Biography

*** UPDATED: 2 JULY 2019 ***
*** QRP & Portable Operator ***

IMPORTANT!!! QSL Card Details & Logging
Effective immediately, I will send out a QSL card to any operator who requests one from me. If you want a card from me, simply ask and I will probably have no problem getting one mailed out. I do ask, to keep my postage costs down, for an operator to send a SASE and your understanding is graciously appreciated. If you send a SASE, a card will go out much faster. Otherwise, I will get one out as time and finances permit. If you are a Canadian or international operator, please send a self addressed envelope with $1 USD to cover postage.

I am currently in the process of relocating indefinitely to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Keep in mind I am receiving mail up here but I do ask that QSL cards be sent to the address for K1UVM in Caribou, Maine. If you don’t want to look their callsign up on QRZ, here is the address for sending QSL cards until September 2019:

Brandin Hess – AL6I
c/o K1UVM
358 Washburn Street
Caribou, ME 04736

I will QSL 100 per cent, but keep in mind I am unable to do it as often as I used to with limited finances. As for logging, I do not use internet based logging. I will write the contact information down with pencil and a paper then move it over to a spreadsheet for better organization. Many have asked if I would upload to LoTW or QRZ. I have no reliable internet, therefore I will stick to something that works and requires no internet. I will confirm any contact via paper QSL card, if you are in my log. No log entry, no card. Plain and simple!


A quick summary about myself...

I am Chairman for the Anchorage ARC VEC. This is an incredible blessing to me.
I am a low power and portable operator.
I do operate CW. Can copy 7-10wpm although I may ask a person to slow down a bit. I can send faster but my fist doesn't work as well as it used to. Straight key operator only!
I am a United States Army veteran who has served his country honorably.
I like to experiment with wire antennas for the lower bands.
I am a meteorologist; hold a Bachelor of Atmospheric Science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (Graduated May 2009)
I work in the telecommunications industry, from wire line grid infrastructure to wireless.
I do satellite installs for internet, telephone and television. This includes the large C-Band dishes as well.
I build and maintain Linux based servers for organizations.
I use my spare time working as the Information Technology Supervisor for a veterans organization in northern Maine. Here is a link to their web site: United Veterans of Maine.
I do computer networking, from the engineering side to troubleshooting and remote support.
I teach people how to use their computers, and will work with all three major operating system platforms.
I build and maintain web sites.
When operating on the radio, I do not operate without coffee in hand. That is important! No coffee...no RF emissions. The radio does not fire up without it hi hi.


A more detailed bio...
Now that we have covered the rather boring part, let's get into something a bit more uplifting. To begin, my name is Brandin. I am a native of Maine, however have spent many years of my life in different places. I lived in Alaska since December 2006, although have gone back to Maine for work purposes many times in the last 5 to 7 years. I made the decision to permanently remain in Alaska, as this place offers a taste of peace and quiet I will not get anywhere else.

While there is a tremendous beauty to he held in my home state of Maine, no feeling is greater than being able to say that it is nice to be home in Alaska once again. What truly sparked my desire to return to Alaska was the need to be in a place that has rugged terrain, plenty of snow, wooded areas of plenty and lots of tasty wildlife. Contrary to popular belief, Alaska shares multiple attributes to northern Maine. The topography, abundant wooded areas, frigid winter conditions and the great people are identical.

I am a QRP and portable operator. If you hear my call on the air I will not be transmitting more than 20 watts of power. I currently have two QRP rigs. The first rig I purchased was a Yaesu FT-817 (5W rig). Little did I know, they discontinued that radio and started selling the FT-818 with more modern components. Who knew. The second rig I have was recently purchased (November 2018) and that is the Xiegu X108G which can transmit up to 20 watts.

I researched this radio for 18 months before making the purchase. While it is made in China, the radio does a incredible job with SSB and CW. I find that QRP operation is very challenging at times but also rewarding for those who are willing to exercise patience. I have several antennas, most are homebrew. I have a 1/2 wave dipole for 160m, 80m and a fan dipole cut for 40m and 20m. I carry a Wouxun KG-UV1DP (5W Handheld) for local communications.

I have also found that using wire antennas has really brought out the best in my ability to make DX contacts running low power. Pretty remarkable. As of date I have worked 32 countries on 2.5W and running on copious amounts of coffee. Can't get it any better than that. I also have a MFJ-1899T which is a multiband telescopic whip antenna, purchased from GigaParts. I have made numerous contacts with that as well.

I am a member of the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC #14229) and the North American QRP CW Club (NAQCC #8521). I recently became a member of the Old Man International Sideband Society (OMISS #11997) and enjoy being able to see people earn a contact with me while operating at low power. I thoroughly enjoy working QRP and trying to make contacts with a small RF footprint. Additionally, I do play with some of the computer based digital modes. I love the outdoors and playing radio while in the woods.

My roots to radio date back to the days of early childhood. There were many nights I would stay up late listening to AM broadcast stations from distant places using a cold war era transistor radio made in the former Soviet Union. For many years I kept a log and maintained a local AM broadcast station directory of all receivable stations in my area as there were several who still listened to AM. I still listen to AM to this day. I was even into logging the stations I received and sent letters acknowledging receipt of their broadcasts. Many would send replies and perhaps a little gift. I didn't really know the concept behind QSL cards yet.

From my foundations of DXing on the AM band with a cold war era transistor radio, my interest in radio quickly expanded to FM, shortwave and even OTA television. By the time I was in high school I started diving into two-way radio services such as CB, FRS and GMRS. I really enjoyed being able to talk to other people in town and at fair distances. During the course of my life I have always enjoyed building things, such as crystal radios, antennas of all sorts and anything else capable of taking an electric charge. Through many failures I have been able to slowly acquire a much greater understanding of things that were successful and others, not so much.

My desire to build, troubleshoot and repair electronics carried with me into the United States Army as I trained to be an Air Traffic Control Equipment Repairer, or 94D which is the listed Military Occupational Specialty. My secondary job was a Radio Operator/Maintainer, or 25C. I received an honorable discharge for my service to this great country in August 2006 and I do not regret any of it! I had also learned morse code in the military and by the time I signed my DD-214 I was able to send and copy at 15wpm which is plenty fine for most applications.

Since then, my desire to be on the air had grown profoundly. For many years thereafter I continued to use the CB, FRS and GMRS bands with contacts being made at greater distances. At this point I was able to apply some of my training from the military into radios and more effective antennas. The final tipping point in me deciding to go with amateur radio was researching and learning on the amazing amount of flexibility that is offered to license holders. The ability to make worldwide contacts with very little power, the ability to help in emergencies by providing critical assistance and even e-mail by amateur radio really captivated my interest heavily.

In April 2015 I finally broke down and decided it was time to make the plunge and get my license. I took the Technician class exam and ran with it. After four months of enjoyment on the VHF and UHF frequencies, I thought it was time to take the next step and get my HF privileges, which was a tremendous blessing to achieve. In July 2015 I sat down and started studying for my license upgrade. For several weeks I continued grinding at the concepts required to take and pass the General and Amateur Extra class examinations.

In August I went to the local ham fest in Fairbanks to test which yielded success in passing both the General and Amateur Extra class license exams! I do operate CW a lot, normally running 7-10wpm as my sending speed as I can’t go as fast as I used to. Don't be offended if I send QRS...my ability to copy isn't the greatest these days and the aforementioned speed is what I am comfortably able to understand. My ears with CW don't pick everything up at times and if operators are willing to work with me and send slowly, your patience would be much appreciated in advance.

As mentioned previously, I am an amateur extra class license holder. With the amount of work I have put in towards studying for my license and getting where I am now, I felt that it would only make sense if I had the opportunity to give back by becoming a Volunteer Examiner, so I did that. At the present time, I am Chairman and an active volunteer examiner for the Anchorage ARC VEC. I participate in active testing throughout northern New England and in Kodiak during the year.

One of my favorite contributions as a licensed amateur radio operator is giving back by teaching those what the hobby is all about by giving license classes to those out in rural communities. With the support of my club and other amateur radio operators, I get the opportunity of traveling to different places and teach amateur radio license courses to those who have a true desire to obtain their license.

It is such a great thrill to see the eyes of my students open up when I show them things like communicating with satellites, sending pictures by packet and even e-mail by amateur radio. Having the opportunity to bring new people into the hobby has been one of the most exciting things for me. My passion for the hobby and my patience seems to work well together and bring out the very best in any person that asks for my help.

I have a club of my own called the Aurora Amateur Radio Group, club callsign WL9Z. I had started this club with the original purpose to provide resources to new amateur radio operators, classes for those who wanted to get their license and testing. Once I am settled on a more permanent basis I do plan to relaunch the club and resume what I started many years ago.

If I do hear you on the air I will definitely try to say hello, or if you hear me calling CQ on one of the HF bands, don't hesitate to drop in and say good day! Thanks for stopping by and I hope to hear from you on the air.

73 and God Bless,
Brandin S. Hess - AL6I
Nikiski, Alaska

Equipment

Yaesu FT-817
Yaesu VX-8DR Quad Band HT
Xiegu X108G
Wouxun KG-UV1DP
MFJ-1777 Doublet
80m Homebrew Dipole
60m Homebrew Dipole
40m/20m Homebrew Fan Dipole
MFJ-1899T Telescopic Whip