Diving into Ham Radio... uh oh!

[PILOON]

It is not too late. Even now late in life you would have an easier time of it by knowing what you know.

Probably right but I have so many other interests and or hobbies that time is lacking.
Tractor and mods/upgrades maintenance and a rural property kind of occupies lots of my time.

Then I act as a technical/mechanical advisor for a good buddy that runs a very large storage facility.
For his facility I converted 4 post car lifts into freight elevators as well as making/modifying a dz HD moving carts.

And I haven't started mentioning my very complete woodworking shop nor furniture projects or the houses that I built.
Just not enough hours in the day.
Couple years ago I really slowed down but started 'consulting' on some home building projects. Lots of fun/satisfaction doing that.

Currently I'm mostly reorganizing/cleaning my shop and finding many long lost tools and partially completed projects.

 

[Industrial Toys]

ME EXACTLY. Why as much as I want to engage in HF, it's just not gonna happen in this lifetime. And I already have my license.

 

[k0ua]

In January 2019 I accomplished one of my ham radio desires, after 48 years licensed and that was to finally have an HF mobile. I had bought a Yaesu FT891 some time earlier and used it at home, but went all out and bought a "screwdriver" mobile antenna and started the install into my 2010 Silverado pickup truck. I have had a lot of fun with it since. Best DX to date was a station in the Asian part of Siberia.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Actually, that would be fun and would alleviate the terrible boredom I experience driving. I had a 10 meter mobile rig briefly but sold it to someone that wanted it really badly! A CB friend!

 

[dragoneggs]

I also have too many hobbies and a full time job for another 5+ years. This is a long term venture for me. I am figuring wintertime and dark and rainy times. Since the learning curve is long it can't hurt to start now. It will definitely compete with my shop and woodworking time. In fact I just bought the insulation for my shop attic now that it is heated to make it comfortable in the winter. This weekend I will be installing.

My transceiver is suppose to show up Monday so at least I will hopefully have that job out of the way before I get holed up in my shack playing with my new toy!

Back to studying and planning my first antenna and layout!

 

[defranks]

KC7TEN here. I'm us CW on the HF bands almost exclusively, though I do get on 2 meters once in a while. I just got moved into my new house here in TN and I hope to get an antenna up and back on the air this fall or early winter. No more big towers for me, though, I'll probably just put up a wire antenna. I still build quite a bit of stuff from kits. If you're interested in running low power (QRP) there are plenty of kits out there.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm not wanting a big ugly tower... definitely something more discreet. Would like to set it pretty much out sight of my wife and neighbors if possible. I am thinking of a dipole suspended from a couple of trees or house and tree to start.

Also liking the idea of having a multi-band Hexbeam antenna but that will be harder to hide. I do have one area on my lower property where it would be obscured by evergreen trees but this would require a couple hundred feet of coax running down a steep unimproved slope and not sure if that is a good idea.

 

[B7510HSD]

I also have too many hobbies and a full time job for another 5+ years. This is a long term venture for me. I am figuring wintertime and dark and rainy times. Since the learning curve is long it can't hurt to start now. It will definitely compete with my shop and woodworking time. In fact I just bought the insulation for my shop attic now that it is heated to make it comfortable in the winter. This weekend I will be installing.

My transceiver is suppose to show up Monday so at least I will hopefully have that job out of the way before I get holed up in my shack playing with my new toy!

Back to studying and planning my first antenna and layout!

What radio did you order?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm trying to get a BIG UGLY 150 foot self support tower that might rekindle some of my mobile communications activity. Most of my friends are using P25 these days. Although I really protest the reliance on IP repeater links. Putting their faith into the second thing that will likely fail.

 

[dragoneggs]

What radio did you order?

ICOM IC-7300. Pretty excited. I know it is a huge learning curve but I figured this will likely be my first and last unless I get a handheld.