Well, technically, this journey is beginning again. First licensed in 2014 as a general class operator using the callsign KM4EHD, I jumped into the amateur radio hobby for a short period before relocating from a rural part of the United States to a major metropolitan area in Virginia.
My first few months as a licensed operator were spent riding the two-meter waves. After moving to the city, I quickly found apartment living to be detrimental to my new hobby. Antennas projects were all non-starters. I’d never manage to successfully put up anything to work HF in a one-bedroom apartment, or so I thought at the time. So, I put the radio away and focused on my day job.
After realizing several years had slipped by and my license was coming up for renewal soon, I decided to put forth an honest effort to get back into the hobby and rekindle the interest I had for amateur radio at the beginning.
Near the end of 2022, now as K2MAS and still a general class licensee, I dove head first into my old radio text books and past issues of QST to relearn what I had forgotten over the years. I dusted off my old Yaesu FT-7900R mobile rig, bought some accessories and do-dads, and made myself a fully portable 2m/70cm radio kit that could be thrown over my shoulder in a sling pack. A future article on that project, so stick around.
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m hoping with this new spark of interest in the world of amateur radio, that I can more fully experience all of what makes amateur radio a fun and exciting activity. I’m hoping Santa brings me a fancy new HF transceiver also! Come with me as I share my experiences with amateur radio and learn with me or if you’re willing, let me learn from you.
Here’s to many more years of enjoyment on the air.
73s to all,
Matthew
K2MAS.net 