(Click above an the truth will be known.)

The repeater is on White Tanks to the west of Phx and with my FT-60 I can hit it if I’m outside.  Well, that wasn’t the case last night.  When my call sign was called, and I pushed the Push to Talk button, nothing. I was not heard.

I have to say that I am more than a little bothered.  I missed the net last week and now with not being able to hit the repeater, it now means I haven’t been there for two weeks.

Make me look foolish.  It also tells me that I need to have a VHF/UHF antenna on our van or one on the house so that I can take advantage of connecting my Yaesu to a better antenna with in the case of the house, some height.

It didn’t happen.  So I’m still wondering if my ICOM 707 with wire antenna that was just last week re-connected were working.

So far, and today isn’t going to be one of those days, I have been able to at least listen for traffic on the 3 bands the antenna is tuned to.

I have been calling CQ and all the meter readings are correct but so far not one contact.

With that in mind, tonight at 8 PM I will tune to the frequency for a Thursday night net on 10 meters that I know can hear my radio.

Hopefully I will be heard and at least I will know I’m getting out on 10 meters.

Tune in tomorrow for results.

I however haven’t had the guts to fire up the transmitter as yet.  Listened to the 3 bands, 40, 20, and 10  the antenna was made for soon after Bob came down from our roof and I know that my ICOM 707 receiver works.

Maybe sometime today, after getting a hair cut, ugh, taking Karen to lunch and going shopping I will send out “CQ, CQ, CQ, This is KI7UP calling CQ.”

On  Friday the 19th, there were only two things in the  mail.

The QST for April, along with a very small package.  I had no idea what was in the package, as I had not ordered anything.

Then wife Karen reminded me that I asked,  at lunch on the 14th,  with Robert Spencer, the new Arizona Section Manager for the ARRL, if there were any badges available.

Now, by deduction I know the answer.

Guess too, that it can pay to pick up the tab.

Thanks Bob!

This week, I was lucky once again to file a report for Amateur Radio Newsline, this week about Indecency and the FCC.  The report is in the second section of Amateur Radio Newsline for today, April 19th.

Today is World Amateur Radio Day

A hobby that does so much .  When all else fails.

(Click above and learn more.)

Amateurs in Boston provided communications this past Monday during the Boston Marathon.

Click here for the story from the ARRL .