Biography

I have been living in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates since April 2009. I work in the higher education sector here.

I am on the air on CW and SSB - 40-10 meters. 75% of my operation is /M -- from the car.

Past call signs include AA8CO, 7J2ACP (Shizuoka City, Japan), KV8P, and KA8MCY. I currently hold the call sign JG1MBQ in Chiba, Japan.

I first became licensed when in junior high school in West Virginia, USA in the early 1980s. The fun back in those days included Heathkits (glowing tubes and all), busy Novice CW sub-bands, and so on...

Many folks have commented on how early involvement in radio led to technical careers. In my case, amateur radio's "spin off effects" included a fascination with other cultures, studying geography in college, and living abroad.

I am glad to see that the bands are alive and well in the 21st century. I think that amateur radio has lost none of its thrill in this day and age; while I cannot live without the Internet, there remains a magic behind designing your own station and communicating with others by way of the ionosphere...

See you on the bands...

Equipment

Mobile: FT450D, ATAS 120, Hamsticks

Home: TS590, fiberglass tube vertical fed with ladder line

Occasionally use CrankIR for portable operation