Biography

Hi! I am retired from IBM, hence the callsign, K9IBM, as a System Service Rep. I worked on Mid-Range systems such as System 38, 36, Series /1, and AS400. I worked as a Resident CE in Southern Wisconsin out of the Milwaukee Ofc. That means I worked out of my house for 33 years and pretty independent from the office. I lived in Elkhorn for about 32 years and moved to Janesville in 2003 when I retired. I am a private pilot and fly my Piper Cherokee 140, N5777U, out of Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, when I get my aviation itch. I was licensed as a Novice in 1961 as WN9AJW, in Green Bay, WI. I passed my Extra Class in January 2011 and changed the call to K9IBM. My equipment is an Icom 7000, G5RV dipole up 30 ft, SignaLink USB interface, LDG IT-100 Tuner, Astro 150A for CW. Currently, with the Extra Class and the new call sign I am starting all the awards over again and hoping to get DXCC. Help me out if you can! Next is DXCC Digital.

I enjoy working PSK31, JT65, and now and then some RTTY. I got my first novice licence, WN9AJW, in 1961 while a freshman at Premontre HS in Green Bay. Upgraded to Conditional Class and WA9AJW in '62' and entered the USN after HS. Finished as honorman of my Radionman "A" class in Bainbridge, Md, mainly because I knew the code before I got there, so all I had to do was get up to 22wpm to graduate. I did manage to pass 28 wpm before I left. I was assigned to the USS F D Roosevelt CVA-42 homeported in Mayport Florida and assigned to the CR div. I left the ship after making two cruises, one to the Med and the other to Viet Nam, and making RM2. I stayed in the reserves thru the years and retired in 1987 as a RMC (Chief Radioman). I spent my last twelve years assigned to Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, Hi and drilled out of Great Lakes, Il. I also retired from the Civil Air Patrol in 2007 as a Lt Col. I was WALCO Squadron Commander for 6 yrs in Elkhorn, WI. I received my initial flight training while in CAP. Great training for adults and kids!

I took a break from active ham radio from about 1985 to 2009 when seeing W0LS's shack the ole bug hit me again. Having sold almost every thing in the past I had to rebuild everything. I was amazed to see how much digital equipment was around and that the hobby was gaining ground again.

I operate mostly cw, digital, JT-65, JT-9, SSTV, PSK31, and RTTY in contests.

I QSL 100% LOTW, EQSL, Bureau and direct on request.

UPDATE... Just got my DXCC award! May 2015

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

ICom 7000, Flex 5000, G5RV up 30 ft, Spider beam (testing on the ground!) and I just purchased a Hexbeam soon to go up.