so anyway i finally dug out my old rig from the garage last month, an IC-735 that i havent touched since like 2018 maybe, dusted it off, replaced the finals (well had a tech friend do it), strung up a random wire out to the back fence and just... started talking again on 40m. forgot how much i missed it honestly. the bands have been decent lately with the solar cycle doing its thing and ive been making contacts i never wouldve dreamed of with that wire. jumped on a net last tuesday night for the first time in years and the net control actually remembered me which was kind of wild. anyway no real point to this post just felt like sharing cause my wife definitely doesnt care lol

yeah man this is basically my story too except it was a 746 Pro sitting in a closet. got back on last spring after maybe 4 years of nothing. the hobby just kind of pulls you back doesnt it. glad the 735 is working again those are solid rigs if you keep em up

thats awesome, i just got my ticket in March so i dont have the "coming back" experience but i totally get the wife not caring part haha. my girlfriend just kind of nods when i talk about propagation. what net were you on if you dont mind me asking, im trying to find some good ones on 40