Biography

Heard AA0AW on 15M (09/22/2012), looked up his call and found qrzcq.com. Registered as member so can check it out better. It is great. Have added it to my look-up list in HRD and it is at the top of the list. Look-ups are much faster and more accurate now.

I was born in Circleville, Ohio, where my brothers and I lived with mother and her parents on a farm in Wayne Township (Pickaway County). In late 1962 I went to live with my dad for a while to see what that would be like. I think I was beginning to feel the wanderlust that would soon start my travels around the globe.

My first ham ticket was in 1963 (WN8GMU, Milford, Ohio) along with my dad WA8CXO (Tech). But in Dec that year I joined the Navy and never got to upgrade to Technician or General. I spent the next 26 years as a Navy Radioman (communications) and raising a family. After retiring in 1989, I went back to work for a company in Texas that contracted to Delco Electronics to re-manufacture all of their auto entertainment and communications systems (am/fm/cd radio's and mobile phones). I was lead cell tech and QA specialist until I left to return to school. In 1996 I entered DeVry University in their 3 year EET program, and found part time work with Qwest Communications as a Digital Systems Tech, installing and servicing T-1/T-2, DSL, HDSL and high grade trunk lines for the Phoenix area. I graduated in 2000 with a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology. DeVry had just opened a new 1 year program of anyone who had graduated in past 5 years, to earn a BS in Information Technology. I jumped on that and graduated in 2001. I continued with Qwest until 2006. Because of my age (60) and my length of time with Qwest, I was able to take advantage of the IBEW union rules and retire. I took a lump sum and in 2007 moved to Texas to live with my daughter and her family.

My dad continued in his ham adventures as an extra class, until 2006 when he passed and WA8CXO became SK.

2008 I got back into the Ham game and got my license in Jul (Tech) and in Aug upgraded to General. I have had several heart issues that have slowed me down some but I am getting back up to speed and hope to upgrade to extra soon.

I love the digital modes. Never was long winded enough to join any of the rag chewers around the band but have a few qso's on 2 meters.

I hope I get to meet lots of fellow oldsters while I can and hope everyone has a wonderful time working all of the DX they want.

73 and 88

Mike
KE5WCT

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Yaesu FT-991A and FT-450D, GAP Titan DX 80 - 10 Meter Vertical Cushcraft 6/2/.70 M Beam, custom pc with windows 10, Ham Radio Deluxe with WSJT-X and DX Lab Suite. Also run Yaesu FT-8900R Quad band mobile VHF/UHF.