My Unusual Antenna Mast

Back when I put up my 2m/70cm antenna, I needed a good sturdy mast to use with a chimney mount.  I had a galvanized pipe that was actually too thick. I needed to improvise and find something that would work.  I need it to be the correct diameter for the X200 clamps, the right diameter for the chimney mount, look decent attached to the house, and be sturdy enough to withstand the elements and weather.  It turns out that I had something that worked great already lying around in the garage!  

Another QTH Change - Going back to Habersham County

A couple years ago, I wrote about moving from a subdivision with an HOA in Habersham County to 1.37 acres of unrestricted land in Banks County.  Unfortunately, my wife and I have not enjoyed living in Banks County.  We have decided to move again and go back to Habersham County.  I am working there, my youngest son goes to daycare there, I see a doctor there...I even use a pharmacy in Habersham.  The housing market is not great right now.  There are not many properties that "check all the boxes" and the few that do are a little steep.  Mixing these prices with the interest rates that are still quite high means it is tough to find something that will work.

For now, we have decided to move to a house that is literally right down the road from the one we sold in August of 2022. It is not ideal for my ham radio hobby to be in a subdivision with an HOA. There are no antennas restrictions in the neighborhood and I have some ideas about what antennas might work from the new QTH.

Winter Field Day 2025: Operating with LARC from North Georgia

I operated Winter Field Day 2025 with the Lanierland Amateur Radio Club in North Georgia.  We setup 2 communications trailers with ham radio gear and had a blast making contacts during the contest.  We even got to meet the "Radio Police" on the air!  Watch the video below...

My thoughts on the Yaesu FT-65

I just got a Yaesu FT-65!  It's the latest addition on my journey get active in the hobby again.  Here's a video showing what I like about this HT and a few things that I dislike about it after my first few weeks of using it.

73 de K4LST sk

Changing Your Ham Radio Callsign Causes Problems

I have changed my ham radio callsign a couple times and I've learned a few things along the way.  I've posted about the struggle before.  If you are considering changing your callsign, you might want to watch this video first!

73 de K4LST sk

Worked Philippines - DU9/W1JET

 

I've only just recently worked the Philippines for the first time.  Last night I saw DU9/W1JET on 12m FT8.  As I typically do, I looked into the operator and found that Paul was a pilot (hence the W1JET vanity call) and is now retired and living in the Philippines.  What an interesting contact and at over 9,000 miles away, it was great to work another station in the Philippines and on a new band!

73 and good DX de K4LST sk 

Worked Japan on 10m SSB Phone - JA8COE

 

Takahashi-san (JA8COE)

I was very excited to have worked Japan on 12m SSB phone a couple days ago.  Last night, I worked JA8COE "Taka" in Hokkaido Japan on 10m SSB phone!  The conditions lately on 12m and 10m have been really good from my QTH in Georgia USA to Asia.  I'm glad I have resumed radio operations after a couple years of being QRT.  Solar cycle 25 is providing great DX.  This was a great and memorable contact in the log and my first SSB phone QSO on 10m with Japan.

K4LST to JA8COE

73 and good DX de K4LST sk