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Bernard KT4BCS

Bernard KT4BCS

@kt4bcs.bsky.social

190 followers 240 following 740 posts

I like amateur radio, tho I'm not very deep into the sport / hobby yet. Stuck in UHF/VHF/DMR...

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Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 1d

I copied today's #Morsle at 25 WPM! morsle.fun

Morsle - the daily Morse code challenge

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 3d

Maybe I don't suck too bad. I copied today's #Morsle at 40 WPM! morsle.fun

Morsle - the daily Morse code challenge

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 4d

I had forgotten about Morsle. Thanks for the reminder.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 4d

Yeah, sweepstakes seemed to own all of the CW portions.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 4d

Kind of a disappointing and "down" day for radio today, for me... Don't talk to anybody, and I'm convinced my radio probably sound awful anyway. Kind of embarrassing to even try. And I suck at CW.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 4d

The things that trouble me most? Yeah, I don't share those with anybody at all.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 4d

I have decided that my "serious radio" is going to be a Xiegu G90. It's not a 100W, but it's more than 5, and it has a tuner built in, etc. I like what I see. The price is manageable and I'll have a new radio of my own. Hoping I can convince Santa.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

I didn't feel like I knew radios enough to challenge anything, and didn't see any that I knew the specs well enough to know if I even want them. I don't mind playing Pawn Stars with people, but I hate to if I don't have any dough, lol.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

I really would have liked to ham radioed tonight, but....

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

Only got to go to one this year, and I could have got some stuff if I had 400 on me, but I couldn't justify that.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

Nothing beyond QRP rigs are actually financially feasible for me right now.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

The IC706 seems more appealing to me than the FT891 quite honestly.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

100w matters because I want it to be capable of decent distance in a true emergency / disaster and QRP has limits. I'm also tired of just barely reaching Ohio. Alaska and Hawaii are hopeless.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

There's just really no money in the coffers to do it with. So I just wait and assume that I'll run out of interest before I get a good radio. Cause I'm very cyclical in the things I do.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

I've had a few folks loan me rigs "to see if I like HF". THAT isn't the question. I hate using borrowed radios. Always afraid I'll screw them up and have to pay for something that was possibly junk anyway. I want one that is MINE. But I need it to do FT8 and Winlink and good SSB and decent CW.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

Yeah I use that app regularly.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 7d

Everybody wants to take new pricing and drop it by 50 bucks even tho the rig is 20 years old. 500-550 for an FT891 is too much when a new one is 650.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 8d

Did the fence cause any interference?

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 8d

Just trying to create a way to make myself feel that I earned it, because I really can't afford it.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 8d

I told myself the lie that I would try to figure out some way to reward myself with a real 100w mobile HF radio if I get my Extra. But wow, dang it - that test is for real. Not sure I have a chance.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 9d

Every post on QRPer.com makes me wish I really had the time to do this hobby right, to really play radio with Morse code and trips out into the woods, but that's just not seemingly possible right now.

Connecting an international community through low-power field radio adventures.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 9d

I love milk.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 9d

I might be a wimp, and I might be slow, and I might breathe heavy the whole time, but dangit, I did at least run. Did you?

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 10d

I could reach much farther with a high flattop dipole, but haven't gotten that installed yet. May not ever be able.

Bernard KT4BCS @kt4bcs.bsky.social · 10d

South America has even evaded me on FT8. I'm trapped by a mountain and can only throw NVIS to the south. (I live on the north facing side of a ridge. Weather is similar to Alaska, lol ..)