User data

W6MJS

First name:

Michael

Shimmin

Address:

46 E 300 N

84054

United States

QSL via:

eQsl, LOTW, Online request

User info

My wife is a 3rd Generation HAM so I figured I best get my ticket too! 

Having just starting out in the HAM field (May 8th of 2013) and progressing to the vanity callsign of WE7MJS on 03-12-2016 and upon recieving my General ticket I have settled in as W6MJS as of 4-21-2017.  

Here is a rambling of my progression into the Ham world.  I First got up and running  with my old radio shack HTX-202 2meter handheld from back in my TERT S&R days (when I operated via 3 party as needed) and connected it to a self-made copper pipe J-pole that I had mounted up on the roof of our home. Wow what a difference it made over the rubber duckie antenna of old! LOL.

Update on the Home base systems & Mobile systems as of 3-6-17

Have added a Yaesu FT-8800R dual band (2m & 70cm) capable mobile/base rig that is mainly handling the 2m & 70cm bands connected to a Tram model #1481 dual band antenna replacing my home-made copper-pipe J-pole that has worked well. 

As for Mobile operations in my 2015 Lincoln MKX I am currently running a Yaesu FT-8900R quad band rig (2m, 70cm, 6m & 10m) connected to a Comet Quad band antenna via a trunk lip mount on the rear hatch and it works quite well considering the MKX doesn't have many options for simple VHF/UHF antenna mounting let alone the HF bands.

My old radio shack HT had finally died and since it's always good to have a HT around but I didn't want to invest much in that type of gear I picked up a couple of Baofeng radios Model # BF-9V2+ and actually have added Rugged Radio headsets H22 Carbon Fiber Pro-Series and added the CC-KEN cables to them so we can use them with the Baofeng HT's for communication between us when using our Ex-Military M925 5ton Cargo/troop truck!

I have also added in prepraration for getting our/my General license(s) a new to us/me a lightly used Icom IC-467pro all mode HF rig that I picked up from one of our local ham groups annual swap-meet.  Currently in the process of getting the HF antenna needs figured out due to space limitations in our backyard etc.  Will be working on getting HF antennas installed and tuned up as KB6RDX and I start the General classes in a week!  I'm really looking forward to being able to eventually QSO with my father-in-law on the HF bands as he is in southern California.  We will be able to reach out to our extended family in central California (my side of the family) along with other sections of the USA and my mother's side of the family that is located in South America (Columbia) in the future. 

Update!   Both Lynnette and I passed our General tests today 3-18-2017!   We both tried the Extra exam but found we both still have a lot of studying ahead of us to pass that test!

This past weekend (4-1-17) I got the HF antennas UP and remounted a couple of our VHF/UHF antennas as well around the QHT

1 - My First Homemade antenna!  a 1/2"copper pipe J-pole for 2m
2 - Comet CHA-250b - HF multi-band 80m thru 6m
3 - Tram 1481 Dual band 2m and 70cm
4 - Gap Challenger DX - Multi-band 80,40,20,15,12,10,6 and 2m
5 - "Carl Pockrus" Dual Band J-pole 2m and 70cm (clone of the Arrow "OSJ")

Above is the Comet CHA-250b - HF multi-band 80m thru 6m mounted 26 feet up to the bottom of the antenna base.  Once I get some more mast pieces and set up some guying I plan on moving it up to the full 35 foot suggested install height.

Update: 4/4/17 - In celebration of passing the General licensing I added to the ham shack a brand new Icom 7100 HF/VHF/UHF all mode with D-star rig and really enjoying it!  First day of getting it I was able to make my first 3 QSO's as an offical "General" to California, Wisconsin & La Habana providance, Cuba!

Update 4/21/2017 - Got my 1x3 callsign today!  Now I'm W6MJS  in homage to my birth state.