Biography

Hi! I was originally licensed as KA9VDC (Novice) in early 1986, and upgraded to a Technician Plus in the fall of 1986. I hung around on local repeaters for a few years, but then I let my license expire in 2001 after a few years of lost interest.

So, at the advice of a friend who would become an elmer (Keith, WA9DRO), I took the Element 2 test in 2011, and added my "early Tech credit" for Element 3, and was re-licensed as a General (KC9UYW). I took the Extra test in September 2014; shortly after that I opted for the vanity call of K9MJA.

Quick bio:

* I'm married (since 1989), with two daughters, one son-in-law, and one grandson (born March 2022).
* I've been a Christian since 1986; you might consider me "conservative Evangelical". Ask me about my Savior, I'll tell you!
* I've been paid to write software since 1981 (7th grade!); I'm currently very happily and gainfully employed on a team that is developing the best and most capable software for California county property taxes; it's considerably more complicated (and interesting!) than it sounds.
* I'm a self-taught musician. I read music, but my strength is playing by ear. My primary instrument is bass (including fretless and upright); I also play guitar (mostly 12-string acoustic), hammered dulcimer, and some piano - and I am starting to learn to play bagpipes (partly because my wife wants to see me in a kilt).
* I have been a Sunday School teacher, a nursing home preacher, and a 4-H Archery instructor.
* I love reading sci-fi/fantasy (from Asimov and Bear to Anthony and Card), tech-related non-fiction, and The Bible.

In November 2014 I purchased a Kenwood TS-520 hybrid rig, an MFJ-949E tuner with dummy load, and an Astatic D-104 microphone. I put up a 40 meter dipole with the help of a couple friends and got on the air for the first time with HF! As this was all new to me, I decided to share my learning experiences as I went along by writing at my K9MJA blog. It's since become outdated; I really should get back to adding to it.

In August 2015, I added a W4KGH End Fed Matchbox Antenna to the back yard, at about 25-30 feet. This antenna received noticeably stronger and quieter than the dipole. Also, it actually tuned on 80 meters, so there was a new band for me to play around with.

In March 2016, the TS-520 died while I was on the air. I think it's something in the power supply. I'm not an electronics expert, but I have purchased a recap kit (and a replacement transformer, just in case). Sometime later that year, the end-fed antenna came down due to a broken wire from rubbing against a tree branch.

Fast-forward to May 2019. I still hadn't gotten the TS-520 fixed, despite also buying a Hakko soldering station to help with the work. Just too many other commitments taking up my time. But, I did purchase an Icom IC-746 from my friend Bob, WD9EKA. As you can tell by looking at my logbook, I made 22 more HF contacts in the first two days of having a working radio again!

I made several hundred contacts with the IC-746 (including 104 contacts during a North American QSO party) - and I discovered that I enjoy FT8 contacts in addition to voice.

In January 2022, my wonderful wife suggested that I should invest in a radio that wasn't 20 or 40 years old. After a couple of weeks of research, I ended up buying a 5-month old Icom IC-7300 from Kevin, K0KDC. After playing with this for about, oh, two hours, I realized I had found the equipment I was looking for. By mid-February, I had finally reached DXCC and climbing (up to 113 confirmed entities as of 2022-03-04).

I hope to catch you on the air - I enjoy ragchewing as well as making DX contacts, learning more and more about digital modes, and answering calls in contests.

See you on the air! 73 de Mike K9MJA

Equipment

HF Gear:

Kenwood TS-520 (currently dead)
Icom IC-746
Icom IC-7300
66' end-fed halfwave antenna for 40-10 meters
HexBeam antenna (awaiting installation)
Astatic D104 microphone
Heil Pro headset / footswitch
A couple MFJ tuners
Heathkit Electronic Keyer

VHF/UHF Gear:

Yaesu FT-7800
Yaesu FT-70D
Baofeng BF-F8+
Homemade 3-element 2-meter beam pointed at repeaters 20+ miles away