My Background
My background began with the love for the outdoors and the constant need of adventure. Shortly after moving to Colorado I realized that relying on cell phones and C.B. radio was not an option any longer and sought my Amateur Radio ticket. Since obtaining my technician license I worked at advancing my knowledge of ham radio and obtained my Amateur Extra Ticket mid October 2018. Beginning in 2019 I became active with Colorado ARES Region 1 District 1 and in mid 2022 was appointed the District Emergency Coordinator for the ARES District, we cover in both Larimer and Weld Counties. Along with the District appointment I was also appointed as the Regional Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Colorado ARES Region 1 and Region 3 covering all of North East Colorado.
Along with amateur radio I am very active in the OHV Community and spend a lot of time in the Colorado backcountry volunteering to keep our public lands public and educating users on safe ethical use of public lands.
All Things HF
NVIS and More
- Understanding HF Propagation
High-frequency (HF) propagation is a critical component of long-distance communication, particularly for amateur radio operators and those involved in emergency communications. Understanding HF propagation is essential for anyone who wants to communicate over long distances using radio waves. Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation that propagate through space at the speed of light. … Continued
- What is NVIS?
NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) is a radio communication technique used to communicate over relatively short distances using high-frequency radio waves. The primary advantage of NVIS over other long-distance radio communication techniques is that it can be used to communicate over distances of up to 300 miles, even when there is no direct line-of-sight between … Continued
General Posts
- Yaesu FTM-500DR
Initial Setup Upon unboxing and setting up my new FTM-500DR by first connecting it to an antenna and power supply, I was pleased to see a very simple initial setup screen and simply only had to enter my call sign, which the screen displayed step by step instructions on doing so. once the initial bootup … Continued - MFJ Octopus
My First Impression In the deep dive into searching for the perfect portable antenna to take on camping trip that is also suitable for NVIS propagation one that came to mind is the Multiband Ham Stick Dipole setup. Upon receiving the MFJ-2104 with the included 15, 20, 40 and 75 meter Ham Sticks i was … Continued - The Ionosphere and the Role it Plays in HF Propagation
The ionosphere is a layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation. It plays a crucial role in the propagation of high-frequency (HF) radio waves. When an HF radio wave is transmitted, it travels through the atmosphere and encounters the ionosphere. The ionosphere refracts the radio wave, causing it to bend back … Continued