Well, after waiting and wishing and wanting for far too long, I managed to finally get a station back on the air in mid-March. The last time I worked AM from home was in 1995, with only a couple of SSB contacts in '96 while repairing a fellow's KWM-2. Other than that, I've basically been in listening mode only, which is fine a lot of the time but really annoying when you wish you could join in.
The main problem was not having an antenna up in the air after my 75m dipole came down. Add to that having to work all week, traveling somewhat, and a 125 year old house that always needs something, and you get the picture. About the only thing I had time to do was accumulate more projects, and move out a few things I didn't use or need. Another problem was having a transmitter that worked, or worked right. The 32V-2 decided to start acting weird by simulcasting on three frequencies at once, which resulted in my going off the air after a phonecall from a MARS station in White Plains NY. He was hearing me up above 4mc when I was actually down around 3880. Apparently, I was also putting out a similar signal the same distance below my frequency. Time was tight, life was busy, so I never got back to tracking down the problem. Then a few years back I was listening in for the Heavy Metal Rally and wishing I was in on the fun. The signals from those old broadcast rigs really sounded sweet. So I got to work repairing the old KW-1 which liked to blow fuses and had been kaput since 1990 or so. Replaced a cracked doorknob cap, swapped the 872s out for 4B32s, and got it making power again in 2003. Finally built a 40m dipole a few months back, got it hung up and working in mid-March and started making contacts. Not many, but enough to spur me on. Some of the contacts were with W1UJR, WA1HLR, W9AD, VE3CUI, WA3VJB, W3CRR and others I can't recall at the moment. Even worked a fellow from Connecticut who was mobile in NC. After listening many evenings and weekends for years and years, it was GREAT to make that first contact again! Paul and Craig also made some audio files which are very encouraging. I do still have some things to work out, like the overload relay kicking out on voice peaks, and having to move the electric range and roll the transmitter out into the kitchen to operate since I don't have a 230v line in the radio room. Need to get a 75m antenna up as well, but at least it's a start. There's a photo of the 'Kitchen Studio' posted on the amfone board at: http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7438.0;id=848;image Thanks to Bruce, W1UJR for making it viewable by lightening it up a bit. Digital cameras are handy, but they do have their limitations. It took me a while to get the shots because they were on the YL's camera which is back in Florida. And I didn't want to post that I was active again until I had proof, since I'd been threatening to get back on for years, with no results to back up the threats. So, as well as looking forward to seeing folks at the Hosstraders hamfest in 3 weeks, I'm also hoping to make some contacts on the air. And thanks to everyone who offered help, encouragement, and even prodded me along to get to this point. It's great to be "back". de Todd/'Boomer' KA1KAQ
