Frank Haas - KB4T
Anchor Desk, Reporter
Age 61/Ham nearly 47 yrs since age 14 - Born in NJ. FL resident since 1967.
Still working: RF Voice & Data Comm Systems Tech & Interference Investigator for large FL electric utility. Active on SSB/ESSB. Devoted to traditional CW sending methods.
Licensed since April 1965, I enjoy CW ragchewing and experimenting with High Fidelity SSB (some call it Enhanced SSB.)
I'm either ragchewing on 40M SSB (7150 +/- 20 kHz) or lurking the around the higher end of the CW subband on 40, 80 & 20 meters after 10 PM Eastern time any night of the week. I'm always looking for a good ragchew. I enjoy using bugs and straight keys. If lucky enough to get into a High Speed CW QSO (30-45 WPM) either a bug, electronic keyer or CW keyboard (or all three!!!) will be used.
As an RF Tech, I like to talk TECH. As an Interference Investigator, I'm happy to answer your questions about POWER LINE INTERFERENCE and other forms of RFI.
There are few things in life that are more satisfying than getting to know the operator at the other end of the QSO and creating a new friend in Ham Radio.
Since 2009, I've been a newsreader and occasional anchor for the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE. Please support AR NEWSLINE by making a donation to this valuable ham radio news service at http://www.arnewsline.org. Listen to the program each week for the latest news in Ham Radio.
Since February 2006, I've been active in the Straight Key Century Club (http://www.skccgroup.com) and have expanded my collection of straight keys and bugs. One of the great pleasures of hamming for me is mastering these machines. My goal is to send code on a straight key that is as close to perfect as I can make it. I hope to be able to send nearly perfect CW on a bug at 35 to 40 WPM. I have a long way to go!
Another favorite aspect of the hobby is Mobile & Portable HF Operation. Getting out of the house, promoting ham radio and just having fun is what it's all about.
I travel around northeast Florida in my work van equipped with HF. I especially enjoy Mobile HF CW. My work brings me into contact with many hams in the region. Some of my best encounters have been with Hams for whom I have been able to resolve serious power line interference issues.
Radio has been and always will be my passion. Other interests include recumbent tricycling (mostly on paved trails) and aviation. I'm an Instrument rated Private Pilot but don't fly much anymore.
Home Rig: Flex Radio Systems Flex 5000A (E/SSB) or Icom IC-756ProIII (CW) or Icom IC-756ProII (Digital), Alpha 78 Amp (1500W), DXBlaster 40M Cage Antenna at 35 feet or PalStar BT1500A Balanced L Tuner & Ladder Line-fed Full Wave 80 Meter Loop Antenna (Rectangle shaped & height averages 30 feet.)
HF Rig Audio Rack includes: RE-27ND microphone, Symetrix 528e Voice Processor, TC Electronic DBMAX 5 band Level Maximizer/EQ/Limiter, Lexicon MPX550 Reverb. Output of the rack is fed directly to the Balanced Line input of the Flex or via a W2IHY iBox to the Balanced Modulator Direct Input on the rear of the Icom IC-756ProIII (when the Flex is offline.)
I use Ham Radio Deluxe for logging and basic rig control. For digital modes, I use a variety of programs but MIXW is my favorite.
Mobile Rig: IC7000, 100W HF, Hi-Q 4/80 screwdriver style antenna on 2004 Ford E250 Van. Operate Mobile HF CW almost exclusively using the Palm Radio Code Cube Keyer with integrated Mini-Paddle.
Ham Radio has provided so many satisfying moments in my life that I could never repay the debt I owe to this avocation. The world of joy, good friends, public service and technical involvement cannot be matched by any other pursuit.
My thanks to the many hams who have made the last 46 years so much fun!
73,
Frank N. Haas KB4T
ARRL Life Member -- more than 45 Years
A1-Operator, Rag Chewers Club
Daytona Beach Amateur Radio Assn, Life Member
SKCC 981T
FISTS 10283
SOCARS 3955
Flying Pigs 881
Adventure Radio Society 1862
SOC 706
QSONet (Ask me about this!!!)
Hamsphere (Ask me about this!!!)
AR Newsline Reader & Occasional Anchor
Callsign: KB4T
E-Mail: kb4t@kb4t.us
