Biography

Electronics history- started out repairing TV's and Fire service radios in the mid 70's, (tube radios were easy to fix and build) along with SWL and ham radio. Took my Novice class in 1976 with the required theory (not knowing the questions/answers) and 5 wpm CW. In the 1980s I worked installing the first trunking systems, CCTV, security and other 2 way communication system for a local company.
In the mid 90's put up a 110' tower between Rockford and Byron for VHF contests which were enjoyed by the team of KB9MJG, AA9KX and myself. Unfortunately we were not in a good location elevation wise. Same team also loved foxhunting, we won every time we were a hunter. For a short time also had a rover station running 6, 2, 220, 430.

My passion was and is still VHF/UHF contesting as you will notice when you see the station! That takes a lot of home brewing and converting gear for the microwave bands. I have added 902mhz/33cm (200 watts into a 4 horizontal 1 vertical steerable antenna array (for EME) soon will have full legal power) and 1.2ghz/23cm (same 5 antenna array with 80- watts at the top of the tower)this year, large amp soon.
The plan is to add 2.4 (80 watts), 3.5 (120 watts) and 5 GHZ next year using a one of a kind home brew SDR mounted at the top of the tower controlled you a remote network system from anywhere in the world along with a 10, 6, 2, 440 station all remote with multiple antenna polarizations and rotor control from ANYWHERE. It will be a busy winter building that, its all here just need time to put it together!

I have had a farm on one of the highest hills in the area for years but only enjoyed the view. Life kept me out of radio and the contests for a while. Finally I have set up a modest antenna farm to get on the air with more to come.
This local would be great for a field day site.

Currently I farm and work in the IT department for a local college.
You can find me with radios monitoring (they are on 24/7, IF I am in the house I will hear the activity) 28.45, 50.125, 144.2 SSB and several FM radios on simplex 52.525, 146.52 and two local repeaters. 147.420 and Monroe @ 145.11 workable on a HT from this hill in Illinois.
At this time I have a simplex repeater for anyone to use. Works great for testing gear- radios and antennas, as you can hear exactly what your equipment sounds like at this location.

Equipment

Temporary towers are 25 & 40 feet. SSB Antennas currently included 6 el @ 10 meters, 4 el @ 6 meters (soon to change), 17b2 @ 2 meters and an m2 beams on 432. FM station includes several ground plane antennas along with beams for 2, 220 & 440. But high on this ridge they work great.

A 110' rohn 25 tower:
for 6 meters sporting a 6M9KHW (with a 6m3 for vertical pol out front of the boom) both for ssb along with a 2- 4 el beams and 6mtr ringo for FM.
Also is a 222-5wl and a 222 10 ez, again on the same boom for ssb.
Temporarily (until the 190 foot tower gets built) on this tower will be the 440 50 watt, 926 200 watt and 1.2 linked repeater/beacons antennas. This will also have a G5rv for swl mostly.

The 75 ft commercial tower has dishes, omnis and beams for internet backhauls between several rural towns and local internet service along with a 2 meter simplex repeater for testing your radios (contact me for the codes), antennas and even general communications and two cross band systems.
Soon a 440 repeater with a multi platform duplex "digital hotspot" for those passing through the area (within 40 miles) needing digital access. It will cover most digital platforms all in one system opening up a wide array of possibilities. This is the current home for the APRS gateway on a Diamond X510 at 70 feet.

Under construction are
90' Microwave and FM tower, base in and the anchors are planted waiting for a stacking party.
190' rohn 55 will get planted summer 2022.
And a HF tower, yep gonna give it a try, guess hell has frozen over!! Hopefully the grumpy old men all died in the last 30 years and hf will be enjoyable this time! The 6 el 10 meter beam a 40 meter beam and 160 antennas will find a home way out there west of the barn.


Stations are:
DAILY (almost always on)-
a pair of IC-706s for 6 and 2 meter ssb constant monitoring waiting for the rare 6 meter openings both with heir own computer and Signal links, mfj 434s to be a second station for multi operators during VHF contests.
There is a IC-2100 for local repeaters mostly 145.450 in Janesville and 145.110 in Monroe, call there or 146.520 if looking for me.
Currently I use a FT-767gx for 10 meter ssb set on 28.450 and a FT-736R waiting for satellite antennas to go to play on the birds someday.
Also on 24/7 is a FT-2980 that sits on 146.52 using a 1970's Hustler G-6 that i purchased used and absed in the 1980!! Still going great...best antenna ever!! Ranks right up there with the CLR2 for 28 mhz...both 5/8 wave...coincidence??? I Think NOT 5/8 is the ideal antenna for most uses.

My "Fm go box": (contest station number 3)
is set up as a grab and go rack when needed, that is hooked up to a 6 m ringo and a CX-333, 2m12, 22210ez and a 44018 it is used as my daily FM rack, moved to the camper/ROVER when needed, and is the FM station during contests. It contains:
IC2820H with a MFJ 434B for 2/440 FM as it has spectrum scopes for each band (rare in FM rigs) It is also good for D-star. This is usually scanning all frequencies looking for unknown stations. IT cover 118-550/ 810-1000 scanning 2 meters, 220, 440, 900 ham bands, commercial and much more gotta love that do it all radio!! Hooked behind it for 2 meter Fm is a TE sys 11452g.
FT-8900 for 6 meter FM.
IC-2330A with a MFJ 434 for 220 FM (2 meter side is used for local coms)
IC-281G driving a Mirage 160w amp for 2 meter packet.
A dual band Ht for DMR with a 40 watt amp.


THE CONTEST DESK:
Three computers (up to a 12 core with 128 GB memory) hooked up to THREE Yaesu FT-847s with MFJ 434s AND a MicroHAM Micro keyer is for 6/2 rigs while the 432 SSb rig stands alone. Amps include a converted SB-220 for 6 meters, a 2.5kw MC 2m PA that loafs along at full legal power for 2 and a home brew kw on 432.


The digital station includes an IC-7300 and IC-9700 On a CLP 6 meter to 1.2 GHZ log periodic on a 38 ft air operated push up mast mounted on the rover vehicle outside the shack! Also in this rack is the HTX-100 converted into a low power exciter for the home built 22o transverter, amp and preamp all fed into Austin Antenna quadplexers. The 220 ssb amp is a stack of AM-6155 aircraft FFA AM amplifiers converted to a KW on 220 SSB!

Other antennas include an array of 4 432 beams with a 100 watt anp/preamp at the top of the tower. A 17b2 (until the 190 ft 2 meter tower grows up! Several multi band ground planes, one is 6/2/440, a pair of 2/220/440, a 2/440/1.2, some dual band like the diamond 6/10, some ringos for various bands and the best antenna ever a hustler G-6 that I purchased used and abused from Bob Stevens (B&B) in the 1980s for $15. It has been up in two counties, several QTHs and now several towers here at this QTH. IT STILL works like a champ. A Pair of 6 meter hygains, many M@ beams up and going up soon.


Long term additional plans include:
110' rohn 25 for 6 meters (almost done)
190' rohn 55g tower for 2, 430 EME and contests.
90' rohn 25 for microwave, satellites and EME.
80' rohn 25 for 10/40 meter beams.
possibly a linked 440/926/1.2 experimental repeater system.
440 Duplex digital medium power multi county coverage "hot spot".
Relocating the APRS system.
Remote station for those in nursing homes to access real radios anytime.
When I win the lottery, hihi, I would like a rohn 65/55 crank up/fold over 50' for 6 EME. Just not sure where it will fit!