I have made do with this computer desk we purchased from the Habitat for Humanity recycling center. For $26 it will leave me money for other more important things. My Heathkit HW101 has been replaced with the ICOM 718.

In the mid 1970's I built this Heathkit HW101 transceiver as an inducement to learn the code and get my amateur radio licence. The radio worked but it did not get me to learn the code to get my licence.

Go forward in time to my retirement some 30 plus years later. The code is no longer required to get a amateur radio licence. and I have more than enough time to study and get the licence. In quick succession I passed the Technician, General and then Extra Class tests. The old Heathkit has been working surprisingly well with contacts made in almost all states and a number of foreign countries.

I soon learned that to be a ham you need to be good with a slingshot. Using a lead fishing sinker and some strong fishing line you shoot a line over a tree branch and then haul up a rope with a pulley attached which you use to raise and lower your dipole antenna. Using an idea from my brother-in-law (KX1G) the weight is used to allow for the trees to sway with out putting enough strain on the antenna to break the wire. I guess there is a reason he is Extra Class other than marrying my sister.

I did some battle with the Georgia red clay and buried the cable from the house to the tree line. Getting the cable under the sidewalk was a chore but the installation looks good. I buried an additional ethernet cable with the coax so I could install an antenna switcher at a later date so that I will only have to use one coax to the woods.

I have hooked up with the Sawnee Amateur Radio Association locally. They make me feel young and share some interesting stories at lunch at Lenny's Sub Shop here in Cumming each week. Some times they even talk about radio.

I would like to start mastering the code which kept me out of the hobby for so long.