O.T. but congratulations to me!

[Jerry Bransford]

As Stu is probably thinking it was about time, I finally upgraded my lowly Tech-Plus ham license to General this morning! You guys have no idea how many years I have wanted that General license, really since I was a kid. Anyway, I'm very pumped now that the upgrade test is over!

[Darrell C]

Congrats, Jerry. I didn't know you were a HAM. Found you as KC6TAY on QRZ.

Got my general a couple years ago, although, admittedly, I haven't used CW and seldom get on the HF frequencies.

Have you been on, or listened to, the Cactus Intertie??

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally posted by Darrell C
Congrats, Jerry. I didn't know you were a HAM. Found you as KC6TAY on QRZ.

Got my general a couple years ago, although, admittedly, I haven't used CW and seldom get on the HF frequencies.

Have you been on, or listened to, the Cactus Intertie??

I have no idea what Cactus Intertie is, what is it? I've done 20-30 nervous-shaky CW QSOs but I'm so rusty at it now that it'd take a while to become proficient again. I'm almost strictly HF, I like the DX part of hamming and that's pretty much what my Tech-Plus activities were. 2m and the like doesn't hold that much interest for me though I'll probably buy another (inexpensive basic stuff) 2m rig for the Jeep soon. I'm just looking forward to some SSB down on 20m and 40m... been waiting for that since I was a kid.

[Darrell C]

Cactus Intertie is a 440 linked system that spans several southwestern states. There is a coverage map on the website. There are also several affiliate clubs that occasionally link into the system increasing the coverage...albeit usually for special events or situations.

I ask, because I belong to the Sierra Radio Association which is an affiliate of Cactus and frequently links into the Cactus system twice a year (on average); once for the WSER (Western States Endurance Run) and then for the Tevis. These are 100 mile foot and horse races (respectively) over a 24 period. Many folks tune-in just to listen to the check point and sweep ride activities. My wife and I usually staff one of the check points each year...our volunteer contribution to the event.

My HF activities have been limited to work related disaster communication between our office and Sacramento. Truth be told, I don't even own an HF rig, but I've considered buying a mobile setup for the Jeep. I'm just afraid the Jeep would begin to look awful funny with that many antennas. I'm running a CB, 2m/70cm combo, and 6m now (the HAM stuff is through a Kenwood TM742).

[Stu Olson]

First....Jerry, congrats! Way to go!


Second....Darrell, our club, the White Tank Mountain Remote Association, Inc., is a Cactus Intertie affliliate. Been with Cactus for about 10 years. I am not very good at controlling the Intertie routing (don't travel enough to worry about it). However, our current club president is very adapt at it. I've talked with him when I've been in Moab and a few far off other places.

FYI.....JV is an RF black hole!

[Daless2]

Hi Jerry and Congratulations!

I'll be looking for you up on the 20 meter band sometime.

Frank
KB4SJD

[Stu Olson]

Hmmm.....maybe I should trim the tree away from my 6 band vertical. I use to do a little digital on 20 meters....but it has been a few years.

[Darrell C]

Originally posted by Stu Olson
Second....Darrell, our club, the White Tank Mountain Remote Association, Inc., is a Cactus Intertie affliliate. Been with Cactus for about 10 years. I am not very good at controlling the Intertie routing (don't travel enough to worry about it). However, our current club president is very adapt at it. I've talked with him when I've been in Moab and a few far off other places.

FYI.....JV is an RF black hole!

Stu,

I haven't taken the time to become proficient with the link system either.

Never been to JV so I haven't had a chance to check it out...wheelin' or RF wise. We have a small group that's assembling to hit Calico in February and a couple folks want to spend a day at JV. Although I don't think my rig is JV ready, I thought I'd tag along and check the area out. I usually like to check out what frequencies and repeaters work best in an area in the event of an emergency.

Query: can you get out at all? 6m, 2m or 440??

If it's a true black hole, sounds like the perfect place for a little EME

[karstman]

Congrats!

Mark
W2MXB

[Cement_guy]

Good job Jerry. A ham licience is on my list of things to do; just haven't made it that far yet.

My ex-father in law was a radio operator on a ship during the Korean war, so all the code comes quite easy for him.

[Jeff McRae]

Congrats!

Jeff
KG6TY

[Jerry Bransford]

Thanks all, I appreciated all the congrats messages. Looks like I'll go for a vanity callsign too once the General is in the database, I'll probably go from KC6TAY to K6TAY. W6TAY? Both are available. K or W???

Hmmmm.... maybe K6JPR?

[Jeff McRae]

I'll keep mine, as there isn't an Advanced Class any more

[Stu Olson]

Darrell,

I didn't have enough down time to really run a complete check for repeaters and such.....the Cactus freqs I had were all quiet. About the time you crested the mountain range coming in from the west, things got pretty quiet. I did find a spot at the end of Outer Limits where my cell phone worked!

[Darrell C]

Got the phone situation covered with a Sat unit if necessary. It's good for emergencies...like when I forgot to pack coffee one trip and called a buddy who was arriving on day two and had him bring some.

If things work out, I'll make a survey of the local repeaters, see what I can hit, and post it for an FYI for other HAMs on the board.

Need to get my HAM antenna's re-mounted. They're sitting on the workbench and the coax is tucked up under the Jeep and zip-tied in place. The HAM rig doesn't work real good like that.

[Croaker]

Congratulations, Jerry!

Do you have an HF rig now?

Steve AB8JC

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally posted by Croaker
Congratulations, Jerry!

Do you have an HF rig now?

Steve AB8JC

Yep, a Kenwood TS-850 that I've been using since I got my Novice then Tech Plus. I sold off all my 2m/440 gear 3-4 years ago when I figured out I just wasn't using it much. I much prefer HF DX'ing to anything else.

[JEEP_TJ_FREAK]

Congrats Jerry!

[Croaker]

Originally posted by Jerry Bransford
Yep, a Kenwood TS-850 that I've been using since I got my Novice then Tech Plus. I sold off all my 2m/440 gear 3-4 years ago when I figured out I just wasn't using it much. I much prefer HF DX'ing to anything else.

I had an 830 as my first HF rig. Traded it + cash years ago for a rifle. Now I have a Yaesu '857, but no time to play with it, so I'm thinking about selling it.

I have a 2m rig & a couple HTs I use for ARES work, and a QRP 40M CW kit waiting to be built.

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally posted by Croaker
...2m rig & a couple HTs I use for ARES work, and a QRP 40M CW...

Heh, who says hams can't speak techno-geek-speak with the best computer geeks.

[underwood]

O.T. but congratulations to me!

Wish i new anything about Ham. But I don't. Anyway CONGRATS..

[Croaker]

Originally posted by Jerry Bransford
Heh, who says hams can't speak techno-geek-speak with the best computer geeks.

Heheh, ain't it da truth! Shall we discuss PSK or hellschreiber, or perhaps IF filter bandwiths? Meteorbounce? SDRs?

[Darrell C]

I've always had a fascination with EME if you can overcome the signal loss!

[Croaker]

Originally posted by Darrell C
I've always had a fascination with EME if you can overcome the signal loss!

Not much room at a condo for a big dish, unfortunately. And being in the city doesn't help much with weak-signal work, either.

Maybe if I ever get moved out west....