Biography

Like many people, I always wanted to be a HAM at an early age, but I didn't know how to go about it. When I did, it would be 1986 before I had the time. My thanks to Chris Crobaugh NU8R (SK) and Ola Sloane WD8MOU (SK) for being my Elmers.

In 1987 when NWS Cleveland was looking for radio amateurs to volunteer for the Skywarn program, I was among the first group representing Lorain County Ohio at the NASA Lewis Research Center meeting. For the next 12 years I was only a "page" away from responding as a mobile spotter. We also had an amateur at the weather center to act as a liaison. A 6 meter backbone was developed for county net controls only to send in their reports consolidated from their respective county spotters and keep the wx traffic organized. As doppler radar was developed and gained in effectiveness our need was reduced.

Volunteering for the weather service also led to meeting Tom Kelly a volunteer fireman and Emergency Management Agency worker for Lorain County. That lead me to volunteering for EMA and led Tom to being its Director in time. The B F Goodrich fire, the Aztec Chemical Plant explosion, and few other things added to my ARES/RACES volunteer experiences.

In late 1999 I accepted a transfer to Pensacola and made the move in April of 2000. I always had a mobile rig for HF, 2M and 70cm, but Florida is a great place for motorcycling and I never set up a home station again until 2006. So Ham Radio kind of took a back seat for a few years while I rode the Harley 24/7 until I retired. Now, I have an ever growing home station and I can enjoy the hobby daily. I also collect Drake and Collins equipment...if it doesn't glow it's not a radio!

I'm active on HF, 6 meters and 2 meters. I belong to the ARRL, 10-10 International, South CARS and SMIRK. I love DXing (279 countries 273 confirmed and Islands on the Air 218 contacted with 191 confirmed), collecting grids (261 now on 6m) on 6 & 2. DXCC on 4 bands and close on the 5th and all since my call sign change in 2007.

I use a VX-8r on the Harley with a 1/2 wave mag mount on the luggage rack and run APRS so friends and family can track my travels around the country.

One day I would like to go on a DXexpedition to a little worked area, but for now I'm thrilled to be retired after 37 years of civil service and on the air every day. 73 de Fred WX4US Pensacola FL Grid EM60hm

https://www.qrz.com/db/WX4US

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Operating Position #1
FlexRadio 5000a w/VU5K
Koss Headphones
Heil PR40
Ameritron AL-1500
LP-100a RF watt meter
Palstar AT-AUTO
Palstar DL2K Dummy Load
OCF 160, 80, 40, 20, & 15m
Hygain 6 el 6m beam
Vibroplex Iambic Paddle
Asus 8 core computer


Operating Position #2
Yaesu FTdx-9000C
Electrovoice RE-27
Sony wireless headphones
Alpha 76a (Dick Byrd fully modified)
Power Master II
Bencher BY-2 paddle
B&W 160m thru 10m folded dipole
Palstar AT2K
B&W 374 Dummy Load
Asus laptop

Operating Position #3
Collins KWM2A
Astatic D-104
Henry 3K
LP-100a watt/SWR meter
GAP Titan 80m-10m
Dentron MT-3000a
Nye Straight Key
Heathkit Cantenna Dummy Load


Mobile #1
Yaesu FTM-350 2m/70cm Analog & APRS
Yaesu FT-857D
Ameritron ALS-500
High Sierra 1800 80m - 6m
Larson 2m/70cm

Mobile #2
TYT 9600 2m/70cm Analog & DMR