***From 1/3/2013 through 2/1/2013 I will be operating K7FLI/5 from EL29kn outside of Houston, Texas. I will be "Hotel Room Portable" with my FT-857 and a Yo-Yo-Tenna strung up in my hotel room. I will be using digital modes primarily (JT65, PSK31, etc). Due to space limitations in my room, it is doubtful that I will be QRV on any band lower than 20M, but I will try. I will QSL via LOTW and eQSL for contacts during this period. Thanks and Happy New Year!***
I have always been interested in radio communications, having gotten my first CB when I was in middle school and my first scanner while in junior high. Life tended to get in the way though, and it wasn't until 2002 that I finally got my Technician license, though it took too many years since then for me to really get active in the hobby. I upgraded to General in November 2010, and upgraded to Extra one year (to the day!) later in November 2011.
I was initially licensed in Nevada as KD7QYE, but that call proved to be a challenge, as I always had to emphasize that it was "QYE" not "QIE" (say it out loud-you'll see what I mean!). So I went looking for a vanity call that fit, and as a pilot I was hoping for something that ended with "FLY." There was none to be had, so I picked the closest thing, and that is how I ended up with K7FLI. I have become pretty attached to this call, and wouldn't trade it now for an "FLY" call!
My shack consists of the following equipment:
Icom IC-707 into a G5RV inverted-V antenna at about 20 feet;
Yaesu FT-857 feeding an end-fed multiband dipole at 20 feet and a dual band roll-up J-Pole for 2M/70cm;
Alinco ALR-22T with an MFJ 1278B TNC into a roll-up J-pole at 15 feet for my APRS digi/iGATE (K7FLI-5) and occasional packet use;
GE Monogram 16-channel VHF radio running 40 watts for my backup 2 Meter rig;
Yaesu FT-1900R for 2M Mobile;
Baofeng UV-5R for portable 2M/70cm use;
Radio Shack HTX-202/TinyTrak3+ for a portable/mobile APRS tracker
I am a member of the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club, Radio Society of Tucson, Eastern Arizona Amateur Radio Society, Central Arizona DX Association, Arizona Outlaws Contest Club, PODXS/070 Club (#1310), the European PSK Club (#14136), 30 Meter Digital Group (#4559), and OMISS (#7418). My interests include digital modes (especially JT65 and PSK31), DX, NTS, Awards/Contesting, APRS, and Echolink. I am also an ARRL-VEC Volunteer Examiner.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hams who have been the most influential in my amateur radio "career":
Lloyd-KC5FM (General encouragement and support)
Tom-K7VOA (Station setup and antennas)
Greg-KC5ZGG and Bill-KC7ZZ (NTS and EMCOMM Mentors)
Mike-W0MRZ and Chuck-W6ZX (Award-chasing Mentors)
Jim-WB7B (DXing Mentor)
Your insight, advice, help and generosity have encouraged me and helped me to grow as an amateur radio operator. THANK YOU ALL!
I upload 100% of my QSOs to LOTW and eQSL, and I will respond to 100% of the cards I receive via the same method (no SASE required for direct QSLs- If you spring for the postage to get it to me, the very least I can do is spring for the postage to return a card to you!). I appreciate all the QSOs!
