Radio Amateur (HAM)

HAM — OK5LM

Something about me and HAM

Hello everyone. After years of interest in RF equipment, radio electronics and listening, I finally decided in 2022 to obtain my amateur radio licence.

At school, the difficulty of the tests — including telegraphy at that time — discouraged me from taking the exam, and there was no money for a proper transceiver. The current situation looked much better: telegraphy is no longer required, although I still plan to learn it, and good transceivers are now commonly available.

I enjoy listening to AirBand, satellites, the ISS and amateur radio traffic. I am especially interested in the physical aspects of electromagnetic waves, special ISS events such as SSTV and repeater activity, APRS telemetry, weather satellites, HF bands and ionospheric propagation.

Exam preparation

The decision to take the professional competence exam came around New Year 2022. During the holiday period there was more traffic on the bands and I regretted that I could not join the conversations. I already owned a Yaesu FT-70DE and it would have been a shame not to use its full potential.

Preparation started at the beginning of the year and lasted until 8 March 2022, when the exam was held at CTU. Prefixes and Q-codes were the most difficult part for me, while abbreviations, English and electrical theory were easier. I studied intensively every day using practice questions and full mock tests.

The exam itself went smoothly despite travelling from 2:30 AM. I made only two mistakes in the whole test. My OK5LM licence and callsign were registered at CTU on 21 March 2022, reference number 290556.

RIG and HAM shack

I prefer the Japanese brand Yaesu, although my first transceiver was a Baofeng. I also tested an Alinco DJ-VX50, but I was not very impressed, especially by its software tuning and AM AirBand sensitivity.

Because my QTH is in a block of flats, I cannot install a full-size long-wire or magnetic loop HF antenna. At the moment I use a very limited balcony long-wire antenna, approximately 5 metres long, with a shortening coil.

My small workshop also serves as the HAM shack. It contains power supplies, a signal generator, oscilloscope, PC, gamma spectrometer and other equipment. The Yaesu FTM-300DE is installed there, powered by a Mean Well LRS-200-12 supply.