QSL via LOTW preferred. Most contacts uploaded same day. For a card please QSL direct with SASE, or via bureau.

The photo in the right upper corner of my QRZ page shows my camper and the Spiderbeam12M pole supporting my end fed half wave vertical antenna. The antenna is matched for 10,12,15,17, 20 and 40M with a homebrew low pass L tuner. The photo is from June 2013 when I operated portable from the central Oregon coast near Newport.

I am 67 and retired. I've been a ham for twelve years. My radio is a kit built Elecraft K3, often operated with a kit built Softrock SDR and an Elecraft KPA 500 amp.

Our local club, BRARA, has met the needs of many deed restricted local hams by building a station in a nearby county park. This station now features a comfortable, functional shack , a 3 element Steppir with the 30/40M add-on element mounted on a 55 ft tower, a SteppIR Big IR vertical with 80M coil worked against 64, 33 foot ground radials and an inverted L for 160M hung from the tower and worked against the 64 radial field. Construction of this station was a hugely successful club project. It started with recognition of the frustrations of deed restrictions for Florida hams, and very modest club financial resources. It drew on the determination and abilities of a diverse group of hams to turn a weedy, empty park location at the edge of the Everglades in southeast Florida into a first class station. This project has provided members with many lessons in the practical aspects of station construction, and the benefits of working together as a club. Many hands have made this station a success. Special thanks to Max, N4CGC, Walt, W4WCW, Lew, K4LEW, George, WA2VNV, Dolph, WA2NTW, and many others.

In summer I operate portable, CW, RTTY and phone from my camper. I have operated from most states and provinces including Newfoundland and Alaska. I have operated from 12,000 foot high Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Now there's an antenna tower! My motorhome antennas are end-fed-half-wave-vertical dipoles and continue to evolve. The originals were monoband wires for 10, 15 and 20M. The high impedance 1/2 wave vertical dipoles were matched using a wideband transformer designed by my Elmer, Paul, N2PK, and built by me. 40M was operated as a 1/4 wave without the matching wideband transformer. This antenna morphed into a 1/2 wave-end-fed-trapped vertical dipole for 10, 15 and 20M. With guidance from N2PK, I have built a low pass L remote tuner that allows me to work 10, 15, 17, 20, 30 and 40M with the same trapped HWEF vertical wire All wires are hung vertically from a telescoping 40 ft Spiderbeam fiberglass pole mounted to the ladder on the rear fender of the motorhome.

My DXCC Mixed total is currently 249. I now have over 185 confirmed contacts for CW DXCC using a WINKeyer as an encoder and CW Skimmer as a decoder. Current goals are adding to DXCC Mixed total and 5BDXCC award. I have DXCC on 10, 15, 20 and 40. I'm working on 80M. I'm also chasing the IOTA entry award and ARRL Triple Play.

I like building, operating portable, chasing DX, an occasionl ragchew on phone, and contesting, especially RTTY contesting. I have been very fortunate to find an experienced, smart, generous Elmer who has helped me explore the fascinating and challenging worlds of antennas and transmission lines. Current building project is an N2PK inspired 80M low pass L tuner for my motorhome vertical. Arrrgh. Tuner matches well, but responds to power by trowing the GFI breaker in the motorhome. Not cured with multiple ferrites. Hmmm.

If you are reading this, we probabbly are having or have had a QSO. If so, please QSL LOTW. If not hope to work you soon.

73, Larry

Last Update April 7 2013. Photos courtesy of my wife, Sue.