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N5USD

3

Icom IC-7300 HF, IC-2730 VHF/UHF, Neewer NW0800 Boom Mic, 3KW Roller Inductor Tuner, Ameritron AL-811H 800 Watt HF Amplifier, 40 Amp Linier Power Supply, 30 Amp Switching Power Supply, MFJ-616 Speech Enhancer, Daiwa HF/VHF SWR/Watt Meter, 2KW Dummy Load, Icom AT-4 Remote Tuner w/63' Random Wire, EFHW 75-10 Wire, DX 5BTV 5 Band  (80, 40, 20, 12, 10M) Ground Mtd. Vertical

The Shack

The RV

Icom IC-7100 HF/VHF/UHF, 30 Amp Switching Power Supply, LDG IT-100 Auto Tuner, Icom SM-30 Mic, Wolf River Silver Bullet 1000 Coil w/17' Telescopeing SS Whip (80-10 Meter)

The Truck

Icom IC-2300 VHF,  Nagita UT-72 Mag Mt Antenna, Anytone 10 Meter w/10 M Trap Antenna

The latest hobby......

After a 40 year plus hiatus from amateur radio, I decided to get back into it.  In the 70's, I had graduated from the very popular (at the time) CB radio into working with 2 Meter mobile setups.  The endeavour was, honestly, a disaster.  Aside from struggling with code in acquiring a license, 2 meter at the time was less than satisfying, especially in trying to work surrounded by highrise landscape without the advantage of repeaters.  It lasted about 4 months.  The radio went onto the attic and simply disappeared over the years.  I made no attempt to maintain the license and can no longer even find a reference to my old Novice call sign.

After a rehash of the rules in mid-2018, I took my test in San Antonio and qualified for a General license in mid-2018.  I had acquired an older but rock solid Icom IC 745 before getting my ticket so that I could familiarize myself with the way things were today.  Shortly after the license arrived, an Icom IC-7300 found its way into the shack, along with too much other equipment until everything was set up for HF/VHF/UHF in the shack as well as in the RV and VHF mobile in the vehicle.  And then the bands almost totally died.....

Today I monitor early to mid morning 80 Meter, an ocassional evening 40 Meter and a local 2 Meter repeater.  OK, it's been somewhat disappointing but my timing was my own fault.  I knew that the sun spot cycle was going downhill before I decided to do this.  I just didn't realize that the valley would be quite this deep!  On the other hand, it has been an interesting expirimental festival.  I have decided that I have no plans for persuing an Extra license nor reigniting my original quest of being proficient at CW (morse code.)

Some Equipment For Sale