My formal name is William, but I’ve always been known by my middle name, Randy.

I was originally licensed at the age of 12 in 1965 as WN4BJY in Smyrna, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta. There were a lot of hams in the neighborhood. I would go by and observe, as my Elmers would work stations all over the world on CW and SSB. I was hooked!

I studied the theory and practiced the code. I rode the bus down to the FCC office in Atlanta and passed my novice exam. I got on the air with an SX-117 and a DX-60.

Nine months later, after lots of CW, I passed my General and was awarded WB4BJY. In 1967 I scraped enough money together to buy a used HT-37! I was finally on SSB. Later in October I worked my first CQWW and in November I upgraded antenna system to include a 2 Element Quad at 40 ft. That’s when the DX bug bit!

I enjoyed chatting with many teenage groups all over America. We had a teenage radio amateur club in Atlanta and we would chat almost nightly with teenagers in the San Fernando Valley on 21.300.

I moved to Palmdale, CA with my family in 1969 for a year. I got to meet all those Encino teenagers that I used to chat with on 15 meters. I moved back the Smyrna in 1970. I started loosing interest in Ham radio when I discovered girls and college, and let my license lapse.

I got re-licensed in 1975 as WB4CMD and worked primarily local FM simplex.

I got back into the DX game when I upgraded in 1981 to Advanced and received KD4UH. I quickly put up a 100’ tower and started DXing and contesting with a Drake C-Line.

I moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1986 and lived there till I moved to South Florida in 1991. I became N4QV in 1997. I have enjoyed Dxing from Miami and Plantation, Florida ever since.

I have been spending most of my time lately on VHF working 6, 2 and 70 cm SSB, CW and WSJT digital modes, playing High Speed Meteor Scatter. Hope to be on EME soon.

On HF, I am usually on 40 and 80 CW and SSB. Frequencies I frequent are: 7153, 7145, 3745, 3787 and the 75 meter DX window.

I QSL 100% to any cards received via the same method received. I also use LOTW and eQSL. I have uploaded ALL QSOs since I was a novice in 1965 to LOTW! I will be doing the same soon on eQSL.

Hope to chat with you on the air soon!

Randy

N4QV

Current Rig:

Kenwood TS-940S transceiver, Alpha 78 for HF

Kenwood TS2000 for 6, 2 meters, and 70 cm.

Current antennas:

HF: Inverted-V for 40 & 80, Half Sloper for 160. (Mosley Pro95-3 is currently down)

6 Meters: M2 6M7JHV(7 elements on 30ft boom) @ 70 feet

2 Meters: Cushcraft 147-11 (11 elements on 12 ft boom) @ 74 feet

70 cm: KLM20LBX (20 elements on 12.5 ft boom) @ 78 feet

Member of: Florida Contest Group, South Florida DX Association, ARRL

DXCC 349 Mixed, All confirmed except P5

Working on 6 & 2 meter WAS and VUCC and 70 cm VUCC