W8GUY
I’m a licensed amateur radio operator, callsign W8GUY (formerly KE8VIY), with a General Class license. Like many things in my life, I stumbled into ham radio because of a love of technology.
My Station
My base rig is a Yaesu FT-991A, which is a solid all-in-one radio for both HF and VHF/UHF. My main antenna setup includes a Tram 1480 for VHF and UHF work, and for HF, I use a homemade 9:1 unun feeding a 35.5-foot random wire. Like all random wires, it’s a compromise. But it works well enough.
For portable use, I carry a Baofeng GT-5R, which I upgraded with a better antenna and a bigger battery. As those Baofengs are extremely cheap, these upgrades cost more than the radio itself. Someday, I’ll get a proper HT.
Modes of Operation
I like sending bits through the ether and am especially fond of digital and data modes. You’ll find me playing with:
- APRS: Automatic Packet Reporting System
- FT8: Weak-signal digital communication
- JS8Call: FT8 with keyboard chat and messaging
- Packet radio: Classic data mode with a retro charm
- Winlink: Email over radio
I also enjoy participating in my local VHF and UHF nets. I’d like to do more phone work on HF and some POTA, but haven’t invested the time yet.
Software-Defined Radio
I really like combining code and radio. I’ve done a couple of presentations on it, complete with demos. If you’re into programming as well as radio, check ‘em out:
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Tracking Aircraft with Redis + Software-Defined Radio: I’ve given this talk at more places than I can count in the U.S. and in Europe. One of the better renditions was at StirTrek, which you can watch on YouTube.
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Plucking Data from Thin Air with Software-Defined Radio: This is a workshop where I show how to collect data using an RTL-SDR, shove it into a database, and then build dashboards showing the data. No video for this one, but the workshop can be done without the talk.
My QTH
My Maidenhead grid location is EM80mc, which puts me in Central Ohio. I’m a proud member of the Central Ohio Radio Club (CORC) and the Delaware Amateur Radio Association (DELARA). If you’re in the area, you should check them out.
And if you run into me on the air, at a conference, or at a club, feel free to say hi! I’m a friendly ham.