Biography
I am primarily a CW operator and I have enjoyed this mode greatly over the years. First licensed in Canada in 1983, I quickly earned my Amateur Advanced license (with Morse code) and also my Amateur Extra in the US by 1984. This was followed by being overtaken with family and work responsibilities and 25 years away from the hobby. Then in 2011, as happens with many, the waves hit again and I was back to amateur radio.
Since then, I have concentrated on QRP operation although I am far from being a zealot. I am interested in portable operations and rapid deployments, often consisting of a wire in the trees and a little skill with a slingshot. Portable ops have also led to an interest in magnetic loop antennas and some home brewing of that unique genre of antenna.
I travel to Tanzania, generally once each year. How could anyone pass up the opportunity to operate as a moderately desirable DX target? It is an entirely different experience being on the other end of a pile-up! Due to other responsibilities I have had limited time to operate while there, but even a short time on the air results in a remarkable number of QSOs. I hope to spend more time there in the future. In 2014 I was able to obtain the call 5H3DX, and it quickly gains attention on the air.
Digital modes have been elusive and more difficult than I had expected, although I do enjoy PSK-31 because an actual exchange of information is possible.
Memberships:
ARRL
SKCC, #8952T
NAQCC #5873
4-State QRP #843
I subscribe to the DX Code of Conduct
73,
Chas - NK8O / 5H3DX / VE3ISD
Worked DXCCs:
Equipment
Home station:
1. Elecraft KX3, PX3, KXPA100
2. Elecraft KX2 for portable work (QRP)
3. Elecraft K2 (QRP)
4. TenTec 539 (QRP)
5. HR-50 amplifier with ATU
6. Icom IC-7100 (for digital modes) with MFJ-939i ATU
7. Simple wire antennas