Started in radio as a "short wave listener" at 12 years old in the 5th grade with call letters (made up) of W2-SWL. Located a used Hallicrafters model S22R radio and put up a 150 foot (22 gauge) long wire in a New York City apartment (flat). Licensed in the 7th grade junior high school as KN2QBV, interest grew from CW to RTTY to slow scan, and finally to DXing where it remains today. I maintain regular 20 meter schedules with friends in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. A few of our DX friends have allowed my wife and I to stay as a house guest and visiting operator in many foreign locations. Now that I have retired from business in 2001, I can dedicate more time to traveling and visiting additional ham friends around the world from Europe to South Africa to the Far East and "down under" for the last 12 years to Australia and New Zealand.

The K2QBV radio console consists of three operating stations each having its own KW amplifier. The main station is a new Yaesu FT2000D and DMU2000 driving a Acom 2000A amplifier. Back up station is a FT1000MP-MKV driving a Collins amplifier model 30S-1 floor console.Third station is a Yaesu FT1000 and a Drake L4-B RF amplifier. Station utilizes the W2IHY 8 band audio equalizer along with a Audio-Technica ATR30 microphone.The free standing 100 ft sectional motorized Tri-Ex tower is remotely controlled from the station with a top height with mast of 114 ft (at 620 ft ASL). The 20 meter five element monoband yagi, 45 ft. boom (14 meters) is at the 101 ft (31 meters) above ground level. Other antennas are a 2 element monobander for 40 meters 108 ft (33 meters) and a 75 meter,74 ft long boom rotating dipole at 114 ft (35 meters) along with 2 and 6 meter beams. All antennas are fed with Andrews 1/2" or 7/8" hard line.  The antenna arrays are being turned by a Curtis-Wright (proportional governor control) PROP-PITCH WWII (B-29) rotator, I-82A 5” radio compass and a 2J1F1 selsyn generator in a small sealedbox on the top of the tower. If you worked K2QBV from the mobile, the mobile station consists of an Icom 706 MKII and a screwdriver antenna. Updated station pictures are at the end of this biography.

Since retiring in 2001 and with more time on my hands, I became a marketing strategist for two companies in Australia. One company being in the Melbourne Tullamarine MICA Center. This position allowed for trips to Australia 2-3 times a year for four plus weeks each time. Operating mostly on 20 meters with my assigned call of VK3OK (previously VK3CDC) and can be found 1100Z and 2100Z between 14,175 to 14,190. Also very much active from New Zealand during my stay with friends in Wellington.

My business career prior to 2001 covers 38 years as founder and CEO of three corporations; a medical electronics company (first cardiac pacemakers ever designed and manufactured, full cath labs, first DC defibrillators, CCU cardiac arrhythmia interpretation computing, teaching of electrocardiology, operating room monitoring electronics,coronary telemetry EKG systems and coronary bypass units, etc.) Sixteen years and number two in the U.S. as a master distributor/flagship dealer for Commodore Business Machines. Prior to retiring, distributed amateur lattice/sky-needle motorized towers, military 104 ft communications towers,COWS (cellular on wheels)worldwide for US Tower and was Director of Marketing and sales for Tri Ex Tower Corporation. During the period when I was CEO and founder/owner of Computer Strategies, Inc (Commodore Computers), I traveled extensively and used my various assigned calls some of which I am currently using today. My active overseas call letters are: G5CDC (UK), VR2GL (Hong Kong), VK3CDC and VK3OK (Australia). I have operated and been assigned different call letters on holiday travel from ZS/K2QBV, T4, 3D2, 8P6/K2QBV, P4, FG0EXD, 9V, 4X/K2QBV, CR9/K2QBV, KH6, ZL/K2QBV, VR2GL, VK3OK (VK3CDC),VK7, JA, YB1, MI0ARN, BV, VP6BG (old prefix) HS0, G5, GI and 4U1ITU (club call). Multiple business trips (for computer chips) to Hong Kong every 90 days allowed for the opportunity to work 20 meters and achieve DXCC as holder for five years of VR2GL (via VS6WV's QTH). Also DXCC as VK3OK (K2QBV) and VK3CDC (K2QBV) from Australia 2001 thru 2012.

Other hobbies are *Electronics* Design/engineering of prop-pitch rotating systems* complete prop pitch rotor remanufacturing* worldwide Travel* Consulting on growth problems with small corporations* Big game trophy hunting *Competitive pistol shooting in NYC* Certified small firearms instructor in New York City and Glock Armorers Certification. I do part time work as a volunteer at the police pistol training range.

Small picture on the top right was taken on the apex of the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia.

Station pictures and 35 meter radio tower are below.

THE 114 Ft (35 METER) TOWER HAS SIX MONOBAND ANTENNAS. THE 114 FT. TOWER IS MOUNTED ON A 6 X 6 FT CONCRETE SLAB WITH A WEIGHT OF 4,800 LBS(POUNDS). ON TOP OF THE CONCRETE BASE IS A 600 LBS (POUND) ONE INCH (25 mm) THICK STEEL PLATE AS A BASE OR MOUNTING PLATE FOR THE TOWER.

*20 meter 5 element monobander, 45 ft boom at 101 ft (31 meters) 20M5 by M2

*40 meter 2 element monobander at 108 ft (33 meters) 40M2 by M2.

*75 meter 74 ft long rotatable dipole at 114 ft (35 meters) by Force 12.

(Two plastic sentry birds on the top of the booms are fed every six hours by hand)

THE TWENTY FOUR FOOT MAST IS COMPOSED OF TWO 1/4 INCH (6.25 mm) GALVANIZED STEEL TUBING (95 KSI) RAMMED INSIDE THE FIRST TUBE TO OBTAIN A FULL WALL THICKNESS. AT EVERY 18 INCHES THERE IS A PLUG WELD DONE TO OBTAIN FULL 1/2 INCH WALL CHARTERISTICS ALONG WITH AN ADDITIONAL INSERTION (AT A RIGHT ANGLE) OF A 16 INCH GALVANIZED REBAR. THE REBAR OR ROD NOW ALLOWS FOR CLIMBING UP THE MAST TO WORK ON MONOBAND ANTENNAS.

'73, JOEL K2QBV