The Ham Radio Bucket List
I've been a ham well over 40 years, since my childhood. Back then, I could barely afford the Heathkit transmitter, Halicrafters receiver, knife switch, and longwire antenna that made up my shack.
My elmer used to let me borrow his copy of QST and I'd dream about all the great adventures that I'd have "someday" in ham radio. Being a child of the Space Age, key among them were anything related to the New Frontier.
EME (Moonbounce), Meteor Scatter, and satellites all seemed like the stuff of science fiction---and I longed to experience them all. But they were exotic, and required equipment far beyond my reach. I resolved to accomplish them all someday and added them to a sort of ham radio "bucket list" that I hoped to accomplish before my ham career was over.
Five years ago, shortly after getting started in weak signal VHF work, I checked off the first item on that list. Working meteor scatter contacts with the aid of WSJT software, and during a Perseid shower, even using SSB. What a thrill to make contacts off the ionized gasses of those tiny rocks. Thanks Joe Taylor!
Tonight, I managed to check off a second. I worked Art, K4YYL on FO-29, a Japanese amateur satellite!
My journey to the "birds" started about a month ago when I joined AMSAT, determined that 2013 was going to be "the year" when I finally got active on satellites. I purchased a copy of SATPC32 software, because I knew that it could control my IC-910H--hopefully making it easier to get active.
After listening to a few passes on both the FM and the SSB/CW birds, I decided to try my luck on the less-crowded FO-29. A brief CQ was quickly answered by Art. I adjusted the tuning knob just a bit to correct for the Doppler effect, and voila! there he was clear as a bell.
We had a brief QSO of perhaps ten minutes or so, and then we signed. I was quickly called by K4FEG near Memphis in EM55---who just wanted to welcome me to the birds!
Man, what a thrill! And it wasn't tough at all.
I'm using a 7 element 432 antenna tilted up to 15 degrees (fixed) and a 6 element 2 Meter beam tilted up to about 10 degrees (fixed) both inside my crowded attic. The SSB Electronics pre-amp helps a ton on 432, and the 1/2" hardline makes sure that I don't lose too much signal. So far, I've been able to copy the birds down to about 2 degrees above the horizon using this setup.
Now to attempt that EME contact! I've got a 12 element Yagi just waiting to deploy in the driveway once the weather warms a bit. Hoping to use WSJT to work one of the monster stations on EME. All this in a deed-restricted HOA neighborhood.
I wasted 35+ years on HF----man, all the fun really is in the World Above 50 MHz! Thanks for helping to make a boys dreams come true at age 51!
Congratulations Les,
Great to see youngsters getting into satellites.
73 W9KE Tom Doyle (64 years old)
On Sun, Apr 14, 2013 at 1:11 AM, Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
I've been a ham well over 40 years, since my childhood. Back then, I could barely afford the Heathkit transmitter, Halicrafters receiver, knife switch, and longwire antenna that made up my shack.
My elmer used to let me borrow his copy of QST and I'd dream about all the great adventures that I'd have "someday" in ham radio. Being a child of the Space Age, key among them were anything related to the New Frontier.
EME (Moonbounce), Meteor Scatter, and satellites all seemed like the stuff of science fiction---and I longed to experience them all. But they were exotic, and required equipment far beyond my reach. I resolved to accomplish them all someday and added them to a sort of ham radio "bucket list" that I hoped to accomplish before my ham career was over.
Five years ago, shortly after getting started in weak signal VHF work, I checked off the first item on that list. Working meteor scatter contacts with the aid of WSJT software, and during a Perseid shower, even using SSB. What a thrill to make contacts off the ionized gasses of those tiny rocks. Thanks Joe Taylor!
Tonight, I managed to check off a second. I worked Art, K4YYL on FO-29, a Japanese amateur satellite!
My journey to the "birds" started about a month ago when I joined AMSAT, determined that 2013 was going to be "the year" when I finally got active on satellites. I purchased a copy of SATPC32 software, because I knew that it could control my IC-910H--hopefully making it easier to get active.
After listening to a few passes on both the FM and the SSB/CW birds, I decided to try my luck on the less-crowded FO-29. A brief CQ was quickly answered by Art. I adjusted the tuning knob just a bit to correct for the Doppler effect, and voila! there he was clear as a bell.
We had a brief QSO of perhaps ten minutes or so, and then we signed. I was quickly called by K4FEG near Memphis in EM55---who just wanted to welcome me to the birds!
Man, what a thrill! And it wasn't tough at all.
I'm using a 7 element 432 antenna tilted up to 15 degrees (fixed) and a 6 element 2 Meter beam tilted up to about 10 degrees (fixed) both inside my crowded attic. The SSB Electronics pre-amp helps a ton on 432, and the 1/2" hardline makes sure that I don't lose too much signal. So far, I've been able to copy the birds down to about 2 degrees above the horizon using this setup.
Now to attempt that EME contact! I've got a 12 element Yagi just waiting to deploy in the driveway once the weather warms a bit. Hoping to use WSJT to work one of the monster stations on EME. All this in a deed-restricted HOA neighborhood.
I wasted 35+ years on HF----man, all the fun really is in the World Above 50 MHz! Thanks for helping to make a boys dreams come true at age 51!
-- 73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484
Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light
______________________________**_________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/**listinfo/amsat-bbhttp://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
On Sun, Apr 14, 2013 at 1:11 AM, Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
<snip>
I wasted 35+ years on HF----man, all the fun really is in the World Above 50 MHz! Thanks for helping to make a boys dreams come true at age 51! -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Hi Les, N1LF
I completely disagree with your statement "that you wasted 35+years on HF" because in my opinion the HF are fundamental to get technical and operational experience to come face to face in the future above 50 MHz.
Please remember that your actual expertice above 50 MHz was born because of your previous 35+years activity on HF.
Read please my similar Ham Radio history from the HF and up in QRZ.com
Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico (81 years old and 58 years of Ham Radio from HF to Microwave)
On 04/15/13 09:34, i8cvs wrote:
On Sun, Apr 14, 2013 at 1:11 AM, Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
<snip>
I wasted 35+ years on HF----man, all the fun really is in the World Above 50 MHz! Thanks for helping to make a boys dreams come true at age 51! -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Hi Les, N1LF
I completely disagree with your statement "that you wasted 35+years on HF" because in my opinion the HF are fundamental to get technical and operational experience to come face to face in the future above 50 MHz.
Please remember that your actual expertice above 50 MHz was born because of your previous 35+years activity on HF.
Read please my similar Ham Radio history from the HF and up in QRZ.com
Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico (81 years old and 58 years of Ham Radio from HF to Microwave)
A new religious war!
I had never thought of this one.
Let the acolytes gather...
--STeve Andre' wb8wsf en72
Welcome to the birds and keep up the good work! Working satellites is addictive. Hi Hi 73 Joe..AC4NY EM73dp
(My neighbors thinks I lost it; running around the yard with a handheld antenna)!
----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Rayburn" les@highnoonfilm.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 1:11 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] The Ham Radio Bucket List
I've been a ham well over 40 years, since my childhood. Back then, I could barely afford the Heathkit transmitter, Halicrafters receiver, knife switch, and longwire antenna that made up my shack.
My elmer used to let me borrow his copy of QST and I'd dream about all the great adventures that I'd have "someday" in ham radio. Being a child of the Space Age, key among them were anything related to the New Frontier.
EME (Moonbounce), Meteor Scatter, and satellites all seemed like the stuff of science fiction---and I longed to experience them all. But they were exotic, and required equipment far beyond my reach. I resolved to accomplish them all someday and added them to a sort of ham radio "bucket list" that I hoped to accomplish before my ham career was over.
Five years ago, shortly after getting started in weak signal VHF work, I checked off the first item on that list. Working meteor scatter contacts with the aid of WSJT software, and during a Perseid shower, even using SSB. What a thrill to make contacts off the ionized gasses of those tiny rocks. Thanks Joe Taylor!
Tonight, I managed to check off a second. I worked Art, K4YYL on FO-29, a Japanese amateur satellite!
My journey to the "birds" started about a month ago when I joined AMSAT, determined that 2013 was going to be "the year" when I finally got active on satellites. I purchased a copy of SATPC32 software, because I knew that it could control my IC-910H--hopefully making it easier to get active.
After listening to a few passes on both the FM and the SSB/CW birds, I decided to try my luck on the less-crowded FO-29. A brief CQ was quickly answered by Art. I adjusted the tuning knob just a bit to correct for the Doppler effect, and voila! there he was clear as a bell.
We had a brief QSO of perhaps ten minutes or so, and then we signed. I was quickly called by K4FEG near Memphis in EM55---who just wanted to welcome me to the birds!
Man, what a thrill! And it wasn't tough at all.
I'm using a 7 element 432 antenna tilted up to 15 degrees (fixed) and a 6 element 2 Meter beam tilted up to about 10 degrees (fixed) both inside my crowded attic. The SSB Electronics pre-amp helps a ton on 432, and the 1/2" hardline makes sure that I don't lose too much signal. So far, I've been able to copy the birds down to about 2 degrees above the horizon using this setup.
Now to attempt that EME contact! I've got a 12 element Yagi just waiting to deploy in the driveway once the weather warms a bit. Hoping to use WSJT to work one of the monster stations on EME. All this in a deed-restricted HOA neighborhood.
I wasted 35+ years on HF----man, all the fun really is in the World Above 50 MHz! Thanks for helping to make a boys dreams come true at age 51!
-- 73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484
Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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What a great story, thanks so much for sharing this. What an awesome concept, a "ham radio bucket list"... I need to write one...
Oh yeah, I take issue with just one comment, " I wasted 35+ years on HF", HF is also awesome, and fueled my excitement in Ham radio.... but in a different way, so hope you really didn't mean that one...
Michael K3MH
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Les Rayburn Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2013 11:12 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] The Ham Radio Bucket List
I've been a ham well over 40 years, since my childhood. Back then, I could barely afford the Heathkit transmitter, Halicrafters receiver, knife switch, and longwire antenna that made up my shack.
My elmer used to let me borrow his copy of QST and I'd dream about all the great adventures that I'd have "someday" in ham radio. Being a child of the Space Age, key among them were anything related to the New Frontier.
EME (Moonbounce), Meteor Scatter, and satellites all seemed like the stuff of science fiction---and I longed to experience them all. But they were exotic, and required equipment far beyond my reach. I resolved to accomplish them all someday and added them to a sort of ham radio "bucket list" that I hoped to accomplish before my ham career was over.
Five years ago, shortly after getting started in weak signal VHF work, I checked off the first item on that list. Working meteor scatter contacts with the aid of WSJT software, and during a Perseid shower, even using SSB. What a thrill to make contacts off the ionized gasses of those tiny rocks. Thanks Joe Taylor!
Tonight, I managed to check off a second. I worked Art, K4YYL on FO-29, a Japanese amateur satellite!
My journey to the "birds" started about a month ago when I joined AMSAT, determined that 2013 was going to be "the year" when I finally got active on satellites. I purchased a copy of SATPC32 software, because I knew that it could control my IC-910H--hopefully making it easier to get active.
After listening to a few passes on both the FM and the SSB/CW birds, I decided to try my luck on the less-crowded FO-29. A brief CQ was quickly answered by Art. I adjusted the tuning knob just a bit to correct for the Doppler effect, and voila! there he was clear as a bell.
We had a brief QSO of perhaps ten minutes or so, and then we signed. I was quickly called by K4FEG near Memphis in EM55---who just wanted to welcome me to the birds!
Man, what a thrill! And it wasn't tough at all.
I'm using a 7 element 432 antenna tilted up to 15 degrees (fixed) and a 6 element 2 Meter beam tilted up to about 10 degrees (fixed) both inside my crowded attic. The SSB Electronics pre-amp helps a ton on 432, and the 1/2" hardline makes sure that I don't lose too much signal. So far, I've been able to copy the birds down to about 2 degrees above the horizon using this setup.
Now to attempt that EME contact! I've got a 12 element Yagi just waiting to deploy in the driveway once the weather warms a bit. Hoping to use WSJT to work one of the monster stations on EME. All this in a deed-restricted HOA neighborhood.
I wasted 35+ years on HF----man, all the fun really is in the World Above 50 MHz! Thanks for helping to make a boys dreams come true at age 51!
Michael,
Glad that you enjoyed it. No, my tongue was firmly in cheek with that comment. I was very active on HF, especially 160 Meters for years. Nothing like the Gentleman's Band. Also have enjoyed a lot of 10 Meter, 15 Meter, and 20 Meter work. QRP on 12 Meters, SSTV, RTTY, ATV---I've tired a lot of things in the hobby. Liked them all but nothing has been as much fun as weak signal VHF/UHF.
Gotta love the world above 50!
73,
Les N1LF
Les Rayburn, Director High Noon Film 130 1st Avenue West Alabaster, AL 35007-8536 (205) 621-7500 (205) 621-7505 FAX (205) 253-4867 CELL http://www.highnoonfilm.com
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On 4/14/2013 9:37 PM, Michael Hatzakis wrote:
What a great story, thanks so much for sharing this. What an awesome concept, a "ham radio bucket list"... I need to write one...
Oh yeah, I take issue with just one comment, " I wasted 35+ years on HF", HF is also awesome, and fueled my excitement in Ham radio.... but in a different way, so hope you really didn't mean that one...
Michael K3MH
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Les Rayburn Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2013 11:12 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] The Ham Radio Bucket List
I've been a ham well over 40 years, since my childhood. Back then, I could barely afford the Heathkit transmitter, Halicrafters receiver, knife switch, and longwire antenna that made up my shack.
My elmer used to let me borrow his copy of QST and I'd dream about all the great adventures that I'd have "someday" in ham radio. Being a child of the Space Age, key among them were anything related to the New Frontier.
EME (Moonbounce), Meteor Scatter, and satellites all seemed like the stuff of science fiction---and I longed to experience them all. But they were exotic, and required equipment far beyond my reach. I resolved to accomplish them all someday and added them to a sort of ham radio "bucket list" that I hoped to accomplish before my ham career was over.
Five years ago, shortly after getting started in weak signal VHF work, I checked off the first item on that list. Working meteor scatter contacts with the aid of WSJT software, and during a Perseid shower, even using SSB. What a thrill to make contacts off the ionized gasses of those tiny rocks. Thanks Joe Taylor!
Tonight, I managed to check off a second. I worked Art, K4YYL on FO-29, a Japanese amateur satellite!
My journey to the "birds" started about a month ago when I joined AMSAT, determined that 2013 was going to be "the year" when I finally got active on satellites. I purchased a copy of SATPC32 software, because I knew that it could control my IC-910H--hopefully making it easier to get active.
After listening to a few passes on both the FM and the SSB/CW birds, I decided to try my luck on the less-crowded FO-29. A brief CQ was quickly answered by Art. I adjusted the tuning knob just a bit to correct for the Doppler effect, and voila! there he was clear as a bell.
We had a brief QSO of perhaps ten minutes or so, and then we signed. I was quickly called by K4FEG near Memphis in EM55---who just wanted to welcome me to the birds!
Man, what a thrill! And it wasn't tough at all.
I'm using a 7 element 432 antenna tilted up to 15 degrees (fixed) and a 6 element 2 Meter beam tilted up to about 10 degrees (fixed) both inside my crowded attic. The SSB Electronics pre-amp helps a ton on 432, and the 1/2" hardline makes sure that I don't lose too much signal. So far, I've been able to copy the birds down to about 2 degrees above the horizon using this setup.
Now to attempt that EME contact! I've got a 12 element Yagi just waiting to deploy in the driveway once the weather warms a bit. Hoping to use WSJT to work one of the monster stations on EME. All this in a deed-restricted HOA neighborhood.
I wasted 35+ years on HF----man, all the fun really is in the World Above 50 MHz! Thanks for helping to make a boys dreams come true at age 51!
participants (6)
-
ac4ny_1 -
i8cvs -
Les Rayburn -
Michael Hatzakis -
STeve Andre' -
Thomas Doyle