Biography

My first electronics experimentation was before I could walk. I was in my stroller and found a hair pin on the floor and stuck it into an electric outlet, got shocked, cried, and then did it again. (As per my mother, I don't recall the incident.)

My first CW was when I was 6-7 years old. I got the code from my sister's "Girl Scout Handbook." I built my key out of a repurposed tin can using tin snips. I used a big 1 1/2 volt dry cell (labeled ignition) changed out of an old phone to light a flashlight bulb.

In 6th grade a friend and I built spark gap transmitters and used radios with shortwave bands to receive our CW. In the 9th grade I learned there existed such a thing as a tuned circuit and my spark gap transmitter didn't interfere with nearly as many radios and TV's. Hopefully the statute of limitations has run out for those offenses.

Winter of 1962 I went from CB to ham radio under a wonderful mentor/"elmer" and was licensed KN5DBP (DeciBell Pat, a big 75 watts on the novice CW bands.

Fast forward to present era... I hold an Extra Class license. I have a commercial radiotelephone lisc with ships radar endorsement.

I was an instrument flying instructor on a flight simulator in the USAF SAC. I have BS degrees in physics and computer science, and masters degrees in software engineering and instructional technology. I retired as a scientist at a Navy operated lab in San Diego California in Oct 1998.

Equipment

My current transceiver is a Flex 5000A software defined radio.
Amp is Tokyo Hy-Power HL-1.5KFX (all solid state no tune)

Tuner is LDG AT-1000 Pro II autotuner

Primary antenna is Hy-Gain Hy-Tower. The Hy-Tower is designed for ground mounting free standing on a cubic yard of concrete. I built a custom mount and placed the antenna on top of an all metal barn. I did a 4-way Phillystran guy at the 24 ft point. Barn is counterpoise. No radials.

I also have an off centered fed dipole 90 ft on the short side and 180 ft on the long side. It is up about 35 ft and is mostly horizontal.

Portable/mobile rig is ICOM 7200 Tarheel tuner
Backup rig is Drake TR-7 with matching PS and tuner

I have a ready to install K4KIO hex beam and 50 ft crank-up/tilt-over tower for it.

I have a new unassembled SteppIR DB42 and a Tashjian 70 ft crank-up/tilt-over for it. I have a K7NV (Kurt Andress) repurposed prop pitch motor for a rotator and a Green Heron controller.