Emily Wilson37

so i've been licensed for about two years now and mostly just used a baofeng and then a used IC-7300 that i picked up last year. been reading about QRP forever and kept telling myself id get around to it. well last month i finally pulled the trigger on a QSX... wait no i mean i got a ubitx v6 kit from hfsignals and spent a whole weekend putting it together on the kitchen table much to my wife's annoyance lol anyway it actually works. like it really works. i made contacts on 40m with 5 watts running off a little lipo pack i had from an old drone project and i dont know it just feels completely different than cranking out 100w from the big rig. there's something about knowing you're getting through with almost nothing that makes it way more satisfying. took about 4 hours to get a contact but honestly that was part of the fun has anyone else gone down this rabbit hole? im thinking about taking it camping this summer and wondering what antenna people use for portable ops when weight actually matters. been looking at random wire stuff but not sure where to start

so ive been at this for about 3 months now and i feel like im completely stuck. started with the Koch method using the LCWO website and got up to maybe 5-6 wpm copying but every time i try to push it a little faster my brain just kind of freezes up and i lose the whole word. its frustrating because i can sit there and do 5wpm all day long without any real mistakes but the second i bump it to 7 or 8 i fall apart. i practice probably 20-30 minutes a day, sometimes more on weekends. been listening to the W1AW code practice sessions too which i heard is good. is there something specific im doing wrong or is this just one of those things where you have to grind through it and it eventually clicks? i really want to get to 20wpm someday, feels like a million miles away right now

so i passed my technician exam last thursday and just got my callsign in the ULS yesterday, KD9 something something i wont type it all out lol. anyway i was super nervous but i keyed up on the 147.315 repeater here in town and just said my call and that i was a new ham looking to make some contacts. two guys came back to me almost immediately which i was not expecting at all, had a little ragchew for maybe 10 minutes about what radio i have (baofeng uv-5r, dont judge me) and what i want to get into. one of them invited me to the club meeting next tuesday which is cool. honestly the hobby seems way more welcoming than i thought it would be, i was kind of dreading being the new guy who doesnt know anything but everyone was real patient with my terrible mic technique

Key steps for digital compliance: Use software that shows occupied bandwidth (like WSJT-X spectrum display)Check your radio's bandwidth settings - most modern rigs have built-in filtersRemember that as control operator, you're responsible for ensuring compliance with FCC rulesWhen in doubt, use established modes like PSK31 or FT8 which are well within limits

General Class licensees can operate digital modes and SSB phone on HF bands below 28 MHz, including 20 meters which is excellent for DX work. Generals can operate all digital modes on HF, including FT8 - huge difference from Tech privileges!