Biography

I was first licensed in 1995 as a Tech Plus. I should have went ahead back then and upgraded to General but things like work, kids, kids going to college, kids getting married and then our grandchildren always seemed to get in the way. Well 17 years later I was retired and out of excuses to upgrade. My wife retired in February 2012 and we celebrated by spending several weeks in sunny Florida. While sitting in a beach chair and working on my tan, I studied the ARRL’s General Class License Manual. Well you might as well read something worthwhile when sitting on a beach. There really isn’t much else to do. And yes reading that manual can put you to sleep. Well while at the 2012 Dayton Hamvention, I took the exam, passed it and became a General Class license holder.

Well in January 2016 I decided it was time to quit procrastinating and upgrade to Extra. Northeastern Indiana winter weather certainly helps when studying for an exam. If you have to stay inside you might as well study for the Extra Class exam. I took the exam, passed it and I now hold an Extra Class license.

For HF, my current equipment consists of an ICOM IC-7410 and a Gap Titan DX vertical antenna. I also have an Eagle One Vertical that served me well as my primary antenna for 9 months but since the installation of the GAP Titan DX, I now use the Eagle One for portable and Field Day use.

For 2 meters I use the ICOM IC-V8000. For 70 cm I use an ICOM IC-2820H which is a dual band that also works on 2 meters. Both of these rigs use my Cushcraft AR-270 at 20 feet.

Ten-Ten #76728
OMISS #9044
ARRL Accredited Volunteer Examiner