Although I have been interested in Ham radio most of my life, I didn't get my license untill being prompted in 1989 by Gordon West while I was employed at Yaesu U.S.A. as a repair tech. I spent many years, at least 20, working 11M. DX. My first call was KC6EYM. I upgraded shortly after to N6WIL. (Now I wish I had requested the N6WIL callsign as a vanity call to get it back). Not long after that, while working at Kenwood as a repair tech, I wanted to upgrade again to get 10 meter F.M. priviliges, so I went after the General upgrade through Gordon West with my brother Carl, KK6RV now K6CRS. After passing the General tests, I saw my brother getting the Advanced test to take, and I did so as well, not wanting little brother to pass me up. Well, I passed the Advanced test that day, Carl didn't... much to his credit though... he kept after that upgrade and did pass it later on. I enjoy working 10 M., modes A.M. & F.M. and simplex 146.520. I am also interested in 2M. S.S.B., but haven't hooked that radio up lately... will soon though! I intend to resurrect an old FT-101 that I have so that I can work the lower frequencies as well. It is non-operational currently because I don't want to pay the outrageous prices for the 6JS6C final sweep tubes and I have not had much good luck with the 6JS6C's that I've gotten (unstable, hard to neutralize & low power output), so I'm going to either modify/convert the radio to use a single 4CX150B ceramic or outboard the final amp section entirely, Yaesu made outboarding the final amp very easy with the FT-101 series. I'm also looking for a Kenwood TS-440 if anyone has one to sell or trade. I also need a replacement control head for my Kenwood TS-741 that I dropped... OOPS! I've moved to North Central Idaho (June 2003)and don't have a station set up yet.... soon though! I bought 5 acres with clear line of sight in nearly every direction at 2800' elevation in the middle of farm country! No H.F. T.V.I. complaints! I finally have room for low frequency antennas! If you are interested in any more personal info about me or want to see pictures of me or my property in Idaho, go to www.geocities.com/stevezone2000

73

Steve

P.S. Thank You Gordon & Suzie West! You've helped a lot of people become "Hams" and really motivated me in this hobby.