In the late 60’s I got a Novice ticket WN5AMJ and enjoyed working CW from my old Heathkit DX-60 transmitter and HR-10 receiver, with an Inverted-V up about 20’. Now 40 plus years later my wife Linda suggested I get back into ham radio (probably to keep me out of her hair). I did and got my General Class ticket on 1-12-2010, KF5ENB. Changed the call on 2-12-2010 to W5JDF. On May 25, 2010, I passed the test for my Amateur Extra Class license, and received it on June 1, 2010.

The station here in Texas is a Kenwood TS-590S and a TS-2000, with a Ameritron AL-811H and AL-811, respectively. I use a Behringer XM8500 mic, with homebrew footswitch and a Mic Boom. I also use the Kenwood TS-2000 for VHF/UHF. I use a Icom IC-706MKIIG for HF/VHF/UHF mobile with hamsticks and a dual-band antenna, and for fixed digital. We have eight antennas at the home QTH, three are home made. A 160M Inverted L, a OCF Inverted-V at 36' and a K9AY receiving loop. I have a Hy-Gain 3 element tri-bander (20M, 15M, & 10M) at 36', a Blue Star 4 element 6 meter Beam at 23' and a M2 2M7 2M SSB seven element beam at 28'. Rounding out the antenna farm is a GAP Titan DX Vertical (11 feet off the ground), and a UVS-200 2M/440 collinear antenna (on one of the roof peaks). The station works great we have worked all 50 states on 75/80M (X2), 40M (X4), 20M (X2), 17M, 15M and ARRL WAS - Phone (Mixed and 40M), and in August, 2011,  I got my ARRL DXCC mixed phone award. I am working on more WAS awards 160M (only need HI.), and 10M. We have worked 206 countries (154 confirmed) as of May, 2013.

I started the New Year of 2013 with a step back into the past. When I was a young Novice I would page through the Heathkit catalogue and dream of getting a Heathkit SB Series station. Well it took 42 years but for the New Year I added a Heathkit SB-102, with SB-600 Speaker & power supply, an SB-200, and a Heathkit Desk Mic. The station needed considerable work and TLC to get it all working as it should, but is now up and running, back on the air, and working great!

I am a member of the 3905 Century Club and the OM International Sideband Society (OMISS).

3905 Century Club:

160M SSB 100 PT. # 548

75M SSB 100 PT. # 2925

40M SSB 100 PT. #2724

WAS 75M SSB #1290

WAS 40M SSB #1303

OMISS

OMISS WAS 15, 17, 20, 40, & 80M

OMISS 5 BAND WAS

DX AWARD (MIXED)

STATEHOOD AWARD -MIXED,40M & 20M

OMISS MEMBERSHIP AWARD Mixed, 80M, 40M & 20M

OMISS Father Time Award

OMISS Millionaire Club

OMISS Family Tree Award

State Flag Award - 50 States

Plus Many More.

ARRL

WAS (MIXED)-PHONE 20-Jun-11

DXCC - Mixed Phone #40118

WAS (40M)-PHONE September-2012

My first passion is playing guitar. My wife and I played in a family classic rock band for 15 years until October 2009 when the band retired. I still enjoy playing on my own. I enjoy talking about ham radio, homebrew antennas, music, and guitars, etc.

I am retired from the Texas Department of State Health Services (after 28 years), where I ran a 78 bed long-term inpatient treatment facility for adolescents with mental illness and substance abuse issues for 19 years. I loved working with my kids, working with about 3800 in my career! I retired on March 31, 2011. However, I do work part-time as an Instructor for Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas enjoying this position since 1988. Now I devote the rest of my time to my career as a Honey Do'er for the XYL and being a HAM. I also served in the U.S. Air Force from 1975 to 1981 (Security Police-Law Enforcement Specialist, Law Enforcement Academy Instructor, and Special Agent-AFOSI).

We will QSL no SASE or anything necessary. We are also on eQSL, Century Club, OMISS, ARRL Buros, and LOTW. Hope to work you soon or again. 73’s.