KB6NN - Photos

KB6NN

Howard's Ham Radio Website - Photos

QTH:
Eureka, California
40.78° N 124.181° W
Grid: CN70ws

Eureka is located in the middle of Humboldt County, California. Humboldt County is in Northern California, on the coast, about 80 miles south of the Oregon border.

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The six photos in the top section were taken in 2007. Note the poor antenna installation, complete with poor connections, drip loop, squirrel tickler and spark gap terminating insulator (the north fence). I do not recommend this installation, but it worked in a pinch, and the wire was nearly invisible (see squirrel tickler insulator photo). The Vibroplex EK-1 Scotia Key, which was originally developed by Hamco here in Humboldt County, is no longer being made. It had a Curtis chip keyer built into the base. Rugged and dependable to this day.

Vibroplex Scotia EK-1

Squirrel Tickler Insulator

QTH - Shack

Poor Antenna Connection

Drip Loop

Spark Gap Insulator

The Packet Setup photo below is the rig I had running in the so-called golden age of packet in the 1980's and 90's before the internet took off. I recently took it out of storage and got it working again. What surprised me was how slow data traveled in those days. Also a surprise was how reliable it is, and how much fun. These days, packet and other digital modes are usually done without a Terminal Node Controller (TNC). Instead, software does the work and the computer's sound card creates the tones. In the photo, to the right of the monitor, is the packet rig. The mag mount antenna is on the power supply. Beneath the power supply, the Kantronics DVR 2-2 dedicated packet VHF transceiver (crystal controlled, with two channels). Beneath that, the TNC, a Kantronics KPC-2.

Packet Setup

See you on the bands.

73, de KB6NN

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Member:
Humboldt Amateur Radio Club since 1977.

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Humboldt Amateur Radio Club

Member:
American Radio Relay League.

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Amateur Radio Relay League

Member:
Ten-Ten International since 1979. #25696

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