AboutChris Bushman Expertise I have been an amateur radio operator for about 36 years.
Experience In real life I manage a small motion picture film lab in Hollywood. I've been a fireman, a teacher of English in Okinawa, a personal computer tutor.
I am an Advanced Class Ham radio operator using my originally issued callsign WB6EEQ. I have operated for extended periods of time from Okinawa (KR6FX & KR6OP), Texas (K5VXG), and Mississippi (K5TYP).
While in the Air Force, I was a Manual Morse Radio Intercept Operator.
BS Zoology, UC Davis
Member, Society of Motion Picture/Television Engineers http://www.smpte.org/ - Member, American Radio Relay League http://www.arrl.org/ - Member, Quarter Century Wireless Assn. http://www.lockport-ny.com/radio.htm - President, Zen Nippon Airinkai, So Cal Chapter http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Chris_Bushman/ - Member, Maltose Falcons Homebrewing Society http://www.westval.com/mfalcons/ - Alumni, American Brewers' Guild http://www.abgbrew.com/
Expert: Chris Bushman Date: 8/14/2007 Subject: tech status
Question Im very new KI6LEA tech I want to make this a fun hobby I have a TS-430S but not sure this is what i need to start with am i missing the bout here, did i send my money in the wrong direction? Phil
Answer Well, Phil, the choice of rigs might not be a case of ideal timing, but not to worry, it's a great little rig (I have a TS-440) and it will be lots of fun for you.
These days license exams are so easy, all you would need to upgrade to General is a cheap license exam manual and about a week to study. With no code requirements, it's a really simple upgrade.
Upgrading would be my favorite option if I were you. You can still have some no-code fun on 10 meters with that rig. Throw up a vertical and go play in the 28.3 to 28.5 Mhz subband. As a tech, you can run 200 watts on phone there. About 20 years ago the only rig I had was a 10 meter monobander that put out 25 watts and I talked to over 175 countries in a couple of years. 10 meters is very dependent on the sunspot cycle and that cycle is not at its peak, but it's getting there.
I would suggest that you pick up a multi-band vertical antenna so that when you upgrade to General you'll be all set. Just listening around on all the bands can be a great incentive to upgrade quickly.
Of course, as a Tech, if you were to pick up a VHF/UHF handheld, you could do lots of playing right now. You'll probably want at least a 2 meter rig for hanging out with the the local hams.
Speaking of local hams, now would be a good time to find the ham club nearest you. I'm sure there are lots of 'um up there in Palo Alto.
This hobby of ours is really a couple of dozen hobbies. Check out the options and decide which seems most fun to you.
You've only had your license for a couple of weeks now. Don't be discouraged. You're in for lots of fun. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
