Ham On A Bike

  Springtime is antenna time.  Warmer temperatures give Amateur Radio operators an opportunity to check on their QTH antenna systems for repair and or maintenance. It is also a time for us to put to practice some of those antenna designs and projects we developed over the winter months. Those of us who do a lot of portable, Parks on the Air, Summits on the air and World Wide Flora and Fauna are eager to construct antennas which are lighter, durable and easy to deploy providing increased window of opportunity for those chasing us. Over the years, I have successfully and failed in constructing HF, V/UHF portable and permanent  antenna. It is always great to enjoy the fruits of my labor in using an antenna I've built. There's one antenna which has been on my bucket list for years. This spring is the year I remove it from that list.  This antenna has been around for more than a century. It hasn't change much, except for the materials used to build it. It is the Marconi K...

With a few years of Parks on the Air (POTA) activations under my belt, I now look back to 2014 and realize I was totally oblivious what the future would hold for this first time bike tourist and the Ham Radio equipment I was carrying as it relates to the current Parks on the Air phenomenon. In 2011 after recovering from a 2008 pancreatic surgery and treatment, I started training for triathlons. I incorporated bike commuting to and from work as part of the my tri training with twice weekly before work swimming then biking 12 miles to work and treadmill running several times a week.  The triathlons were easy and fun; but the training was grueling.  In December 2013 I decided the tri training was not fun anymore and hang up my Tri Suits.  What Next? I wasn't ready to give up cycling as I found solace in bike commuting to and from work and weekend rides with a local bike club was equally fulfilling. I felt a need to fill the void of participating in triathlons. In early 2014 ...