WX4TM - WX4MM
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We've been HAMs for 32 years.  Until we moved to our 5 acres in the woods in 2004, we'd never had more than a 30 to 50 tower with a small tri-bander and a couple of dipoles.  The reason, we often say, that we moved was that we wanted a place to raise aluminum.  So that's what we've been doing for the last 4 years. Besides, Tom had gotton heavily into DX'ing and RTTY contesting. Plain and simple. We just needed more antennas.

We started with the old HDBX 48 ft'er, a Hy-gain TH5 tribander, Ham IV rotator, an 80/40 fan dipole cut for the phone bands, a 2M beam and vertical.  Next came a full size 40M vertical mounted on a pushup pole but later moved to a 50' crankup pole. Then we added a new 86' Rohn 45 tower with another TH5 tribander, Ham IV rotator, individual 80 and 40M dipoles cut for the low end of the bands, and most recently a side mounted dual band 80/160M vertical with 60 ground radials. A 4th tower, 40' of Rohn 25, was recently added. Atop this tower is a full size 30M Vertical.  A 12/17M beam will be added here in the future. These bands are currently worked with the 80M dipole on the big tower. A K9AY receiving antenna is planned for the very near future.

ANTENNAS

Because the kids are grown and gone from home now, we can afford the extra bed room space for our Ham Station.  It consists of a home made L console that has plenty of space behind it for wiring hookups etc. 

Tom's operating position consist of a Yaesu FT2000 (on the right in pics) and a Yaesu FT1000MP Mark-V Field (on the left).  Both radios are equipped with a full compliment of filters and RigBlaster Pro inteface units. Other supporting equip includes a QRO HF2500 amp (top left), an MFJ-9982 2500 watt Antenna Tuner (top right),  the two Ham IV rotator controls and Kenwood TM-D710 vhf/uhf radio (center).  Remote antenna switches include an Array Solutions WX0B Six Pak and DX Engineering CC-8 unit. (bottom left).  An old FT101 serias speaker/Phone patch is hooked up to the FT2000.  On top of it is an Alinco DR605 vhf/uhf radio which uses an inside antenna - for bad weather/emergency use only. Tom's computer is a Dell Dimension 9100 (more details later) with 19 and 17" monitors. Outside is a big bank of 1 1/2 volt batteries, charged by an internal Astron R80M power supply. This set-up powers all 12V equipment in the station.

Mary's operating position consist of a Yaesu FT950, an old FT101 series speaker/phone patch, and a recently inherited Yeasu FT-2100B Amp reworked and upgraded by WB4BYQ.  Mary's computer is also a Dell Dimension 9100 with 19" monitor.  We'll be adding Rigblaster Pro to her station this year. The FT950 shares antennas with Tom's station via a coax switch between the Mark-V and the FT950.

RADIOS

Internet access for the station is via the SLOOOW satellite Hughs Net.  We'd switch to Bellsouth or Cable but neither is available here in the boondocks.

A third computer is used for processing EMWIN, satellite received, data and emailing weather Watches and Warnings and other data to approximately 100 subscribers. The weather data you saw on the Home or Current Weather page of this site is fed by this computer too receiving its data from a Davis PRO 2 wireless Weather Station. All sensors are mounted at about the 30' level of the 86' Rohn 45 tower.

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