Starting on my Base Setup

[hobbz]

I just ordered an Icom IC-718 HF Base, and will mod it for 11 meter. It will TX and RX .5kHz-30Mhz I also drove to Chicago over the weekend and came home with 130 feet of tower to split between me and my uncle. Also my uncle just bought a fatboy 2kW base amp and is giving me his boomer box, i think it is a 600 or 800 watt, so we will be on the air soon.

My local channels that we monitor are 33 and 13, but do get on the others when the skip is rolling. Listen for us, I go by pistonhead/981 and he goes by dannyboy/777. We are both in the bluegrass and I will have the watergate rollin' when I can.

[busman]

congrats on getting your base up. the icom 718 is a nice lookin radio. got a 756 pro 2 myself. maybe hear ya out there on the skip. im over here in the n.w. oregon by the columbia river.

[721HACKSAW]

Hey Hobbz where you at? I am just a little south of Louisville. Talk local on 23, shoot skip anywhere I can find it. Several loud stations in this area. Look forward to shoutin' at ya.

[hobbz]

I am over in Ashland, as far east as you can get in KY.

[hobbz]

Update:

I got my radio in. Also have a "power supply" now too..... I have 20 feet of my tower up. I have 20 more feet, but gotta get some help to put that up.

I have ordered a headset for the radio. I also plan on getting a behringer502 mixer, a heil mic, and a foot switch.

Here are the pics:

[Anvil Hands]

Nice set up Hobbz.

Hey Busman that is a beautiful part of the country you live in, Northwest Oregon.

I was out that way a few years back for a little over a week. Convention for work. Stayed at the Skamania Lodge in Stevenson Washington, just over the river from you. I never realized how big that river is. Went Sturgeon fishing with a guide, think it was "Sturgeon Frank". Caught several oversize 8'+ fish. Visited Mt. Helens, Bonneville Dam, all the tourist places I guess. Really cool area.

[doctor]

WOW your set ups can't be beat, I live across the river, will be looking for you guys on chnl 13, where I hang out with the locals am/ssb, shout sometime for the doctor. 795, or paul bunyon

DOCTOR/795

[drdx]

Nice choice, and let us know how that mic and mixer setup sounds, and if you end up making that thing sound loud on am. I've had a pile of hf rigs and none of them ever really sound loud on am. I have a 718 now, and it is ok on am, just not booming loud like an old school cb with an astatic or whatever, so I use it on SSB where it shines. The sound quality is great, just not loud, and sounds rather stock on am compared to other rigs. Crank it way back for that boomer so you don't overdrive it. -drdx

[hobbz]

Yeah, I have it turned down to between 2 and 3 Watts Dead Key. All the locals have said I sound great on my stock hand mic.

[busman]

say hobbz, what kind of antenna you got.??? looks like a imax 2000 or simular.

[hobbz]

It is a patriot12, but it is crappy. I can't get the swr down at all. I am gonna order an a99 or imax soon. I am also gonna build me a beam. Gonna order a mfj antenna anilyzer too.

[busman]

oh ok, ya i got a imax 2000 i use on my icom. i only run 11 meter and some free bands so it works well. low matanance to say the least.lol. does the icom 718 have the built in antenna tuner.?? nice lookin radio none the less. nice tower project ya got goin to.

[hobbz]

No auto antenna tuner, but I do have an external one rated for 500W. My tower is 30ft up now. I think that will be high enough to suit my needs for a year or so. Me and the wife plan on selling this house and looking for something with at least 10 acres.

I can't wait to get my moxon built and in the air. I think it will work great from what I have read.

I love the 718, I enjoy scanning the ham bands just listening. You hear some crazy stuff on there. Hopefully I can get my tech and general lic this summer. Then I will be able to use the radio to its full potential.