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 I
was first licensed in the mid-60ís when I was 12 years old. †My
station consisted of a home-brew single 6146 40/80 meter CW transmitter
and WWII surplus BC348 and BC454 receivers. †I was only active a
few years and QRT when I started high school. †In January 2001,
I got back on the air for the first time in 37 years by building
an Elecraft K2 and stapling a couple of dipoles to eaves of my roof.
†As you can see in the photo, Iíve since accumulated a bit more
gear!
The K2 now has the 100W amp but as often as not is used at QRP power levels. †Other QRP rigs in the photo include a Wilderness Radio SST-20,
an Elecraft K1, and a Small Wonder Labs RockMite. A Ten-Tec 6 Meter transverter gets the K2 on 6m and Iíve since added a new Small Wonder Labs DSW-II
transceiver.
The big rig is a Yaesu FT1000MP Mark V. †A Yaesu FT100D is used primarily for 6M and 2M weak signal work. †Just for fun, Iíll occasionally crank up the
Ameritron AL-800H amp and operate at the legal limit. †It has the internal QSK-5 option and works seamlessly with the K2 or MkV transceivers. The amp is
enclosed on all but the back side by a wooden cabinet that I built to help cut down blower noise. †The enclosure is sealed around the front of the amp with foam
rubber gasketing, padded to deaden sound, and is baffled to direct warm air out the back. †It makes an amazing difference in the noise level.
I operate 99.44% CW and my main set of paddles is a Begali Magnetic Classic. Visible in the picture are my Kent TP-1 paddles and Nye Viking straight key. A set
of Palm mini paddles mounted to the side of the K1. I generally use a Idiom Press CMOS-4 keyer when operating from home.
Antennas are coupled by a Ten-Tec 238-A antenna tuner and consist of an assortment of doublets strung over my roof between poles mounted on
each end of the house and a home-brew 80M center loaded vertical. For 6M and 2M I use home-brew squalos. †Iím constrained in what I can do with antennas
due to CC&Rs but hope to relocate to a more antenna-friendly QTH soon.
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