E-QSL or Direct. No SASE required, it is my pleasure to send out my cards!

First, it IS a vanity callsign. The "W1" was my callsign (Whiskey One) while working for the Fedgov and the "MLK" are my initials. 99% of the time I have a radio on somewhere near me. I have set up my shack with a series of digital & conventional trunked scanners to monitor all agencys in the coastal region where I live. If there is anything going on I'm usually one of the first to know. My digital scanners are capable of decoding PLL's which makes monitoring even more enjoyable. My first introduction to amateur radio was when I was a child and my grandfather talked on his radios all of the time. Unfortunately I have never been able to learn his callsign as most of family is deceased or, no one that is still living knows. One day though! My father was interested but was never licensed but he did enjoy monitoring so he had several radios around the house. When I grew up a little I worked for the fedgov in law enforcement and was introduced to many different types of radio communication modes as well as radio types. During this time I learned how to manage, program and maintain radio systems utilizing modes such as VHF/UHF, encryption and HF. I dabbled with RTTY (didn't like it)  and PSK but preferred what I call, traditional radio where one picks up the mic and speaks into it. I do not consider many of the computer based radio modes as true radio. One may as well go to an internet chat room. True radio to me,  involves a mic, radio antenna & coax.

I have many certifications in emergency operations, some that stem from my career in law and others that I have done to further my own knowledge. I'm certified in 12 FEMA NIMS/ICS modules, Haz Mat First Responder, Railroad Haz Mat First Responder, Wilderness Rescue & Recovery to name a few. I also enjoy Krav Maga and teaching others. I'm employed as a Security Consultant and a Certified Security Personnel Instructor in varying disciplines. I enjoy tactical operations and serve as an advisor to law enforcement in a contract capacity.

I prefer to remain a non club member of the amateur radio hobby as the politics seem to ruin the hell out of the hobby as is the case with many clubs. In my humble opinion, should one decide to put a repeater on the air then one automatically condones it's use for ALL licensed amateurs, if thats an issue then one should move to another hobby and not put up a repeater at all. The airwaves do not belong to one group specifically and those who own repeaters and do not talk to anyone except those who belong to their club or group, are a negative aspect of the hobby.

I prefer wire antennas to other types but do run a Challenger DX vertical and it does really nice. That antenna requires no tuner within the 8 bands it works on. The SWR is almost always below or at 1.4 and one can't ask for much better.  I have made and talk on several dipoles I have up and especially like 40mtrs & 15mtrs.          

More later...73!!