As often happens in the summer, I stop posting things on my blog. I enjoy the summer a lot, and I try to spend as much time as I can in the outdoors with the sun on my face before the winter comes in and makes me a hermit.
The weather's changing now, and it's time for me to stop having so much fun. It's getting close to the time to decommission the boat for the winter, the weather is getting chilly for camping, and work is starting to pick up before the holidays. Back to ham radio!
Actually, this year, I came back to ham radio a little earlier, in September. I had signed up for CW Academy Level 1, and I got picked up for a class. As it happens, I took my test yesterday, and I passed! I should be getting my Level 1 completion certificate soon, and I'll write about my CW Academy experience. Spoiler Alert: If you're interested in learning "the Code", then CW Academy is for you. Look for me on the air, trying to make contacts at 20 WPM (~12-15 WPM overall).
I'm also upgrading some of my equipment in preparation for the winter. I picked up a Yaesu 300Hz Narrow CW filter, and I'll be installing it shortly. I'll let you know how it goes. Additionally, I'm going to be installing an end-fed antenna so I can get on 40M. My current antenna (a mag loop) is limited between 10-20M, so I'm missing out on a lot of local contacts.
Finally, I'm just back on the air, period. So, you'll see (and hear) me in my usual haunts. I'm still big on PSK-31 and JT-65, and SSB when I can, but with CW added to the rotation! My goal is to improve so that I can take CW Academy's Level 2 course, sometime next year.
Welcome back!
The weather's changing now, and it's time for me to stop having so much fun. It's getting close to the time to decommission the boat for the winter, the weather is getting chilly for camping, and work is starting to pick up before the holidays. Back to ham radio!
Actually, this year, I came back to ham radio a little earlier, in September. I had signed up for CW Academy Level 1, and I got picked up for a class. As it happens, I took my test yesterday, and I passed! I should be getting my Level 1 completion certificate soon, and I'll write about my CW Academy experience. Spoiler Alert: If you're interested in learning "the Code", then CW Academy is for you. Look for me on the air, trying to make contacts at 20 WPM (~12-15 WPM overall).
I'm also upgrading some of my equipment in preparation for the winter. I picked up a Yaesu 300Hz Narrow CW filter, and I'll be installing it shortly. I'll let you know how it goes. Additionally, I'm going to be installing an end-fed antenna so I can get on 40M. My current antenna (a mag loop) is limited between 10-20M, so I'm missing out on a lot of local contacts.
Finally, I'm just back on the air, period. So, you'll see (and hear) me in my usual haunts. I'm still big on PSK-31 and JT-65, and SSB when I can, but with CW added to the rotation! My goal is to improve so that I can take CW Academy's Level 2 course, sometime next year.
Welcome back!