K9ISO
Welcome to the K9ISO home page (formerly known as KD9RDH). I am excited you have found my page and hope to meet you on the air.
Please take a look around our website to learn more about my shack and the local area. Please feel free to contact me via my Contact page with any questions!
73's,
Michael Wareman, K9ISO
About Me
I am a SKYWARN Weather Spotter, HAM radio operator, Home Automation enthusiast and Information Security professional.
I've been interested in radio since the mid 80's - where I dabbled in CB, built antennas and transmitters in the UK. I studied and passed my HAM test in the UK back then - but never applied for my license (for some reason). Fast forward to 2020 - and the opportunity presented itself (thanks to AC9Y who gracefully offered to run a class during the pandemic). Feeling empowered - I took my test and passed with a perfect score. In mid-2022 I had reason to obtain duplicate certificates from my younger years - and found that my C&G RAE exam pass was still valid. So - I now (finally) also have my UK full license (G1ISO) that you may hear me on if I am traveling in a CEPT country.
I do also have my GMRS license (WRJL575) mainly for family communication (others in my family do not have a HAM license). My US DMR ID is 3173933 but I am not often on DMR.
As far as non-radio interests - computer security, radio, electronics, scuba, shooting, flying just about covers it.
I have a QRZ page at https://www.qrz.com/db/K9ISO and you can link to my social media via About.ME. You can also view my weather station data via APRS at this link and during local severe weather events you will find me on the KD9FA and KC9OEM (2m) repeaters.
Equipment:
Radios:
Yaesu FT3D
Yaesu FT5D
Yaesu FTM-200
Yaesu FTM-400
Yaesu FTM-500
Yaeus FT-991A
RFinder B1+
Anytone 578
VGC VR-N7500
B-Tech DMR 6X2
B-Tech UV-5001
B-Tech UV-5x3 (often mistaken for a Baufeng)
Several actual Baufengs (who doesn't.... be honest!)
Baufeng GT-5R
Xiegu G90
Antennas
Ed Fung TBJ-1 Tri-band Antenna (WB6IQN) on LMR-400 in the attic
ANLI A-100 Dual-Band Antenna (attic mounted)
Home-made coppy pipe J-Pole (ground level)
Tram 1191 (Glass mounted on the car)
Nagoya UT-72 (for rental cars)
HF Kits EFHW Kit with 49:1 torroid (Usable for 40,20,15)
Wolf River Coils TIA (with center load option)
TWAYRDIO dual-band 2m/70cm 3/5 element yagi in the attic
5 matched hamstick pairs (10, 15, 20, 40, 80)
TWAYRDIO Dual Band Yagi Antenna
Misc
Astron RS35M 13.8v 35A PSU
Audiotek AT-PS12 13.8v 12A PSU
Yaesu HRI-200
SignaLink USB
Digirig
mAT-30
SAA-2N Nabo VNA
TinySA Ultra
RCA Rotator
Dummy Load (60W)
MFJ-2100 Octopus
Rotator (for Yagi)
Repeaters
Here are details of some repeaters local to me.
| Location | Repeater | RX | PL Tone | TX | Features | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batavia, Illinois | W9CEQ 2m | 147.210 | 103.5 Hz | +600 KHz | FM | http://www.frrl.org | FRRL Net: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. |
| Batavia, Illinois | W9CEQ 70cm | 444.300 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM | http://www.frrl.org | |
| Boligbrook, Illinois | K9BAR 2m | 147.330 | 107.2 | +600 KHz | FM | https://www.k9bar.org | Nets: BARS and SKYWARN |
| Boligbrook, Illinois | K9BAR 70cm | 443.525 | 114.8 | +5 MHz | FM | https://www.k9bar.org | Nets: BARS and SKYWARN |
| Boone County, Illinois | WA9GWM 2m | 147.375 | 100.0 Hz | +600 KHz | FM | http://www.wa9gwm.org | BTARC Net each Sun at 8pm |
| Boone County, Illinois | WA9GWM 70cm | 442.825 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM | http://www.wa9gwm.org | BTARC Net each Sun at 8pm |
| Channahon, IL | W9CHI 70cm | 444.600 | 100.0 Hz | +5 Mhz | YSF | https://www.qrz.com/db/W9CHI | Generally set to YSF America Link on WiRES-X. |
| Chicago, IL (Lincoln Park) | WA9ORC 2m | 146.760 | 107.2 Hz | -600 Khz | FM | http://www.chicagofmclub.org/ | Weekly information net conducted at 9pm on Tuesdays Also, CSRA has there Monday Night Net at 8:00pm (as well as Thursday Nights at 7:00pm at 21.331 MHz (15m) USB) |
| Cook, IL | WA9DZO 2m | 146.850 | 100.0 Hz | -600 Khz | FM | https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/details.php?state_id=17&ID=278 | |
| DeKalb, IL | KARC 2m | 146.730 | 100.0 Hz | -600 Khz | FM | https://www.karc-club.org/ | Weekly net on Monday evenings at 8:30 PM Local time. |
| Geneva, Illinois | KC9OEM 2m | 145.47 | 103.5 Hz | -600 KHz | FM | http://www.kc9oem.org | ARES/Skywarn Net: Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. |
| Geneva, Illinois | KC9OEM 70cm | 444.525 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM YSF | http://www.kc9oem.org | ARES/Skywarn Net: Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. YSF Default is IL-CHICAGO-LINK 82483 |
| Glendale Heights, IL | K9XD 70cm | 444.875 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM | https://dupagecountyares.org/ | N Illinois ARRL Net - Thursdays at 21:00 |
| Oswego, Illinois | KD9FA 70cm | 443.600 (was: 440.725) | 107.2 Hz | +5 MHz | FM YSF | Used by Kendall County EMA (AC9Y) during weather emergencies. YSF Default is CHICAGO-W9DIG 21741 | |
| Lisle, IL | WA9WSL 2m | 145.170 | 107.2 Hz | -600 Khz | FM | http://www.wa9wsl.org | https://iharc.blogspot.com/ |
| Lisle, IL | WA9WSL 70cm | 442.225 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM YSF | http://www.wa9wsl.org | https://iharc.blogspot.com/ |
| Lisle, IL | W9AUX 2m | 146.655 | 107.2 Hz | -600 Khz | FM | https://dupagecountyares.org/ | ARES/Skywarn Net: Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. |
| Lisle, IL | W9AUX 70cm | 442.050 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM | https://dupagecountyares.org/ | |
| Morris, IL | KB9SZK 2m | 147.270 | 107.2 Hz | +600 Khz | FM | http://www.grundyarc.org/ | Health and Wellness net every day at 16:00 Net each Monday at 7pm |
| Schaumburg, IL | K9IIK 2m | 145.230 | 107.2 Hz | -600 Khz | FM | https://www.n9rjv.org/repeaters/ | |
| Schaumburg, IL | K9IIK 70cm | 442.275 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM YSF | https://www.n9rjv.org/repeaters/ | Default on IL-CHICAGO-LINK / #82483 |
| Yorkville, IL | WX9KRC 2m | 145.150 | 103.5 Hz | -600 Khz | FM | http://wx9krc.org/ | Kendall County ARC |
| Yorkville, IL | WX9KRC 70cm | 443.550 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM | http://wx9krc.org/ | Kendall County ARC / Keldall EMA |
| Wheaton, IL | W9CCU | 444.475 | 114.8 Hz | +5 MHz | FM YSF | http://www.w9ccu.org/ | DuPage OHSEM practice weather net at 7 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month |
If a local repeater is missing and you want it listed - please email me (via the 'Contact' page)
Another reference to area repeaters is located here
A fantastic resource for Chicago area nets - CAND (Chicago Area Net Database) by KC9UNS
Florida area repeaters can be found here
Web Links
Mastrodon - https://mastodon.radio/@k9iso
QRZ - My profile at QRZ.com.
APRS - Where was I when I last beaconed?.
Zello - Not HAM Radio - but you can reach me via Zello as well.
ARRL - ARRL is the national voice for ham radio and a weath of information.
Antenna Building - Steve James, KA9NPT, a member of our club suggested this site for building your own antennas.
Licensing Exams - If you are ready to get licensed in ham radio, or advance your license level, you can search hear to find all the testing locations.
Amatuer Radio Band Plan - Helpful information for all the bands amatuer radio operators can operate on
Q-Codes - Ham radio operators often use "Q" codes to shotren transmissions. An extensive list of some commonly used codes
Grid Mapping - Grid mapping is needed for some contests hams participate in
Northern IL ARES - ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) is the emergency communications arm of ARRL. NIARES serves Boone, Winnebago, and Stephenson Counties
NWS Chicago North Illinois Repeater Network
Chicago Area Hamfest Directory
List of public SDR receivers (and a map)