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Post by Blybrook PE on Jul 1, 2022 17:52:21 GMT -5
I'm a veteran of the old board, having joined in 2010 after taking the P&P civil exam for the second time. Some may say I'm old guard.
Most folks call me bly or Bill. I've been a ham since 1998, getting licensed in high school before the whole Y2K scare. I graduated from college in December 2005 and drove to Alaska; leaving 24 hours after graduation in the dead of winter. Slept in the trailer the whole drive North; made for a few cold mornings, but growing up in snow country, it was second nature.
Have worked for a few different firms, mainly staying in Alaska, albeit traveling outside for different projects when required.
Interesting places that I've traveled to include Guantanamo Bay (aka Gitmo), Cuba; Rota, Spain; Southern Japan; Guam; and Hawaii.
Currently, I'm working as a structural engineer and API / STI tank inspector. I travel for work a few times a year with some trips being cannonball runs, others can last from a few days to a few weeks.
If you are headed to Alaska, feel free to send a PM on ideas / suggestions on where to go / what to see depending on how much time you expect to be in the area.
Check out the travel thread in case there is a chance of a meetup in your area. I've met several members of the old board while traveling for work.
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Post by ChebyshevII PE PMP on Jul 1, 2022 18:00:57 GMT -5
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Post by squaretaper LIT AF PE on Jul 1, 2022 18:06:04 GMT -5
I'm a veteran of the old board, having joined in 2010 after taking the P&P civil exam for the second time. Some may say I'm old guard. Most folks call me bly or Bill. I've been a ham since 1998, getting licensed in high school before the whole Y2K scare. I graduated from college in December 2005 and drove to Alaska; leaving 24 hours after graduation in the dead of winter. Slept in the trailer the whole drive North; made for a few cold mornings, but growing up in snow country, it was second nature. Have worked for a few different firms, mainly staying in Alaska, albeit traveling outside for different projects when required. Interesting places that I've traveled to include Guantanamo Bay (aka Gitmo), Cuba; Rota, Spain; Southern Japan; Guam; and Hawaii. Currently, I'm working as a structural engineer and API / STI tank inspector. I travel for work a few times a year with some trips being cannonball runs, others can last from a few days to a few weeks. If you are headed to Alaska, feel free to send a PM on ideas / suggestions on where to go / what to see depending on how much time you expect to be in the area. Check out the travel thread in case there is a chance of a meetup in your area. I've met several members of the old board while traveling for work. I bet our callsigns are pretty close! I got my license in high school as well (or, maybe middle school, I don't remember). Which bands do you usually hang out on? I'm in the process of rebuilding the ham shack and I have a brand new Icom IC-7300 waiting to be hooked up. Will PM my callsign. |
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Post by Blybrook PE on Jul 1, 2022 18:25:12 GMT -5
Blybrook PE I bet our callsigns are pretty close! I got my license in high school as well (or, maybe middle school, I don't remember). Which bands do you usually hang out on? I'm in the process of rebuilding the ham shack and I have a brand new Icom IC-7300 waiting to be hooked up. Will PM my callsign. Depending on where we were first licensed, our calls might not be all that close (you'll see that in the PM response). My truck has an ICOM 706 with an antenna for 80M-2m; a Yaesu FT8800 for 2m & 440. While driving, I usually have the 2m / 440 on as the Icom is a bit harder to control / use while driving. The standard whip on the Icom is a 6m, so if I have it on, it'll be set to 6m simplex. The home station is going to be setup with a Yaesu FT-1500m on a copper cactus then an Alinco HF and the KAM+ on a G5RV. I have a 45' freestanding Rohn 25 tower and a 60' crank-up waiting for installation when I find the free time. The IC-7300 is a nice rig. I may get one eventually. |
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Post by Dothracki PE on Jul 1, 2022 19:20:23 GMT -5
I got licensed in college, but never really got into it. I bought a small 4-channel Kenwood reciever, but it was just the unit, no power supply or anything. I never looked into the other parts and sold it last year before we moved.
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Post by Blybrook PE on Jul 1, 2022 21:14:37 GMT -5
Dothracki PE if your license has expired, the FCC has permitted you to retest at the technician level to regain full license privilege's for the previous license class. The beofang HT is a nice little 2m/440 rig that runs about $45 to get you on the air, if you so choose. AND since it's as cheap as it is, you're not out of much should it get dropped / broken or otherwise destroyed. Recent changes with the FCC mandate that you keep your address current in the system or they cancel your license. A newer change requires you to also have an active email on file as they no longer provide paper licenses unless you pay a fee. Licenses are no longer free to obtain, there is a congress mandated processing fee for new licenses, plus the VEC fees for testing (depending on who you go through). If there is anyone interested in getting more information on getting licensed, please let me know. I've been a VE for almost as long as I've been licensed. I have no issues assisting anyone interested in the hobby.
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Post by Dothracki PE on Jul 2, 2022 9:20:47 GMT -5
My license is still valid for another two years. I really should talk to my neighbor who is very likely into ham. I don't know why else he would have two antennas on his house and two on his car. I will look into the baofang unit. I've definitely heard about them and how many use them instead of Ken Woods.
I have kept up my address changes with the FCC. What's the process for renewing the license when it comes time?
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Post by Bard PE on Jul 2, 2022 9:23:25 GMT -5
U.S. Navy, by chance?
I worked with the Navy prior and had visited all those locations except for Cuba.
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Post by Blybrook PE on Jul 2, 2022 12:00:40 GMT -5
My license is still valid for another two years. I really should talk to my neighbor who is very likely into ham. I don't know why else he would have two antennas on his house and two on his car. I will look into the baofang unit. I've definitely heard about them and how many use them instead of Ken Woods. I have kept up my address changes with the FCC. What's the process for renewing the license when it comes time? I have a couple kenwood HT's, the original batteries are dead and the AA battery packs use a LOT of AA's. Eventually, I will pickup a baofang as I've programmed enough of them over the years for others in the area. For renewals, you can either go to a local test session and have them file the paperwork for you (for a fee) or do it yourself through the ULS website: ULS Instructions |
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Post by Blybrook PE on Jul 2, 2022 12:02:10 GMT -5
U.S. Navy, by chance?
I worked with the Navy prior and had visited all those locations except for Cuba.
Only as a federal contractor. Guam trips have been for both the Navy and Air Force, depending on which end of the island was the primary purpose of the visit. These sites were visited while performing fuel tank inspections under API 653 criteria. |
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