Returning to the Airwaves. (Issued)

Hello all
I recently picked up one of these little Beofeng handsets and whilst watching videos on how to program it with CHIRP I saw CB had made a bit of a comeback but the thing that really caught my eye was SSB was now legal!
I started on the CB in the early '80s and soon graduated to sideband with my first SSB set a NATO 2000 which was stamped luckily for me as Buzby turned up to inspect my equipment and I am pleased to say he was an idiot who had no idea what he was looking at.  I worked my way through many sets Stalker 9F DX, Cobra 148GTL DX and ended up settling on a Uniden 28-30 which my local rig Dr Ghost Man fitted some bleed-over crystals and a nice tune to ensure all worked well.  My station ended up consisting of: Uniden 28-30 with Astatic teardrop speech processor Mike, Yaesu ATU, Antron 99 with ground plane kit and a 4 element Yagi on a rotator.  I had many QSL confirmed contacts from around the world including a marine in the first Dessert Storm in Iraq using a President Grant and a Antron 99 deployed in the field(That one always stuck in my mind)
Anyway I have picked up a CRT SS 9900 and home base antenna, will be setting back up in the next few days and look forward to maybe catching some 9f you on the Airwaves.

It is good to be back!

PS can I have a call sign please?

Hi Alan , welcome to the CTDX group 
73s
Steve.

Thank you, Steve
73's (I haven't used that in so long)
Alan

Look forward to hearing you say it when the prop picks up (make the trip to Scotland often during peaks)

There is every chance of it, I have good elevation here and can look right across to the Gowan Hills, the only downside of living up a hill in Scotland is it can get a bit chilly at times!

Hi Alan and a very warm welcome to the group

I have great pleasure in issuing the 108CT233 call sign

Wishing you good luck and good Dx


Craig CT Admin 73

Thank you very much indeed Craig, the last time I joined a DX'ing club we had to use a P.O. box for our QSL's, it was based in a town called Broadbottm and it would have raised a few smiles with my contacts I am sure. For the life of me, I can't recall what it was called Tango Alphas maybe?

Thanks again,

Alan 73

Hello Alan, welcome to the forum and back to the hobby, nice intro buddy!

73's Gary.

Thank you, Gary.

It is my enthusiasm that you see coming through there mate!

Cheers Alan 73's

It is indeed Alan,

Many of had a break from radio myself included, you know how it goes work, kids, partners and all, but the hobby stays in the blood and sooner or later we find those old rigs in the loft and boy oh boy the spending begins!

Great to have you on board buddy!

73's Gary.

The only thing that was still in the loft/shed after so many years and several moves was a seven-foot Firestick, now you don't see many of those around these days! We would drive up onto Werneth Lowe with small coil/whip, mag-mount then swap it out for the Firestick once parked up and get out for miles with it. I am trying to be sensible about spending(we will see how that works out) one thing I have found that is fairly inexpensive is SDR, a little dongle that plugs into my laptop and it gives you a great range of frequency in conjunction with HDSDR software. I have only tried it with smaller mobile antennas that are more band-specific but I have a feeling that once I connect a discone it will really open its reception up as it did when I did the same with a scanner many years ago...that can go on next months budget though!

Ha ha! it didn't take you much Al, just the sight of a seven foot fire stick lols! I found my Harrier CBHQ a President JFK AM/FM Hi Mids & Lo, a Speedy valve linear amp, a Lemm 1/4 wave GP antenna and an assortment of other bits and bobs.

I set up again and to my surprise at the time there was an active bunch on channel 28 on the mids! Things have moved on since then, I am now a licensed amateur and spend most of my time on 20 & 40 meters.

I also enjoy DMR and Network radio. I belong to two radio clubs B.D.A.R.S in Bromley and C.P.R.E.C in Crystal Palace. Needless to say the shack has evolved as well! I have completed the first two tiers of radio license and done the course for the last tier but need to take the exam however I'm very busy and self employed so all in good time! Have a good evening buddy.

73's Gary.