About me

My name is Martin. I was born and live in Košice, east Slovakia (KN08OR). Contacts with me are uploaded to eQSL, LOTW, HRDLOG, ClubLog, QRZ.com automatically except LOTW. I upload to LOTW manually from time to time so please be patient. It may take longer time until logs from portable activities are uploaded. 

I am active on HF bands 80m-10m and 6m mainly in SSB and digi modes and on 4m in FM but I am capable to work also in other modes on 4m. I use Yaesu FTDX3000 as my primary radio with microKeyer 3 interface from Microham. I use Icom IC7300 as the secondary radio. LDG AT100 ProII antenna tuners, Heil Pro 7 headset for FTDX3000 and Heil Proset Elite Profi headset for IC7300, foot PTT switches, SDR RSP1A via FTDX3000 RX out mostly with SDRuno software, Ameritron remote antenna switch RCS-8VX for 5 antennas and some manual antenna swithes.

Antennas I use are: 83m DeltaLoop for 80-10m @20-25m above ground, 40m long EFHW heading to the east for 80-10m at 30m abv gnd, 40m long EFHW heading to the south for 80-10m at 30m abv gnd, Diamond CP610 dualband vertical which is L5/8 for 10m and 2xL5/8 for 6m, CB vertical L1/2. Both these verticals work very well also on 10m and 12m. I also use homemade L5/8 vertical for 4m.

I am active on 2m and 70cm in FM, DMR, C4FM. I use transceivers Yaesu FTM-400, Yaesu FT-2980, Icom IC-2200H, Yaesu FTM-100, Anytone AT-5189 HF, Anytone AT-578UV-PLUS, Yaesu FT-5, Anytone AT-D878UV2+, Tytera MD-380, Hytera PD-685, vertical antennas Diamond X-300 and VHF  monoband vertical antennas.

I like nature and hiking since my childhood when I was a member of scout troop for many years. I participate in Summits On The Air (SOTA) program where I prefer to use HF bands in SSB mainly 40m and 20m. The transmitting power depends on the battery. I don't use more than 20-30W if I bring 7 Ah battery with me. Up to 50-60W with larger 20Ah battery.

"The combination of amateur radio and hiking is simply beautiful".

--- OM8KT ---       

My portable equipment is: Yaesu FT891, Yaesu SCU17 interface, HP notebook, LDG AT100ProII tuner, 7 Ah and 20 Ah LiFePO4 batteries, standard hand mic or Heil Proset-6 headset with Heil hand PTT, 20m and 10m long EFHW antennas for 40m or 20m, 5 inverted V dipoles for 80/40/20/15/17m, wire 5/8 vertical for 27/28 MHz and 24 MHz with ATU, 10m heavy duty and 10m lightweight fiberglass masts.

I am also ready for 2m FM portable up to 85W with Yaesu FT2980, Diamond NR22L vertical antenna, 5 element portable VHF Yagi Diamond A144S5, 4m fiberglass mast, manual antenna switch.

Hiking with radio

I monitor DMR TG 231 (Slovak Republic calling TG) and 145,500 MHz FM while hiking. I usually send APRS beacon as OM8KT-7 in 3-minute interval. I primarily use Anytone AT-D878UV2+ handheld transceiver while hiking with extra batteries. My other handheld radios are Yaesu FT-5 and Yaesu FT-70. I like to take one of them as the secondary radio which I use for airband monitoring. I use to power these radios from the external LiFePO4 battery via battery eliminators so I can push out the full power from Diamond RH770 telescopic antenna when transmitting from a summit without worrying about running out of the battery. Both VHF and UHF bands work great with this telescopic antenna.

Other fun on HF

I like to play with digi modes on HF not only by making contacts on amateur bands but also by receiving maritime DSC, RTTY, NAVTEX or WeFax transmissions on maritime bands. I also like to monitor aeronautical VOLMETs and HF air traffic control over Atlantic and Indian ocean.

Kosice - the city where I live in

Kosice city downtown

Southern part of Kosice city

Kosice city and High Tatras National Park with the highest peak in Slovakia (2655m/8710ft)

This is Slovakia (Slovak Republic)

Somewhere in Slovakia

1 hour scenic relaxation film of Slovakia in 4K. Enjoy & 73!