HAM RADIO

A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN ALAN TOOK A HAM RADIO CLASS WITH THE SCOUTS, I DUG OUT MY HAND HELD HAM RADIOS, AND BOUGHT NEW BATTERIES FOR THEM.

DOWN IN MOHAVE VALLEY IN THE WINTER I WAS ABLE TO HEAR A FEW LOCAL MOUNTAIN TOP REPEATERS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO TALK ON THEM WITH THE 5 WATT HAND HELD RADIO, ESPECIALLY SITTING ON THE PORCH WITH AN ALL METAL ROOF.

WHEN WE STARTED SPENDING SUMMERS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS I FOUND HAM RADIO TO BE MUCH MORE ACTIVE. I JOINED THE LOCAL KACHINA HAM RADIO CLUB AND ORDERED ONE OF THE CHEAP CHINESE BOFANG HAND HELD RADIOS, AND A LADDER ANTENNA. YOU TIED A CORD ON THE ANTENNA AND THEN TIED A ROCK TO THE CORD, AND THREW THE ROCK UP OVER A TREE BRANCH, AND PULLED THE ANTENNA UP INTO THE TREE. THE RADIO AND ANTENNA WORKED GREAT WHEN WE LIVED AT PINE SHADOWS. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED CHECKING INTO THE 6:30 PM KACHINA SOCIAL NET DAILY.

WHEN WE MOVED OVER TO TALL PINES I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO SIT ON THE PORCH AND TALK ON THE RADIO, SO THIS SUMMER I ORDERED A NEW 65 WATT YAESU RADIO AND INSTALLED AN ANTENNA ON TOP OF THE ROOF.

NOW I DON’T HAVE ANY TROUBLE HITTING THE MOUNTAIN TOP REPEATERS AND TALKING ON THE RADIO, WHILE SITTING ON THE PORCH.

I DECIDED WE NEEDED TO BUILD A WOODEN BOX TO PUT THE NEW RADIO IN, AND SO IT BECAME THE PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK.

 

IT DIDN’T TURN OUT TOO BAD……

  “SUNNY & 80” (FINALLY!)