First: SWL reports are always welcome! I find them to be very informative about my station's performance!

Hopefully, you found me because you heard me on the air!

Some background:

My parents were heavily into Amateur Radio going on 25+ years ago (dad and mom were KB2GUA and KB2GUB respectively) I absorbed a lot of it at the time since they brought me to their license classes while they were working on getting their tickets at the local MARS station; unfortunately, I didn't follow in their footsteps of getting licensed at the time (they both went through Novice and then Tech and later Tech Plus).

After a while, they sort of got out of it and the equipment sat unused for years.

Dad has since become a Silent Key (10 years as of 2011 and I still miss him every day). I convinced my mom to renew her ticket after watching her work so hard all those years ago - she was going to let it lapse; fortunately, I was able to convince her to not let that happen.

A few months shy of the end of 2011, I came across dad's radio equipment and it re-ignited my interest in Amateur Raio. So, I threw together a homemade dipole for the HF rig as well as a couple of ground-plane antennas for the VHF/UHF rig (apparently, I DID pay SOME attention in those classes) and listened in for a few weeks. Shortly after, I picked up the ARRL licensing manual and studied up for my Technician Class license which I passed and officially joined the world of Amateur Radio. Then (as of 2/8/2012) I passed the General exam. I'm studying for Extra now.

I figure it's a good way to honor dad's memory, using his old radio equipment to get on the air. I hope he'd be proud.

My setup consists of dad's 20+ year old Kenwood TS-440S(AT) (my dad's HF rig), and a TS480SAT for HF and a Kenwood TM721A Dual-Band mobile (used as a base rig) for 2 meter/440 opperation along with a TM-D710A that I was able to obtain as a tech special and bring back to life. My shack is in the basement which will hopefully be finished someday (though it works just fine as it is!). I also have a Yaeau FT-817 which I take with me when I travel and in January of 2013, I built an Elecraft K3/10 from the kit and I'm having a lot of fun with that rig as well. 

I have found that I enjoy CW and digital modes (PSK, JT65, etc) though I am not much of a RTTY fan. Occasionally, I can be found on SSB.

I also like working on antenna projects - so far, I've been able to get an old 102" steel mobile CB whipto work on 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40 (with a loading coil), and even 80 (with a loading coil) meters. It's probably not the most efficient, but it gets me on the air. I get a lot of, "You're using a WHAT??" when I'm asked what kind of antenna I'm running!

My main HF antenna is a Hustler 6BTV with the add-ons for12 and 17 meters. This antenna is mounted on the ground with an ever-increasing radial system (I add a couple more when I have time and motivation). I was able to hide it in the trees to keep everyone around me happy.

In June of 2012, I changed my call sign from KD2BIP to N2ADV. After constantly having to repeat my call both in the phone and CW worlds ("Say again?" "Kilo Delta Two Bravo India Papa", "Kilo Delta Two, again?" etc etc.Or dah dit dah, dah dit dit, dit dit dah dah dah, dah dit dit dit, dit dit, dit dah dah dit over, and over, and over), I realized that I had probably the MOST awkward call on the air. So after much thought, I came up with N2ADV because I like taking my "street" motorcycle off the road or on adventure rides. It is also much easier to say on the air (November Two Alpha Delta Victor has a much better ring to it though I still get people mistaking the "Delta" for "Echo". oh well, back to the drawing board) and send via CW (dah dit, dit dit dah dah dah, dit dah, dah dit dit, dit dit dit dah sounds much better, don't you think?).

Other misc. stuff about me:

I am a 2nd Degree Black Belt in American Karate (and instructor) and I "commute" in the summer months via my 2003 Suzuki SV650S motorcycle. I am also an avid snowmobiler and very much enjoy the winter months.

Hope to run into you out on the air.

73

N2ADV (Previously KD2BIP)
(James - AKA Jim)