About Me

From a young age, I was captivated by technology. I learned basic programming at the age of 5, built my first computer by 11, and have always been fascinated by electronics and computers. My introduction to radios came through my dad, Glen Aycock, who was an avid CB radio enthusiast. He always had a radio in his car and a base station at home, and I have fond memories of helping him and my brothers adjust antennas—often in less-than-ideal weather, like snowstorms or looming thunderstorms.

In 1996, my dad and I decided to get our HAM licenses together. We studied for the Technician Plus license, which at the time didn’t require passing the CW code test. We both passed, receiving sequential callsigns: my dad was KF6IDA, and I was KF6IDB. We started with handheld radios from Radio Shack, programmed to local repeaters, and had a blast with them. Although we eventually upgraded to more advanced radios, I still keep my first one as a nostalgic reminder of those early days.

As the licensing structure changed over the years, we were grandfathered into the Technician class when the code requirement was removed, and two license classes were consolidated. However, life led us both away from the hobby for a time.

In 2017, my interest in ham radio was reignited. I discovered my license had expired in November 2016, and I had a limited time to renew it. My dad and I renewed our licenses online, and in March 2018, we both upgraded to the General class and applied for vanity callsigns. I became N6LKA, and my dad chose K5LGA. By December 2018, I achieved the Extra class license.

Later that year, I purchased an Icom IC-7300 from a friend, AD5MT, along with an AH-4 automatic antenna tuner. This was my introduction to HF radio, and we installed a wire antenna at my apartment. In early 2019, I upgraded to the Icom IC-7610 and added a Heil PR781G microphone. In December 2020, my wife and I moved into a new house with a large backyard, perfect for setting up more equipment. In 2021, I installed a 40-foot ROHN 25 tower with a HexBeam antenna for 20-6m and an OCF Dipole antenna for 40-80m. The IC-7300 now serves as part of my portable setup for Field Day, portable ops, and EmComm. I also use an IC-705 for portable and QRP work with various antennas, including Buddipoles and mag loops, with plans to use it for Parks on the Air (POTA). In April 2024, I transitioned to the Apache Labs ANAN-G2 SDR, replacing my IC-7610. (Visit the Radio Equipment page for my full equipment list.)

While living in an apartment, I also began building a UHF repeater. My goal was ambitious: I wanted to combine analog and digital modes into one system using a single frequency pair. Inspired by my friend Patrick’s setup, I purchased a used Motorola MTR-2000 and started experimenting. After much trial and error, I succeeded in building a fully functional mixed-mode repeater. Using an STM32-MTR2K-DVM board, I integrated various digital modes into the repeater, and later, I added an AllStar node as the repeater controller. This allowed me to connect to other nodes, Echolink, and bridges. After moving to Calimesa, CA, I completed the coordination process for my repeater, gaining full coordination in the fall of 2021.

Today, I continue experimenting with digital modes, satellite communications, and other exciting aspects of ham radio. The hobby never ceases to offer new opportunities for learning and exploration.

Thanks for visiting my website.

73,
Larry Aycock, N6LKA