N8FGX    Laura, OH  USA

My QSL card graphics

Welcome to my web page!

Hello!  As my QSL card shows, I have been a licensed Amateur Radio Operator since 1980 at the ripe old age of ten!  I am a member of the ARRL, QCWA, and Trustee of a local 2 Meter repeater club, the 84/24 FM Association. Our main receiver is located in Troy, OH and our transmitter is located in Tipp City, OH, with a remote site in Vandalia, OH.  The frequency is 147.240 +600.  Feel free to use the repeater when you're in the north Dayton area.  Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Troy/Miami County Public Library at 19:30 local time.  Contact me for details.

 

My current rig is an Icom IC-746PRO with a boom-mounted Heil Heritage mic.  Spare mic is the D-104.  I use a Heathkit SB-220 amplifier with a Harbach Electronics SK-220 soft key module, but use a Heil FS-2 Dual Footswitch as well.  My HF antennas are a Cushcraft R8 multiband vertical (now awaiting reassembly after moving), and a homrbrew 80M dipole. Dipole is oriented east-west.  All my 2M antennas also awaiting installation.  Main is a homebrew j-pole.  Other 2M "fixed" antennas which are in storage are an AEA Isopole, Cushcraft Ringo Ranger, a homebrew 5/8 w/ radials, and an 11-element Yagi which will be used sometime in the future!!!  Mobile equipment is the Icom IC-706MKIIG, and an Ameritron ALS-500M amplifier.  Primary mobile antenna for 75M (so I can use the amp) is a Hustler RM-75S on top of a MO-2 foldover mast.  I occasionally use a set of the Iron Horse sticks from ATOC Technologies  in Covington, and a JetStream 2M/440 foldover antenna.  I recently switched back to the Hustler Super Resonators as I was unable to obtain a low (better than 2.2:1)SWR on the 75M and 40M sticks.

 

My other radio-related interests include antenna building, and restoration of  Heathkit equipment, although parts are getting harder to find.  My current project is an SB-614 Monitor Scope.  

I would like to thank a good friend of mine, W4PFW, for all his guidance throughout the years, and most recently with help tuning my dipole!  Also, thanks to W8CL, N8KF, NZ8E, N8JWL, NW8A, KG8HI, K9EID, and anyone else I have omitted, for helping me set up my mic and "dial in" my audio settings!  And for answering my questions and everything else over the last 25 years, thanks to WD8BMA, KD8HI, WB8ASZ, WA8DIQ, AJ8R, W8NJR.  And finally a BIG thank you to N8WH for sending me the SO-239 to 3/8"-24 adapters for my mobile installation!!!

 

Join our QSO on 3.805 around 12:00 zulu!

 

73,  Dave

 

 

3-hourly WWV Geophysical Alert Message--http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/wwv.txt

 

My base rig—Icom IC-746PRO

My mobile rig—Icom IC-706MKIIG

N8FGX (middle) with DEI crew members.  Atlanta Motor Speedway, October 2003