Well it all started when I was a kid. I always wanted to get into radio so when I was 16 I took my radio telephone 3rd class license. A year later I took my 1st class radio telephone license. In those days it was so much different. I had to go down to the FCC in San Diego and take a test with over 100 questions that at the time seemed impossible to pass. No calculator just mathematics on a piece of paper. After that waiting for about 6 weeks for a letter in the mail. I worked for a time at KCBQ in Santee,Ca staring at the glowing tubes in that 50,000 watt clear channel transmitter, long gone now just a shopping center parking lot. But I knew some day I would get into amateur radio. Radio was in my blood and the thought of controlling my own transmitter never left my thoughts. Many years later when my kids who have now all grown up and gone, I decided it was time for a new hobby. In one week I became an extra class amateur radio licensee. I studied for a few weeks prior to the tests but it was very easy as I remembered most of the theory I studied as a kid. What an awesome hobby and the people are just incredible. Everyone wants to help you out and the guys at the local HRO are fantastic. I run my rigs with HRD on SSB and DM780 on digital modes (yet I still love FLdigi and use it also). HRD software is the best rig control I have ever used and it's free. It does take 3 seperate computers to run all the rigs and programs. I also belong to the 6 Shooters San Diego Club and attend their meetings. Below are some pictures of my ham shack and antennas. Ham Radio Rocks!
The above picture is a significant upgrade from my old shack pictued below!
Talk about an old spark gap.
Running in the shack and remotely(using HRD, Splash Top & Skype)both SSB and Digital Modes(mostly BPSK31, Olivia & Feld Hell FH3818)on the 40, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 meter bands. My antennas are a Hex Beam Wideband mounted on the roof of my shack:
I run a MDS RC-1 Controller driven by the PST Rotator Program (awesome program) to Interface into HRD for auto control of my Yaesu G450. The Hex Beam Auto controlled by map, call letters or DX Cluster!
I also run a GAP Challenger DX Vertical for 40 & 80 meters:
Uploaded Daily!
I hope to chat with you on any of the HF frequencies or see you in the waterfall. Either way I am always ready to chase DX and communicate with fellow amateur radio operators worldwide!
Here are some pictures of my beautiful city:
73's
Bruce
AG6FD
Last modified: 2012-05-12 23:20:42, 5118 bytes cached
You must be logged in to post comments to this page.
Recently posted elsewhere...
W4W de
N4JTQ2012-05-16 19:45:19 UTC
W4W Sevier County TN Field day
*W4W : Sevier County Field Day*
Start Date: *June 23, 2012*
End Date: *June 24, 2012*
Record ID: 8062
Requisitioned by: *Sevier County Emergency Radio Service*
Call Sign: KJ4HPM Club Call Sign
Address: 2005 Spence Mountain Loop
Sevierville, TN 37876
Email: n4jtq@live.com
Phone: 865-446-4535
Rick Sawaya. QSL Manager N4JTQ
*Northview Optimist Park*
This 24-acre park in northern Sevierville includes two soccer fields,
two lighted baseball/softball fields, lighted walking 0.3 mile walking
trail, picnic area, a picnic pavilion, and restrooms.
Go east (on I-40 W)
Depart I-40 West
1.7 mi
At exit 407, take ramp right for TN-66 toward Sevierville / Pigeon
Forge / Gatlinburg
0.4 mi
Turn left onto TN-66 South / Snyder Rd / Winfield Dunn Pkwy
0.4 mi
Turn right onto W Dumplin Valley Rd
1.1 mi
Arrive at Kodak Northview Optimist Park on the left
The last intersection is Hodges RdIf you reach TN-139 / Douglas
Dam Rd, you've gone too far!
Kodak, TN
Kodak Northview Optimist Park
We will be using the following log, if you plan on attending then download as many copies that you feel that you will need..
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2012/2012-FD-LOG.pdf
All logs must be turned into N4JTQ so that we can send in for points..
Setup will be early Saturday morning, bring your equipment, cable, antenna's, whatever you think you will need to operate, we will not have any equipment to loan or lend out this year, you will be responsible for your equipment..
There will not be any power at the location so bring your own generators or solar panels or batteries, what ever you will get your power from..
Rules,....
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2012/2012-FD-Rules.pdf
VHF Operation,...
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2012/2012-FD-VHF-Tips.pdf
Frequencies we will be on..
28.400 -10 meters
3.950 - 80 meters
14.265 - 20 meters
7.220 - 40 meters
21.350 - 15 meters
FM
For Field Day operating, FM is probably the easiest VHF mode to implement. You’ll have little trouble finding FM rigs to use; even a
hand-held transceiver can make a fine Field Day rig. FM doesn’t have the range of CW or SSB, but it is the most popular
communications mode on the VHF and UHF bands. You’ll find the greatest amount of FM simplex activity on the 2-meter band,
although 6 meter FM may be worth a try as well. Remember that Field Day rules prohibit the use of repeaters. This means you’ll
have to hunt for contacts on the recognized simplex frequencies.
QSL INFO
All QSL cards should be sent to:
N4JTQ Rick Sawaya Sr.
W4W Field Day Event
2005 Spence Mountain Loop
Sevierville , TN 37876
You must send a SASE # 10 envelope with your QSL card, if no SASE you will not receive a QSL card back !! Donations are welcome to the club..
Again anyone is welcome to come and join us, bring your own equipment to operate.
Also if you wish to just stop by and say hello that would be great, we will have some items to give out during this event !!
Thanks
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2012/2012-FD-LOG.pdf
www.arrl.org
ZL2WL de
UA1CFE2012-05-16 19:27:31 UTC
16.05.2012 14.185 18-35 UTS ua1cfe Peter 73!
S55ST de
S55ST2012-05-16 19:09:55 UTC
EPC#14076
DNC#3667
BDM#1388
KC9VER de
PD5T2012-05-16 19:00:22 UTC
Hello thanks for signing my web contact log, hope to work you soon 73 Bert.
G1YPG de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:57:40 UTC
Hello Steve, welcome to QRZ.com!!..73 & Good night, Kaz
Z35G de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:45:21 UTC
Hello Jane, thnak you for the QSO. 73 & cu agn, Kaz
SP9JOP de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:39:42 UTC
Hello Piotr, welcome to QRZ.com!!..73, Kaz
M1CYI de
M1CYI2012-05-16 18:36:39 UTC
Greetings to you all from the UK 73s and Good DX
EB1CPR de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:32:03 UTC
Buenos dias Roberto, welcome to QRZ.com!!..73, Kaz
N0C de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:31:35 UTC
Hello..., welcome to QRZ.com!!..73, Kaz
KJ6VJV de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:31:06 UTC
Hello Michael, welcome to QRZ.com!!..73, Kaz
PY5IH de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:30:45 UTC
Hello Jamil, welcome to QRZ.com!!..73, Kaz
LA3NO de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:30:25 UTC
Hello Jens, welcome to QRZ.com!!..73, Kaz
SM0YHN de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:30:00 UTC
Hello Thorbjörn, welcome to QRZ.com!!..73, Kaz
PU2WQQ de
JA6XZS2012-05-16 18:29:30 UTC
Hello Florisvaldo, welcome to QRZ.com!!..73, Kaz
N0SMX de
G3AGW2012-05-16 18:17:23 UTC
Dennis please could you sign my web visitors tab on my page , Thanks Steve
2E0EFX de
G3AGW2012-05-16 18:03:18 UTC
Brian please could you sign my web visitors tab on my page , Thanks Steve
VE7UB de
G3AGW2012-05-16 18:01:34 UTC
Fred please could you sign my web visitors tab on my page , Thanks Steve
G0NFA de
G3AGW2012-05-16 18:01:02 UTC
Derek please could you sign my web visitors tab on my page , Thanks Steve
G0JKZ de
G3AGW2012-05-16 18:00:07 UTC
George please could you sign my web visitors tab on my page , Thanks Steve
My Friends
The Web Contact Log is a simple visitor log where hams who visit this page
can sign your listing with a quick "hello". To see the comments on your page, go to your callsign
and click on the Edit Record button. Then, choose Manage My Contact Logs.