Thanks for stopping by!  The picture up on the right shows my current station. From left to right are: Heil Pro-Set Plus, SignaLink USB, Yaseu FT-1000MP, Kenwood TM-241, MFJ-464 keyer with Bencher, Kenwood KPS-15 PS, AEA WM-30, Dentron MT3000A and a Yeasu VX-2 HT.  I run a Yaesu FT-857D mobile with a Yaesu ATAS-120 antenna. I also still use a trusty old Alinco DR-590 mobile. I am active on most HF bands and have operated quite a few of the digital modes including PSK-31, Hell, RTTY and others.

Here is a picture of my wall of paper!

Past this I get a little wordy!  :)  If you want to know my lifes history in radio please read on! The last paragraph is what I am doing now.

I had a keen interest in electronics from a very young age.  When I was in high school in the 1970s I took every electronics class there was to offer.  The electronics teacher was a local ham named Ed Ahlquist. I do not remember his call but he was my first real Elmer. One of the classes was electronics communications.  He taught everything you needed to get your amateur radio license, even the dreaded code.  At the time though, I didn’t make the trip to St Louis to take the test with the FCC.  Along about this same time cars were getting more of my attention and that started a long carrier in the auto body business.  I was still interested in the radio though and a friend of mine Ron Ward, KB9EYB wanted me to study with him.  Its amazing after about twelve years of not using CW after you learn it, how easy it seemed to come back. This was in the winter of 1989-90. 

At the same time we were studying we heard a local club was giving a class too.  We went to some classes on Monday nights and the first hamfest of the year was fast approaching in Sullivan IL.   They offered testing now that the FCC had set up a system of VEC’s.  We went and took our Novice test on 4/22/1990.  I passed elements 1A and 2 to earn my Novice license!  Yeah!  The three hams that signed my CSCE were James Riddle, KD9AC – Alan Dickens, KA9Z – and Ralph Zancha WC9V.  They probably don’t remember that day or me but I will never forget it.  I probably couldn’t pick them out of a crowd now either.  Sullivan is on the East side of the state and I never have come across them since.   Now we wait for the license to come in the mail………

It was issued on 5/29/1990 with the call KB9FBI!  I didn’t get to find out till a little while later though because back then we didn’t have the speed in processing or the ability to check and even see if it has been issued like we do now.  It finally arrived in the mail on 6/6/1990.  I already had my HF rig (TS-520) set up and ready to get on 10 meters so when I found the license in the mailbox on my lunch break, I fired up the rig and tuned down the band.  One of the stronger signals and my once in a chance in a lifetime to work as my first contact was none other than that of W1AW!  They were calling CQ!  I gave my call and that was my first contact in the logbook!  WOW!  Ryan Bassette, KA1URP was there visiting and working the controls.  I have not spoken to him since and didn’t even know it was him operating until I received the QSL back in the mail.  I hope all is well with him now.  In just a little over a year from when I first passed the Novice test I had upgraded four times, going through every class of license to Amateur Extra Class.

My first amateur radio Elmer is gone now.  By the time I got my license, his had lapsed.  I would have loved to made him my first contact but I have met many more Elmer’s along the way.  Some of them are gone now also but many are still around.  Some of the ones I miss are Francis Walton, W9ACU, OOTC #905 licensed in 1925 and a great CW op.  Others from up his way were Norm Hume, K9EZL – Jim Dunham, KA9UFX – Guy Trone, KB9FAY.  There have been a few locally that are gone now but not forgotten.  Sully, WD9DSU – Charlie, W9HUX (His call was adoped by his grandson Chuck) - Don, WA9GMM – Steve, W9QLF – Kenny, K9AHY – John, WD9FYZ - George, K9LUO - Russ, N9QJM  Rod, WA9NZF and Doc, W9ZIT.  I am sure there were many more before my time also.

I own my own paintless dent removal company now as far as work goes. I am currently the President of the local club, Jacksonville Amateur Radio Society.  I am the Vice President of the Illinois Repeater Association, the ARRL Illinois Section Official Observer Coordinator and an ARRL VE that has been admistering testing in the area since about 1992. I have a son that I am very proud of with a grandaughter.  I am married to a wonderful woman, Betty and we have four grandkids from her daugher.   If you hear me on the air, give me a call.  I am active on HF, VHF, UHF, both phone and some CW.
Until then 73
Tim, KB9FBI