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I suppose Echolink can satisfy the needs for those who don't put up antennas, but frankly I don't find any pleasure in it. I tried it for a while but it's not for me.
I run a small antenna farm on my city lot, all bands from 10 through 160 except 160 needs a little work and I took down my 60m dipole. My triband yagi is up at about 58 feet and I work everything.
The rig is a venerable TS-940S with a TL-922 amplifier. I operate SSB, CW, and occasional PSK and RTTY and, rarely, AM. Worked well over 300 countries and so far the thrill hasn't faded.
Years ago I gave up using VFH and UHF although I still have the gear. I don't feel inspired by the stuff that goes on up there, and I have no interest in 6 meters.
I say all this merely to tell the gang here what I do with ham radio, and invite all to join me on the HF bands which, to me, is the fundamental basis for ham radio.
I have had my license since 1949. Was a MARS operator for a few years, too. First rig was a homebrew transmitter using a single 807, VFO controlled, on 10 meters CW then used NBFM for quite a while. Receiver back then was SX-25, one of the best, which I bought from a friend in 1948 for $45. I am a VE as well.
I still have my 'old' TS-930S which I should sell, and a TS-440S in case I want to go mobile. (The last time I went mobile was on a trip to Oregon, worked 14 countries from the car.)
Bob K6DDX
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