Hello, my name is Alex.

I first got licensed as a General, callsign KB1RDL in the fall of 2008, then my Amateur Extra license in September 2009 and finally became NX1T through the vanity call sign program.  The call has a nice ring to it and is easy to copy on CW and SSB.   I have been an active SWLer, electronics homebrewer and vacuum tube tinkerer for many years before I became a licensed Amateur.  I love boatanchors, vacuum tubes and vintage radio in general.  I also enjoy HF operation, and especially low bands DXing even though my QTH makes it hard to operate 80 and 160 m bands, both in terms of antenna restrictions and the noise floor on receive.  I have found ways to make it work for me - above is a photo of my ferrite receiving loop antenna for 80 and 160 meters.  It uses 12 Russian-made ferrite rods (200 x 10 mm, u=400) arranged in cylindrical fashion and includes a balanced FET source follower circuit.  It really made the difference for me on the low bands.  I use that for receive on 80/160m and a long wire antenna with a variety of counterposes for 10 through 80 meters to transmit.

My main rig at this point is a Yaesu FT-950, backup rig is a Kenwood TS-120S that was my 1st rig, a tech special brought back to life by a friend. Worked my first 100 DXCC entities with that classic rig.  And its not going to be retired as long as it works.  Now that its no longer the main rig, it will most likely see /P and /M operation during Field Day and in general.

Besides the wire/loop combo, I use End Fed Half Wave Antennas (EFHWA)  on 40 and 20 meters, 3/4 wave wire on 15 meters and a folded dipole on 10 meters.

Under construction for this winter - Inverted L for 80 and 160 m.  I actually managed to make contacts on the top band using only 100 watts, my loop pictured above on receive and 64 ft wire sloper antenna to transmit.  My setup for the top band is far from optimal, but to me ham radio is all about making the most out of your station and experimenting.  I refuse to be "an appliance operator".

I also operate mobile on 10 meters SSB (when the band is open), 2 meters and 6 meters FM.  Portable operation on 2/6M whenever I am hiking with a Yaesu VX-7R handheld.

I answer every QSL and prefer direct.  No SASE necessary for US hams.  I also upload to LOTW regularly.  Sorry, no eQSL.

73 and see you down the log, de NX1T.