I have written an article "RVing and Ham Radio" and QST turned it down for publication so my daughter helped put it in a wed page if you are interested you can see it here: http://n5pht.weebly.com/

HOME QTH in Savoy, Texas is above picture. Rig is Icom 746PRO and usually run 100 watts but have an ALS600 amp for 500 watts as needed. For 10-20 meters I use an 8 element log periodic antenna up at 80 feet and for also use a G5RV up at 70 feet at apex and an 80 meter sloper.

Below is the "shack" when we are on the road: I am 55 feet from end to end and we live in the RV for a few months at time and plan for a few monthsin summer to escape the Texas heat. (see listing of portable operations at the bottom of this page)

We like to travel in our RV and so far I have operated portable from 13 or more States and it has been fun. When on the road I carry several ham stick antennas and a G5RV but rarely use them. I normally use the Tarheel on the truck. I installed a coax switch in the truck that switches the HF antenna to either the rig inside the truck (Yaesu FT857D) or to a coax connector mounted on the side of the truck (near the HF antenna - hard to see in the picture). I then use a remote wireless bobble to control the screwdriver. Move it up and down for max noise and then just a little tweaking and you are at 100 watts output! I also installed a coax through the wall near the shack area in the RV. I used to move the 857D back and forth from the truck to the RV but now carry my ICOM 746 PRO for road trips. Most of my QSOs are CW.

Look toward bottom of this page for a complete list of portable operations in recent couple of years.

<><><><><> other stuff for those that care to read further hi hi <><><><><>

I am currently recoverying from quad heart bypass surgery completed on 18 May 2012. Thanks for your prayers. At least I got to work YEMEN for an all time new one!!! And semi-retirement is not a bad deal!

NOTE: IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS) PLEASE EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW - TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF THE HAMS I WORK IN THE LCMS. THANKS - of course your email always welcome even if your not LCMS hi hi

Some Portable operations:

8 - 16 May, 2013 Caddo State Park, Near Uncertain, Texas. Harrison County.

24 April 2013 - 8 May 2013: Cagle Campground (part of the Sam Houston National Forest) in Walker County, Texas.

21 - 24 April 2013: Artesian RV Park in Brenham, TEXAS. Washington County.

9-17 January 2013: Operated from Lake O' The Pines at Buckhorn Creek Campground in Marion County. This is in East Texas, near Jefferson, Texas.

14-21 November 2012: Operated from LAKE NAVARRO NEAR WACO, TEXAS. NAVARRO COUNTY.

8 Oct - 17 October, 2012:Operated from Wooly Hollow State Park in Arkansas. It is near Greenbrier Arkansas and in Faulkner County.

26-27 September 2012: We are at Millwood State Park near Ashdown, Arkansas. We will be back to our home QTH tomorrow the Lord willing. Making a few contacts from here in South East Arkansas.

19-24 September 2012: Now in Perryville, MO. Perry County. Very nice RV park. Making some nice contacts. Thanks if we have had a contact. Now we are N5PHT/0. Plan to be in Little Rock, ARnext week.

13-15 September 2012: In Oshkosh, WI - Winnebago County. Looks like the noise level is higher than some other places but will try tro make a few contacts before we move further South. N5PHT/9

11-12 September 2012: In Munising, MI (UP part of Mich) in Alger County. Thanks for the contacts from here, N5PHT/8

30 Aug 2012: Well, sometimes things change quickly. Made few contacts at Duke Creek and then an opportunity came for helping 17 miles down the road at a Lutheran Camp. So, we are now at Camp Concordia in Gowen, Mich. We hope to be here a couple of weeks helping and camping.

29 Aug 2012: (one day) We are now at Duke Creek Campground in Cedar Springs, Michigan. Therefore I am N5PHT/8. Hope to work you from here. It is 52 degrees F this morning - nice. Plan to stay here for a couple of weeks.

27 Aug 2012: One day from Illinois - at a rest stop near Peru, ILL.

20 - 26 Aug 2012: We are currently N5PHT/0 camping at Lake Ahquabi State Park in Indianola, Iowa. Hope you can work us from here. It is very nice here and we plan to stay here a week or so. God Bless de N5PHT, Gary.

16 - 18 Aug 2012: We are currently at Natural Falls State Park - in Northeast Oklahoma, Deleware County (16 - 19 August 2012). If you want a QSL - see quidelines below. 73 es God Bless. N5PHT

2 - 9 August 2012: "Burns Run West," a campground in Southern Oklahoma. This is Bryan County in Oklahoma. Hope you are seeing this because we made a radio contact. In a 37 foot 5th wheel and using an FT857D and 100 watts to ham stick antennas.

July 22, 2012: One day Portable from Shreveport, LA (Caddo Parish) - EM32

July 16-18, 2012: Portable from Lake Wright Patman (Bowie County, TX) EM23

November 11-15, 2011: Portable from Cooper Lake (Doctors Creek) State Park, near Cooper, Texas (Delta County, Texas)

October 13-19, 2011: Portable from Purtis Creek State Park, Near Eustace, Texas. (Van Zandt County, Texas)

September 14-17, 2011: Portable from Pay Mayse Lake, Sanders Cover (Lamar County, Texas)

August 15-16, 2011: Portable from Creston, BC as N5PHT/VE7

July 21-24, 2011: Portable from Lake Texoma, Burns Run (Grayson County, Texas)

Some "old" portable operations: Burns Run West in OK Oct 6-7, 2001. Rattlesnake Island TX035L in March 2002. Operated from Montana, Wyoming and Kansas during May of 2007.

Been a ham since 13 May 1986 and active off and on until about 2000 and very active since then.

Antenna Farm: Cushcraft 8 element Log (ASL2010) at 80 feet on the top of the tower. This covers 20-10 meters. Been very happy with this antenna and it is a downsize from a monster array that gave me lots of worry and trouble - but this little LP seems to handle our wind fine and has been a good performer. I have had it up since March 2007 and have worked 270 DXCC with the Log - mostly on 20 meters but all 5 bands it covers is fine. For 40, 80 and 160 meters I use a G5RV for several years and recently (Dec 2010) moved from 50 feet at apex to 70 feet at apex thanks to friend, Brad, K5AR. With the apex at 70 feet there is a great improvement on 80 meters and a little on 160 noticed as well. It is the 80 meter version of the G5RV but I have DXCC on 160 with it as well.

Primary Station: ICOM 746 PRO and generally run 100 watts. I have an Ameritron ALS-600 solid state 600 watt amp that I use from time to time. Well, I do love chasing DX and here are my awards thus far on the DX chasing:

DXCC Honor Roll- Phone (on CW have 327 confirmed so need few more for honor roll on CW - started later on CW - grin)

(my first 10 years or so on ham radio I had no interest in CW and it is now my favorite mode!!)

5BDXCC - # 5840 (with endorsements on 160, 12,17 and 30 mtrs)

DXCC CW - # 10,150 (worked 328)

DXCC Phone - # 20,125 (worked 339)

DXCC RTTY - # 1,606 (worked 240)

WAZ - SSB #941

WAZ - CW #494

WAZ - RTTY #198

5BWAZ - #1514

LOTW: I continue to upload to LOTW every month or two.

73 de N5PHT, Gary Stone

AND - most of all and most important, a Child of GOD. The LORD does not issue certificate numbers because the "first shall be last and the last first." May you find the Lord as He loves you too.