Biography

First licensed as a Novice in 1968 WN5UZY in high school. Worked CW with a crystal on 7125. It was the only crystal I had. In those days if you didn't upgrade to General after two years you lost your license so when I went away to school I lost my license. After school and four years in the US Army as a UH-1 helicopter pilot I returned to civilian life. One of my first things to do was to return to Ham Radio as a general, N5KEL, and again worked mostly CW and a small amount of SSB. I returned to school in chiropractic medicine and again put the ham rig aside for a decade but retained my license. After graduation, raising children, etc. I did occasionally get on the air but very little. In 2007 I upgraded to Extra and put together my current station and get on the air fairly regularly. I work mostly CW and some SSB, an occasional contest as a non-participant but usually ragchew, a little QRP and answer CQs in the evening. With a beam, for the first time in my ham experience I am able to work other countries and SSB. Ham radio is a wonderful hobby. 73

Equipment

Icom 7600, Ten Tec Centurion Amp, Ten Tec Tuner, Tennadyne T-10 log periodic, and a Butternut 80-40 meter vertical mounted on a metal building in the back yard.