callsign tagI've been an Amateur Radio operator since 1991. I've been a wannabe ham since the late 1970s, when I was an avid CBer. I even took a license class from the West Island Amateur Radio Club. Mr Morse's code stopped me. Fortunately, the FCC (and the ARRL) came to realize that Morse code was rapidly becoming obsolete and removed it as a required test element for the Technician class license begining 1991-02-14. I took my first test that May and got my license 10 weeks later (1991-07-16). The FCC was quite slow and bureaucratic then. In very late 1999, the FCC issued new Amateur Radio Service rules that further reduced the Morse code requirements. As a result, I upgraded to Amateur Extra class on 2000-04-29. I tried several times to pass the old Element 1C (20 word-per-minute telegraphy exam), but just couldn't get motivated to learn 19th century technology that well. - plaws
An introduction to amateur radio
I currently hold a Canadian Certificate Of Proficiency In Amateur Radio with the following qualifications:
  • Basic With Honours, earned 2022-09-06
  • Advanced, earned 2024-03-06

I am assigned VE3UWY for operations from home and VE2UWY for operations across the river or down the 417.

I am also licensed in the US as an Amateur Extra class, assigned N5UWY.

Right now, VE3UWY consists of the following:
  • Icom IC-746Pro
  • Icom IC-910H (144/432/1296 MHz) - no antennas up
  • Icom IC-3210A - pending repair
  • Icom ID-4100A (D-STAR)
  • Spi-Ro trap dipoles:
    • D-44 at ~10 m for 40-10
    • D-314 at ~10 m for 30-17-12
    • D-52 at ~7 m for 80-10 80-40 (sold as 80-10, only resonant on 80 and 40)
  • a homebrew dipole for the 10- and 6-meter bands.
  • Cushcraft A148-10S 10-element beam for 144 MHz
  • Diamond A430S15 15-element beam for 432 MHz

FSK RTTY is available via the MMTTY engine within the DX Lab Suite running on an Intel NUC (Core i7 w/32GB of RAM) via a homebrew interface that includes a Mortty kit for FSK RTTY. There is another Mortty for CW sending. For 'phone, there is a Heil Sound BM-10 headset (HC-4 element) or an Icom SM-8. I have another homebrew interface for the IC-910H that has channels for both the MAIN and SUB receivers.

VHF/UHF receivers include the following:

  • Uniden Bearcat BC780XLT w/discriminator tap for UniTrunker, etc
  • Uniden Bearcat BCD996P2 (and another in the car)
  • Bearcat BC300
  • Allied Radio Shack Pro-7

LF/MF/HF/VHF DXing, receivers include the following:

  • Realistic DX-160
  • Sangean HDT-1X
  • Sangean HDT-20

General Radio Service (known as Citizen's Band in the USA)

  • President Thomas FCC (FM/AM) - no antenna up
  • Midland 77-112 - pending repair

Portable radios include:

  • Uniden Bearcat BCD436HP
  • Icom ID-51A+ (D-STAR)
  • Icom IC-705 (D-STAR)
  • Tecsun PL-606
  • XHDATA D-219 (original flavor)
Audio from the main receivers are routed to a pair of JBL Control 2P powered monitor speakers via a Behringer XENYX 1204USB mixer.
I like to collect operating awards. So far, I've earned the following:
  • None. Though I do have 50 states (mixed) confirmed in Logbook of the World.

I also like to participate in amateur radio contests.

  • 2024
    • ARRL RTTY Roundup
      • 48/31//1,457
    • ARRL November Sweepstakes (SSB)
      • ??/??
VHF DX
Will need to wait for antennas ...
Years ago, I completed the following classes in FEMA's Independent Study Program.
  • IS-100 - Introduction to Incident Command System
  • IS-200 - ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
  • IS-700 - National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
Tips for passing the old US Element 2 and 3A tests
VE2RM - the Western Quebec VHF/UHF Amateur Radio Club
RAC, Radio Amateurs of/du Canada

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https://plaws.net/ / Wednesday, 11-Dec-2024 23:26:21 EST