In Dec 2022 Santa brought me Xiegu G90 and I got on the HF airwaves.

I’m learning CW hearing using lcwo.net, I’m practicing keying on Morserino-32 and single-paddle from CWmorse. For an antenna, I use QRPguys 20W EFHW with 40m element.

As a technician, I was able to get on 40m, 20m and 10m with CW and spotted self as far as 1600mi away. On 10m SSB I got as far east as Minnesota, Missouri and Texas. Using js8 on 10m I’m reaching east coast on good propagation days :) APRS-IS integration in js8 is exciting to me, as I am able to relay my grid onto aprs.fi as well as to send SMSGTE and EMAIL-2 messages from HF!!

So far, I learned that FT8 is not for me laugh. I want keyboard to keyboard, mike to mike or key to key ragchews, and not computers talking to each other (I do that at work… make computers talk to each other :)

My setup is fully mobile with 10AH LiFePo4 battery, 20W solar-panel, 24ft carbon fiber fishing rod and a case for expensive bits.

Pictured are:

• inverted-V 40m EFHW on 24ft rod with my battery powered setup.
• js8 10m propagation from this setup on a good day (20W).
• 20W solar panel with 10A battery and self made “battery-hat” with voltmeter, APP connectors and a USB charger.
• temporary garage shack.

NOTE: if anyone has a working IC-730, IC-735, TS-120S, TS-130S, TS-140S, FT-902DM or one alike, I’m looking for one!! I intend to use it for a permanent shack setup for CW and JS8 with occasional SSB. For now I’m working on my studies for the General license :)