[FARC] Introduction and mobile operation question

[Bob Moroney]

David,

Welcome to the group!

If you're handy with the tools needed, I'd definitely vote for building 
the TAK-40 rig described in QST.  I haven't looked at the on-line files 
yet, but it doesn't look exceptionally hard to build, and all those 
features for $50 (or even $150 if you go the pc board route) is 
amazing.  Go for it.

As for talking with your friend in Boston, it will depend a lot on 
(surprise) band conditions and your antenna.   But your chances for 
success are greatly enhanced with PSK31.  And whether or not you are 
able to chat with your friend, you'll no doubt have a lot of fun trying, 
and make a bunch of new friends in the process with the many other Hams 
you'll meet on the air. 

By all means, keep a log, including antenna configuration(s) used, 
weather and band conditions, etc.  Perhaps you could give a short talk 
about your adventure at a FARC meeting, once you get back from vacation, 
and show off your rig to the rest of the group.  

I'll pencil you in right now.  Pick a month...  ;-)

Good luck & 73,
Bob K9CMR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

David Kindred wrote:
> Hello, everyone,
>
> Since I'm brand new to FARC I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is
> David (KB3NAI), we have 3 sons (10 - 13) and live in Kemptown in the
> southern tip of the county. I've had my ticket for a couple of years,
> but I'm a really inexperienced ham, having only been having fun with
> APRS and chatting a bit on 2m during that time. My equipment is limited
> to a D700 and a VX-150 HT. I don't know any local hams, other than
> having an acquaintance with the very cool Joe (NE3R), and didn't know
> any hams growing up, so the full scope of amateur radio is still a bit
> of an unknown to me. I'm hoping that my membership in FARC will cure my
> ignorance and give me the chance to make some more friends. I'm also
> hoping to perhaps find an Elmer!
>
> Our family is planning a camping trip to the upper midwest over the
> summer. I thought it would be an awful lot of fun to set up a radio and
> communicate from "the wilderness" (actually campgrounds with showers)
> with a friend in Boston during that time. My funds are somewhat limited,
> so forking out $500+ for equipment, unfortunately, doesn't appear an
> option for me. The QRP project outlined in our most recent QST looked
> intriguing. It only works on 40m. Do you think it likely that 5w could
> make it from, say, WI to Boston on 40m for PSK31? If not, do you have
> any suggestions for what would make for a reasonably-priced mobile HF
> setup? 
>
> Thank you all!
>
> 73,
>
> --David, KB3NAI
>