She arrived by Registered Mail on Thursday - but I waited until Friday to open the bundle the Stork brought me. There was work to do making the usual changes to things. Her power supply needed new connectors fitted and the DC power cord had to be properly terminated with lugs to fit the new connectors. Then there was getting her gounded. I had to buy a copper clad steel rod and drive that into the ground just outside the nursery so that an earth wire could be taken via yet another hole in the wall at the right hand end of the desk.
I'm not complaining. My first contact was Joel on Guam, followed by a short contact with Huang in Guang Zhou, China. Then I spoke to two men in France, and a bloke on King Island off Tassie. I got to use both antennas I have in place at the moment. I am very happy with the new addition to my little family. She is the fourth HF Transceiver I have - when I count the Barrett 550 in the Landy, the old Lunch Box Codan 6924 Flying Doctor Radio, along with the Kenwood Tango Sugar 140 Sugar rig I have had for years. It must be time for a lawn sale!
It's amazing how technology has reduced the size of almost everything. When I was a lad my first Ham Radio contact was made using radio gear which took up a whole wall. I still remember saying hello to a bloke called Fred in New Mexico - I vaguely knew where that was at the time - I was able to tell by Fred's accent. I am also vaguely aware of where Guang Zhou is. It's the place where Chinese people can afford to buy Ham Radios and can speak more English than I can speak Chinese.
But just look a this baby. She's hardly noticeable on the desk. I'm sure people will ask me what model iPod she is!
Neat indeed!
Posted by: Jude | Saturday, 12 November 2011 at 08:26