Well, here you go, making a return to the “Hamshack”. My new “shack” since I am on the road so much working for EMF/KLove is now a Ford F-250 truck that has my Icom 706MK2G as the rig. I have been really enjoying using it both on VHF/UHF repeaters and HF. At this writing, I have 40m, 20m, and 17 meter Hamsticks I am using on HF. This truck is SO large that it acts as a huge groundplane and I have really gotten great signal reports all over the US and worked some DX as well while on the road around the state.
The radio later will be mounted in a “go Box” that I will write about here. I will be mounting the faceplate of course on the dash and the box will be able to be quickly removed for security of course when staying at motels on the road.
The hamstick antenna of course has to be taken down when I go up some of the mountain roads that are full of trees and vegetation. But it is easy, and later I am going to add a quick release mount for the antennas to make it easier.
BTW, my friend and partner for EMF/KLove, Patrick is going to hopefully by the time you read this have his ham license and join us on the radio. He has bought one of the Wouxun KG-UV3D handhelds and will have a Kenwood TK-880 in his work truck. Thanks to our friend Al, of Colorado Public Radio, WAØNRH. So if you hear Patrick on 449.450 here in town, be sure to holler and say Hi!
Also, Patrick and I have had several “adventures” already. We made a video of our trip down the mountain in Parachute CO. The “road” was at best a dirt track down what had to have been an ATV trail at best. But it is SO MUCH FUN. Had to take the radio down as it was just too bumpy for sure! Watch the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhFuE6DkIsY
And as always don’t forget the SBE IRLP (and Echolink) Hamnet, the first Saturday of the month. Details on how to join are at http://www.qsl.net/ke0vh/sbehamnet . Thanks to WB7AHO, W5WCA, KDØCIC, W7MSL, N0PQV, KTØS, and others locally. I hope you will join us in November!
AND, from our SBE IRLP Hamnet member Brew, WA2ZST:
Howard KA2QPJ gave us some info and did some organizing with Jim
WB6AJE and Tim, N6QJ with CBS at Studio City. The ABC show “Last Man
Standing” is shot at CBS Studio City (which is different than CBS TV
City, btw). They put together this event……
Breaking news! The Southern California based PAPA System,
Will be holding a “Ham Radio Celebrates Hollywood” event.
On Sunday, October 28th PAPA members will work HF, VHF, UHF, DSTAR and
IRLP under the special event call sign K6H.
The event will be based on the sets of the ABC Television’s “Last Man
Standing”, and will use the shows radio equipment and antennas.
The event features the interlinked BEARS/DEARS system repeaters which
will be directly linked to the stage.
Details are at: http://www.facebook.com/KA0XTT
Check this out this is fun!
73’ see you next month! KEØVH