Since the age of 12 (1966) I have been interested in Amateur Radio (first licensed in 1969).  You may also know it as “Ham” radio.  “Ham” radio is sort of a nickname which came into being in the early 1900’s.  What is it?  It is a different sort of hobby (some argue it is a service).  I used to say it was people who used radios to talk to other people with radios.  Now-a-days, a statement like just draws weird looks from the general public followed by a statement along the lines of “So What?”   While I was leaning to some sort of engineering for my then future career, being involved in amateur radio helped me decide on electrical engineering.  My experience with amateur radio brought me untold amounts of practical experience (which those who were just "book learned" could not even approach to having) which I brought to my profession.  It also allowed me to meet some truly fantastic people (and a few bone-heads, but hey, they are everywhere) that I may not have ever had to chance to meet.   After all, our involvement in amateur radio made us all equals.

What about the internet and cell phones?  Yes those are communication mediums.  They require little skill and a good deal of money.  They also require networks built and maintained by others, many others.  They are best used for "utility" communications.  You call home or call Uncle Joe across the country to say when you will be home or just to say hi.  Maybe you call your best friend and shoot the breeze.  And then you pay your monthly bill.  Those items are tools for your life.  Amateur radio is a life's pleasure, a hobby, a place to explore.  It just happens to be a technical place.  A place which does feature interpersonal communications.  The ability to talk to other people, one-on-one or in a group (a "roundtable").  All without the need for a network built by others.   Oh, I forgot, we have that too.  In fact I am involved in the management and operation of a "repeater" owned by the radio club that I am a member of.   While that repeater is nice and can provide reliable local (8 or 9 county coverage) communications coverage from my car or using a handheld radio, if that repeater is not working, I can go to other repeaters or go to other frequencies and talk with others directly.  Again, all on my own, without anyone else's help.

Today, hobbies are not practiced by many people, especially young people.  Granted, I was a nerd as a kid (still?) but between radio/electronics, music and getting a job at 16, I didn’t have time to worry about hanging out at the mall (or a street corner) (and why is soccer so important).  If you (or someone you know) is interested in technology, science, computers, radio, and/or electronics, maybe you (or them) should check out Amateur Radio.

I have been a member of the Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club (MRAC) since 1968.  MRAC is one of only a very small handful of the oldest radio clubs in the world having formed in January 1917 and in the early 20's absorbing the membership of the older Wisconsin Radio League and also in later years, the South Side Radio Club.   Currently I am the club's license Trustee and historian and one of the repeater control operators/programmers (oh yea, I'm President again too).

Why should anyone join an amateur radio club?  Clubs own and operate most repeaters.   Many clubs participate in Field Day.  Some clubs do testing, conduct license classes, provide other training.  Meet other hams in person.  Get information regarding local tower laws.  Get help putting up antennas.  Find out what radios/antennas/whatever works well for others.  Why be an island in the sea of amateur radio?  Join a club.  Help out the club.

Are you a ham or interested in becoming one and live in Muskego, Wi?  An informal group of Muskego hams has formed.  We would normally gather (not meet) the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM.  For more info click here: http://www.rfsignals.com/mars.htm.

For an excellent intro to the world of radio and shortwave listening geared to the non-radio tech kind of person click here.   This is an article on the Ars-Technica web site, a great site with computer and general scientific/geek news.

Equipment in use by WB9BWP:

Kenwood TS-2000 - All mode, 160-2 and 70cm (1.2 GHz if you buy that option, I have not) - Excellent, versatile radio, great filtering and great transmit audio.   Seems expensive at first glance, but when you look at what you really get, it is almost cheap (and no it is not as good as a $3500 radio, but then again, you can buy 2 TS-2000s for that money and get change back).  A lot of people complain about the look of the radio.  Yes, it is different from most "normal" radios.   And yes, I wish it was physically larger, but the sloping front panel actually works well in most installations (mine is in a rack cabinet) and the lighted buttons can be helpful depending on the situation.  Besides isn't the first priority for a new radio how well it works and what functions it has, not how it looks?
    Many hams are confused by the radio features.  Of course when people are confused (especially hams) they become very vocal about their misconceptions which become product problems, not operator confusion.  One big mis-understanding concerns the second receiver.  Yes there are 2 receivers.  The main receiver covers 160 thru 2 meters all modes including general coverage on HF and has 2 VFOs.   You can transmit with that receiver.  The second receiver basically covers 2 M and 70 cm AM and FM with transmit capabilities and some out of band coverage on receive only (including 220 MHz receive only).  I hear some people talk about the second VFO being only FM (no, the second VFO belongs with the main receiver, separate from the second receiver).    As opposed to some $3000+ radios which have dual HF receivers, the TS-2000 basically is 2 different radios in one box.  One radio is the "normal" HF PLUS VHF and UHF with dual VFO's, 300 memories, etc and the other radio is sort of equivalent to a VHF/UHF dual band FM style radio.  Maybe because no other radio offers that combination people get confused.  Also both receivers can be active at the same time.  Sort of like operating HF and monitoring the local FM frequencies at the same time with one box.
    One other point of confusion (I think so anyway), a lot of people buy an ICOM IC-706 because it covers HF and VHF and UHF.  Yes it does, but many of it's features are a compromise.  It is primarily a mobile/portable radio, not a base radio.  Yes it is cheaper than a TS-2000 but does it have an antenna tuner?  How about IF DSP?  How about an auto-notch?  How about satellite operation?   How about remote control possibilities?  How about variable AGC?   How about 100W output on 2M?  How about 50W output on 70cm?  How about total computer control possible?  How about a built in TNC?  How about 300 memories programmable by FREE software?  So, is it cheaper?  By the way, I can often tell someone operating on a local repeater using a 706.  Their "PL" level is too high and their mike gain is often too high (often this is after they were just operating on HF).  The IC-7000 is a step up from the 706, but that radio is still missing some of the features of the TS-2000.  If those features are important to you, get a 2000, if not get a 7000.  And once again, is the 2000's receiver as good as a $3000+ radio like a 756 or Orion?  I hope not, because if it is you people spending over $3000 are getting ripped off!
     More misconceptions/crazy questions - I hear people wonder why it can't transmit (is there any mod?) on 220 since it can receive there.  Gee I have a scanner which can receive 220, why can't that radio transmit there (the moral of this story is just because you can receive a particular frequency, doesn't mean you can transmit there).  Next is the S-meter question.  That's a good one.  There is a couple of variations on that one.  One goes something like, My other (insert brand name here) radio has a better receiver that the 2000 as that radio's S-meter reads higher than the 2000 so it must be receiving a stronger signal.  Does that radios knobs turn to "11" (see the movie "This Is Spinal Tap" for that explanation if you don't know it).
    Want to control/program your TS-2000 via computer?  For starters, be sure to get the Kenwood memory and menu configuration program (it's FREE, not like other manufacturers).

Heil Goldline Microphone - Got in a deal w/TS-2000, great sounding mike.   I use the factory recommended settings on the TS-2000 and get great audio reports without even asking (including the guy who insisted he never heard any radio other than Collins with audio he liked).

Heil Proset Headset - comfortable (can wear all day) headset w/good sound and good mike

Kenwood  TM-D710 2M / 70cM  FM APRS

Computer Stuff in use with the radios:

All custom built for office, radio room and electronics lab.

Windows 7 and 10 (and don't you wish Windows 10 didn't automatically update and mess up printer drivers and other items?  Hey Microsoft, would you like to talk to a real computer user, give me a call.

Amateur Contact Log and various contest logs by N3FJP (very low cost and work great - check them out - free demo versions downloadable!

Antennas in use at home station:

Butternut HF-6V vertical 80-10M vertical with mod kits installed for 17, 12M, 6M ground mounted with over 1300 feet of radials - looks weird, may be an effort to properly setup, but works great (don't forget the radials).

Antennas and More Windom 80-10M 132’ long, 30-40’ high - Antenna was blown out of the tree by a lightning hit of the tree.  I called and asked about a repair (they have a lifetime warranty).  He said send it in.  I did and a few weeks later received a brand new antenna - NO CHARGE.  Great service, thanks!  The antenna has since been rebuilt / modified after tree branches sawed through some of the wire, using aluminum electric fence wire.

 Hustler mobile antennas (mast and resonators) in garage (for during summer storms)

 Cushcraft ARX-270U 2M/70cm vertical 17’

 Homebrew 2M 2el Wooden Quad in garage (also for during summer storms)

 M2 2M and 70cm horizontal loops at 23' (telescoping mast)

Have a Butternut HF-5V (Butterfly) bow-tie "beam" half sitting in the garage after being taken down fall of 2001 for roof work (was on a roof tower) and half in the workshop being cleaned/rebuilt. 

Equipment in mobiles:

Kenwood TM-V710 2M/70cm in my car

 Comet SBB-5 2M/70cm antennas on both cars (using Diamond and Comet mounts) - excellent mobile ant

Portable equipment:

Kenwood TH-F6 2M/1.25M/70cm FM w/internal TNC and APRS software plus Anytone AT-D868UV DMR 2M/70cM HT (won it, haven't used DMR yet - could it be more complicated compared to Fusion?

Radio Shack Pro-95 Trunking Scanner - includes 222 MHz

Garmin GPS-III+ GPS receiver (used portable and mobile)

From the above list it looks like I like Kenwood radios.  Since my first station as a General in 1971 I have used Kenwood HF gear.  I have used Yaesu and ICOM VHF/UHF stuff, but keep coming back to Kenwood.   Great quality (never had any real problems), great audio (without racks full of processing gear), good collection of features, and they take my use (abuse).  Can't say the same for the other brands I have used (I'm sure others have stories just the opposite of mine).

What have I accomplished in amateur radio?  As opposed to some people, I have not really done a lot of operating over the years.  I have been very involved in local clubs and experimenting.  I taught classes in amateur radio for 20 years (with MRAC), having a hand in helping over 500 people get or upgrade their license.  I have participated in numerous Field Day contests (probably over 30) with the MRAC and MSOE clubs.  I try to operate in the ARRL Sweepstakes each November (always trying to better my score of the previous year).  I dip my toe into most major contests.  "I don't do contests!" you say.  No matter what the excuse, is it really because you can't operate in a competitive environment?  There is no better training for a net control station than to operate in a contest.

I had to take all my outside antennas down last year for some landscaping work around the house.  Of course my plan to get everything back up by the fall didn't happen.  Plus my back blew up again (at least not as bad as the time I needed surgery) and it was 2020.  Well the project is underway.  How is it doing?

ARRL is the American voice for Amateur Radio.  Like it or not, they are the one and only national organization we have in the US.  I know of hams who don't belong to ARRL because they don't agree with their policy, or some other stance they may have taken.  I wonder if those same people are totally happy with the US government?  If they are not, maybe they should secede from the US?  If you don't like the way ARRL operates, you can't change it from the outside.  Be a member.   Vote for director.  Let your Division Director and Section Manager know your opinions.  Work to change.  Work for Amateur Radio.  If you are not willing to do that, how interested in the hobby are you?

Some Amateur Radio Related Links (to get you going):

American Radio Relay League (ARRL) - The national organization for amateur radio in the U.S.  We may not always agree, but this is all we have.

Amateur Radio Satellite Corp (AMSAT) - The organization responsible for development and coordination of amateur radio satellites and space activities. 

Tucson Amateur Packet Association (TAPR) - Info on digital modes of communication.

eHam.net - amateur radio news, info, for sale, equipment reviews, pictures and more

Newsline - Weekly amateur radio news and information.

The Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club - est 1917

AA9PW On Line Practice Tests - Take true-to-life practice tests in all grades of Amateur Licenses (he has commercial FCC and FAA tests too)

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