Fixed station HF: Drake TR4C 300 watt transceiver, connected at various times to 40m and 10m dipoles, 40m ground plane, and 80m continuously loaded quarter-wave vertical.

Fixed station packet: It seems all my fixed station VHF gear is dedicated to use with the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS). I have a Yeasu FT-5100 dual band, Icom IC-2350 dual band, and an Icom IC-24AT dual band hand-held all dedicated to running my APRS digipeater in Farmington, and my APRS Canadian-American VHF Frequency Gateway, also located in Farmington (call sign for both is N8QLT). I also have a Radio Shack HTX-202 and 50 watt amplifier located in Ann Arbor, serving as a Wide Area APRS Digipeater (call sign N8QLT-5).

Mobile HF: Icom-706 connected to a Comet CA-HV antenna, set up for 2m, 6m, 10m and 40m. I'm active on 40m and 10m FM and SSB.

Mobile VHF/UHF: The Icom-706 also has a Mirage 1016 2m 160-watt amplifier in line. I'm active with the 706 on 2m SSB and 6m SSB and FM. All my Sporadic E 6m contacts have been while mobile, and it's a blast.

Mobile packet: The 2m Yaesu FT-2400 is dedicated to Automatic Position Reporting System use on 145.790, beaconing my position while mobile. The position fix is supplied by a Magellan Meridian XL GPS receiver connected to a Kantronics KPC-3 Terminal Node Controller.

Operating Interests: I enjoy 40m and 10m, have done some satellite work, and plan to do more. I'm setting up for Meteor Scatter work on 6m using digital modes, and enjoy VHF contesting as a Rover. I plan to do more contesting this year while mobile. I enjoy public service volunteer communications, and antenna construction.

Projects on the Drawing Board: Setting up the Pathfinder with a separate 10m transceiver for working RS10 and RS12 satellites while mobile, building a couple 5-element 6m beams for Meteor Scatter using APRS in Ms mode, building and mounting compact 2m and 6m beams for mobile VHF contesting, building a 6m propagation beacon, and expanding the coverage of my APRS Canadian-American VHF Gateway.

Return to N8QLT Amateur Radio Page