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Amateur Radio

I currently use 2 call signs.  My US call sign is KJ7TA and my German call sign is DJ7TAA.   I have always been interested in amateur radio but it took me forever to actually decide I want to obtain a license.  After my friend Tom W7ETR gave me a 2m radio some time in 1995 I listened to the local repeater traffic for about a week and than started to study for the first test.  I got my Technician license and bought my first gear in 1995.  I disliked Morse code so it took me a while before I decided to upgrade.  My friend Duane W6REC stepped in and told me it is not as hard as it seems.  So I studied the dreaded code and passed the 13 word a minute test required to get the General Class license.  Upgrade to advanced class was easy, it just required a technical test.  When in 2000 the requirement for Morse code was reduced I did the last remaining test for Extra Class.  In January 2001 I finally submitted all required paperwork to the FCC for my upgrade to Extra Class.  This just took me 11 month.

My German call sign DJ7TAA was easy to obtain.  My friend Martin filled some paperwork with the copy of my US license and I received my German call sign.  Since Germany signed the CEPT agreement i can now operate in over 50 countries.  CEPT Amateur Radio details

 

Operating from home:

My station at home consists of a Kenwood TS440 for HF. As antennas I use a 35 foot crankup tower with a Cushcraft 3 element Yagi. The antenna works on 10m-15-20m and as a dipole on 40m. I also have a Hustler 5 band vertical (5-BTV) that works surprisingly well. My tuner sits currently idle since my wire antenna came down when John (shame on him) hit it when he dumped some gravel with his 18 wheeler.

All thumb nails below are related to radio and operation.  Click on the small picture to view it in 640*480.  The lower row of pictures was taken with an older digital camera, the resolution is somewhat marginal.

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A morning in Vegas

s_tower2.JPG (1876 bytes)

The tower

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Clean install

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Tilted over, ready to lift

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Nice to have a winch

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Rover as work platform

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Dave, KF6GXI on the way up to dismantle a 60' tower

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Always play it save

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Using a snorkel lift to to slowly lower a 20 foot section

Last edited: January 24, 2006

 

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