Hi, I have to admit that music, playing or teaching is my passion. I am getting back to amateur radio, after being away since my "novice" ticket in 1961. Well high school was the time of discovery, radio never quite got to the backburner after girls, cars and the saxophone. Now its time to retire from many years of teaching and gigging, and the radio flame is back. I tested for tech and general last summer. Times are quite different. My old SX99 and DX 40 and "Q" multiplier are history! My new rig fits in a small suitcase! The thrill of a qsl card and a dx qso is still there, even though the QRM seems much worse. Its fun and I have a lot of technical catching up to do. Please be patient with me if we qso, my skills are are improving slowly. I have a Kemwood 570-D running into a MQ-1 Four band minibeam. This summer Iwant to put a wire or a vertical up for 40 and 80. 73, and good health to all in 2004!!!!!