K5HUM

I am positive you have heard "HUM" in your radio at one time or another Hi Hi. A.R.S. K5HUM has been continuously licensed since 1956.  I am a Life Member of the ARRL and hold a 40+ year pin. My Ham radio activities have been varied through out those years, enjoying a little bit of most everything, but especially meeting up with old and new friends. I earned my Extra Ham License years ago while simultaneously passing the Commercial 2nd Class Radio Telegraph License at the FCC. I also hold a General Radio Telephone License (formerly a First Class Radio Telephone License with a Radar Endorsement). I was the 15th person in the USA to pass the National Certified Electronics Technician (CET) Certification exam. Mike, my middle name, is also my Ham Handle. I am 76 and a retired AirlineTransport Pilot (ATP MEL FIIA IGI) and former FAA DE. Prior to becoming a professional pilot I taught Solid State Electronics at Jefferson Parish Vocational College and owned a service company that specialized in refurbishing factory (OEM) automotive electronics. Some of my past public service activity was volunteering as a NOPD Reserve Police Officer (now retired).

The QTH is two blocks east of Hwy59, in Abita Springs, La., Grid EM40xk (in the piney woods of St Tammany Parish).  For some odd reason, the U.S. Post Office uses nearby Mandeville, La. as my postal address.

My house rig is an IC-706MK2G with an LDG Autotuner connected to 30 feet of RG8x feeding  (an UnUn balun) connected to 117 feet of wire. Its sort of a Zep style sloaper that works all Ham Bands.  My ham shack rig is a Yaesu FT- 101DZ  connected to a home brew 1/4 wave verticle (for 40 meters) made out of 4 pieces of galvenized electrical conduite that slid nicely into each other.  Mobile is a 2M IC-2200h feeding a 5/8 wave Tram antenna.

I began my Ham Radio hobby in 1956 with converted Military ARC-5 command sets (BC-455 etc)  for 40 and 80 meters CW,  purchased from Fair Radio Sales for $5 apiece.  Next I built my first transmitter from the pages of the ARRL Handbook that used a 6146 crystal controlled power oscillator. The crystals were military surplus FT-243. I worked 7175 khz for a long time until I learned to grind those crystals. My first commercial Ham receiver was a Hallicrafters S-38. My antennas in those early days were all Zeps or long wires.

Today I monitor 75 meters on 3.825 MHZ LSB most mornings and regularily check into the Central Gulf Coast Hurricane Net on 3935 khz LSB; roll call starts at 0100z Daily (but earlies are allowed from 0045z when an NCO is available).  I also try to check into a local Covington, La. 6 meter SSB Net at 150.150 every Thursday night at 0130z. These are OPEN nets and anyone can participate.

Aside from Ham Radio, I wrote PopNote, a Peer to Peer IM application.  Like EchoLink, PopNote requires the users ability to Forward Ports or DMZ for sucess. Search Google for PopNote if you are interested. I also operate a Web Server here at the QTH to support various Web pages for friends and family. 

I enjoy trying all new communication modes, and frequently can be found on the Internet exercising many VOIP venues including EchoLink

I recently purchased a ThumbDV and now work DStar and DMR, although I confess to be a real newbee in this new digital world.  DillyDilly

If you run the Echolink App on your cell or tablet, and have questions, I'm frequently in the *QRP* OR *TECHTALK* Conferences of  Echolink most days and glad to try answering questions and help.  For instance "Why are my friends reporting an EL error "route not found" when I'm connected and they try to call me?"  If you call me on EL/QRP give me at least a full minute to respond as I'm usually multitasking. Thanks

My EchoLink "Hints and Tips" is also published as Chapter 21 in the ARRL's new Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook.

Meanwhile -  Enjoy some great 50/60 Rock-N-Roll at http://www.the60sofficialsite.com

Thanks for visiting. If I can ever be of assistance, don't hesitate to connect. Either Video chat at https://whereby.com/k5hum (no software needed other than a Browser); or, find me on TeleGram.  Download it if you don't have it and search for K5HUM

Check your SmartPhone and see if WHEREBY or the JITSI App is available.  Look for K5HUM in either. Say hello and that you found me on HamQTH! 

On the Level and Square,                                                                                                                                                      TallyHo - 73,  Mike