This is the homepage of Russell Thomas - KV4S.
My Website was created and posted in October, 1999 and
overtime has evolved into what you see now.
My Memberships:
Equipment:
- Yaesu FT-100D that
I run base and mobile
- Yaesu ATAS active tuning
antenna for base and mobile use
- Hustler 80M antenna
for base and mobile use
- Comet SSB-7 for 2M/70CM
- ICOM IC-T8A tri-band
HT that I'm using on base
- j-pole dual band antenna
another ham is letting me use for base
- Yaesu 2500M dedicated
to APRS. Quarter wave 2m mag for antenna.
- Tiny Trak III is my
APRS TNC. (sends only, upgrade from TTII)
- Radio Shack HTX-200
(HT)
- MFJ - CW paddle using
with the 100D
I've been
an amateur radio operator since January 21, 1999 with a Technician Class license,
via the Tuscaloosa Amateur Radio Club, where I was granted the call of KG4BQK.
I passed my General Class license on February 3rd 2002 with the Birmingham Amateur
Radio Club; the FCC effective date was February 7th 2002. I passed my Extra
Class license on March 1st 2002 with the Shelby County Amateur Radio Club; the FCC
effective date was March 12th 2002. On March 8th 2002 I got the call W4JRT
to reflect my initials. On June 22nd 2002 I got the call KV4S to better reflect
my license class.
Recent
Amateur Radio Events I've participated in order of newest to oldest.
December
2nd 2006 December 4th, 2004 I participated in SKYWARN Recognition Day.
It was held a the Birmingham NWS office at ALERT's Ham Station. My shift was 10am - 6pm. This was our third year to participate.
Results coming soon. Looking back... December 4th,
2004 we had 205 contacts total including 32 National
Weather Service stations, and we got a certificate for working a few select stations
that were also part of the contest. In 2003 we made contact with 207 stations total
and in 2002 we made contact with was 159.
May 6th,
2006 I attended the Birmingham Hamfest, I worked the ALERT booth most of the day.
I also presented a short presentation for ALERT at the SKYWARN Forumn
June 26th, 2004 from 2pm - 9:30 I attened the SCARC
Field Day at the Shelby EMA office in Columbiana. I worked mostly with the
40M station made a decent number of contacts some of the more interesting was W1AW
- which is the ARRL station, N4A - Tuscaloosa's station, W4CUE - Birmingham's station,
K4BFT - Huntsville.
On November
the 10th, 2002 I was net control for the Shelby County amateur radio club when a
large number of Tornado's came through the state. These where the same storms
that caused the Carbon Hill Tornado in Walker County. From Shelby county I
had a total of 21 check-in's. Reports were great and everyone was where they
needed to be. You can download my notes of this event by clicking
here it is in Word 2000 format.
Saturday, October 6th,
2001 I participated in a simulated emergency situation at the Shelby county EMA
office where there was a simulation of a hurricane coming through the state. We
received and passed simulated traffic via the HF net in Alabama and also used out
local net on 146.980. With these new skills I've volunteered to be net control
for the 444.650 (KA5GET's SKYWARN repeater) and the 146.980 (SCARC) repeaters!
I'm also
a Storm Spotter after attending the basic and advanced classes in Bibb county
in 2001. I'm also an EMA volunteer in Tuscaloosa and Shelby counties.