Thanks for visiting K7FD! I hope you'll enjoy the banter, fun, and photos. What you'll see and read here is the absolute truth...or at least a decent stretch of the imagination. With that in mind, enjoy!
Early K7FD circa 1969, then WA7IHO
In the big inning...
Contrary to popular belief I did not get my ticket from inside a cereal box. While still in high school I was licensed the old fashioned way, in front of a mean and nasty FCC examiner. I still remember that series of rapid-fire V's in the headphones.
Butt weight, there's more!
After graduating from Oregon State University by the thinnest of margins, I worked a series of odd jobs and the occasional even one along the way. After chasing bad loans and repo'ing cars for a spell, I ended up spinning the hits during the late 70's & 80's as a rock n' roll morning man on the FM dial. Our station motto was we're better than we sound! Then video killed the radio star.
Reinventing myself, somehow, I became a 'computer expert' - not to be confused with someone who actually studied Information Technology and has degrees to prove it. But armed with a little self-taught knowledge, I battled against pc's, networks, and nitwits for 23 years before calling it quits and hanging it up for good...
...that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Below: QRP Spy Transmitter in a 3" Miniature Curious George lunchbox!
Now retired and a full-time ham, I share the shack with my XYL Annette N7SG; 2015 marks my 48th year of continuous brass pounding. My other interests are few but include dropping my Cooper into 3rd gear, playing blues on the Tele, and RV'ing in the EMCOMMobile.
I am a firm believer in all play and no work. I avoid gardening at all costs.
"The Shack", original digital watercolor by Annette, N7SG
The radio shack sports some fine Ten Tec plastic radios, a couple of Elecraft rigs, and assorted Made in America vintage gear. But occasionally an import will sneak into the line up. And plenty of QRP rigs like this Wilderness Radio 20 meter SST:
No longer programmed for DX or contests, I find a good CW ragchew more to my liking nowadays. In a DX cluster world gone mad, there is still some radio tranquility, great fists, and interesting conversations to be found on the CW bands. However, in an effort to try something different I recently purchased a new mic...
...but admit I'm still struggling to get past 5 wpm. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky and the FCC will take pity on us disadvantaged op's that just can't master phone. Until then, I'll remain on CW.
One of my latest finds is pictured below. Although unconfirmed, it appears to be a rare Sapphire Scarab, a bug rumored to be recovered from an ancient Egyptian tomb.
By popular demand, here's more on the K7FD Red Rooster Hand Puppet Key:
Build the 
straight key!
All it takes is a Red Rooster silicone oven mitt (available from kitchen stores or Amazon), 2 brass brad contacts, mono plug, and a 2 conductor cable. Punch two holes, insert brads, solder it up, and you're ready for action!
Simply slip your hand inside Red's beak and flap away for flawless dits and dahs!
Key clucks optional; chirps and birdies guaranteed!
Works best at the crack of dawn.
Sometimes it can be a real zoo around the K7FD shack!
Shack mascots Snowball and Keno take a late night turn at the controls. They're responsible for throwing monkey wrenches into my projects, repairs, & restorations!
And Milton the Giraffe says figuring out the all the buttons on the TS-990S is a tall order!
Thanks for visiting and here's to our next QSO!
73, John K7FD
Field Day, overnight shift. QRZZzzz.
Dit dit...
