Biography

I'm retired, but looking for a new challenge I decided I'd try amateur radio.

I passed my Technician exam in February 2026, followed by the General in April and the Amateur Extra exam in July.

So I'm a new ham and I've come a long way in a short time. Seems like the more I learn, the less I know. :)

I'm also a pilot (SEL) and when I passed my checkride the examiner shook my hand and said "Congratulations! You now have a license to learn."

I've found that to be true for amateur radio, too. Those licenses are a "license to learn."

And boy, am I learning!

Equipment

HF: Yaesu FT-710
VHF/UHF: Yaesu FTM-150RASP
PS: Astron VS-35M
Antennas: various, from a J-pole I built myself for VHF/UHF to a fan dipole for HF use, starting w/ an Alpha Delta 40-M dipole and adding 20-meter and 17-meter capability.

I also have a Diamond Antenna A144S5 Base Station Yagi Beam, and a few other 2-meter antennas.

I enjoy the tinkering and making new stuff aspect of the hobby, and next on the list is either an antenna rotator for the Yagi, or a new location to run coax into the shack so I can test new antennas.