008 - Unlocking the World of HF - A Tale of Generosity, Setups, and Connection
My First Solo Adventures with HF Radio
In this episode, I share my first solo adventures with HF radio, with the help of many different people who have made that possible for me.
Selling the Volkswagen Beetle
In the previous episode, I mentioned that I had a strategy for coming up with a budget for my amateur radio hobby. I knew I would want to make some purchases, so I decided to put my 1974 Volkswagen Beetle up for sale. Iā€™ll update you on how that plan has gone so far.
Receiving Generous Help from the Amateur Radio Community
I was blown away when Greg Lamb (W0QI) offered to let me borrow his Kenwood TS-590S radio. His partner, Judy (W1ORO), made arrangements for me to pick up the radio. Greg also had an antenna he could lend me, a stealth-designed end-fed half-wave antenna from MyAntennas.com.
Participating in a POTA Event for Local High School Students
I had the opportunity to participate in a POTA (Park on the Air) event for high school students. I witnessed the setup process, including the use of a unique variation of a pneumatic potato launcher to set up antennas. It was an incredibly educational experience for me.
Setting Up the HF Radio and Antenna
Thanks to Rod Milligan (KY4ROD), we managed to create a temporary setup for the HF antenna in my backyard.
Making First HF Contacts
After discovering that neither the internal speaker nor the external speaker jack of the Kenwood TS-590S were functioning, I found I could use the radio with headphones plugged into the 1/4" headphone jack on the front panel.
I was thrilled to make my first HF contacts with Ed Brown (KA8YOR) in Ravenna, Ohio, and Mo Jeanson (N2PEP) in Saratoga, New York. I continued to find more contacts on 20 meters, communicating with people as far as 763 miles away.
Improving the HF Setup
I obtained additional items necessary for indoor radio operation from R&L Electronics. While discussing the possibility of acquiring an antenna tuner, Fred Neal (W0NKY) overheard me and generously offered to lend me one.
Rod Milligan (KY4ROD) helped me evaluate the SWR on the antenna setup using an antenna analyzer.
Several Evenings Spent Making Great Contacts
Over the next three nights, I spent time in my studio from 9 pm to 1 am, making more HF contacts. I discovered the "wing nuts" community (https://wingnuts7230.com) and was excited to connect with them. I also made my first international contacts, which was a thrill.
- I made my first International QSO with Lauro Zanoli (IK4GRO) from S. CESARIO, Italy - 4,646.3 miles away.
- I made contact with Sil Moreno (I1WSM) from Cisano sul NEVA, Italy - 4,543.9 miles away.
- I also made contact with Per Dudek (DK7LJ) from Wolbloeken, Germany - 4268.5 miles away.
Despite my less-than-ideal antenna setup, these international contacts were able to hear me clearly, and I was amazed to be communicating with people so far away.
Balancing Ham Radio with Business and Personal Life
For the past two months, I had been heavily focused on studying for my amateur radio licenses and immersing myself in the hobby. However, I needed to shift my attention back to my business, which led to a nine-day absence from radio communication.
Reflecting on the Journey and Future Plans
I reflect on the valuable experiences and lessons learned during my radio journey so far, acknowledging the support and help from the amateur radio community. I express my continued interest in amateur radio and the long road ahead in this hobby.
Call to Action
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