Back To The Basics.......

I have spent a number of recent months studying, reflecting and making decisions. It is hard to decide which step to make getting back into our great hobby. My funds are limited so any choices have to be made wisely.
My initial return is going to be into HF. Those who know me will remember that my main interests have been in the Sats and VHF+. However I also feel that any station worth its salt needs to have a working HF station at it's core. Right now I am looking at either the time proven Kenwood TS-520 or an Icom IC-706.
Antenna is going to be one of my favorites, the G5RV dipole. Couple of weeks ago we had a large tree cut down in our backyard and that really opened up antenna possibilities for me. Considering the neighbor has given me permission to run a wire through his yard!
I have two computers setup and ready. One will be for general logging, clusters, etc. The other is a server that can be used for IRLP, Winlink or other totally Ham Radio geek stuff.
The contest season is coming soon and I hope to make my first entries later this fall. Our business is starting to slow a bit for the fall and I may finally have some free time to play around once again.......

9 Months Later.......

I started this blog to record my adventure back into this awesome hobby. My last and first post stated that I have a HW-104 radio. While I have made a couple of contacts with it, I really want something a bit newer.
I strongly feel that the basis of any Amateur Radio shack should be an emergency ready HF station. I have finally gotten around to looking for such a radio. Right now I am looking at a Kenwood TS-440SAT, or an older Kenwood or Icom radio. Antenna is going to be a time tested G5RV up 40 feetish.
My goal is to finish my Worked All States award and get back into dxing.......