I first got started in the hobby on March 15, 1988 and was tested by Bob KD8AX and Jim WB8MSV. The band I started out on was the220 MHz band with an Icom 03AT and 144 MHz HT and a 4 element beam for each band at 30'.

My first HF rig was a Yaesu 301 and then a Kenwood TS-520S station. I had several Kenwood rigs such as the TS-520SE, TS-120S, TS-130S, TS-140S, TS-440S. sOME Yaesu's that I have had are theFT-209R, FT-747, FT-757GX, FT-757GXII, and FT-890. I also had an Icom IC-u2AT, IC-2AT, IC-502A and a IC-735that I did not like at all.

I started talking on Echolink and after a while a small group started connecting to me daily. We all would joke with each other and I started to put next to my name for others to see and hope they would drop in. Some nights I would put Yack -n- Splat because everyone would laughing most of the time and some would find food and drinks splattered on the computer screen. I started to use Do Drop In and others would drop in and see what was going on. After several months Paul "N9OFU" asked if he should start a Do Drop In conference room and I told him that would be a great idea. I ran a 5w link on 145.680 MHz from time to time on Echolink so that others in the area could use it while mobile. I had one report that it was heard in WV one morning. That is how the Do Drop In Conference was started on Echolink and is still active today. We have a forum and a net every Saturday at 9:00PM Eastern Time.

Ireceived an Icom ID-91AD for my birthday in March of 2009 from a good friend and have been on D-Star for a short time with aARX-2B antenna up about 25' for now. I started out withthe Icom ID-800H and then went with the ID-880Hmobile.I have had a lot of fun in the last year and have mademany new friendsall over the world. I love to talk with everyone and learn as much as I can on everything in general. The thing I like most about DStar is that you can pull up a chair and get to know the person you are talking with. It is not just the exchange of a signal report and move on to the next station like most people want to do on HF. I always have the radio on and I listen 90% of the time so I can learn as much as I can. Give me a call anytimeon the K8BIG repeater (The Big 5.35) that is located in Cincinnati, Ohio on REF001C. We'll find something to talk about I'm sure!

Q: How good is DStar on simplex?

A: It is fantastic! I was able to talk with John (KY4JD) 30 miles away at his home in northern KY on simplexrunning 5w and my ARX-2B antenna up 25'. It was justlike he was next to me in my office.

My wife (N1PUG) and I have two boys and two girls. We also have two grandkids and three Pugs’ that are a lot of fun and mean the world to us. My other hobby is to sit down and play my steel guitar for hours at a time. I was asked to play for a group in Indianapolis, Indiana and open for Trace Adkins and told them I do not play any kind of music he does. I like the older country music and a few of the newer songs. I also love to play Hawaiian music as much as I can.

When using D-Star repeaters, please leavea 4 sec gap between overs to enable other operators toannounce their callsign in case they wish to join in, as well as making it easier for DV-Dongle and Dvapusers to jump in as well.

If you hear someone new on a repeater, pop up and say G'day to them. This will help make them feel welcome and enjoy the hobby further as well as presenting a great image for the operators within the local area. Remember, first impressions last.

My experience of the 2009 & 2010Hamvention

I want to say a big thank you to Tom (W5KUB)for allowing everyone that was unable to attend the 2009 Hamvention in person the opportunity to view it all live online and experience what we are missing out on.

I can’t begin to tell you how much fun this has been for me to ride along the entire trip and experience all of the fun that I have been missing out on.

I’m sure many others feel the same way and appreciate it just as much and enjoy the trip just as much as Tom and Bruce or even more.

It has been a lot of fun for me and I now know what I have been missing by not being able to go to any of the events in person. This has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time and I was also able to make a lot of new friends while I was in the conference room with everyone that was watching as well.

Tom interviewed Bob Heil talked and he talked about how he went to the Hamvention in 1959 at the invitation of Bob Drake and his 128 elm two meter antenna that he made as a young boy and much more.

Tom then interviewed Owen Garriott (W5LFL) and his son Richard Garriott (W5KWQ) with Owen being the first astronaut to put Ham Radio in space. Richard followed his father 25 years later and talked with Tom and has loged over 518 QSO’s and has far more contact from space then he does on the ground.

Iwas ableto ride along on the return trip and see things that I would have never been able to see if it weren’t for Tom and Bruce.The entire weekendwas a lot of fun for me and I can't thank them enough for allowing me to ride with them and be a part of a great event.

If for some reason you are not able to attend any of the events due to your health, distance, can’t afford it, or don’t have a way to get to the event, this would be a great way for you to experience all of the fun.

73, and have a great day!

Bob (The Pug Guy)

Skype ID: bob_n3pug

AIM ID: N3PUG

Yahoo ID: N3PUG:/

http://smsdgoneviral.com

http://ohkyin.info