Equipment

Okay, so not the DX station of the century, but pretty good for a new ham if I say so myself. My HF rig is a Yaesu FT-991A paired with a LDG Autotuner, and I have West Mountain CLRdsp to help with voice tones and a Heil microphone with foot switch. I have a Kenwood TM-D710G I use for Packet as well as a backup for VHF/UHF. My mobile rig is an FTM-400DR.



Using a 43" monitor simplifies life when using WSJT-X or Ham Radio Deluxe. The laptop on the right runs my Wires-X software. I control the laptop using a Logitech K850 keyboard which allow me to switch from each computer and my iPad with a push of a key. Note the antenna switches on the right side of the desk. Overall the setup is compact and functional and suits my needs for functionality and aesthetics. 



For antennas I am limited by home owner rules that I mostly ignore; so far no complaints. I have three HF antennas, a Buckmaster Off-Center Dipole (6 - 80 meters), an EMCOMM II (6 - 160 meters), an a Diamond CP610 Vertical which also tunes nicely on 20 and 30 meters. I also have a Diamond X-50 vertical. I also have a Diamond X-50 in my attic along with a 20 meter dipole. I painted the taller masts camoflage so they would blend into the background trees. Does a fair job of hiding the masts.  The CP610 has a wind rating of 80 mph and we just don't get that kind of wind here. If there is a warning of such, I can pull it down in minutes. As you can see I am using satallite mounts for my antennas. Before installing the antennas we needed to have the house reroofed which, because of mold on the underside of the sheeting requried the plywood to be replaced. When the rafters were exposed I installed 2x12 boards accross the rafter joists so the mounts are bolted through the plywood and 2x12's giving them a very firm platform. I placed all of the mounts low so I could access the antennas without having to get up on the roof and to help hide them from the CC&R watchdogs.