KE6D Amateur Radio Page

 

 

I am a licensed Amateur Radio Operator Extra Class. My call sign is KE6D (ex KE6DND). I was first licensed in November of 1993. My exposure to Amateur Radio is kind of  accidental. I have always wanted to install a video camera in one of my R/C planes that can transmit real-time images back to a video monitor on the ground for viewing. I found out that, in order to be able operate one those ATV equipment, I had to obtain a license from the FCC.

After locating and talking with a couple of local elmers, I was set to sit down to study for the FCC exam and the Morse code element. Since I have an Engineering background, I had no trouble with the theory, but the Morse code is another story; The Morse code is so difficult to memorize at first - leave alone any attempt to improve any speed to at least 5 WPM for the Technician Plus Exam. Discouraging but I kept on CW practicing every day. Three months later, I passed the Technician Plus exam with a perfect score on both the theory and CW element! Knowing that if I stop studying and practicing CW, I would probably not be able to get to where I wanted to be so I kept practicing and studying. I upgraded my license once a month. By the end of the third month after I got my Tech Plus license, I passed the Extra Exam and the 20 WPM CW element!

But once I got into HAM radio, I was so fascinated with all the possibilities I could experiment - I hadn't come back and install the ATV camera onto one of my R/C planes yet. I hadn't quit R/C plane flying yet, but since I got into the new hobby, I could not find enough time to accommodate both hobbies. So all the R/C planes are just on "stand by"  in the garage waiting for me to re-discover  them...

My current main interest in Amateur Radio is operating CW and building QRP equipment. I love to spend my free time (if I could convince my young kids to go to bed before 10:00pm!) playing around with radio circuitry, building QRP radios, experimenting with HAM antennas, ragchewing and DX chasing in Morse code, experimenting with different digital modes on HAM radio bands. Here is a picture of my HAM shack taken recently. The main rig is actually the  Elecraft K2 radio that sits on the second shelf just above the Heathkit SB-230. The"backup rig" is a Kenwood TS-850S (which I normally run at about 5W unless there is a DX pile-up that I really like to get through). Then there is an old Heathkit SB-230 amplifier when the barefoot TS-850S can't seem to make any headway.

 
 



I collect and operate quite a few CW keys in my shack. Here are a few keys which I use regularly:

 

G4zpy.JPG (25255 bytes)

G4ZPY hand key - Beautiful hand key, but I can't seem to be able use straight key anymore!

Paddlette01.jpg (22975 bytes)

Paddlette paddles on a "custom" base

Paddlette02.jpg (21498 bytes)

Shurr01.JPG (26362 bytes)

Schurr Proffi - The nicest paddles I have ever owned!

Shurr02.JPG (19641 bytes)

 

Click one the buttons below to view some of the projects that I have been working in the last few years.

I finally put up a decent antenna at my QTH, check it out here...

Got a broken Alliance HD-73 rotator and want to rebuild it yourself. Here is how...

KE6D Software to Control the Elecraft K2... (Updated on 05/12/2003 - It just keeps getting better!)  

QRP Projects ] Mobile HF Operation ] Antenna Projects ] Photo Album ] Interests ] My QSL Card ] Misc Projects ]

 

If you have any suggestion or comment about this page, please email me.

Tnx es 73 de Dan, KE6D

 

This web page is still under development...

This page has been visited times

This page was last updated on 05/12/03.