New Ham Getting His Feet Wet (and having fun!)

[KJ6VWX]

Made my first contacts on 17 meters last night!  Talked to New Zealand, Calgary, New York!

Passed my Technician on 4/12 and upgraded to General two weeks after that, so I am very green.  I live in a very antenna-restricted community, so I have to be very stealth.  I have an Ultimax 100 set up permanently and deploy an Alpha Vertical after the sun goes down.  Using an old Kenwood TS-450S I bought from a local ham.

Have made contacts on 40m here in the West (Washington, Oregon, New Mexico and Utah).

I suppose I'll do better once I really figure out what the heck I am doing.   

[AC4FS]

Congratulations!  I hope the fun just keeps getting better.  When you get the chance (and adapter), you might want to give one or more of the digital modes a shot.  They are a hoot, and you can most always get through when conditions aren't good enough for voice contacts.

How is that Ultimax 100 working for you?  I read mixed reviews on eHam.net and wanted to check with someone that actually has one.

73, Howard
AC4FS

[KJ6VWX]

Re:  The Ultimax--I worked New Zealand and several domestic stations on 17 with the Ultimax and my LDG antenna tuner.  The antenna is strung from my house to a tree.  It's about 15' in the air, sloping downward a bit towards it's end.  I made a 7-turn air choke near the feed point of the antenna.

I beam on a big tower would be better, but not bad for some wire thrown up into a tree.

[ae2dx]

Congrats and welcome to ham radio, I have been a ham since 1979 and always find something to get excited about on ham radio if it's not a new contact its maybe working a new mode or just having a good old rag chew with someone with the same interest as you. Good DX and best 73 to you.

Fred AE2DX

[K3ROJ]

Congratulations on being a new ham.  I am a VE volunteer with our local radio club W3PGA and we have our testing at the local library.  It is so gratifying to see the smile on someones face when they are told they passed, no matter what class.  Many take the General or Technician test and if they pass are asked if they want to take the next level.  It is urprising how many pass the next level.

[KF5KGN]

Allow me to join the others in welcoming you.     I am also a tadpole.     I appreciate the information about the Ultimax.