I worked my first VE session yesterday at my clubs monthy test. We tested six new techs and they all passed their test to get the technicians liscense. Congrats to all of them. It sure is a lot differant givint the test than taking it, a lot less stress, thats for sure.
Hopefully my out of control schedule will allow me to participate more often in club activities like testing. We should all try to give back to the hobby, remember that someone else gave their time for you.
Worked some last night on the North America QSO Party, lots of fun and some great contacts. Things seemed a little more laid-back than many of the contest I have worked. No canned signal reports, just Name and State, lots of fun!
Yesterday must have been the day, my shedule and my clubs test shedule lined up, so off to the test session I went. After studying off and on for the last year on my Extra exam I finally went for it. We had the test session out doors and it was a little brisk and one had to really keep a grip on their paperwork, Iwas worried that this might effect my concentration but I took my time and pulled it off. Now I get to add A/E to the end of my callsign until my new call is posted on the ULS page. Hopefully they will have it up quick, last time it took about 8 days for my General to appear there. I decided to change my call sign to a new Extra call, AIN just doesn't flow well on HF, no-one can seem to understand my call throught alot of QRM. Maybe I'll get lucky with the new one. Look for the website to change to the new sign, hopefully permanently. hi hi
Heres a video of some of our local Skywarn folks. Surviving the Storm airs on the 5th at 5pm on KSPR...here is the 3 minute segment on amateur radio. This is an excellent segment on amateur radio and Skywarn.
I got a new addition to the shack this week, a BK Oscilloscope. I found it for about $25 bucks on Ebay, it was pretty dirty and needed a little TLC to bring it back from the grave.
Before
The scope looks like it sat a shelf in an a shop for years. There was dirt and grease caked on the face and the contacts on the dials were corroded. A few hours of scrubbbing and a little Deoxit has brought a nice little scope back to life.
Hopefully this scope has many years left on it with a little care. I really hate to perfectly good electronics like this going to waste from neglect.
