We recently relocated from Northern Virginia to Las Vegas Nevada and we are getting settled in.  This is a very different environment for amateur radio and it has been fun and exciting to get things figured out.

Currently, I am running a Flex 6500 barefoot with a 10-80 groundplane vertical from ZEROFIVE Antennas.  This is my first foray into vertical antennas, I've been using a 6-80 OCF windom and a 300ft horizontal loop but the new QTH isn't big enough and doesn't have enough trees to support lots of wire.  More to follow on how this new antenna works for me.

Since moving out here, I've been enjoying the World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF) and North American Parks On The Air (POTA) or WWFF/KFF program as an activator.  When portable, I use a KX2 or KX3 with a Buddipole or a 20/40 wire.

I've also started using DMR and DSTAR.  I have a DVMega hotspot setup and that allows me to access talkgroups and reflectors that I wouldn't otherwise be able to get to.

Finally, I continue to make progress on becoming a competent and confident CW operator and I really appreciate all of the other operators out there who are willing to slow down for us new guys so that we can continue to learn and build confidence.

I'm a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and my post is in Beatty, NV.  As a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, I wish all of my ham radio shipmates the very best and I look forward to working you sometime soon!

QSO via QRZ.com and LOTW.

Thanks and 73,

Craig McVeay

N0CSM