Amateur Radio Operator KX0S
I received my first license in October1999, KC0GSB. I was a Tech Plus. The next month I passed the General exam, and earned Advanced the following month. My Extra Class came the month after the FCC eliminated the code from exams. I don't think I would have ever mastered 20 wpm, 13 wpm was hard enough for me. In 2011 I received the vanity call sign KX0S. I am a member of ARRL.
I stopped doing my hobby from November 2012 until November 2019. I started it back up doing only FT-8 and sometimes FT-4. I operate only in the winter, November to March.
My equipment is nothing special, and some of it is quite old.
Transceiver: Yaesu FT-920. I purchased this new in 2003. It has Inrad filters for SSB and AM. A Yaesu filter for FM. A TCXO is also installed.
Amplifiers: Ameritron AL-811 with Psvane 572B tubes.
Antenna Tuner: Palstar AT2K.
Pwr/SWR Meter: I use the Palstar's meter. Others areMonitor Sensors digital, and Bird.
Digital Interface: West Mountain Radio Rig Blaster Plus
Antenna: Dxtreme 53 foot model. I was under HOA rules until November 2022, so I needed a semi-stealth antenna.
Heathkit Cantenna dummy load.
Some equipment I use very little or not at all:
Kenwood TS-520. Excellent transmit audio. It would easily do 120W.
Yaesu FT-7800R. I wired a Turner SSK mic to the RJ plug. Other Hams have complimented the sound. There is something about a Turner mic.
Yaesu Tempo 1
Behringer stuff to improve transmit audio.
Some devices that let me hear my transmit audio after passing through the amplifier.
Heathkit PWR/SWR meters.
Diawa PWR/SWR Meter for VHF.
Antenna duplexer. For using one antenna for 6M (Ft-920) and 2M (FT-7800R).
Yaesu amplifier interface (The SB-220 needed this).
Drake filter for coax.
Some test equipment (O'scope, Sig gen, Freq counter, etc).
A lot of junk that the XYL wants thrown out. What Ham doesn't have junk?
Computer: I buy the parts and assemble it. I use software that automatically uploads contacts to QRZ and LOTW.
QSL info: I have an account with QRZ and also use LOTW. I do not use paper QSL's.
Because of the limitations of my antenna, it took a while to manage working enough stations to get some ARRL certificates. They are pictured below. They are only for FT-8 mode.
I especially like working 160 meter Ft-8. I once worked PSK-31, but no more. Perhaps we will make contact someday. 73
