Robert M. Hawkins (Marty) K4MLW

Licensed since 1997. Am an Advanced Class licensee. Been Off airsince 2002. (Became heavily involved in falconry & parenting a todler) Back then I ran a Kenwood TK520S backed up w/ a Collins 30L-1Kw Amp.

May of 2012 Recently picked up a FT857D at our local hamfest. Using  it at my home station, 100watts in to a 544ft  sky wire loop up 20ft.   Still have my QRP rig (FT817ND) and plan to use it while camping, hiking, boyscouting etc.

December 2010 Old Man winter ate the temporary dipole. Found it laying on the ground this morning. However the UPS truck brought my my rope and insulators around lunch today and I am HAPPY to be completing  a 544ft long skywire loop over Christmas break. Recently bought my first iambic paddle to start making CW contacts with. Made 3 CW contacts on 40M this weekend. (Fla, Va & N. Carolina.)Just 47 more states to go. :)

November 2010 . Just set up EchoLink on my phone and home computer. Have a blast working DX via internet & radio links.

October of 2010 bought an FT817ND QRP all mode all bands. I am now officially RaDiO-aCtIVe again. I'vestrung a simple 1/2 wave 80m dipole in the back yard. Transmission line leads to my picnic table. Will get an antenna over the house soon so I can operate HF from the comfort of the house. Have taken the rig camping twice so far.

My wife is KF4WVD name is Teri

We have one son who is heavily involved into Boy Scouts of America. We are also very involed in his troop. I have a feeling he will be a licensed amateur radio operator very soon.

I work in the automation industry. I mostly build electrical custom control panels for automated process lines. PLC's sensors, etc. I also build pnuematic and hydraulic controls as well as a combination of any of the three.

My hobbies are varied and the list is long. Falconry, archery, radio of course, micro processors programming, robotics, hiking, camping, atl atls, dual sport motorcycle riding, woodcraft, big game hunting, target shooting, handguns, etc. etc

Meet Kate and Arti. My Harris Hawks. We hunt Rabbits and Squirrels together.

73's

Marty - K4MLW