First Novice licensed in 1965 as WN0NFD followed in 1966 with the General call WA0NFD, all thanks to a great Elmer W0LUN (SK) William (Bill) Scully in St Louis, Mo. While working in Germany in the mid 70's held the call DJ0GX. Upon return to the US I received the call WB8RDR followed by N0CTB which I (foolishly) let expire in 1998 (kids and career got in the way of Ham Radio for a few years). In 2008 I got my General license again as KJ4DRE and took the vanity call N0DJT. Upon passing my Extra Class exam in 2009 I requested the current vanity call N5GX.

I'm CW-challenged but love the mode and determined to at least get back to 13 wpm. A special TNX to all of you who have been so VERY patient and encouraging.

Current station includes recently acquired Collins Gold Dust Twins (75A-4 & KWS-1) along with an Icom IC-551 for 6 meters and its sibling rig, the IC-251A for 2 meters. Not shown in the picture below is a new addition to the shack, a Yaesu FT-757GX. It will be my backup rig whenever I need to put one of the Twins in dry-dock for some refurbishing. Even though the Yaesu is 30 years younger than my Collins station it is itself over 28 years old, but works great (I don't care for the tiny knobs and buttons on the new stuff). HF antennas include a Hustler 4BTV with the added 30 meter trap and 17 meter parallel radiator. It is painted green and ground mounted next to a magnolia tree for "neighborhood camouflage". I just put up an OCF Dipole/Windom for 80 - 6 meters (built by NU0R), used mainly for 75 meter phone. I homebrewed a 4 element yagi for 6 meter SSB and a 6 element yagi for 2 meter SSB. These VHF bands are a new frontier for me but I'm having fun and learning lots.

Visit www.N5GX.com

Member:

• ARRL

• Collins Collectors Association (AC11-12619)

• Mosquito Net - Titusville, FL. (#1042)

• 30MDG - 30 Meter Digital Group (#3417)

• NAQCC - North America QRP CW Club (#5216)

73,

Dan

PS: The QSL Card picture is yours truly in 1954 next to my dad's (Arthur Tosh) Ford Ranch Wagon delivery vehicle for his St Louis, MO bakery - Pastries of Art.

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen:
 not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
 C. S. Lewis