Biography

JEFF BAKER
DBSA Northwest Arkansas
PRESIDENT & PEER GROUP LEADER

AUTHOR, “BOY, INTERRUPTED: My Magical Misery Tour”
www.BipolarAid.org www.DBSAlliance.org


I go by my nickname "JEFF." I accepted Jesus as my Savior in 1966. I am a native Southern Californian (Cardiff-by-the-Sea), moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1989 and never looked back. My professional background was electronic engineering and management for both Inc 500 and Fortune 500 firms and did a 6-year stint as a country radio DJ on KAMO 94.3 FM, Rogers, AR, and performed engineering work on the boards and transmitter of KJEM in Bentonville, AR. Previously, I did talk radio at KVSD San Diego. My career was cut short in 1996 by several Bipolar Disorder I episodes with Psychotic Features, resulting in loss of family, friends, funds and ultimately resulting in permanent disability in 2011. I then authored the book "Boy, Interrupted: My Magical Misery Tour." I had to give up hamming for 18 years until Spring 2014 for a multitude of related with code up to 21 WPMpersonal reasons.

I received my lifetime General Radiotelephone Operator License in 1988 w/Ship Radar endorsement, and earned all 5-Novice thru Extra Amateur radio tickets in 1994 with code up to 21 wpm. I was active on 2m with ARES and storm spotting experience through 1996 here in NW Arkansas, worked motocross and marathon events.

I became a certfied Electro-Acoustic Sound System Designer in 1976 and attended LeTourneau University 3 years for EE/English, graduated National Radio Institute in 1979, UCSD Leadership and Management Program for Scientists and Engineers 1986, and graduated Summa cum Laude from Colorado Technical University with a BSBA-IT in 2007.

I now work 2m with a 45W HTX-242, Tram 1491 vertical 2m antenna and an M-Audio StudioPro external speaker and on HF primarily work regional, U.S. and DX with my very first HF rig, a mint-condition Kenwood TS-850S/AT. I love it! I've wired an un-powered Logitech 6" subwoofer to the rig with a resultant very rich audio output. Ahead of that is the BHI DSPKR Noise Cancellation unit that takes out static on all deadband and incoming signals, including DX.

Headphones are of the Sony noise-cancelling variety and mics are stock Kenwood handheld and MC60 Desk Microphone. The W2IHY dual-band EQ/Noise Gate kit works like a champ to eliminate ambient shack audio interference during transmit. A Belkin UPS powers my MFJ-4245MV 13.8 VDC adjustable 45A switching power supply, rounding out the station. My proprietary (patent pending) battery charger (for Lead-acid, NiCD and NiMH) will power one pair of 13.8 VDC deep-cycle marine batteries for a lifetime, allowing a minimum of 4 week's operation with the grid power mains down.

The TS-850S/AT demonstrates 100 W PEP out with an LDG AT-200Pro II Autotuner, with SWRs of 1:1 - 1:5 on all of 40m-17m and 20m feeding a horizontally-mounted 'Missouri' Windom only 10' - 20' feet above ground. An Alpha Delta 40m -10m dipole (DX EE) gives me super performance on 20-17-15-12-10m. My XY L and I strung an end-fed wire in a "U" configuration around all of the trees 20' - 30' up in our1/4-acre backyard. We used AWG 17 solid aluminum electric fence wire and plastic insulators. It gives me perfect SWR on 17m, usable to 10m.

A JTV-680 HF All-Band is mounted at 30' and gives me great 80m all over the U.S.

An 80' Discone (25-1300 MHz no-tune) and 40' high G5RV Jr. will be mounted on the middle of my rooftop before winter. I've contacted around the world except for the long-haul to East Asia. To resolve that situation, I have engineered an inexpensive, high-performance hex-beam antenna with 5.5dB forward gain on a Hy-Gain 4 ground-mounted rotator. The antenna will be mounted on an 80' high rotating mast. That is this winter's construction project in my solar-lighted garage.

I am located on a high Ozark mountain ridge (1180 feet above sea level) in extreme NW Arkansas (EM26ul) with no obstructions except for one neighbor's home, for 360-degrees of unobstructed radio coverage. Other gear and rigs remain on my "someday list." Hamming is the final activity on my bucket list and I have full support and encouragement from my XYL! You can usually find me on my favorite band, 17m, usually at 18:120, 18.130, 18.140, 18.150 or 18.160 MHz, contests allowing....

I participate in Bella Vista Radio Club's Wednesday 2000 hrs CST 147.255+ repeater net and Sunday on the 1500 hrs CST 3.820 75m BVRC Roundtable.

I am a full-time mental health advocate, President and Peer Group Leader for DBSA Northwest Arkansas Chapter.

73 de Jeff KC5JVJ

* * *

I log with both QRZ and exchange QSL cards only.