Antennas: Shown in pic is a 4 el quad for 6 straddling two spreaders used to support a 5 band moxon setup for 20 thru 10, each moxon has driven element and reflector. Details below. Also wire ant for 40 and 80, and some short beverages east and west.

Rig: FT2000 with Network Systems cw filter. Amp is 2 3-500z, old LK-500ZB.

Interests: DX, some vhf, 99% cw, eme hopefully soon

History:

This all started back in grade school 1963 at age 13 in Moorestown, N.J. near Philadelphia when Carl Zimmerman, then WB2IZQ, told me about having contacts with Europeans before leaving for school. After explaining, I went to his home that evening and he showed me his Heathkit HR-10 and DX-60 setup. From then on, I was hooked. Had novice license the next month and got the general class 2 months later as WB2OAE, then Extra the next year. Elmers shortly after that were Bill Gallick, K2ERD (now K2FT) and Ed Blaszyck W3KVQ (SK), then qsl manager for Father Moran, 9N1MM in Kathmandu. At end high school, went to get an EE degree from University of Colorado in Boulder and met future xyl Chris Humleker from Minnesota, still going strong after 40 years. Left Boulder for EE job in New London, Connecticut where got WA1NKK, then K1WX. Moved back to Colorado in 78, and got a digital hardware design career moving along the Front Range, eventually consulting in the communications and space industries, got K0ZX and been here ever since.

That pic up there is a 4 element quad for 6 meters that flies in the summer built on a X shaped support structure for a few high band moxons. Called The Contraption by local ham and friend Dave, WB0GAZ, it covers 20 thru 10 with Warcs. Even though only about 6 feet off the ground to avoid visibility by the local homeowner police, it works surprisingly well, in large part due to an excellent shot from east to west thru north over Denver. The picnic table doubles as the mast and rotor support and a great place for all sorts of social events. Now a classic of sorts, the rotor under the table is about 35 years old, an old HAM-M purchased from none other than Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, ARRL executive for many years, back in mid 70s in Connecticut. It still works greattnx Dave.

This neighborhood is fairly close spaced, but they use wooden fences so the neighbors ended up with two 150' beverages going east and west along their fence line. Also a shorter loaded beverage plus an AY terminated loop aiming north. Even though short, they work very well. Also, the backyard contains quite a few underground radials that are used for 40 and 80 meter inverted L's. There are also single element quad loops for 15 and 17. Not much more space to do anything else. So far the dog has not chewed up the coax runs, and that has really been appreciated.

To confirm that I'm an old guy now, a few years ago, grandkids happened. When grandkid Jack is not listening to his Drake 2b, he is often running around that table under the moxons or sitting there with his sister Kate for a meal. Plus Jack has taken to learning the code and now Kate often requests time for listening on the rig. Works for me.