Radio Vitae:

1999 -- N7FG, Tucson, Arizona

1992 -- AB0G/1, Westford, Massachusetts

1978 -- AB0G, Boulder, Colorado

1976 -- WB0SYC, Boulder, Colorado

1974 -- WA2UUB, Paramus, New Jersey

1965 -- WA3AYW, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1964 -- WN3AYW, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

pre-1964 -- BC/SWL and Jean Shepherd, K2ORS(sk), fan

Popular Electronics "registered monitor" WPE3FHG

Inspired by the Sputnik and early manned-spaceflight eras, I became interested in science and electronics in high school. After building a few Knight and Heath kits, the gift of a Hallicrafters S-118 general coverage receiver introduced me to the world of global short-wave radio and the interesting and often-quirky people known as "hams." While a college freshman, I studied radio theory and learned the language of Morse, earning my novice callsign, WN3AYW, and starting a life-long interest.

Over the years and through a number of moves, I've had both active and inactive periods, but I always considered ham radio to be my primary avocation, even when I was only "making my plans," or otherwise tied up with work, raising a family, or other pleasant distractions. I'm never as active as I'd like to be but when I am on the air I mostly work the HF bands looking for ragchews, low-key DX, and contests. I operate cw about half the time, with the digital modes and ssb splitting the rest. I sometimes show up on 2m and 70cm FM with the locals or for public service events. I often run QRP and enjoy the occasional building project. My current HF station consists of an ICOM IC-751 and a QRP Yaesu FT-817 working to a GAP Eagle and some simple wire antennas. A couple of mobile transceivers and an HT handle the local operations.

I worked as a physicist/engineer in the aerospace business for 30+ years and am also interested in astronomy and space science, computers, and traveling to places with mountains and trees.

73, Frank N7FG