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NØVJC Steven 'Steve' Weidman Houston, TX QCWA # 37807 |
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In 1993 I received my Technician Plus license. Although I passed the 5wpm code test, I found that CW came very hard to me, so it wasn't until 2003 that I upgraded to General and then finally got my Amateur Extra Class in January of 2007.
I have enjoyed all the aspects of ham radio that I have tried so far, and I look forward to trying many other aspects in the future.
My first rig was a Swan 600R-600T combo, with Phone Patch, that I purchased from the VE who tested me for my Tech Plus. Later on, I picked up a Tempo-One, which I still have. It functions, but has soft finals and drivers. Most likely needs re-caped as well.
In 1999, I replaced the Swan with a Yaesu FT-980. I wanted to use it in conjunction with my computer, and since there wasn't any Windows based software for it, I wrote CAT software . If you happen to have an FT-980, feel free to contact me and I can send you a copy of the test software, CAT980w. Since I no longer own the FT-980, I can't make changes to the software, so what you see is what you get. It did work fairly well though.
My current setup is a Yaesu FT-990 with an MFJ-942E Versa Tuner II and an Icom IC-2800H
I added a 50MHz transverter, used with the Yaesu FT-990 set for 10 meters, for SSB and data on 6 meters. Worked Illinois within minutes of hooking it up.
My antennas consist of a Hustler 5BTV with homemade 17M and 12M elements added for the HF side and an MFJ-1536 Tribander for 6M, 2M and 440.
The digital modes are my favorites; PSK-31 and RTTY especially. I've also done some SSTV
I have been involved with ARES, RACES and Skywarn, on and off, for many years. For a short time, I was an ARES EC in Kansas. After we moved to Texas, I helped out at the Astrodome, in Houston, during the New Orleans evacuations caused by Hurricane Katrina. I enjoy working Museum Ship Weekend in June when I can.
73, -Steve N0VJC
October 08, 2018