The photo is Mac in the shack (Officially "Ralph", but I don't like that name) My earliest experience with radio, was as a kid, as I laid on the floor, looking up at a towering, Zenith radio, bristling with buttons, knobs and a large, glowing, soft yellow dial, listening to "The Shadow", "Sky King", "The Green Hornet", and other wonderful heros of yesteryear. Of course, I ordered someone's "Secret Ring", and waited to meet the mailman outside, every day 'till it arrived! (A boxtop from Wheaties and .25 was all it took.)

After high school graduation in '57, I went into the Navy for the next 8 years. After about 6 months on the deck force, I ultimately worked my way into the radio gang and up to RM1, (Radioman 1st class, E6) I received a certificate for bug operations, (Known as the "speed key" in the Navy.) It was required that you have the certificate or you couldn't use the bug. The test was send/recieve, 30 wpm, for 5 minutes, with 2 errors allowed, but I didn't make any. :) Served aboard two ships, the USS Weeden DE797, and the USS Theodore E. Chandler, DD717 for 3 years.

Next, I was transferred to London, England, (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCNELM/NAVSUPACTS LONDON - The admiral wore 3 hats!) Did 3 years in London, and I was awarded a Navy Letter of Commendation, for creating a cryptographic course wherein I trained two officers and 5 enlisted men. I also wrote "Kryptos Logos", (Hidden Discourse) a brief cryptographic history, including some simple, workable, cryptographic devices.

Next; San Diego, and shore duty (COMNAVAIRPAC) for 2 years. After this, I left the Navy in '65, and eventually got WN6MQE, WN6MLJ, and KA6IMO. I ended up with N6LRG in '89 (FINALLY...General class!) My first license in Nevada, was KN7HWR. My first transmitter was a two-tube, Ameco AC1 kit, CW rig for 40 and 80. 15 mighty watts and I worked 36 states with it! The receiver was a Radio Shack general coverage, with bandspread. (Still have them!)

Vel and I live in Cane Beds, Arizona, on our "Happy Endings Ranch". There's no local address, 'cause this isn't a city or town, just a "place." The address you see through this service, is a mailing address only, 35 miles from me. Since I don't live in Fredonia, Arizona, and if you're a county hunter, put me in Mohave County.

With the addition of an AL-811A amp, I'm more active. The extra power makes it much easier to be heard and to hold QSO's, during the current weak and sporadic cndx.

Find me on 7.228, mostly. I check into these nets: Western Shriner's, RV Service Net (I'm one of the NCS's), Tin Can Sailors Net and the Noon Time Net.

CURRENT HF STATION EQUIPMENT:

3 rigs for VHF and UHF; Yaesu FT2800M (2m), Alinco rigs for 440 and 220 (mobile types) and these all use a common 3 band vertical, 8 feet off the ground and of course, a triplexer. Also use an 11 meter rig with A99 vertical antenna which can also be used on 17 and 20m.

Mobile rig is a Yaesu FT857D. This uses a screwdriver antenna, the ATAS120. The VHF/UHF antenna is a modified Radio Shack scanner/ham antenna.

Inside, miscellaneous station equipment include a few scanners and many shortwave, general coverage receivers. 4 computers in the station as well, tied by wireless to the internet and wireless router in the house. For "on-the-go" I use a Yaesu FT-60R HT.(Great radio)

IC725 - Heil ICM mic - PalStar AT1KM tuner - Ameritron 811A amp - CCD full wave 40m dipole in a NVIS configuration. (The CCD dipole is 7' up.) The reflector is 4' wide "hogwire" fencing material, 147' long, laid directly on the ground, immediately under the dipole and firmly grounded to an 8' ground rod, and many metal tent stakes. It's enclosed on all sides by a 4' high "hogwire" fence, 200' long and 24' wide.) The center reflector is grounded to the enclosing fence at 6 points. The other antenna is a 6BTV, ground-mounted with 6 buried radials for 20, 40 and 75.

You can also see my weather, if you like, which goes over the internet to Weatherforyou.com and Weatherunderground.com. The Davis shelter, is about 100' from the house. Great system. My call sign on Weatherunderground, under "Arizona", is KAZCANEB1 Other places look for "Cane Beds, AZ" for the weather.

73 to you and thanks for reading this. :) Mac