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Greetings readers,one and all.

A special hello to my amateur radio sisters and brothers.

My name is Mark, _ . _ . _ . _ . _ _ . _ .

Aftereverybody struggled with my old call: kf4vwn, for so many years, I changed it to something a bit easier not long ago.

My official contact address is in Lake Worth, Florida. After a series of life-changing events, I am currently living in Dunnellon Fla.

This paragraph tells a little about me: Later in the 1990's I was having medical problems. After 5 surgeries, I was bedridden, bad sick for several years. [If you like to read alot and want to read more about some of that and other wacky stuff I think up, try http://www.myspace.com/awildwoodguy ]

Now, my days are spent working on my health, being amazed Max the red-lored amazon parrot is still kicking, and trying to make Xena the Luv Dawg smile. On a really good day, make an amateur radio contact or two, equipment permitting. That's mighty fine.

Before those previously mentioned bad years, I had a lot oftime in construction. Turns out it diminished my hearing, making listening for code extremely taxing.

Conditions have to be just right for my brain to latch on and make the connection. I continue onward, though, for it is a marvel of a humans ability to communicate in such rare fashion.

Of bunches of videos on the topic of code, I really took a liking to this one. Andrew AF2Zand the Straight Key CC gang added text to the action so you know what is going on. Watch the series of them and find your favorite>>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cagKjHjy858&feature=related

I am going to work harder with my practice straight key, after watching how well some are able to do it. GHD Keys of Japan has a vid showing how, utilizing a straight Reactive wrist technique.

Somewhere along the line, when the mean ol' meager budget allows it, I am going to aquire an iambic paddle with a nice sidetone unit to get more proficient with an alternative sending practice.

While I have my wishlist going, add a HF transceiver and I will dig into the rubbermaid container and stringthe 160 meter and 75 meter dipole goodies thru the oak and pine trees. Might as well throw the 40 meter HamStik stashed away on the automobile too. Then, oh wouldn't a Hi Q mobile antenna be good for the rv here,,,,absolutely.

I had my TR 9000 Kenwood 2 meter for SSB, RF Concepts 150 watt, and Par Electronics 2 meter Omni Directional- Horizontally Polarized Antenna being mobile insoutheast Fla for several years. It was good fun talking across the state to W4FF Frankin Ft.Myers and W4WHN Dean in the Keys and others around the state in the morning after dropping the kids at school. (Every now and then I would include them in so they could get excited about amateur radio,,,otherwise I dedicated our time together to just them).

I utilized thatradio/amp setupinto an 11 element Cushcraft at 35 feet in Wildwood for a bit. Recently, the amp needs to go get doctored on, so right now I am difficult to hear, with 10 watts instead of 150, and the omni at 13 feet. I try to keep 144.200 running most of the time, when I remember to bump the volume up.

Helping keep SSB on 2 meters alive, is KE4SOG Steve, and other fine folks in the Orlando area,so tune an ear to 144.240 usb for activity in central Florida and beyond.

Please do carry on, thanks for reading, and check back from time to time, as I may add to this along the way

A special thank you to W4OP, Dale at Par Electronics. I was fortunate to get to know him when he lived in SE Florida. He is an interesting fellow and helped keep me on the air during tough times after my move to Wildwood.

Also a shout-out to VE3NGW, Chris, CK Radio, who spends a lot of time in the Ft. Lauderdale area. He is my go-to guy when I need to know something. Should you ever, ever, ever get the opportunity to tour his station, you better have some kinda darn good excuse to tell me if you did not go.

Some silent keys I have been missing, like (Harry W2VBJ who became W2KG), and (Jim K4YBB and his "young baby buffalo").

7 3, de k5cqe. Mark Savage,,,,,,,,,,,spread the Amateur Radio love.

I'll try this, please limit spam to 0 messages> awildwoodguy@yahoo.com

And watch out for some of these guys who spend a lot of time on the road:

There's N5IBM Russell, KD4WOV Tom, W4ROL Ralph, AI4OF Phil, N4LGH Tracy, N4TDP Troy, and a host of others. So drive good, and watch out for "hams". If you hear KI4MPH Gus out on the road, see if you have it in ya to resist asking, "How fast are you going now?"

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