Previously KJ4FVD (11 Aug 2008 - 06 May 2010)

OMISS #6725 - SKCC #6700 - QRP ARCI #14679

I’m an avid cyclist and my introduction to amateur radio occurred on a cycling vacation. On the final June evening of the 2008 TRIRI Tour (www.triri.org), we learned of approaching severe weather from the Tour amateur radio support. About 200 of us were camping around the pool area at Brown County State Park in Indiana. We all gathered around the pool house to wait out the approaching storm as we had no other place to go. The storm passed with a few tents blown down and a few more with water inside, but no one injured. Stu (W9HRZ)advised that no more severe weather was expected the rest of the night and the Net was shutting down. I didn’t know what a Net was then, but was impressed with how our weather information was received. Even though it continued to rain for several more hours with flashes of lighting and thunder in the distance, I was able to lie in my tent and enjoy the storm sounds because of the information obtained through amateur radio.

Exactly six weeks from that evening, I took and passed my Technician exam. I’ve become involved in RACES, ARES and Skywarn. I’m also a Communicator for Kentucky Baptist Convention Disaster Relief. I upgraded to General in March, 2009 and Extra in April, 2010.

In the summer of 2011, I was appointed Emergency Coordinator for Jefferson County KY ARES® and Assistant District Emergency Coordinator for KY ARES® District 6 (http://www.kyham.net/county/d6.html). I'm a Certified Skywarn Storm Spotter and serve as one of the Net Control operators at the Louisville office of the NWS (WX4NWS).

I love the outdoors and also enjoy hiking and camping. Since becoming a ham, my camping trips invovle setting up portable ops with some of my amateur friends. I still ride my bike, but have assisted as amateur support for several charity rides.

I'm involved in three clubs: ARTS (http://www.w4cn.org/), BARS (http://ky4ky.com/) and Derby City DX Asoc (KY4DX). I serve on the Board of Directors for ARTS. In 2010 & 2011, I was the Field Day Coordinator for BARS and let them elect me again for 2012.

My home station consists of an ICOM 7000 and Yaesu 8800. My HF antenna is a Cobra UltraLite Junior (http://www.k1jek.com/). My mobile rig is a Yaesu 8900 and my HT is a Kenwood TH-F6A. For portable ops, I have a Yaesu FT-857D, Cobra UltaLite Senior, Buudipole (http://www.buddipole.com/) and Elecraft KX3 (on order -http://elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm) .

I very much enjoy amateur radio. It's fun using all these different pieces of equipment, but the best thing has been all the new friends I have made since August of 2008.