Biography

Always wanted to have an Amateur license. Covid project. Since I retired, I got Technician and General in April 2021, and Extra in May 2021.

In the shack I use an Icom 7300 for HF, an Icom 9700 for 2m/70cm/23cm, and the Icom ID-51A Plus 2 for 2m/70cm/D-Star with an openSPOT3. I also use a BTECH Mobile UV-25x4 Tri-band primarily for 1.25m. There is the standard bunch of Yaesu 2m/70cm/6m, Icom, Baofeng, Wouxun, GMRS HT's (WRKR207 license), and a couple of Motorola FRS radios. SSB is always a bit of a challenge in the HOA with the city's high noise level.

The IC-7300, IC-705, and IC-9700 are all remotely accessed using Icom's RS-BA1 software. I also use SDR-Control for Mac and iPad with my 705 and 9700. Nice software, because I can use the Mac or iPad to access those two radios using just celllular or wifi. Now my wife doesn't have to listen to me ragchew on the radios in the living room. Yes, I've been banished to the basement.

For antennas, I use the Ed Fong TBJ-1 for 2m/1.25m/70cm, and a Comet GP-95 Tri-band/CFX-431A combo for the IC-9700. HF antennas are a variety of Chameleon and Packtenna branded stuff.

The Icom 7100 with a LDG Z-100A ATU is finally installed in my truck. A bit time consuming bonding the body parts together. In a few weeks, I'll install the Scorpion 680 HF antenna on the side rail of the truck.

For QRP, I use the Chameleon MPAS 2.0, and various lightweight end-fed antennas with the Icom 705/Microsoft Surface Go 3 combo for Winlink Express/VARA HF and FM, WSJT-x for WSPR, FT8 and JS8 Call. Also, I have a Lab599 TX500, and the Digirig data interface for the same digital stuff as the Icom 705. To power this gear, I have two Powerfilm Lightsaver Max Rollup Panels, and two Powerfilm 120W Foldable Solar Power Panels and various Bioenno batteries from 72Ah to 3Ah.

I also transmit on a Zachtek WSPR Desktop Transmitter at 200mw as AI7HP/2 from 80 to 10 meters.

We have a travel trailer in which I've installed a BTECH 50x3 Tri-band FM transceiver, my Icom 51A, and a couple of Wouxon GMRS HTs. I use the Ed Fong TBJ-1 for 2m/1.25m/70cm with the trailer, and of course the HF portable antennas. For truck travel, we use the Icom 7100 for VHF/UHF/HF fun.

I'm a member of ARRL and Mike and Key Amateur Radio Club in northwest Washington.

73

Mike

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Icom 7300
Icom 9700 DSTAR
Icom 705 DSTAR
Icom 7100 DSTAR
Icom ID-51A Plus 2 DSTAR
Lab599 TX-500
Xiegu G90/Xiegu XPA125
RS-918
Zachtek WSPR Desktop Trans 200mw as AI7HP/2 from 80-10 meters
Radioodity GD-77 DMR
BTECH 50x3
BTECH 25x4
Chameleon MPAS 2.0
Chameleon MPAS Lite
Chameleon LEFS
Chameleon Tactical Delta Loop
Scorpion Mobile Screwdriver antenna on Toyota Tundra/IC-7100
Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate x2
Baofeng UV-5R x 6
Baofeng UV-5X3 x 2
BaoFeng BF-F8HP x 2
6 x GMRS HT's/Callsign WRKR207