Hello,
I still have an Icom 2at I purchased new in 1992. My husband also has one which I use since he uses a dual band Yaesu 470.
Someone gave me a Radio HTX202 because he doesn't operate any more.
I use an Icom 706, one of the newer ones, I have a Kenwood 440s which I got when I joined Navy Marine Corps Mars in 1995 and a have a Kenwood TMV7A as well.
Colleen, N8TNV;



----- Original Message -----
From: Kevin Minor <[log in to unmask]>
,to3 [log in to unmask]
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 3:20 pm
Subject: My view and memories about ham radio: was RE: Amateur Radio Licensees in U.S.

>
>
> Hi.
> 
> I remember the days when novices could only operate CW on 80, 40, 15 and 10,
> and if I remember, the maximum power allowed was 250 watts.  I got my
> license on February 12, 1982, and for four months I operated nothing but CW
> with my Swan Signet 360.  I had a blast, and I remember waking up at 5 or 6
> in the morning to work stations in California on 40.  My Dad thought I was
> weird, but now that I think of it, this meant the dudes in California were
> up at 2 or 3 in the morning.  One person I specificly remember contacting
> lived in Missouri, if I remember right, she was in Kansas City.  She was
> Kathy, KA0MKM.  A little later on I worked her Father.  In July of that year
> I got my general class, and I did a few contacts on SSB, but for me CW was
> and still is my mode of choice on HF.  In 1986 I got my advanced class
> license, and a month later I got my extra.  Oh yeah,  I was lucky when I got
> my novice and general class, because the FCC authorized people to give exams
> to those who couldn't get to the FCC office.  I was 16 when I got my novice.
> When I tested for the novice class, I didn't know whether I passed or not
> until the Friday when I got my license.  I did know I passed the general
> exam, and eagerly waited for my license to arrive.
> 
> I remember my first 2 meter rig, and Icom 2AT.  It was a great radio.
> Instead of using keypad entry of frequencies, you turned wheels on the top
> of the radio to change frequencies.  One thing a tech in our state agency
> for the blind, I don't know if he was a ham or not, but he marked where the
> zeros were on the wheels, so it was easy to tune it to specific frequencies.
> Five years later I got an Icom 02AT, and it was easier to tune, with keypad
> entry of frequencies, and it did five watts out versus a maximum of a watt
> and a half for the 2AT.  Now I own a Kenwood TH-F6A, and I like the radio,
> especially its general coverage receiver.  I also remember my first mobile 2
> meter rig, which doubled as a base radio for me.  It was an Azden 3000, and
> it had an incredible receiver, and it had 8 memories that you could program.
> I got that radio in the fall of 1984, and I had it until around 1991 or so.
> Now I have a Kenwood TM-V71A as my base rig, and it's set up as an Echo Link
> station, being linked by RF to a local repeater in the area.  The radio has
> been constantly on for over five years now, and, knock on my wooden head, I
> haven't had a single problem with it.
> 
> I think that amateur radio is a thriving hobby, but I don't think that we're
> getting as many teenagers in it as we used to.  We did have a youth day a
> few years ago, and I had my Echo Link radio set up.  I went to a location
> across town, and youngsters operated the Echo Link from there.  They also
> did HF and some satellite as well.  I think that the hobby is changing.  I'm
> sure there was complaints from those who were exclusive CW operators when
> voice was allowed, and I've heard stories about the fights between AM and
> SSB operators.  For the past few decades we've had satellites to use, and
> now Echo Link and IRLP and D-STAR are among the new digital modes that are
> being used by hams to communicate around the world.  I'm one who hopes HF
> stays around, and I well remember the controversial decision of allowing
> codeless licenses.  I was one who opposed having no code, but now I don't
> have a problem with it.  I do, however, think it's important for us as hams
> to remember our roots, and I therefore hope the ARRL will give an award for
> someone who operates CW.  I remember when I first learned the code in 1979,
> and I can say with pride that in the past I was able to copy 35 words per
> minute, and I didn't have to write down what I heard.
> 
> I know this message is a bit long, but I wanted to share my experiences with
> the hobby.  Besides having an Echo Link node, I used to operate a packet
> radio BBS, and for a few months I was an HF gateway to deliver messages.
> Currently I don't have an HF rig, and since I live in an apartment I'm not
> sure how I'd operate.  This note has inspired me to turn on the TH-F6A and
> scan the memories, both ham and public service frequencies for activity.  I
> think our hobby is doing just fine, it's just evolving.
> 
> Have a great day, and don't work too hard.
> GO REDS and GO PACERS!
> Kevin Minor, Lexington, KY
> [log in to unmask]