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"Too Many Antenna? What You Talking About Willis?"

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Earlier this spring I did a Blog about taking advantage of the warmer temperatures in the U.S. to do antenna maintenance and construction.  One of my plans was to deploy a Kite Antenna. However, weather conditions have presented wind speeds above the Kite's ratings with lots of severe weather days or days with low wind speeds. As a result, I have had to altered those plans. But fear not; that only leads me to build another antenna.  I have a saying about antenna. They are like underwear. You can NEVER have TOO MANY. As I look back over my Ham Radio years I wish I had  built more of my antenna  as a Novice. There is nothing wrong with purchasing commercial made antenna but building your own gives one a better understanding of how that antenna works and quite frankly how antenna work in general.  I have purchased a handful of commercial manufactured ham radio antenna over the years but prefer to build my own when possible. With today's U.S. Ham Radio License struc...
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These 2 Go Together Like Peanut Butter & Jelly. The QRPGuys Mini Tuner & YouKits HB-1B CW Transceiver

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   In May 2023, I purchased a 40 - 15 meter Mini Tuner Kit from QRPGuys. I didn't get around to assembling it until July 2023 which was likely not the right time for me to be building things.  For me, the summer months are the height of my bicycling and portable ham radio activities. It was an easy simple build less than an hour assembly.  The chart below show the amount of wire needed for 40 - 15 meter.       I had over 500' of 26 AWG wire so that was not an issue. I cut 100' of wire and started the process of building and marking the wire per each band and for the counterpoise.  I cut 72' for the total length to fold back for each band and a 28' counterpoise.  I found this approach very tedious and cumbersome. I spent the better part of two days while doing POTA activations trying to construct a wire to my satisfaction. At the time I found it was taking too much time away from my operating fun and put it all away. Fast forward to May 2...
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Location: Louisville, KY, USA
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The Little Rig That Could. I Think I Can, I Think I Can and and It DOES!

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  YouKits HB-1B CW Transceiver I don't do equipment reviews but I had to write about this little powerhouse.  It works for ME. In the fall of 2022, I was looking for a small QRP  Multi-Band  CW Transceiver.  I wasn't sure what I wanted but I came upon a find on the site below. QTH.com - Ham Radio Classified Ads   I contacted the broker who was selling the rig for the owner who advised me the seller had been trying to sell his HB-1B for almost a year with no takers. He said several people had expressed interest but no takers.  When he told me the asking price I almost fell out of my chair. My next question was, "What's wrong with the unit?" Broker said nothing.  Not going to mention the cost but I was excited to purchased it for what he was asking.  Before the rig arrived, holding true to my nature of building my own antennas, I constructed a 40, 30, 20,17 and 15 meter Linked Dipole, a 29'6" random Wire with two 17' counterpoise and purchased ...
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Location: Louisville, KY, USA
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POTA 300!

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  Everytime I travel to do a Parks on the Air activation is special but on April 22nd, "Earth Day 2025" I reached a noteworthy occasion at Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve US-7956 in Louisville, KY. USA. The occasion; activation Number 300. I never imagined that on an early Sunday morning on August 8, 2021, I would achieve this milestone and the path that Parks on the Air would provide that has lead me to enjoy so many meaningful  and wonderful experiences Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve 8/8/2021 I discovered POTA during the height of the COVID pandemic and was recovering from surgery and treatment for liver failure.  LIttle did I know at the time of two more bladder cancer surgeries, treatments and the horrendous side effects that face me over the next three years. Undeterred since I've survived a previous  bladder cancer and pancreatic cancer surgery and treatment, Parks on the Air was the best medicine and treatment during this time.  I am so LUCKY...
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