Biography

Hey there! Rich here W1SPS

(Formerly KC1LXM if that is still showing up in your logbook)

If you're looking for electronics things check out this stuff. So much better if a Ham could use it.

W1SPS eBay Stuff >> https://www.ebay.com/sch/richardd30/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
IF THE LINK DOESN'T WORK JUST LOOK UP EBAY USER "RICHARDD30"

How I got here:

In 1985 I was 15 years old. I had a CB radio and talked to a few folks in the neighborhood most every night. One guy I used to talk to lived up the street, he had a stroke a few years before and needed some help around his house as he couldn't get around well. I went to give him a hand with some of the house maintenance. He was an avid shooter (and I wanted to be one). In return for helping him out he taught me Metallic Reloading and helped me get a membership into a local range. I ended up shooting Highpower Rifle and Smallbore Gallery Pistol competitively to this day. Back then I wanted to move up to Ham radio but I had neither the money, time, nor want to learn Morse code (required at that time).

In 1988 I was deciding between College or the Service. My parents preferred I went to college, my Dad particularly. Dad was Vietnam Vet (crew chief for 269th CAB "Black Barons" in Chu Chi 1967-68). He got out of the service and worked his way up through the ranks for the City Of Bristol (Connecticut) DOT. Back then you started on Garbage and worked your way up. He went from Garbage to Tree Gang (limbing trees and such), Dump Truck Driver (also did dispatch on weekends), Mechanic and when he retired was the Head Mechanic for the Town of Bristol after 34 years.

I went off to college for Electrical Engineering in 1989 and did horribly. Turns out I'm not good at math. Then I remembered a book my Dad had found in the trash when he was working garbage. The book was "Blueprint Reading 2". That book was always fascinating to me as a kid. So, I went back for Mechanical Design in 1989 and did very well. Then I took Plastics Design in 2001 (through a work program) and did well. Always loved electronics though.

I suppose I got my work ethic from my dad. The sight of a cigarette ash moving through the house in pitch darkness as he got ready for work every morning and never taking a sick day, that sticks with you. We lost him on Veterans day at 11:30am on 2009 from Agent Orange.

After graduating college in 1991, I worked and I lived the apartment life, then in 1997 at 27 years old, I bought a house in Torrington CT. I had way too many irons in the fire to think about Ham Radio. From 1997 to 2019 I worked on my house, was in a motorcycle club for 14 years, became proficient with Gardening, Shovelhead Repair, Photography, Brewing, Furniture Making, Cooking, Reloading Metallic and Shotshell, Bullet Casting, Firearm Refinishing and Repair, 3D Archery, Hops and Hot Pepper Growing, and Blues Harmonica.

My skills in the arts such as Drawing, Cooking, Cleaning, Sewing, keeping a tidy house, as well as, I suppose, my inquisitive nature, attention to detail and care for others (often to my own detriment) are from my mom. Mom is still doing well and can muster a pretty good hip-throw if you mess with her.

I am very grateful for both of them .


After a bunch of FT8 I started doing HF "Nets". These are some of the Nets I frequent. If I have a membership number I will list it below:

Maine Potato Net - #4005

Graveyard Net

Omiss Net - #12269

Good Ole Boys Group Net

The Rare Ones Net

Moonlighters Net

Toad Harbor Net (160m)


I do speak "some" Japanese and can read Hiragana and Katakana, but I do need to brush up. I'm not nearly as good as I could have been if I was more diligent. Looking forward to catching someone from Japan to speak to. So, If you're from Japan checking out my page, こんにちは はじめまして

I also make furniture and I completed a mission style walnut Ham Radio Desk and matching chair. You'll generally catch me online when something is clamped up and gluing.CHECK OUT MY QRZ page for photos.

Sorry to bend your ear so long. Well.. That's what we do this for right?

I'm new to the hobby so QSL cards have not lost their appeal to me. I still think it's one of the coolest and most unique parts of Ham Radio. I'd love to get ones in the mail (real ones I can pin up) but eQSL's are cool too. I will have my own going out soon, just waiting on good paper (I designed own cards).

Oh, incidentally, if you are into electronics, machine automation, etc. I have a lot of stuff for sale on eBAY that might help you. Look up "richardd30" on ebay.

Hope to catch you on the air. ~73



Rich

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

This is the gear I use Day to Day:

Rig(s):

SunSRD2DX

Btech DMR-6x2 Portable (For Digital DMR & Ares, still figuring it out)

Antenna Tuner:

Palstar HF-Auto

Amplifier:

Gemini DX-1200

Scanner:

Uniden SDS200 Scanner

Antenna(s):

EFHW (49:1 Autotransformer 134' long 12GA CCS wire for 10-80m Phone)
EFHW (9:1 Autotransformer 125' long 12GA CCS wire for 10-80m Digital)
6m-160m Dipole (1:1 Balun 270ish' 12GA CCS wire fed with 600 ohm ladder line)
Comet GP-6 (For 2m / 70cm)
DIAMOND DISCONE D3000N (For SDS200 Scanner)

Mic:

Sennheiser MD-421-II

Computer & Monitor:

(1) Rackmount i9-12900k, 64GB DDR5, (2) 1TB M.2 Samsung 980 pro drives, Quadro RTX-A4000 16GB Graphics Card, water cooled.
(1) Samsung LC49RG92SSNXZA-RB 49" Dual QHD Curved QLED

Power:

Agilent (HP) 6032A Laboratory Programmable Variable Power Supply

Lightning Protection:

Hoffman Concept Enclosure: CSD24248
Ameritron RCS-10 Antenna Switch
Morgan Lightning Arrestors: (2) M-300U-PP, (1) M-302U, (3) M-348, (1) M-309

Home Built Furniture: (See pics)

60 x 24 Solid Walnut Mission 3 Drawer Desk
Mission Walnut Chair
24 x 20 Solid Walnut Mission Rack Mount Table (For Power Supplies, Computer, Amp & Tuner)

Future Equipment:

Cushcraft 6m/2m/70cm Yagi (Since the SunSRD2DX will do HF / 6m / 2m and 70cm).