Scanning the Airwaves

It's been quiet here, I know. Though, not like my blog is highly trafficked in the first place. Anyways, I purchased a TYT MD-2017 a week after I wrote the last post. I followed that up with a ZUMspot hotspot I ordered from HRO to get into the world of DMR. Then using the hotspot kinda fell by the wayside, since I was having trouble getting it to work. Then I used said TYT MD-2017 in analog only, supporting the 2018/122nd Boston Marathon on only 3 hours sleep. (More about that in another post.) However, this has been a busy week for my by far. First, I purchased an Anytone AT-D868UV as part of a group purchase from the local ham club. I tried it down on Nahant Beach and was able to get in the Boston DMR repeater. (It helps that you can see the Boston skyline from Nahant, which is were the repeater is.) Then, I got a text from a co-worker. His grandfather, who is a ham, was going into a nursing home. He nor anyone else in the family is a ham, so they had to decide what to ...

I have long had an interest in radio, whether it be broadcast, public safety or amateur. Besides listening to regular AM/FM radio, what got me down this road first started with listening to shortwave radio back in 2009 when I was 19. I started with a Grundig GM300PE Mini World that I bought at local Radio Shack because it was all I could afford. I also bought a copy of the Passport to World Band Radio for that year, which turned out to be last. Even though the book was discontinued, my passion for radio hadn't and I kept listening. By 2015, I was studying for a Technician license using the ARRL Technician study guide. But, despite my efforts and using the ARRL test prep site I felt I wasn't getting it. I lapsed for a year in 2016 and in mid-2017 after buying my first digital scanner and first scanner in years, the bug bit again and I buckled down this time. Working for TSA for almost 9 years at this point was another one of my reasons for getting my amateur radio license ...

It's been five months since I first got licensed and I have a confession. I haven't had a single QSO. At all. Yes, it may be shocking but it's the truth. I blame it on a variety of reasons/factors. Work and Time : I've worked an odd schedule for the past half year, working from 1700 to 0130. As many hams are driving home, I'm driving to work. It doesn't give me much time to talk as most non-retired hams are in the middle of their work day when I'm just waking up. Plus while working I obviously I can't talk on my radio.  Location : I live in Lynn, Massachusetts. Lynn has odd geography, it's flat near the ocean and the Saugus River, but other parts of the city are very hilly. I happen to live in the hilly section. The only problem, the slight hill I'm on is surrounded by taller hills, so in essence, I'm a valley. My club's main repeater is located in Danvers. Which while only separated by another city is about 10 miles. A...

As you can see I changed the theme, when I first created the blog, I didn't see these new themes despite being out since March 2017. I'm doing some tweaking to them right now.

I took my test on July 22, 2017 through the North Shore Radio Association in Danvers, MA. I passed my Technician exam after studying and reading KB6NU 's No-Nonsense Study Guide for the Tech exam. I also prepped using HamStudy.org . After an agonizing 10 day wait, the FCC issued my license and first call sign on August 2, 2017. I am now, for the time being, KC1HXT . I immediately applied for a vanity call sign I wanted and it's currently being processed by the FCC. Now, the wait.

I have long had an interest in radios. A few days ago, I acquired a used Radio Shack Pro-668 off of eBay. While it's taking some getting used to, I'm starting to get the hang of it. This blog will chronicle my radio adventures, not only with the Pro-668, but with other radios I own, such as my C. Crane Skywave. Furthermore, I plan to begin studying again for my ham radio license. I have the book, but I put the studying aside due to other commitments. I hope to resume it and get my license! I hope you join me on this adventure!