Thanks for our QSO and for visiting my QRZ page! It is/was great to talk with you and I hope we will have the opportunity to do so again in the near future.

My current interests include chasing DX and contesting, primarily SSB phone and RTTY. I began operating RTTY in 2010 and really enjoy it. On May 9, 2011, I finally upgraded to the Amateur Extra license class and love being able to operate in the full range of frequencies available to US amateurs. The practice tests on QRZ.com were instrumental in making this possible and I heartily recommend them to anyone who wishes to upgrade to Extra.

I QSL 100% in the Logbook of the World (LoTW) and upload QSLs immediately following every operating session. If you have not yet tried LoTW, it is worthy of your evaluation. I have found it works well and it is very enjoyable to see QSLs that can appear in a matter of only hours! You do not need to be a member of ARRL to enjoy the benefits of LoTW.

You can learn more about LoTW at this URL: http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world

I am also very happy to send QSL cards to those who enjoy that mode of confirmation, as I do too. I welcome cards from hams and SWLs as well and will respond to all. I will return QSL in the same mode in which I receive it. For example, if you QSL direct, you will receive my QSL direct, or if via Bureau, I will return QSL via Bureau (Bureau will take time, months probably, even a year or more in many cases, so please be patient if you use Bureau). You do not need to send a SASE, postage or an IRC. I am currently "Good in Bureau."

My current shack configuration is:

• Elecraft K3/100 #4376, assembled from kit (great fun!)
• Elecraft P3 Panadapter #488, also assembled from kit
• Yaesu FT-840 transceiver (my first radio and a great one - thank you W2YMA (SK))
• MFJ-998 IntelliTuner
• MFJ ALS-600 amplifier
• Two True Talk G5RV Jrs. (wire antennas) one oriented to favor west/east and one oriented to favor north/south, elevation above terrain only about 5 meters. QTH elevation is about 85 meters.

For Portable Ops (commencing January, 2011):

• Icom IC-703 Plus (10w PEP)
• Buddipole Deluxe and Super Antennas MP-1 (beach portable operations in Monmouth and Cape May counties of NJ, commenced summer 2011 and will continue in 2012)

NOTE: If you work me portable, please log my callsign as given during the QSO, usually "KC2LST" when I am in 2-land. When I upload to LoTW, my profile for that operation will report the correct grid square and county information for my QTH at the time.)

• High Sierra HS-1800 tripod-mounted screwdriver antenna

I have been quite pleased with the capabilities of the WA2NAN True Talk G5RV Jr., having confirmed 145 DXCC entities with them thus far.

The MFJ-998 automatic tuner lets me spend more time enjoying amateur radio and less time tuning. While not as accurate as a manual tuner, it somehow does match bands on my antenna that the antenna was not designed for and the manual tuner did not match well (17 meters, for example). Granted, the match isn't particularly efficient, but good enough to work plenty of stations.

The ALS-600 amp was added shortly after the MFJ-998 autotuner and so far it has been useful in contesting and pileups. Stations I have heard and been unable to reach in prior contests were workable with the amp in recent events, so this is quite a pleasant benefit.

Newest arrivals in the shack are the Elecraft K3/100, #4367, and its companion P3 Panadapter. Both these units were built from kits and each was a smooth and fun experience. I recommend the kit mode for anyone considering purchasing this superb transceiver and its panadapter sidekick.

73, thanks for the contact, and hope to see you again soon!

--Tyler

BURO QSL UPDATE: A big thank you to all hams and SWLs who have sent QSL cards! I appreciate receiving them! I have replied as follows:

• Package of QSL cards received via the Buro on 2 December 2011 (mostly from 2010 - 2011): I replied to all via Buro on 30 December 2011.
• Package of QSL cards received via the Buro on 16 October 2011 (mostly from 2010 - 2011): I replied to all via Buro on 11 November 2011.
• Package of QSL cards received via the Buro on 15 July 2011 (mostly from 2010 - 2011): I replied to all via Buro on 28 August 2011.
• Package of QSL cards received via the Buro on 18 May 2011 (mostly from 2010 - 2009): I replied to all via Buro on 6 June 2011.
• Package of QSL cards received via the Buro on 24 November 2010 (some from 2010, many from 2008): I replied to all via Buro on 20 December 2010.
• Package of QSL cards received via the Buro on 19 May 2010 (many dating back to 2008): I replied to all via the Buro on 22 May 2010.

Vy 73, Tyler