Biography

I received my first taste of electronics and radio from my father. He was a radar repairman in the Army, and worked with the Corporal Missile in Italy. We had a garage full of old black and white TV sets, radios, and other electronic gear that he would repair on the side for people. He also had a 23 channel tube type Motorola Citizens Band radio, with a huge antenna on the roof with guyed lines to support it. He showed me how to use the radio, and soon I was using it myself.

When I was older, I was collecting all kinds of antique short wave radios, and enjoyed listening to all of those faraway places that you would hear about in school, and see on a globe.

I had always wanted to get into Ham Radio, and had read a few books on it, however never took the plunge. When I finally did, I attended classes that were being given by the Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club http://www.w9uvi.org/ . The instructor, Fritz Bock WD9FMB (SK), was a very knowledgeable, personable, and very patient person, who worked diligently to get all of us in the class up to speed about amateur radio, so we could pass the exam.

After the class, I took the test and received my Technician’s license. Having a few years of operating experience, I now have my Extra. I can’t thank him or the local Peoria club enough for sponsoring these trainings, as I don’t believe I would be writing this if it were not for their outreach efforts.

I am an Adjunct Instructor at Carl Sandburg College http://www.sandburg.edu/, and I teach Wireless Technology. I try to incorporate amateur radio into the mix of cellular, wireless Internet, and other wireless technologies.

As a college professor I had the pleasure of attending the ARRL’s Teachers Institute for Wireless Technology, and just recently attended the Remote Sensing and Data Gathering training. http://www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology .

I have incorporated the lessons learned into my classroom for a more in-depth experience for my students. I can’t thank the ARRL enough, or our instructor Mark Spencer WA8SME for the time and effort they put into training us educators in the art of and science behind amateur radio.

This semester's final project for my class is listed on the ARRL website... http://www.arrl.org/lesson-ideas-marea



It was also an honor to operate W100AW while I was there at ARRL HQ, for the 100th anniversary.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

I am using two dedicated Kenwood ST-2000 for FT8 / Digital contacts. An Icom 9700 for satellite work, and a Yaesu 991A for Wires-X, Local, and HF work.