This is the blog for Amateur Radio Operator K7JSX.

I’m intending to keep it up to date with notable events and milestones with the secondary goal of cataloging projects and relevant information as I go.

About Me⌗

I started my technology journey early on with hobby electronic component kits, modding consoles and building PCs in the late 90’s and early 00’s. I’ve been connected to the internet since the 56k era and still continue to enjoy computer networking.

Yes, I’ve installed Gentoo on an OG Xbox. It was awesome.

It was through the lense of tinkering and the desire to learn that I discovered amateur radio…

Ham Journey⌗

Seeing SOTA operators such as wGØAT and others on Youtube bring voices (or cw) out of the atmosphere was fascinating. How was this possible? Could I learn to do this? Of course!

This gave me a goal: Learn how to do this well.

Technician⌗

I earned my Technician license 2012.11.14 with the callsign KF7ZKH which didn’t last long as I would request and receive the 1x3 vanity call of K7JSX.

Limited to primarily VHF/UHF and no mental bandwidth available to learn CW there was not much accomplished for about a decade after this but I did manage to recruit a few close friends to earn their Technician licenses.

Learn APRS? Check.
Learn DMR? Check.
Amass an army of HTs? Check.
Hear repeater drama and realize I didn’t want to engage? Check!

As the time to renew my license neared in 2023 so did my desire to get on HF. I had the time and attention span to make it happen but lacked the motivation. Each year prior I was reminded of my slipping goals by the presence of ARRL Field Day reminder on my calendar. This year was different, but I didn’t know it yet.

KE7BUA, a fellow ham I’d met during Meshtastic experiments, informed me that getting an HF antenna on the air is easier then I expected. All I needed was some wire, a transformer and some way to get the wire up in the air. Ok, this is perfect. Let’s get an end fed and see if I can get on 10 meters. Let’s what the hype is about. Shortly after tuning and deploying my first antenna I completed a QSO with 3G0YA located on Easter Island. Are you kidding me?! Contacting another hemisphere from my backyard with 5 watts, some wire and a fishing pole!

That’s it! I was hooked.

General⌗

Study for General consisted of slamming flashcards on hamstudy.org for a few weeks and I obtained my General class license on 2024.06.01, just in time for Field Day 2024. I had achieved part of my goal. I learned how to do this. Now came the harder part. Do it well. Three weeks was all I had to put together everything needed to participate.

Longer end-fed for 20m? I made my own.
Create a kit for portable QRP ops? Done.
Sunscreen? Oops…

It was time to, you know, go out in the field. With long time friend and Technician license recruit N7DEV in tow I operated Field Day 2024 as 1B/QRP NV and logged 36 QSOs.

I’m calling it a win.

It’s been a great start to my General operating and I will one day make the final upgrade to Extra. Until then, I’ll continue experimenting and improving. I hope to see you on the air.

-js