Hello- Passed my Tech and General license on at same time, and was assigned the call KC9MUB on 23 January, 2008. Originally a novice in 1965 with the call WN9QXV, but was not up to passing the general exam then at age 13 (cw ok but not so good on regs and theory), so it took me over 40 years to upgrade - slow learner hi hi. Passed my Extra on 20 September, 2008. Now call is NA9J. Also passed GROL Jan 2010.
All operating is done at 100 watts or less using either an IC706MKIIG or TS480SAT into a 160M dipole up 10M. Work all bands 160m through 70 cm, a lot of cw and psk31 on hf, with some ssb and rtty, and mostly FM with a little SSB, APRS and packet upstairs. Been enjoying 6 meter CW as well as SSB when open. Work with WINMOR on both ham and Navy - Marine Corps MARS frequencies (NNN0TSW). Member ARES/RACES and also am ARRL VEC.
I live about 15 miles northwest of Green Bay in the woods. Studied electrical engineering at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Spent most of the adult life doing biomedical instrument design, a field in which I have 11 US patents, and the rest in coin-operated game design, where I designed pinball and video games in the early 80s, and what I'm doing now for a company called Bay Tek Games
I also enjoy sailing, scuba and music. The sailboat is named Kalena Kolika, which means Karen of the Ocean in Hawaiian (XYL of 29 years is Karen).a 1977 Islander 32' sailboat. Keep her in Menominee MI, Marina and have had many pleasant sails to Door County WI this past summer. Next season plan on going to Mackinac Island and beyond. Will have HF on her for sure this coming summer along with many more adventures.
XYL is captain in US Army Reserves and a nurse. Son, 23, UW Eau Claire student who wants to write about sports,teach history and coach high school PE. Daughter, 25, graduated U of Minnesota and joined the US Navy for linguistics-MI and is stationed at Pearl Harbor. I'm 60 and turning grey fast
Close to wrapping up 9 band WAS, needing 2 states on 10m (OK & SD)and a half dozen or so each on 12m and 17m. Earned Triple Play #383 and got my mixed DXCC March 17 2010!!! Since have CW, SSB and RTYY DXCC also done on LOTW. Over 800 on challenge and closing in on 200mixed DXCC. A lifelong dream come true!!! Current count is ~200 countries worked, 190+ confirmed, LoTW, eQSL, bureau or direct. Starting to have fun with IOTA and Lighthouses and want to work the satellites too. Over 1000 prefixes and working on Honor Roll. Missing1 zone for WAZ so anyone from India or other Zone 22 country willing to sked, please email me hi hi
Operated QRP in Princeville, Kauai, HI from August 20-27 and Honolulu from August 28-31 2010 on 20,30, and 40 meter cw using a Hendricks PFR-3, and Vero Beach FL this past winter for a week - throwing speaker wire into plam trees for an antenna. Lots of fun! Hope to operate qrp again on Oahu the week before Christmas 2012.
Had the honor of working the space station NA1SS several times. That and Antarctica are my most treasured QSLs.
Cheers and 73
John
