Biography

A little personal information: I'm 76 years old and a former Marine engineer and attorney and I'm now a physician practicing teleradiology from home, working for a group in eastern North Carolina. My wife and I lived in the mountains of Western North Carolina for 26 years before moving back to Louisiana in 2013.

I am fairly new to ham radio, having gotten my original license on March 16, 2021, and my extra class license on April 5, 2021. I became interested in ham radio when I was about 12, but could not afford it, and I was so shy I had a hard time talking to people in the same room, and I could not imagine what I would have to say to somebody on the radio.

I finally decided to pursue the hobby last spring because I was approaching the anniversary of the death of my beloved wife, Becky, who died on April 20, 2020. I was dreading the approaching time and I happened to see a YouTube video about ham radio. The clincher was that there was no longer a code requirement. I took the first two tests on March 13, 2021, the technician and general class licenses. I took the exam for the extra class license on April 3, 2021. Studying so hard in such a concentrated period of time was good therapy for me.

I started out, like most people, in VHF and UHF. I finally got up an 80M EFHW antenna in the backyard and started HF in July 2021, just in time for the 13 Colonies special event in the US. I got such a thrill when I was able to successfully work the special event stations in each of the original 13 US colonies. Hurricane Ida took down my antenna on August 29, 2021 and for various reasons I didn't get an antenna back up until late November.

I don't remember why I did it, but something inspired me to investigate digital modes and I started FT8 and FT4 on December 18, 2021. At first it seemed strange not talking to people, but it rapidly became addictive as the QSOs and the Country count started adding up. I have to say I'm starting to get a little bored with it now, having a hard time finding new countries to work within the limitations of my antenna. As of February 15, 2022 I have worked 120 countries and 3100 QSOs.

One thing about ham radio, there are so many different things you can do with it. I don't regret getting involved with it at all.

I'll be glad to answer emails from any of you. tpdesmond@yahoo.com

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

IC – 7300
FT – 991 a
80M EFHW antenna in a sloper configuration with the high end at 62 feet.

I have an 80M Delta loop and a 40M Delta loop that I am planning to put up, but the storm took my best tree so I've had to re-plan things. I'm trying to get a tree service guy with a bucket truck to help clear some limbs out of the way and help me hang some pulleys as high as I can get them.

I'm in town and I don't really have room for any kind of tower to support a big multiband Yagi, even though there are no property restrictions against it. I'll have to make do with my wires. (They have served me well so far with my hundred watts!)