July Ham Shack Highlight Bill Baylis (KE8NKN)
Hi, I’m Bill—call sign KE8NKN. My interest in ham radio goes back to the late 1960s when my dad and I built a Heathkit GR-81 shortwave radio together. It was a great learning experience and really sparked my curiosity. In the ’70s, I got into the CB radio craze and enjoyed chatting with other operators and listening in.
After retiring in 2019, I decided it was the perfect time to get back into radio—this time as a licensed ham. I joined the Bay Area Amateur Radio Club (B.A.A.R.C.) and have really enjoyed being part of a community of people who share the same interest. I’ve learned a lot from fellow members, many of whom have been generous mentors.
I earned my Technician license in 2019 and upgraded to General in 2020. That same year, I took part in ARRL Field Day and had the opportunity to run the GOTA (Get On The Air) station—an experience I really enjoyed. I’ve also participated in a couple of emergency communication exercises. My first radio was a well-used Radio Shack 2-meter rig (still in use!), and my first HF rig was a Kenwood TS-520SE paired with an AT-230 antenna tuner—a solid setup for learning.
In 2022, I took on the role of club secretary, and I’ve been enjoying it ever since. I also help run our Tuesday night Net alongside Steve (KE8TSJ) and George (KE8TSL). It’s been a great way to stay connected and catch up with other operators. I also help maintain the club’s website.
Some of my main radio interests include DXing, digital modes, contesting, Winlink, and Parks on the Air (POTA). Ham radio has been a fun and rewarding part of my life, and I’m always looking forward to what’s next.
Equipment:
Transceivers & Tuner: Kenwood TS520SE w/ AT-230 antenna tuner, Yaesu FTdx 10,Yaesu FT-891 & FC-50 Tuner. HF antenna tuner: Palstar AT2KD. Amplifier: Ameritron HF linear amp. Mic: Heil mic w/boom. Antenna:Hexbeam Directional beam w/Yaesu rotor control, 2m Comet dual-band, Myantenna 8010, 20m EFHW. Digital: SignaLink USB. Odds n Ends: DMR Hotspot & Anytone HT, Baofeng, and Yaesu HT’s, Meshtastic LilyGo, Home-brew Powerbox.
Software: HamClock, QRZ, and HRD.
73’s
June’s Shack Highlight George Mason (KE8TSL)
Bio: I have been interested in Amateur Radio since my teens but life got in the way. After I retired, the Covid restrictions left me with plenty of open time. Going down my “Bucket List”, I decided to study for my Amateur Radio Technician License and passed the test when I was 75 years old. Three months later, I passed my General License exam. Then, with the help of members of the BAARC, I was able to get my HF [for long distance contacts] and VHF/UHF [for local and regional contacts] radios set up and running. I was able to attend my first Amateur Radio Field Day event in 2022 and made my first long distance (DX) radio transmission and contact then. I have since explored other aspects of Amateur Radio, such as using WIRES-X, Winlink, VARA HF. and GMRS. I have learned how to set up my radio to use a solar-powered LiFePO4 battery in the field and learned how to set up a vertical antenna in the field and adjust it for maximum efficiency with the use of an antenna analyzer. Getting into Amateur Radio has been a great experience for me and I have met great people along the way.
May’s shack highlight Steve Czanecki (KE8TSJ)
Bio:
I have lived most of my life in Michigan, other than a few years on the East Coast. I
met my lovely wife Wendy in college (CMU – Fire Up Chips!). Together we have
produced 2 fine young men, Will and Alex. Will served in the Navy and is also a
licensed ham, though not very active at the moment. I have been interested in Ham
radio since high school, back in the 1980s. Alex majored in History, has run a small
history museum and is active in the theater. We have lived in Bay City since 1996. I
have been interested in Ham radio since high school in the 1980s. Three years ago
I decided to make the dream happen when I bought my first Baofeng HT, and
passed my Technician exam (aced it actually ��). Three months later I passed the
General, and have been spending money ever since!
My main “shack” equipment, as of now, includes my new Yaesu FTdx10 HF
transceiver, connected to a 40/10 four band EFHW antenna strung across my back
yard. For 2M and 70cm I use an ICOM 2370 mobile that I use as a base unit,
attached to a homemade J pole in my attic. In addition I have a Kenwood TS-50s
mobile HF rig and a Wolf River Coil vertical antenna that I use for field use, and an
older Kenwood TS-940s that is currently in storage. And of course I have several
Baofeng HTs.
Most of my radio time these days is either on our 2M net, or bouncing around the HF
bands looking for contacts. A typical evening will have be hunting POTA for a bit,
then just exploring 20 and 40 M bands for contacts. And if I am feeling especially
brave, I may call CQ. Occasionally I will find and check into a net on the HF bands.
Lately, I have been teaching myself to go digital, and have been playing with FT8.
I love that I am constantly learning something new. It is exciting to build my own
antenna and have it really work! And of course, making contacts with other hams
across the country and around the world is great fun.
Although I have not done it a lot, I really enjoy working in the field with my fellow
ham friends, either for Field Day or working POTA. I hope to do a lot more of that in
the future. I seem to learn something every time, and it is great to hang out with
friend. And of course I enjoy taking part in our Tuesday night nets.
In addition to radios, I am an avid amateur photographer. I also enjoy cooking,
especially smoking meats and making sausage. I have been know to make a batch
of homebrew beer from time to time too!
In the short term, I will soon be making some changes to my ham shack when I
retire and will have more room for my equipment. In the longer term I am hoping to
improve my antenna system, and hopefully be able to make more DX contacts.