Biography

I have long had an interest in radio, whether it be broadcast, public safety or amateur.

Besides listening to regular AM/FM radio, what got me down this road first started with listening to shortwave radio back in 2009 when I was 19. I started with a Grundig GM300PE Mini World that I bought at local Radio Shack because it was all I could afford. I also bought a copy of the Passport to World Band Radio for that year, which turned out to be the last. Even though the book was discontinued, my passion for radio hadn't and I kept listening.

By 2015, I was studying for a Technician license using the ARRL Technician study guide. But, depsite my efforts and using the ARRL test prep site I felt I wasn't getting it.

I lapsed for a year in 2016 and in mid-2017 after buying my first digital scanner and first scanner in years, the bug bit again and I buckled down this time.

I bought KB6NU's No Nonsense study guides and practiced using HamStudy.org and felt ready!

I took my Technician test on July 22, 2017 through the North Shore Radio Association which I passed and recieved my first callsign, KC1HXT, on August 02, 2017. Then I was issued W1PAC on August 22, 2017 as my vanity. On April 27, 2019, I upgraded to General.

Outside of amateur radio, I work for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Working for TSA was another one of my reasons for getting my amateur radio license as we use MARS for EMCOMM purposes at work.

Equipment

Handheld transceivers:
Yaesu VX-6R
TYT MD-2017
AnyTone AT-D868UV

Base transceivers:
​Yaesu FT-900

Scanners:
Radio Shack PRO-668

Shortwave receivers:
C. Crane CC Skywave
Kaito KA-1103