I got my ticket in October, 2006 at the age of 46, after having inherited a few (non-ham) radios from my dear younger brother who passed away in June, 2006. I have always been interested in radios, but probably would not have become a ham had it not been for his legacy. I dedicate my involvement in ham radio to the memory of my brother Alan and will strive to achieve the excellence that he would have expected from any endeavor that we shared.

I grew up in Minnesota, lived in Chicago for many years after earning a B. A. in music from Northwestern University, and moved to Texas in 2001. I am currently in real estate and insurance sales (cemetery property and pre-need funeral policies ;-> ).

I have really enjoyed delving into several aspect of this hobby, which I'm sure will keep me occupied for many years to come. I enjoy talking around town on the local repeaters, working the FM/SSB satellites and working CW and digital modes on HF.

ARS KE5KZX (shackette pictured above):

Kenwood TS-2000, Heil Goldline GM-4 microphone

Homebrew Athlon 64 2.2GHz XP Pro PC

Ham Radio Deluxe, DM780 and SATPC32

RIGBlaster Plug & Play interface

MFJ-949E antenna tuner

Astron SS-30M power supply

Horizontal wire loop (around 90' of wire, fed by ladder line, for HF)

20m inverted V

Par Electronics OA-50 modified halo (for 6m)

Diamond X50A vertical (for 2m/70cm)

Diamond A144S5/A430S10 beams on a homebrew az-el rotor (for satellites)

All antennas are in a 3rd floor apartment attic, about 35-40' AGL

Hope to hear you on the radio!

73 - Dennis - KE5KZX