Biography

Greetings,

Thank you for visiting this page.

My name is Darrel Karbginsky and I live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in Salem, Oregon. 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 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 got involved in amateur radio late in life feeling a need for a challenging pass time in retirement. I am studying for and hope to take the Amateur Extra exam in 2021. I am also studying CW, but it is a slow go for this old timer.

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 an 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 node number is: 40766 (W7DDE-Darrel). I usually have my node up and running during the day and early evenings and I do welcome QSOs in my room.

I log QSOs via QRZ, eQSL, HRDLog, QRZCQ, Club Log, and LOTW (usually daily). I receive cards from Bureau but return direct. If you send me a QSL card, I will send one back – postage and SASE very much appreciated, but not necessary.

Semper Fi and 73,

Darrel, W7DDE

http://w7dde.com

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

My HF rig is a Yaesu FT-991A paired with a LDG Autotuner. I have a Kenwood TM-D710G I use for Packet as well as a backup for VHF/UHF. My mobile rig is an FTM-400DR.
My antennas are a BuckMaster Off-Center-Dipole (6 - 80 meters), an EMCOMM II (6 - 160 meters) antenna, and a Diamond CP610 vertical. I also have a 20-meter dipole in my attic for backup. I also have two Diamond X-50A antennas, one in my attic for the Kenwood and the other on my roof for my FT-991A.