In my introduction post I mentioned that I am an amateur radio operator. I have not shared anything more about that since that brief mention in my introduction post and thought that it might be time to introduce this hobby of mine to my followers here on steemit.
When I joined steemit I had just gotten the first level license, technician, which gave me operating privileges mostly in the VHF and UHF range. In practicality, this means local communication, or by using a repeater local to me connect to another connected repeater and through it to users local to it.

My handheld ham radio: Baufeng UV5R

With a very limited budget for hobbies, I decided to start with a very affordable and popular radio: the Baufeng UV5R. It's made in China and operates on 2 ham bands, 2m(VHF) and 70cm(UHF). I also added an upgraded antenna: the Nagoya NA-771R. The cost of the radio was $25.23 and the antenna $16.99 for a total of $42.22. A pretty cheap start for a hobby where you easily can spend several thousand dollars.

Since getting this radio in the beginning of last summer I've been tuning in to the local repeaters wherever we have been and listen to other hams talking. I have not made to many calls of my own, largely because I'm not really interested in the "rag-chewing" (just talking), about anything and nothing with other hams local to the area. I am more interested in making long distance contacts (dx in ham language) which requires using different, lower frequencies (HF), that my little handheld radio can't use. Really my dream would be to become proficient in Morse code (CW) and make contacts with that.

Last week I passed my General exam and gained access to all ham bands and most of the available frequencies. Now I have a license that allows me to do what I want but I don't have a radio for it. My hope is to one day buy a nice HF rig and start making contacts around the world. My top 2 choices of radio would be the very nice, but expensive, Elecraft KX3 or the Yaesu FT-857D.

The Elecraft KX3 transceiver. Source

The KX3 is small but still does a lot and it would be a great radio for me but I doubt I can afford it anytime soon. The Yaesu 857D might be a better choice and it can be had used for about half the cost of the KX3, which would still be $700+.

The Yaesu FT-857D.

I suspect that I will have to wait some time before I can afford even a cheaper used HF radio, and I'm ok with that. It would ofcourse be ok if some large whale here on steemit would want to give me a big upvote to fund the purchase of a new radio but I'm not going to stay awake waiting for that to happen.

Til next time!
73 de KC3JHQ*


* 73 is a ham expression meaning best regards, de means from and KC3JHQ is my call sign.

Thanks for following the journey of me and my family
as we travel and roadschool our kids around the USA.


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