinda like that.  

I found some good guys in the Silver Comet ARS and now got repeater buddies, breakfast buddies, DX guys, and antenna guys all available to help me along the trail.    

I received the club Elmer of the Year award for 2015

-------THE  real highlight of my ham career -----------

 

VE Testing-----as of 12-23-2016--16 sessions,  109 candidates so far this year

 

Hardware:

 I went thru the usual assortment of rigs,   first HF cw contacts were with a Drake R4A rx and a Heathkit HW60 cw tx.   Swan 350,  Drake B-Line, other stuff I don't remember followed  (I did not document well)  and finally acquired an IC-745 new (83-86??).   Still have that one,  it was my daily user till I got one of the last IC-7000s.  From the same generation in the mid ‘80s is a TenTec Corsair/PS.   These two ‘old’ dogs are my field-day radios----120+ contacts on GOTA station in 2015.  

I  added an IC-7000 (spring 2014),  learning it is a work in progress,  I like old-school rigs without menus!      TenTec Omni VII came on    Jan, 2nd, 2015.      O-7 is a VERY nice radio.  Added a West Mt. audio filter and that makes both radios much nicer to use.  Also in the mix is a SGC 500 watt cube amp,  still got to get it on line.

Wth the 7000 I'm hoping to move into the HF digtal age when I get the Signal Link hooked up and running.    I'm enjoying the Omni 7, it is the SSB/CW rig.  Works really well, and enough knobs/buttons and a short menu.   It’s almost an "Old School" operating radio.  

The last 2M rigs were Azden PCS4000s and IC-2-ATs, until a FT-60 came along in 2011 to see if there was anything going on on 2 & 440.   Followed that with an IC-2820 or 2 and back off to the races with ham radio

Current interests:     improving wire antennas--maybe a 160 loop,  studying satellites and dual band antennas,  installing a tower/beam,   D-Star,  learning Digital modes, and always stuff in the woodshop.   Using woodshop skills to build new operating desk incorporating O-7, 7000/dig, and 745 for backup,  rotor control, setting up Computer dedicated to ham activities, N3FJP suite of pgms, D-RATS, and 2m/440 quagi/quad homebrew antenna experiments.

Antennas thru all this have been wires,  am looking at getting a tower with beam up 40-60 feet in  2016 (well maybe in 2017)  and see what life in the "fast lane" is like.   Installed  GAP Challenger, on the air 7/26/2014.

GAP Challenger is way better than the wire I had been using.  The wire had one of the pvc  want-a-be “baluns” .  See follow-up below.

 Got a K4KIO Hex Late Sept. 2014,  got it together and installed it (10/23/14 in time for cqww ) on a long-term temp. tower attached to deck.  Antenna is at 22'--7m high and is turned by NIB HD-73 I have had in storage since it was new.  This "temp" tower may turn into my satellite tower with the addition of 2m/440 antennas at a 20-30deg angle.   Now I will start on digging hole, preparing house bracket supports, and installing 40/50' of 25G.  That will be permenant home for Hex.   Update--- with Hex   made 150 contacts in 9 hrs of op for cqww-----about 1 QSO every 4 min,   not contest speed,  but pretty good,  got 3-4 new countries.   The beam seems to be good for 4-5 S-units on the 7000 "meter" compared to the Gap vert. on weak sigs,   not as much diff on strong sigs.

Balun Designs Baluns due 2/6/15,   80-40 dipoles will go back up,  and I plan to hang a 160 wire on as well.    OCFD for 160 will go on the 40' tower mentioned above when that project is installed.     Finally got 80-40-20 fan dipole up (used it for Field Day GOTA station ) and it is MUCH better than the previous dipole with the little white PVC “want-a-be” balun.    160 still not up.

Observation here is the  PVC balun worked more like a dummy load.  The Balun Designs runs BIG circles around it.

6m---just received 6-elem Innov beam in time for spring/summer 6m activity. It should be up in early May ‘16.

Seems like op time is in bits and pieces  so I have been in the "hunt and peck" mode of quick contacts.   Looking forward to sitting down and having a real QSO with folks as time permits.     I usually try to work the "Special Events Stations" listed on the ARRL web site.  Also, contests and QSO parties as time permits.

DIGITAL World

I started JT65 Sept 13,  Got #50 for WAS on Nov 4, and 50 confirmed on Nov 8, for all band WAS--LOTW--JT65.

At 49 confirmed for 40m JT65 LOTW,  Wyoming----where are you??????

 

QSLs ---------------------- I will reply to any US cards sent my way---no SASE reqd.    

DX  QSLs ---------------   via the bureau,            OR           SAE + $2-US. 

LOTW----------------------I upload daily.     

 

I just use LOTW or "real" QSL cards---paper cards highly preferred along with LOTW.

 

Have a blessed day,   Steve  K4ELI

 

-------------  Recent   Contacts :  -------------

 

Ten-Ten---------------------- Sr Life Member---# 26381

OMISS----------------------- # 9572

YL-ISSB---------------------# 17128

ARRL-------------------------Member

Silver Comet ARS----------Member

Paulding Co GA ARES----Member

EQUIPMENT :

Hex Beam    K4KIO-------20--17--15--12--10--6--------------------Alliance HD-73 rotor

Vertical    Gap Challenger--------80 thru 2-----they say--------I'll give it thru 10 ,   6&2 are pretty weak.

wire antennas----80-40-20 fan dippole          2-3 antennas in the plans especially for 160--80--40

Diamond x-50 (2 times),    and a Diamond x-200

Ten Tec Omni 7

IC 7000

IC 745

TenTec Corsair

SGC 500watt Cube Amp

FT 60   (3)

UV5RA (2)   it is a long story----grin

TM71A 

IC 2820s  fixed and mobile

PCS4000  Azden    (3)  with tones,  left over from 20+ years ago.