Biography

Born in Lima, Ohio in 1947, attended school at Elida High School. Graduated in 1965. Worked at Superior Coach building school Buses, from 1965 to May of 1966 when I was drafted into the United States Army. Took basic training and advanced training in communications at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Transferred to Fort Gordon, Georgia for Radio Teletype school. After completion I was then transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma until April of 1967 when I received my orders to report to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for deployment to Viet Nam. Arrived in Chu Lai, Viet Nam in May of 1967. Served almost 1 year with the 3rd of the 16th artillery as radioteletype team chief.
Returned to the states in May of 1968. Started work in cable television in January of 1970 and was licensed WN8LIG in 1971. Became WB8LIG in late 1971 and kept that call until 2008 when I applied for and was granted W8LIG.
From 1990 to 1998 (while working full time) I attended The University of Findlay where I obtained an Associates Degree and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Computer Science. I was absent from HAM Radio for almost 15 years except for 2 meter activity. With retirement on the horizon I decided to purchase a new radio and after researching the various options I bought the Kenwood TS-480HX in August of 2010. I also bought the GAP Titan DX Vertical and got back on the low bands in September 2010.
I discovered Ham Radio Deluxe and purchased a RigBlaster Pro interface and got on PSK, RTTY and SSTV quickly. I since have discovered and work frequently JT65HF and EasyPal. Now use DX Suite for my logging program and other functions.
In April 2012, I purchased the FLEX 5000A, Ameritron ALS-1300 and a SteppIR DB18E. On September 14, 2012, we installed the SteppIR DB18E on top of a model HDX-555 US Tower. Beam is 22 feet(6 meters) when retracted and 55 feet (16 meters) when fully extended. On May 11, 2012 I retired from Time Warner after 42 years in the cable television industry.

In 2014 we purchased a home in Venice, Florida and we are spending winters there now.
I got the Florida shack set up in January of 2015 with a 25 foot Rohn tower and a 5 band hexbeam. I have a second Kenwood TS-480HX in Florida and move the Flex 5000A between Florida and Ohio. After the purchase of the Ameritron ALS-1306, I took the ALS-1300 amp to Florida.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

OHIO:
Rig: Flex 5000A - Using PowerSDR latest version
Rig: Kenwood TS-480HX
Amp: Ameritron ALS-1306
Ant: SteppIR DB18E 3-Element Yagi
Rotor: M2
Computer: Custom Built Desktop
Software: Windows10 Pro 64 bit
Mike/Headset: Heil Pro Set Elite

FLORIDA:
Rig: Flex 5000A
Rig: Kenwood TS-480HX
Amp: Ameritron ALS-1300
Ant: 5 band HexBeam and Tennadyne TD-90 Dipole
Rotor: Yaesu G-450A with ERC software and PSTRotatorAz
Computer: Custom Built Desktop
Software: Windows10 Pro 64 bit
Mike/Headset: Heil Pro Set Elite