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AC0VH
06-16-2010, 07:48 AM
Hi all!

I joined the old forum a month or two ago but never really gave much input. So here we are now.

QTH is DM79, licensed since 2003 and just got around to upgrading my ticket this winter to general. Running a FT-857D in my truck ('91 Toyota XtraCab with a WilderNest camper) currently.

I'm using an ATAS-120A on my truck after running Hamsticks for a while. In my experience the ATAS is working about as good/bad as the Hamsticks but is so much more convenient. We'll see how it handles bouncing around since it's mounted on my ARB bull bar. For VHF/UHF I have a Larsen NMO2/70 in the middle of my cab roof.

At home I run a temporary situation where I set up in the yard when I want to work. A bit more work and I should have a Comet CHA-250 approximate copy, which I know is extremely low performing but interests me from a no-tuner situation and the ability for wideband RX of SW broadcasts. Next step is a 100W-capable tuner and something better, like a bigger dipole or trapped vertical. But for now (until I get a tuner really) I'm just driving to get something the works reasonably on as many bands as possible. Radio is a Alinco DX-70T(H) that I got used in need of a refurbish, thus so far it's only really warmed a dummy load.

Also building a QRP station based on the FT-817. I love this little radio. I built an Elecraft T1 for it and will probably build a HF Packer for it soon. I run a 20' crappie pole antenna at the moment, but sometimes reel off a light dipole. I bought a dual band Arrow satellite yagi to use with this radio, too. Just getting the hang of tracking the birds just listening, but this seems like it will be uber fun.

KC0NNT
06-16-2010, 11:01 AM
Welcome! Thanks for posting. Got any pics of the '91 Toyota XtraCab with a WilderNest camper?

AC0VH
06-16-2010, 11:57 AM
I do ... at home. Will be getting some attached eventually!

N5MUD
06-16-2010, 05:27 PM
Dave, Welcome to the forum! Long time no see; I don't know if you remember me but I bought that tan '84 Hilux from you for my son Ross about 5 years ago. There are pictures of my current Toyota 4WD trucks over on the Toyota thread that someone else started.

AC0VH
06-16-2010, 07:51 PM
My truck fairly recently.

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Dave, Welcome to the forum! Long time no see; I don't know if you remember me but I bought that tan '84 Hilux from you for my son Ross about 5 years ago. There are pictures of my current Toyota 4WD trucks over on the Toyota thread that someone else started.
Hi Lee! Of course I remember you and Ross. Good to hear from you, how have y'all been?

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N5MUD
07-02-2010, 07:24 AM
Hi Lee! Of course I remember you and Ross. Good to hear from you, how have y'all been?

Hi Dave,

Sorry to be so long in replying, I was out of town for two weeks. We are doing great; Ross graduated from high school, went to college in Idaho for a year, and is now in California. He rebuilt the engine on the Hilux, rolled it, swapped a 22RE into it, rebuilt the transmission, and it finally threw a rod (in the swapped-in 22RE) on the way to school so he junked it in Colorado Springs. He was hard on it, but he got a lot of miles out of it and hopefully learned some lessons along the way. He is currently car-less, as I told him the first one was on me and subsequent ones were his to buy.

I currently have a 1980 FJ40 and a 2007 FJ Cruiser. I gave my FJ80 to an older son and he still drives it every day at 250,000 miles +. We are still in Texas but planning to move to our place in New Mexico in a year or so.

I hope that you and my other Rising Sun / 3FE friends are doing well also; what's up with you?

Lee

AC0VH
07-03-2010, 05:53 AM
Doing fine here Lee. Same truck as I've had for years now. A lot more beat up but still running, sorta.

Attached very recent shots from last week. Can see the ATAS-120A on the front bumper, my Larsen NMO2/70 on the roof. Radio is mounted inside, split face mounted up front, body under a seat, remote speaker on the back of the Tuffy console, etc.

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Made a nice contact from Traverse City, MI, this week. QSO'd with a young man who was going for his ham radio merit badge at Scout camp. We held the path for 10 minutes (one of the requirements for the badge) on 20m. Nice kid, 15 as I recall, Life Scout going for Eagle. He was on a Kenwood at 100W with a 3 element beam and me with my FT-857 and screwdriver, each at about 58, 59 until the path started to fall apart as the sun went down at my location and the QRM became too great for him to hear me anymore. I could still read him great as he made a couple of other contacts, though.

KC0NNT
07-07-2010, 05:58 PM
Dave,
My 0 call is from Denver. Lived in Littlteton for decades. Where are you?