Station Rigs: FT-817, SG-2020, OHR 400, OHR 500, OHR Digital Displays, OHR wattmeter, Daiwa SWR/power meter, MFJ antenna tuner, Buddistick antenna, keys and bugs.
(OHRs out for alignment, but the 817 and 2020 are operating)
I operate QRP CW on 20 and 30 meters.
Was an avid SWLer in high-school and a radio operator in the U.S. Air Force AACS. 1st AACS Mobile...First In...Last Out was our motto.
General Class Exam at the Federal Building in Albany, New York in 1980. Should have up-graded years ago but I was satisfied with the cw privledges my General Class license permitted...at the time. Too late now. I just don't have the intestinal fortitude required. Not to mention some recent, though correctable, vision problems. Born in 1939, I will make-do with the operating privledges I still have for the rest of my operating days.
The NUGB of my call was originally assigned to the Cruiser USS Amsterdam (my home-town) which saw service in the Pacific during the closing months of the Second World War.
I am a member of FISTS (12288) and SKCC (2045) (I like the SKCC straight key concept). Those organizations should be supported by all active cw operators regardless of license grade and cw speed. Also a member of NAQCC (1565), the best QRP group, and UFT 1171, a French CW organization.
When not on the air, I enjoy reading. Current major interest is WW1 and WW2 Royal Navy and US Navy activities in the Atlantic and Pacfic theaters of operation. That includes Merchant Marine!
Enjoy music of the pre- and WW2 years, say between 1925 and 1945. Also programs directed to WW2 G.I.s overseas during the war years. I have MP3 CDs of many of them.
I dislike most war films. The British film, "The Cruel Sea", based on the book, is a notable exception. I am also interested in well researched WW1 and WW2 documentaries.
Another interest is photography. Since I no longer have a darkroom, it is digital. At the moment with a small, compact camera which slips easily into my pocket when tramping about.
Been retired for some years now so pretty active on the air. I QSL 100% all cards received and am registered with E-QSL.
73 de Dick. Pray for lots of sunspots.
Still a place for low-tech amateur radio in a high-tech amateur radio world.
