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A Birthday Plot Uncovered!

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Chris Russell

Sat Jun 03 2006, 04:03AM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

Well, to all of you who participated in Dave's great deception, congrats. I was really and truly surprised, when this afternoon the UPS guy brought me a package. I figured Dave was being funny, and decided to ship the used Icom IC-718 (

) that he'd been promising (and I was really looking forward to!) a little earlier than he let on. Boy was I wrong. Instead, I found a brand-spanking new Yaesu FT-857D (

). I couldn't believe it. Hell, I still can't. This is my dream radio. This radio is at the top of a very short list of radios that I might actually kill to own, or at least bludgeon.

The fact that so many of you participated in this is really overwhelming. I'm not ashamed to say that I was touched nearly to the point of tears. I don't know how I can thank you all for this. I generally consider myself an articulate person, but I simply cannot find the words to express my gratitude. Thank you, everyone. I could scarcely have dreamed of a better birthday present.

For those of you who are interested, here:

is a short album of me playing with the radio, along with my highly ghetto temporary antenna setup. (the cardboard box radio was an ongoing gag between Dave and I)

I suppose that's all I can say for now. I just spent the last eight hours getting to know the new radio, and I'm sure it will consume many more hours in the near future. Any of you hams who might want a QSO, let me know! I hope to be capable on all bands from 160M-6M within the next two weeks, give or take. I intend to get a TON of use out of this radio.

Thank you again!!

...

Sat Jun 03 2006, 04:28AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

Glad to hear!

It was the least we could do, this forum has been the biggest waste of my time since the internet

(in a good way)

HV Enthusiast

Sat Jun 03 2006, 10:37AM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

Excellent. It was the least we could do being you spend so much time developing this awesome forum!!! Enjoy your new dream radio!!!

Dan

Steve Conner

Sat Jun 03 2006, 06:01PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

Happy birthday Chris!

I'd love to say "See you on 20m", but the transatlantic propagation has been pretty weird so far this year. I've hardly heard any US stations except for a few running 1500w into gain antennas.

Simon

Sun Jun 04 2006, 12:55AM

Registered Member #32 Joined: Sat Feb 04 2006, 08:58AM
Location: Australia
Posts: 549

You deserve it, Chris!

Dave Marshall

Sun Jun 04 2006, 02:27PM

Registered Member #16 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 02:22PM
Location: New Wilmington, PA
Posts: 554

To everyone who helped me put this whole thing together, and donated their hard earned money to the cause, thank you. Chris has been discussing a variety of radio related projects for some time, but always seem hampered by a lack of good equipment.

I have a radio identical to the one we sent him, and I can say that its as close to 'good equipment' as you can get with a radio under $3500.

I was actually oblivious to the fact that his birthday was this month at first. That was just a bit of a bonus. I had heard that might be sometime in June, but didn't know for sure until the day before I went to pick the radio up.

Here's a picture of the radio prior to it being shipped. I think the sentiment expressed on the screen was apt

Once we sort out an antenna for Chris to use in his somewhat space restricted area, I'm sure all us hams will get to hear him on the air. We did manage a very brief contact on 14Mhz the day he got it, but the band wasn't cooperating, and his antenna was causing some RFI problems.

Dave

HV Enthusiast

Sun Jun 04 2006, 03:59PM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

I wonder what Chris would think it we shipped him a 100ft tower antenna to his front door . . .

Cesiumsponge

Mon Jun 05 2006, 01:12AM

Registered Member #397 Joined: Wed Apr 19 2006, 12:56AM
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 125

I didn't know it was the OMJ's b-day either when this whole thing was getting planned and executed but hopefully it won't cheapen the moment!

Chris Russell

Mon Jun 05 2006, 02:23AM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

Well, I realize it wasn't really intended as a birthday present from its inception, but anything within several weeks of my birthday still counts as a birthday present in my book.

Dave, I really think most of the RFI was simply related to the fact that the antenna was just a few feet outside the window. I would practically have been in the near field of the antenna. The sound of my own voice was really freaking me out, though. I was worried that it was feeding into my neighbor's guitar amp and that the whole building could hear me, heh. Looks like it was just the radio behind me, though.

The good news is that I've got a nice long bit of coax headed my way, and I'm just about finalized on my antenna plans. In the meantime, I really still have a lot of other preparations to do. I just realized today that I don't even have any QSL cards! I also need to nail down some logging software, finish the digital interface to the radio, and organize my operating desk.

Yes, I am quite happily busy.

Moderator(s): Chris Russell, Noelle, Alex, Tesladownunder, Dave Marshall, Dave Billington, Bjørn, Steve Conner, Wolfram, Kizmo, Mads Barnkob