Please feel free to visit my NEW Website http://www.roaringstar.com There you can find several articles posted on SDR's, my station, technology.
MyQSX Site - See your signal online: http://ni0z.myqsx.net/
Affiliations - ARRL , W0ERH, K0GQ,OMISS # 7871
Background: I have a degree in electronics, was a communications repairman in the Army Signal Corp many years ago and a currently a long time Information Technology Professional and Manager in the communications field. I have obtained an Extra Class license and still enjoy learning something new every day. There is no subsititue for expereince in this hobby and I find the challenges worth the while and very rewarding in terms of enjoyment.
HAM Activities: Much of my time currently is spent building out my station.I have several projects underway at present which include improving my ground floor noise, improving reception, improving transmit audio quality and just getting all my gear situated and RFI friendly in the pictures you see above and below. I have come a long way on building out my station and believe it or not, the picture of the rear wiring, represents a 4th generation wiring scheme designed to reduce RFI. The key goal learned through observation and monitoring was to minimize the number of times the wires touch. The baker racks you see to the rear and right in my station have been a life saver! I like to explore the airwaves, listen, make new friends, rag chew and see just how far away I can hit given the limits of my antennas. Longest DX to date is South Africa long path at 15,890 miles.
HAM Gear: I run a Flex 5000A with Second receiver, an Ameritron 811HD Amp, Wavenode WN2D Wattmeterand a Palstar AT2K Antenna Tunner as my main rig. A G5RV runs straight to the second receiver as a dedicated receive antenas. The primary Reciever is serviced by a K4KIO Hex Beam on a GME Roof Tower at 35 feet atop the house. This dual setup allows for diversity and also BIN reception. I also runfor VHF/UHFwity a Dr Fong Antenna and now a KX3 for fun. Curently VHF/UHF is only available mobil while I wait for the KX3 2M module.
The Flex 5000A is truly a facinating multi-dimensional radio. The ability to tweak, tinker and learn with it truly offers me many hours of enjoyment.
MobileI nowruna yaesu in the turck with a Comett SBB for vhf/uhf. The Hybrid Truck makes HF very difficult due to the wide band RFI that it produces so the HF Antenna and Radiwasremoved and a Yaesu Dual Ban radio was installed in its place.
Enhanced SSB Audio: I have been integrating some front end audio processing equipment to improve the sound of my transmit audio fidelity.At present I have the Behringer Mic2200 Preamp, Behringer FX-2000, Behringer MX882 and a Behringer 2496 Vocal Mastering Processor. I am using a Blue Spark Bottle Condenser Mic and this all runs through an iBox to the Flex 5000. Many people associated ESSB with illegal expanded bandwidth and that is not what I am after. I have found that having the ability to create different audio profiles can enhance the ability to make DX contacts, increase transmit power and also provide enhanced enjoyment for Ragchewing. It's also rewarding as a challenge to build and setup correctly. I have had several people comment that my audio sounds like broadcast quality despite being only 2.7 to 2.9K wide. Thats my true goal with the front end equipment.
Just Me: While I love technology I also love and enjoy nature as well. camping, hiking are two activities I find peace in and I wish there were more time in life to enjoy them more. Perhaps I can tie it all together someday if I have the good fortune of being able to retire. I once dabbled in professional photography and had the great fun of being able to shoot landscape and stills for a few small independent films and even a few weddings at my pinacal, along with a few merit awards with the PPA. You can find some of my images on the net if you look. I have included several photos below for the 30 miles area around where I live.I am also a former passionate amature astronomer having delved into the deep skies, CCD imaging from a backyard robotic observatory working to dscoverasteroids and at present still enjoy general observing with a more traditional computerized telescope.
Thanks for visiting my profile and I look forward to meeting you on the airwaves!
e-mail: myfirstname at AM4L.com
NI0Z formerly general class KD0PKO licensed on 8/22/2011 & extra class AC0XO licensed on10/12/2011
The rats nest of wiring, would you believe me if I told you that i spent a lot of time wiring it just this way to reduce RFI?
New K4KIO 6 Band Heaxbeam at 32 Feet
Pictures from around the metro area here whereI live in Olathe KS, there is quite a variety to see despite many people thinking Kansas is flat and boring. These pictures all all copyrighted and can not be reproduced or used without my permission.
