Mobile page at WE5ST/M
In 1989 a coworker mentioned that he had always wanted to investigate ham radio. That's all it took to rekindle my interest. I became excited about helping missionaries with phone patches because it was a way I could practice my faith and support some really hard working people for whom those phone calls meant a lot. So for a few years in the early 90's I would point my KLM tribander to South America and "bypass the phone company".
One missionary told me his story during our first QSO. It was in an evening QSO on 8 FEB 1990, 20 meter side band. John, V31NB, had been a pilot flying charter runs all over Central and South America for years. He said there had been many close calls on these trips but on one particular night he was flying in a really bad storm and was in trouble. He believed this was his last flight.
John said a quick prayer with a promise "that if God would get him out of this one, he would work for Him from then on." John walked away from that jungle landing, his plane was destroyed! I don't think God "makes deals" but John upheld his part of the bargain and became a missionary to Belize where he served the poor, I believe until his death.
I didn't hear his call on the air for many years. But recently a group of vacationing hams were using V31NB to operate on a "ham-cation". I told them John's story. They had been told that the call had never before been issued. I told them that the call had not only been issued - but used very well.
|
My Family
|
|
Station Conditions
|
- 43 years of terrific marriage to my wife Pam. My role model! Pam is a gospel singer/songwriter, author. In her spare time she makes me smile!
- We have two sons who have blessed us with seven terrific grandchildren, one handsome boy and six beautiful girls
Jesus said,". . .I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."John 10:10 (MSG)
- I retired in '09 after 30 yrs in chemicals & refining manufacturing.
- Pam & I spent two plus years in the UK & Belgium on assignment.
- I continue to teach process troubleshooting & instrumentation courses at a two local colleges.
|
|
Operations
- Mostly rag chew & DX chasing on 17 through 40 meters
- MemberNavy MARS call NNN0BQW
- HF mobile, also VHF
Equipment
- SteppIR DB-42, 5 adjustable elements @ 75ft.; 6-80 meters. T2FD folded dipole at 17ft. for MARS NVIS operations.
- DXLabs suite of logging and ham radio software interoperating withSpotSpy, IonoProbe and DX Atlas.
|
| |
|
|
My friend, Bob Hall, is a terrific photographic artist and made my QSL card and the Texas colage for me. You can see more of his work at: http://www.
1449673 Last modified: 2014-11-17 16:37:40, 11606 bytes
Currently updating logbook display.
