Welcome to the internet home of KC8PDH!

Hello, and welcome. My name is Steve and I’ll be sharing some of my personal experiences as related to amateur radio, as well as providing links to some of the places I have found on the web that are related to amateur radio.

The radio hobby bug hit me in 2000. I purchased a Uniden BC-178CLT scanner in January, a Sangean Communication Receiver in March, and a Uniden BC-245XLT scanner by mid-year. When the middle of summer hit, I thought to myself, "The time has come. It’s time to get my ticket."

Well, as it turned out, I passed the Element 2 exam was licensed as a Amateur Radio operator on August 8, 2000. What a thrill! It felt like such a great accomplishment…and it was.

I had won an online auction for an old Yeasu FT-2 Auto 2M transceiver. Now I could hook it up and become a true operator. Although the rig has 8 receive/transmit crystals, it only included 3 crystals that would allow me to reach local repeaters. One of those repeaters needed a PL code for access. With no encoder on the FT-2 Auto, I was left with 2 repeaters I could access. That was good enough for me as I was just happy to get on the air. I knew there would be a time when I would be able to install additional crystals in the rig that would allow for greater enjoyment, but I was just happy to get on the air.

I played around with the FT-2 Auto for a while, but really started to enjoy 2M when I acquired my first HT. It was an Alinco DJ-196T that was purchased in late October. This little radio has it all and I’m still trying to figure out all of the bells and whistles.

Wait…I bought five radios last year? And my wife knows this? And I'm still alive? Something must be wrong.

I know some people may be reading this (just thinking positive), laughing, and saying that buying five radios in a year is nothing. I have a feeling that I have only just begun to understand how addicting this hobby can be. Maybe I’ll shoot for six radios in 2001!