Talk about a steep learning curve!

[K6PLE]

Hello all, thanks for having me.

I kinda knew this was going to happen, just can't seem to get enough of this radio adventure.

I'm an Amateur Extra but don't let that fool you as I only took the tests last November. I suppose this would mean that either I was familiar with much of the material or I'm a really good test taker By no means am I an electronics or propagation expert, just a lifelong electrician with a voracious reading habit and a bit of ambition for this new hobby.

I am full of questions but I'll hold off till I read through the forum as surly most questions have already been hashed out extensively.

My current equipment consists of:

Yaesu 897D
Yaesu VX8-DR
Elecraft KX3

Antennas:

135ft Flat-Top Dipole fed with 300ohm ladder line HF
Dedicated 30meter Fat Dipole out on the deck (this is a really great antenna)
Diamond X510 VHF UHF (soon to replace my Comet for 2-3dB gain)

I am looking at the Whistler Digital Desktop and the Whistler WS1080 which should cover most of the scanning that my other rigs aren't able to receive.

Please forgive me if I periodically post and run but i have a very busy schedule and the majority of my work involves travel and crazy hours.

Thanks again,
Paul

 

[K6PLE]

Couldn't find a place to edit my introduction so... I guess I'll bump my own post!

Forgot to list the most important antenna. I would imagine that it will be very useful in scanning and just might need a topic all its own.

I have only just recently got it to take along with me in my travels and it has only been set up and explored in my office but now thinking about it, It may be the perfect scanning antenna in addition to its primary purpose of HF propagation.

Feel free to throw darts if i am missing the whole thing but..... I believe the formula 468/MHz=resonant antenna length. If still true in this endeavor, my new Budipole should get me anywhere on the spectrum I want to be with only simple adjustments.

He He He, this is going to be fun!