QSL UPDATE: All cards for K4RO, VP5/K4RO, VQ5V (WPX CW 2004 *ONLY*), WR3O and K4TCG have been answered both direct and via the bureau as of September 2011. If you are waiting for cards from any of the above call signs, they should arrive via your QSL bureau soon. If you still have a missing band/mode which needs confirmed, feel free to drop me an email, and I'll check the log for you.

See my web site at http://www.k4ro.net for a complete station description and photo tour.

First licensed in 1976 in Pittsburgh, PA at age 14, I now reside in Pegram, TN. Pegram is 20 miles west of Nashville, also known as "Music City."

I was lucky to discover the magic of short wave radio at age 9, when a complete stranger gave me a Heathkit GR-81 regenerative receiver. I never saw Forest Haley again after our one encounter, but he left me a wonderful gift which has lasted a lifetime. Forest, if you are still out there, please contact me.

My earliest Elmers were a group of hams who worked for the Westinghouse research center in Pittsburgh. I took my Novice test from one of the volunteers. I wish I knew their call signs now.

The bug had bitten hard. I soon began to disassemble everything within reach that resembled a radio. By the time I was in high school, I was on the air with a Heathkit HW-7 and a 15 foot high 40 meter dipole. I graduated high school in Pittsburgh, and then moved to Nashville in 1980 to pursue an education in both civil engineering and music. Ham Radio took a back seat for almost a decade.

After a long period of radio inactivity ending in the late 1980's, I started to get back into the hobby. I caught the DX bug, and I began to enjoy CW operating a lot. Before long, up went a tower, yagi, and all of the DXing tools of the time.

In January of 1993 I stumbled upon a 160 meter CW contest, and I enjoyed the contest-style operating quite a bit. Since that time, my interest in contesting has grown into a full blown passion. Most of my ham radio activity these days is focused around contesting and DXing.

A big part of my fun comes from enjoying the camaraderie of my fellow contesters. I currently write a column for the National Contest Journal called "Contesting 101". The primary audience is beginning contest operators. I welcome your questions and comments, and I encourage hams of all ages to give contesting a try.

When I'm not playing radio, I'm often playing music. I enjoy playing a variety of styles and instruments, from traditional to adventurous. Most of my time is spent in front of a computer, paying the bills as a UNIX system and network consultant.

I make tens of thousands of QSOs per year, and I personally verify and answer every QSL card request. Your patience is appreciated. All K4RO QSOs (now over 207,000) are submitted to the ARRL Logbook Of The World on a regular basis.

Bureau cards may take a year or longer to turn around. Direct cards are answered usually within one week. Your SASE is always gratefully accepted. I appreciate every QSO made and every QSL received. Thanks for your contacts, and see you on the bands!

73

Kirk K4RO

You may visit the Tennessee Contest Group at http://www.k4tcg.org