Received my first ticket as KC9RYE on April 1, 2010 and the KR9E call sign on June 29, 2010. Prior to that I was a SWL for 50 years using the Japan Radio Corporation NRD-525 shown in the photo below most recently. I'm retired after 35 years as a electrical engineeer (BS/MS EE - Purdue University) and division manager with the US Navy. My other activities include woodworking, working on computers, watching team sports involving a ball, fishing, and four grandsons. I'm active in both the Daviess Country Amateur Radio Club and the Vincennes Old Post Amateur Radio Society:

http://www.daviesscountyarc.org/

http://w9eoc.org/

Primary station equipment includes a Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark-V Field, a Kenwood TS-590S, an Ameritron AL-811H linear amplifier, a Palstar AT1KM antenna tuner, Heil Goldline and Heil HM-10 dual microphones, and either a 129' 80m OCF dipole up about 30' at the feed point (80m, 40m, 20m, 17m, 12m, 10m and 6m) or a 4-band (40m-20m-15m-10m) Hy-Gain ground-mounted vertical with 24 radials. I often use a very quiet PAR End-Fed SWL antenna as a receive only antenna. Locally, use an FT-2900 (2M), an FT-60R HT (2M-70cm) and a 10' Diamond X300 dual-band vertical antenna.  Parts and pieces for a 40' tower and a tri-bander are currently being gathered.

Yaesu FT-1000MP MkV Field

Kenwood TS-590

I have been enjoying the contests (casually), more DX than I figured I would be able to work with modest antennas, and especially look forward to rag-chewing.  I'm a semi-regular on the Over the Hill Gang net weekdays at 1430-1530 Z on 14.321 - stop in and say hello.

Hope to meet you on the bands.

73-------Jim