Biography

I started Amateur Radio at the age of 14 in 1967, I got the call WN8DDS. I let it elapse and I was about 17 years old in 1970 before I got my Technician call of WB8LGH. Then I upgraded about 1986 to a General and on May 14th, 2011, I upgraded to Extra Class License. After living in the South, for more than 20 years I changed to a vanity call of W4QED. I have a BSCS degree and enjoy programming when I can. My health keeps me from doing very much, but I still enjoy it. I did enjoy working at Institute for Simulation and Training on research of Virtual Reality then on to research on Parallel (Super) Computers.

Rigs are: NOW a Flex-6600, it has been a longtime coming. Thought I deserved a good radio and of course Flex-Radios seem to be at the top for now. I still have SoftRock v8.2 receive and DG8SAQ-I2C, Yaesu FT-2800m (died Lightning strike) with a SignaLink using YAAC on a RPi 2,3b,3b Plus now, Kenwood TH-7DA(g), 2 - Wouxun KG-UVD1P (144/220MHz) and a Kenwood TM-D700A in the house for APRS and not to be forgotten a Radio Shack 10 meter transceiver. I now have 3 DVB-T Dongles that I use for SDR receiving. A newer addition to my hamshack is a Genesis G59 and GPA10 10 watt amp ( not sure if it was damaged by Lightning strike). Latest news is I sold the ID-800H rig to a gentleman in Brazil and sold the FT-100D to a Gentleman out west and then got a new D-Star rig an IC-7100 HF (destroyed by same Lightning strike, but replaced with the same rig), 6m, 2m and 70cm rig. Recently added in an ID-5100A as of 12/25/2014, it is NOW in the car as w4qed-7. Also using a AI4JI OCF Multiband Dipole Antenna for HF and it works great.

My Mother is a ham and her call is KB4OSK and still a novice (with code) hence the 220MHz rig.

http://w4qed.hamshack.info/ my main pages with webcam control. (Computer is now online 24/7 running on a Raspberry Pi 3.)

http://w4qed.hamshack.info:8086/ my MiterHouse Home Automation Program, of course when online. Same Pi 3. A work in progress.

http://w4qed.hamshack.info:8008/ my YAAC APRS on same PI 3..

Recently added in a miniDLNA media server with 4TB drive for the media that turns off when not in sue and a 1TB drive for O/S

https://w4qed.wordpress.com/ my blog on various topics.

I spent a wonderful 3 years in Statesboro GA., where there is the friendliest bunch of hams but I'm now back in Orlando area, actually in Fern Park, FL. back to antenna restrictions, homeowner associations and crowds, which I hate. The LMARS group is really a great and friendly group also here. The busy traffic really doesn't bother me, just the crowds in stores and other places. The only time I usually over look crowds is at hamfests and if you can not make Dayton, then Orlando's HamCation is not shabby. The main reason to be in or near Orlando; otherwise, Orlando is someone's big target and I prefer not to be on someone's target list.

I hate the heat here and plan on moving out west and north into a colder climate. I really need to sell this house, but I won't give it away as I'll wait till the market returns and sell for what I want. Then I will either move up north a bit or perhaps out west to Wyoming, Utah, Idaho or Colorado or perhaps Montana as a 1st choice, as I really like the areas. In the meantime I'll take a trip out west to see if I still like it there.

Recently I've been working on Broadband Hamnet (AKA HSMM-Mesh). We in the CFL-Mesh network have up several nodes that are tunneled. Documentation is out there, but some may be old so you can spend your time going around in circles. If you have and good info on using Ubuntu 16.04 on RPi and Astrisks please drop me a line or if there is a way to get apps working through Tunneling Drop me a line at w4qed@arrl.net please put in subject W4QED QRZ.

I just completed (2015-05-20) the CW Ops Academy Level I section. Thanks to Jerry Weiskohl ARS AC4BT. Many thanks to him and their organization. The course was free except for the time I had to put into practice and their method does indeed work.

Currently I use a N3ZN ZN-9 and it is sweat. I also use a Bencher paddle, but I do have a WBL Single Lever paddle also.

Looking for informatino on the C-IV interface commands for the ID-5100. I can find C-IV commands, but not referencing the ID-5100. I'm sure they are there as the RS-MS1A uses them.

Recently I was asked to teach a class on the Raspberry Pi, so I decided to get about 6 Pi-3 b Plus's and some monitors, plus keyboards and mice. Class is Starting on June 2, 2018 and will meet once a month till done.

I am also an ARRL - VE examiner with an Extra Class License so if some group near by is in need of a VE give me some notice and I'll see if I can be there. please put NEED VE in subject of email.

So drop by and look around.

w4qed@arrl.net, 73's

Ben

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Flex-6600 is my new rig, and love it, with D-Star USB thumb.
Of course who would not say that after spending so much money.
Icom IC-7100 with a Rascal.
DVAP for Computer.
Yaesu FT-2800M with a SignaLink; needs re-placed.
Kenwood th-7da(g).
Wouxun KG-UVD1P (144/220MHz). My mother is a Novice with code endorsement.
Kenwood TM-D700A in the car for APRS.
Radio Shack 10 meter transceiver.
SoftRock v8.2 receive and DG8SAQ-I2C.
I now have 2 DVB-T Dongles that I use for SDR receiving.