Biography

Hell-o to All...Bonjour a Tous & a Toutes,
I am a retired FD BTN Chief (2003) & just recently retired as a New York State District Fire Commissioner. I am still an active Life Member with the local VFD.
First licensed in 1959, I have held a lifelong fascination with 6M. My current station consists of a YAESU FT-847 & a YAESU FT-857 (and amps for both)... along with several radios for FM duty on 2M, 6M,& 70CM. I like to hang out on 17M (18.145) & 6M (50.125).
Living in a residential area in the Capital District of NY limits my types of antennas. I currently use a French built DECCAPOWER vertical on my roof (HF-6M) and a modified TENNADYNE T-20 Log Periodic up about 75'(17M-70CM)... along with an end-fed wire antenna witha NELSON 9::1 BaLun in to a 66' radiator for HF-6M. There are also several other verticals about for 2m, 70CM,& 6M. You can see some of my antenna set-up in the picture below.
In Europe, I am a member (#1922) of the United Kingdom Six Metre Group(UKSMG). In La Belle France (the Paternal side of my Dad's family is from Schirrhein in the Alsace), I am a member of L'Association des RadioAmateurs de Loire-Atlantique (ARALA-F5KEQ) in Nantes, and Radio Club des Fourches (F6KSU) in Laval. When I am in France, my QSL manager is F1AKE (Jean-Claude) in Nantes.
**ICI, ON PARLE FRANCAIS**
I am very fortunate to have good friends in so many places.