QSL Direct, LOTW (updated about every 6 months), or Buro

Thanks to Boy Scouts, I've been a ham since 1978 at age 12. After passing my extra on Dec 30, 1980, I was issued the call KC3N. At that time, I was living outside of Philadelphia, PA. In 1992, after several moves around the northeast US and 2 engineering degrees, I moved to Dallas, Texas. This was my first year in "5-land". I spent 2 years in Dallas, where I met my wife Janet, who later became KE5CNZ. In 1994, I then moved to the New Orleans, LA area, where Janet and I got married and are now a family of 7: Us, 1 boy, and 4 wiener dogs (dachshunds).

Then one day in early 2000 after being in 5-land for 8 years and hearing one too many "please repeat your section", I decided to give up my KC3N call and become KC5R, the closest thing I could get to my original call that sounded descent on CW (P.S. - the original KC5R (Moe) was a nice guy, not a contester, without any outstanding enforcement notices or clubs ready to run him out of town, so I figured it was a good deal for me. He became W5KD and unfortunately went SK in Nov. 2003).

I've been more active since 1999, running 100W or QRP in most contests with my IC-756PRO. I also have refurbished my SB-200 linear I've owned since 1980, for "emergency" purposes (you can get 800 watts out of them if you run them on 220V). Antennas as of December 2010 I have a 7 el Cushcraft X7 on 10,15,20 at 75' (23m), a Cushcraft D4 40-10 rotatable dipole at 80' (25m), a Create 5130N 21 el LP for 6, 2, and 440 SSB at 85' (26m), and a Diamond X50 for FM at 90'(28m). For 80 mtrs I have a triangular loop at 73'(22m), and I have a Windom for 160 at 45'(13m). I hope to replace the windom with a better 160 antenna sooner or later. I use a tuner for the Warc bands. I also own a FT-857D I use for camping.

As for my "day job", I am a PE/EE and currently run a small RF engineering business and also serve as the company pilot (I also am a part-time flight instructor-CFI/CFII). I spend my working day building radio/microwave networks and getting commercial towers approved.

As for personal stuff outside of ham radio, I am a USSF state soccer referee which forces me to stay in shape to keep up in both youth and Adult Amateur soccer matches. This cuts into a lot of my weekends (and beer drinking), especially in March, April, September, and October. I also am involved with my son's boy scout troup as the "guy who brings the radio" to campouts. Finally, I have been known to dabble in some games of chance, as I live within 1 hour driving distance to about 15 casinos.

That about wraps it up. If you ever want an eyeball QSO, I go to Dayton every years and usually get a spot in the flea market (if for nothing else, it's our "happy hour" location). I also go to the Kansas City DX association CW pile-up contest on Saturday night of the Dayton Hamvention. I'm still trying to beat my high score of 33. 73's -Al.