Biography

A little personal information: I'm 79 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 finally decided to pursue the hobby 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 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

FLEX 8600
Flex 6600M
80M EFHW antenna in a sloper configuration with the high end at 62 feet.
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!)