U P D A T E  JUNE 2012 -- The NZ6Q Team would like to thank all who worked us from GLENN COUNTY in last year's California QSO Party ("CQP"). We had a lot of fun and learned a lot.  The NZ6Q  Team is hard at work preparing for our 5th YEAR operating from Glenn County. Join Us on October 6th & 7th, 2012 for the greatest State QSO party of the year http://www.cqp.org/

73, John NZ6Q

I was born and raised in California and first licensed in 1974 as WN6IQZ. Credit (My YL says "blame") goes to Lloyd Bumpus N6EL (now SK) for getting me into ham radio at age 12. I first watched him carry on a CW conversation with his twin brother (N5EL). After watching him work that Swan radio, I was hooked! CW has been one of my favorite modes ever since. I got my Novice License and built an HW-101 as my first "rig". Thanks to a lot of "elmering" from another great ham neighbor, Cliff Kurtz, N6ZU it actually worked.

I upgraded to Advanced on a bet in 1975 and Extra (finally) in 1989. I kept the WA6IQZ call for nearly 35 years until I saw the NZ6Q call on the FCC's website and figured it to be a good blend of my own call and the two great hams that got me started. Now the "new" NZ6Q call opens a new chapter in my ham radio life - new club memberships, a new home and station and new opportunities - like my DX-pedition dream, serious contesting and much more. I get a real taste of it every year activating Glenn County with close friends in the California QSO Party.

Communicating is my life's passion, and amateur radio continues as the catalist. I worked as a DJ in a local radio station when I was 16, then the youngest full-time E911 dispatcher hired by the Stockton Police Department at 18. For the next 25 years, I would build, manage and train dispatchers in communication centers in California, Ohio, Kentucky, Florida and Georgia. Today I work as a Sales Engineer for Metro-Ethernet Communication Services for mid-size and larger business customers. Check out my page on Linked-In for more work info.

My YL and I care for my parents who are both disabled. We still live in the home in which I grew up in California, but we also have purchased a home near Atlanta to be again by our children & grandchildren. Now we who were so well cared for when young, care for those we love the most when old. Life bringing you full-circle. While there have been challenges, the last eight years have been quite an adventure.

In ham radio, I stay active in ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services), 2 meters, 440 and HF when I'm mobile. The W6SF Club (www.w6sf.org) honored me this year with a 2nd tour as Club President for 2012. The California Station is Yeasu FT-950 or Kenwood TS-830S (love that radio); restored Collins 30L1 amplifier (dream machine) for chasing DX; 3 el Yagi, stealth homebrew 43 ft vertical fed with ladder-line and an 80 meter dipole. On APRS? check out my mobile aprs here or portable here . APRS is a great application.

My Grandsons love radio!

Homebrew N6GTO 30 - 10 Meter Wire Yagi @ CQP Site 2012

Even after 9 children and now (June 2012) three grandsons, I still find time for this GREAT HOBBY!

The NZ6Q Georgia station will be housed on the lower level of our home with almost 800 sq feet of "shack", three operating positions, and eventually two towers. Hygain vertical on 80 - 10, a full size 160 meter delta loop at 80 ft and multi-band yagi's at 50ft on 40 - 10.

I will soon live that DX pile-up dream and enjoy ham radio from a whole different part of the world. In the meantime, my adventures are right here, on the back roads of California in my Subaru Outback; with 3 radios, 4 antennas, and my "best gal beside me" . (HIHI)

73's

John, NZ6Q