Biography

I was into CB, 11 meters, since I was 14, on and off. I had a 36ft sailboat from 1996 until 2015 and loved sailing the open Atlantic Ocean and decided, in 2003, to get an Amateur radio license so I could use VHF and a little 10 meters while sailing. I took the test and became KI4FJW and held that call until several years later when I requested W4HMB and got it. I took the General exam in 2017, if I remember correctly, and aced it. I took the Extra exam that day but only got 19 correct. haha

I was in the US military for 12 1/2 years, worked in finance for almost 11 years and then became a trucker and did that for 20+ years and retired in 2015.

I had an Icom 706MKIIG in my work truck for 10+ years in addition to it being in my sailboat. I am a casual HF DX guy. I use a paper log. I do not use any HRD, repeaters or electronic logs. From the beginning of my Ham experience, I was just a tune and hunt that signal OP. I do it the old fashion way. Years before retiring I knew that I wanted to have a nice station to use while getting old, so I saved money just for that and I have it now.

I am not really a social media person. I have been on Q R Z dot com for a few years and I do not give credence to people who hate one media or another. I make up my own mind. I saw that some on QRZ were down talking this place, so I came to see it for myself.

Maybe we will do a QSO someday. See you out there somewhere.

Equipment

FTdx101MP, FTdx101D MAX, FT1000D, FTdx10, FT991A

Assorted auto and manual MFJ tuners

Ameritron AL 811

20 meter 5/8 vertical, 40 meter 1/4 wave vertical, two random long wires, JoGunn eight element 10 meter yagi and "still in the box" 160, 80 and 40 Isotrons