Biography

I am a 70 year old, retired educator, having taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and worked in the education department of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
I was first licensed in 1988 as a novice (KB6YUU). Learning Morse was difficult. I tried 4 times, over 15 years without success. In 1988 I got my first hearing aid, and suddenly I could pass 5 words a minute, and I got my license! I upgraded to Technician the next year (N6TGZ).

I knew I would never be able pass 13 words a minute, so I did not try. Eighteen years later, I found that the FCC dropped the code requirement, and 6 weeks later I was a General. About 4 weeks after that, I passed my Extra exam. I changed to a vanity call (N7IY), reflecting my new Oregon location in 2010.

I have a very modest radio shack. My radio is an Icom 718, feeding an Alpha Delta DX-CC antenna. For digital I use a Signalink USB interface. My computers are old iMac, G4's (purchased used for $25.00 each), running cocoModem. I have added a Compaq laptop (again, purchased used, for $25.00) to run the "JT" suite of programs.

I am very active in Amateur Radio.

Memberships:

ARRL (American Radio Relay League)
EARS (Emerald Amateur Radio Society) Public Services Coordinator.
European Phase Shift Keying Club (European PSK Club) # 20,499.
LCSARO (Lane County Sheriff''s Amateur Radio Operators)
PODXS (Penn-Ohio DX Society) 070 Club #1,662
Ten Ten International #57,250
Up The Crick Radio Club
VRC (Valley Radio Club of Oregon)

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
ARRL Continuing Education Field Examiner (CE)
ARRL Public Information Officer (PIO)
ARRL Official Observer (OO)
ARRL Volunteer Examiner (VE)

Certificate of Achievement from FEMA for completion of the Emergency Management Institute's Professional Development Series.

Member Project Lifesaver, a group that searchs for wandering or lost indivduals with Alzheimers, Autism, Downs syndrome, dementia or other cognitive condition, using amateur radio.

SKYWARN Weather Spotter.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

I have a very modest radio shack. My radio is an Icom 718, feeding an Alpha Delta DX-CC antenna. For digital I use a Signalink USB interface. My computers are old iMac, G4's (purchased used for $25.00 each), running cocoModem. I have added a Compaq laptop (again, purchased used, for $25.00) to run the "JT" suite of programs.