Biography

Greetings, and thank you for the QSO and for visiting my page.

I have only been an amateur radio operator a short time having earned my Technician license in March 2017 – I upgraded to General class in August of 2017. I am studying for, and hope to take the Amateur Extra exam by the end of 2019. I am also studying CW. I got involved in amateur radio late in life feeling a need to have a challenging pass time in retirement. I am a retired software engineer and computer science professor. I am also a Disabled American Veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps as a Staff Sergeant of Marines.

I live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in Salem, Oregon. I am an ARRL member and a member of the Polk County, Oregon Sheriff's Search and Rescue ARES team. I am also a 1010 International Net member, and a rather silent member of the Salem Amateur Radio Club.

My HF rig is a Yaesu FT-991A. I have a BuckMaster Off-Center-Dipole (6 - 80 meters) and a EMCOMM II (6 - 160 meters) antenna. I also have a 20 meter dipole in my attic for backup EMCOMM.

I also have a Kenwood TM-D710G I use for Packet on VHF/UHF as well as a Yaesu FT2900 set up for Packet as a backup or when I need to really reach out on VHF. I have two Diamond X-50A antennas, one in my attic for backup and the other on my roof.

I also do Wires-X but without a Yaesu radio. I use a powered Silver Eagle microphone (a custom job) developed (re-engineered) by W8DMI connected directly to a HRI-200 to connect to Wires X in my shack. No radio needed, just the HRI-200, a computer with Wires X software, and the microphone; the sound quality is awesome. My Wires-X mode number is: 40766. I usually have my node up and running during the day and early evenings and welcome QSOs in my room.

Note: I subscribe to and use eQSL, LOTW, QRZ, HDRLOG, QRZCQ, or direct mailings to confirm contacts. I usually upload my logs every couple of days to all sites. I do not require a SASE if you send me a QSL card which I enjoy receiving. I will always reciprocate and send back a card if I receive one.

73 and Semper Fi

Darrel, W7DDE

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Yaesu FT-991A
BuckMaster OCD

Wires X Room Node: 40766