I’ve always had a fascination with radio. From my earliest memories of chasing DX (not even knowing that’s what it was called) on a portable Zenith TransOceanic D7000 shortwave radio or the TV tuned to Channel 2. To getting a DX-160 shortwave receiver as a Christmas gift which led to me being featured on a Radio Moscow “Mail Bag” broadcast. To CB radio and working the world with 5 watts and quad antenna, to my High School Physics class where I discussed the Solar Cycle and demonstrated in class the effects of it on the ionosphere and radio propagation at the height of Cycle 21.  And to finally achieving what I should have had all along, my Amateur Radio License.

My very first contact as Novice KA1PIO was on 80m CW with a person whom would become my elmer;  Ed Jamarlowicz – K1GDH. Ed is a fantastic ham, a great elmer, can fix anything, and can build receivers and transmitters that fit into the smallest of cases. An avid QRP enthusiast, Ed introduced me to VHF, HF, DX’ing, antennas, propagation, and experimenting. In other words, he introduced me to Amateur Radio. Thanks Ed!

Looking for a way to keep my interest in the hobby during this past solar minimum I joined the Yankee Clipper Contest Club and took up contesting as a way to improve my skills, build a better station, work some new DX, and stay active. At my first club meeting, and after being “sworn in”, I volunteered to publish the club newsletter the ‘Scuttlebutt’ and I’ve been doing it ever since. I also joined SkyWarn and became and official spotter for the National Weather Service, helping to spot and relay real-time severe weather criteria to the National Weather Service office in Taunton, MA.

For me, chasing DX is all that it’s ever been about, however summertime sporadic-E openings are still my all time favorite. Those openings bring back all those fond memories of being a kid and being completely interested in something really cool, radio.

The station has gone through various stages of expansion and contraction and right now I’m in a downsizing state of mind. The time and energy devoted to the hobby is at a low-point and the shack reflects it. That’s okay though. As long as I’m able, radio will always be a part of my life.