Ham Radio: my geeky indulgence
Date: Apr. 3, 2009

hamvacationSometimes a girl just needs to get away from it all. And I enjoy a nice morning of making contacts on ham radio when the propagation is good.

Like radio, ham radio has different frequencies on which you can talk to other ham radio operators. But you can direct where your radio signal goes. You can bounce it off of the atmosphere and talk to people all over the world. You can direct it towards satellites and the international space station. Working satellites is one of my favorite things to do because you have to trace the path of the satellite as it orbits the earth with your antenna.

I recently returned from a ham vacation operating from rare location VP5 in Turks and Caicos.

By diana 16

15 Comments

  1. Fimion
    Posted April 4, 2009 at 1:02 pm | Permalink

    where does one acquire a ham radio?

  2. Mike
    Posted April 5, 2009 at 3:22 pm | Permalink

    hello, i heard you on the 20 meter band today (apr 5) with the Russian station. good contact.
    see ya on the bands, Mike,KC0UWF,

  3. Natalie
    Posted April 13, 2009 at 6:11 pm | Permalink

    Oooh look at you with the beautiful beach! So cute!

  4. Abbey
    Posted April 29, 2009 at 3:54 am | Permalink

    OMG.. you totally have to come to Dayton Ohio for the largest HamFest.. the HamVention!

    http://www.hamvention.org/

    Lemme know if you are coming!

    • diana
      Posted April 30, 2009 at 12:49 am | Permalink

      Hi Abbey,
      I am indeed going to Hamvention. We bought tickets last week! I’m so excited.

  5. mike Lavin
    Posted April 29, 2009 at 7:33 pm | Permalink

    Nice beach, what type of antenna were you using?
    73
    Mike
    N2NET

    • diana
      Posted April 30, 2009 at 12:30 pm | Permalink

      Hi Mike,
      We were using a buddistick vertical antenna. We have a buddipole too and have been going to a lot of parks with it operating “picnic table portable”.

  6. Kelly
    Posted May 9, 2009 at 6:59 pm | Permalink

    Wow! I’m into Ham radio and fashion too. I am not so good with math, but otherwise it seems like we’d get along!

    73

    KE7OIO

  7. Jesse
    Posted May 20, 2009 at 9:12 am | Permalink

    Ms. Eng,

    From the pictures on Makezine.com it looks like you had a total blast! I missed Hamvention this year but I plan on checking it out next!

    Are you doing anything for Field Day?

    73
    WB2IFS/3

    • diana
      Posted May 20, 2009 at 12:15 pm | Permalink

      Hi WB2IFS,
      It was a lot of fun. Since, I am a new ham, being able to see all of the different things in person really helped me learn a lot. I might get into QRP soon.

      No plans yet for Field Day.

  8. 9w2pju
    Posted September 24, 2009 at 12:28 am | Permalink

    cool place and good weather

    73 de 9w2pju

  9. Jonathan KD5QLM
    Posted April 2, 2010 at 2:45 pm | Permalink

    What do you like more when doing portable OP.. The End Fed Zepp as in your YouTube video or the Buddiestick and then last the Buddiepole?

    I have been trying to pick what to use on a upcoming trip to Canada..

    Thanks
    -JD

    • diana
      Posted April 2, 2010 at 10:53 pm | Permalink

      Hi JD,
      The EFHW (end fed half wavelength) antennas are more portable but they only work on one band. So you may wish to bring multiple wires. Te Buddipole/Buddistick work on multiple bands but are a lot less portable. As a small person I usually tend to go for the lighter EFHW antenna if I am hiking.

  10. ken ac4rd
    Posted March 3, 2013 at 5:20 pm | Permalink

    Searched google images for ham radio and found your VP5 operation photo–looks like a great time! And it’s nice to see that a FEW of us ham ops aren’t old men. 😉 73 de AC4RD!
    \

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