I have uploaded all of my NPOTA QSO’s to LotW.  Thanks for the 3,600+ contacts!  If you don’t see our QSO, please send an e-mail to my address listed here.  Yours were  part of the many I presented at QuartzFest this week during an NPOTA presentation. 

If you want contacts confirmed for WWFFPOTA, please let me know.  Not that our RV is “broken in,” we’ll be doing a lot more parks this and, God willing, following years.  I hope to see you at HamVention this year in the new venue.

I was first licensed in Feb 1960 as WV2RBF then upgraded to General in Oct to WA2RBF. I changed to WA8WWM in 1967 when I moved from Syracuse NY to Detroit MI to manage the first Radio Shack there. In 1973 I joined the USAF and received KZ5WA at my first duty station in the (then) Panama Canal Zone.  My career field was Ground Radio Maintenance, 304X4, of all things!  I operated an FT-101D into a Collins 237B log periodic for occasional contesting, obtaining my first Clean Sweep mug.

In 1974 I moved to Empire MI where I later upgraded to Extra and received the call K8TE. I was vice-president and president of the Cherryland Amateur Radio Club in Traverse City. In 1978 I moved to Cannon AFB near Clovis NM.

While there, a number of non-local hams formed the New Mexicans Engaged in Radio Discussions (NERDs), an ARRL-affiliated club. We each had specific NERD numbers and matching blue shirts with our calls and NERD numbers. The NERDs continue today, although only four of us are in NM.

The NERDs are famous for technical achievements like the first repeater in Eastern NM with a range beyond 15 miles, installed at a TV station where I worked as an engineer. In 1979, W5VBO (now K7RE), NERD 10, and I competed in the ARRL Field Day in the 1B battery class. We took first place in the U.S. and Canada and earned the statement: “NERDs are number 1!” We celebrated the 20th anniversary commemorative event during Field Day 2000 (NERDs are often late) operating from KU5S (SK, NERD 5) in Wilsey TX. Jim was well-known as the author of numerous ham radio programs such as WinCAP, a propagation predictor.

I was assigned to Memmingen AB Germany for two years in 1989.  I operated as DA2OI there.  Following that I went to RAF Alconbury for two more years including six months in a tent in Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm.  I returned to the U.S. at Kirtland AFB Dec 1991 where I planned to retire.  Two years later I was assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB working at HQ Air Force Materiel Command for almost six more years.

I retired from the Air Force after 26 years and live in Rio Rancho NM with my lovely wife Judy, KD5NEX, where I finally have some room for antennas. I worked as a part-time engineer for Cumulus Media (formerly Citadel Broadcasting) in Albuquerque for 8+ years. I recently worked as a Project Representative for Onward, an oil services consulting firm in the Gulf of Mexico on oil completion projects. I occasionally operated my KX3 using a wire dangling over the railing, 135 ft. above sea level.

I volunteer with various charitable organizations: writing stewardship columns for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe newspaper People of God, record radio announcements for NM Catholic Radio, and perform speaking engagements on various topics. I was the leadoff “professor” at DX University at the Duke City Hamfest/ARRL Rocky Mountain Division convention in Albuquerque for Aug 2014, Contest Academy lead "professor" for 2015, and will gave another presentation at DX University for Ham-Con Colorado in May 2016.  I gave eight presentations at QuartzFest 2017 on various subjects.

You can find me on 146.58, which is linked to 224.58 (100 Hz), 224.94, and 444.150 (100 Hz), most of the time along with other NERDs and DORKs (Dominators of Radio Knowledge). The NERDs still meet on 7133 frequent mornings at 8:30 Mountain Time.

I am the former newsletter (Que Pasa DX) editor (2^nd time) for the Albuquerque DX Association, Activities Manager again, and former President). Check it out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adxa/. This is fun group of folks who enjoy chasing DX and operating contests along with their other various hobbies. We took 4^th overall and 1^st in class in the ARRL Field Day for 2012!  We placed 21^st overall in 2014 with just under 4,000 QSO’s in 3A and made just short of 2,400 QSO's in 2015 in 3A, in spite of a four hour break due to lightning.

My other avocational passion during my "semi-retirement" is racing sports cars. I drive a Mazda "Spec" Miata with the SCCA, Southwest Motorsport, NASA, and ProAutosports at NM, CO, AZ, and CA tracks. You'll often hear me on 7195 traveling to and from one of them; check K8TE-1 on APRS for my operating frequency. While there, I keep in touch with my crew chief Judy on 146.58 or 446.58.

I run a pair of Elecraft lines at home plus an Acom A2000 amplifier.  I’m preparing to replace the dipoles at 35' with a beam at 60’ for improved performance.  My DXCC score is over 260 entities after chasing DX for the last couple of years.  8BDXCC is finally within reach.  Too bad I couldn’t count the several thousand QSO’s I made as W1AW/5, some of them while operating mobile.  I had a lot of fun operating the ARRL Centennial QSO party, W100AW in Newington, and attending the convention in Hartford which made 2014 another great year!

I was a member of the W1AW/5 Team again for the IARU contest in July 2015.  I also coordinated the W6H (New Mexico Route 66 On-the-Air) Team making over 4,000 of the 5,000 plus contacts and again in 2016 with just short of 4,000 QSO’s.

In November 2015, Terry, KS5Z, and I operated the ARRL SS-SSB Contest at W0LSD’s Lost Creek Cabin.  We set records for, and won, the Colorado Section and Rocky Mountain Division.  Thanks to Icom for an awesome plaque!

In 2016, Terry, and his brother Greg, KB7KYK, and I operated the ARRL SS-SSB contest from VY2TT.  We set a maritime Province record and are searching for another exotic location to operate one contest this year.

I have updated all my contest logs on LOTW for 2016.  I will also have paper QSL’s printed and may even answer an occasional eQSL. Please be patient.  Send an e-mail to remind me if you need a card.  73, Good DX, and Good Luck in the Contest, Bill, K8TE, NERD 1