I continue to be surprised by the generosity of the people I’ve met since getting involved in ham radio last year.  As I noted last Saturday, I’d passed my General license exam but had no radio with which to exercise my new privileges.  I mentioned that to a fellow club member on Sunday and he offered to let me borrow his HF rig:  a Kenwood TS-450S along with a very nice antenna tuner.  It took me a couple of days to get it all hooked up and operating correctly, time being at a premium for the short work week, but by Wednesday night I was able to make some contacts.  I’ve talked now to people in New York, Maryland, Wisconsin, Arizona, and on Anguilla Island in the Caribbean (just east of Puerto Rico).

Until I actually started operating on HF, I really couldn’t understand the attraction.  I thought it might be a cool novelty, but it’s more than that.  I was incredibly excited today when I was able to talk to the guy in the Caribbean.

Now to sharpen up my Morse Code skills…