Biography

I go by my middle name "Richard" and got my Tech license in 2010, primarily doing ARES and local support operations (bike races, field days, etc.) over the years. I updated to General in March of 2018 and have enjoyed diving into the HF band.

I retired in 2019 after over 40 years in emergency services/law enforcement and moved from Brandon, MS to Apison, TN (just outside Chattanooga). In MS I was a member and past-president of the Central MS Amateur Radio Association as well as a member of ARES. Since moving to the Chattanooga area I've joined the Cleveland Amateur Radio Club where I currently serve as Recording Secretary.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

My home station consists of an Icom IC-7610 with MFJ-939 tuner on an off-center fed dipole; a Yaesu FTM-400 for local, WiresX and APRS; an Anytone AT-578 for DMR; and an Icom ID-4100 through a hotspot for D-Star. These all can be operated off house current or, with the flip of a switch, off solar/battery power with a permanently mounted 100 watt Renogy solar panel supplying a 12v 100 Ah Lithium Phosphate battery.

For mobile I'm running an Yaesu FTM-400, a Wouxun KG-1000 for GMRS and a Kenwood TH-D74a portable through a mobile hotspot for DMR.

I use a Yaesu FT-891 with a BuddiPole and a portable 84 amp hr. battery box charged with a portable 100 watt Renogy solar panel for disaster deployment. It also has a 2m/70cm radio with a portable antenna on a tripod for local/repeater communications.