First licensed as a novice (WN9LTR) in 1964, in Hamilton, Illinois. I was 16 when I took the tests, and mostly self-taught. (No local elmer.) The rig was a homebrew 6L6 transmitter built from a Popular Electronics article, and the receiver was a Navy surplus TCS-8. Those were fun and memorable times, running about 30 watts, using a total of 3 crystals for the 80 and 40 meter bands, and dipoles less than 15 feet in the air. But it all worked, and was an exciting time.

After starting tech school in early 1966 (DeVry in Chicago), I tested and passed the General exams and was issued the call, WA9RMU. Graduated from tech school in 1967 (and obtained a First Class Radiotelephone w/radar license), and went to work for Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

During 15 years with Collins, my call changed several times, since there were brief spells when I was away from Iowa and back into Illinois. Calls included: WA0UAO, WB9IBM, and WB0YIS. In 1983, I left Collins for the proverbial greener pastures and went on to work for several other major companies, along with a few smaller ones. I lived for various lengths of time in Arizona, Oregon, and Minnesota.

During my early years at Collins, I had a millitary leave of absence, after being drafted by the U. S. Army in 1969. I was trained as a radio/radioteletype operator, and spent a year in Vietnam. During the last few months in Vietnam, I was fortunate to get duty as an operator in a MARS station on one of the firebases. Each evening, I would make contact with the states, and run phone patches. (Using Collins equipment!) Often, the stateside station was a ham operating MARS, and volunteering his time and expertise to run patches for the troups.

In 1990, while in Portland, Oregon, I obtained a 2nd Class Commercial Radiotelegraph license (along with a Coast Guard Radio Officers license), and very briefly tried the Merchant Marine as a radio officer. It was an interesting experience for just one round trip voyage crossing the Pacific over a 6 week period. During that time, I heard and logged a real SOS morse code transmission, broadcast by a Japanese coast guard station for a cargo vessel in trouble in the South Pacific! (The vessel was rescued and towed to port.)

Shortly after obtaining the commercial radiotelegraph license, I tested for the Advanced and Extra class ham licenses at a local Portland ham club session. My commercial radiotelegraph license negated the code test for the Extra class. I passed both, and was issued the call, AA7KY.

In 2002, I went to work for General Dynamics as an electronics engineering technician in Bloomington, Minnesota, where I retired in 2009. During that time, I obtained the vanity callsign, N9GU. After retirement, I settled back into west central Illinois in the small town of Carthage, not far from where I grew up.

The current station, which is still evolving, mainly consists of an IC-756 pro III, IC-775dsp, and TS-2000, for operation from 40m through 70cm, various modes. The 40m antenna is a simple inverted V at 30 feet, and for 20m through 6m, a broadband hexbeam at 35 feet is used. An outside diskcone antenna is presently used for monitoring frequencies to over a gigahertz (using an R8500 and SDR-14), and for transceive operation on 2m and 70cm. (I actually have a number of radios, and often swap between them on the desk, just for a change of pace!)

I have a home electronics lab, with lots of equipment, and interests from basic physics to many aspects of electronics. Over the past years, I've put a lot of projects on hold for retirement. Now, I guess I no longer have an excuse, and must deal with them! Other mild hobbies include sky observing (basic astronomy), and therapeutic sessions with an old stratocaster guitar.

73's,

John N9GU

3/2/2011 :

On February 11, 2011, I was the lucky winner of the Gigaparts Sweepstakes for an IC-7000!! Was wonderfully surprised, since I never win at these things! Though the IC-7000 is a nice radio, Gigaparts allowed me to trade it in on a new Kenwood TS-590S, with a little extra cash. I received the TS-590 on Feb 25, and am enjoying the new radio and its' nice features.

If you would like to contact me, please use:  N9GU@ARRL.net

Best 73's,   _  john  N9GU