kd5vdo

Couple months, started posting today only b/c of this post.

I built many of my own rigs from kits, and many items around the shack from scratch (as I got better w/ electronics even designed a couple simple circuits) and had to take the CW test, mind you only at 5 wpm, but I worked my way up to 20, now I’m back down to 10, having been qrt. I always homebrewed my antennas, except for mobile, too much trouble there. The point being that there’s still fun to be had if you put your mind to it, plenty of kits and tinkering, especially if you live in a place with a nice supplier of components.

As for the Army, I’m a reservist with 8 months of active duty under my belt. Was originally in human resources, then food inspection–they kicked me out at the end of training when they found I wouldn’t taste the food–and now as a dental specialist, essentially a dental assistant. The Army is amazingly accommodating regarding shabbos and kashrus if you have the guts to ask for it, btw. I want to get my code speed back up in case I’m deployed I understand that ham radios are allowed to be operated in OEF/OIF.

Used to be very active in Texas, not so much any more, but trying to get back in. I’m owed 10k by the Army, and as soon as that comes in I’m installing one of my HF rigs in the car and going to be on a lot more. For now it’s just the repeaters when I drive.

Amateur Extra, worked my way up to that in 6 months. Been qrt for about 3 yrs, just bought an HT and a mag mount, but haven’t been too impressed by the quality of hams on the Queens repeaters. I’m heading back down to Texas soon and will pick up my HF and mobile rigs, maybe get back into QRP CW. Problem is trying to put up an antenna here. As I can’t afford the raw material for a good magnetic loop, I’ll probably be stuck with random length wires and hamsticks.

Look up my user name on qrz.