Are you quarantined? Working from home? Did you lose your job? How are you doing during this crazy time?
What is going on with you during this challenging situation? How are you doing?
I'm quarantined at home. I can work from home, as I am a senior software engineer. I can do my job by remote access to a virtual workstation, through a secure VPN connection. I'm blessed that I still can work during this lock-down. I am doing more ham radio activities, since my radio room is my work-from-home room, too.
I'd like to know: How do you use amateur radio, now that we are all stuck at home? Are you using ham radio more, less, or about the same?
Please leave a comment to let me know how you are doing, and what your are up to.
I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks.
I hope to meet you on the shortwave amateur radio bands. I am usually using Olivia, or Morse code CW. More information about Olivia: http://OliviaDigitalMode.net.
Be healthy, be safe, stay sane!
73 de NW7US
| N4BRJ | 2020-05-29 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| The last time I had an enjoyable evening out was for my birthday in early March. I've been working exclusively from home, an average of 60 hours a week so my day consists of work, fix a quick dinner, relax an hour or two then bed so I can do the whole routine over again the next day. We had a Carribean vacation scheduled for April... cancelled. For my Birthday I received VIP concert tickets with a backstage pass to meet and see my favorite band on a once-in-a-lifetime tour... cancelled. And we had an anniversary cruise in the Mediterranean scheduled for late summer.... cancelled. Basically it can be summed up as work, with nothing remaining to look forward too. | ||
| KM1H | 2020-05-27 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| Very little different around here. Weather is good so Im outside a lot doing yard and house exterior work. Also fixing the snow plow truck....little things that got abused over the winter. Getting ready to try some new homebrew antennas; I dont waste money buying them since they are so easy to make. Im retired so do my shopping weekday mornings after the early birds have flown and the aisles are quite empty, even at Walmart Super Store which has the best fruits and berries. HD, Lowes, Advance Auto/Autozone, etc are all on the same road the next town over in Salem NH. .....even HRO. I start at one end and work my way down, Walmart anchors the North end. Had just bought a 30 roll mega size TP and the largest package of paper towels as I always do and this before the insane hoarders rush. Still have a few of each left. No hoarding, just price shopping as I always do. Im still thinking what to do with the $1200 Stimulus payment thanks to President Trump. Dont need any radio gear. Maybe treat myself to a new mattress and box spring. Carl Ham since 1955 | ||
| ZL1BBW | 2020-05-25 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| Well at first it was great, I am retired, but always seemed to be busy with other jobs, so now locked down I got on with all my jobs. That went really well for a couple of weeks, then started to need things, couldnt go to town for them, nobody open, mailman getting later every day, so knuckled down and did some jobs off the I will do it one day list. Anyway we have now come through L4 & L3 and just a week into L2 restrictions, so can go town, but have to keep socially distant, another few weeks then maybe to L1. We were going on holidays to YJ, 3D2 and VK this year they are all scrubbed out. Ham Radio wise worked a few not many, spent some time stripping a Prop Pitch and will be getting it back together when I can get the bearings. Certainly has brought home a whole pile of issues for us. Ah well CUSN DE ZL1BBW/ZM1M | ||
| W4KVW | 2020-05-19 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| I have been home for 10 weeks & it has been pretty quiet around here.The only radio time I have had has been on the local repeaters & some DMR on 1st Coast DMR.I am recovering from surgery on my right rotator cuff so I spend most of my time in my Lazy Boy where I have slept for the last 10 weeks as well because it is very uncomfortable sleeping in our bed.Life is good.I am looking forward to the shoulder being better since I have a Brand New set of Eggbeater Antennas assembled & sitting outside of my shack door waiting to be put on the mast for Satellite work so I can stop using my Diamond V-2000A for that purpose.I can also finish my small repairs & upgrades on my Bass Boat & go fishing.I am at HIGH RISK for the virus so staying home has been a small price to be safe.I'm just happy that I'm Retired & have no need to go anywhere.I have even been doing my Dr's appointments & PT appointments with Virtual visits. {:>) | ||
| NW7US | 2020-05-19 | |
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| Re: How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| Actually, HERE is the new video, a follow-up. Shows you that I should not be writing posts at 2:30 AM! Video follow-up: https://youtu.be/vFGbw7d91GA 73 de NW7US Reply to a comment by : NW7US on 2020-05-19 Here is a follow-up video. https://youtu.be/nrSlzfeHvEs 73 de NW7US | ||
| NW7US | 2020-05-19 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| Here is a follow-up video. https://youtu.be/nrSlzfeHvEs 73 de NW7US | ||
| KK9H | 2020-05-18 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| The first thing to say is that I think we are blessed with the ideal hobby for these "stay at home" times. While the HF bands may not be offering their best propagation, they are providing some occasional DX openings, especially while operating FT8 and FT4. Quite frankly, I have been spending more time on the air lately than I have in a long time. I enjoy adding new DXCC band countries and with some recent 6M openings I've been able to add some new grid squares to my VUCC total as well. With the extra time spent around the house I have finally gotten to some projects to improve my antennas and shack layout as well. My local ham club has been having regular video conference meetings and radio nets which have been well attended and a lot of fun. So, as I said, we are very fortunate to have the ideal hobby for these times. | ||
| KK8ZZ | 2020-05-18 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| As a biological scientist, I’ve been sequestered at home and only venture out for food every couple of weeks, wearing mask and surgical gloves. It is sad that the “administration” has chosen to open the US, for the most part. There will. Be a high price to pay by mid-June, I fear. I’ve never been so busy on the bands as I’ve been for the past three months. Playing with FT8 and made over 500 contacts, 80-10 reliably, even when some bands are “closed” there are still some contacts to be made 15 and 10 meters constantly surprise me! Stay safe, everyone. De KK8ZZ | ||
| W8LV | 2020-05-11 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| I'm a Registered Nurse, so I haven't been on the air since this all started. I have been listening to Ham Nation, W5KUB, and the QSO today Podcast in the car to and from work and am grateful to be able to listen to them. Every year I take off a week for Dayton Hamvention and QRP ARCI Four Days in May. This year was no different. Except Of Course, it's turned out to be VERY different. So like many of us? I guess that I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go. I pray that we all make it to Hamvention/FDIM 2021, and hope to be on the air this week, when not mowing and tackling the "Honeydo" list. 73 DE W8LV BILL | ||
| KB2DHG | 2020-05-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| I had some family members come down with the covid-19 virus but thank God they are alright now. This virus has been a real problem and life as we knew it has changed I am uncertain of the future and am very heartfelt for all the people who are suffering and have lost loved ones. I am sorry for all the people who lost their jobs and have no income it is all just a tragic situation. I am fortunate that I am still getting an income and able to work even though it is not in the capacity it was before the pandemic. Thank God for my hobbies and as one of them is HAM RADIO I have been on the air more than usual. Even in the worst situations I always seem to find some good. I have been able to actually relax and take stock in myself and look at life...I have been able to get certain things done and am grateful for my friends and family. I only pray we can get through this soon and that we all learned something from it. Be well my friends Keep social distance and stay home as much as possible until we have a resolve to this pandemic. | ||
| N3BXZ | 2020-05-09 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| I too am lucky enough to be able to work from home during the pandemic. My home office is also my radio shack. I have been building several ham radio projects on the workbench. I'm also teaching myself Python and Visual Basic. My sister recently gave me a gift certificate to HRO, it was enough to buy a Vibroplex Bug, Straight Key, and a set of Iambic Paddles. So I am practicing with each of them. I had my first 5 Bug QSOs this morning. Very different from the Cootie I had been using for the past few months. Next up is the straight key. The goal is to be proficient with a straight key, cootie key, bug, iambic paddles, and my Viborplex Vibrokeyer by the end of the year. And yes, my preferred mode is CW. | ||
| VK2NZA | 2020-05-06 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| My YL and I are semi retired living on a 300 acre property, we appreciate having lots of space in a beautiful sub tropical part of Australia during the Covid19 lockdown. My partner has been increasing the size of our vegetable garden and we've just harvested a bumper crop of ice lettuce, cucumbers, spring onions and cherry tomato's all of which taste great. There is of course alway plenty of work and maintenance to be done on the property, yesterday i performed a service on one of the tractors, including a full hydraulic oil change and filter, a clutch plates replacement on the 6 ft slasher safety clutch and blade replacement. We have had some rain recently and that has given me the excuse to scour the E ham forums and put some questions to the forums, I find a lot of enjoyment in the forums. Always appreciative of the wealth of support and expertise on the forums, I don't have a professional electronics background like many of the Elmers on the forums and sometimes feel sheepish asking what may appear to some as basic maths but i'm constantly enlightened and learn a lot. I've been on the bands considerably more recently, mainly 80, 40 and 20 dependent of conditions, enjoyed a number of great rag chews and just listening to others QSO's can be quite entertaining. Calibrating one of my manual tuners to various bands and wiring up some new accessories that have been sitting in their respective boxes for some time. My partner was an Registered nurse for 40 years and I also have a nursing degree obtained later in life, we are very aware of the highly infectious nature of Covid 19. and take appropriate precautions. Here in Australia we have flattenned out the virus curve and due to quick action by our state and federal govts instituting quick lock downs, shutting down of international travel and social distancing, financial support for those who can't work so we are slowly coming out of lockdown and working with NZ to allow cross Tasman flights in the future. Otherwise there is very little international travel without special permission. Having family in NZ I often fly across to visit however that may not be possible for some time yet so skype and regular phone calls have to suffice. I heard a Texan QSO'ing with a Florida ham last night commenting that he should buy shares in one of the major US hardware chains given the amount of business they are doing, no different here, they are doing very well with everyone doing their home projects while locked down. I've been driving 50 klm into our nearest town every couple of weeks to shop at the supermarkets and stop by a major hardware outlet, here at many of our major stores there are circular one way in one way out systems with barriers outside and red crosses on the pavement entry areas and at counters to channel and space patrons with handwash stations at entry and exit with security personel observing and controlling the spacing. The vast majoruty of people here are taking the science and regulations seriously and are adhering to recommendations and regulations and it appears to be working as our infection and mortality rates are very low now by world standards and thankfully our well equiped national health and hospital system has coped well. We are feeling more positive about returning to the new normal as restrictions are lifted but realise that the world will be a different place from now on and vigilence, observing best practise hygenic methods, credible science, assisted by our nation's citizens mutual and caring cooperation will be part of our ability to deal with the virus. Tomorrow if its still wet i plan to make up several new jumper cables out of RG-213 to replace several RG-58 2 meter lengths from my antenna swith unit to the external wall mounted antenna balun connections box. I am enjoying the space and time to persue a hobby i returned to after a long hiatus that has given me a lot of satisfaction as I age. I trust that everyone stays safe and finds interest and fraternity in this hobby during the pandemic. all the best Ross. | ||
| NW7US | 2020-05-04 | |
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| Re: How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| KB2DHG DE NW7US - Glad to meet you! As I mentioned to K2MMO, I am a member of SKCC, and FISTS. I love CW/Morse code. I spend a lot of time either on CW or Olivia digital mode. Rarely do you hear my voice on any radio. :) I do monitor voice comms, though. Sometime, we need to chat via the ionosphere. Stay healthy! 73 de NW7US dit dit Reply to a comment by : KB2DHG on 2020-05-04 Well, I have been working as that I am an essential worker but I have been on the air much more than usual. I operate mostly CW but have been on SSB a lot just to see how people are dealing with this all over the world! | ||
| NW7US | 2020-05-04 | |
|---|---|---|
| Re: How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| K2MMO DE NW7US = Hello, from Lincoln, Nebraska! My first love is CW/Morse code. My two most-used modes are CW and Olivia. I rarely use my voice, these days. I use a straight key - my most favorite that I have used since I was licensed in 1990, is a Navy WWII Flameproof Signaling Key. My current one is CJB26003A. Sometimes I will use a single paddle Vibroplex key. I need a new one, though. I'm a member of the SKCC - LOVE THAT GROUP! I am also a member of FISTS. Hope to chat with you, sometime. Stay healthy! 73 de NW7US Reply to a comment by : K2MMO on 2020-05-03 Operating about the same amount of time.I work CW only and try and get on a couple of times a week usually in the morning between 8 and 9 am EDST. Making about 2 to 3 contacts a week from ragchewers like myself.Working mostly 20 and 40 meters CW. Once the warm weather finally arrives operating time may be less as I enjoy working in my yard especially my garden. | ||
| NW7US | 2020-05-04 | |
|---|---|---|
| Re: How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| KE6SIS DE NW7US = Great to meet you, Jaye. Nice tower. Watched your videos. The window/twin-lead fed antenna - the Delta, I presume - looks like something I will use if I can get my tower up, this summer. I always heard a loop is way more quiet. Very cool. Do you have any pictures of your delta, as it is now configured? On what bands are you able to use it? I used to have an amp. I will eventually grab one, and increase my DX capabilities. I've nearly always run 100 watts or less, and I have DXCC with that, so no complaints. But, the amp would really help on 80 and 160. Thanks for the reply. I hope we chat via the ionosphere, sometime soon. 73 de NW7US dit dit Reply to a comment by : KE6SLS on 2020-05-01 Will FB Tom, I am hunkered down here in Eureka! California. The self isolation comes at an odd time in my life. That is to say, I was already hunkered down prior to the covid19 due to a spinal injury early 2019. The only real change is I miss having friends drop in to say hi. But a special ham has been coming over and doing lawn and work I can't do now. Great having these kind of friends. I am now on PHONE! I'm a cw lover and also thrive using digital modes, esp on 3.581 either doing my Monday emergency net, or Tuesday with the ORCA Digital net, or Thursdays on the Western Digital net. Problem is, the TV isn't so good and being stuck here, will, I started listening to all the various nets on 40 and 75m. I found the Country Cousins! A lot of the folks on the Country Cousins are also dealing with some disability or other, and I guess I just kind of liked the easy way the net runs. I joined the Western cousins first, then later joined the North west cousins a few months later. The president of the western cousins asked me to become an NCS--will, I was reluctant but I finally decided to do it. My station is solar powered, and I've loved running lower power for 20 years, but now looking into an amplifier for NCS nights. We'll see what the cat drags in I suppose. SRI to hear about your teeth. Dentistry is very much in the dark ages still. The work is mostly barbaric with twists of marvels. Like you, had issue with a tooth, took forever to isolate it, but we decided the tooth had to go. Was going to run $5500 to get a little bridge made and installed. The spinal injury happened and all I could do was get the tooth pulled. Now have a big gap in my mouth and can't use that side, no hope of getting that bridge work now, and the worst is that the pain is still there even though the tooth is gone. Can't win for loosing.. I didn't make a fresh video for you Tom, but I did make one not too long ago after I added a second transmatch to my shack! https://youtu.be/B1Jf2xJ-fY0 Since then, my special friend. Carl KM6LIQ also built a tower brace and installed my new (waiting for install for 13 years!) tower! Here's a link to the raising of the tower: https://youtu.be/2JKtIcgorSQ looking from the base to the top: https://youtu.be/FU-QJwRi1K0 Anyway, I had an inverted vee on the tower, but it was so noisy. After talking to a bunch of cousins, I decided to convert it to a delta vee by adding a horizontal wire connecting the two ends of the inverted vee at about 8' off the ground. What a change! Noise went from S8-9 down to S2 and signals jumped out of my speaker. To add spice to it, I can now match 75m with the built in matchbox in my rig, and use the two outboard match boxes for 80 and 40 meters without having to retune each time. Amazing. So Now I'm going to add another outboard kilowatt match box for the amp and find the plug that came with my TS570 for running an amp. BTW, that cigar looks absolutely delicious! 73 om and GL with the dentist. Jaye ke6sls in Eureka! California | ||
| KB2DHG | 2020-05-04 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| Well, I have been working as that I am an essential worker but I have been on the air much more than usual. I operate mostly CW but have been on SSB a lot just to see how people are dealing with this all over the world! | ||
| K2MMO | 2020-05-03 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| Operating about the same amount of time.I work CW only and try and get on a couple of times a week usually in the morning between 8 and 9 am EDST. Making about 2 to 3 contacts a week from ragchewers like myself.Working mostly 20 and 40 meters CW. Once the warm weather finally arrives operating time may be less as I enjoy working in my yard especially my garden. | ||
| KE6SLS | 2020-05-01 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
Will FB Tom, I am hunkered down here in Eureka! California. The self isolation comes at an odd time in my life. That is to say, I was already hunkered down prior to the covid19 due to a spinal injury early 2019. The only real change is I miss having friends drop in to say hi. But a special ham has been coming over and doing lawn and work I can't do now. Great having these kind of friends. I am now on PHONE! I'm a cw lover and also thrive using digital modes, esp on 3.581 either doing my Monday emergency net, or Tuesday with the ORCA Digital net, or Thursdays on the Western Digital net. Problem is, the TV isn't so good and being stuck here, will, I started listening to all the various nets on 40 and 75m. I found the Country Cousins! A lot of the folks on the Country Cousins are also dealing with some disability or other, and I guess I just kind of liked the easy way the net runs. I joined the Western cousins first, then later joined the North west cousins a few months later. The president of the western cousins asked me to become an NCS--will, I was reluctant but I finally decided to do it. My station is solar powered, and I've loved running lower power for 20 years, but now looking into an amplifier for NCS nights. We'll see what the cat drags in I suppose. SRI to hear about your teeth. Dentistry is very much in the dark ages still. The work is mostly barbaric with twists of marvels. Like you, had issue with a tooth, took forever to isolate it, but we decided the tooth had to go. Was going to run $5500 to get a little bridge made and installed. The spinal injury happened and all I could do was get the tooth pulled. Now have a big gap in my mouth and can't use that side, no hope of getting that bridge work now, and the worst is that the pain is still there even though the tooth is gone. Can't win for loosing.. I didn't make a fresh video for you Tom, but I did make one not too long ago after I added a second transmatch to my shack! https://youtu.be/B1Jf2xJ-fY0 Since then, my special friend. Carl KM6LIQ also built a tower brace and installed my new (waiting for install for 13 years!) tower! Here's a link to the raising of the tower: https://youtu.be/2JKtIcgorSQ looking from the base to the top: https://youtu.be/FU-QJwRi1K0 Anyway, I had an inverted vee on the tower, but it was so noisy. After talking to a bunch of cousins, I decided to convert it to a delta vee by adding a horizontal wire connecting the two ends of the inverted vee at about 8' off the ground. What a change! Noise went from S8-9 down to S2 and signals jumped out of my speaker. To add spice to it, I can now match 75m with the built in matchbox in my rig, and use the two outboard match boxes for 80 and 40 meters without having to retune each time. Amazing. So Now I'm going to add another outboard kilowatt match box for the amp and find the plug that came with my TS570 for running an amp. BTW, that cigar looks absolutely delicious! 73 om and GL with the dentist. Jaye ke6sls in Eureka! California | ||
| KL4EJ | 2020-05-01 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| Doing just fine. I run a power plant on the arctic ocean. No covid here yet. 73 Tomas | ||
| NW7US | 2020-05-01 | |
|---|---|---|
| Re: How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| N4UM DE NW7US = thank you for your reply. It is good, in my humble opinion, that you are operating more than usual! I think that any opportunity to get on the air is an inspiring situation that I would exploit to the best of my ability. :) I'm very sick of the news, too. I try to concentrate on my job, and on my family time. Outside of that, I try to enjoy the heck out of amateur radio. :) The current trends in politics and the herd mentality are making me anxious. I don't want to get too far into my thoughts on that, but I have the same observations that you shared. Perhaps I will do a video on my observations and thoughts - but, then, YouTube would ban me. 73! Stay safe and sane. Reply to a comment by : N4UM on 2020-04-30 I'm operating more than usual. Although I usually operate mostly on CW and digital modes, I seem to find myself with a mic in my hand a lot more often than usual. Perhaps this represents some sort of increased need for human contact. I'm exercising more than usual and have doubled the amount of time I spend riding my bike in the neighborhood. I'm getting very sick of TV - especially the news - which seems to be only about one thing and nothing but bad. I worry more and more about the apparent lack of understanding and regard for science by a growing segment of the population. I see politics increasingly taking on many of the worst features of religion. Other than these few things, things haven't changed much for me. | ||
| NW7US | 2020-05-01 | |
|---|---|---|
| Re: How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| KC1EFW DE NW7US = very nice to meet you, and to read your reply. If you are interested in Morse code and operating on the air, several groups come to mind. The first and top of my list of recommendations is the CWops group, and specifically, the service they provide for free for those learning Morse code. They will mentor you along the way. It is TRULY great. Another group, once you start becoming active, is the Straight Key Century Club, and then there is the FISTS group - a group dedicated to the preservation of Morse code. Both of those groups are very welcoming to new members, and those just starting their journey. If you have any questions, let me know. Perhaps I'll make a video on the answers, too. :) Perhaps I'll meet you somewhere on the HF bands! 73 Reply to a comment by : KC1EFW on 2020-04-30 I retired last December (software development) so my life hasn't changed that much with the stay at home. I am not on the air yet but am working on building a station now that I have the time. Antenna parts awaiting installation so in the meantime have been listening using a random wire antenna on my IC-718 just to get a feel for how the different bands are being used - I am mostly interested in HF SSB. Also thinking about taking the plunge and learning CW. | ||
| NW7US | 2020-05-01 | |
|---|---|---|
| Re: How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| KT4EP DE NW7US = Great to read your reply. I have seen an increase on the High Frequency amateur radio bands, but not so much on the repeaters. A lot of the repeater traffic in my area are from those who are driving to and from work. Since many of those hams are quarantined (well, because the work place is shut down), and not driving, I think they are not sitting by a radio itching for a chat. However, on HF, there are a LOT of activity spots, I've noticed. Say healthy, and stay sane! 73 Reply to a comment by : KT4EP on 2020-04-30 Retired and home most of the time. My radio time and days are pretty much the same as before the virus scare. Working FT8. I scan/listen to the local vhf/uhf repeaters here in the Memphis area and they are silent most of the time except for a few drive-time guys. I think folks are watching more netflix or something. | ||
| KT4EP | 2020-04-30 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| Retired and home most of the time. My radio time and days are pretty much the same as before the virus scare. Working FT8. I scan/listen to the local vhf/uhf repeaters here in the Memphis area and they are silent most of the time except for a few drive-time guys. I think folks are watching more netflix or something. | ||
| KC1EFW | 2020-04-30 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| I retired last December (software development) so my life hasn't changed that much with the stay at home. I am not on the air yet but am working on building a station now that I have the time. Antenna parts awaiting installation so in the meantime have been listening using a random wire antenna on my IC-718 just to get a feel for how the different bands are being used - I am mostly interested in HF SSB. Also thinking about taking the plunge and learning CW. | ||
| N4UM | 2020-04-30 | |
|---|---|---|
| How Are You Doing During This Lock-Down Quarantine? How's Ham Radio? | ||
| I'm operating more than usual. Although I usually operate mostly on CW and digital modes, I seem to find myself with a mic in my hand a lot more often than usual. Perhaps this represents some sort of increased need for human contact. I'm exercising more than usual and have doubled the amount of time I spend riding my bike in the neighborhood. I'm getting very sick of TV - especially the news - which seems to be only about one thing and nothing but bad. I worry more and more about the apparent lack of understanding and regard for science by a growing segment of the population. I see politics increasingly taking on many of the worst features of religion. Other than these few things, things haven't changed much for me. | ||