Repeater information

Biography

So, last year, I was sitting at my kitchen counter with my school Chromebook on Amazon browsing for PS4 accessories when I came across a Baofeng UV-5RA in my suggestions tab. It was inexpensive at 27 dollars and seemed pretty cool, so I decided to get one.

Boom

1 Week later...

So I took it out of the box, opened it, attached the antenna and battery, and placed it on the included desktop charger. It was completely charged and ready to use within a few hours.

I switched it on and fiddled with it, thinking to myself, "What am I supposed to do with this?" It was later when I found out that its main purpose was for ham radio.

After I found out what amateur radio was, I decided to look more into how to get licensed. It was then that I found Hamradioprep.com. I purchased the Technician study guide and started studying. Lucky me! I was still in quarantine so I had a lot of time to study. I used QRZ.com for practice tests. One month later I felt ready.

I finally became an authorized amateur radio operator on December 10, 2020, after passing my tech test with a score of 29/35. Seven days later, I acquired my new callsign KF0CYF. Just before taking my general license test, I requested a vanity callsign and picked W0IJJ, which was available. On 10/23/2021, I applied for four new vanity calls and was given K0NH. It's unlikely that I'll change this callsign again for at least a few years.

In case you're wondering, I passed my general exam with a score of 34/35, and I got 48/50 on my extra class test.

I do regularly enjoy CW and you can sometimes hear me call CQ on 10 & 15 meters.

In order to get the youth more involved in this hobby, I became president of the Ankeny Centennial High School amateur radio club (AC0HS) as well as the President and trustee of the Central Iowa Youth Amateurs Association (N0CIY) in hopes that more teens will see and hopefully become interested.

Equipment

The first radio I ever purchased was a Baofeng UV-5R(A) handheld for easy 2/70cm work. I later obtained a UV-B5. I also recently became interested in 1.25m (220 MHz) so I decided to purchase a Baofeng BF-R3 which works excellent on 220 band.

I was given a TYT MD-380 & TH-9800 from a friend, The MD-380 works excellent for DMR use. and when I get my first vehicle, I plan to put the TH-9800 to mobile use.

I picked up an Alinco DR-590 at a swap meet recently. I am planning to sell it, It is a little roughed up physically but still works great for 2m/70cm. Email me if interested in buying.

The second rig I ever picked up was a Uniden Pro-505XL 40 channel AM CB radio. I keep this in my shack so in case I ever wanna use the CB band, I don't have to worry about the FCC getting on me.

For HF, I use a Yaesu FT-847 running 100 watts into a Solarcon A-99 vertical antenna for 10, 11, 12, 15, & 17 meters. I also have an HBR4HFS that also runs 100 watts, but I use it for RX only until I get an antenna for 20 meters and up.

For regular 2/1.25m/70cm repeater operation and SSB during band openings, I use a TBJ-1 tri-band vertical antenna made by Ed Fong. I have it attached to a tripod on the second story next to my bedroom window. I usually run LMR-400 coax from the antenna to my rig.

For portable ops and 6-meter contests I use a homebrew 1/2 wave off-center fed dipole, I've found it works great on 6 meters and sometimes 2m.

For CW operation I commonly use my MFJ-550 straight key. For high-speed CW work, I use a Vibroplex Code Warrior Jr Iambic Paddle.

I use a regular Windows 10 Laptop for Log uploads, N1MM, & WSJT-X/FL Digi.