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A Hobby Radio Communications Adventure

03-09-2026 - 6:00 AM - Good Morning! It's Monday, and back to work for some, and another day of retirement for others. I watched "War Machine" on Netflix this weekend, and it reminded me of the V-100 armored military vehicle we had on standby at the Savanna Army Depot in Illinois. I was stationed there in 1975, when the shutdown began and the "special weapons" were shipped out. I would sometimes sit in the V-100 and listen to the RT 524 radio, spinning the dial and turning it into a manual scanner radio. With a frequency range of 30.00 to 75.95 MHz, there were interesting civilian targets to be heard. Even in the boonies of northwest Illinois. At the moment, I have Morse code running in the background, and my Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready!

--- 7:00 AM - The CW (Morse code) activity has slowed on 40 meters, so I'm switching to CB Radio to await the band's awakening. I've probably already missed some local traffic, but there will be more of that to come.

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03-08-2026 - 7:00 AM - Good morning! It's Sunday, and this is the first post of the new edition of this journal. I'll be posting snippets on Amateur (ham) Radio, CB Radio, the Family Radio Service, the General Mobile Radio Service, the Multi-Use Radio Service, and related topics. I will update the journal throughout the day on most days of the week. I usually start my mornings with Morse code running in the background on my old Yaesu 857D HF radio. Later, I'll probably make a CW (Morse code) contact on 20 meters in the Parks on the Air® program. Right now, my Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready. Stay tuned.

--- 7;30 AM - The CB Radio Band is coming alive, and the first to make its presence known is Channel 6, the "superbowl" of CB Radio. You probably knew that. The other DX channels will soon be booming.

--- 7:45 AM - If you've traveled through Texas, you might have visited a Buc-ee's. According to reports, Buc-ees plans new stores in Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin, plus additional Texas sites in 2026 and 2027. Buc-ee's is almost a destination in itself. Love's Travel Stops is reported to be opening 20 new locations this year. Travel Centers of America (TA) and Pilot Company are also expanding. Keep that CB Radio on while traveling!

--- 7:55 AM - There was quite a lengthy conversation on CB Radio Channel 19 between three people as they passed through town. I don’t know if they were in trucks, cars, or flying saucers.

--- 8:00 AM - A group of guys in my town uses 151.820 MHz in the license-free Multi-Use Radio Service for what sounds like hunting. I don't know what they're hunting, but it involves a lot of running and a lot of yelling on the radio. If they're happy, I'm happy. If the rest of the USA is like my area, the Multi-Use Radio Service is growing in popularity. We have several groups using it in my area. Public schools are one group. Of course, Walmart is the biggest user, heard on 154.570 and 154.600 MHz.

--- 8:30 AM - Among Amateur (ham) Radio Operators in my area, Meshtastic, a decentralized, off-grid communications mode, is the rage. There is constant chatter about putting up “nodes” all over town, the edges of town, and high places in town. I have no interest in that tech, but I do enjoy listening to their excitement as they pursue this adventure. Meshtastic can also use license-free frequencies, so there is fun and utility for everyone. Google the subject for more information if you’re not familiar with it.

--- 8:45 AM - Has anyone made a handheld CB Radio contact from the Gateway Arch in St. Louis? Amateur (ham) radio people are always doing stuff like that, but I never hear about CB Radio Operators. How about the Tower of the Americas in San Antonio? How about a rooftop restaurant? How about the Will Rogers Archway over-the-highway (I-44) McDonald's in Vinita, Oklahoma, that I first visited in 1974? How many truckers can you contact while enjoying a Quarter Pounder with Cheese? Or, before you're thrown out! Why are CBers letting Amateur (ham) Radio operators have all the fun?

--- 9:56 AM - I contacted a station in Peter Helland State Wildlife Area (US-9862) in Wisconsin on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.

--- 12:15 PM - In my limited (X, formerly known as Twitter) social media travels, I get a sense that many people are genuinely worried about the Internet and/or cell phones being cut off. I can’t say that shutdowns or throttling will never happen. Why not be ready with alternative forms of off-grid communication? Could this be why Meshtastic is getting so much attention? Google it and see if it’s something that might interest you. On a similar note, those people activating stations in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program will be ready if that day comes!

--- 3:00 PM - According to several reports, the FRS/GMRS crowd has petitioned the FCC for additional frequencies in the VHF “low band.” The reports I saw mentioned 30-50 MHz. I haven’t seen the actual petition. Let’s see how this develops.

--- 3:15 PM - The CB Radio band is screaming this afternoon. I’m hearing traffic on a number of AM frequencies that are usually pretty quiet. This has been the trend the last few weeks, maybe longer. This is a good thing. After all, what are those 40 channels for?

--- 8:00 PM - Last month, I contacted Tim, KK5YZ, "aeronautical mobile," on 146.580 MHz simplex at 33,000 feet near Lubbock, Texas, en route to Waco, Texas. I had my radio on scan and heard him making contacts. He said he was using an Alinco handheld running just 5 watts. I was on my Yaesu FT-2980, running 10 watts. A few weeks later, I received a nice QSL card from Tim, with a beautiful Cessna Citation on the front. About a week after that, I heard Tim again. I keyed up, identified myself, and thanked him for the nice card. As soon as I unkeyed, my power supply died. Not having a backup supply within arm’s reach, I decided to send him my QSL card with an explanation. If I hear him again, and I think he’s a semi-regular, I’ll give him a call.

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MUCH MORE TO COME!