This will be a very brief blog update. The last time I updated my blog site was soon after the first of the year. I provided (or tried to provide) an explanation to my long absence both on the bands, the blogosphere and the podcast airwaves. I’m not going to go rehash that as you can read that posting here. However, one thing I did mention in that posting was amateur radio was by no means the cause of my grief, it (among a few other things) just reminded me of it.
Anyway, last night I had a bit of free time and decided to go down to my basement ham shack and switch on the computers, switch on the radios and see what was happening on the bands. My Yaesu FT-897 was parked on 14.076 (right where I had left it almost a year ago) and much to my surprise everything still worked. After syncing my PC clock (it was some 4+ minutes off) I fired up HRD, launched the JT65-HF software and the waterfall began filling up. It was a good feeling answering my first CQ in almost a year.
I’m not sure just how active I will be in the coming weeks or months. My intention is to enjoy the hobby and see where things lead me. Regarding my podcast (The Practical Amateur Radio Podcast), I really don’t want it to just fade away. While it has been 14+ months since I released an episode, the site still gets a lot of traffic and I occasionally still receive emails asking what is going on. But before PARP ever returns, I need to get engaged back into the hobby. I’ve always said I was only at my very best podcasting about amateur radio when I was active and involved.
In closing, I want to thank those of you who wrote to me over the past year. The words of encouragement really helped. I can’t remember who told me this, but one of the comments or emails I received just simply told me that amateur radio would still be here when I was ready to come back. Yep…that’s right!
Until next time…
73 de KDØBIK aka Jerry
Hahn! Welcome back Jerry! While we have missed you, we all understand the hobby comes first. Glad to see you are back on the air and I hope to work you soon.
73
Welcome back to the hobby and to the blogosphere! Hope you worked everything out for ya. Hit me up on email sometime, would love to chat with us about your blog. Couldn’t find you email on your mobile site or I would’ve emailed you myself…
Hi Jerry. Good to hear you back on the air as well. I havent had the pleasure of using JT65 or other digital modes (yet). Still doing HF the old fashioned way ssb or cw. Really enjoyed working your station during your (and mine) 2014 QSO A Day Challenge. All the best. Very 73.