Dan Marshall
Grovetown, Georgia USA

Columbia County     Grid: EM83vk

   

(Last update: September 21, 2017)

Thank you for checking my QRZ.com page. You'll see my license name as Allen, but most people call me Dan. (I'm one of those guys who goes by his middle name.)

I live in the small town of Grovetown, GA, which is located just to the west of Augusta, GA, and approximately 130 miles east of Atlanta, GA. I retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2003, and I'm currently working my way towards real retirement. I'm fairly new to the ham radio hobby. I received my Technician license in March 2016, General in April 2016, and Amateur Extra in November 2016. Now that all of the tests have been passed, the real learning begins! I like working with others, so I am an ARRL Volunteer Examiner and Volunteer Instructor.

Here is the current weather at my QTH.

QSL information:  I prefer to QSL by LoTW.  I enjoy collecting QSL cards, so I'm also very happy to exchange cards with you. I will always send a QSL card in return for those I receive. I understand others have different preferences about mailing cards, and will respect yours. You do not need to send return postage or a SAE to receive my card. If you prefer, you can send a card to me via the bureau, but I don't normally send cards via the bureau. I will send one to you direct in return. I regularly upload my logs to LoTW. I also upload to ClubLog, QRZ.com, eQSL.cc and HRDLOG.net, but those are not primary QSL methods for me. SWL reports are welcome. If  you haven't received a return QSL card from me within a reasonable amount of time, please send me an email to let me know. 

K1NSS Jeff at DASHTOONS designed the art for my QSL card, and the cards were printed by Randy at KB3IFH QSL CARDS. If you'd like to create a unique and personal QSL card, you can't beat the combination of Jeff K1NSS to create the art and Randy KB3IFH to print them!

For HF QSOs, I'm using an Icom IC-7300, running 100 watts for SSB or ~20 watts for digital modes, into one of two MyAntennas end-fed halfwave 8010 antennas (one oriented N > S, and one oriented E > W), or an Eagle One vertical . I'm amazed at the contacts I've been able to make with this modest setup. I also have an Icom-IC-7100 for VHF/UHF/D-Star and for a backup HF rig.

I have a Yaesu FT-991 for Field Day and other operating events away from the shack. In my truck, I have a Yaesu FT-8900R, and I have a few HTs for portable use: Kenwood TH-D72A, Baofeng BF-F8HP, and BTech UV-5X3. I use the VHF/UHF radios to participate in several local nets. I also recently acquired an Icom ID-51A Plus and openSPOT for D-Star, and a TYT MD-380 to explore DMR.

I enjoy digital modes, and I've been active on all HF bands with FT8, JT65, JT9, and PSK31/63/125. I am trying to get the hang of RTTY, but that has been a challenge. For FT8, JT65 and JT9, I use and highly recommend WSJT-X and JTAlert. I also use HamSpots and PSKReporter for spotting. For PSK and RTTY, I primarily use Ham Radio Deluxe, but also beginning to use fldigi. I use a program called NMEATime2 with a GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver to synchronize my PC clock to the time from GPS satellites. An indispensible web resource for those working digital modes and seeking WAS and DXCC through LoTW is the N8FQ Sked Page.

I am in the process of trying to learn Morse code so I can add CW to my DX tool box. I am using the KB6MT High Speed Code Course on a MP3 CD that I purchased at a hamfest from VIS Study Guides. I will be enrolled in the CW Ops CW Academy class in January 2018. Wish me success, and maybe we'll have a CW QSO soon!

I occasionally experiment with a WSPRlite. It's a cool little gadget that transmits up to a 200mw WSPR signal as a way to check antenna performance. I let it run occaisionally on 20m or 30m to check propagation and see how well my antennas are working. If you see my callsign on 20m or 30m WSPR, please send me an email to let me know. I like to experiment with Raspberry Pi computers for various radio applications, such as SDRplay, PiAware, TNC-Pi, and D-Star DVAP.

I have started to try my hand at contesting, and I have participated in the ARRL DX Contest, Rookie Roundup, and Georgia QSO Party. I'm looking forward to more contests and QSO parties, and can hopefully improve my scores.

I have been fortunate enough to complete DXCC mixed and digital awards, with endorsement for 20m. I have also completed WAS mixed, phone and digital awards, with endorsements for FT8, JT65, JT9, 40m, 30m, 20m and 17m. Special thanks to the many hams who have set up skeds to help me complete those awards.

I need LoTW confirmed QSOs to complete these WAS endorsements: 

• Digital:  
  • 80m: AK, ND, NM, OR
  • 15m: AR, IL, MD, MS, MT, NE, ND, RI, SD, VT​
  • 10m: AL, AK, HI, ID, MT, NC, ND, OR, SD, TN, UT, VT, WA, WY​
  • PSK31:  AK, AZ, CA, HI, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NJ, NC, ND, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WV

​I'm a member of these Amateur Radio clubs:
Amateur Radio Club of Columbia County (ARCCC), K4KNS
Amateur Radio Club of Augusta (ARCA), W4DV
Southeastern DX Club (SEDXC)
100 Watts & a Wire, 100WattsID: 2023

I wish you happiness, prosperity, and good DX! Hope to see you on the waterfall soon! 73

 

My operating position is rarely this clean and organized.

This is me and my dog, Luke. He is a Louisana Catahoula Leopard Dog. We were both born on the same date, exactly 50 years apart!

This is the entire pack: (L>R) Bella (Pug), Luke (Catahoula), Dolly (Chiweenie), Gemma (English Bulldog), and Gus (Pug)

When I'm not on the radio, I like to take the family fishing on our pontoon boat in Thurmond Lake. Someday I'll combine the two hobbies and get a radio on the boat!