Biography

Welcome to K5KAB
Thanks for stopping by!
My name is Kerrye Brown (KB), and I've been an amateur radio operator since November 2003, when I was first licensed as KD5ZOV. In December 2006, I upgraded to General Class and proudly obtained my vanity call sign, K5KAB.
I grew up in Canton, Mississippi, and immediately after graduating from high school, I joined the United States Navy in 1986. During my 20-year career as an AMH (Airframe/Hydraulic Mechanic), I was stationed at NAS North Island (Coronado), NAS Dallas, NAS Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, and NAS Point Mugu. Along the way, I had the privilege of maintaining some amazing aircraft, including the F-14 Tomcat, SH-3 Sea King, CH-53 Sea Stallion, and C-130 Hercules.
After retiring from active military service, I discovered amateur radio and quickly fell in love with the hobby. For several years, motorcycles became my primary passion, and my radio equipment sat quietly collecting dust. Then COVID changed everything.
After a couple of months of quarantine, I found myself wondering what I used to enjoy before riding. I dusted off my equipment, moved it into my newly renovated radio shack, and decided to get back on the air. That's when I discovered my license had expired, and with it, my beloved vanity call sign.
After retesting, I was issued KI5JIT, but I wasn't ready to let K5KAB go. Thanks to the generosity and true ham spirit of N5MAK, I was able to reclaim my original vanity call. It remains one of the best stories to come out of an otherwise difficult time.
Returning to amateur radio was like discovering an entirely new hobby. SDR technology, digital modes, remote operation, and modern station equipment had transformed the amateur radio landscape. The constant opportunity to learn something new is exactly what keeps me excited about this incredible hobby.
Today you'll usually find me on 20- and 40-meter SSB, although my true passion is 75/80-meter AM, where the outstanding audio and camaraderie make every QSO memorable.
Kilowatts & Bourbon
In addition to operating on the air, I'm the host of Kilowatts & Bourbon, a live YouTube show dedicated to amateur radio, station building, antennas, amplifiers, propagation, equipment reviews, and, of course, great bourbon.
Whether we're discussing RF, sharing operating experiences, interviewing fellow hams, or reviewing a new bottle, the goal is always the same: educate, entertain, and bring the amateur radio community together.
Join us live every Monday and Wednesday at 6:00 PM Central.
YouTube: K5 (Kilowatts And Bourbon) YouTube Channel
If you enjoy amateur radio, good conversation, and a little bourbon along the way, I'd love to have you join us.
QSL Information
I proudly QSL 100% of the cards I receive. There is no need to send an SASE for domestic or DX contacts.
You can confirm contacts through:
LoTW
QRZ
eQSL
Direct QSL
Thank you for stopping by my QRZ page, and I hope we have the opportunity to meet on the air or during one of the live streams.
Until then...
73,
Kerrye "KB" Brown
K5KAB
"Kilowatts & Bourbon – Where Amateur Radio Meets Great Bourbon."

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Icom 7300
Icom 706MKIIG
Hermes lite 2
Mercury Lux Amp
VK AMP 2K Water Cooled
FT 101EE
FL2100B
Johnson Viking Valiant
Johnson Viking II
Hallicrafters Model S-40