On 5 Sep 2004 at 19:58, Greg Richard wrote:
> I think we all need
> to take a few minutes to fill out the following
> questionaire so we will learn a bit about each person in
> the club. Post your answers to the reflector.
OK...here ya go...
> 1. What got you interested in ham Radio?
Reading ARRL publications in the school library and listening to
shortwave broadcasts on a really cheap RX. It had no BFO, so the
only time I could hear any hams it was the few folks that still
operated AM.
> 2. What is your favorite mode and why?
CW. Almost anybody can operate SSB, CW requires a greater
involvement with what you're doing. Plus CW is more efficient and
just plain sounds better!
> 3. What got you interested in contesting?
When I started studying for my first exam, a neighbor loaned me a
Gonset mobile receiver. I could hear a lot of folks calling "CQ NST"
at times; I asked my neighbor what that was and he didn't know.
Sounded interesting though...
> 4. What is your favorite contest and why?
Over my lifetime, I'd have to say that CWSS is my favorite, although
I generally don't get to operate it seriously. Lately, I prefer the
Sprints and NAQP because of the shorter time periods. Plus the
Sprint is absolutely the best measure of operating ability IMO. I
also like the IARU contest a lot, and am really glad they've added a
low-power class.
> 5. What is your current station line up? Rigs, antennas, etc.
Two FT-990s, TH7 at 80', 40-2CD at 70' on a ring-rotor, little wire
on 80m. I've also got an SB-1000 that I normally don't use in
contests, but occasionally do run at about 500w out for Sprints and
IARU...which shouldn't be required any more. Now that all contests
that I might enter have low power recognition, I don't feel the need
to run an amplifier. I use a Top Ten DX Doubler, and have, but
rarely use, a Dunestar bandpass filter - it's just not really needed
at low power. I switch antennas with a WX0B SixPak. I run TR log.
So, with the limitations of using a tribander, I'm set up fairly well
for SO2R.
Oh, I've also got an Icom 706 that I use with PAR loops for rovering
on 6/2/432. I've only done this once so far though.
> 6. Besides radio, what do you do for fun?
Play music, fish.
> 7. What do you do for a living?
Play music, fish.
I finally decided after about 25 years of work that I should do
something I enjoy for a change, so I'm working in a flyshop and
playing as much music as possible, trying to get on with a national
touring group. I'm also doing some general business consulting on
the side. I make about 25% as much money as I was making 6 months
ago, but I'm at least 4X happier, so it's a good trade-off.
> 8. What improvements do you plan to make to your
> station before the CQ WW SSB contest in Oct 2004?
These are not necessarily plans before this contest season, but stuff
I need to do: Put up a 2nd TH7 at 40', and put together a better 80m
antenna, and get *something* up on 160. Then probably a low-noise RX
antenna. I'd like to put up a 10/15/20m vertical for the 2nd rig
too.
> 9. How long have you been licensed?
28 years.
> 10. What part of the hobby do you like the least?
The relaxation of code requirements by the FCC, and the ARRL's
evolution.
--
Lee Hiers, AA4GA
Cornelia, Georgia
"Have Dobro Will Travel"
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