First Contact

First contact outside the U.S. on my new ham radio.  On 12/7/2019 I passed my General License Exam for Amateur Radio.  Today I spoke with some operators in Panama over 1300 miles from where I was at the time.

Before passing this exam I was limited to VHF and UHF.  As a Tech I did so have limited access to the 10 meter band which is useless with the low solar activity.  Today I was on 20 meters not open to Tech’s.  20 & 40 meters still work during low solar activity.

I currently have a 10 - 160 meter 20 watt hf radio with ham sticks for antennas and am shooting for contacts over 2000 miles this winter.