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And, A little about me! |
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Edgar
KcKinney
KB8QEU
Born
19540414 in Saint John's, Michigan |
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In the beginning, 1993, I
started with an Icom IC-2AT HT, which I
still have and needs some repair.
The manager of Radio Shack at Crossroads
Mall Radio Shack (Prosperity, West
Virginia) gave me a HTX-202.
A friend, Mack Blackburn - KB8ULU/SK, gave
me another Radio Shack HTX-202, and about
the same time I traded some equipment for
a Radio Shack HTX-252 mobile which died
after about 2 years of use.
This particular HTX-252 was used, by a
friend - Bill Biggs KC8PDR, to provide
emergency commo from a Red Cross ERV,
during a major flood event in southern
West Virginia, in 2001. It finally died in
2005, leaving me back to the HTs with a
barley useable outside antenna and one 146
Mcs. mobile mag-mount antenna is dead as
well. The other 146 Mcs Mag-mount antenna,
that has a loading coil in it's base, uses
the coax from a computer network with a
BNC connector.
I, also, wish to have a 224 Mcs. mobile
and other rigs shown below, but doubt I'll
have that kind of luck living on SSD.
As you can tell, I've had other rigs that
died. My luck.
I have always been involved
in some sort of emergency commo, during
the past floods, hurricanes as well as
parades or special events, whether on 27
Mcs. band, as KBHZ5746, or 146 Mcs.
band, as KB8QEU.
Since the late 90s
I've been involved with severe weather
research, and became the VP of The
National Weather Technologies Service -
WXTECH, till the owner, Tom Burgess -
KD8BSJ, diabetes gotten so bad it
incapacitated him in 2009.
ARES, ALERT, Red
Cross Communications, and LEPC are some of
my interests.
Another interests
I have is locating, databasing and mapping
Ham repeater sites for many reasons, like
knowing which covers certain areas and
those that do not do so well or not at
all. Which, in turn, helps in the aid of
emergency communications.
Update
20171104
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Hello
to whomever is reading
this....
I
doubt I'll have
any more or/and
new radio, or even
be a ham much
longers.
Being on
disability since
1988, most of my
stuff, Amateur
Radio that is,
people gave me.
The only radios I
bought are the
Icom IC-2720, for
$200.00 (after
scraping up the
money in a years
time),
which is now
broken; and the
Wouxun KG-UVD1P,
for $80.00 from a
widow of a great
acquaintance that
got killed while
driving home from
work and was on
the air when it
happened. It now,
is down.
There are several
radios that I
drool over, but,
at this point,
however, I may
just drop out the
Amateur Radio all
together and fade
away.
In this area of
Kentucky (Since
20141101), and in
West Virginia, I
have no real
friends, just
close
acquaintances. No
one to help me, or
anyone else. I
never was in a
'click', always an
outsider and a
loner.
ARES is
non-existent. No
one cares to help,
via ham radio,
anymore.
I've had many
dreams and I do
have dreams and
wants but I know,
now, I will never
achieve them. So,
I am giving up.
I will maintain
web sites, for
individuals, clubs
and corporations
which that will be
my only hobby.
Does not pay but
keeps me somewhat
sane.
Like my model
railroading,
amateur radio may
be a thing in the
past.
In this area when
I had a HT on my
hip for ready use,
I was treated
badly and called a
pervert! Even the
schools and the
super does not
want Amateur Radio
taught or
acknowledge it's
existence!.
People in this
area shuns any one
who has tech
knowledge for
fear!
Soon, I may drop
all my dreams and
aspirations and
just go bye-bye!
Seven
Three
QRT
Ed - KB8QEU
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My
Presant Ham Shack
20130108
Taken at my home in
Beckley, West Virginia
As of
201403, neither any of these rigs are no longer
operational.
My Ham Shack at the
appartment in Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Yep, just a corner in the bedroom.
My Ham Shack after
moving into a house in Lancer, Kentucky. 2015)
Still a corner, in the dining room.
As of 201509, Moved to Lancer,
Kentucky.
The land lord did not know that there
was a 23' x 12' basement.
It had standing water in it about 8"
with tadpoles!!!
Discovering where the water was coming
from, I removed that path and allowed the "Man
Kave" to dry out.
Once done, cleaned up the cave for my
storage area.
I will have a separate web page with
images.
Basement update.... I was in the basement till
20180429 when after coming back
from where my step son was in the hospital,
seeing water in the kitchen flor, as well as,
wife seeing the expansion tank spewing out
water!
After cleaning up the water in the house,
which was not too much, I realized that maybe
I
should check the basement! I did! Woah!!!
About 2 inches was in it. The stuff on
or touching the floor got ruined. It included
a Motorola MaraTrac VHF 110 watt radio.
So I moved the basic stuff out, and my GoBox
72 Amp PSU, with the FT-8100r
and Motorola MaxTrac UHF radio back to the
Kitchen area, see previous picture,
positi9ned back to the corner.
The images below are the "Temporary Shack"!
My Ham Shack as of
20180712
You can se the
larger images by clincking on them.
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First
picture is my daughter's six legged
cat was asleep at my desk. He likes me
even though I'm a dog guy!
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The
next image is my GoBox with a 72 Amp
PSU (Dell PE-6650 PSU modded for
13.8 VDC) that powers anything
12VDC. I forgot to turn the Volt/Amp
meter on for it is wired with a
selector switch to read each output
terminals/connectors.
My stero and
speakers, for I like my music.
Upper Left is the
FT-8100r with a mobile hump speaker
from CB days. Below and on the desk
#1, is the Motorols MaxTrac UHF
radio for monotoring my repeater.
To the right of the
GoBox is a UPS. Batteries are dead
but makes a good power strip and the
batteries to be replaced once the
rich uncle comes home from the poor
house.
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This
next image is to the right of the
one above but shows my HP CE-7900
PC, with a scanner on top. The 4"
Box Fan came with my Henry Tempo One
HF radio (is not working now) to
keep me kool!
To the right is a
broken Baofeng UV5R. It died without
no warning. It's charger is not
powered on. And, finally to the
right of those you are obviously see
the tracBall, Monoror and Keyboard.
I took these images
while watching Ham Nation!
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Below
are images of my Hy-Gain VB-28FM two
meter beam. (At this time of typing
this, it needs tuned badly. Dips to
near zero at 141 and 151 Megacycles
and peaks at about 1:2.5 at 146.000
Megacycles.
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Below
shows some of the stuff I have or use to
have.
My original 11 Meter (27
Mcs) Equipment.
Lafayette
DynaCom 23 5W CB HT
with charger.
(Owned 1966 - 1981)
Stolen.
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Lafayett
Comstat 25A
Base CB
(Owned 1967 - 1980)
Sold.
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Kraco 4010
40 Ch Mobile CB
(Owned Since 1978)
Still have but don't if operational.
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Magnetic Mobil Antenna for
27 Mcs Band
Lost in move.
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Dak Mark IX
40 Ch Base CB
With a Turner Power Mic.
(Owned 1977 - 2004)
Lost in move.
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My 11 Meter "SuperScanner" Antenna
Old but still a goodie!
Lost in move.
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My HAM Radios I have now or had and their
status
Icom
2AT HT
2 meter.
(Owned since 1993)
Still have.
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Radio Shack
HTX-252
Mobil 146 Mcs. 25 Watt
(Owned 1999 - 2005)
Sold.
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Radio Shack
HTX 202
HT 146 Mcs. 1/5 Watt
(Owned Since 1997)
Status is unknown due to being
unable to power the batteries.
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Icom
T2H
2 meter.
(Owned since 2010)
Operational
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Yaesu FT-2400H
Mobil 146 Mcs. 50 Watt
(Owned since 2009)
As of 201403 these
two rigs quit working. |
Ranger RCI2950DX
10 and 12 meter
30+watts
(Owned since 9-1-2012)
As of 201403 this
rigs quit working.
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Icom IC-2720H
146 Mcs and 440 Mcs
50W and 35 W
212 Memory Channels
per Band and
Crossband repeat.
Owned since 20120312
As of 201307 this
rig quit working.
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Wauxun UVD1P
146 Mcs / 444 Mcs 5/4 W
128 Memory Channels
Owned since 10120609
20170421 - Not
Operational
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Henry - Tempo One
80 - 10 Meter
SSB, AM, CW
100 Watts
Owned since 20121226
As of 201403 this
rig quit working.
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Baeofeng UV5R
[TX] 136 - 174Mcs., 400 - 520Mcs.
[RX] 136 - 174Mcs., 400 - 520Mcs.,
68-108Mcs.
Have but Not
Operational
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MD-UV380
Dual Band Analog and DMR
[TX] 136 - 174Mcs., 400 - 520Mcs,
[RX] 136 - 174Mcs., 400 - 520Mcs.,
68-108Mcs.
Have since 20190816 |
UV-5001 50 Watt
Mobile
Dual Band Analog
[TX] 136 - 174Mcs., 400 - 520Mcs.
[RX] 136 - 174Mcs., 400 - 520Mcs.,
68-108Mcs,
Have since 20190816
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TR-9000
2 meter All Mode
10 Watts
Operational
Made over 1000 mile contacts
during an E-Skip event.
Have not used
this since moved to Ky.
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TR-9500
440-450Mcs All Mode
10 Watts
Not Operational as of 201410
Has dialing mechanical issues
Have not
used this since moved to Ky.
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Yaesu
FT-8100R
146 / 440 Mcs
50 / 35 Watts
Owned
since 20121227
Not fully operational VHF switch
does
not engage and no lights!
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Here
is the
Equipment I have
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The
Maratrac
110 Watt
Mobile with A7 Control Head
Have 5 since 201307
Some Operational
One the finals
went out and
the others are in West Virginia.
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Clamshell
Head
Here is an
older 2x8 "Mode"
(Channels or Memory)
Control head that the Maratracs
can be programed to use.
I have one but need two more,
since 201306
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Maxtrac
300
from 6 to
32 Modes, depending on
circuitry.
This one is a 5 Mode UHF
I have four of these since
201306
All working.
No usable UHF repeaters in my area.
No one knows how to use UHF, they say!
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VB-28FM
2 meter 8 element
11.8 DBd gain
Operational
Mounted but VSWR is 1:2~3!
Need help!
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440-450Mcs.
YAGI
11 ELE
13.2 DBI
350 Watts
Operational
In West Virginia.
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More
later.
They are a fan di-pole and a
Tram 1481!
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Antique Radios I have
IC-230
Circa 1975
I have since 201206012
Not
operational
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Other Equipment I have or had.
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NCG
NCG 3000
SWR / Watt Meter
Status, not calibrated.
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My
Other Radios I have now or had.
Bearcat
BC 101 Scanner
30-54 Mcs
140-175 Mcs
406-512 Mcs
(Owned 1975 - 2002)
(lost in a move) |
Regency
Touch 16 Scanner
30-54 Mcs
140-175 Mcs
406-512 Mcs
(Owned 1977 - 2002)
(lost in a move) |
Radio Shack
DX 300
Hf receiver
Covers 0 cps to 30 Mcs
AM / SSB / CW
(Owned Since 1979)
Preselector quit
workin. Needs allignment. |
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Page Initiated on
19980414 kb8qeu
rev 20180222 |
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