As you can tell from the logo, I am a major Detroit Tigers fan! Have been since the late 70s. Great to see them performing at a championship level again after some pretty lean years!

I really enjoy DXing with a minimalist station. I am currently using an Icom 706 original at 100 watts to a homebrew G5RV type antenna at 25 feet and a MFJ 949D antenna tuner. I have earned 8 band DXCC (5BDXCC with 30, 17, and 12m endorsements) and worked 320 countries using 100 watts and either vertical, random wire, or dipole type antennas or a small beam (Cushcraft MA5B or Miniproducts HQ-1 Mini Quad).This shows what is possible on HF with a simple setup. If you can't get a tower and large antenna up,or run an amp, don't dispair. You can still have a blast working DX with a very simple setup. I also have a RTTY DXCC and recently received my 160 meter Worked All States certificate from the ARRL.

On 6 meters I have worked 490 grids and 45 countries running 100 watts and either the miniquad or a 3 element MFJ beam. I have also earned the ARRL Worked All States certificate and the IARU Worked All Continents award on 6 meters. On 2 meters I have 170 grids and 40 states worked while running 160 or less watts to fairly small beams. I am currently running 70 watts from the 706 and a Mirage B108 amp to a M Squared 2M9SSB at 25 feet. As this shows, you can have a lot of fun on VHF as well without a huge station.

First licensed at age 13 in 1980 in Davenport, IA. Upgraded to General in July, 1982.Upgraded to Advanced in November 1982, and to Extra in November 1983. I was first introduced to this hobby by my classmate and friend in 7th grade Ken Irion (ex. KA0GLJ) who became a SK much too early. i earned my Novice WAS back in 1982 when it had to all be done on CW. It was sure fun chasing all of the states around in the novice bands.

My favorite HF band is 15 meters as I think it has the most interesting propagation. I have WAS, WAC, and DXCC on 15 meters. 12 meters is a close second for me, as that is a very fun band also.

My other hobbies include bicycling and astronomy. I commute to work as often as possible on my bicycle as well as run other errands around town on the bike. Maybe someday I will combine all of my hobbies and make a bicycle mobile EME station and operate from the parking lot of Comerica Park!

I also play softball for my church-Centenary United Methodist Church.