The new station, unveiled
A special thanks to the community of hams who share helpful information via the net. For the last couple of nights, I’ve been trying to get my new station to come together into a Gestalt, and I finally found the needed tidbit in a forum. What the manual doesn’t tell you, someone eventually will.
Here’s the thing. I’ve been an amateur radio operator since back when tubes were actually commonplace. I’ve also been budget-challenged, so there hasn’t been a whole lot of brand new equipment available for my amusement over the years. I’ve decided to actually purchase enough new gear that I finally have a station I can show with pride. Here it is; almost like pictures of a new pet, if you will.
The key piece of technology: a new Yaesu FT-950. For the non-radio types, simply accept that it does a lot of things, well. For the hams, you have an idea of what it, and its competition, are able to do (a great general purpose verb, that). I also have a couple of VHF/UHF transceivers, but my real amusement comes from communicating with the world. Yes, I have DX aspirations.
The big change is in the adaptation of computers to the station. I’m recycling my old laptop and an additional external monitor, allowing me to add HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) to the equation. I also have a SignaLink USB sound adaptor, and I intend to get “into” digital modes such as PSK31. Again, acronyms that mean much to the initiated.
The real hope is that I’ll convince other family members to get on the air, at long last.
