I QSL 100% by direct mail with SASE, bureau, or LOTW. I respond to SASE's immediately. The bureau may take a while because I only get cards about twice a year from them. I now have all my old logs uploaded to LOTW, except a few that may have been lost.

I've been interested in ham radio since age 10 (1963) and it took me less than 25 years to get my license (1987). But my early interest in radio and electronics led me to major in physics in college and then work in semiconductors, avionics, and most recently optical fiber test & measurement at Photon Kinetics.

I'm active in traffic nets, contesting, and DXing. I was NCS on Oregon District 1 ARES net (2 m FM) for 14 years, and since 2004 have been NCS and Net Manager for Oregon Section Net (80 m CW). I also coordinate a VE team for monthly exam sessions and I run the VE session at the Sea Pac NW Division Convention every June. Overall, contesting is my favorite activity and I am often heard on the club calls W7TVC and W7OTV in addition to my own call. CW is my favorite mode, FISTS #14941.

Rig is Elecraft K-line, K3 #486. My antenna farm is modest. I have a wire dipole cut for 80 m CW, a Butternut HF-2V vertical for 80/40, and a Cushcraft R-6000 vertical for 20 through 6 meters. I recently put up a "temporary" homemade 3-el 20 meter monobander on a 10 m high mast. I also have a 15 m tall push-up mast for a 160 m top-loaded vertical, which also supports an inverted V for 30 meters. I worked my first 309 countries using verticals, but had to put up the beam to get TT8TT for #310, also needed it for T6LG and YI1RZ.

Awards: DXCC (311/314), 5BDXCC, WAZ, DXCC Challenge, Diamond DXCC. As soon as a few more QSLs come in I'll also have 160 m DXCC and 5BWAS.