Biography

Started out in the hobby when I lived in Tachikawa, Japan in 1969. Several of us took classes at the Tachikawa AFB MARS station, then AI1AD, and received our ham licenses (as "Conditional Generals." A term used back in those days). (I've had several call signs over the years, this one since 2006.)

Also, operated in Costa Rica, Germany and Panama. Lived in Gießen, Germany 8 1/2 years and in Tachikawa, Japan 5 1/2 years. (Costa Rica and Panama were short two-week adventures).

Spent many years playing the EmComm gig with RACES, ARES and the Red Cross going to wildfires, floods and earthquake disaster areas. Now, it's strictly a hobby again.

Operate "100-watts max" on HF ... no amps. (Nothing fancy or exotic). CW & RTTY are my preferred modes. Operate 40 thru 6-meters, but I'm on 10/12/15 and 17-meters most of the time when I'm on the air. (Lately, I've been operating in the 5 to 25-watt output range).

SWL cards are welcome here, also. (WA6054SWL)

I dabble with the satellites (birds) from time to time. (Usually when we're out mountain-topping). I just recently started playing with the "FM birds."

Operate SSB/CW on 2-mtrs, 432 and 6-mtrs.

Recently got back into SOTA (Summits On The Air) and started up working with POTA (Parks On The Air). Will be going out and doing activation's after I recover from rotator cuff and bicep surgery. Presently, just doing the Chaser/Hunter gig until I can resume running amok in the woods once again.

East County Repeater Association member (ECRA). Monitor/use the 147.240 MHz Monument Peak (KA6DAC) linked repeater system linked with the Arizona Repeater Association (ARA) repeater systems. Occasionally monitor/use the N6LXX 446.880 repeater linked system on Onyx Peak on this side of the mountains. (I do not use any local repeaters in the Coachella Valley).

East County Repeater Association (http://ecra-sd.com/)
Monument Peak Repeaters/Mt.Laguna (http://ecra-sd.com/monument-peak/)
ECRA repeaters (http://ecra-sd.com/our-repeaters/)

Secondary QTH: Sierra Vista, Arizona (Cochise County) ... near Fort Huachuca ... on some weekends. QSL cards made up for both locations, depending on which QTH you worked. (DM13vr or DM41um).

Operated the AN/GRC-122, AN/GRC-142, AN/GRC-46 and AN/GRC-26D series Radio Teletype sets while in the US Army 1972 to 1982. (MOS:Ø5C-Radio Teletype Operator w/Morse and SMOS:31V-Tactical Radio Repair).

http://rattrig.com/AN-GRC-122_%20142/122.htm (Ron Boltz, K3TZJ's site).



BARTG ... #8429

European Phase Shift Keying Club (EPC)... #11040

Flying Pig QRP ... #1680

NAQCC ... #1892

Natal Digital Group (NDG) ... #0487

SKCC ... #680

10-10 ... #46370

100 Watts and a Wire ... #2034

30MDG ... #2457





(Not all contacts are listed on QRZCQ.com).

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Not going to list each and every item/radio ... Suffice it to say I own Yaesu, Icom, Alinco and Kenwood equipment. The "vast majority" of the equipment is Yaesu. (HF/VHF/UHF)