Having always had difficulty and mail confusion being a "junior", I have always used the nickname "SANDY" in person and on the air. My location is actually in a rural area called Pumpkin Center, which is about 7 miles Southwest of Hammond, LA. I'm a member of ARRL, NAQCC, FISTS, QRPARCI, OOTC, SKCC and A-1 Operator's Club. Sometimes participate in QRP Sprints and QRP contests.

Got started back in around 1946. Did some "bootlegging" in 1949 and 1950. Finally got a Novice in July of 1951. (Year it started) Worked a lot with surplus, especially the ARC-5 series receivers and transmitters.

Worked in avionics radio and marine radio (seagoing ships) until 1994 when an accident forced me to retire early. Presently hold Amateur Extra (originally issued in 1968) and a 2nd Class Radiotelegraph (Ship) License. Have been to numerous places in South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Korea, England, Belgium and Netherlands installing and maintaining shipboard electronic equipment while working for Marconi International Marine and Mackay Radio.

Spend most of my time now on CW operating old time rigs. Also have been interested in QRP for years. Use some homebrewed QRP transmitters and also a recently built Elecraft K1. I can't say I have been pleased more with a QRP rig as I am with the K1. Went together fairly easily and works very well! I have built a lot of small rigs and owned the Heathkit HW-7, HW-8 and HW-9, Tentec PM-2, PM-3A and early "Argonaut" rigs. For a small CW rig the K1 tops them all. Mine is equipped with the KAT1 tuner as well. I work QRP from 160-15 meters at present. Have also been known to frequent PSK channels on the various bands. This is the only digital mode I presently work.

See you on the "boat anchor" frequencies 3546.5/3579, 7050, 10120, 14050 or on the "FISTS" frequencies. I may also be found hanging around on "top band" when it is open around 1815 or 1820 Khz. Please QSL direct or via eqsl.cc.

Picture is the present "shack". One antenna in use at present is a 135' dipole at 50' in the trees. It is fed with about 110' of 450 ohm ladder line. Homebrewed parallel line tuner used. It is loaded as a "tee" antenna on 160 with the feeders tied together. Have around six 150' radials at present, plan to add more this winter. On PSK31 on the higher bands, I frequently use a 33' dipole at 20' also fed with 450 ohm ladderline.

W5TVW is Located in the heart of Pumpkin Center, LA. (About 10 miles west of Hammond) This is a rural area. Shack is in a seperate building. My "complex" is on 1.6 acres. Hope to add a large horizontal loop antenna (270')this winter. Time, energy and health allowing!

In shack picture, setup to left is the "PSK table" with the old H-P Pentium computer and the IC-735 radio. Hidden behind my "bulk" is the Drake 2NT, the 2B to my right. Next to my right shoulder is the Elecraft K1 transceiver. The AL-811H amplifier sits to the right. with the Heath SB-610 scope on top. The Drake twins, the TCS-12, RAL-7 and Siemens E-410 clearly visible. On top of the Siemens is a Navy "LM" frequency meter, still in use. (The Drake twins have been replaced with the 2NT and 2B now. Eventually I will get a revised picture loaded!) Added, but not seen in this picture is an old Mackay 2017 shipboard reserve transmitter. It runs 40 watts out and can be heard on 508 khz at present with the callsign WD2XSH/2 under the experimental license now in effect for our group. See 500kcs.com for details. Please send reports to that site or my e-mail address.