KP4CI

For 6M~20M, Log Periodic Antenna. 160M~40M Rhombic, But I would like to replicate what my friend Pedro NP4A built, 3 element yagi for 80M. (To see the beast, look for "NP4A Antenna Farm by Efrain Bonilla" on youtube. Unfortunately was destroyed by a hurricane). Maybe, if I had tall trees over 60Ft tall, Vertical for 160M, many ground radials, and part of the vertical would have to be bent into L shape. If I had a good shop, build all myself.

The following is from my own experience. I have a family member that was born during WW2. This persons father enjoyed short wave listening and wanted to become a ham. The family member has always wanted to become a ham, as she was interested in what she heard. She reminisces of fascinating stories and conversations about their employment, language, living conditions, and other comments they would bring forth. She enjoyed hearing that a number of these stations were from around the world and she would look them up on the map to find out their locations. To this day, this person still talks about it, has had the Tech Book (current test) multiple time, but many factors have held her back. When they join me at hamfest, they enjoy the experience of talking to so many people from around the world , and find people with the same interest. I agree that for this person, having other females teaching it, and more for her current age, she may obtain her license. The second experience is my daughter. Since I took the kids to many of the ham radio activities and hamfest (selling behind a booth), at their early age they were gun ho to get their ticket like dad. (2 out of the three got their tickets at 10y/o) I got her YL membership that she kept untill recently. Does she operate, yes only VHF~ UHF and once in a blue moon. She is enthused and studying to get her General since there has been a challenge to her fiance to get his Tech license. She does know the importance of ham radio, and in her prior job with a local hospital, the (then) director of "Environment Care" (fancy name for facility manager) had a call out for Amateur Radio Op's, because his hospital was the only one with out a Station and people to use it. The other affiliated hospitals didand had a weekly net. She let me know that she had applied. Unfortunately the Gentleman has retired and she is at a new job. One thing that has bothered her is when she took her brother to take his Tech test at Hamvention (I was behind the booth selling) they asked her if she was his mom. That really got to her, to the point that she did not want to have anything to do with ham radio. In that same convention, unfortunately we have degenerate people saying inappropriate sexual comments to her and about her. Other than this, she had meet several women in the ham radio world that she would get a boost from to continiue. Her favorite experience was some folks that would bring their musical instruments to hamvention and jam to some tunes. The following year she joned in with Ukulele. Currently here in town we have more than 20 women with Ham License. Two to four check into our ARES net frequently. Two of them were actually questioning each other why they did not talk on the air. One was replying of making mistakes and terminology scared her and not wanting to do errors on the air. I find that not only youth, but many people are fearful of making mistakes, and this has kept some from getting their license or if they have a license, making mistakes on the air. Unfortunately I have heard to many Old Timers barking at them and that is the end of their time on Ham Radio.

Thanks Jim, I am enjoying the timeline! I can relate to all of the radio history I have read, and the radio history I heard and saw from my grandfather, I am tying things together.

To answer the question: "'I've always wondered what the secrets to a great ragchew net are?", For me, I have participated or listen to many nets (mostly VHF / UHF) in States or Territories I have visited or lived in. My experience has been, location, education of and experience of the individuals, who is the group, what is the group about (ARES / RACES / Skywarn /Social), and what topics are being brought forth. As for the Emergency Nets, I beleive we all know these are not rag chew and they are to the point, BUT! discussing how to improve them? how to train others? I think would be a great net. One example was a daily net in the Greater Dayton , OH area. They met everyday and discussed the Jerry Springer TV show. Good number of participants, but, not everyone's cup of Tea. Another net that was fun was in a Metro Town that had more than 4 repeaters tied into the network. Here topics based on Amateur Radio where asked. One night they brought up Antennas, and it's fixtures (as in towers), and what Federal, State, County and Association R&R and laws were in place, and how everyone had dealt with them. Talking to YL's at the Orlando Hamcation this year, they mentioned that simple Q&A of Food, Restaurants, Hobby Stores and other simple none technical was their favorite nets. Now, since I made a left hand turn and not answered the Question directly, I have to say that a good net requires dedicated, enthusiastic, disciplined NC Op's with great tact and feal for who is participating, their years of experience and knowledge.

Scanners used here are the HomePatrol 1, BC895XLT, Radio Shack Pro 433 and 2051. The Radio Shacks are intended for out in the field if we need to monitor other Ham frequencies and or Ham frequencies we do not have a radio in a band as in 900Mhz or 1.25M.

If memory serves me, it was a little note (I believe in The Spectrum Monitor an it has to be 2021 or 2022. Can't remember what edition,) about Paul Opitz. He became SK December 2019 and was product manager for Uniden Scanners. From what I remember, he was ahead of his time and extremely knowledgeable in scanners .

I do agree with your volunteering statement, and I do get satisfaction on volunteering. Through those moments, I have met many fascinating people, there careers, there passions, hobbies and at time, learn that we may have friends in common or places that we have visited that spark memories and great conversations.

My experience, (and as a group at these activities, we have received great feedback and praises). Norwalk, CT March of Dime walk, Coulumbus OH Shriners Car Show at Rickenbacker AFB (Here we were key as temperatures got above 100 and we were able to call medics on time for several folks that started getting heat stroke), Wabash River Ride (been doing this Bicycle ride for over 10 years. Min route is about 33 miles, longest over 100miles. We have served as stations or as sag wagons), Franciscan 5K walk /Run. These activities have helped in knowing: what equipment is about to die, how to program your radio on the fly, what antenna you should be using, How hi should your antenna be, fast antenna set up / deployment, see what others bring as go kits, what areas have repeater coverage, i sues with car installation, what power setting is good for your radio on th elong term, and many more. how you can improve HT performance RF interferance Battery life for the equipment you are using Gives you a scense of what to bring, when to bring it, for the location and type of operation.

Around my county, many recomend the Uniden Home Patrol. We do have some great Scaner owners that do send audio to Broadcastify. As with many places around the country, the Police/Fire/Rescue/EMS are going to startdi gital encryption. I may be wrong, I thought that I read where one of the best scaner engineers passed away recently, and there may be some question of what Uniden will be able to do in the future?

As my grandfather got back into ham radio (circa 1975), he first purchased the TS820. Some years later added the TS-830S and external VFO. Always was happy with others giving him praise for how good his audio sounded. The current TS-830 we have was a handme down from an SK to my kids. Just needs some TLC but still working. And yes, "ultimate radio back then" and for many still is with out all the modern bells and whistles. My TS-140 is suffering from the famous Kenwood "Bad Caps" and Humidity in the putty compound that they covered internal part with. This affects the TS-140, 440, 440S, and 680. Still turns on and receives, BUT...... maybe for not to much longer. As you see below, It's a National Rack Mount NC-125 that a college student just gave me. It was his grandfathers and he does not have time to work on it or use it. Some of the HT I use on a monthly basis are, Kenwood TR-2500, and Icom 03AT (220 Mhz). The TR-2500 I buy for about $25, replace the internal battery and check to see if they have any issues. If in good shape, good for APRS with Bionics Tiny Track, as well as the Icom 2AT or 02AT. What I am looking forward to bring home from grandpas estate, his hand built 10M 25W AM transmiter. [sorry, not intending to degrade or offend anyone] They nicked named it "the chinese kilowatt' (circa 1930's).

TS-830, TS-140 a few mobile and HT's pre 1990. Just got a National receiver.

Great to see you Jim and many Amateur Radio Operators that I have not seen in many years. You had some great stuff at the booth. Everyone that I spoke to said they had a great time at Hamvention 2022. 73 Bobby KP4CI