Biography

I became interested in electronics at a very young age. Built my first crystal set with no help at age 5. Tesla must have been in the static because it sparked an interest in ham and cb radio that I’ve grown to love! Built first HAM radio with my grandfather at age 8. It was a New kit a HealthKit hw-101. My first commercial C.B. was a Lafayette Comstat model 25A the A had the range boost circuit and a audio circuit that used an unused half of that 12ax7 in the mic preamp (that many manufacturers skipped it) with it though it had way more punch. Almost too much if you ran one of those famous Astatic D-104 on it!

My first handietalkie for C.B. wat a TRC-216 then a TRC-221 with a 5pin d104m6b had mike on it lol
Vhf was shacks Icom that htx-202 non modified couldn’t be either but man it fought intermod like a mad man.

As well as completing industrial electronic and mechanical training. F.C.C licensed ham since 1994. I was a sophomore in high school. Since jr. high I participated in the audio/visual department and in the television studio as technical adviser and a weatherman also as a cameraman with several awards. I fixed the school's ditto machine thus saving the school over $2000!

I worked as a Electronic Technician from 1991-2005. Then as a Service Manager / Master Tech. From 2005-2008. Many heavy oak big screen TV's in those days. Pickup and delivery as well as many hours on the floor performing in home service is now painfully impossible. I’ve been in a few unfortunate auto accidents that left me without my 2000 Ford Ranger. It’s left my back in a condition that has me unable to perform any of those tasks anymore. Plasma TV's are the new heavy...Which I would fix as long as someone else moves it or in home... :)

Now ...when possible, I like fixing rigs and electronics for friends and fellow hams. And, we try to stay active with some limitations. I enjoy when possible keeping the repeater going. Also, if there’s any chance that I feel well enough... I like hunting, fishing, autos and antenna construction.

Equipment

Primary Rig - Kenwood TS-950SDX with Heil PR-40 Mic
Amplifiers are Ameritron AL-1500 and a Heathkit SB-220
Mobile Amps are a Skymaster 1kw or a Ameritron AL-500 with a Tarhill Screwdriver type Antenna model A-100 for mobile.

DC / Gen Backup - Kenwood TS-2000X with a dc mobile amp on a 25hp gas gen 12kw continuous backup generator with a redundant 2kw solar and 500 amp hour glass mat battery backup power supply for that no fuel situation.

Mobile - Kenwood TS-480SAT with Tarhill Screwdriver type antenna with 12” cap hat and use a 8ft whip with a big corona ball will load up on 160m with it to 17m. Then I use a Willison 5000 roof mount for 15-10m ... And it’s on a decent size counterpoise, a Full size Econoline van.
The vhf rig is a old kdk that makes about 10w to drive a 250w brick. The sg-7900 antenna I have to run it on low to keep it at the 150w power limit. Keep hi power transmissions short as possible lol. UHF I use a maxtrac or a gm300

For Backpack Portable and Fixed QRP - I use my lil baby Yaesu model FT-817D (it’s so cute!) lol! with a heil hc-4 microphone element and a w4rt compressor amplifier within the mic. And I use a mfj-1799 multi tap 1/4 wave telescoping antenna with a tape measure counterpoise in my portable to go kit and I Love it!!!

My fixed station antennas are in a 50’ x 100’ lot. So getting a signal out of here is a bit of a fun challenge.
Horizontal Antennas that I have fixed are @ 35ft and I have a vertical it’s a Hustler BTV-5 @ 10ft above ground roof mounted. A Dedicated 31ft 1/4 wave vertical for 40m and 63ft inverted L for 75m. Plans for a 90ft - 180 ft OCF and a cobweb for 10-40m this summer when I can get some helpers in the trees.

Antennas for Mobile are Tarhill A-100 6-160m
Wilson 5000 Magnet Mount for 10-15m
Diamond Supergainer SG-7900 2m & 70cm
Outbacker Purth Plus

1991 Ford Econoline E-150 super duty

VHF Repeater is a MSF-5000 110w model running at 50w input is 147.930mhz with a 131.8 PL tone to access output on 147.330mhz
It’s a low profile machine and only up about 90ft above sea level 45ft above the street here.