Well, it has been some time now and much has been done and accomplished since the last time I wrote! I’m just bouncing back from a website crash due to a nasty little program app that did not want to run properly.. had to redo this whole site as you can tell by my prior posts from backup. Anyway, since I was on here last posting, I believe I had just passed my Amateur Radio “General Class” exam.. not sure but just to let you know, I passed it, well actually aced it just like the previous Amateur Radio “Technician Class” exam. Well, so after those two tests I took a break around Christmas day but hit it hard again studying for my Amateur Radio “Amateur Extra Class” exam. Now the Amateur Extra exam is just a bit harder as there are around 750 questions or somewhere in that range.. that have to be memorized and of course you wouldn’t do too well on the test if you did not memorize the correct answer as well.. so that is what I did! On the 16th of January, 2013 I traveled to Anderson, Indiana where the fine fella’s of the Anderson Repeater Club were giving the exams. So with much confidence I took the test, well, I didn’t ace it this time but pretty close! I missed one question out of 50!!! I think I’ll take that! So now at the time of this writing I am just waiting on the FCC to post the results to their database so I will be officially an Amateur Extra Class operator. I’m pretty happy that I decided to get all this under my belt because now I can really start learning the tricks of the trade, believe me there are more tricks than I may ever learn in a lifetime! So never the less, the fun begins and I’ve already started having a blast!
Over the last few days, I have been fixing up a makeshift “Ham Shack” in an old bathroom that does not work anymore and was just used for storage. So I’ve cleaned the place out and set up camp in it.. now of course this is just a temporary spot until I can figure out where I really
want to put a “Ham Shack” but this will be it for now. I’m using things I have around the house to furnish the shack for now such as the old desk you see in the picture. This old desk has went through many years of pretty tough abuse but it still works so there ya go! It will do just fine until I can find a permanent “Ham Shack” home.
Also pictured is my little 2 meter, 70 cm band Hand Held Ham Radio, and an iPod. I use both of these for my daily Ham Radio contacts! I use the 2 meter, 70 cm for local contacts on the local repeaters around here and also for the Simplex frequency. The iPod, I use on EchoLink which is really an awesome technology for Ham Radio users who can’t get on the HF Bands yet because of either license issues or lack of HF equipment.. the later is my problem right now! So as you see, the old desk looks a bit lonely setting there but it won’t be that way for long.. I PROMISE!!! That’s all for this post… until next time, 73’s to you all and TTYL, Tim – KC9WZF
