Biography

New to the whole radio thing—something else atop my already-extensive list of hobbies.

By the way, I’ve already applied for a vanity callsign; check back by the end of March or so, LOL.

=== Places I’m active ===

Depending on my QTH, I’m often monitoring either HamTalk, the Appalachian Repeater Association System or the WVU ARC repeater. You might occasionally hear me on the two-meter call frequency in Clarksburg as well.

DXing and simplex in general is gonna be kinda hard for me without some kind of preparation, as my house is in a valley right by a river. Soon, I’ll get my General and/or AE and be able to try out HF, though!

=== Furry ===

Firstly, if your first reaction to that word is stuff you can't say on the air, check out this website, What Are Furries? (https://whatarefurries.com/), for a good overview on how we’re not… whatever you think we are.

Anyway, especially if you’re a ham furry, you might have seen me in various circles as Sterling, the red-bellied woodpecker (more info: https://www.ssterling.net/furry/). I even run a statewide furmeet group, Mountain State Furries, and you might have picked me up on some simplex frequencies talking to fellow local furs during camping meets and such.

=== Outside ham radio ===

I’m a jack of all trades and a master of maybe one-and-a-half. I teach music as a profession, but I dabble a lot in a whole bunch of other stuff: avian ecology and rehabilitation; wildlife and nature photography; low-level computer programming; trail and urban cycling… yeah, I keep myself occupied.

I occasionally pop up on GMRS as WSLR222, though that call sign is also used by my wife, Myrtle.

More general info about me can be found on my website (https://www.ssterling.net/). 73, and thanks for checking me out.

Equipment

· Baofeng AR-5RM, 2m/70cm HT
· Super-Elastic Signal Stick, 2m/70cm Dual-Band 19″ whip

Yes, I’m already planning on setting up something proper at my house and/or in my vehicle.
Places I’m active