I first became interested in radio at age 10 by tuning around the shortwave and AM broadcast bands on a Knightkit Ocean Hopper. My amateur radio career began in 1967 at age 15 when my novice license arrived with the call WN9WNQ. In those days, Novices were CW only using crystal controlled transmitters running no more than 75 watts of input power. Six months later I passed the General exam at the Chicago FCC office and my call was changed to WA9WNQ. In 1976 I upgraded to Advanced and kept the same call, but in 1981 when I passed my Extra I was issued KK9H.

I still mostly operate CW, but I also enjoy phone, RTTY and PSK31. Adding new DXCC countries and catching 6 meter band openings are among my favorite activities. I am not much of a contester, but each year I always look forward to Field Day with my local club. In the summer you can catch me operating portable from Washington Island, WI in grid EN65. I am a member of the North Shore Radio Club, the Prairie DX Group and the Northern Illinois DX Association. I hold DXCC (307 mixed, 297 CW, 219 Phone), WAZ (mixed), 6M VUCC and 80M WAS (phone). QCWA 30253  GERATOL 2208  10-X 14855

Equipment: Icom IC-7800, Elecraft K3 and K1, Collins KWM-2A, Icom IC-PW1, Kenwood TM-742A and Icom ID-1. Antennas: 130' inverted L fed with a Drake MN-2700 tuner, HyGain Patriot AV-620 at 30', M2 6M 3-el and Comet CX-333 at 35'. Software: DX4WIN, WriteLog, MMTTY and DigiPan.

Professionally, I am a financial consultant and registered investment advisor. I am married and have two children, one in college and one in graduate school. In 1997 I was elected mayor of my home town and served for eight years. I am pleased to say that in Northfield hams are permitted to have towers of up to 70 feet. One way to deal with overly restrictive antenna ordinances is to become involved in the system that creates them. Try it, it works! I have a BA in economics from the University of the South (Sewanee) and an MBA from Vanderbilt University (Owen School of Management). My other interests include golf, fishing, skeet and WW2 history.

73, Don