Brushbeater

I was pleased to find the Radio Contra podcast with its emphasis on communications. I have been listening for several weeks and finally decided to join up here. I have been in the radio hobby for many years. Not a lot of new whiz-bang gear on hand but I am making the most of what I have. I have always enjoyed a moderate level of camping / hiking but have cut back to car camping the past couple of years. I do set up a portable HF station from the campsite and keep a waterfall open with the laptop screen facing the road/trail. The curious few always ask what I am doing. People are amazed that a text message can be sent from my radio to a cell phone anywhere with cell service. Or that a sdr/usb dongle with a simple antenna can monitor such a wide range of activity. FRS frequencies are a good demo for that. My simplex range on vhf/uhf is currently around 7 miles if anyone wants to attempt a voice or digital contact in NE Dallas county.

Welcome!

I’m likely just north of you in Denton County.

Jeff B.

Denton is not to far away. I put up a "new to me" vhf/uhf base station antenna last weekend and can now get into the Denton repeater if I crank things up to 40 watts. It was the Denton clubs push on digital modes a few years back that got me onto that path. I would listen to the Sunday afternoon nets on Echo Link and ask questions with the AIM feature on Net Logger. Cumbersome, but it worked. I drove up for a couple of face to face QSO's as well. I hope to be home tomorrow for the Digitally Speaking Net at 2 p.m.

I have noted a general increase activity on simplex around my area. Are you seeing something similar up north?

I wouldn’t know, I’m not a radio guy. Seems like an interesting hobby, but I’ve got a lot of other stuff keeping me busy.

Jeff B.

Welcome aboard!

South Texas here