About Joseph Vaughn – KF8ECP

Hello! I’m Joseph Vaughn (KF8ECP), a ham radio operator based in Mason, Ohio and part of the Greater Cincinnati amateur radio community. I created KF8ECP.site as a modern, user-friendly, community-driven resource hub for local hams — focusing on accurate repeater information, mapping tools, antenna building guides, and practical HF/VHF/UHF field operating information.

I earned my Technician license in May and upgraded to General in October. I enjoy designing and building custom antennas, winding ferrite-core transformers (49:1, 9:1, 1:1), constructing rugged field-ready enclosures, 3D printing parts, and experimenting with mobile HF setups on my service van. My goal is to create gear that is not only functional and efficient, but also extremely durable.

Background

I work professionally as a highly-skilled commercial/industrial HVAC-R and CFESA-MASTER TECH, specializing in refrigeration racks, KE2 controllers, electrical systems, and restaurant equipment. My day-to-day technical background translates perfectly into amateur radio experimentation, diagnostics, and design. Whether it’s troubleshooting a walk-in freezer or tuning an antenna system, I enjoy solving problems methodically and building robust solutions that stand up to real-world use.

About This Website

KF8ECP.site is built using Python + Flask, with custom JSON data structures, mapping tools, repeater verification logic, a mobile-first design, and admin tools for managing community-submitted updates. It includes:

• Local Ham & GMRS repeater directories (user-maintained)
• Mapping tools with distance calculations and “use my location” support
• Balun, unun, and antenna-building projects and references
• Holiday banners and a theming system for fun seasonal updates
• Backup/restore protection for all repeater and request data
• Admin editor tools for real-time updates and corrections

The long-term goal is for this site to become a trusted, accurate, and community-supported reference for repeaters and radio resources across the Greater Cincinnati region (and beyond), while also serving as a practical toolbox for hams who enjoy building, experimenting, and getting on the air.

Contact

Feel free to reach out with updates, corrections, collaboration ideas, or just to say hi:

📧 kf8ecp@kf8ecp.site

73,
Joseph Vaughn, KF8ECP
Mason, Ohio – Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio