Biography

Dr. Chassels was a merit badge counselor, lifeguard, and camp commissioner at the Pine Hill Scout Reservation from 1986-1990 where he taught wilderness survival and aquatic skills. He earned the Eagle Scout rank and Novice Class Amateur Radio License (KB2HCP) with 5 wpm Morse Code in 1988. He upgraded to Technician Class license the following year. He worked for the Cherry Hill Emergency Medical Services from 1990 through 1999 as an Emergency Medical Technician and volunteered as a firefighter in Waterford, Connecticut. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 and from Rowan University with a Master of Science in Teaching degree in 1995. He taught high school maths and sciences for several years in Alaska (WL7CPW) and Connecticut before thruhiking the 2180 mile Appalachian Trail in 1999. In 2004, he earned his doctorate from AT Still University of Health Sciences in Kirksville, Missouri. In 2007, he completed an internal medicine residency in Creve Coeur, Missouri. In 2023, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.

Dr. Chassels is board certified in internal medicine and has been practicing as a hospitalist and emergency physician for 16 years. He enjoys teaching Stop the Bleed classes, Illinois concealed carry classes, and amateur radio classes. He upgraded to the Amateur Extra Class amateur radio license KLØT and became a Volunteer Examiner for the ARRL-VEC in 2022. His current interests include Summits on the Air (SOTA), Parks on the Air (POTA), Emergency Communications (EMCOMM), and preparing for disasters. This includes practicing targeted radio communications using Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS), Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), and WinLink Global Radio Email.

Dr. Chassels is a member of the Cliff Cave VE Team, member of the Lewis and Clark Radio Club, member of the St. Claire Amateur Radio Club, Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (EMCOMM) Field Examiner, EMCOMM Field Instructor, FCC License Volunteer Examiner, and life member of the Amateur Radio Relay League, life member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Fellow of the American Academy od Internal Medicine, member of the American College of Physicians, member of the American Medical Association, life member of American Mensa, life member of the Appalachian Long Distance Hiker Association, managing member of Chassels Family Gun Club, LLC, president of Dr. Chassels, Ltd., member of the Firearms Policy Coalition, life member Gun Owners of America, life member of the Illinois State Rifle Association, life member of National Eagle Scout Association, patriot life member, training counselor, coach, and instructor of the National Rifle Association, life member of the National Science Teaching Association, life member of the Second Amendment Foundation, elite member, training counselor, and instructor of the United States Concealed Carry Association, and life member and Fellow of the Wilderness Medical Society.

Equipment

The KLØT home station includes a Radiowavz Folded Terminated Dipole 4-30mHz 65ft hanging between three ChannelMaster 40-foot masts in a 220deg-140deg, on the level, horizontal orientation at 40 feet above ground level, a Diamond X-300A dual band base antenna, a Yeasu FT-991A All-Band All-Mode Transceiver, and an MFJ-998 Intellituner. This is primarily powered with an Astron VS-70M-AP. Two Mobilinkd TNC4 iOS compatible bluetooth terminal node controllers for AX.25 packet, APRS, VARA HF, etc. A SharkRF openSPOT4 pro facilitates all digital modes including cross-mode digital radio through the Highland Communications fiber optic network to the internet.

Backup equipment for the KLØT home station includes an Icom IC-740 transceiver, extra 50 ohm coaxial cable, an end-fed half-wave antenna, a Baofeng UV5R, an MFJ Enterprises MFJ-4128 power supply, and a solar panel, all stored in a grounded, electrically sealed, steel trash can. The power is also backed up by a Tesla Model S and a Tesla Model Y.

Portable KLØT station operation is via two Yeasu FT5DR handheld transceivers, two Wimo PicoAPRS v4 transceivers, three Baofeng UV-5R handheld transceivers, each with one of seven Super-elastic Signal Stick antennas or one of ten Retevis retractable antennas. I also utilize EchoLink app, RadioMail app, and PulseModem A on an iPhone 14 Pro Max or iPad 6th Generation. While backpacking, I frequently carry either a Yeasu or Baofeng HT with a homemade Yagi antenna.