I thought it was time to update my bio.  Here I am in October 2010.  Still just active on 2 meter and 440, but thinking seriously about getting an antenna up for HF before winter sets in.  I would still like to learn code and be able to work some CW, that is another challenge I'll try to tackle.

Life has presented me with all kinds of hurdles and challenges since losing Hugh.  He (WW4L) was my Elmer, but my HAM family is so supportive and helpful with any problems or questions I have encountered.  Thanks guys, you have been great.

I recently got back into hiking and have really enjoyed being out and getting the needed exercise.  Living this close to our beautiful mountains is such a blessing. 

73s

Marta W4MHS

Below is my first BIO written back in 2008 and 2009:

My husband, Hugh WW4L, (see update below) and I live outside the little town of Catawba near the old historic Murray's Mill. Hugh and I were married in 1998 and with his encouragement I got my Technician license (KI4ZDK) in August 2007 just before the Shelby hamfest. December 28th, 2007, I was granted the vanity callsign W4MHS, my initials. January 12, 2008 I upgraded my license to General at the Greenwood SC hamfest and I am looking forward to working HF.

At the present time we do not have a base station set up in our home. We are working off a Yaesu FT60R handheld in the dining room with a mag mount antenna sitting on an old black frying pan. We move the skillet and antenna back and forth in the bay window, depending on which repeater we are working. We get a lot of kidding about thisbut, hey whatever works. We're having fun meeting new people.

We also have a Yaesu FT857D in the car with a screwdriver antenna that Hugh has been working HF from.

73sHope to talk with you soon.

January 11, 2009  We attended the Greenwood hamfest and first thing one of the guys asked.Are you back to upgrade to Extra?  Well, not yet, I have opened a book and took a couple practice examsYikes! I'll have to crank up the ole brain in high gear and "think about it."  We'll see!  (to be continued)  

SAD UPDATE: Sunday, April 19, 2009 -

My husband WW4L became a "silent key" April 3, 2009 after less than a 2 month battle with cancer.  We had a carepage site set up for him and it can be viewed at www.carepages.com  - you have to register with a password, then enter HughStrong as one word to read the journals and view photos.

While he was sick, he had some fellow hams to install an antenna for us.  We now have a Yaesu FT-857D set up in the dining room with a ringo ranger antenna.  I no longer have to use the ole black frying pan to talk with our  ham community.  He wanted to be assured that I had my radio to talk on and know that if I needed help, it was just a transmit away.