This is a picture of my QSL card; photo on the front of my card shows God's miracle of creation, which never ceases to amaze me. Every summer, spiders build their webs on top of the zinnia flowers in my garden. Insects that are attracted to the nectar in the flowers are no match for this ingenious trap. I look forward to sending you my QSL card and hope you enjoy the beauty!

My QSL Policy

QSLing is an integral part of ham radio. As an avid award chaser, I QSL a lot via LoTW and QSL cards. I want to have at least one QSL card per DX entity - after that, I prefer confirmations via LoTW to fill out the band slots or modes.

• LoTW - I upload 100% of QSOs to LoTW - usually within 1-2 days of QSO - I prefer to QSL via LoTW. Please use Logbook of the World - it is a fantastic system for quickly confirming QSOs. Please upload to LoTW on a reqular basis - it really sucks to make a contact and then have to wait a year for the LoTW upload.
• U.S. Stations - SASE required. No SASE, no card.
• DX Stations (direct QSLs) - SAE plus $2. NO IRCs - my post office won't take them.
• BURO QSLs - the BURO is extremely slow. I will send my QSL via the buro ONLY if I receive yours first OR you tell me during the QSO that you want a BURO card OR you send me an email. Cards will go out with my next shipment, currently running 2 times per year.
• eQSL - I am an AG user on eQSL, but I do not upload my logs. If you need my QSL on eQSL, you need to send me a notification to confirm the QSO.
• Contest QSLs - I will only QSL for contests via LoTW. If you need my card, send me an email and we'll figure out the best way to get it to you.

 

Jesus is Lord of my life - although I fail miserably on a daily basis, I continually ask the Good Lord to assist me in my daily journey of picking up the cross and following Him. The highlight of each and every day is going to daily Mass. Jesus, I trust in You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing some antenna work on top of the 80 foot Rohn tower.

Working Japan at sunset - beam heading 320 degrees.

View of the back yard from the top of the tower at sunset.

My modest station.

CQWW CW 2012 contesting from the war room - the way it was meant to be - operating from the block house at a mean temperature of around 50 degrees F (requires stocking hat and jacket to keep warm) - gloves get in the way of working the code keyer.

I keep asking myself why I continue to live here in the tundra - just another day in winter.

QSL card HELL!!!! Filling out over 2000 cards going out to the buro. How many cards does a guy really need. May I recommend using LoTW?

A couple of nice shots of my antenna array - the tower is an 80 foot Rohn 45G and the antenna stack includes Hy-gain 14 el on 2 meters, OptiBeam OB2-40 on 40 meters, M2 5 el on 6 meters, and a Hygain TH11DX for 20 - 10 meters. I also have a full wave loop for 30 meters and inverted vees for 80 meters and 160 meters. The picture on the left is during autumn. The picture on the right is a nighttime shot of a full moon illuminating the tower.

Mission accomplished! I set out to conquer 5BDXCC, 300 countries on DXCC, and 2000 band countries on DXCC Challenge - all in less than 24 months.

Putting the top section on the tower. I built the antenna stack, mast, and top section on the ground and hoisted it into place with a crane. Although I'm not terribly fond of being up that high, I was glad to get the project completed.

The KBØEO antenna stack and tower survived a brutal 75 mph sustained wind storm in November 2010 - I took a brief video of the antennas - everything took the pounding and survived fine.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDMOvPRXr6k

This is why I love 10 meters - check out this great video my friend Enrico IW3FZQ made of our recent QSO on 10 meters -he is using awalkie-talkie with 1 watt - QSO between Minnesota and Italy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XPxIiHDWuU

Fishing for the elusive rainbow trout on one of Minnesota's Lake Superior tributaries.

Setting up camp at our 30-acre wilderness site near Lake Superior (Duluth, MN).

Target practicing in the back yard with a Sig Sauer P6 9mm.

Getting a little pheasant action in the "back yard".

I also do a little bluegrass picking in my spare time - I play the 5 string banjo and guitar. This is a photo of a band I used to play with - we are playing "Man Of Constant Sorrow" at the Minnesota State Fair in front of a couple thousand people (that's me with the banjo).

Yes, I am a hacker. Golf is a game that is best enjoyed while consuming some adult beverages.

A Todos Mis Amigos Que Hablan Español

Trato de aprender español. Espero practicar mi español contigo. Por favor ténganme paciencia ya que mi español no es muy bueno todavía. Por favor ayúdame a aprender nuevas palabras y frases. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga.

An meine Deutsch sprechenden Freunde

Vor einigen Jahren habe ich am College die Deutsche Sprache studiert. Unglücklicherweise habe ich einen grossen Teil davon vergessen. Nun versuche ichmeine Sprachkenntnisse sowohl in Deutsch als auch in Spanisch zu verbessern. Ich hoffe dabei sehr, die QSO in verständlichem Deutschabwickeln zu können und freue mich über jede damit verbundene Hilfe.

DX Code Of Conduct

• I will listen, and listen, and then listen again before calling.
• I will only call if I can copy the DX station properly.
• I will not trust the DX cluster and will be sure of the DX station's call sign before calling.
• I will not interfere with the DX station nor anyone calling and will never tune up on the DX frequency or in the QSX slot.
• I will wait for the DX station to end a contact before I call.
• I will always send my full call sign.
• I will call and then listen for a reasonable interval. I will not call continuously.
• I will not transmit when the DX operator calls another call sign, not mine.
• I will not transmit when the DX operator queries a call sign not like mine.
• I will not transmit when the DX station requests geographic areas other than mine.
• When the DX operator calls me, I will not repeat my call sign unless I think he has copied it incorrectly.
• I will be thankful if and when I do make a contact.
• I will respect my fellow hams and conduct myself as to earn their respect.
• KBØEO addendum: If you have already worked a DX station on a band/mode, why do you need to clutter up the pileup by working him again? Put your ego aside and let those hams work the station who really need it.