Biography

Saludos amigos, mi nombre es Armin Tata / Gracias por la búsqueda y esperamos que disfrute de nuestro hobby!!!!! Si usted necesita mi QSL. Mándame suyo y le enviaremos que usted mina. También utilizo QRZ Logbook.

Be advised- I do QSL - if you need the USA or Michigan USA, or Arenac County MI, or Grid Sq EN84da of Michigan, send me your QSL card, and I will be glad to return the favor. If QRZ Logbook will suffice, I acknowledge that often. Hv fun!!!.

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Click on to Check Photos of Station & Activities with QRZ = http://www.qrz.com/db/WD8CRQ.

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I'm a GM Corp retiree = +38yrs as a so called industrial engineer, for GM Service Parts in the Flint, MI area (I graduated from Ferris State - MI, BS in Buss with add studies in Statistics, Accounting & Business Law). Born Sept 41 now 80 yrs old. Outdoor person and I like cars, and finally got an older Corvette a few years before I retired. But I really enjoy our Ham hobby – I’m enjoying CW again too. If you worked me CW, tnx for your patience, it's appreciated. I try to remember and use the Prosigns and Q Signals http://www.hamuniverse.com/qsignals.html My friend K8TNT and I do CW during the week in the morning - this forces me to continue CW when in the evenings sometimes I would rather nap after dinner in my easy chair. I’m also interested in some QRP work. Overall I like meeting and conversing on CW, SSB-HF, VHF, UHF, and some Digital Modes (usually PSK31 & RTTY), including LOS Satellites. Member of ARRL, FISTS CW Club #14387(2009) http://www.fists.org/ = QRP CW "Flying Pigs" #2989 (2012) http://fpqrp.org/index.php = Ten-Ten #16,189 (1978) http://www.ten-ten.org/ = General Motors Amateur Radio Club http://www.gmarc.org/ and also our local Ogemaw-Arenac Amateur Radio Society ( OAARS http://www.k8oar.club ).

Being quite myopic when I was young, my folks and a local optometrist encouraged me with this hobby. At about the age of 12, I started wearing contacts, so I finally got rid of those coke bottle glasses (but they still are my backups - hi). In the 50s, I believe Scouting really nurtured my desires for the outdoors and radio. Just as I began high school, I made the rank of Eagle. During High School I started with a station call sign of KN8LLD. After high school I left the hobby and came back in the 70s. I’ve been very fortunate that my eyesight has held, and I had an enjoyable career with GM, mainly designing & implementing material handling procedures & systems, which included package handling conveyors & adjustable storage racks throughout the US. In the past I was a competitive road bicyclist who got a chance to go to US National Finals. After the 1970 cycling road nationals, I kind of gave up cycling, due to work & family, and only jogged and mountain biked for exercise. I also like to boat, fish, deer hunt (I love bow hunting and can still pull my bow), snow ski (xcountry and downhill), and take part in some autocross sports car events. In retirement now, I've gotten back into road cycling, and am enjoying it again. Our older family 73 autocross Corvette is now running better than ever, thanks to my Stepson's efforts, and its still used in some NCCC & SCCA autocross events, by all of us. The wife and I also have a 2006 Corvette which is our summer car. We belong to the Flint Corvette Club http://www.flintcorvetteclub.com. My wife and I now have those wonderful grandchildren - 5. One has already served his country in the US Arm Forces, and another one is currently enlisted – boy are we getting old!!!.

We moved North to our fishing & hunting cottage. Years ago there wasn't a traffic light or McDonalds - but we have them now! And the wife told me - this isn't going to be fish and hunt camp anymore. So its been really upgraded. I belong to the Lions and since the wife is a quilter, and gardener she also belongs to those type of clubs, which are involved in many charity affairs. Overall we feel, we fit in and are very comfortable with our surroundings.

As I have aged I've had some slight medical bumps in the road. First we found out I had some Melanoma Skin Cancer in 2010. So I’ve joined the ranks of folks with cancer. Luckily enough we believe we caught it in time – so I’m very fortunate for now! But guess who’s now using LOTS of sunscreen – hi. Since it is quite genetic and I am blond and light skinned – I guess I was destine for it, due to my activities and disregard for liberal sun protection. Hopefully my children and grandchildren learn from my oversights.

Then during the year of 2012 - I had a mild case of superficial non-aggressive bladder cancer, which had to be removed. Hopefully being proactive, can control these circumstances we are dealt. After that ordeal trying later to get back into jogging, I've found out one of my knee's has a problem. Then as time has gone on some more, maybe both my knees are a problem. So I have determined and now realize it's going to have to be only mountain & road cycling to stay in shape - if I want to continue downhill skiing at times and certainily don't want to give up any hunting - hi..

As time has gone on my wife has problems now with her knees and one hip. Age is catching up to both of us - I guess. Therefore our skiing is being somewhat reduced. We still go once in a while, but now only in December and in Michigan. The wife now really prefers to just walk and quilt. We now winter in Casa Grande, AZ for Jan, Feb and March - to be with former neighbors (the gals are quilters) and I have the pleasure of road cycling with a group about twice a week. I also participated in other activities like Pickle Ball and Horse Shoes. So "That's Life" as we age some!!!! And the love of my life is so pictured below......

If you go to the Grid Satellite view, you can see where we live. I am in Grid "EN84da", but if I walk across the street - I go to EN83dx, 73s….

Equipment

Current station consists of a Icom 7600, Kenwood TS-2000 & Icom 703 (qrp), with a Ameritron 811H amplifier, then a Palstar AT2KD tuner. I have a Begali Key - Magnetic Classic which I enjoy (http://www.i2rtf.com ), and for QRP I now have a Begali QRP key. For a mobile setup I use a Yaesu FT857D. Base HF antennas currently are a 160 dipole, and a new 80 meter loop fed with 450 ohm ladder line, all supported by the surrounding trees. On the chimney there is a 6 meter Hy-Gain VB-64DX 4 element beam and on a 30 ft TV tower next to the house is a 2M/450 Diamond X200A vertical. I cross-band regularly to the TS-2000.