My Current Mobile Setup

I have been very busy the past month +, and only just today learned about the Twelve Days of Christmas special event! As a new General Class Operator, I had never worked HF bands before, and looking at this I know I won't likely get all twelve, but that won't keep me from trying! I have made two contacts this afternoon, W2D and W2S. I failed to contact K2L before he had to bail but he said he'd be back on later this evening, and I'll be here listening for him.

The twelve stations you're looking for are:

W2P - Partridge

W2T - 2 Turtle Doves

W2F - 3 French Hens

W2C - 4 Calling Birds

W2R - 5 Golden Rings

W2G - 6 Geese A-Laying

W2S - 7 Swans A-Swimming

W2M - 8 Maids A-Milking

W2L - 9 Ladies Dancing

K2L - 10 Lords A-Leaping

K2P - 11 Pipers Piping

W2D - 12 Drummers Drumming

Bonus: VE9XMAS1 (Canada)

Bonus: VE9XMAS2 (Canada)

I bought this Yaesu FT-897 as a gift to myself for passing the General Class exam last month. I was going to buy an antenna but decided to make one myself to learn more about them, so I made a field expedient, 1/4 wave end-fed. I had gooten into amateur radio with my dad who became a silent key nearly three years ago. After hearing the radio crackle to life with the sounds of a 40 meter net I forgot about how I wouldn't be able to use it on all amateur bands (because it's a Japanese model), and I wanted to run and tell my dad all about it. I wanted to throw my call out but I figured I'd better just listen for now. I was as excited as a boy on Christmas.

It has been crazy tonight on 40 meters

Apparently my son's radio still thinks it's Christmas

Learned about the MIDCARs and the ECARs nets from a Facebook group and tuned in this morning. I was encouraged to go ahead and check in, so no need to just listen in until I feel I've learned enough about them. I heard a call for any stations to check in and I got real excited, grabbed my mic, keyed up and got that TX-Error again. I downloaded the Japanese band plan (because this radio came from Japan - see previous posts) and learned that I will not be able to transmit on frequencies above 7.200Mhz on 40 meters. It's all good, I'll just have to save up and try and get a comparable radio with similar capabilities. Meanwhile, I'll just listen in to these great nets.

Listened in on 20 meters for most of the day and heard a fine young ham making some great contacts.

Second one ready to go!

It has me pinpointed