Ham Radio, AB9BH-style

(The following is a QST.)

I am an Amateur Radio operator with callsign AB9BH, and I hold an Extra Class licence. I have found that I enjoy DXing and contesting, Phone is my primary mode, but I'm starting to operate a bit of CW, and I'm interested in trying out PSK31 and SSTV once I can find a way of connecting my radio to my computer that isn't susceptible to RF feedback. I might also get into packet at some point.

My primary station in my apartment consists of an Icom 706MKIIG and a W32A HT. When I want to operate CW, I use a Bencher paddle. With the HF rig I use an AH-4 automatic random wire tuner for my primary antenna (a 30-foot or so wire running around my ceiling) and an MFJ 969 antenna tuner for my balcony 6m inverted vee. I also have a 2m vertical dipole on my balcony. Since I'm on the third floor of three, my antennas are up about 35 feet or so. I have worked stations all over South America and Europe and a few in Africa and Asia with this setup.

During the summer of 2001, I lived in Park Ridge where I had a bit different of a setup thanks to a tripod and a bit of mast. I had a 2m ground plane at 20 feet, a 6m dipole at 18 feet, and a 20m dipole at (sniff) 8 feet. I probably should have figured out a way to string up a 20m inverted vee with the apex supported by the mast. With this station, I worked stations all over South America and Europe, several in Asia, one in Africa, a VK, and a ZL on 20m, and worked lots of guys on 6m.

My friend Greg and I recently took over the Synton Amateur Radio Club on campus. If you live in CU, you might want to check out the Champaign-Urbana Scanner Frequency List.

Some pictures

(Click on the pictures to see enlarged versions.)


The operating position at AB9BH (Park Ridge, summer 2001)	Antennas at AB9BH (Park Ridge, summer 2001)

The operating position at AB9BH (Champaign, fall 2001)	Antennas at AB9BH (Champaign, fall 2001)

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