My interest in radio started at age 12 when I saw someone operate a CB radio so I asked "Santa" for a CB radio. Later met a CBer who knew a Ham operator that lived nearby. We visited his ham shack one day and was given a demonstration by the owner, Tex, WAØOMB--"Old Man Baker", who ran the Central States Traffic Net for many years. I was hooked! So Tex gave me some old license manuals to study.

After studying the manuals I determined it was tougher than I thought. While attending a CB radio Jamboree at Peony Park in 1977, met Scott, WBØWOT at AK-SAR-BEN Amateur Radio Club's booth. Scott was only 12 or 13 at the time. Maybe I could get my license after all! Signed up for the club's novice class. Became WDØGHA in January, 1978, at 15 years old making it to General class at 16. Didn't upgrade again until I was bit hard by the DX bug in 1990. Finally upgraded to Advance in 1991 and Extra in 1992 to work more DX. In 1996 I changed my call sign to KØiL (once worked at KOIL radio).

Being inactive during college in the 1980's, decided to get active again. Put a 10-meter rig in my car to use while commuting. My first 2 mobile QSOs where with CO2PX and CX9DH. Two new ones! Bit by the DX bug I was! As I became a more active DXer, started reading anything I could find on DXing. Early on I read W9KNI's book "The Complete DXer" which is "The Book" on DXing in my opinion.

One tip in "The Complete DXer" is to get active in DX contests.Great way to pick up new mode and band countries.Started out contesting just to work DX. Didn't care about mults/runs/Qs totals. Just DX! At first didn't send in any logs to actually enter the contests, but pretty soon found myself sending in logs for more and more contests. Became more active in contests like CQWW, Sweepstakes and Nebraska QSO Party, but my activity level has dropped a bit over the years. Still a Field Day fanatic! In July 1998, my dream of operating at a big multi-multi station came true when Todd, KKØDX and I operated at K4VX's super station as W1AW/Ø with the likes of WØAIH, K9PG, W9QA, AG9A, K9BGL, and many more class contest operators. It was a terrific learning experience I'll never forget.

As a professional engineer for the local power company, I'm a telecomm engineer for their 2-way radio systems (800 MHz trunked ASTRO 7.X), VHF paging, and UHF conventioinal radio systems. Married to Diane (KCØDXi); we have 2 kids, Jason and Nicole. Other interests are bicycling, music (just a drummer)--especially like Jazz, Boy Scouts with my son (who's an Eagle Scout now), and also like to shoot some pool on occasion.

Ed Edwards, P.E.--KØiL

http://www.qsl.net/k0il

Rev: K0IL -Thu Mar 05 20:00:00 2009