My area of interest moved toward vhf/uhf after the 1950s. I became active on 2 meters AM in 1958, 6 meters AM in 1964, 432mhz CW in 1966, 2 meter SSB in 1966, 432 SSB in 1972, 1296 Sept 2000, 222Mhz Nov 2002, 10Ghz Nov 2003 and 902Mhz in Jan 2007. I continue to be active on these bands to this day. During spring and summer of 2002, I obtained VUCC on 50, 144 and 432Mhz as well as 50Mhz WAS. As of Feb 2007 I have 50 states (309 grids) confirmed on 6m, 48 states (257 grids)confirmed on 2 meters (including EME), 23 states (61 grids) confirmed on 222Mhz, 15 states (64 grids) confirmed on 432, 1 state (2 grids) on 902Mhz, 6 states (23 grids) confirmed on 1296 and 4 states (12grids) on 10Ghz. I enjoy working e-scatter, tropo, digital EME and meteor scatter. Satellite communications has always seemed to be "cheating", but has been enjoyed off and on since the first of the amateur "birds".

1296MHZ was added with the purchase of a Downeast Microwave transverter in Sept of 2000. A N6CA type 2C39 amplifier was built up over the winter of 00/01 and that produces 22 watts of CW/SSB on 1296. 70 feet of 1/2" Andrews LDF leads to a Directive Systems 45 element loop yagi at 65 feet.

After an absence of over 30 years I returned to 6 meters in August of 2001. I traded for a dead TenTec 1208 transverter (8 watts input) and put up a dipole off the side of the tower. I was blessed with several mini-stateside openings toward the end of August and worked 26 states in about 6 hours over a 3 day period with just 4 watts measured output. Oh what fun! Then the band "went away", so I purchased a used 5 elem yagi and put it up at the bottom of the antenna stack at 60ft. Conditions allowed nothing out of the ordinary until the "band went nuts" mid Nov 2001 and we enjoyed good F2 DX again. Sure glad I did not wait longer to rejoin "The Magic Band" that I first enjoyed in the 1960's :>)

A 4CX250B 222MHZ amplifier was built up over the winter of 02/03 and that produces 250 watts of CW/SSB on 222. It is driven by a DEM 222-28 transverter 70 feet of Times LMR400 leads to Cushcraft 220B yagi at 62 feet. The Boomer was obtained from Gary WØGHZ. Thanks Gary!!

During the winter of 2003-04 I built up two complete 10Ghz systems. The first system is a DEM transverter followed by a Qualcomm 1watt PA. The other system is a Kuhne transverter with a 2Watt PA / preamp at the tower top. Both systems use a RCA 18" DSS dish and modified feed. 10Ghz is a "blast". The tower system was upgraded to 6+watts in Sept 07 with a DEM PA.

During the winter of 2006-07 I built up a KK7B 902 "no-tune" transverter. Thanks to Chris NØJCF who found it and a Ericsson 40w PA surplus to his needs, so I have a UHF new band. In late Feb, I built a SoftRock 6.1RxTx 80/40m Software Defined transceiver. Running 500mw mostly on 40 meter CW it has been great fun. My first intended QRPp operations and many neat QSOs.

Rag-chewing a very enjoyable part of the hobby for me, but it has always been the building and configuration of stations that has made the hobby, one that can last for a lifetime. If you work 50Mhz, 144Mhz, 222Mhz, 432Mhz, 902Mhz, 1296Mhz, 10Ghz SSB /CW or maybe even 80/40m CW. I hope that I have a chance to work you.

73 Bill KØAWU Grid EN37ed

6 Meter Grid Map
2 Meter Grid Map
222Mhz Grid Map
432Mhz Grid Map
1296Mhz Grid Map

10Ghz Grid Map