ZS6BNE's Blog

///////////////////////////////////////////
The end of the line

Posted: 16 Mar 2020 11:03 PM PDT
https://zs6bne.wordpress.com/2020/03...d-of-the-line/







Elrika, my XYL, and I were talking last night and the subject of ham radio
came up. This year in October we will be married for forty years and in not
one of those years did she ever have a love for ham radio, my hobby. I see
her point.




Ham radio requires attention and does not fit in well with interruption. I
too get very mission driven when practicing ham radio that it would almost
come across as being irritable. I enjoy ham radio and the challenge but
its always a battle really.




A little over a year ago I made a really bad decision to trade in all my
equipment to go the Xeigu route, typically the X5105. If it was a KX3 or
even close things may have been different but it wasnt. Replacing the
equipment I once had is really not worth the cost and the second hand
market is very limited, hams holding onto what they have (I dont blame
them) or asking brand new prices for them!




I retired officially a year ago and invested in a 1.6 hectare piece of land
next to a home I built a few years ago on which I am creating a nature
trail and within that space the trail is a kilometer long. I also saw this
area as my RaDAR training ground and also used for trail running (Even at
age 62). I spend hours there practically every day working like a gardener
but it gives me a lot of pleasure and a sense of achievement. Elrika refers
it to be my new hobby.




Ham radio had served me well throughout my entire career. I celebrated my
45th year as a ham just last month on the 17th of February. Even during my
service as technology manager with a large company in my home town I once
suggested that the technicians reporting to me do the RAE (Radio Amateurs
Examination) and at least get a recognized qualification. I was told by my
immediate superior to leave my hobby at home. It still saddens me but maybe
many see ham radio as a hobby. I like to see it as a professional ability.




To be honest, the most fun I ever had was with a single frequency (7.023
MHz) 49er CW transceiver running 300 mW. To me ham radio must serve a
purpose. That is why I developed RaDAR that through RaDAR ham radio could
serve a purpose. Id like to think I have made a difference throughout my
ham radio career and will continue to do that where I can.




Im still active on the FM satellites with my very old Kenwood TH-D7A(g) but
I find the Five nine thing to be most boring. Id love to see the RaDAR
concept actively present within the satellite community. It would fit in
extremely well there. On the 4th of April 2020 the first RaDAR Challenge
for the year takes place. Ill be RaDAR active using SatComms and moving on
foot.