I've been playing with radios most of my life. Started with shortwave listening while in Junior High School. Of course I was a part of the huge CB fad of the 70's and early 80's. Wish I had taken the tests then and got a license, would have been better to have spent all that money on Ham radios rather than CB !! Even then what I loved was DX. Finally got licensed in 1992 thanks to a lot of prodding by a good friend, N8CT, Tom. Glad he finally talked me into it. I've supported myself at different times by repairing 2 way radios and various accessories such as amplifiers, VFO's, antennas, mikes, etc. Later went into the computer business. Owned a local store selling clones which I built at the store. Also repaired and reprogrammed all makes of computers. After 10 years of trying to compete with discount houses and especially Walmart, I decided it was enough. Two heart attacks also influenced this decision greatly! I still do some computer work for friends and of course keep the household computers, numbering 6 units, running. I finally upgraded to General Class last spring but haven't taken the time to be as active as I should. Winter is here in Ohio so I plan to spend a lot more time in front of my radios. That's a Yaesu FT-1000D I'm sitting in front of. Behind me is an FT-1000MP Mrk5 with a 6 meter transverter. I also have a Heath SB-220 amp, but it doesn't get used much..... yet anyway!

In the picture after this text from left to right: FT-736 loaded, FTV-1000 6 meter transverter, FT-1000MP MrkV, Heathkit SB-220 amp with all mods,Dentron Super-Super tuner above the amp and last, FT-1000D.

 I have a Hy-Gain BTV-5 vertical and 2 wires, 1 cut for 80 meters and 1 for 160 meters. The only antenna I have up right now for VHF-UHF is a Ringo to use on 2 meters. The radio on 2 meters is a Yaesu FT-736 with 6 meters, 2 meters, 220MHz, and 440Mhz modules. At one time I had antennas up for all those bands. Worked sats too. Maybe again sometime. I love experimenting with antennas, but arthritus prevents me from doing very much. I'm also kept quite busy raising our 3 year old Grandson. We've had him since he was 3 days old. Right from the hospital to our house. He's very smart and likes to sit in my lap and watch me talk on the radio. I've even had him talk to a couple of the locals on 2 meters. I try to keep him interested in as many things as possible. He can keep you running I can tell you! He's a good kid, always trying to help Papa! I'd like to personally thank all the members of the Ashtabula County Amateur Radio Club for their support throughout the years, great bunch of people!!

Club web site: http://www.qsl.net/k8cy

73's for now, catch you a little farther down the log book!!!

N8TCQ  aka /  Mark

 Update: Just got my Mark 5 back from being repaired, cat keyed it, I didn't notice for hours, that DARN cat! Anyway, working perfectly now thanks to Byron Campbell, WA4GEG,  www.hamradiobug.com . Specializes in the Yaesu 1000 series radios, true professional. Take a look at his site, drop him an email if you need his services.

 Radio console. Only one computer over here!

 Where I'm at when not in front of a radio!!

Enough computers?!?!?!  Never!!!