Greetings and thanks to all who have had or could have a QSO with me!

Born on the north side of Chicago (Ravenswood), I moved to Minnesota (Twin Cities ) and was originally issued call sign WNØPEV at age 12. Amateur radio is (still) my primary social network; here is my profile.

In Florida for over 20 years now, from my modest station I enjoy casually chasing DX, contesting of all kinds, especially CW and RTTY, 6 meters and VHF weak signal propagation, HF mobile and backpacking or other DX'peditions, and having a ragchew with the great guys on 3770 Khz.

More photos

NO TOWER - NO BEAM !!

Very simple antennas for now; just tubing verticals and/or low wires.

Except on 6m where I now have a 5 element A50-5S Yagi @ 20 feet.

Propagation is usually very good to Florida!

However, as seen in the impeding storm above, it is also the lightning capital of the world - YIKES!

Which is offset by the sunsets which can be spectacular on the nearby beaches.

Below left- my buddy LeRoy the 'gator, a hazard of laying ground radials in Florida!

Above right -DL YL / hausfrau Doktor Marion points at den großen Turm on Der Funkerberg in Königs-Wusterhausen near Berlin, where we met.

http://www.funkerberg.de/

Rudi "meu gato do rádio" keeping the rigs warm, listening for rare DX, and looking for edible Florida mice.

Equipment currently in use: Icom IC-781, IC-275H; Yaesu FT-817; Ameritron AL-1200; RS PRO2053 scanner.Standing by is anIC-735 and to be unpacked is the Alpha 87A, IC-575H, etc. Still listen to ballgames and SWL on the Knight Space Spanner, the kit that started it all !!

First licensed at age 12 in 1966, below is WAØPEV in Minnesota circa 1969-70, in high school and at the mic of the Drake TR-4, with Layfayette HA-63 + Heath Q multiplier, and Viking Ranger on the side – check out on the wall above the Mastercrafters 24 hour world map clock !!

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My professional career has been in engineering and management of the design, fabrication,and installation of instrumentation and automation systems used for facility energy control, industrial processes, and high speed packaging machines, mostly at manufacturers of food, pharmaceutical, and medical products.

I have a broad range of appreciation of humanities, arts and science; just very narrow talents! And I am very inquisitive about almost everything, everywhere,and everyone.

Give me a call and let's find out what we may have in common!