How I Spent My Sunday

I decided to try and do a little organizing around the shack and get things grounded properly. The hubby (KA3MYK) and I bought the necessary supplies a couple of weeks ago; a length of copper pipe, some 10 gauge wire and clamps. We got some things grounded at least the things we use, but not everything yet.
I am still waiting on the antennas I ordered from Universal, in one more week they will be one month past the back order date.
I put out a random wire antenna yesterday and today trying different positions and heights tonight it is tossed over the roof of the house in a sloper position. I can receive on 80M, 40M and on 20M but cannot seem to transmit. I couldn't tune it to 10M. I wasn't expecting much but was hoping I could at least make a contact or two.
I hope everyone is having better luck with their HF work.
Here are some pictures of the shack in progress.
This is before I started working on it.


Copper pipe being put into place.


This is an after picture, but not the final because I still have some work to do.


I ran the ground out of the house through a hole provided by the cable company. I do not have cable so this was very handy. It is then connected to the cold water pipe outside with the DSL and other connections.

Details on the RV

I'm posting this here in hopes fellow HAMs will see this. I think this little RV would make a great mobile command for someone; either someone into DXing or Emergency Managment. It would be great on field day. It is fully self contained, has a new microwave, an oven and stop top, double stainless steal sink, refrigerator, tons and tons of space for storing gear or radios. A shower, tub, toilet and sink in the bathroom and can sleep four. And it is only 21ft. long so it fits in the driveway!
We have enjoyed it for a couple of years and plan on changing to a trailer style.
Email me for more pictures or info at mlwstory@gmail.com

Antennas UG

I believe I am cursed when it comes to antennas. First, three weeks ago I ordered an end fed 10m and a 20/40 dipole, I was notified they were on back ordered and would be in on April 10th. I still don't have them. So this weekend I decided to get the 2m up finally after having all the parts needed to do so. We got one PL259 on one end and was preparing to put on the second when suddenly!The second reducer is smaller than the first. It won't fit down on the cable. I checked the all the other reducers we have with the other PL259s we have they are all smaller like the one I am currently fighting with. I'm not sure how this happened how there was only one that was large enough. I went as far as attempting to put vasaline on the cable but it didn't help. So will have to run out tomorrow and get one but seems like antennas see me coming and form their own conspiracy to stop me.

It's Official!

My upgrade to General appeared on the FCC website yesterday! I'm so excited and we have a field day coming up so I am really looking forward to making some serious contacts.
It seems that all the upgrades from our testing session on the 31st showed up yesterday so my fellow testers got theirs yesterday as well, so congratulations to all of them!
I am still waiting on my antennas from Universal to be shipped. It is becoming quite painful to wait for them. I want to get on HF!

'73s

The Knack

It would seem we are all suffering from the "Knack" some of us in various forms and to different degrees of severity. But, we've all contracted it. Probably were even born with it, unbeknownst to us and our parents. Over the years it is grown, even been nurtured until we are the people we are today!
I beg you to be more aware of the symptoms of the "Knack" and nurture and feed them as much as possible!

'73s
Milly

Welcome to the Old Virginia HAM

Greetings! Glad you stopped by the Old Virginia HAM blog. As you might guess we are located in Virginia. Hampton Roads to be more precise. We have some great HAMs here and some great clubs. I will post links to them here. If you would like your webpage or clubpage listed just let me know I would be happy to post it here.
I have been a HAM since 2005 and recently upgraded to General. I plan to upgrade to Extra this summer, along with my husband who has been a General for quite some time and as been my Elmer.
Being that I am somewhat knew to HAM I am still trying different things to find my niche. I am hoping to get into contesting and DXing. I really think that would be fun and appeal to my competitive nature.
I have a friend Hershel Kreis (W4TMN), who has agreed to help me get started. He is a great guy! Looking forward to get started there.
We are developing our shack. We have an ICOM 718 all band HF rig, a President 10M, and Icom IC2100 2M mobile unit as a base here in the shack. We each have Yaseu 1802s for the vehicles. I love my Yaseu! Awesome radio.
We have some really good repeaters in the area. In Hampton we have the 145.490 machine. It is colocated on a communications tower and is 400ft up! John Howe(KE4UP) is the man that makes that happen and he does a great job.
In Gloucester, we have the 145.370 repeater with the daily Crab Net, we have a great time in there! Mark Lowe (N1LO) is the genius behind this repeater and others! Mark is a master of antennas! He has a webpage linked here.
We have plenty of other repeaters, there are two more in Hampton, two in Williamsburg, and not to mention Newport News and York County. So if your in our area, drop by one of them and meet a great bunch of people!