Got back home from the Dayton Hamvention around 8 PM last night. I went there planning on buying an entry-level HT, but I ended up getting attracted to shiny things and bought a Yaesu VX-7R rather than my intended target of something in the FT-60R range. Made a few contacts on the trip back, unfortunately I don’t remember many calls or names, the only ones I can recall are Ron (W8RON) and I think another guy both Ron and I talked with was named Kyle, I can’t remember his call.

So I’m finally on the air the “proper” way rather than just being tied to Echolink. Woo!

–KD8JQS

I passed the test last weekend, but as of yesterday I have a callsign so I am officially a licensed amateur radio operator in the United States and anywhere else where amateurs are governed by the FCC or where the US has reciprocal licensing agreements.

I don’t have any hardware yet, but I’m now looking for some starter gear and getting myself on Echolink.

Callsign is KD8JQS